Guild Wars 2

Why don’t those of us who pug (and no, having three friends from your pro guild picking up one extra doesn’t count) share experiences?

I just went through two runs of Twilight Arbor (f/f and f/u) with a pug…it actually went okay. The toned down damage on the vines made a big difference. The intended strategy always seemed to be to draw the vines’ fire while melee stack on the vine itself. Previously the vines could destroy someone despite their best efforts. It now seems going down is not common so long as the one drawing fire concentrates on defense. Rezzing from downed became viable (though still dangerous) and miscommunication on targeting seemed less fatal. (Previously, the group could wipe very easily if everyone didn’t know exactly what to target at each stage.)

The notorious f/f path has been toned down. Nightmare Court Knights with the knockdown combo no longer appear in multiples. Overall went a LOT better than I expected it would.

Because of the scaling down nerf, all dungeons below lvl 80 have been scaled up slightly indirectly. (ignoring other changes)

The only dungeon I ran so far after I patched was COF 1 and 2.

P1 was about the same.

P2 caused my pug team to disband.

Note, I have full exotic everything with sigils and runes sets.

So did my team, except for 1 person, and all were 80 of course.

Mesmer, War, War, Guard, Ele.

We failed 8+ times on defend magg. We caught on right away about the assassin but that wasn’t the main issue.

The main issue was the tons of mobs with knockdown attacks eventually overwhelming us.

It seems that the path now requires heavy or all aoe specced team to succeed, which is bad design.

DeathPanel.8362:

Because of the scaling down nerf, all dungeons below lvl 80 have been scaled up slightly indirectly. (ignoring other changes)

The only dungeon I ran so far after I patched was COF 1 and 2.

P1 was about the same.

P2 caused my pug team to disband.

Note, I have full exotic everything with sigils and runes sets.

So did my team, except for 1 person, and all were 80 of course.

Mesmer, War, War, Guard, Ele.

We failed 8+ times on defend magg. We caught on right away about the assassin but that wasn’t the main issue.

The main issue was the tons of mobs with knockdown attacks eventually overwhelming us.

It seems that the path now requires heavy or all aoe specced team to succeed, which is bad design.

I’m not going to assume if you had guardians in your team or something, but I find that in general, guardians don’t use stand your ground enough, or harrowed ground. Often, most of them are ok to use the skill if I request them to.

Path 1 was the same for me.

Path 2 was a big challenge. We tried multiple different approaches and it took a while, but it was definitely worth it. It’s more about team coordination than specific professions and armor.

You need:

1) Snares
2) Support
3) Damage/AoE
4) Target Calling

If you can handle that, you can beat it. We had some of the “Worst” classes in the game and we were able to do it when we figured it out. Engineer, 2 Necros, Ranger and an Ele.

If we can do it, anyone can. It’s not your profession. It’s not your armor. It’s your skill.

I’m really glad that’s how it is.

Wha?

The defending of Magg is such a faceroll now.

Done it with a pug party with 2 rangers, rifle warrior and some ele. Had no difficulties whatsoever and completed it in one try. I imagine with good team it’s just facerolling while mobs die.

It could even use some more upscaling.

kKagari.6804:

I’m not going to assume if you had guardians in your team or something, but I find that in general, guardians don’t use stand your ground enough, or harrowed ground. Often, most of them are ok to use the skill if I request them to.

I outlined my group, we did have a guard.

Having stand your ground doesn’t really help since there are tons of mobs all with kd and more spawn as time goes on, so it comes down to being able to aoe them all down which having a melee heavy team is not capable of.

Isslair.4908:

Wha?

The defending of Magg is such a faceroll now.

Done it with a pug party with 2 rangers, rifle warrior and some ele. Had no difficulties whatsoever and completed it in one try. I imagine with good team it’s just facerolling while mobs die.

It could even use some more upscaling.

Well thats at least 3 aoe type chars 2 of which cripple on their aoes.

Try it with a melee heavy team, and you will fail every time.

The Gates Assassin.9827:

Path 1 was the same for me.

Path 2 was a big challenge. We tried multiple different approaches and it took a while, but it was definitely worth it. It’s more about team coordination than specific professions and armor.

You need:

1) Snares
2) Support
3) Damage/AoE
4) Target Calling

If you can handle that, you can beat it. We had some of the “Worst” classes in the game and we were able to do it when we figured it out. Engineer, 2 Necros, Ranger and an Ele.

If we can do it, anyone can. It’s not your profession. It’s not your armor. It’s your skill.

I’m really glad that’s how it is.

Wrong, IT IS about your profession.

You said it yourself in your post you need snares/support/aoes.

Not every profession have those things. Just because you happened to have the right classes/builds in your team doesn’t mean anything.

It doesn’t matter how “skilled” you are, if you don’t have those types of professions with those abilities you outlined yourself you will fail.

Wait, a non-warrior/guardian team is actually better at a path for once!? Say it isn’t so!

Yaki.9563:

Wait, a non-warrior/guardian team is actually better at a path for once!? Say it isn’t so!

