Guild Wars 2

And part 2:

Q: Stacking is awful! Isn’t this an exploit? Why doesn’t ANet fix this? What can I do so I don’t have to use this mechanic?

A: Many of the stacking strategies people employ have been common practice for more than a year. As best as we can tell, ANet does not consider this an exploit, as they have been notified of it many times since the game has been released and have not done anything to change it. Keep in mind also that stacking was a common strategy in GW1 and was also accepted by ANet there. In that game, mobs even tended to walk out of AoE’s, but people would simply pull them in again to continue the stacking damage. It is likely that even if ANet, for example, changed the AI to not clump as much, players would simply use more control skills to force mobs to gather together just like in GW1.

Keep in mind that calling stacking “bad” is in the eye of the beholder. The use of active defenses and team support that stacking promotes is fun for many players. However, if you do not want to use these strategies for whatever reason, you have two main options:

1) Make your own groups, and look for like minded individuals. You can put in your LFG something like “Read first: NO STACKING!!! AC P1” and people who do not want to stack will join you. The group will take longer to fill than a normal group, but you will almost certainly be able to find a full party. Since you started the party with the intention of not stacking, feel free to kick people who did not read your description and insist on doing so.

In time, you may even form a network of friends that like to run dungeons without stacking. Running with friends is the best way to play dungeons anyway, and this way you can guarantee that everyone has the same expectations for your run.

2) Play content that does not reward stacking. Most of the normal dungeons do encourage stacking through their design, and so you will see most runs through them involve this strategy. However, Fractals of the Mist are a good example of content where stacking rarely helps. With the exception of some of the trash fights, most battles are done in the open field (and importantly, I believe that none of the bosses has an effective stacking strategy). You won’t be able to avoid stacking entirely, but at least you will be able to play most fights without it.

Note that starting a thread in the dungeon forum about stacking is very unlikely to help you. Some people will agree with you, others will disagree, lots of typing will happen, but nothing will change. Taking the positive steps mentioned above is the best way to make sure you can get the GW2 experience that you want.

By the way, you can just put gw2dungeons.net without “Wethospu’s guide”. Actually make it gw2dungeons.com and it works magically!

Wethospu.6437:

By the way, you can just put gw2dungeons.net without “Wethospu’s guide”. Actually make it gw2dungeons.com and it works magically!

Fixed that for you, that’s what you wanted, right?

Also, Maxinion, thanks for the write up and information. At the moment I am still deciding whether or not to make an entirely new thread (I can’t really do it, as my FC
Has skyrocketed due to the misunderstanding of a single comment). I highly recommend someone else do it, and name it “Dungeon Running FAQ” and request a sticky.

Lilith, you still redirect to gw2dungeons.net for weth’s website but it’s gw2dungeons.com

Jeremlloyd.6837:

Lilith, you still redirect to gw2dungeons.net for weth’s website but it’s gw2dungeons.com

Baaaaaahhhh

Fixed now?

Yup that’s much better

Lilith this is a great thread you have created. Personally I would have recommended to leave stacking and skipping out of it but the stacking section was very well written with a neutral explanation about it so well done there.

Kane and I regularly check the stickied thread and respond to everyone who post. The point of the thread was to give new players a friendly environment to learn basic dungeon mechanics not related to gear and builds, and to allow them to later choose how they wanted to run dungeons. We get people every week contacting us via whispers or mail so it is still an active avenue for people to get dungeon mentoring.

Dramen Maidria.1034:

Kane and I regularly check the stickied thread and respond to everyone who post. The point of the thread was to give new players a friendly environment to learn basic dungeon mechanics not related to gear and builds, and to allow them to later choose how they wanted to run dungeons. We get people every week contacting us via whispers or mail so it is still an active avenue for people to get dungeon mentoring.

That’s cool. I can link your thread if you want, I just figured that since it was stickied it didn’t need to be linked.

The dungeon mentor thread has been seeing a lot of traffic, and I’m very glad to see it is still going.

Just thought I would bump the write up about stacking, since we saw another thread this week. I think the stacking question is similar to questions about kicking, etc., which are already in the FAQ. No problem if you don’t want to include this, but I don’t think starting another thread is the right idea.

maxinion.8396:

Just thought I would bump the write up about stacking, since we saw another thread this week. I think the stacking question is similar to questions about kicking, etc., which are already in the FAQ. No problem if you don’t want to include this, but I don’t think starting another thread is the right idea.

I’m going to have one of my reserved posts become a “controversial” topic post. I will get around to editing it probably tonight, after work.

I prefer to do that sort of thing on a computer and not my iPad xD

How is that, Max?

Lilith Ajit.6173:

How is that, Max?

Looks great Lilith! I hope it is helpful— that’s all I want. Always willing to rewrite it if it gets too “hot,” and if you’re getting flamed for it, feel free to delete it or point people my way

As you requested in another now-closed topic, here’s Robert Hrouda’s take on the skips and the path of least resistance: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/dungeons/Will-the-new-update-stop-skipping/1205684

Oh, thanks so much. I really should write up a skipping part of the FAQ… Max!!! You’re so eloquent and awesome! can you?

Or if you wanna, Fror, I’d be ever grateful.

Lilith Ajit.6173:

Oh, thanks so much. I really should write up a skipping part of the FAQ… Max!!! You’re so eloquent and awesome! can you?

Or if you wanna, Fror, I’d be ever grateful.

On it.

maxinion.8396:

Lilith Ajit.6173:

Oh, thanks so much. I really should write up a skipping part of the FAQ… Max!!! You’re so eloquent and awesome! can you?

Or if you wanna, Fror, I’d be ever grateful.

On it.

You’re beautiful.