Until tonight, I had thoroughly enjoyed my time in GW2. Almost without exception. I had leveled a Thief to 80 and several other characters to the 30’s along with my wife and oldest son. I had nothing but good things to say to all my friends about how the team at NCSoft had managed to solve so many of the common problems plaguing other MMOs. But now I must take a moment to bring something to your attention that I feel sours the milk somewhat.
After a herculean effort by many players in Malchor’s Leap, taking over two hours to finally coordinate our efforts, we finally managed to kill the Risen Priestess Boss. It was a difficult encounter to be sure, but it was nothing compared to challenge we would soon face…
After completing this event, a chest spawns and shortly thereafter, a karma merchant spawns in the center of the dias where we had fought the Priestess. Sadly, the developers apparently do not want you to be rewarded for your efforts as the entire area is constantly swarmed with Risen and bombarded with catapult fire. Both of which make it nearly impossible to access the vendor without being tossed about and killed multiple times. Now bear in mind that these are level 80 Exotic items costing 42,000 Karma each. One might wish to spend a few moments comparing the items on the vendor to their current gear, as well as seeing what they look like with the preview option, prior to making a purchase with your hard-earned Karma. Again, however, you are constantly slammed around with catapult fire and relentlessly swarmed with Risen while trying to access the vendor. Also bear in mind that this vendor is not accessible unless this event has been completed.
I would like to make two suggestions that I feel would greatly benefit the players who have been forced to make hasty decisions and wasted Karma due to the nature of the mechanics at work here.
1.) For a small measure of time after the event completes, place a shield around the dias that only players can pass through. This would allow people to access the chest and the vendor without being under duress the entire time.
-and-
2.) The Lyssa Waypoint, which is not contested after the event is completed, should not drop players into the middle of 20 angry Risen. For one thing, it makes no sense that after defeating the Boss and driving off her minions, they continue to infest the shrine. For another, in the absence of any sort of protective barrier like the one mentioned above, even if you manage to clear the platform for a few scant seconds to peer at the vendors wares, the very next person that teleports to the waypoint drags another 10 Risen up onto the platform with them when they come to shop.
Honestly, I expected better from NCSoft. This game is breathtakingly beautiful, painstakingly laid out, and so well executed in so many other areas, that it makes things like this stand out like a giant sore thumb.
Please be considerate of the massive time investment of your players when designing events like this. Not just to complete the event itself, but in the aftermath as well.
Thank you,
Dubhlainn Vaughn