Guild Wars 2

TLDR: I stopped using LFG and browsing guilds to try and get into raids, and instead, just went out and talked to people about joining a group. My attitude towards raids went from salty to satisfying in about one hour.

To begin, recently Wooden Potatoes went on a rant the other day about how so many people are mad that a good story is attached to a raid. In a Reddit post showing this video, there are many replies that boil down to, “It’s hard to get into, raids are not accessible.” For the longest time, I considered myself part of this mindset. Here’s the Reddit post

Unlike these people, the video didn’t make me upset, but inspired me to consider reaching out more and changing my strategy when it comes to finding a group. Before then, I would just casually browse LFM from time to time, hoping that someone is requesting a condi necro/general dps, as that is my only character with both ascended weapons and jewelry, and at the same time, post on LFG requesting any wing. This strategy didn’t really work for me, as it seems that professions that are good at buffing are valued above all else. I also tried looking into other guilds, but I didn’t want to do anything that might compromise my ability to participate with my main guild.

Then, last night, I did something that most people who complain about raid accessibility would probably consider craaaaazy!

I simply went into the aerodome and typed in chat, “Anyone training new players in raids? I’m a condi necro who is willing to learn any wing. I have TS.” Immediately, I got several replies! The group I ended up joining didn’t even require TS, they used Discord, a communication tool that works right off your browser. We spent about an hour learning the first encounter in wing 3 and eventually, we finished it! It was no speed run, and we didn’t move on to other encounters in the wing, but it felt good to beat the escort and I met a lot of people along the way. If it wasn’t so late at night, we could’ve probably tried our hand at Keep Construct.

We didn’t clear the wing, but I don’t think that’s the point of raids when you’re just starting out.

I guess the point of my rambling is that I hope you all who are intimidated by raids can learn to approach it with an open mind. For the longest time, I was in the same camp as the rest of the casual player base, writing off raids as something for this exclusive club of teenagers and young adults with a lot of time on their hands and feeling left out when I learned that a good story was a part of raids.
Being a very shy person by default, making myself known in a random aerodome instance was a big deal for me and really took me out of my comfort zone. Despite my initial discomfort, I ended up having a lot of fun, even though my group really didn’t make it far. I will probably start spending more of my free time practicing raids while gearing up the rest of my characters.

This is also how I started to raid. I’m also mute which makes starting up and/or leading a raid myself an interesting task to say the least; Nonetheless, it is just a matter of giving the first step just like the OP’s case.

I also urge everyone reading this, that became skeptical of raids because of the word “raid” in itself (which is a loaded term to begin with – this game has nothing like the WoW raids), or became skeptical of raids because they tried pugging VG during release, to try grouping up (even with no voice comm!) to give a shot at Bastion of the Penitent.

Vale Guardian was in my opinion a really bad choice of first encounter for a game mode so loaded with skepticism to begin with. The first boss in W4, on the other hand, is just forgiving enough that you can pop up a “for fun” squad on LFG and still have a concrete shot at acquiring your first LI. If you can pug T4 fractals, even if with some effort, this particular raid might be the perfect introduction for you.

raids will grow on time its the only part of the game that require you to actively focus on getting into instead of mindlessly lfging your way into them and thats good imho. As more raids release and more ppl do what you did this problem will reduce i really hope they dont take the difficulty off because 70% of the success raids have is because of that.

Good story OP, remember even the smallest of steps will help!

Kudos man, seems you have the right attitude. Good for you to overcome your shyness and give it a go. All the best of luck.

As a regular raider, I also think vale Guardian is a more advanced boss. Sure it’s the one that we all banged our heads against when we started, but escort, and wing 4 Are so much better as introductory raids. When I killed VG finally, it had taken me three weeks to get that first kill. And another month or so for gorseval. Now I can one shot almost all raid encounters. The thing people don’t understand about raids, is that you have to take time to learn bosses, and you have to be willing to fail. With each failure you get better, you learn what not to do. So don’t expect to go in and get it in a few hours, or even a few days, but stick with it and you’ll get there.

The one to Rule.2593:

As a regular raider, I also think vale Guardian is a more advanced boss. Sure it’s the one that we all banged our heads against when we started, but escort, and wing 4 Are so much better as introductory raids. When I killed VG finally, it had taken me three weeks to get that first kill. And another month or so for gorseval. Now I can one shot almost all raid encounters. The thing people don’t understand about raids, is that you have to take time to learn bosses, and you have to be willing to fail. With each failure you get better, you learn what not to do. So don’t expect to go in and get it in a few hours, or even a few days, but stick with it and you’ll get there.

True about VG, but that isn’t a bad thing. Remember at the time, the question was whether or not ANET could make challenging content at all. Everyone was convinced it was going to be too easy (dungeon level) when raids were released. It was important at that time that the opening encounter to raids was relatively challenging.

The one to Rule.2593:

As a regular raider, I also think vale Guardian is a more advanced boss. Sure it’s the one that we all banged our heads against when we started, but escort, and wing 4 Are so much better as introductory raids. When I killed VG finally, it had taken me three weeks to get that first kill. And another month or so for gorseval. Now I can one shot almost all raid encounters. The thing people don’t understand about raids, is that you have to take time to learn bosses, and you have to be willing to fail. With each failure you get better, you learn what not to do. So don’t expect to go in and get it in a few hours, or even a few days, but stick with it and you’ll get there.

