Guild Wars 2

I want to keep playing this game and maybe down the road buy expansions.. The thing is its getting harder and harder for me to want to log into this game.. One big problem is, I like playing alts but when I do there is no one around to help take down content.. I cant kill group event content or some skill challenges.. Its really annoying.. The world feels dead and boring..

I feel the devs need to make a couple of changes as to how the game works.. Here are some ideas..

1. Stop scaling level for content… Let me be the lvl I am so I can solo this stuff when no one is around. If not completely take away the scaling then at least have a 5 level buffer. If there is a lvl15 group event and I am lvl20 then let me be lvl 20..

2. If you dont want to stop the scaling then have servers be for WvWvW only… Meaning everyone is on the same server for PvE and its broken up into shards (like champions online did it).. And servers only determine WvWvW… You could also shard Spvp… This way the pve and spvp worlds are full with people and you have people at every lvl to do content with..

Doing 1 or 2 of these things will help the game alot I feel… If I keep logging onto alts and have no one to group with I will just stop playing the game…

I strongly disagree, i like the scaling. Yes.. you’re a level 40 in a level 20 area that has been scaled down to level 20, but your gear is still level 40. Thats your buffer…. you shouldn’t need anything else.

I also disagree on the shards idea. My server is booming, can’t go anywhere or do anything with out seeing at least 5 to 10 other people doing it as well. They have already solved this problem with server transfers.

I would quit if they made it one giant server with WvWvW determined by “factions” or “shards” or anything. People being on the same server and then being divided by something as “factions” or “shards” or whatever else tends to bring out the kittens and I for one happen to love the community on this game. I would hate to see it change.

The scaling can really hurt you if you don’t know how it works and compensate for it.

At any level, you have a certain “base” level for your stats (power/precision/etc.). At level 1 this is 24 and at 80 I believe it is 916. When you are downscaled, your stats are multiplied by the ratio of the base stats at your actual level to the base stats at your effective level. This means that a naked level 80 downscaled to a level 10 has the same stats as a naked 10.

However, your traits, food, gear, and so on all get scaled down too.

Now, I’ve been meaning to delve into this more, but haven’t had the time, so this next part is conjecture based on observed trends that have not been rigrously tested (in short, I think it works this way but have not taken the time to proove it). The stats on gear follow the same trend as your base stats. This means that a level 80 in level 80 blues will have the strength of a level 10 in level 10 blues when scaled accordingly. However, as you level up, the available rarity increases—whites are replaced by blues around elvel 10, which start getting replaced by greens around 20, which become yellows around 40, and exotics start popping up around 75. Getting better gear doesn’t make you mcuh stronger; getting better quality gear does.

Traits are a nice boost early on, but as you level, get scaled back more and more.

How does this apply to you? When you’re being scaled down, you need to be aware that everything is getting scaled down to the level of the content and bring your best to the table. That +20 vitality food gave you 200hp at level 15, but when you’re a level 20 in a level 15 area, it only gives you about 150hp. You need to keep everything current when being downscaled.

All things considered, it is far easier to play in level-appropriate content rather than content you have surpassed—you will get more usable loot to help you keep pace with your advancement.

I often go to lower level areas on my main to help out my guildmates. Without scaling, I would not do this because, quite frankly, it would be boring to trivialize the content to that extent. A single swing of my sword typically hits a critter for ~80k damage. Can you imagine how hard I could wreck the giant wurm in Caledon Forest?

From what you’ve described, your actual problem isn’t downscaling, it is your inability to find people to join you for content. This is where guilds come in handy. You can join multiple guilds (I believe there is currently a limit of 4) and there is almost never a shortage of guilds looking for members in Lion’s Arch. there is also a forum dedicated to guild recruitment. You may need to change servers if you find one in the forums, but server transfers are currently free. Join one, see if they have people that can join you. If they haven’t been able to help you after a few days, move on to another.

If group events are too difficult for you (as an 80 guardian in almost full exotics, I have difficulty with them, although I can occasionally get them, with near-flawless execution and a bit of luck), then do what I do—call out the event to the zone and see if you can get people to join in. It doesn’t always work, but I know when I’m in Caledon Forest and announce that the wurm event is starting, people flock to it from all over (it does end with a really nice chest of level-appropriate rewards).

