Guild Wars 2

First of all, this is not a flame or troll post and if you have nothing insightful to add, I ask you to simply not reply. This is a constructive criticism to the current game design and I KNOW it is too early to judge, but I feel like writing this.

I have put a little over 250 hours in the game now, playing with my old Guild all the way and this is my story:

I reached level 80, got a full exotic set with the stats I wanted, then transmuted the skins I wanted into it. Then I got the exotic weapons that I wanted and also transmuted it with the skins I wanted (corrupted, about 20g or endless hours grind). Then after completing the story quest, I went on to explore the world and got 100% map completion. I also completed all the jumping puzzles and whatnot.

Then I started playing the market to pile on Gold so I can afford keeping my Guild at WvW and fully equipping my future characters. I managed to make 300g within 3 or 4 days, it is really simply for anyone who have any idea of how a market works. Then I jumped into sPvP and tournaments for a while. Then I leveled all the crafting professions to 400.

…. what is left to do? The game seriously lack incentive for you to keep playing once you achieve your basic goals. Your level 80 character has absolutely no use other than being another number on WvW. I got the gear I wanted, the skin I wanted, the full map completion, puzzle jumps, I have a fortune in Gold which I use on the 1 hour I log in daily for WvW – which is by the way heaviliy 1 sided on my server so it is absolutely unfun…

There is simply nothing else to do. Dynamic Events get old and boring after you do each of them 3 times, Dungeons are ultimately pointless and too little reward for too much effort (after you get the skins) and then you have WvW and sPvP left, both with abysmal balance issues which turns it unfun to many players, including me.

I have no will to level a second character to 80 again, first because 100% world completion really burns you out and then because I already have one maxed out character… and it feels dull.

I had lots of fun in GW2 through the leveling process, but I don’t see how it would be fun to do the same things with another set of skills.

Bottom line: the game seriously lacks any form of incentives for you to keep playing once you hit the cap. Why would I do another DE if I don’t need gold, karma and if it is ultimately unfun because I have done it 4 times already? I really got my $60 worth of fun, I really did, but I fear for the longevity of the game on the current scheme of things. You have nothing to aim for. Nothing rewards you. Unbalances keep you away from sPvP and WvW.

This is just how I feel right now and I REALLY would like to find a reason to keep playing, but now I simply login to collect my Gold on the market… which I have no use for.

And before anyone else says this: I did not sped through content or rushed it in any ways. I played about 6 hours daily which I think is comparatively short to the average MMO player.

Thoughts? Insights? Suggestions? I am all ears…

Cheers,
Knuckle

Knuckledust.5621:

Nice edit on my post title, Mr. Mod….. way to turn around the main issue here.

To all those wondering: the only reason I have spent so much time is that I got a shoulder surgery on late August, and my main occupation is playing Rugby. Since I am not allowed to do so, I am working monetizing my Blog through the computer, and thus I have it on almost 24/7. I have GW2 open at all times, which doesn’t mean I am actively playing it at all times.

Sometimes it feels like people take criticism personally here. I am simply asking for suggestions to combat the lack of incentive to play.

I played GW1 for over 6k hours on the course of 7 years. I was a youngster with no occupation and only played it, and it had incentives to keep you playing despite you getting the max gear within less than 24 hours. So no, I am not asking for a gear treadmill.

But this is a MMO and people excuses are that it shouldn’t have replayability. Hell, why don’t we implement a weekly reset on the characters then? Your argument makes no sense. And I bet most people bashing at me without even knowing my personal life have spent the same or even more time than me in the game, and just haven’t accomplished to much.

I am hoenstly disappointed with this community. I left GW2Guru because of the godawuful community which reminded me of World of Warcraft, and I see the same behavior here…. and yet people call themselves mature.

To all those who sent an adult and non-aggressive suggestions, thanks so much. I am actually playing only 1 hour/day right now to support my guild on WvW, which is entirely dominated by another server due to the awesome balance system…

Have a legendary yet?

Well, if you have nothing better to do, write a guide about “playing the market”. I’m sure many people want to know how to make 300 gold in 4 days. xD

Personally I’ve enjoyed my time at 80 so far by doing things for fun every now and then.

6 hours a day is still a pretty excessive gaming habit IMO, but i work 48 hours a week and have a toddler. I would say you pretty much did everything there is to do if you don’t want to do it again with a new character. You got your moneys worth, you just didn’t spread it out as much as you would have liked im guessing.

