Guild Wars 2

I know myself, and many others, are frustrated by the current methods for obtaining ascended items. The current system forces me to spend my game time doing activities I don’t particularly enjoy because they are the only available method of obtaining ascended gear. Another source of frustration is the daily nature of rewards. Compare a player who plays an hour a day for five days with someone who plays for 5 hours on one weekend day. Both spend the same time playing but the first player makes 5 times more progress towards their ascended gear. I want to be rewarded for playing on my terms and not be left behind because I don’t have time to play every day.

Here is my simple solution: a new vendor that exchanges current game currencies for laurels. The exchange rate would be balanced such that 1 laurel would still require a significant amount of effort, but could be obtained by doing what you enjoy while playing.

This vendor would exchange 1 laurel for the following currency:
-Karma
-Gold
-Dungeon and fractal tokens
-Badges of honor
-Guild commendations
*laurels will now also be awarded for map completions

In addition, all ascended gear would now only be bought with laurels.

Now, you spend your time (as much and whenever you want) doing what you enjoy and still make progress towards your ascended gear. Like to explore?…you get laurels for that. Only play WvW?…laurels for that. Like to make tons of gold playing the trading post?…laurels for that. Have lots of real money sitting around and like buying gems?…yep laurels for that too.

It is important to remember that the most efficient way to get laurels would still require you to do dailies, guild events, etc. but those who choose to not to spend time doing activities they don’t enjoy would still be able to make progress towards their gear. Also, players who play long sessions over a few days can make the same progress that players who log in every day can.

I really hope some system like this is implemented. The current system forces players to do certain activities whether they enjoy them or not. This leads to significant time spent not really having fun because it is the only way to stay on par with your peers.

If you like this idea or have any suggestions/feedback please leave a comment. Feel free to comment if you hate the idea too!

You forgot Ecto.
5 gold + 50 ecto for one Laurel seems like what the current ArenaNet would consider “equivalent exchange.”

Currency exchanges is a thing other MMOs did so we will likely never see them in our hip and fresh Guild Wars 2.

But seriously, having a way of getting rid of unwanted currencies would be great. Hell, they can also work as a currency sink if the exchange rate is “bad” enough. People would still use it.

We already have one exchange with gems and gold.. but we do need this best end gear item issue fixed ASAP! Only having one way to PLAY the game, to have the chance to get an item that improves your player build is not a good way of doing things when you want to keep players from leaving your game!

I give my support for a way to attain ascended accessories for those of us forcibly locked out of guild commendations.

Way too simple and easy solution. It’s not complicated enough and doesn’t upset the player base. Can’t be considered as trolling. Thus, they’ll never think about that.