Guild Wars 2

I haven’t done the nerfed dungeon yet but despite it being a difficult dungeon I wouldn’t say it impossible and I felt it was at the right difficulty level for that level. I hadn’t heard of people complaining about CoE it just required a lot of dodging and teamwork.

I can see how some abilities of the main boss are a pain like the instant line of spikes that you can barely see if not at all coming. All the other abilities are dodge-able. I love getting up close with my Mesmer, Sword/pistol and timing the dodging it’s so much fun. The only other one is the crystals perhaps but with good teamwork it’s less of an issue (+ <3 Blink).

As for the other bosses the only one that was a real pain was the one with the shield because you had to pretty much have people on the lasers at all time so for two people to do it took longer than needed making it quite a boring fight though the room looks awesome, If it were me who designed it I’d have made it so the shield stays down longer but the boss harder so the entire party can jump down.

One thing I’m not sure about is how you’re meant to get past the lasers bit without a Mesmer. I always put a portal down, jump across and blink. I really can’t see another way to do it but I guess we haven’t had need to look for it.

As for the other bosses I really enjoyed them. The one with the console and army of golem bombs, so much fun! The HotW butcher style boss. I’d say together with AC it’s been the most enjoyable dungeon. I sincerely hope the nerf wasn’t too much.

On a different note thanks for nerfing the Searing Effigy fight (Hopefully not by too much) but it should make it doable by more party setups and not just uber deepz’n’poisons. I like the mechanics of the fight and it really just needed a little tweaking so it’s not a nukefest.

The Project Alpha boss was the problem. The arcane prison (or w/e they call it) could force you to be killed if you ended up being the lucky one to get trapped right after he use his double AoE. Rezzing you is nearly impossible without a rez spell. I found the boss really fun to do and it’s the kind of things I wanna see in a dungeon, big AoE to avoid or get one shotted or nearly one shotted. Just not the forced to be killed by a mechanic you cannot avoid.
Didn’t try the nerfed version of it. I hope they didn’t nerf it to the ground since I love the fights a lot.

It’s simple: Subject Alpha
The fight is pretty easy in itself but he has so much hp it is tedious.
And you meet him three times in each of the three paths.

Add to that that 1/3 of the dungeon is the same in each path and that the mobs near the entrance had way too much hp.

It’s a long dungeon and the massive hp pools weren’t really adding anything.

As for the laser part, you just have to jump over the laser fast, check this video: http://youtu.be/ReMqbuwS98Q

snaplemouton.1294:

The Project Alpha boss was the problem. The arcane prison (or w/e they call it) could force you to be killed if you ended up being the lucky one to get trapped right after he use his double AoE. Rezzing you is nearly impossible without a rez spell. I found the boss really fun to do and it’s the kind of things I wanna see in a dungeon, big AoE to avoid or get one shotted or nearly one shotted. Just not the forced to be killed by a mechanic you cannot avoid.
Didn’t try the nerfed version of it. I hope they didn’t nerf it to the ground since I love the fights a lot.

Same here so much fun but yea I can see how people complain about the crystals but all they would really need to do to make that easier is decrease the health of the crystals. Either way it was still fairly easy to get people out. At least I thought so.

Also as for rezzing you’re meant to use the little adds and tendril things to rez yourself and the rest of the party can help if you target the thing you’re trying to kill or if you get them on lowish health before they are needed.

Krag.6210:

It’s simple: Subject Alpha
The fight is pretty easy in itself but he has so much hp it is tedious.
And you meet him three times in each of the three paths.

Add to that that 1/3 of the dungeon is the same in each path and that the mobs near the entrance had way too much hp.

It’s a long dungeon and the massive hp pools weren’t really adding anything.

As for the laser part, you just have to jump over the laser fast, check this video: http://youtu.be/ReMqbuwS98Q

Lol, that video. It’s easy as a mesmer put portal down, time it right then right at the end blink through the vertical lasers. Pop portal voila XD Requires some good timing though, Another mesmer in my party was less succesful (:P nabby).

I think the point of him having a large HP pool is so you need to be able to survive long enough to kill him so it’s a test of endurance and skill. It’s not like CoF path 3 boss that makes you fall asleep.