This is one of those types of games that needs to be played along side something else a bit more in-depth. Its a good game to play when you need an easy break from a different game basically.

Haasth.1459:

Personally I’ve enjoyed my time at 80 so far by doing things for fun every now and then.

Please, how do you have fun doing something you have done 30 times while leveling and completing the map 100%?

Also, I am not and will not make a Legendary. The skins are lackluster and certainly do not worth the time spent farming upward to 5m karma depending entirely on your luck.

I’m sure you’ve heard this a million times before, but at the end of the day, you got 250 hours out of a regular retail price game that you don’t have to pay monthly for. There’s gonna be plenty more content to come to keep the longevity going, Some people will get bored before 250 hours, some later, but I don’t think there are many people who don’t get their money’s worth out of this game.

Every where I go, I see posts like this. This game is pretty much going down the hill. Don’t get me wrong I love GW but GW2 at the moment doesn’t live up to its hype. So sad to see such a nice game gone to the deep.

Borderlands 2 cost me $60 and I got 3.4 hours out of it and I’ve not really felt compelled to do more. Now that’s disappointment.

Um… first of all, holy crap.

Secondly, since you’re apparently honestly asking for suggestions: leave until the expansion.

You won.

I’m not being sarcastic. I mean you really did it. You hit every goal in the game that you wanted to.

I don’t think your question should be, “What do I do?”

I think you should ask yourself, “Why should you stay at all?”

So go do something else for a while and come back when they’ve developed more for you to do.

Knuckledust.5621:

And before anyone else says this: I did not sped through content or rushed it in any ways. I played about 6 hours daily which I think is comparatively short to the average MMO player.

Okay, no…that’s a lot. I don’t have an issue with it, but that’s a LOT. And by the way, the game has been out for about 26 days. 26 × 6 is about 150 hours. You’re missing 100 hours somewhere.

Knuckledust.5621:

Thoughts? Insights? Suggestions? I am all ears…

There really isn’t a solution for burnout/meeting all your goals. I’ve had this discussion a few times on these (and other) MMO forums over the last several months, trying to push back this pervasive mentality that an MMO is a bottomless barrel of entertainment you can pour hundreds and thousands of hours into and never get bored and never run out of things you want to do.

Just take a break man. If your 250 hours is an accurate metric, you have been averaging 10 hours a day since the game launched. That’s like…66% of your waking hours, dedicated to a launch MMO. I’d probably be sick of it too. I can’t think of anything offhand I could put that much time into and NOT need a break.

Tradewind.6913:

Borderlands 2 cost me $60 and I got 3.4 hours out of it and I’ve not really felt compelled to do more. Now that’s disappointment.

I agree with this. I REALLY got my money worth of GW2. My concern is for the replayability of the game, tho.

The DEs do not scale when you are 80. You have no point of going back to a level 30 map after completing it, unless you are helping someone.

I thought this was going to be something that GW2 would to differently.

When you beat a game you beat a game. The replayability of a MMO really depends on the user and if they want to repeat all their tasks again. I understand that there is only so many times a user can do something before it becomes pointless and no longer fun but fun is what the user makes of it.
Suggestions? Find a role-playing group. Make a new toon and see how your story could’ve differed if you chose something else (Not suggesting all the way to level 80).
This game offers many experiences and it seems that you’ve experienced them all. Now you gotta create some yourself.
If all else fails. Patience is key. This game has been out for less then a month and they’re still patching and fixing bugs. There will (hopefully) be expansions released in the future so there’ll be new experiences there.
Congrats on accomplishing so much in such little time.

Knuckledust.5621:

Tradewind.6913:

Borderlands 2 cost me $60 and I got 3.4 hours out of it and I’ve not really felt compelled to do more. Now that’s disappointment.

I agree with this. I REALLY got my money worth of GW2. My concern is for the replayability of the game, tho.

The DEs do not scale when you are 80. You have no point of going back to a level 30 map after completing it, unless you are helping someone.

I thought this was going to be something that GW2 would to differently.

As a positive example, I paid $60 for Deus Ex: Human Revolution and enjoyed the kitten out of it, but it still only filled about a 12 hour void before I stopped playing it entirely.

I think you beat the game.

