Guild Wars 2

Gaile has posted that the first forum specialists have been chosen.

Rising Dusk.2408: Dungeons and Fractals
Marmatt.8590: WvW
Riku.4821: PvE
The Gates Assassin.9827: PvP
Wolfey.3407: PvP

Congratulations. ^^

I’m just more than a little disappointed that they went ahead with it given the large amount of negative feedback received about the program.

Also about the fact that gaile asked us to reply in a thread that we can’t reply in.

I’m more than a little surprised they put their account names out there like that. Hope they have thick skin.

On one hand, I’m (personally) not really used to seeing the listed names on the forum. I believe ANet (and frequent forumers from other subforums) had enough data to check the eligibility, though.

On the other hand, for me as a forum user, it also means I don’t have prejudices about specific personalities. That’s good.

I’m still cautious about the program but I hope ANet knows better and it works out.

Ah right. They had gone so quiet on the subject I presumed it had been dropped.

Congrats…. I think!

I think that is a terrible volunteer job, and they will just get their account banned by accidently saying something wrong.

Oh man, poor Marmatt.

Is it a good or bad thing that I have never heard of these users before?

rapthorne.7345:

I’m just more than a little disappointed that they went ahead with it given the large amount of negative feedback received about the program.

Also about the fact that gaile asked us to reply in a thread that we can’t reply in.

If you are referring to the Sticky above announcing the Forum Specialists, you can certainly reply there.

If you are referring to the carbon-copy over in News and Announcements, well….no one can post there, but Devs, as far as I know.

But, as stated above…it is word for word-same as the Sticky here.

Good luck.

kokiman.2364:

Is it a good or bad thing that I have never heard of these users before?

A good thing! It means you don’t waste your time on the forums like I do! I can only speak about the pvp forums, but Wolfey and The Gates Assassin have been sufficiently active and measured in their opinions (no ranger OP nerf, no solo vs premade nonsense) to qualify for the job. Congrats!

I’d be pretty surprised if you didn’t recognize my name if you frequented the dungeons and fractals forum with much regularity. I do post a good amount; check my history! That said, I will be particularly following that forum and reporting major discussion points there. If you have opinions, make sure they get heard and post them in that forum!

Lol…Your name, Rising Dusk, is the only name I recognized from those appointed, and I never (well, extremely rarely) visit the Dungeon and/or Fractal sub-forum(s).

Congratulations on each of your appointments, Forum Specialists!

Rising Dusk.2408:

I’d be pretty surprised if you didn’t recognize my name if you frequented the dungeons and fractals forum with much regularity. I do post a good amount; check my history! That said, I will be particularly following that forum and reporting major discussion points there. If you have opinions, make sure they get heard and post them in that forum!

Aha they have even added a title under your name!

I dunno…this whole forum specialist thing reminds me of the frame from the Sandman comics when Lucifer hands over the key to hell and just smiles knowing the nonsense Morpheus is about to endure.

What’s a “forum specialist?”

Drow.2081:

What’s a “forum specialist?”

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/info/news/Guild-Wars-2-Forum-Specialists-Program/

Well I see the WvW forum has welcomed their specialist. Kind of a rude response if you ask me.

Is the WvW “specialist” real? I mean…by any chance is not an account handled by Anet? So they picked up a guy without any WvW posts until today? It’s like to apply for a job without absolutely any experience. I’m not saying that being a forum hero means you are experienced but you get the idea.
I see Anet is too afraid to get in touch with the WvW “community”. But whatever, do whatever you want, there’s no hope for this game mode.

JustTrogdor.7892:

Well I see the WvW forum has welcomed their specialist. Kind of a rude response if you ask me.

What did you expect? The gamemode most swept under the rug, a somewhat embittered part of the ommunity from the neglect and pointless “changes”. And than a random individual comes around with a fancy title and the task to relay feedback he/she handpicks. Not to mention a rather meager community participation, especially in WvW. So what really makes him/her a qualified specialist?

So being the messenger boy for arenanet and the proxy for relaying what the community feels, of course he is going to get the tidalwave of bile that has been building up since forever.

