Guild Wars 2

Or is this another zerg-zerg-zerg release?

I am personaly having great fun with this release so it up to you.

It’s a huge zerg fest. But I guess that comes with the fact that this game still has too many players.

On the other hand, a few of the (seemingly very grindy rewards) are looking good and Lion’s Arch is looking stunning in this state, too

Not worth it imho

It’s like Queen’s Jubilee, but without the gauntlet part.

Ah.. just saw a screenshot with some 5-6 commanders at the same place, with a megablob. Thanks for letting me know, now I don’t have to waste time on it cause I know I won’t like it. :P

Actually went back to count them, guess… 11 commanders.

http://gyazo.com/1ec62c1ad66dbc6374246f3f6152d768.png

now imagine it was a 20-40 “raid”-like instance

i bet it would be so much better

but seriously, I don’t get this, anet.

The last updates were all about how to not make the game a boring zerg fest again. the new jungle wurm has things to split zergs and to make the zergs DO something organized … the marionette had a zerg-character only in the defend-area and these were splitted into 5!

So why are we back to mindless zergs now? why?

Because people are mindless. There’s enough to do with small groups or solo.

It’s a huge zerg fest. Follow the group and spam auto attack while watching TV on other screen.

Arenanet could do so much better then this crap.

It is an all out war zone what did you expect?

that said:
you can follow the blob, split up and do events in small parties , or you can solo around and rescue citizens and collect keepsakes, or just sight see.

no reason to zerg if you don’t want to.
it is useful to have people around to get you back up though, since it is pretty lethal in there

That’s silly :c . It is completely worth logging in to see and take in the fantastic horror of Lion’s Arch getting completely obliterated! Especially considering it’s an important part of the story arc that’s been going on! This first season of the living story is going to be concluded in the next 2 updates or so before they take a break from the living story to focus on implementing new features. Regardless of how zerg it is, it is still completely worth taking a look to witness history being made in Tyria.

And if that drill is for what i think it is, you definitely don’t want to miss the next updates!

You are from Vabbi, you are ptetty good at escaping the zerg and doing things in small groups or solo. I learned that doing it solo and/ot with a small group is more effective in letting people escape but I haven’t tried it myself.

How about…

…logging in to play the game, analyze it a bit and then come up with your own opinion as well as suggestions on gameplay improvement instead of posting a provoking thread?
…not forcing “worth” as an antonym to “zerg” when speaking of a large-scale multi-alliance invasion into the most important city in Tyria?

Ah, my bad, I forgot we’re playing Forum Wars 2 here, not Guild Wars 2. I should go check if my browser has already fetched an update for this Living Story.

Sure aspirine I could do that…, but I’m getting a bit bored of deliberately playing the game the hard way to make it more challenging, when the problem is not my playstyle, but the game’s mechanics and the fact that the game is not catered to rewarding challenges, but zerging.

If you enjoy pressing 1 I would highly recommend it.

Lishtenbird.2814:

How about…

…logging in to play the game, analyze it a bit and then come up with your own opinion as well as suggestions on gameplay improvement instead of posting a provoking thread?
…not forcing “worth” as an antonym to “zerg” when speaking of a large-scale multi-alliance invasion into the most important city in Tyria?

Ah, my bad, I forgot we’re playing Forum Wars 2 here, not Guild Wars 2. I should go check if my browser has already fetched an update for this Living Story.

Fyi, my question was sincere. I wasn’t trying to provoke really.
The last story parts I was naive enough to log in and try them, but given the amount of zerging that Anet featured there… well wanted to ask first, try later.
But, judging on what people think about it, the best thing I can do is sit this one out.

Sirendor.1394:

Ah.. just saw a screenshot with some 5-6 commanders at the same place, with a megablob. Thanks for letting me know, now I don’t have to waste time on it cause I know I won’t like it. :P

Actually went back to count them, guess… 11 commanders.

http://gyazo.com/1ec62c1ad66dbc6374246f3f6152d768.png

Nobody forces you to follow the zerg.

Lots of zerging, yes. It’s the same as most living world updates, fun for a little while but will wear out quickly.

I just played one event but is the same as the invasions and harder to complete (or people are just more stupid now). Even the chat is filled with the same crap (need more for that, don’t do that, split, commander sucks and the random kids throwing random insults).