Aside from dungeons, most content was designed with a soloist in mind.

Also, as I recall, the “shards” are just instances. similar to the towns in GW1.

Manakar.9208:

I cant kill group event content or some skill challenges.. Its really annoying.

So you can’t solo content designed for a group. I don’t see the problem. At all. Just do something else. Also, you say you can’t find people playing? Try moving to a fuller server, Crystal Desert has people everywhere.

As a side note, the title for this thread says nothing.

When I bring my level 80 to a lvl1-15 zone, I already feel like a demigod at times. So to me it does not need to become even easier.

If they would allow you to go to a zone without being scaled down, imagine the griefers who just plow through your mobs for ‘fun’ or kill off that worldboss in one hit before you can reach it.

Scaling everyone down in lower level areas has probably been one of the best things I have ever seen in an MMO.

Aveneo.2068:

When I bring my level 80 to a lvl1-15 zone, I already feel like a demigod at times. So to me it does not need to become even easier.

If they would allow you to go to a zone without being scaled down, imagine the griefers who just plow through your mobs for ‘fun’ or kill off that worldboss in one hit before you can reach it.

Scaling everyone down in lower level areas has probably been one of the best things I have ever seen in an MMO.

Griefers? There is no one around when I play PVE.. My server says High but when I play alts I dont see a soul… So who is going to grief me? Are you trying to say that lvl 80 are all of a sudden going to care about low lvl content just so they can grief people? I wish they would, maybe then the world wouldnt feel completely empty…

Manakar to address the issue you have with amount of players on… I’m about 70% sure you chose a server poorly. Try to find out which server has more players that are in your time zone. Server transfers are still free.

I am on a high american server.. No matter the time of day the sever says high. I have played at all times of the day (weekends and days off).. From east to west coast its a 3 hour difference.. So if I am playing 6pm to 12am that covers prime time… Its 3pm and my server says high right now.. I log on and there is no one around in a 15 to 25 zone… I could log on anywhere from 6 to 12 and no one will be around.. So what are you talking about? DO I need to join a Full server in order to see people at prime times? A high server is not good enough?

I agree only with the 3rd: one server divided into districts like in GW1 which numbers goes up or down depending on the numbers of players online in that given map at that specific time.

@Barlisk “I would quit if they made it one giant server with WvWvW determined by “factions” or “shards” or anything”
It shouldnt be a problem for you because now people can change servers daily. If adding the same option to the WvW home selecting screen as in suggestion mentioned above in the OP, I think it is the same feature only with a different selecting time. And it pretty arrogant to say that you know the people on your server. It have been scientifically proved that one person can remember an average of 110 names

Ronah.2869:

I agree only with the 3rd: one server divided into districts like in GW1 which numbers goes up or down depending on the numbers of players online in that given map at that specific time.

@Barlisk “I would quit if they made it one giant server with WvWvW determined by “factions” or “shards” or anything”
It shouldnt be a problem for you because now people can change servers daily. If adding the same option to the WvW home selecting screen as in suggestion mentioned above in the OP, I think it is the same feature only with a different selecting time. And it pretty arrogant to say that you know the people on your server. It have been scientifically proved that one person can remember an average of 110 names

I never said WvW would be determinded by shard or anything like that anyway.. LOL Obviously he didnt read what I typed. I said picking a server would be for WvW only… I’ll say it one more time.. When you pick a server it would be for WvW only…

The only problem I see here is one of social lack. Why aren’t your friends and guild mates helping you with content you desire to do? Or the greater community (the MM of MMO). Just because there aren’t people in the vicinity doesn’t mean there aren’t people to do certain things with. I would think first friends and then guild mates would be of good character and want to help each other out. But if not then the greater community. I help random people all the time when they ask for help. Even those I run into that don’t ask. And I have asked for help and gotten help that way myself a few times and had others willing to help me. With all that said level scaling is foundational to GW2 and isn’t going away. It is like if someone had asked Mother Teresa to denounce God and had expected that she would.