And that is the problem isn’kitten A couple of people get trusted by arenanet to relay the community feedback while being unbiased (lol), and also to take the brunt of the abuse voluntarily.

I thought ANet came to their senses and dropped that idea.

Well at least some topics will get more entertaining from now on, so I better keep some popcorn around.

Specialists they say. Sounds delicious.

Terrahero.9358:

What did you expect?

Oh I’m not surprised. I was never a fan of the forum specialist project from the start. I actually predicted it wouldn’t go well and honestly I don’t think the program will last long. I was simply making an observation.

JustTrogdor.7892:

Well I see the WvW forum has welcomed their specialist. Kind of a rude response if you ask me.

I went over there and read the responses. I would say, he got burniated.

The “welcome” he got was one of the reasons I suggested that they not have a title and that ANet not post their Display names. Imo, the forum specialist would do just as good a job working incognito (since their job is to collect and forward ideas and post responsibly) and wouldn’t have the ire of angry posters focused on them for simply existing.

Astral Projections.7320:

JustTrogdor.7892:

Well I see the WvW forum has welcomed their specialist. Kind of a rude response if you ask me.

I went over there and read the responses. I would say, he got burniated.

Nice reference.

The “welcome” he got was one of the reasons I suggested that they not have a title and that ANet not post their Display names. Imo, the forum specialist would do just as good a job working incognito (since their job is to collect and forward ideas and post responsibly) and wouldn’t have the ire of angry posters focused on them for simply existing.

I agree. I’ve been checking the PvP forums off and on to see if it was announced there yet. I’m interested in the reaction from that forum.

Astral Projections.7320:

JustTrogdor.7892:

Well I see the WvW forum has welcomed their specialist. Kind of a rude response if you ask me.

I went over there and read the responses. I would say, he got burniated.

The “welcome” he got was one of the reasons I suggested that they not have a title and that ANet not post their Display names. Imo, the forum specialist would do just as good a job working incognito (since their job is to collect and forward ideas and post responsibly) and wouldn’t have the ire of angry posters focused on them for simply existing.

the low post count and the fact that the posts read exactly the same as an Anet dev isn’t helping to ease the worry over there.

Chrispy.5641:

Astral Projections.7320:

JustTrogdor.7892:

Well I see the WvW forum has welcomed their specialist. Kind of a rude response if you ask me.

I went over there and read the responses. I would say, he got burniated.

The “welcome” he got was one of the reasons I suggested that they not have a title and that ANet not post their Display names. Imo, the forum specialist would do just as good a job working incognito (since their job is to collect and forward ideas and post responsibly) and wouldn’t have the ire of angry posters focused on them for simply existing.

the low post count and the fact that the posts read exactly the same as an Anet dev isn’t helping to ease the worry over there.

O.o

If he was a Dev, wouldn’t that make him more valuable, not less?
You would be speaking directly to a Dev.
He can easily relay messages and ideas to the right people
He would undoubtably know a great deal about WvW and why things work or don’t work.
He would have easy access to official statements.
It would mean that WvW is getting direct and immediate Dev attention each time he posts.

So, tell me. Why would he being a Dev be a bad idea (especially from what I read, no Dev attention in WvW is their main gripe).

Astral Projections.7320:

Chrispy.5641:

Astral Projections.7320:

JustTrogdor.7892:

Well I see the WvW forum has welcomed their specialist. Kind of a rude response if you ask me.

I went over there and read the responses. I would say, he got burniated.

The “welcome” he got was one of the reasons I suggested that they not have a title and that ANet not post their Display names. Imo, the forum specialist would do just as good a job working incognito (since their job is to collect and forward ideas and post responsibly) and wouldn’t have the ire of angry posters focused on them for simply existing.

the low post count and the fact that the posts read exactly the same as an Anet dev isn’t helping to ease the worry over there.

O.o

If he was a Dev, wouldn’t that make him more valuable, not less?
You would be speaking directly to a Dev.
He can easily relay messages and ideas to the right people
He would undoubtably know a great deal about WvW and why things work or don’t work.
He would have easy access to official statements.
It would mean that WvW is getting direct and immediate Dev attention each time he posts.