I missed the previous updates so I don’t even know what’s going on and that may affect my judge on this but is not worth IMO.

It is a zerg fest, the classical “hit one, one and one again”.

Better grind hundreds of event items for the rewards. Did I say hundreds – I meant thousands.

It’s a zerg fest if you never want to get the top rewards. This event requires people to be spread out in key locations for things to fall into place. But when something new like this happens most people just stack on a commander tag and follow the train around. Without having at least 7-10 groups spread out across the map there is no way that you would be able to get the top rewards. Give it a few more days and hopefully people will start to figure it out.

Coming on the forums and screaming zerg fest just because you do not want to take the time to figure out how to maximize the event. Then that is part of the problem contributing to people zerging.

Sirendor.1394:

Fyi, my question was sincere. I wasn’t trying to provoke really.
The last story parts I was naive enough to log in and try them, but given the amount of zerging that Anet featured there… well wanted to ask first, try later.
But, judging on what people think about it, the best thing I can do is sit this one out.

Now, point by point:

• “Asking” an intentionally biased question (“Guys, it’s bad, right?”) will get you the answer you intend to get because those people who agree with the topic will tend to post. That’s pretty natural (and a part of public speaking mastery actually).
• Instead of stating the opinion you want people to second, you could ask people to post the good/bad points of the patch at the moment. That way you could get much more info (like people telling you about the scenery, or new roles of the usual NPCs and their dialogues, or moas, or tengu, or some map exploration achievements, or new tokens and backpack recipes etc.)
• However, by this moment you already have the bad experience from the release imprinted before you even tried it. But you already knew the answer anyway, and not playing content is the best way not to accidentally get any kind of pleasure and prove yourself wrong.
• Once again, an MMORPG should be “massive”, and if you want non-zerg=solo content only, I’m not sure where’s the point in playing an online game. A second to last event is supposed to be twice as epic and massive.
• The previous content patch – Marionette – was all about breaking up zerg and using tactics. Have you played it at all? I participated about 40-50 times, got 3 wins only because of people who’re not capable of doing non-zerg content but still got 2 watchwork moas, an ascended armor chest and a couple of 4-6g recipes. That patch, however, made it clear that the majority of casuals are unable to handle that skill level, and we will be having something in between for the time being.
• The other world boss – triple wurm – is ALL about playing roles and knowing tactics. It requires a whole map of skilled players who’re looking for a challenge – than why don’t you join them in doing it?
• The new EoTM map as well is far more about tactics and skills then many flat maps.
• Heck, even the old Tower of Nightmares needed tactics and gave you different instanced encounters which required personal skills.

That said, I simply don’t get it why you’re focusing on zerg-zerg-zerg that much. Probably you either…

• Want to do everything by yourself in an MMO as in a solo offline game.
• Or do not care for anything in the game (including landscapes, dialogues and fancy tactics achievements) apart from killing monsters, and that’s what makes you see only zergfest.

It’s worth it. It’s a lot of fun. Yes, there are zergs but you don’t have to follow them. And to earn top rewards you have to spread out and accomplish many events. Not a single massive zerg moving through the city.

I’m having a fun time in a small group. We usually run around the outskirts doing the escort quests and reviving people, since the sheep are too busy mindlessly following the blue doritos.

Acerola.6407:

It’s a huge zerg fest. But I guess that comes with the fact that this game still has too many players.

You really think Guild Wars 2 has much players? Because I don´t…

It’s like Queens Jubilee but less fun. Log in to do it once then hope they actually took something from the CDI and make the next LS worthwhile.

Its worth checking out once to see the intro and then seeing the loot you get.

After that its only worth doing if you want any rewards for your characters.

The only things that interest me are the:-

Ascended Backpiece and Thoughtless Potion. Everything else reward wide is TRASH to me.

I have already decieded the Ascended backpiece is too grindy and expensive in resources so not bothering with that…

If I can get confirmation of Thoughtless potion is a permanent effect I will go for it.

Otherwise not loging in till 4.3.14…

Fasyx.9347:

Acerola.6407:

It’s a huge zerg fest. But I guess that comes with the fact that this game still has too many players.