Since you don’t want a legendary, for whatever reason, then find another game until MOP comes out in 4 days. I would play BF3 or something.

You put in 250 hours into a video game and you complain that there was nothing to do? Seriously, bro?

They need some seriously epic endgame content, and they need it fast. And not another stupid quick dungeon. They need something challenging that will take time to complete because its difficult, not because its grindy.

Seems to me that the majority of players with content complains are those that have played 10 days or more in the 23 days since launch.

How can you claim that you did not rush having spent close to 1/2 of your life since launch on this game. 6 hours a day is off. It’s closer to 11 hours daily.

You are outside of the norm that ANet is shooting to entertain. They can’t make content fast enough to keep up with your exorbitant playtime.

I’m sorry, it seems you beat the game. If you don’t find it fun to continue playing you can shelve it until more content releases. It’ll still be around for awhile yet.

You said it yourself; over 250 hours put in. You got your $60 worth. You plowed through way faster than most players and put in what is easily a very unhealthy amount of time. And no, 6 hours a day is not “comparatively short to the average MMO player”. That’s pretty much no social life status if you have a job. You know what else it is? A lie. The game release 26 days ago if you count the headstart, and you’ve played for over 250 hours. That calculates to between 9 and 10 hours per day.

Content isn’t limitless. ANet’s going to make more though. For now, I guess, shelf the game and wait. I know it might be hard; you’ve played the game for at least 9 hours a day on average, after all, but I’m sure that you’ll find something to do with your time while you wait for ArenaNet to give you more content to speed through five times faster than most people.

You said you play 6 hours daily. I play close to that too, sometimes a lot less or a lot more on weekends depending on what I have to do. But I am nowhere near close to half of all that stuff you have said you’ve done. I would say not even a quarter.

You said you didnt rush through, and let’s just say you didn’t. You seem to have accomplished things in this game at a much faster pace than the average player. But that is by your choice cause apparently that’s what you like to do. Others may not choose to do so because that is what they like to do, and will get more time doing the same activities.

A good example is how you said you have done all the jump puzzles and 100% world completion. Now I’ve done very few jump puzzles, but I REALLY love jump puzzles. Now I could decide to look online for videos and guides that shows all the locations of jump puzzles, but I’d rather find them on my own organically. Not saying you did this but it’s an example. Also there’s some vistas in zones I haven’t been able to reach. Once again I could just give it a quick google search but id rather figure it out on my own, even if that means 45 minutes of me running in circles.

To be honest I don’t think there is any mmos that will keep up with your drive to beat the game unless it’s a wow style you have to rely on 24 other people to accomplish goals.

Knuckledust.5621:

And before anyone else says this: I did not sped through content or rushed it in any ways. I played about 6 hours daily which I think is comparatively short to the average MMO player.

According to the Daedalus Project, the average MMO player spends about 3 hrs a day playing, so no, 6 hours a day is twice as much as the average player.

In any event, getting 250 hours of entertainment for $60 is a fantastic value, and I really don’t know of anything that would still be exciting or even interesting to me after spending 250 hrs on it in one month.

Always do what you want to do, within the rules.
Games are games. Not work.
This is why people play RTS and FPS games for years without any reward other than self-improvement.

If you find nothing fun to do (WvW? sPvP? New Character? Collect dyes?) then play something else.

Never play a game you do not enjoy!
It only leads to pathetic addiction. I know from experience.

Obvious troll is obvious. It’s pretty clear you’re hear just to /flex about all your accomplishments. There is no way I believe that someone actually thinks that putting in 6 hours a day to a video game is standard. Hell I work 8 hours a day. If I played a game 6 hours a day that would total to 14 hours, leaving me only 6 hours to sleep. And that’s not including time with my wife or kids or any other activities I might enjoy.

6 hours a day in a video game is a lot. You may not feel like you rushed anything, but doing all that you did in less than a month is rushing it, no matter how you feel on the matter. You rushed to the end, did everything you wanted to, and now have nothing to do. Your situation is unique to the minority that play the at the same pace that you do.

On second thought, I think maybe someone is having us on. Didn’t speed through the game? C’mon, man.

souldonkey.9534:

Hell I work 8 hours a day. If I played a game 6 hours a day that would total to 14 hours, leaving me only 6 hours to sleep.