So, tell me. Why would he being a Dev be a bad idea (especially from what I read, no Dev attention in WvW is their main gripe).

Having their own dev would be a very good thing. Having a dev masquerading as just another engaged player trying to help out as best he can would not.

Ashen.2907:

Astral Projections.7320:

Chrispy.5641:

Astral Projections.7320:

JustTrogdor.7892:

Well I see the WvW forum has welcomed their specialist. Kind of a rude response if you ask me.

I went over there and read the responses. I would say, he got burniated.

The “welcome” he got was one of the reasons I suggested that they not have a title and that ANet not post their Display names. Imo, the forum specialist would do just as good a job working incognito (since their job is to collect and forward ideas and post responsibly) and wouldn’t have the ire of angry posters focused on them for simply existing.

the low post count and the fact that the posts read exactly the same as an Anet dev isn’t helping to ease the worry over there.

O.o

If he was a Dev, wouldn’t that make him more valuable, not less?
You would be speaking directly to a Dev.
He can easily relay messages and ideas to the right people
He would undoubtably know a great deal about WvW and why things work or don’t work.
He would have easy access to official statements.
It would mean that WvW is getting direct and immediate Dev attention each time he posts.

So, tell me. Why would he being a Dev be a bad idea (especially from what I read, no Dev attention in WvW is their main gripe).

Having their own dev would be a very good thing. Having a dev masquerading as just another engaged player trying to help out as best he can would not.

Why?

Dev incognito or not, he’s still a Dev and has more knowledge and access than a regular player.

(Not that I think this guy is a Dev. I just don’t understand your objection)

Cannot take serious…

With their choice in WvW forum specialist and their decision to have 2 PvP forum specialists, it is quite obvious where their focus lies.

and what exactly will they do?

Mad Rasputin.7809:

With their choice in WvW forum specialist and their decision to have 2 PvP forum specialists, it is quite obvious where their focus lies.

At least one is for WvW. I was fully expecting 5 of 6 forum specialists to be for sPvP only. Because more dev focus on the super-minority game mode! :P

Astral Projections.7320:

Ashen.2907:

Astral Projections.7320:

Chrispy.5641:

Astral Projections.7320:

JustTrogdor.7892:

Well I see the WvW forum has welcomed their specialist. Kind of a rude response if you ask me.

I went over there and read the responses. I would say, he got burniated.

The “welcome” he got was one of the reasons I suggested that they not have a title and that ANet not post their Display names. Imo, the forum specialist would do just as good a job working incognito (since their job is to collect and forward ideas and post responsibly) and wouldn’t have the ire of angry posters focused on them for simply existing.

the low post count and the fact that the posts read exactly the same as an Anet dev isn’t helping to ease the worry over there.

O.o

If he was a Dev, wouldn’t that make him more valuable, not less?
You would be speaking directly to a Dev.
He can easily relay messages and ideas to the right people
He would undoubtably know a great deal about WvW and why things work or don’t work.
He would have easy access to official statements.
It would mean that WvW is getting direct and immediate Dev attention each time he posts.

So, tell me. Why would he being a Dev be a bad idea (especially from what I read, no Dev attention in WvW is their main gripe).

Having their own dev would be a very good thing. Having a dev masquerading as just another engaged player trying to help out as best he can would not.

Why?

Dev incognito or not, he’s still a Dev and has more knowledge and access than a regular player.

(Not that I think this guy is a Dev. I just don’t understand your objection)

First, it has been my experience that individual devs do not always, and often dont, have more knowledge than the community.

As to why, because purposefully deceiving the community (and to be clear I am not suggesting that this is what is happening) in this manner seems unlikely to have a motive beyond deflection or misdirection while creating an illusion of community engagement rather than the reality. Kind of on par with employees of a company posting anonymous user reviews of the company/product on sites like Yelp.

Ashen.2907:

Astral Projections.7320:

Ashen.2907:

Astral Projections.7320:

Chrispy.5641:

Astral Projections.7320:

JustTrogdor.7892:

Well I see the WvW forum has welcomed their specialist. Kind of a rude response if you ask me.

I went over there and read the responses. I would say, he got burniated.

