24 replies to this topic

[Nevrax]

Hi everyone,

I myself am really into the engineer class, the only thing I still need to decide is which race I prefer for this profession .

So I would like to know how y'all feel about which race goes best with the engineer profession or just which race you prefer overall and why you prefer that race / gender.

Also I would like to get out the creative part of you guys by summing up some nice Engineernames f.e. Tinker .. or something funny related to the profession.

Grtz
Nevrax.

[BadSantaBoy]

My engineer is a Charr, and not just because they're the most badass race (runs on all fours omg!) but what originally gave me the idea was the lore. Reading up on the races/professions/history I found that the "first" engineers were the Charrs. So I looked more into Charr lore and it's perfect. They're main city is themed towards an industrial revolution, so steel mechanics are everywhere. I figured maybe the Charr storyline would be more fitting to an engineer than any other race. I do not regret my decision at all.

Your other options are the Asura, little geniuses are the most advanced as far as technology, but engineers don't use lasers or anything, we use turrets and explosives. Then there is the favorite race, the humans. I think this was a popular choice because like me, people want to play what they are in real life, a human engineer. so it just fits.

Sylvari makes the least sense haha, what kind of plant would use technology? Seems like its counter-nature or w/e..

As far as racial goes I wouldn't worry about that too much. Engineers have a wide variety of skills from boons to heals to conditions and relying on a racial will have it's consequences in PvP.

Edited by BadSantaBoy, 29 August 2012 - 02:55 PM.

[Mr_Finesse]

One word:

Charzooka

[AnGealt]

Now, this is quite a large topic to ask about, as I find that the names and the races are interlinked (obviously), so I will just talk about what I know about.

Which goes best with the Engineer?
This is simple, the Charr and the Asura. The Charr pretty much invented the Engineers and their mechanisms. The Asura because of their natural ingenuity means they would be able to create wonderous devices quite easily. Humans fit most roles easily, but have no specific niche for a profession, and so are viable for them all. The Norn, they can be engineers, but I don't imagine it appealing much to them, as it would seem less heroic them hitting someone with a greatsword or suchlike (unless using the Tool Kit, then they charge in with a wrench). Sylvari seem the least likely to be engineers, due to how close they seem to nature, and seem directly in contrast with the Charr's industrial nature which suits the engineer so well. A Sylvari could pull off being an Engineer though by saying their instinctive curiosity for the world makes them want to learn how everything works (maybe).

Which race/gender do you prefer?
Personally, it is the Sylvari who are the best. I love the idea of how attuned to nature they are (they are plants, so that point is obvious), and their naiveity. They just really appeal to me. But as discussed, they do not suit the role of engineer very well as a race. I also play a male in any game.

Engineer Names?
Now, this is a topic I find quite hard, as I feel a need to keep the names RP-worthy, even though I dont RP. But I will still give it a shot:
Charr:
Second names are the inventive parts here, so for first names, check out the Naming thread here
Darkcog
Quickgear
Fiercewrench
Keenmind (an in game NPC)

Asura:
Asura tend to have short names with double constanants, but I can't think of a way to turn it engineer-y, so my suggestions are generic asura names.
Zigg
Tribbur
Krash
Blipp

Human:
Human names are once again generic, but you can have fun with the surnames, and can even make them titles such as:
the Tinkerer
the Inventer

Norn and Sylvari
I am sorry but I cannot think of any suitable names that aren't mentioned in the naming resources linked before.

I hope this helps a bit!!


EDIT: typos

Edited by AnGealt, 29 August 2012 - 02:56 PM.

[Kymeric]

Have to say that Sylvari make excellent engineers.  So many people post the gut reaction that plant people and machines go together, but there's really no basis for that.

Lorewise, the Sylvari are intensely curious explorers of the world into which they've recently been born.  Invention and technology is based on investigating how the world works and creating machines based on the principles you find.  The two fit each other perfectly.

IMO, Sylvari would be least likely to be Necromancers, due to the life-affirming tenets of the Ventari tablet.  At least those who aren't of the Nightmare Court.

[Ahlen]

Love Asura animations, and the tactical advantage of being small in PVP.

Also Asura is the only race with a cultural armor that actually LOOKS LIKE AN ENGINEER.

[avoidconfusion]

I play an Asura Engineer called Tiny Trooper. My Warrior (also Asura) is called Tiny Tempest... simply loved their animations so much I couldn't bring myself to play another race even though it means I am doing the same starting area twice.

[Nevrax]

AnGealt, on 29 August 2012 - 02:55 PM, said:

Now, this is quite a large topic to ask about, as I find that the names and the races are interlinked (obviously), so I will just talk about what I know about.

Which goes best with the Engineer?
This is simple, the Charr and the Asura. The Charr pretty much invented the Engineers and their mechanisms. The Asura because of their natural ingenuity means they would be able to create wonderous devices quite easily. Humans fit most roles easily, but have no specific niche for a profession, and so are viable for them all. The Norn, they can be engineers, but I don't imagine it appealing much to them, as it would seem less heroic them hitting someone with a greatsword or suchlike (unless using the Tool Kit, then they charge in with a wrench). Sylvari seem the least likely to be engineers, due to how close they seem to nature, and seem directly in contrast with the Charr's industrial nature which suits the engineer so well. A Sylvari could pull off being an Engineer though by saying their instinctive curiosity for the world makes them want to learn how everything works (maybe).