You really think Guild Wars 2 has much players? Because I don´t…

You don’t have eyes and you lack a brain, then.

There is no need to join the zergs; you can wander around by yourself. I actually had fun knocking a huge molten champion down to 75% before the zerg showed up and insta-killed it.

But seriously, it’s a huge map to fight on.

It isn’t a mindless zerg fest it requires coordination between multiple shifting points throughout the zone. First it is split between three zones just to get in. From there it is split between three main defense events. Then the sweep up starts, completing defense events and also fighting the three simultaneous miasma events that repeatedly pop. Once it is all going to pot there are the three separate boss fights.

There is a lot to do and explore. And if you’re anything like me you also want to get your hands on the new Vistas which are pretty awesome.

Fasyx.9347:

Acerola.6407:

It’s a huge zerg fest. But I guess that comes with the fact that this game still has too many players.

You really think Guild Wars 2 has much players? Because I don´t…

That must be why there are endless overflows for this even, right?

I’ve nearly felt asleep while spamming 1 i’m not joking, this update is really boring for me, and i still have to do brainless events and fight against the horrible lag and fps if i ever want to craft the ascended backpiece since i need 900+ blades to do, so yeah i’ll pass on this one after week-end, i hope the last update is going to be better because i really felt like an old guy after he took some pills before sleeping while watching tv.

Lishtenbird.2814:

• Instead of stating the opinion you want people to second, you could ask people to post the good/bad points of the patch at the moment.

What’s the point if they are inquiring if the content requires a certain mentality they find not enjoyable in order to play? Also you not considering the type of audience they are appealing to. Regardless of how they word the question it would be “provoking” simply due to the fact there is differing opinions on the matter.

Lishtenbird.2814:

• However, by this moment you already have the bad experience from the release imprinted before you even tried it. But you already knew the answer anyway, and not playing content is the best way not to accidentally get any kind of pleasure and prove yourself wrong.

Incorrect not playing the content and asking for others opinions is the most efficient way to learn if there is even the silver possibility of finding enjoyment from the content. One knows one’s own tastes and can gauge from the feedback provided by others whether or not a piece of content of a video game would be worth their time or not. Every single one of us is selfish in that regard, we have our favored style of playing the game and will defend any content that allows us to indulge it.

Lishtenbird.2814:

• Once again, an MMORPG should be “massive”, and if you want non-zerg=solo content only, I’m not sure where’s the point in playing an online game. A second to last event is supposed to be twice as epic and massive.

The hardware can’t support the definition, look at Final Fantasy XIV’s end event before the relaunch they had to divert the players to another location. I will concede that a second to last event should be impressive and massive, however I find this event to be quite small. An simultaneous strike against the capital cities or even the Order’s bases would give a feeling of massive as well as possibly alleviated the stains caused by Zergs.

• The previous content patch – Marionette – was all about breaking up zerg and using tactics. Have you played it at all? I participated about 40-50 times, got 3 wins only because of people who’re not capable of doing non-zerg content but still got 2 watchwork moas, an ascended armor chest and a couple of 4-6g recipes. That patch, however, made it clear that the majority of casuals are unable to handle that skill level, and we will be having something in between for the time being.

I have a different theory on what the patch highlighted. Supposed skill level was not the thing highlighted, but rather the lack of empathy within the various factions of the Guild Wars 2 community. Several of your points made seem to support this. Unfortunately I am incapable of providing a solution if this is indeed the problem.

Well, I’ve recently had chance to experience the path for about 1,5h.
Once I logged into LA and looked upon the map, I just decided to totally don’t give a single kitten about zergs blobbing around and main events. Instead, over 2 defenses I’ve explored about 60% of the map solo or with some random help of occassional players. I think the content for solo is nicely balanced. I was able to cut through the map slowly, killing pack after pack, sometimes pulling single groups and trying to avoid bigger, elite groups as they weren’t really balanced around soloing without better preparation.
Map gives you cool tools which will help you in your roaming, like Aether Shield or potions. It’s really cool patch to experience solo/duo so far. I have yet to try some blobbing for those events, but not really that interested.
I think you should try it out. But don’t check dulfy, look for zerg or look up to these grindmaster rewards. Just hop in, take a path and do what you want.