I’m guessing you don’t work as a math teacher. =P

Because there’s no monthly fee, what more do you want for $60? 250 hrs in less than a month? That’s more than 8 hrs a day…holy ^%$($ dude. Sure, its technically a MMO, but its not one of the investment types. You play for a while, get a toon to 80, maybe roll an alt and do some PvP or WvW for a little longer then take a break until the next expansion. That’s how most people will basically treat the game. Its not one of those play constantly for years, since unless you’re OBSESSED with tournament play, what the heck is going to keep you going after a couple of months? Most people really aren’t going to farm dungeons or karma for gear that “looks” nice, week after week if there’s nothing you can really do with it besides go “look at me!” And even then does anyone care? When I saw someone running around with a unique sword or cool set of armor in WOW, I knew it also kickedkitten too. In GW2, its all just a skin.

LastDay.3524:

This is why people play RTS and FPS games for years without any reward other than self-improvement.

“Blashpemy! The only reward that can exist in a game is your numbers going up!”

Said no intelligent person ever.

Wintyre Fraust.6534:

On second thought, I think maybe someone is having us on. Didn’t speed through the game? C’mon, man.

Maybe he lives in a transient domain of subspace, kind of like he’s traveling faster than light, so there’s subtle effects of time dilation around him. Or like his chair is powered by some sort of experimental power source driven by a supermassive singularity. To the point it has an effect on how he perceives time and space. You never know man!

Maybe he’s the kitten Lawnmower Man, he lives in cyberspace.

If u really don’t have anything to do. Look for secrets in the Game. I’m sure they have many secrets that maybe even IGN didn’t find. Its a new MMO.

At the OP- I really cannot help you since I am only at lvl 50 atm.
I can tell you what I like.
I find that there is a lot more to a zone than 100% completion just yesterday I found a place with an event that you trigger by talking to an npc in the starter human area- I cannot tell you how many times I have done that area and I never knew it was there. My mind was blown
I personally like finding secrets and looking for cool crafting skins but that might not be your thing at all
I also like alts which is why I am still at lvl 50 on my main Playing a different profession makes a huge difference even in area you have seen many many times (all my chars are human)
But seriously someone on this thread suggested writing a guide on how to make money on the TP – this is a good idea, since very few people understand how it works.
I love making a goal for myself every time I log on- I might not accomplish it because I get side tracked, but it amuses me to set my own goals and not be dictated to by the game.
It all depends on what interests you.
If you really are bored, take a break, play something else for a week and come back and see if you feel refreshed
That is all I can really say, good luck

I am only here for one reason, WvWvW. Couldn’t care less about any other aspect and (assuming ANet doesn’t cave in to the crying an trivialize the whole thing) it is what will keep me here for some time. If they actually manage to make it as good as DAoC’s RvR, I will be here for years. Expansions will not be necessary to keep me playing, and will actually detract from the fun (especially if they ever increase the level cap).

We need Darkness Falls to make it as good as DAoC’s RvR.

Fingers crossed.

OP, unfortunately, reading from this forum, the game is limited for very hardcore/smart players.

check out my suggestion thread;
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/the-endgame-answer/

SpectacularYak.6518:

We need Darkness Falls to make it as good as DAoC’s RvR.

Fingers crossed.

At the very least we need realm ranks.

FarFarAway.6579:

They need some seriously epic endgame content, and they need it fast. And not another stupid quick dungeon. They need something challenging that will take time to complete because its difficult, not because its grindy.

No they don’t really,the game finally sticks 2 fingers up at the old wow progression crowd and I thank Anet for that,keep up the good work and thank you for not sticking to the same old formula that every mmo for the past few yrs has boringly continued with. Plenty of mmos for those players not enough for the type of player that wants gw2.

Avatar.1923:

OP, unfortunately, reading from this forum, the game is limited for very hardcore/smart players.

check out my suggestion thread;
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/the-endgame-answer/

Yeah you’re right, the people still enjoying the game are just stupid casuals. I’d play more but I keep hearing my car keys jingling or a kittening laser pointer dot on the floor distracting me for hours.

Holy kittening christ I must be kittening kittentarded. Excuse me for a moment Sir Issac kittening Newton while I go stick my junk in an electrical socket because I’m a stupid casual.