I agree. Get rid of the scaling, or only scale down a maximum of 20 or so levels.

Jia Shen.4217:

The only problem I see here is one of social lack. Why aren’t your friends and guild mates helping you with content you desire to do? Or the greater community (the MM of MMO). Just because there aren’t people in the vicinity doesn’t mean there aren’t people to do certain things with. I would think first friends and then guild mates would be of good character and want to help each other out. But if not then the greater community. I help random people all the time when they ask for help. Even those I run into that don’t ask. And I have asked for help and gotten help that way myself a few times and had others willing to help me. With all that said level scaling is foundational to GW2 and isn’t going away. It is like if someone had asked Mother Teresa to denounce God and had expected that she would.

I like playing alts.. My main is where I play with my guild/friends… When I play my alts I dont want to have to ask my guildmates or friends to join me and sometimes I dont want them to join me.. If I want my alt to be apart of my guild/friends then I will turn it into my main..

Manakar.9208:

Griefers? There is no one around when I play PVE.. My server says High but when I play alts I dont see a soul… So who is going to grief me? Are you trying to say that lvl 80 are all of a sudden going to care about low lvl content just so they can grief people? I wish they would, maybe then the world wouldnt feel completely empty…

And you know why they aren’t around? Because they can’t grief others due to the scaling.

Ever consider asking friends or guildmates to hang out with you?

If your friends and guildmates aren’t around because you don’t want them to be, you really have very little ground to stand on.

To say that you need help but ignore your first line of support strikes me a bit…odd. You can’t really rely on finding the right person in the right situation, which is what it sounds like you want to do. Some content requires you tap a contacts list, or at least build a more robust one that you can turn to. I can’t help but think how different GW history would be…

“Don’t worry about it Mhenlo. I got this whole ‘Nightfall’ thing under control, you go back home and try to keep Cynn from trying to cross-breed squirrels with fire elementals.” … “Well kitten me, I don’t think I can take down a god without a healer.”

Manakar.9208:

I like playing alts.. My main is where I play with my guild/friends… When I play my alts I dont want to have to ask my guildmates or friends to join me and sometimes I dont want them to join me.. If I want my alt to be apart of my guild/friends then I will turn it into my main..

The following says most of what I was going to say.

Fildydarie.1496:

If your friends and guildmates aren’t around because you don’t want them to be, you really have very little ground to stand on.

To say that you need help but ignore your first line of support strikes me a bit…odd.

But I’ll add this: It makes no logical sense. Your friends are your friends and your guild mates your guild mates. No matter what character you are on, that fact can’t change after all it is fact. To ask them to change the game because you don’t want to ask others for help is just silly, especially not asking friends and guild mates to help.

So basically you don’t want GW2?

Ronah.2869:

And it pretty arrogant to say that you know the people on your server. It have been scientifically proved that one person can remember an average of 110 names

When did I say that? Don’t put words in my mouth. And I think you mean “Its been proved that one AVERAGE person can remember 110 names.” I have to remember well over 200 just for my job. Not counting everything not work related. Again, never said I know the people on my server. I said my server is booming? and its not full of kittens? And I know this cause I played WoW and LoL briefly and I have a pretty good idea what a bad community is.

Manakar.9208:

Ronah.2869:

I agree only with the 3rd: one server divided into districts like in GW1 which numbers goes up or down depending on the numbers of players online in that given map at that specific time.

@Barlisk “I would quit if they made it one giant server with WvWvW determined by “factions” or “shards” or anything”
It shouldnt be a problem for you because now people can change servers daily. If adding the same option to the WvW home selecting screen as in suggestion mentioned above in the OP, I think it is the same feature only with a different selecting time. And it pretty arrogant to say that you know the people on your server. It have been scientifically proved that one person can remember an average of 110 names

I never said WvW would be determinded by shard or anything like that anyway.. LOL Obviously he didnt read what I typed. I said picking a server would be for WvW only… I’ll say it one more time.. When you pick a server it would be for WvW only…

Manakar.9208:

everyone is on the same server for PvE and its broken up into shards

Pretty kitten sure that’s what you said.

