There is already a system for 'activate-able' special attacks in the game which can be profession specific, linked to multiple skills, and have a variety of effects, namely the MA attacks and fixer cluster bullets. There are also two other professions that seem like they would benefit greatly, at least in PvM, from special attacks based on this system: Soldiers and Engineers.
For soldiers, this could be the 'special ammo' solution they have been asking for for quite some time. For engineers, it is a way to boost their damage output via either their trade skills or their grenades and heavy weapons skills. Here are some examples:
Non-profession-specific:
Hand Grenades: Uses and locks Grenades skill. Causes Projectile damage (shrapnel) in a small area around the target mob. Attack has a low min damage and moderate max damage; may be a 'min damage monster.' Expended by use, has a moderate recharge timer. The icon should be a little cartoon bomb cause I said so
Soldier-Only:
Furious Plasma Beam: Uses ranged energy, assault rifle, locks ranged energy. A special modification to the soldier's weapon allows it to build up plasma energy in a dangerous overload for a single shot to do severe energy damage to a single target. Attack has high min damage and isn't expended by use, but has a fairly long recharge timer. The overheating weapon causes some damage back to the soldier.
Engineer-Only:
Demolition Bomb: A bomb designed for taking down structures that the engineer throws at an enemy. Uses mechanical engineering, grenades; locks grenades. Does plenty of fire damage to a decent-sized area. Long recharge timer.
Anti-Matter Bomb: Highly illegal technology uses Quantum FT, heavy weapons, and grenades, locking all of them. Does scary high damage but hurts the user also. Very long recharge timer. Kind of like Shen's recharge timer.
(Engineer-only specials should be constructed via tradeskills from items available in tradeskill terminals and are expended by use).
Soldier & Engineer Both
Artillery Shells: Big bullets that explode. Uses heavy weapons. Does lots of damage, long recharge timer, expended by use.
