Guild Wars 2

Ok so by design the PvE side of GW2 has been created in such a way that players are able to solo in most areas of most maps. I personally think that overall this was a good idea- make all content available to all. I have played upwards of 750 hours (yes I know, no lifer right?!) and have enjoyed every minute so dont get me wrong, what I am about to say is more to do with what I personally think would make the game EVEN MORE enjoyable.

So why have I started this post? Well I used to play an MMORPG called Rohan. I got myself in a guild and we partied up into the max party size which I think was six and set out to go fight. This was needed because no one was able to solo. Over the course of the first month playing we got ourselves into all sorts of scrapes- finding a bit of the map that no one had fought on before (on our server), grinding at this temple with mobs charging in from everywhere, running from giant preying mantis’ that could stun and kill us in a few hits, wandering through this temple and finding a room with a 30ft tall boss with ‘??’ as its level reminiscent of GW2 Harpies then getting owned by it. I was even ‘officially’ classified on the forums as the greatest Ranger ‘lure’ on the server, my job being to pull mobs into a central ‘killing pit’. Our guild pioneered the technique for fast killing and many joined suit.

So what am I getting at? Well Rohan is an inferior game to GW2 however I look back at my first couple of months in GW2 and feel a little cold. Dont get me wrong, ive enjoyed playing the game and will enjoy it for months/years to come. But when I look back all I see is ‘I did this because it was placed in front of me’. I have no unique tale to tell and I think thats due to the fact that I played by myself the majority of the time.

Now the first question asked of me is going to be ‘Why didnt you join an active guild?’ and I understand that this wouldve helped however with all the content being solo’able I didnt need to join an active guild. I didnt need a group and therefore rather than try and party up with complete strangers it was just easier to complete the content on my own. Leaving the player to experience the game as they choose is both a good and bad thing, the negative side being that the majority of people will choose the easier path rather than the most fun.

So after that little moan (and I hope I got my point across) what would I do to rectify the issue?

1)Increase the difficulty of existing maps by a small amount. Going to Cursed Shore feels like more of a chore than a challenge. Drop rates would have to change to cope with this of course. Id also fix the ‘effective level’ on all lower maps- I was looking forward to going to lower maps and fighting until I realised that I could 2-3hit everything.

2) Introduce instanced areas that arent dungeons. This would reduce the population in that area and so create more of a challenge for those inside.

3) (If possible) Randomised dungeons based on tiles. Different each time you go inside.

4) (If possible) Level 80 areas that combine PvE and PvP. Rohan maps were PvP enabled with ‘safe zones’ around the waypoints and certain maps were PvP free. You could create deliberate farming spots (groups of mobs) and watch as parties battle for control of each place. A Rohan example of this was a sprawling monastery with countless rooms and corridors full with mobs. Certain places in certain rooms were best for leveling(farming), others were not and you either fought to the death to gain the spot or went exploring to find an equally as good spot in another room. Thats where we found that 30ft tall Harpy.

5) Embrace the grind! Let’s stop kidding ourselves- you need to grind to obtain a legendary.

6) (Controversial I know!) More Champion and Purple mobs on normal maps, better loot from them. Also more mobs that are similar in size to the Risen Giant.

All of the above points would mean that there is more need to join a group than there is currently but you still wouldnt be required to be in a group to experience the content. It would also mean more random events (experiences) for us players. Being shown the way is fun but not knowing the way (random) is a lot more fun.

Oh and before you go and say ‘Go Play Rohan then…’ theyve ruined the game by making it a lot harder to obtain decent equipment, forcing you to buy from the cash shop. Plus this is just my opinion on what would make GW2 more exciting.

Anyone got anything to add? What would you like to see in the game to make it more exciting? Is it exciting enough already for you?

That is pretty common in the older style MMOs.

It was general called pull to a camp. The camp site being where the players would sit all day. The puller was the one bring the mobs to the camp.

This sort of went out of style because it involved staying in the same place for long long periods of time.