Manakar.9208:

I said picking a server would be for WvW only…

so explain to me how this is not WvW being determined by section, shard, faction? or whatever they decide to call it if it were to happen. Everyone would be one the same server… but then we’d be divided in pvp? like… factions? or… by the “shard” you picked? Its most definitely what you said. Correct yourself before correcting others.

This is how it would need to be done.

Each server right now would be made into a guild, everyone on the server that they’re on right now would be
put into those guilds automatically. (ex Isle of Janthir would now be the guild “Isle of Janthir”.

Player made “guilds” would now be known as a “Company”.

Merge servers by the 3. Two lowest population with one highest, so that there would still be servers to choose
from.

All new characters would choose a server, then choose a guild. When on your server and in your guild you
would then be able to join a player made “Band” or “Company”.

Servers would still serve as a population control.
Their would be 3 Guilds per server.
And countless player made "Company"s to join.

When representing a “Company” from a certain Guild, you would have to also represent the Guild that the
“Company” is in while you’re in PvP. (ex: if Company Bravo is in the Guild Isle of Janthir, then I would
represent Isle of Janthir if I wanted to PvP while representing Company Bravo.)

PvP would be CvC (Company vs Company).
Each weekend would be a 3 day (Friday to Sunday) GvGvG event (Guild vs Guild vs Guild) in which the
highest ranked Companies of each Guild would PvP against each other.
At the end of each month there would be a week long SvS (Server vs Server) event. SvS would be the top
ranked Guild from each server competing.
Stats for Companies would reset weekly, Guilds by weekly, and Servers monthly.

Offer rewards for streaks, reigns, or peats so people would still know who’s a force to be reckon with even if
they happen to have a bad week or two. Rewards as weekly, monthly, and yearly titles, town cloths, and/or
auras. All past stats would be kept on record either a pvp menu, guild menu, or company menu.

This is Guild Wars after all, not Server Wars. Even if they did it this way I would still not agree with it. :-/

Manakar.9208:

1. Stop scaling level for content… Let me be the lvl I am so I can solo this stuff when no one is around. If not completely take away the scaling then at least have a 5 level buffer. If there is a lvl15 group event and I am lvl20 then let me be lvl 20..

2. If you dont want to stop the scaling then have servers be for WvWvW only… Meaning everyone is on the same server for PvE and its broken up into shards (like champions online did it).. And servers only determine WvWvW… You could also shard Spvp… This way the pve and spvp worlds are full with people and you have people at every lvl to do content with..

1. Disagree – scaling not only keeps content relevant, but it also prevents griefing during events from higher level players. If you kept your level when higher, you’d only have to sneeze and the mobs would die. If anything, I think scaling needs to be a bit ‘harsher’ (I find myself 2-shotting stuff on my 72 Mesmer in lower areas), and then the scaling during events adjusted to accommodate more players. Events, I feel, need to have a chance at being failed to make people work for it.

2. What I took from this was: One single server for PvE and PvP, broken up for WvW, am I right?

Eh, could work, depending on how they’ve set up their servers and such. It’s entirely possible as well though that the servers may have to come down while they make them changes to the code, since we’re talking about re-arranging their entire infrastructure as opposed to just patching some code in.

However, hopefully Guesting will be here soon. I can see people making a Guesting friends list, since a friend is needed on the server you want to go to.

I agree that scaling the level for content is helpful at keeping griefing at bay at least a little (although with the traits etc of the high levels making them OP in lower level areas it only makes a small dent in their ability to basically run amok) so I would not like to see that change.

However! I -would- like to see personal storyline quests NOT scale the individual playing them. This would not effect other players in any way and would allow those individuals who, due to play times and RL issues, don’t have the ability to beg for support for what amounts to a one to two minute storyline quest still be able to complete them. Some of those storyline quests are certainly harder than there indicated level especially for the squishier classes so people are forced to out level them simply to be able to do them solo. Scaling them down to level (and in some cases a level BELOW) for an instanced personal storyline quest is silly, imo.