Which race/gender do you prefer?
Personally, it is the Sylvari who are the best. I love the idea of how attuned to nature they are (they are plants, so that point is obvious), and their naiveity. They just really appeal to me. But as discussed, they do not suit the role of engineer very well as a race. I also play a male in any game.

Engineer Names?
Now, this is a topic I find quite hard, as I feel a need to keep the names RP-worthy, even though I dont RP. But I will still give it a shot:
Charr:
Second names are the inventive parts here, so for first names, check out the Naming thread here
Darkcog
Quickgear
Fiercewrench
Keenmind (an in game NPC)

Asura:
Asura tend to have short names with double constanants, but I can't think of a way to turn it engineer-y, so my suggestions are generic asura names.
Zigg
Tribbur
Krash
Blipp

Human:
Human names are once again generic, but you can have fun with the surnames, and can even make them titles such as:
the Tinkerer
the Inventer

Norn and Sylvari
I am sorry but I cannot think of any suitable names that aren't mentioned in the naming resources linked before.

I hope this helps a bit!!


EDIT: typos

Wow thx for the detailed insight

It's nice to have some personal insight on these matters

Grtz

[Aggot Roleplayer]

Charr. Only Charr.

[Sir Lemming]

Human, badass steampunk coats...
Other than that, Asura and Charr are probably hte best, although asuras are tend to be magicians instead of 'mere' engineers of phisical stuff.

[Wallach]

Norn are the best at everything. So Norn, I guess.

[DontDisAGuardian]

Wallach, on 30 August 2012 - 11:26 AM, said:

Norn are the best at everything. So Norn, I guess.

Does that include 'not being suitable as an engineer'?

[NickOfTroy]

Mine is a Charr, mostly because the racials seem to synergise (Charzooka, etc).  And they look badass!  The stater monocle is awesome

Pretty much every other race has legitimate reasons for being Engineers, though!

[Wallach]

DontDisAGuardian, on 31 August 2012 - 09:39 AM, said:

Does that include 'not being suitable as an engineer'?

That is up to the individual Norn. When they are Engineers, they are the best Engineers. When they are not Engineers, they are the best at whatever not-Enginerring business they engage in.

[kartana]

I made a Sylvari but really... play what you like best. It's a game!

[Nivrax]

Asura have elite skill that is really suiting for setting Your Own Personal Tower Defense. But my life motto is, if life gives you midgets, punt them. So... Iron Legion Charr!

Also, I approve of your nick.

[dontadow]

This was why I chose them. In most games the big bad race is always the dumb warrior type. I like that the char is the race that  pretty much brought in the new age of tech.

[Deuzerre]

My main character is a Charr Engineer. It goes much better with the background than any other race, the visuals (backpacks & turrets) only fit the Charr and Humans, and the Hidden Pistol has an excellent toolbelt skill.

[Pipples]

Kymeric, on 29 August 2012 - 03:33 PM, said:

Have to say that Sylvari make excellent engineers

I think the mental image of a Sylvari, which is essentially a sentient plant, setting itself on fire with a Flamethrower is just hilarious!

[Kymeric]

Pipples, on 04 September 2012 - 04:33 PM, said:

I think the mental image of a Sylvari, which is essentially a sentient plant, setting itself on fire with a Flamethrower is just hilarious!

I've seen that kind of sentiment expressed many times.

Thing is, fire does just as much of a nasty number to flesh as it does to green plant matter.  It's not like the Sylvari would be any more combustable than a human.

Now Charr, on the other hand, with all of that fur?  And we know how much they love fire.

[datduce]

Asuran, especially my little Asuran named Doom Motor, who wears a bandana and a mask and looks wicked evil with a flame thrower.

But all kidding aside, Ahlen nailed it in the head. The fact of being so damn tiny compared to everyone else helps in PVP.

[axamander]

I chose Asura for the racials.  Pain inverter is awesome against fast swarms that you see in various instances and DE's.  Pop that and getting close with the flamethrower is more beneficial; 30 second CD is nice for a utility skill and toolbelt condition trnafer is nice.  I know its the PVE forum but think warrior/ranger popping quickness and bleeds.

Radiation field is a 15 second AOE weakness + damage + healing reduction; toolbelt skill is more healing reduction.  Nice for trolls and skale or any other regenning mob.  60 second CD but again it lasts 15 friggin seconds.

Technobabble is meh.  Long CD 2 second daze is inferior to toolbelt in every way shape and form.

D-series makes for nice 40 second tank and the power suit has the lol factor for friends or a nice buff for PLing that guildie through class quests 30 levels higher than him.

Sylvari root and tiny AOE heal is inferior.  Have to love the big walking tree though.  Charr seem a bit of a one trick pony with charzooka and I would rather use grenades and supply drop or another elite.  Human is meh.  Norn is meh.

Then there are the asura animations and aesthetics which please my personal tastes perfectly.  Asura all the way.

[Dom]

I chose human for my Engineer. I actually chose human for both my characters. I don't like Asura's, I hate the Charr, Norn are too beefy and I'm saving the Sylvari for when I make my guardian.
I'm also keeping the starter steam punkesque goggles and using transmutation stones to swap them out for higher armored headpieces. Not sure if you can craft the goggles later or if there are karma/armor vendors for those, but I love them and do not want to salvage them to lose them forever. Keep!

[AndrewSX]

Preferred race: Charr.

On the other hand, my engi is human, cause he's the main char.

[Wonder Nugget]

I didn't consider racial abilities, because those can always change, I went with what appealed to me. What I could see fitting the professions, and that is Asura. Charr may have seemed like a better fit but played Prophecies and never um, liked the Charr.