As for repetitive boss, yea it would’ve been nice if they just made them different looking mobs for each path like Subject Alpha, Beta etc. but his abilities are different for each path.

That said at the same time I also like it, it gives the dungeon a sort of unique feel and Subject Alpha becomes your arch nemesis. I kind of like that it only has the one boss as with the other dungeons it’s always someone different so you don’t really get that feeling of battling a tough enemy that keeps getting tougher (granted I’ve yet to do Arah, been doing each one at a time so I don’t know what those are like yet) but you create more of a bond with your enemy when you have to face him a few times if that makes sense?

I hope the laser destroyer boss got it’s hp reduced. It’s just incredibly tedious and boring (or was, I hope).

Enhanced destroyer:
With a ramp instead of jumping platforms and especially a longer downtime of his perfect shield, this boss would be ok. If the health is lowered and you still semi-afk this beast from the top, then lower health is not an improvement.

Subject Alpha:
If anything, this boss needs a buff. On the submarine path, he has no skill to damage a player right next to him. So if all players clip right inside him, it’s zero damage all the way, only interrupted by minor burning damage.

Crystals:
Alpha will cast one double-circle on each group member. If one person is in the crystal and all players rush towards the crystal, then the players outside will cause all the damage to be cast on the poor trapped player. The right strategy is to run away from the player inside the crystal. This way, the player will one get hit by one attack. Any class has plenty of utility skills to survive that.

I hope I can get a fullrun team together tonight, but imo this is the dungeon with the least balance problems. Every encounter has a clear and right strategy to do it. If there are only minor health adjustments here and there, then I suppose they are ok, but nothing on the scale of toning down any boss.

p.s.: I also like how many enemies in this dungeon can one-shot you, bot only if you have berserker gear. Anything with +health and the one hit kills are gone. If this is pure coincidence, we still need more of it.

Okay we just did Path 2 and it was so much easier now (This was the easiest path already). I don’t know if it was just our party being better at it but the golems felt way too easy to kill (Don’t know if they were nerfed but it felt like it).

As for the boss he worked as intended on first and second fight but he kind of bugged out on the last fight. He stopped doing any of his abilities apart from spawning essences which we quickly aoe’d down. In the mean time he was just standing there as we nuked him down for 90% of his health he did nothing but spawn some essences occasionally.

Path 2 is a faceroll now Hopefully path 3 is harder. About to run it now so I’ll let you all know.

That’s been a ‘feature’ in all the paths, where Alpha sometimes chains his essence discharge allowing you to just faceroll him over three minutes.

That said, the nerf didn’t really impact the difficulty of any of the encounters. The damage is the same. The mechanics are the same. It just ends a bit faster.

Robert Hrouda.1327:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/dungeons/Dungeon-Patch-Discussion-10-1/first#post324068

I explain things a bit. The entire dungeon wasn’t nerfed, and explorable mode wasn’t really touched. Only a couple units and bosses.

We must be getting better then :P that said I think the problem with the end boss is still a bug we just had the same thing happen on the third path where the boss works fine at the first and second encounter but on the third he gets stuck on his summoning essence routine.

I’m not sure if it was intended or not but I can’t imagine that having the boss stand still the majority of the encounter and not do his AOE attacks etc. was intended.

I took a video of it but the program crashed so I could only get part of it, Basically majority of the fight is like this:

http://youtu.be/QbgH91bJUT4?hd=1

On a side note here is me jumping over the laserbeams bit twice in a row because helan was snoozing and didn’t portal :P

http://youtu.be/Rd3Gw0QRLC4?hd=1

I’ve done all three paths. Alpha will seem quite a bit easier to veterans of the early days of this dungeon but the overall difficulty is still solid. Punishing for mistimed dodges and bad decisions, rewarding for good teamwork. Faster complete times, but nothing really lost in the challenge. Well done, ArenaNet.

Hawkian.6580:

I’ve done all three paths. Alpha will seem quite a bit easier to veterans of the early days of this dungeon but the overall difficulty is still solid. Punishing for mistimed dodges and bad decisions, rewarding for good teamwork. Faster complete times, but nothing really lost in the challenge. Well done, ArenaNet.