Even though this game has alot of people farmming the same spots in Orr.

I think they still need to work on how loot drops to make going for bigger things like what are talking about worth it. Right now the hard enemies are alot of work for less and worse loot.

So you basically want to make game unenjoyable for anyone who don’t play in populated zones\prime time.
It is already hard to complete some DE in ghost-zones and almost everywhere after midnight. Please, no.

Embrace the grind? No way in hell. There is no need to grind anything for any reason. Grinding is a result of a lack of imagination, unbalances the game and drives people away.

A small increase in difficulty (point 1) wouldnt mean those that play at ‘odd times’ would be worse off. Just make it so that certain mobs arent solo’able. That could mean that you need two people or that you need a full party.

My other points may affect the ‘odd time’ people but in the same way that you cant do a dungeon on your own, you cant farm a spot on your own.

Saidor- by that I mean lets all stop pretending Legendaries are anything but a grind. It was more a jokey point than anything. I do agree it needs to be changed so that it isnt a grind to acquire one.

The thing is – you can achieve what you want right now. Just find a constant group of players to play with. Yeah, game doesn’t force you to do it, but you can do it.

What you are suggesting just takes freedom away, forcing EVERYONE to play like YOU want. This is bad in so many ways.

And again – even now certain zones are just empty. Not even two people. If one won’t be able to solo a huge amount of content will simply vanish from game, because everyone would just doing the same easiest route and leaving hard\unpopular zones to rot in oblivion. Yeah, such a great design move.

Its not asking people to play like me. In my opinion I feel this game lacks a personal touch and from my past MMO experiences I can only conclude that for me its the lack of a need to form a party in PvE other than dungeon runs which are predictable. If you have any suggestions as to how to give players random experiences without needing to form groups be my guests and suggest something. Its just for me while I have enjoyed playing the game I have very few unique tales to tell.

The majority of the game needs to be solo play, and you should indeed be able to get to the highest level through solo play, however, group play should be encouraged. Some of the events that take place clearly encourage a group of people to come together, though no real cooperation is needed.

I dont think things need to be harder. Some mobs are easy, some are not. Two on ones are often difficult and most three on ones you get crushed. The bosses in the main story mode are a real pain to try and take on at their suggested levels.

Finding a constant group of players to play with isnt possible for everyone. The work I do is at unsociable times. I almost never have a Friday, saturday or sunday evening to play for example. Most of my playing time is daytime or very late at night. Then trying to find a guild that looks after members at all levels and isnt just interested in end game content and what you ‘gear score’ is (coverall term for thoese type of muppet scum players) is almost impossible.

some people complain everything is soloable, some people complains that DE or champs are not soloable, some people complain about this and that…

very rare there is a “good” suggestion.

game is easy 9/10.

problem is the player is burned out with too much computer gaming.
even sex can be “no magic” if you did it for 750h in 3-4months.

For me the lack of magic in the game isn’t about solo or group play, it’s about a connection to the characters, the world, the story – and for me, that’s nonexistent at the moment. It feels like an arcade game.

I agree 100% with you.

There are some bits of lower level maps that actually have a slightly tough Champion mob that isn’t required to be killed as it’s not guarding a skillpoint or a vista or anything.

As long as these things don’t impede with people trying to solo-complete zones I don’t see why anyone would object.

There’s a couple I’ve seen already such as the named Pirate in Gendarren or the Centaur Sage guy that are pretty much impossible to solo. However there’s really no reason to kill them, there’s no loot or anything that makes it worth it, on top of that they’re boring fights, just super hard auto attacking mobs.

If the “whole game is endgame” then they really need to make it so. Have some hidden areas with an arena with some legit bosses with actual mechanics and give them some unique cosmetic rewards or something.

It’s so boring leveling this game once you get past the exploration fluff, because it’s just so easy and ends up being a heart/POI/vista/waypoint grind.

