Guild Wars 2

A little bit about whom I am. 30 year old long time gamer since I can remember, two kids, Military man with not a lot of free time on my hands. Other than gaming and spending time with my kids, I work out a lot, twice a day if possible (yes im a fitness nut). These days I have about 1 hour (if that) during the week to game, maybe a little more on the weekends, however when GW2 released I was living by myself and had an extraordinary amount of time to invest in GW2. (Yes I do have a legendary weapon as of about two weeks ago)

First MMO was Everquest, moved to many various others over the years and found a home in GW1. IMO, GW1 was simply the greatest game I’ve ever played.

No game held me for so many years, took so many of my weekends and nights like GW1 did. For me it did everything perfect.

Enter GW2.

Gameplay wise, GW2 is superior to GW1 in every way possible IMO. The combat is fast and to the point. I love it. The world is gorgeous, I mean absolutely stunning and IMO second only to Skyrim in terms of jaw dropping scenery. Only in these two games would I log in and catch myself looking in awe at how beautiful the sun looks over a mountain, or how amazing a body of water looks at night. It truly is amazing.

With all that being said, the game suddenly slowed down for me. Since acquiring my legendary I’ve hit a wall so to speak and I’ve wondered greatly the cause of that. I’ve done a lot of dungeon runs, a good amount of WvW (tier 2 Isle of Janthir so battles are intense) some PvP but yet these days. I’m finding it hard to, well, do ANYTHING in game.

I will tell you this; I have got my money’s worth from the game. I think I’ve logged 650ish hours and IMO that’s not too shabby. However moving forward nothing interests me anymore. I sometimes go to Ebonehawke and stand around in this beautifully crafted open world city and wonder how the world became so deserted. It saddens me when speaking of the PVE side that a game this beautiful has been narrowed down to pretty much one dungeon. Granted, you will still find people fighting the dragons but even those fights have become kind of stale.

I think, what I’m missing at this point, is a carrot to chase.

Now even though I have a legendary weapon, I didn’t do it for the stats. I thought frostfang was one of the coolest looking Axes I’ve seen, and I made it my sole purpose for 8-10 weeks to acquire it. I did the same thing in GW1, I chased after a very few unique set of skins I thought looked amazing and left it at that. However, what kept me playing GW1 for all those years was VARIETY!

Part 2

The VARIETY of builds was simply astonishing. I remember my warrior had 6 sets of armor and every weapon type with combos of runes and whatever else. Anytime I wanted swap out with some crazy gimmicky build and run about the world like a madman. It created a new experience each time. I remember sitting around looking at all the skills at my disposal and thinking of different combinations of crazy builds to give a go. Some worked, most didn’t, but that was the fun of GW1.

Enter GW2, and the variety is no longer there, and it’s been a painful realization.

Now I know some of you may say look at your traits and weapon types, etc. etc., however we are still pigeon holed into the same type of builds with most weapon sets. Most specific weapon skills are branched down one trait tree, almost forcing you to take that trait to maximize the efficiency of said weapon.

As you probably can tell, my carrot that I want to chase is variety in build selection, just like GW1. Maybe not in the same sense as skill selection (if ANET were to unlock the skill bars that would require a total rebalancing of the entire game) but instead trait selection. If traits are what define us, than let it really defines who we are in the world.

I also play a D/D ele in WvW and almost everyone knows to disengage me and run as fast as possible because they have very little chance of killing me. You see a greatsword warrior…watch out for immobilize or bullsrush 100b. Traits may slightly differ across specs, but how the builds operate on the surface is exactly same. I don’t feel unique at all in combat anymore and everything has become muscle memory. 9 times out of ten, I’m not even thinking anymore, just going through an optimal rotation of skills (especially with my Ele).

Traits should be far more diverse IMO, not just effecting utilities, the actual weapon skills themselves. Take my axe warrior for example. Axe 5 should have a trait that changes the skill to function a bit differently. Maybe the trait will cause the skill to now Self Root you, however you draw knocked down/stunned enemies toward you like a vacuum effect. The skill might cause much more damage to foes its hits, so hammer warriors and Eles would be inclined to team up and use their knockdowns so foes are sucked into your Axe 5 doing huge damage.

Or Staff Fire 5, Meteor shower. Maybe now you have a trait that changes the shower into one massive meteor that hits for huge damage and knocks foes down. The Area would be smaller than the Standard shower but the damage tradeoff would be something to look at.

Another Idea would be Elite traits. Like elite skills you could only have one equipped at a time and they would greatly change how your class plays. An Elite trait for a sword warrior could be, for every stack a bleeding on your foe, you do 1% additional damage.

Instead of increasing the level cap, simply add a new tier of traits “Heroic Traits” for a fourth tier, and give us a bit more trait points to play with. The 4th tier wouldn’t affect base stats, just weapon skills and you might have slots for 2,5,10 down each line allowing you to alter 3 skills if you choose to max that branch.