Yup definitely my favourite dungeon together with AC thus why I was concerned about the difficulty of it. I enjoy the fights a lot. We’re doing Arah tonight

Good luck with Arah! Waiting for full exotic EQ to tear that dungeon apart, but I’m excited.

The problem IMHO with CoE exploreable mode is you first try doing it at 35 and it gives you a bad impression on the games dungeons.

ComeAndSee.1356:

The problem IMHO with CoE exploreable mode is you first try doing it at 35 and it gives you a bad impression on the games dungeons.

CoE is a level 80 dungeon? Explorable anyway. AC is the level 35 one and it’s great

For those interested in how Arah went (Can’t imagine many but anyway :P), We didn’t complete the first path but we did defeat Giganticus Lupicus. I was streaming at the time:

http://www.twitch.tv/alunaefay/b/334236760

As for the fight I ended up going for staff which I don’t usually use and at the start I went auto-attack while the rest sorted out the adds so I could keep an eye out for when he goes invulnerable. I also couldn’t use clones cause the grubs go for them so first phase of the fight is pretty boring for me. The cue I gave the group was timewarp/chaos storm.

Second phase is the hardest but we pulled through this time. We had wiped a few times before it so we hadn’t the best of hope to complete it today as people had to go. Third phase was quite fun just a shame I couldn’t get in there and do my usual crazy melee moves

But I thoroughly enjoy difficult content like this it was a lot of fun figuring out.

Ive been trying to do this with a few guildies for the past couple of nights and we cant seem to work out the tactics on the teleportation route with subject alpha.

We tried before the nerf kiting and dodging but this ended up in wipes. today we have tried 4 standing in melee range with one ranged to dodge the ice crystals, once the ranged went down it was game over for the rest. this was with 1 engi, 2 rangers, 1 ele(or war) and 1 necro.

I am not one for asking for content to be nerfed as i know there is always a methodology to use, a helping hand from someone who is experienced would help though. If anyone on Desolation would like to teach me please feel free to contact me, or a video showing someones methods on the last boss would be awesome.

Leek.9143:

Ive been trying to do this with a few guildies for the past couple of nights and we cant seem to work out the tactics on the teleportation route with subject alpha.

We tried before the nerf kiting and dodging but this ended up in wipes. today we have tried 4 standing in melee range with one ranged to dodge the ice crystals, once the ranged went down it was game over for the rest. this was with 1 engi, 2 rangers, 1 ele(or war) and 1 necro.

I am not one for asking for content to be nerfed as i know there is always a methodology to use, a helping hand from someone who is experienced would help though. If anyone on Desolation would like to teach me please feel free to contact me, or a video showing someones methods on the last boss would be awesome.

Sure I’ll help you, I’m on Desolation I find the teleportation path easiest of the three to be honest because you can dodge the spikes on the floor easily enough.

I did all 3 paths last night, done them many times before and I really didn’t notice a difference in the difficulty at all. Seems about the same, maybe 1% easier.

Kyiv.9621:

I did all 3 paths last night, done them many times before and I really didn’t notice a difference in the difficulty at all. Seems about the same, maybe 1% easier.

Yup they are about the same. I felt the second path was easiest but it might vary depending on your party setup as well probably.

Robert Hrouda.1327:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/dungeons/Dungeon-Patch-Discussion-10-1/first#post324068

I explain things a bit. The entire dungeon wasn’t nerfed, and explorable mode wasn’t really touched. Only a couple units and bosses.

Mr. Hrouda,
I just wanted to say the members of my guild have enjoyed the dungeons in this game and we have learned most of the difficulty we’ve had is from not having the proper gear or knowing the dungeon.

I like how the dungeons in this game are a true challenge for the players.

I agree Drew, btw CoE is one of my favorite dungeons, especially the laser part where everyone gets naked =D

Kyiv.9621:

I agree Drew, btw CoE is one of my favorite dungeons, especially the laser part where everyone gets naked =D

I didn’t I find it quite amusing watching those videos though I didn’t realize how hard a time people we’re having it just seemed logic to me as a Mesmer to put a portal down for them XD only took a few times to figure out the rhythm of the lasers and get across.

http://youtu.be/Rd3Gw0QRLC4?hd=1

Fay.2735:

Sure I’ll help you, I’m on Desolation I find the teleportation path easiest of the three to be honest because you can dodge the spikes on the floor easily enough.

