ArenaNet:Guild Wars 2 suggestions/Rits should also worship Melandru

(Discussion)
[Re-posted after I realized I clicked on the Race page.. I must've had a reason for doing that but I don't remember. Honestly though this doesn't belong here either, as this pertains more to semantic discussion rather than the ilk going on here.]

Only some of the spirits are summoned against their will (not all of them feature chains), and it may be that many of the spirit are servants of the Gods anyway. I must stress: Rits should ALSO be related to Melandru (and not her primarily, since that would change the way Rits were presented originally).

The spiritual world can be attributed to NATURE on our planet. Look at the entire set-up of the Ritualist attributes: "Channeling Magic", "Communing", "Restoration Magic", "Spawning Power"... despite spawning power far and away from nature, and Restoration Magic vaguely connected, Communing and Channeling (especially Communing) have "natural" connotations (lol!).

Simply put, they're not only soul summoners. Ritualists also heal you with spells (some of whose names sound like they come from a spiritualist's vocabulary, whom btw seek attunement with nature), enhance you via weapon spells, and they also hold ashes. Ashes are attributed to the earth and to the dead.

Many a Shaman in the real world revere nature as well. Like I said, I don't see why not: not doing this wouldn't change a thing, and doing this wouldn't be negative anyway. Heck I bet most of these "casual gamers" won't even notice, so it wouldn't hurt.

As far as Grenth worshippers go, assuming that Rits do Rit things and Necros do Necro things (i.e. ignore secondary professions), then Ritualists are a pretty versatile class -- just enough for it to be a shame (and honestly, nonsensical) for them to not be under multiple patronage. Necromancers, on the other hand, are so far up Grenth's alley that even though they are arguably as versatile as Ritualists (meh), nothing we can do (or say) can take them away from their god. LOL

Fact of GW life is this: Melandru and Lyssa are the least-represented of the Gods, assuming there's an equal number of players over all professions. Let's look at a tally of attribution or association (keep in mind I am just gleaning this info from GuildWiki AND the Nightfall Manuscripts):

--Professions-- (see Attributes to see why some classes are attributed to other Gods as well)
 * Dwayna: Monks, Aeromancers, Dervish, and apparently Paragons (4)
 * Balthazar: Warriors, Paragons, Pyromancers, Monks, Dervish (5)
 * Grenth: Necromancers, Ritualists, Hydromancers, Dervish (4)
 * Lyssa: Mesmers, Assassins, Dervish (3)
 * Melandru: Rangers, Geomancers, Dervish (3)

--Attributes-- (only those specifically said to be "associated with a God", and if not, those which link professions to Gods according to GuildWiki and my own conjecture: all other attributes like Swordsmanship, Scythe Mastery, Divine Favor, etc. are intrinsically assumed).
 * Dwayna: Healing Prayers, Air Magic, Wind Prayers (supposition), Leadership, Motivation (5)
 * Balthazar: Fire Magic, Command, Spear Mastery, Protection Prayers, Smiting Prayers (5)
 * Grenth: Water Magic, Deadly Arts (supposition) (1)
 * Lyssa: Energy Storage, Mysticism (2)
 * Melandru: Earth Prayers, Earth Magic (2)

-Totals-
 * Dwayna: 9
 * Balthazar: 10
 * Grenth: 6
 * Lyssa: 5
 * Melandru: 5

I've spent a considerable amount of whitespace arguing semantics, so the tallies are a numeric reasoning for my proposal. Hence, Lyssa is pretty pwned as it is, not sure what to do with her... but if you were to ignore all Dervish and Elementalist references, since they have multiple god patriarchy, then Melandru is clearly the loser in the profession tally; Grenth gets half the theme of Wintersday and you fight an entire chain of quests for him in the Underworld; and Melandru?

Nuff said.

[P.S: I wouldn't call upon the God of War and Fire for PROTECTION in the heat of battle, I'd call upon him to lay the smack down on my enemies. Yeesh. Guess I'm too technical and missing some semantic.]


 * Why this is a good idea
 * Some official descriptions of Rits, aside from "shamans" who summon forth the spirit world, etc., also say they "While Rangers live in harmony with nature: Ritualists are masters of it." Or something like that.
 * The spirit world is as much to do with nature than death: otherwise we can claim Rangers have a small affinity for Grenth as well.

99.247.17.46 19:42, 21 August 2008 (UTC)Jarrkha
 * Why it may not work out
 * I don't see why not. Doesn't detract from Ritualists to add it for GW2.
 * Someone said: "A Ranger uses the power of nature to assist them. Ritualists summon spirits AGAINST THEIR WILL to fight for them. Honestly, I think chaining a soul to fight for you is just as Demonic as summoning minions to fight for you. Grenth is for Ritualists. Melandru is for Rangers." Honestly, when did the Gods become exclusive to classes? That ain't how it works. It is more that the classes are exclusive to some Gods (notice how I didn't say "one of the Gods"). It is not "I am Dwayna, therefore I claim dominion over Monks and the rest of you Gods cannot" it is more like "I am a Monk, therefore I worship Dwayna, and Balthazar..." ;)
 * You wasted your time. All professions worship ALL gods. No God is profession bound, and shouldn't be.