The point is it didn’t matter previously since any class/combination can beat the paths, the only difference is time.

Now only certain combinations can actually even get past that event, meaning you are FORCED to have that combination to advance.

Just had a group disband because at the defend Magg stage of Path 2. Group consisted of 3 Warriors, 1 Guardian and 1 Engineer. Tried a couple of different approaches to the fight, but the amount of CC the non-assassin mobs had was ridiculous.

ya I mean “Engineer, 2 Necros, Ranger and an Ele” That is how you get through cof path 2.

If you have cough cough warrior it’ll be harder. Most warrior use hundred blade for aoe. But now they can’t tank 100 mob and have knockdown on them.

laokoko.7403:

ya I mean “Engineer, 2 Necros, Ranger and an Ele” That is how you get through cof path 2.

If you have cough cough warrior it’ll be harder. Most warrior use hundred blade for aoe. But now they can’t tank 100 mob and have knockdown on them.

No if you have Stability/Control/Tanking/Support Warriors you are fine… if you have 100 Blades all Zerker Signet/MF Warriors you will die miserably…

As you should

DeathPanel.8362:

The Gates Assassin.9827:

Path 1 was the same for me.

Path 2 was a big challenge. We tried multiple different approaches and it took a while, but it was definitely worth it. It’s more about team coordination than specific professions and armor.

You need:

1) Snares
2) Support
3) Damage/AoE
4) Target Calling

If you can handle that, you can beat it. We had some of the “Worst” classes in the game and we were able to do it when we figured it out. Engineer, 2 Necros, Ranger and an Ele.

If we can do it, anyone can. It’s not your profession. It’s not your armor. It’s your skill.

I’m really glad that’s how it is.

Wrong, IT IS about your profession.

You said it yourself in your post you need snares/support/aoes.

Not every profession have those things. Just because you happened to have the right classes/builds in your team doesn’t mean anything.

It doesn’t matter how “skilled” you are, if you don’t have those types of professions with those abilities you outlined yourself you will fail.

Every single class has either crippled chilled or immobilized just in their utility slots. Every single class as at least one of those in their weapon abilities.

So no. It doesn’t matter what profession you bring. If you bring warriors, you may have to focus more on spiking them out with damage, but you still have things like throw bolas for snare. Did I mention your damage is insane?

And, no every profession does have those things. Thieves have multiple things that either stealth, regenerate, heal or allow for more damage (Venoms). So even they can support. Warriors can murder face and they do actually have snares. Even warriors can support with banners.

Rackhir Tanelorn.9123:

laokoko.7403:

ya I mean “Engineer, 2 Necros, Ranger and an Ele” That is how you get through cof path 2.

If you have cough cough warrior it’ll be harder. Most warrior use hundred blade for aoe. But now they can’t tank 100 mob and have knockdown on them.

No if you have Stability/Control/Tanking/Support Warriors you are fine… if you have 100 Blades all Zerker Signet/MF Warriors you will die miserably…

As you should

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS!!!! Could not agree more.

You cannot just jump into a high level dungeon and expect 5 glass cannons to succeed anymore! As it should be! Sure, it might be possible, but you have to adapt if it doesn’t. Aka, skill.

DeathPanel.8362:

Isslair.4908:

Wha?

The defending of Magg is such a faceroll now.

Done it with a pug party with 2 rangers, rifle warrior and some ele. Had no difficulties whatsoever and completed it in one try. I imagine with good team it’s just facerolling while mobs die.

It could even use some more upscaling.

Well thats at least 3 aoe type chars 2 of which cripple on their aoes.

Try it with a melee heavy team, and you will fail every time.

how? most melees have the capacity to keep stability on themselves when needed, I know i can, and i know that every warrior has the same skills availible to them. Also both melee classes have MANY stun breaks, a few of them are on pretty short cds too.
2 warrs, 2 guards, 1 mes, did it just fine.

@the gates assassin, running full dps warrior myself. Axe/shield however, i found no problem with this. I suppose the real skill is to be able to run full dps and still succeed.

Dempsey.8760:

DeathPanel.8362:

Isslair.4908:

Wha?

The defending of Magg is such a faceroll now.

Done it with a pug party with 2 rangers, rifle warrior and some ele. Had no difficulties whatsoever and completed it in one try. I imagine with good team it’s just facerolling while mobs die.

It could even use some more upscaling.

Well thats at least 3 aoe type chars 2 of which cripple on their aoes.

Try it with a melee heavy team, and you will fail every time.

how? most melees have the capacity to keep stability on themselves when needed, I know i can, and i know that every warrior has the same skills availible to them. Also both melee classes have MANY stun breaks, a few of them are on pretty short cds too.
2 warrs, 2 guards, 1 mes, did it just fine.

@the gates assassin, running full dps warrior myself. Axe/shield however, i found no problem with this. I suppose the real skill is to be able to run full dps and still succeed.

Pretty much. Ask anyone complaining about their glass cannon dying if they look at skill animations or what the mob is targeting. Glass cannon is for people who can handle it. My engineer still takes tool kit and elixir S a lot of the time just in case. I could probably sub them out for Elixir B and Rifle Turret, but I prefer the utility.

