Guild Wars 2

The Setup

In my efforts to think of ways to make Guild Wars 2’s combat more than just “dps, spamfests” ~ I noticed something…

Poison = DoT + Healing debuf.
#Stacks in duration ONLY.

Burn = DoT
#Stacks in duration ONLY.

Bleed = Dot
#Stacks in duration AND power.

The Problem

Every class has at least one ability to “eat” ~ discard ~ transfer ~ reverse conditions on them and/or others around them.

As a Necro, I’ve got at least 3 ways to do it.. one of which lasts upwards of 6 seconds.

Now add in that Poison and Burn can only stack in duration and bleeding has a limit on how “much” it can actually stack.. and you begin to question their usefulness.

~IE: Gear w/duration bonuses are virtually useless in WvW / PvP / PvE (everything).

The Suggestion

~ Incomparables ~
http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/power-creep

Damage should NOT be your only concern.. as it makes combat stale.

Problem::
If you’re fighting a mob that has stupid regen and likes ta knock ya down (so ya can’t keep hitting him, which gives his regen more than enough time ta make up for your dmg)

Solution::
Poison = weak dot + MASSIVE healing debuff
#Only stacks in duration.
#Is completely removed via “cleansing” abilties.

Problem::
Mob has WAAAAY to much HP and keeps summoning more mobs that “buff him”.

Solution::
Toxic = Strong dot that gets stronger the longer it’s on someone.
#Stacks in duration AND power (power = to how long it’s on them)
#Duration can NOT be removed via “cleansing” abilities unless there is only 1 “stack” on said player (healing spells remove 1 “stack” per pulse/tick/cast).

Cause and Effect

With the new set up of “incomparables” to mix up combat.. imagine if Dungeon/Event Bosses actually changed tactics based on how they were being “killed”.

IE: Players keep applying “Toxic” the “Ooze Champion/Boss” for a period of time.. causing it to change elements.. spawning “lub mobs” during the fight (due to excess chemicals/toxins within the boxy of the Ooze) that attach themselves to players (slowing them) and if not targeted down, then they explode.. doing AOE dmg and downing the player.

These “toxic-spawns” last for a period of time.. that can be shortened by players using “healing” spells on the Boss *(ever used “Holy/Healing” spells n an undead in FFXIV?)

OR

IE: Players are using rocks/spells that keep knocking down a Mob (to prevent him from fighting back).. so it gets frustrated and “acquires” a buff that causes him to be immune to knock downs, along with +70% speed, +30% power, +90% reduction to dmg.

The counter of course.. wouldn’t be as simple as “kite him” (he runs faster than you) or “burst him down” (almost immune to dmg) ~ but instead, players use other other CC abilities that “bind” him and or prevent him from hitting them.

This causes him to “exhaust” himself (after a period of time w/o hitting any players) which all of his buffs are reversed now (slow, weak, takes WAY more dmg from attacks).

NOTE: Imagine what this would be like if certain “normal” event mobs also had this “attitude problem”

AND FINALLY!?

Imagine how cool it would be to find a “mob drop” that no one has EVER seen.. all because they’d never causes the “event” to change in that direction… (due to how the spells actually affected mobs)

lol, Dynamic events ftw

The Follow up

Guild Wars 2 is a good MMO ~ but does it always come off as actually being thoughout?..

HELL NO! :P

However, I feel that the combat is the main culprit in nearly all of the “non-fun” factors.

IE: The focus is on DMG output, rather than fun/immersive tactics ~
Spam combat will only let you do so much with the rest of your “game mechanics”..

However, lets be real…

Incorporating not only new “ailments” like this but also new spells and abilities that cater to specific objectives / job’s / positions on the battle field ~ is NOT something easy.. nor is this something I would expect from ANet, done by tomorrow.

Putting together a system like this that changes how the game works.. well, it takes time.

With that said.. I’ll still continue to hope for the best.. and look forward to upcoming patches/updates/expansions!

Maybe one of my ideas/suggestions will make it into the game

lol, anywho ~ for those interested in another topic about comabt.. but more centered around “Events” specifically..

Please feel free to checkout/bump:: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/suggestions/Combat-Dynamic-Events-what-s-the-point-if-they-re-easy-mode/first#post259492

I think you misunderstand how intensity works.

If you do bleeding 1 every second and it lasts 10 seconds, your max bleeding will be 10 as the 1st will wear out then.

Conditions do quite a bit – remember that the duration buffs include stuns and roots and is thusly very nice. I wouldn’t call it useles at all.

Poison is good enough, toxic might be interesting but they have a good foundation of conditions already.

GADefence.5634:

I think you misunderstand how intensity works.

If you do bleeding 1 every second and it lasts 10 seconds, your max bleeding will be 10 as the 1st will wear out then.

Conditions do quite a bit – remember that the duration buffs include stuns and roots and is thusly very nice. I wouldn’t call it useles at all.

Poison is good enough, toxic might be interesting but they have a good foundation of conditions already.

They may have a “good foundation” ~ but as I’m sure you’ve experience.. boss encounters and events ALWAYS boil down to nothing more than “spamfests”.

This stagnates the game.. and makes people question “why bother”?

IE: If it truly was “fun/immersive” then the combat/events/dungeons could stand on their own merit.

~ yes, that’s my OWN opinion.. but at the same time, can you really say that GW2 is better as it is now Vs. what I’m suggesting?

Idk about spam fest there is almost always somthing to interupt though most pay no attention to machanics. Alot of fights also have pre reqs that if you do not do you will not likly win the battle but again most people think you just sopposed to die over and over till you get it those people are bad; and have cost me alot of time and silver.

“~ yes, that’s my OWN opinion.. but at the same time, can you really say that GW2 is better as it is now Vs. what I’m suggesting?”

Yes I can. Burning is your toxic, poison is your poison.

Burning is high DPS, poison is DPS + healing debuff. If burning did more the longer it was on someone, it’d be exactly your toxic but that change is not required.

You’re also proposing taking away monster flavor (EX: Rage) and just adding two new versions of cripple and chill from what I can see.

Overall not required.