Guild Wars Mini-Interview #26

ArenaNet has answered another small batch of questions about their upcoming Guild Wars, and this time the interview is over at Guild Wars France. Here's a bit of what to expect:
Q: Do you think you could add equipments that would be reserved to the different class combinations, with more balanced characteristics? For example, an armor for W/Mo which would provide less defense but a little energy bonus?

A: The armor for various professions is getting more and more stylized in both appearance and function. For instance, the armor at one point simply added defense. Now, it adds pluses to specific elemental damage, or pluses to hex defense, or a variety of different defenses in addition to the straight (this will protect you by '˜X' amount) sorts of armor defense.

In your example of a Warrior/Monk, I think I understand what you are asking, which is (If I am willing to give up some defense on my armor, may I attain an increase in Energy, either through a straight '˜+ to Energy' or through, perhaps, a faster regeneration rate?) The answer to that is (yes.) In fact, there already is such an option in the game. Take the Ranger's Druid Set. When you read the description and I sure hope I read it properly since I just bought part of the set ;) you get a defense of 75 and a +1 to Energy Regeneration when you wear the armor. This means that if my Ranger usually regenerates Energy at a rate of 3 (pips,) (arrows on the Energy bar, or the symbol showing the rate of regeneration) with this armor she will regenerate at a rate of 4 pips. The downside to this armor, the price that I will pay in using it, is that there is a -10 to defense against fire attacks. You will want to review the pluses and minuses to an armor set and of course weigh which type of armor is best for your particular character.