I think VG is a great starter. It requires decent DPS but not as much as some other bosses so there’s room for not having perfect rotations or to make a few mistakes while still not letting you clear it with carrion longbow warriors or rabid greatsword necros. It teaches you the importance of positioning in the second and third phase since bad positioning can lead to a green circle spawning in a charged section. And it teaches you to deal with multiple mechanics at the same time as you have to deal with greens spawning, dodging blues, controlling seekers, and breaking his breakbar. Sometimes all at once. And the best part is, unless you’re running with a very good group that is capable of 6 manning it or something, everyone has to do their part. No one can just sit back, put out mediocre dps, fail mechanics and get carried. No one gets a carry, no one gets a free pass, everyone has to do their part.

But at the same time it’s also forgiving. Missing a green doesn’t necessarily mean everyone dies, you take a lot of damage sure, but people in down state can be brought up and the druid can heal you up. Getting caught in a blue is bad but you can heal yourself and run back to the group. Usually if you fail it’s because of multiple missed mechanics, and not just one.

I think if you have a group capable of killing VG, you have a group that can kill any raid boss with enough refinement in their execution of the things you learn at VG.

Wasabi Kitty.8247:

The one to Rule.2593:

As a regular raider, I also think vale Guardian is a more advanced boss. Sure it’s the one that we all banged our heads against when we started, but escort, and wing 4 Are so much better as introductory raids. When I killed VG finally, it had taken me three weeks to get that first kill. And another month or so for gorseval. Now I can one shot almost all raid encounters. The thing people don’t understand about raids, is that you have to take time to learn bosses, and you have to be willing to fail. With each failure you get better, you learn what not to do. So don’t expect to go in and get it in a few hours, or even a few days, but stick with it and you’ll get there.

I think VG is a great starter. It requires decent DPS but not as much as some other bosses so there’s room for not having perfect rotations or to make a few mistakes while still not letting you clear it with carrion longbow warriors or rabid greatsword necros. It teaches you the importance of positioning in the second and third phase since bad positioning can lead to a green circle spawning in a charged section. And it teaches you to deal with multiple mechanics at the same time as you have to deal with greens spawning, dodging blues, controlling seekers, and breaking his breakbar. Sometimes all at once. And the best part is, unless you’re running with a very good group that is capable of 6 manning it or something, everyone has to do their part. No one can just sit back, put out mediocre dps, fail mechanics and get carried. No one gets a carry, no one gets a free pass, everyone has to do their part.

But at the same time it’s also forgiving. Missing a green doesn’t necessarily mean everyone dies, you take a lot of damage sure, but people in down state can be brought up and the druid can heal you up. Getting caught in a blue is bad but you can heal yourself and run back to the group. Usually if you fail it’s because of multiple missed mechanics, and not just one.

I think if you have a group capable of killing VG, you have a group that can kill any raid boss with enough refinement in their execution of the things you learn at VG.

While I do agree with you, I think starting on a boss like this right off the bat is what discouraged a lot of non raiders. But you do make some good points, if you can handle g you can handle most bosses. The only ones I struggled a lot with after VG were sabetha and Matthias

The one to Rule.2593:

Wasabi Kitty.8247:

The one to Rule.2593:

As a regular raider, I also think vale Guardian is a more advanced boss. Sure it’s the one that we all banged our heads against when we started, but escort, and wing 4 Are so much better as introductory raids. When I killed VG finally, it had taken me three weeks to get that first kill. And another month or so for gorseval. Now I can one shot almost all raid encounters. The thing people don’t understand about raids, is that you have to take time to learn bosses, and you have to be willing to fail. With each failure you get better, you learn what not to do. So don’t expect to go in and get it in a few hours, or even a few days, but stick with it and you’ll get there.

I think VG is a great starter. It requires decent DPS but not as much as some other bosses so there’s room for not having perfect rotations or to make a few mistakes while still not letting you clear it with carrion longbow warriors or rabid greatsword necros. It teaches you the importance of positioning in the second and third phase since bad positioning can lead to a green circle spawning in a charged section. And it teaches you to deal with multiple mechanics at the same time as you have to deal with greens spawning, dodging blues, controlling seekers, and breaking his breakbar. Sometimes all at once. And the best part is, unless you’re running with a very good group that is capable of 6 manning it or something, everyone has to do their part. No one can just sit back, put out mediocre dps, fail mechanics and get carried. No one gets a carry, no one gets a free pass, everyone has to do their part.

But at the same time it’s also forgiving. Missing a green doesn’t necessarily mean everyone dies, you take a lot of damage sure, but people in down state can be brought up and the druid can heal you up. Getting caught in a blue is bad but you can heal yourself and run back to the group. Usually if you fail it’s because of multiple missed mechanics, and not just one.

I think if you have a group capable of killing VG, you have a group that can kill any raid boss with enough refinement in their execution of the things you learn at VG.

While I do agree with you, I think starting on a boss like this right off the bat is what discouraged a lot of non raiders. But you do make some good points, if you can handle g you can handle most bosses. The only ones I struggled a lot with after VG were sabetha and Matthias

That’s pretty reassuring, as I just beat VG and Goreseval with another group the other day. I really wasn’t interested in raids until W4 where those cool looking bosses are