Darkbattlemage.9612:

Lishtenbird.2814:

• However, by this moment you already have the bad experience from the release imprinted before you even tried it. But you already knew the answer anyway, and not playing content is the best way not to accidentally get any kind of pleasure and prove yourself wrong.

Incorrect not playing the content and asking for others opinions is the most efficient way to learn if there is even the silver possibility of finding enjoyment from the content. One knows one’s own tastes and can gauge from the feedback provided by others whether or not a piece of content of a video game would be worth their time or not. Every single one of us is selfish in that regard, we have our favored style of playing the game and will defend any content that allows us to indulge it.

Logging in for one run won’t kill you, and if you’re already so discontent with the game that you would just want to sit it out it isn’t going to crush your spirits either.

The only way to know is to do. People will spout what they spout, and unless you know everyone who is responding and know if their tastes match yours then nothing anyone tells you is actually meaningful. The best option is to log in and play it once. Actually be inside Lion’s Arch for ten minutes and decide if it’s not worth it. Anything else is just a waste of time and effort on all sides.

Lishtenbird.2814:

• Once again, an MMORPG should be “massive”, and if you want non-zerg=solo content only, I’m not sure where’s the point in playing an online game. A second to last event is supposed to be twice as epic and massive.

The hardware can’t support the definition, look at Final Fantasy XIV’s end event before the relaunch they had to divert the players to another location. I will concede that a second to last event should be impressive and massive, however I find this event to be quite small. An simultaneous strike against the capital cities or even the Order’s bases would give a feeling of massive as well as possibly alleviated the stains caused by Zergs.

The Hardware works just fine and supports it just fine. It definitely feels like it should. Also, while simultaneous attacks might seem more epic to you, they don’t have anything to do with the story that’s being told. Even attacking the Orders is entirely irrelevant to the plot.

Lishtenbird.2814:

Lishtenbird.2814:

• The previous content patch – Marionette – was all about breaking up zerg and using tactics. Have you played it at all? I participated about 40-50 times, got 3 wins only because of people who’re not capable of doing non-zerg content but still got 2 watchwork moas, an ascended armor chest and a couple of 4-6g recipes. That patch, however, made it clear that the majority of casuals are unable to handle that skill level, and we will be having something in between for the time being.

I have a different theory on what the patch highlighted. Supposed skill level was not the thing highlighted, but rather the lack of empathy within the various factions of the Guild Wars 2 community. Several of your points made seem to support this. Unfortunately I am incapable of providing a solution if this is indeed the problem.

Neither of these things are true. It was a failure in the design of the event that led to people with high plays but low wins. Though how anyone could play 40-50 times and get only 3 wins is beyond me. I played 20-30, maybe if that, but at least half of them were wins, minimum. And I am definitely a casual player.

It was the inability of the small groups to have any impact on the outcome beyond the small circle they influenced that caused the problems, not the casuals, and not the “lack of empathy.”

In this event they’ve removed the small groups, but still require separated groups to work together simultaneously, while also having other groups completing separate tasks, and also leaving room for individuals to go off and do their own thing, while still providing for the overall event.

I’d rather enjoy this zerg-fest more than any of the previous zergs, because mobs are pretty hard hitting. I see zergs get blown off to bits all the time.

Big zergfest that wasn’t very friendly to my upleveled 72 guardian alt.

Was getting one shot with 18k and 13k hits left and right. Nothing fun about that.

Had to log onto an 80 just to be able to survive.

I ran it twice last night, it’s another overflow zerg fest, i just camped guardian staff because I figure I’d put as much effort into playing it as they put into making it.

The quaggan tonics are nice and it’ll be a great way to farm obsidian if you need those. Otherwise it’s just the same ol stuff. At least with the previous event they had to split up the zerg in to 5 smaller zergs.

I tried to run it with friends, we got split up into different overflows even though we were in the same party which was kind of dumb.

This game really needs to do away with overflows and have districts like in GW1.

Sorry to say but it is one big zergfest. And unfortunately, of the worst kind I’ve played yet (or at least in a while) in gw2.

The only thing good that came out of this patch was the armor sets.

Ppl say it’s rewarding to leave the zerg to solo but what is the reward? Exp?
The zerg offers protection, rezzes and mass amounts of bag drops. Who the heck would leave the zerg?