Also, outside of SPvP, we should not be given these traits. Make it like GW1; we would have to hunt down certain bosses or events to cap these new traits. This will in one fell swoop get people back out in the open world, once again exploring the world of GW2. Sell Signets of capture for a cost of 1 skill point, and we are off hunting down unique bosses and events.

I don’t know, maybe some of these ideas are dumb, but I simply do not like the course of which the game has went with. Gear progression has never been my cup of tea, which is why I never stick with most MMO’s. I don’t care to continue to upgrade my stats, in fact I’m only fractals level 3. I’m just not interested in ascended gear right now.

Then again, maybe I just need a break. As I said, I’ve been overseas and away from my kids, so I’ve had a lot of time to put into GW2 and maybe I’m just burnt out. Funny thing is, I still WANT to play, and I’m just finding it hard to do anything right now.
Maybe I will take a break, and see what the jan/feb updates bring.

/dear diary.

I feel the same way. There is basically zero variety for builds. I absolutely loathe traits, I want tons of skills to play with like in GW.

Rukia.4802:

I feel the same way. There is basically zero variety for builds. I absolutely loathe traits, I want tons of skills to play with like in GW.

builds are centered with weapons, the 4 utility skills and gear. i’m certainly sure that you’re overexaggerating about your claim about ZERO variety for builds.

I also play a D/D ele in WvW and almost everyone knows to disengage me and run as fast as possible because they have very little chance of killing me. You see a greatsword warrior…watch out for immobilize or bullsrush 100b. Traits may slightly differ across specs, but how the builds operate on the surface is exactly same. I don’t feel unique at all in combat anymore and everything has become muscle memory. 9 times out of ten, I’m not even thinking anymore, just going through an optimal rotation of skills (especially with my Ele).
Traits should be far more diverse IMO, not just effecting utilities, the actual weapon skills themselves. Take my axe warrior for example. Axe 5 should have a trait that changes the skill to function a bit differently. Maybe the trait will cause the skill to now Self Root you, however you draw knocked down/stunned enemies toward you like a vacuum effect. The skill might cause much more damage to foes its hits, so hammer warriors and Eles would be inclined to team up and use their knockdowns so foes are sucked into your Axe 5 doing huge damage.
Or Staff Fire 5, Meteor shower. Maybe now you have a trait that changes the shower into one massive meteor that hits for huge damage and knocks foes down. The Area would be smaller than the Standard shower but the damage tradeoff would be something to look at.
Another Idea would be Elite traits. Like elite skills you could only have one equipped at a time and they would greatly change how your class plays. An Elite trait for a sword warrior could be, for every stack a bleeding on your foe, you do 1% additional damage.
Instead of increasing the level cap, simply add a new tier of traits “Heroic Traits” for a fourth tier, and give us a bit more trait points to play with. The 4th tier wouldn’t affect base stats, just weapon skills and you might have slots for 2,5,10 down each line allowing you to alter 3 skills if you choose to max that branch.

^ Genius
it would be great if Arenanet could consider it

Compared to GW1, there is zero variety. Each profession does have some little variety, but NOTHING like it should be.

I would like to not HAVE to run with a pet for my ranger. I would love to be able to have an all health stealing Necro.

From GW1 you had all 8 skills that you could swap out to 3. Elites are silly to compare, there are only a couple and don’t really promote a good balance to any sort of build. The heal skill also does not matter, there is only 3 (some races have 4).

Weapon swaps give some variety, but they are really just the same thing. After the first several levels you already know what weapons you like and which you don’t. But really, I would like to change the skills and have the weapon modify those skills.

If I am using a staff for Necro, I would like to select some skills from all of the weapons and have their range buffed, maybe tone down damage to compensate. Similarly, if I chose a dagger, it should modify the skills I choose.

The variety of messing with your skills is what is missing with this game. The illusion that you can change your build is just that, an illusion.

I miss being able to make a PBAoE Ele. I loved running in to the middle of groups and burning them to the ground before they killed me. I can’t do that at all in this game. I am forced to play the profession a certain way. Or playing a ranger with ALL traps (Maybe 1 or 2 not traps) and getting the mobs to come at me. Making a Monk that was a smiter instead of a healer (granted no trinity, but you get my point).

I think what you need, OP, is a new tier of gear with high enough stats to make it worth chasing. I don’t know when you started playing GW1, but basically the later you started, the more was there to do for you. If you give GW2 some time, I’m sure they’ll add something worth your time. It may not be more varied goals, but once there’s this really powerful weapon with a unique non-replicable utility effect(PBAOE confusion on crit, et al), I’m sure you’ll start having fun progressing in the game again.

Actually, you have two main points. I’m not sure which one is the focus of this thread.

