Guild Wars 2

I’ve noticed that the amount of commanders in game has increased quite dramatically within the last month (and no doubt the amount of commanders will contunie to rise). This is fantastic as they are needed; especially with the most recent living story quests which require large groups cooperating to efficiently neutralise enemies in the time limit, or to maximise effort/loot.

Issue #1 However, in fast paced game play when there are many commanders in one map it becomes difficult to keep tabs on which commander you’re following.

Proposition #1 : Commander tags are default blue when one commander is present and tagged up on the map. When another commander tags up or travels into the map, their commander tag is a different colour. Each commander in the map has a different coloured commander tag for easy distinction. (Obviously the colour of their tag wouldn’t be permanent: if commander #2 moved into another map with no commanders their tag would be blue).

Issue #2 Another issue is novice commanders who would rather take advantage of the zerg they have following them rather than coordinating the group properly.

Proposition #2 : By hovering your mouse over the commander tag you are able to see “Commander Rank”. This is how many “thumbs up” the commander has received whilst serving. By right clicking the commander tag you should be able to give the commander +1 on their commander rank as a regular player, and, perhaps, +5 if you are a commander too. “Commander Rank” should be account bound. The amount of “thumbs up” a week should be regulated so that players can only “thumbs up” a particular commander X amount of times a week OR “thumbs up” all commanders X amount of times a week.

Not only would this be a good way for players to feedback on a commander’s actions, but may also help encourage pro-group behaviour from commanders. It also may help in areas with lots of commanders to communicate (as a “Commander Rank” may promote a particular individual to take lead).

I may also suggest a “thumbs down” option as well, but I realise that this may be exploited by some for the purpose of upset, unless properly regulated. For example, perhaps 3 people would have to “thumbs down” a Commander for the Commander to lose a “Commander Rank Point”, or a player could have a more limited application of “thumbs down” per account per week than a “thumbs up”.

I hope this makes sense! (It’s my first suggestion, I have a few more to come :D )
Crimson Clouds

You probably should have just posted this onto my thread..? I said half the stuff you did.
it’s like not even 10th from the top..

Sorry about that, just read your post. Tbh, I’ve been mulling the Commander problem for days now and I was just so desperate to post. (I’m not a Commander, I’m just fed up with following a “novice Commander” (y’know, to put it lightly) ).

As with posting half of the stuff you did, I agree, we have something in common about the colour of the commander tag, but that is really as far as it stretches. (I was considering the ‘pick your own colour’ option, but I reckon a lot of people are going to choose similar colours- rather than colours strikingly different enough to easily distinguish).

I will re-read your post again and then feedback on it in good faith

Either way, it’s good that two people have thought that there could be a similar improvement made, right?

So, as a Commander, what do you think of my Commander Rank idea?

I agree, we did have a lot of agreement, but it’s just easier to add everything up onto one thread, that’s all. keeps the discussion going meaning more people will see it, that’s all. There’s been other commander threads but they’ve been so kitten. Anything Arena-Net adds in is a win in my book for now. I also agree that it would be cool to have a “thumbs up” or ranking system. I just hit my 5000 character limit for that post, ahah. I would love to see some friendly competition

Taking my suggestion I see….so Original > >

Sadly the thumbs up system could be easily abused in a number of ways. To illustrate a few, anyone with friends, or even without friends could beg for thumbs up to get rank promotions, especially if rewards are tied to the system in any fashion.

Secondly, it would quickly become an elitist measuring stick and regardless of a commander’s skill, if they’re new they’ll likely be ignored even if they’re right. This happens already with well known commanders vs newer commanders. A thumbs up system would only enhance this effect of making anyone new to dropping 100g for their rank tag obsolete.

It would be worse than gear score and the two issues would play off each other. A new commander can’t get people to follow them because they don’t have the rank so they beg for thumbs up in the streets or from friends which eliminates the purpose of the system in the first place, and then the ranks mean nothing so it won’t fix the solution of novice players having ‘status’.