If i could take you up on that myself and my guild would be very appriciative, ign is leek zola and im usually on from ~6.30pm till about midnight on weekdays, more so on weekends.

i love this dungeon but cant seem to get the hang of subject alpha

Leek.9143:

Fay.2735:

Sure I’ll help you, I’m on Desolation I find the teleportation path easiest of the three to be honest because you can dodge the spikes on the floor easily enough.

If i could take you up on that myself and my guild would be very appriciative, ign is leek zola and im usually on from ~6.30pm till about midnight on weekdays, more so on weekends.

i love this dungeon but cant seem to get the hang of subject alpha

Just add me on contacts and send me a whisper/mail IGN: Lilyfay

you are darn right exp modes were not touched. Subject Alpha was and pain in the kitten. OP aoe’s, minions, and a crystal that if you happen to get trapped in your dead because everyone else is too busy dodging those awful aoes to break you out. The guy deserves a nerf. It’s this kind of design that’s outrageous not having a holy trinity set up.

issacTheMarker.8530:

you are darn right exp modes were not touched. Subject Alpha was and pain in the kitten. OP aoe’s, minions, and a crystal that if you happen to get trapped in your dead because everyone else is too busy dodging those awful aoes to break you out. The guy deserves a nerf. It’s this kind of design that’s outrageous not having a holy trinity set up.

They shouldn’t nerf the boss. His fights are engaging, fun. Require skill and teamwork. It’s very much doable with a group of decent players. I understand it’s a difficult boss but what do you expect it’s the second highest level dungeon in the game. Designed to be end-game, raid equivalent difficulty content.

These dungeons aren’t designed for average players or PuG’s but skilled, well coordinated teams. If they start nerfing CoE and Arah it would seriously screw over part of the gaming community. The whole point is that not everyone can do them so the dungeon title and gear of these dungeons are harder to obtain.

Lowering the health and armor of a boss doesn’t make it less challenging. Only faster.

Instead of pulling of the same trick for 5 minutes, you now have to do it for 4 minutes. Given how the dungeon’s made, I’d say that’d actually be an improvement.

These dungeons aren’t designed for average players or PuG’s but skilled, well coordinated teams.

Unavoidable instantkill mechanics have nothing to do with teamwork or player skill.

ThiBash.5634:

Lowering the health and armor of a boss doesn’t make it less challenging. Only faster.

Instead of pulling of the same trick for 5 minutes, you now have to do it for 4 minutes. Given how the dungeon’s made, I’d say that’d actually be an improvement.

These dungeons aren’t designed for average players or PuG’s but skilled, well coordinated teams.

Unavoidable instantkill mechanics have nothing to do with teamwork or player skill.

They are almost all avoidable and if not there’s something you can do to counteract them. The only ability the boss has that you can’t really avoid is the line of spikes but those you should be able to ‘absorb’ damage wise and if you do get downed you can use tendrils and/or team members can try to rez you.

Either way it’s about tactics and teamwork. I’ve taken Leek in the above post into the CoE dungeon and we completed it without any major issues so it definitely can be done with a good team and good tactics.

I like how everyone was all up against the nerf to CoE saying “omg alpha fight is too easy” and “just did path X, so easy” and then robert comes here and says “oh yeah, we didnt touch explorable mode at all… only story…”

LOL XD

Just did the submarine route, first time in the dungeon for 4 of us out of the 5. Very fun dungeon. The laser bit was easily my favorite bit. I can’t help but think that Subject Alpha and the big dragon guy who charges have way too much HP and it just becomes quite a boring fight. I’ll admit, it was only the 3rd meeting of Subject Alpha which took forever. But the charging boss at one point I was able to just quit doing anything and was just there ressing the npc. Maybe the health needs reducing aswell as the interval of his charge? I don’t mind long fights, just aslong as im not avoiding the exact same mechanics for 20 minutes.

The charge mechanic is key to the fight, have him charge into the Obelisks around the room and they will stun him removing his buff that stops about 90% of the dmg he takes. fight takes about 3 mins if done right.