Guild Wars 2

Last night I did 20 with a PUG (lots of dying) and ended up in the conclussion that, after 20, you actually need a team that knows what it is doing (especially on to cliffside fractal) OR you NEED a very destinctive classes getting us closer to the holy trinity that we so hard try to avoid. I mean, after tonight, I don’t see myself doing fractals without guardian and support ele/shout warrior.

Does the other guys feel like that? Of course thanks to the level fragmentation its quite hard to find the needed classes on the needed level and I think it’s something worth digging in. You have no way of blocking those necromancer bitting attacks on the arms seals, while the other seals are extremely easy compared to the last seal breaking. Even with the worst built PUG you can get through legs and waist of the giant without dying. But once you get to the top, the game changes. Your only strategy is to run from seal to seal switching the hammer (which drains ur HP mind you) and you get sick damage from both sides of the coridoor out of those necros.

At some point me as a bunkered guardian decided to run alone from seal to seal beaking at least 1 of the hands, but 4 people couldn’t hold of the enemy on one seal. I mean I was on my way back and they were wiped out xD

Anyway that reminds me also that, initially its very easy, with 2 mobs on each seal. If you happen to wipe :X oh boy I have some bad news for you, then you have to fight through swarm of high DPS mobs with no way of blocking it and getting 25 stacks of vulnerability almost all the times. So yeah, restarting after wipe wouldn’t be bad but not that necessary.

I’m curious what the gw2 community thinks about that. People that have gone over 20 and ones that are struggling at that zone.

(Not mentioning agony because I have good resists atm and It’s not that much of a deal)

So far I am on lvl 28 and no real big problems at all (other than the time at dredge but we usually reset it cuz it takes too long)

1 – a healer/support guy really helps. Really.
2 – a guard is always the priority. But I have done it w/ 4 light armors + 1 thief
3 – needs someone with ranged so ele is probably a priority ( although a lot others r too but ele brings more to table for some reason)

Yeah the cliffside needs a bit of planning, but not much.
Usually me and a guard would just sit on mouth of tunnel. While he is taking hits I would spam heal him with my att and spells along with my ice ele that heals on attack.
But one time the three team falls and The guard and i had to rescue them but luckily they were close to finishing it so we just five men back and forth.

Ran 20 a few times with the same group.

1) Thief (Me)
2) Ranger
3) Necro
4) Warrior
5) Ele

I have huge DPS but play a support role in maintaining blinds and drawing aggro with evasive manoeuvres, in some cases switching spec to maintain good amounts of vigor for the team and taking Protection/Might/Regen away from bosses/champions/any bog mob to give to the team. Ranger sticks to damage and spirit buffs while using pets for aggro management on big bosses/encounters. Necro does what necro does (not a clue what he does but he’s good at it). Warrior is the bog standard shouts/banners support business with complimentary DPS. Ele is full damage and mobility while leeching off the support given by the rest of the team.

That colossus fractal is actually easy to manage if your team know what they’re doing, and if you have a “bunker” Thief (me). Seriously, I made that arm seal mission easy mode. While the other 4 went from seal to seal, I kept one seal busy by stealthing in and out constantly so the Chanters never have time to repair the seal. This meant that the team just had to come by every once in a while, kill a Chanter, hit the seal and then repeat on the other seal while I hardly moved at all. The whole thing was over in 5-6 transfers. Any other Thieves out there, try this. Seriously. It’s the best feeling in the world.

I agree.

At the higher levels a group has to instinctively know how to use the classes in their group or it won’t work since PUGs don’t use teamspeak / vent. If you have a heavy in your group and they avoid the hammer every time or seem to be dying every encounter… Anytime I see a guardian or warrior be the first character to wipe in my group I get nervous. You have to know what every class should be doing or how they should be contributing so you can evaluate your team and not have to carry someone through. I am an engineer. You have to know what I should be able to contribute. (Which I realize many don’t even know what the kitten engineers do. I have to prove my worth every time and try to represent engineers everywhere)

Seems 2 eles in a PUG is always good luck for me.

One good thing at being at the higher levels (having the experience) is that you can tell pretty quick if the group is going to make it all the way or not. That way you can go ahead and end it early instead of waiting for everyone to rage quit. For example: the first fractal is Snowblind and people start dying on the archers around the first fire… That is a warning that this group may not be able to finish a harder map even if you might be able to make it through this one.
On the lower levels I tended to continue to start over with the group even if they were wiping over and over. Its better at the high levels just to politely tell everyone its over.

I agree to the fixed team, however, most of us won’t have the luxury for that so I believe a good settings is enough to conquer the issues.
Have you considered checking the achievement points of the team? I noticed it being a good indicator for how “pve oriented” that player is. At the current stage you would expect a 2000+ player a good pver.