Guild Wars 2

Players should have the option to trade their relics or some other token for the Fractal weapon skins (currently random drop only). The current system is very frustrating and discouraging if you are only interested in a specific skin (I want the sword). I only have a 1/19 chance of getting it whenever a Fractal item drops, that’s far too low of a probability IMO.

None of the other high end weapon types (legendary precursors, dungeon weapons, mystic forged items) force you to rely on weapon-type RNG, and I think that’s a good thing.

Imagine the mass frustration if legendary precursors were account bound and there was only 1 generic mystic forge recipe instead of weapon-specific recipes.

The special mystic forge items (whisperblade, volcanus type stuff, mystic skins) craft a specific weapon, not a random weapon from a larger category of weapons.

The other dungeon skins can all be acquired with tokens, why are the Fractal skins different? If the intent was to restrict them to players in higher levels of Fractal, that could be accomplished by using a new token type that can only be acquired in the higher levels.

In short, the current system feels frustrating, inconsistent with more player-friendly systems in the game, and the RNG element is not necessary for restricting the skins to those who can successfully complete high level fractals.

I second this.

Endgame is all about cosmetics. Of course you have to work for it. Especially for legendary if you are so inclined.

But this isn’t legendary, it’s an exotic skin that requires

a) you get past level 20 of fractals.

b) got the ring drops from daily + the backpiece crafted (if not to infused level already, then on its way) to “farm” effectively without getting pwned because of agony.

c) a solid group and a good hour or two to get 1 run done ( although maybe that’s just my personal experience in groups of dealing with agony so probably can be done quicker I’d like to imagine).

So it takes time, to get to the level where you can get the gear; then even more time to farm the said gear; and then eventually a buckloads of time to get a shot at a RNG drop. If you get a drop, then it’s probably not even for your weapon.

I have no problem with farming the gear, and farming the drop but then the said drop should be able to be converted to the skin of YOUR choice, not the RNG.
There is smart RNG and stupid RNG. I had no problem with waiting/praying for the ring drops.

But I am not going to do the same for the exotic skins. Like voidwater said, 1/19 to get the one you want… it’s crazy when you take in consideration how unlikely exotic drops are, even with the fractal rate with chest/etc.

Please make it a fractal weapon TOKEN drop, not the actual weapon then you can convert it to whatever you want.
Since it cant be traded or exchanged because of account bound restriction, this system feels more like a time sink that a fun way of getting especially good looking gear.
I do feel sorry for your weapon designers , putting so much effort into lovely looking gear for the players who get them not to be interested in wearing the weapon they received because it’s the BLOODY WRONG ONE !

Less hair pulling means more fun for everyone.

Anet, I understand you don’t want everyone wearing the same skins to ensure that unique look for everyone but let me assure you, not everyone is going be willing to get to fractal lvl20, get the ascended drops and pray for the RNG to look favorably on them.
Reward those who put in the effort, please.

(look at me crying for looks like a proper Barbie…what have you done to me Anet ? xD )