This game is about more than just damage

ya I mean stabiilty and doyalk signet have 40 and 60 second cooldown.

I dont’ think it is so much melee is bad for the cof path 2 event. What I think is if you are a warrior and you are the only (1 or 2) meleeing, expect to have a hard time.

A heavy melee team can work because there’s multiple people sharing hit.

The Gates Assassin.9827:

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS!!!! Could not agree more.

You cannot just jump into a high level dungeon and expect 5 glass cannons to succeed anymore! As it should be! Sure, it might be possible, but you have to adapt if it doesn’t. Aka, skill.

Ya but do you actually tried the class yourself. It is one thing to look at their skill and say they can do it too, and another to try yourself.

laokoko.7403:

The Gates Assassin.9827:

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS!!!! Could not agree more.

You cannot just jump into a high level dungeon and expect 5 glass cannons to succeed anymore! As it should be! Sure, it might be possible, but you have to adapt if it doesn’t. Aka, skill.

Ya but do you actually tried the class yourself. It is one thing to look at their skill and say they can do it too, and another to try yourself.

So, then have the other teammates do some of the other jobs for you while you roll faces. Who said that an all Warrior team was a good idea anyways?

The Gates Assassin.9827:

laokoko.7403:

The Gates Assassin.9827:

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS!!!! Could not agree more.

You cannot just jump into a high level dungeon and expect 5 glass cannons to succeed anymore! As it should be! Sure, it might be possible, but you have to adapt if it doesn’t. Aka, skill.

Ya but do you actually tried the class yourself. It is one thing to look at their skill and say they can do it too, and another to try yourself.

So, then have the other teammates do some of the other jobs for you while you roll faces. Who said that an all Warrior team was a good idea anyways?

No I’m just saying for those people keep saying use stability/tank/support warrior or use throw bola or whatever, have they actually tried it themself?

I think people theorycraft too much.

I’m not sure if I went through the same dungeon as people claiming to have wiped on CoF P2…the mobs now do such a pitiful damage that we could just stomp around and literally slaughter them. We completed that part without anyone downing.

The hardest part in P2 is, to me, still getting Magg through the lava field…which isn’t really hard per se, it’s usually just Magg being stupid.

DeathPanel.8362:

Note, I have full exotic everything with sigils and runes sets.

So did my team, except for 1 person, and all were 80 of course.

Mesmer, War, War, Guard, Ele.

We failed 8+ times on defend magg. We caught on right away about the assassin but that wasn’t the main issue.

The main issue was the tons of mobs with knockdown attacks eventually overwhelming us.

It seems that the path now requires heavy or all aoe specced team to succeed, which is bad design.

Sorry to say it, but you guys were doing something seriously wrong, with group setup as you had I think one or two guys could go AFK and you should still complete event without problems. Let’s look at your group composition:

2x War = Massive AoE damage (if they use one handers and refuse to carry one GS for times where GS is needed, then they are just bad without hope), self stability and lot of stun breaks to get up from floor.
Guard = stability for everyone? AoE damage?
Ele = Another massive AoE damage dealer
Mesmer = just cherry on top

Clearly L2P issue there and that’s why I like the event, smart guys will learn how to do it properly, rest will not do the path (good for me, no need to lecture pugs every single time).

I went there with couple of casual friends (they made it to exotic gear, but don’t have much time to play, so no leetzor-uber-skillerz). And after initial shock that it doesn’t look like we used to, which caused our initial fail. We did it 2nd time without Magg even being touched (and I consider it actually too easy now).

If you pug a dungeon and the pugs are bad then you have nobody to blame but yourself. Please remember this.

Rackhir Tanelorn.9123:

laokoko.7403:

ya I mean “Engineer, 2 Necros, Ranger and an Ele” That is how you get through cof path 2.

If you have cough cough warrior it’ll be harder. Most warrior use hundred blade for aoe. But now they can’t tank 100 mob and have knockdown on them.

No if you have Stability/Control/Tanking/Support Warriors you are fine… if you have 100 Blades all Zerker Signet/MF Warriors you will die miserably…

As you should

Dear sir, we don’t need to tank dead mobs! We will just shred the mobs so fast, they wouldn’t be able to spawn fast enough to satisfy our bloodlust. You know, Balanced stance / Shake it off is all any war need there.

Coming from guy who has nearly full berserker (just 3 jewelery slots are cavalier) warrior (using MF/GF food in CoF).

Ideal group for CoF (and pretty much every other dungeon) is still the same: 1x Guard, 4x War. All berserker. With group such as this, you can make all paths of any dungeon (except Arah) during one food buff.

Well, even the old version of encounter was doable. and even by a medicore party with some determination.

New cof p2 is way easier with regular mobs instead of silvers (and even silver assassins are squishy, so you can have two people dedicated to killing them, while the rest of the party keeps cleaning the trash). I really dunno where can you fail. This coming from a melee warrior who completed this path with ranged only teammates.

I mean have you actually done the opening event for cof? It’s practically the same stuff.