The “welcome” he got was one of the reasons I suggested that they not have a title and that ANet not post their Display names. Imo, the forum specialist would do just as good a job working incognito (since their job is to collect and forward ideas and post responsibly) and wouldn’t have the ire of angry posters focused on them for simply existing.

the low post count and the fact that the posts read exactly the same as an Anet dev isn’t helping to ease the worry over there.

O.o

If he was a Dev, wouldn’t that make him more valuable, not less?
You would be speaking directly to a Dev.
He can easily relay messages and ideas to the right people
He would undoubtably know a great deal about WvW and why things work or don’t work.
He would have easy access to official statements.
It would mean that WvW is getting direct and immediate Dev attention each time he posts.

So, tell me. Why would he being a Dev be a bad idea (especially from what I read, no Dev attention in WvW is their main gripe).

Having their own dev would be a very good thing. Having a dev masquerading as just another engaged player trying to help out as best he can would not.

Why?

Dev incognito or not, he’s still a Dev and has more knowledge and access than a regular player.

(Not that I think this guy is a Dev. I just don’t understand your objection)

First, it has been my experience that individual devs do not always, and often dont, have more knowledge than the community.

As to why, because purposefully deceiving the community (and to be clear I am not suggesting that this is what is happening) in this manner seems unlikely to have a motive beyond deflection or misdirection while creating an illusion of community engagement rather than the reality. Kind of on par with employees of a company posting anonymous user reviews of the company/product on sites like Yelp.

All this is why I think the forum specialist should have not had their names announced and a title on the forums. A lot of suspicion about being stand ins/posting with a hidden agenda and ire by angry posters directed to them.

What are forum specialists, anyway?

Celtic Lady.3729:

What are forum specialists, anyway?

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/info/news/Guild-Wars-2-Forum-Specialists-Program/

Celtic Lady.3729:

What are forum specialists, anyway?

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/First-Forum-Specialist-chosen/first#post4789450 see the link posted from above

Ashen.2907:

As to why, because purposefully deceiving the community (and to be clear I am not suggesting that this is what is happening) in this manner seems unlikely to have a motive beyond deflection or misdirection while creating an illusion of community engagement rather than the reality. Kind of on par with employees of a company posting anonymous user reviews of the company/product on sites like Yelp.

There’s pretty much zero reason for ANet to do this. Why would they spend all this time devising and implementing a plan to get one person to pretend to be a regular forum member with elevated responsibilities, alongside others who (I think?) have been verified as ordinary players, rather than just assigning someone at the company to work with Gaile to increase community involvement? It’s obviously just somebody who hadn’t used the forums before. Pretty unsurprising, since most MMO’s show statistics in the realm of 5% of players ever using the forums.

Which does sort of beg the question of why this individual was given the position as a Forum Specialist, but prior use of the forums is hardly a requirement for the “job.”

Andred.1087:

Ashen.2907:

As to why, because purposefully deceiving the community (and to be clear I am not suggesting that this is what is happening) in this manner seems unlikely to have a motive beyond deflection or misdirection while creating an illusion of community engagement rather than the reality. Kind of on par with employees of a company posting anonymous user reviews of the company/product on sites like Yelp.

There’s pretty much zero reason for ANet to do this. Why would they spend all this time devising and implementing a plan to get one person to pretend to be a regular forum member with elevated responsibilities, alongside others who (I think?) have been verified as ordinary players, rather than just assigning someone at the company to work with Gaile to increase community involvement? It’s obviously just somebody who hadn’t used the forums before. Pretty unsurprising, since most MMO’s show statistics in the realm of 5% of players ever using the forums.

Just to clarify, I was responding to a question about why it would be a bad idea, hypothetically, for devs to pretend to be customers in the role of a player specialist.

I do not think that such is at all the case.

It may be a good idea, so long as the players chosen are reasonable, balanced and don’t try to push there own agenda. Also, they are allowed to give negative feedback without upsetting any Anet staff members, very, very sensitive bunch Anet staff.

Been playing games 30 years+ and its amazing sometimes the disconnect between how devs think there game should be played and how players actually play it.