/kittens

I must say; I think the game is very well done, the world is beautiful and the game has an excellent leveling arc. But I’m getting bored as well. I’m leveling a second character and right now I’m having a hard time chasing heart after heart, DE after DE. I try running a dungeon to break-up the monotony, but they’re painfully unrewarding for the effort and coin spent on repairs. And even crafting is now a chore.

I guess after having played 20 MMOs I need a new MMO. I’m jaded. I really wish I wasn’t. Its not GW2, its me =/.

Games are finite. They do not last forever. You will run out of things to do.

You have reached the end of the internet.

its not you.

it because the “mmo” revolution isnt there yet.

there is Eve Online, but the look/spacesim/complexity of it doesnt appeal to everybody.

there has been no revolution in the fantasy mmo market. yet.

GW2 can do it, imo, if they stop thinking the players only enjoy grinding.
i believe that player led content is the way to go.

Tradewind.6913:

Avatar.1923:

OP, unfortunately, reading from this forum, the game is limited for very hardcore/smart players.

check out my suggestion thread;
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/the-endgame-answer/

Yeah you’re right, the people still enjoying the game are just stupid casuals. I’d play more but I keep hearing my car keys jingling or a kittening laser pointer dot on the floor distracting me for hours.

Holy kittening christ I must be kittening kittentarded. Excuse me for a moment Sir Issac kittening Newton while I go stick my junk in an electrical socket because I’m a stupid casual.

/kittens

seriously? some respect please

Morrigan.2809:

seriously? some respect please

Sorry I get excited when people say things that are incredibly ridiculous.

It was also an intentionally bombastic response, so there’s that.

300+ hours played so far. Still have plenty to do.

I seriously don’t understand the mindset of people who need a gear treadmill just to play an MMO. Rather sad, honestly.

Lande.5782:

300+ hours played so far. Still have plenty to do.

I seriously don’t understand the mindset of people who need a gear treadmill just to play an MMO. Rather sad, honestly.

Where in his post did he say he wanted a gear treadmill? The dude is bored and he’s asking for suggestions. Way to not be helpful.

Morrigan.2809:

Tradewind.6913:

Avatar.1923:

OP, unfortunately, reading from this forum, the game is limited for very hardcore/smart players.

check out my suggestion thread;
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/the-endgame-answer/

Yeah you’re right, the people still enjoying the game are just stupid casuals. I’d play more but I keep hearing my car keys jingling or a kittening laser pointer dot on the floor distracting me for hours.

Holy kittening christ I must be kittening kittentarded. Excuse me for a moment Sir Issac kittening Newton while I go stick my junk in an electrical socket because I’m a stupid casual.

/kittens

seriously? some respect please

yeah.. respect bro. im casual too… im only level 32.
i just like to elaborate about endgame content for the
fascinating hardcore fans.
i didnt mean “casual disrespect” at all. im sorry if it
came out like that.

FarFarAway.6579:

Where in his post did he say he wanted a gear treadmill? The dude is bored and he’s asking for suggestions. Way to not be helpful.

Right here:

“Bottom line: the game seriously lacks any form of incentives for you to keep playing once you hit the cap. "

That’s asking for a gear treadmill, even if it’s not direct.

Dude, us professional working types probably get in 2-3 hours a day, a few times a week and maybe 1 or 2 sessions if lucky on the weekend. So figure 20 hours or so max a week on average plus most don’t power through the content either and GW2 isn’t our only hobby. So you are way out of the normal average player. I say you got your $60 worth and probably need to go for a few runs.

Anet did posted last week that they are reimagining endgame and preparing some new content, so you can either roll an alt until that happens, or help your guildies in WvW or running some instances with them while teaching them the game mechanics.

Avatar.1923:

yeah.. respect bro. im casual too… im only level 32.
i just like to elaborate about endgame content for the
fascinating hardcore fans.
i didnt mean “casual disrespect” at all. im sorry if it
came out like that.

It did a little, but I checked your thread to see what you were about for slapping your face.

Tradewind is more of a shoot first kind of guy.

Lande.5782:

FarFarAway.6579:

Where in his post did he say he wanted a gear treadmill? The dude is bored and he’s asking for suggestions. Way to not be helpful.

Right here:

“Bottom line: the game seriously lacks any form of incentives for you to keep playing once you hit the cap. "

That’s asking for a gear treadmill, even if it’s not direct.

incentive isnt necessarly “gear/stat” oriented, check the
big picture. and thats the revolution im waiting for.