There is a void in this game that I would like to draw attention to. I will attempt to express it in terms of crafting and building but by no means is it limited to these areas. Just that I am most acquainted with it and believe I stand the best chance at clearly expressing my thoughts within that context. It is my hope that others will elaborate on it so that it stands a chance at becoming a useful thread for the Development team.
The game is largely focused on drawing individuals together as a group to accomplish a goal. Such as dungeons, WvW, PvP, fractals, boss fights, farming groups, etc. Word exploration, although it can be done in the company of a group, is largely a personal journey until completed. Which makes it somewhat unique outside the main story. Each has its own style along with its pros and cons. Topics of discussion outside of this thread.
I for one play to relax, to burn time while working on real life tasks. This translates into constant interruptions that make it challenging even frustrating to run with groups due to their fast pace and dependence on everyone functioning efficiently together for hours.
It is my desire to see crafting or some other means created that caters to the casual builder / crafter. Put in place a means for some that desire to spend our time building elaborate homes or other structures on a timeline that is set by the player(s). Once that mechanic is put in place the wealthy non combat builder has a strong desire to hire player services. Other players of like mind that may choose to help in the building process. Gathering supplies from nearby nodes, packing them onto yaks and moving them back to the build site. All of which would be made a bit easier with a combat focused escort for higher end materials. For example, maybe a roaming warrior working on map completion stumbles upon the secluded build site. Is intrigued, strikes up a conversation with the tired old builder who puts him/her to hired work for a bit. Protecting his supply yaks for a change of pace and giving a Warrior something useful to do that helps a person and not just the game – to be useful. Who knows? But that’s the beauty of it. The player base determines the outcome, not so much the game.
The key here is that these elements and pace are largely driven by the builder not by the game schedule. No amount of wealth will permit the site to be completed unless the builder is capable of working with others or just enjoys the slow grind of building and running supplies in a relatively safety of the build site that he purchased. Creating something unique at a pace they set and directly oversee. Which for some of us is really enjoyable. Even if it is a small portion of the whole.
Allow these structures to be decorated. Build in functionality that allows a crafter to branch off and specialize over time. Making their skills unique or rare and thus highly sought after by other players. That help cater to erecting these small homes or elaborate castle sites.
I am not sure how this could be implemented within the current game design. Since it would likely require dense areas of materials, plots of land across the entirety of the map. In various sizes and densities. Sizes from 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 1, .5, .25 acre lots for example. The options are endless. Yaks for hire and the mechanics that drive it all. Maybe it’s too much. I Just don’t know.
Not all of us want to fight all of the time. Some of us would be perfectly content just chipping away on a personal project to help pass the time. Building relationships as we go. Maybe someone in Divinities Reach will take notice and write an article in Home Décor magazine about the new castle being erected in a far off corner of Brisban Wildlands. :-) Ya never know.
I vaguely recall reading something about players building out new map locations so maybe something similar is already in the works. But i really enjoy GW2 but am getting tired of working my way through the same old fight mechanics in a different setting.