I’ve had a great deal of fun with it so far myself. There is the mindless zerg true, but it’s also fun to skulk through the city solo and (re)explore. Personally I’ve found it one of the more enjoyable updates, but to each their own. Certainly worth logging in to check it out however.

Kal Spiro.9745:

Logging in for one run won’t kill you, and if you’re already so discontent with the game that you would just want to sit it out it isn’t going to crush your spirits either.

But it would be a waste of that person’s time to log in and try it for themselves in comparison to leaving a question on a forum. Perhaps the person asking was at work or in a location where they don’t have access to the game. Asking is a very legitimate way to learn.

Kal Spiro.9745:

The only way to know is to do. People will spout what they spout, and unless you know everyone who is responding and know if their tastes match yours then nothing anyone tells you is actually meaningful. The best option is to log in and play it once. Actually be inside Lion’s Arch for ten minutes and decide if it’s not worth it. Anything else is just a waste of time and effort on all sides.

Incorrect there are various ways to find out if the content is to one’s preference, an good example is asking on the Forums. Knowing the tastes of others is irrelevant to one’s own decision. Using one’s own interests as a template one can quickly deduce whom have similar enough interests and who don’t. For example I do not like massive pvp content as it trends to devolve into pointless name calling and claims of supposed skill. Using this I can filter out the PvP Players posts, as their opinions would be from a perspective I don’t share, and focus solely on the PvE posts. Further filtering could reveal I actually might like the content as a PvE player with similar interests to my own found enjoyment, or what normally happens I find the content too dissimilar to my interests that I simply move on.

Kal Spiro.9745:

The Hardware works just fine and supports it just fine. It definitely feels like it should. Also, while simultaneous attacks might seem more epic to you, they don’t have anything to do with the story that’s being told. Even attacking the Orders is entirely irrelevant to the plot.

I’ve read different opinions on that subject, but I wish to not discuss hardware capabilities so I will concede this portion to you. As for simultaneous attacks being irrelevant to the plot, I disagree. She’s at war with all three Orders and all five major races. Her actions have prompted this response, allowing her enemies to gather in force will prove a fatal mistake. Also if whatever she searching for is hostile to her she has placed herself between two enemies, essentially between an Hammer and Anvil.

Kal Spiro.9745:

It was the inability of the small groups to have any impact on the outcome beyond the small circle they influenced that caused the problems, not the casuals, and not the “lack of empathy.”

Lack of empathy played a role on the forums, and some circumstances in game. Your initial response highlights my point. Instead of merely accepting someone might not want to log in and try the content but rather read others’ opinions to decide whether they like it or not you instead claimed that trying the content was the only way of finding out. This is similar to the argument made by the PvP elements of the community to the PvE elements and vice versa.

Mad Rasputin.7809:

Big zergfest that wasn’t very friendly to my upleveled 72 guardian alt.

Was getting one shot with 18k and 13k hits left and right. Nothing fun about that.

Had to log onto an 80 just to be able to survive.

Was playing with my 56 Memser, got him up to 59 after 2 runs. No idea what you were doing but I survived fine.

Zergfest yes, but fun. And its cool to explore the city.

After the 5th event or so it will get boring yes, but you are not require to grind it. The first few times it’s fun.

If you want to do any of the events you will be in a zerg, regardless if you want to be or not. The only way to avoid a zerg is picking off small enemies off the beaten track but you will find it substantially less rewarding.

The map is 100% built around zerg gameplay, quite the step backwards from the Marionette. Kind of a disappointment in my books I was expecting the occasional large scale fight, but constant zergs are not much fun.

Personally I am okay with this, it means I can give Guild Wars 2 a break for two weeks and play other games until the next update. Though no doubt Arena Net would see that as a fail as the whole point is to keep players in game playing content.

No dude it’s terrible and everything.

Please stay away from the game, don’t even post the forums.

Avascar.9237:

I’d rather enjoy this zerg-fest more than any of the previous zergs, because mobs are pretty hard hitting. I see zergs get blown off to bits all the time.

Problem with this is that there’s no way to see what’s killing them at all. Suddenly a bunch of downed people in front of me with no animation to show what’s happening.