Are you saying that after playing 650 hours, acquiring your legendary, and has pretty much done everything the game has to offer, you have hit a wall and is bored with the game? To which I would say- naturally! I’m sure you are not alone, and anybody who has reached that point and played that amount of time or so would hit a wall at some point. Just what did you expect?

Some of us will take months, maybe years, to acquire a legendary. Maybe you are just a really good player, you have done it in less time than someone else. But the point is, you have reached the current end of the content. It’s not to say that the game has little content, or that you are fast, but it’s just what it is.

The second part is mainly covering what you argue are areas in which the game can be improved, based mainly on your experience with GW1.

So which one is it? Are you claiming that you have finished the current version of the game and now you are bored, or that you are frustrated by the weaknesses of the game design?

ASB.4295:

I think what you need, OP, is a new tier of gear with high enough stats to make it worth chasing. I don’t know when you started playing GW1, but basically the later you started, the more was there to do for you. If you give GW2 some time, I’m sure they’ll add something worth your time. It may not be more varied goals, but once there’s this really powerful weapon with a unique non-replicable utility effect(PBAOE confusion on crit, et al), I’m sure you’ll start having fun progressing in the game again.

Thats not really what I want tho. I dont care to have anything unique outside of skins. The variety I seek is in builds, and its simply not there right now.

projectcedric.6951:

Actually, you have two main points. I’m not sure which one is the focus of this thread.

Are you saying that after playing 650 hours, acquiring your legendary, and has pretty much done everything the game has to offer, you have hit a wall and is bored with the game? To which I would say- naturally! I’m sure you are not alone, and anybody who has reached that point and played that amount of time or so would hit a wall at some point. Just what did you expect?

Some of us will take months, maybe years, to acquire a legendary. Maybe you are just a really good player, you have done it in less time than someone else. But the point is, you have reached the current end of the content. It’s not to say that the game has little content, or that you are fast, but it’s just what it is.

The second part is mainly covering what you argue are areas in which the game can be improved, based mainly on your experience with GW1.

So which one is it? Are you claiming that you have finished the current version of the game and now you are bored, or that you are frustrated by the weaknesses of the game design?

Like I said, what kept me playing GW1 was the build variety types. So many combinations of skills you could honestly play any crazy style you wanted. I guess you can say im frustrated by build variety.

For some of us, a large majority of End game in GW1 was experimenting with possible builds. There were some many you could stay busy for months working on a single profession combo trying to get it right.

The only reason I even brought up the time I played or the fact that I had a legendary is because some people like to say “well have you did this, or that? There is still so much to do”

Thats really what end game is for me, sitting around trying to come up with unique builds and skill variety.

GW1, was very unique in that aspect.

OP needs an alt or….3…or 4…

Old gamer here too, I put 700+ hours in GW2 but I’m less willing to play.
I don’t think it’s the game’s fault tho, I just, well, played it too much.

I agree on the lack of character depth.
The world is super deep, jaw-dropping and full of things – but characters lack variety.
More weps/skills/elites and more skins, GOOD skins this time (don’t get me started on the clownish skins, are we sure it’s the same artist from GW1?).

But hey. Here is the bottom line for me:
GW2 is a videogame.
I don’t want nor need it to become something that needs daily management.
For Dwayna’s sake, I have a wife and friends and job and other games – please GW2 don’t become another “prison” for people with no life, keep being a game that you can jump in and play with your skill not with your time.

minion.6245:

Like I said, what kept me playing GW1 was the build variety types. So many combinations of skills you could honestly play any crazy style you wanted. I guess you can say im frustrated by build variety.

For some of us, a large majority of End game in GW1 was experimenting with possible builds. There were some many you could stay busy for months working on a single profession combo trying to get it right.

The only reason I even brought up the time I played or the fact that I had a legendary is because some people like to say “well have you did this, or that? There is still so much to do”

Thats really what end game is for me, sitting around trying to come up with unique builds and skill variety.

GW1, was very unique in that aspect.

Ok.

Your GW1 is waiting for you.

the traits ARE kitten and the thing that u can spec your self for free always or to have dual spec otion is EPIC joke !!!!

The price we had to pay with all the options we had in GW1 was an absolute lack of balance. With so many skills in the game, ArenaNet would never be able to balance them all. The result was that a lot of skills, and even entire professions, were left underpowered so they would at least not ruin balance that much. It’s little to no surprise to see how some professions got huge overhauls (dervishes, ritualists, elementalists); they were so broken that they had to be almost erased and remade in order to work.

GW2 solves this issue by having less, but more balanced skills. Yes, despite how everyone likes to scream “My profession is completelly underpowered!!!!”, it was worse in GW1. The result is a higher number of viable choices, especially considering how ArenaNet needs room in order to introduce more skills in the future.

Meanwhile, some traits have a huge impact in how you play. Guardian’s Altruistic Healing is a game changer, for example; and so is the trait that make all ranger arrows pierce.