Avatar.1923:

i drop the case.

why people play&complain&play is beyond me.

Because maybe they like the game and want it to be even better?

Just because you can settle or can be easily satisfied doesn’t mean everyone can.

What I like about this game is there are no real barriers to entry for dungeons and PvP. SPvP automatically scales up wheras the best armor and weapons can be obtained from grinding Plinx (I even found an exotic pair of light armor gloves I gave to my ele =) ) since you’ll make good money to buy the exotics and have enough rares to salvage for crafting. Although… I haven’t found a craftable power/vit/toughness set so you really can’t really have an optimal dungeon DPS build and knight’s gear has precision on it =(

Thereon.3495:

4) (If possible) Level 80 areas that combine PvE and PvP. Rohan maps were PvP enabled with ‘safe zones’ around the waypoints and certain maps were PvP free. You could create deliberate farming spots (groups of mobs) and watch as parties battle for control of each place. A Rohan example of this was a sprawling monastery with countless rooms and corridors full with mobs. Certain places in certain rooms were best for leveling(farming), others were not and you either fought to the death to gain the spot or went exploring to find an equally as good spot in another room. Thats where we found that 30ft tall Harpy.

5) Embrace the grind! Let’s stop kidding ourselves- you need to grind to obtain a legendary.

What you’re asking is to turn GW2 into insert generic korean style farmfest MMORPG name here
No thanks.

Well I don’t mind new content for organized parties. That would be great.

But there is no need to change what’s already in-game and breaking it for some people.

GW2 is definitely lacking some magic…
Lacks major longevity </3

maybe you should quit playing it. I don’t really care either way. These posts are so whiny. Take it at face value, play if you like it and don’t play it if you don’t. Just quit with these doom and gloom posts

Agree with no. 2 that some areas could be instanced to give group gameplay.

The major reason is logic, that no single man can fight the greatest evil alone. If you are strong, you can eliminate a notorious beast that harms villages from time to time. But there’s no possible way you can defeat something magical, old living creature deep lurking in mountain cave, alone.

So it would be a very good idea to turn some areas into group gameplay areas. However, I think the area should not be instanced. Instead, it should be something like jumping puzzle, which is located in secluded area. Adventurers or treasure hunters need to spend great deal of effort to find them.

It lacks giving 1000g, 500 karma jugs, and a free precursor to all players when they reach lvl 80, it also lacks gear-stats grind, the so-called " MEANINGFUL GOAL AND PROGRESSION".

That’s why a lot of people quit, seriously.

5) Embrace the grind! Let’s stop kidding ourselves- you need to grind to obtain a legendary.

Farming, is the WORST kind of grinding. There is NOTHING fun about it and it drives people away from the game. So to answer your question simply

“no, go away”

Oh and before you go and say ‘Go Play Rohan then…’ theyve ruined the game by making it a lot harder to obtain decent equipment, forcing you to buy from the cash shop. Plus this is just my opinion on what would make GW2 more exciting.

You are of course entitled to your opinion, sadly it would seem that “Rohan” decided to cut its own nose to spite it’s face, if it was such a game design wonder, then clearly it would have realised that P2W games usually end up reviled by their playerbase and empty within a few months. I highly doubt they’d be considered a good place to scavenge ideas from if they made such a huge mess up like that.

i agree that GW2 could use a little more incentive to group together on the basic stuff and not just elite DEs, but i have to think about the people that just want to log in after a long day at work and play casually.

how would a happy median be established?

it seems tricky.

GW2 really needs some properly designed long term goals.

GW1 had titles(1 year after release of the game) and it had the aspect of trying to make money for expensive gear(20 or so sets of “presige” armor, a lot of really expensive cool looking weapons, obsidian armor, chaos gloves). And of course PvP.

GW2 is weak in all the areas GW1 is really strong. Achievements lack long term goals to actively work towards. Prestige armor from dungeons you can get in a week so that’s really short-term. Everything else requires money, and making money is a joke in this game because making money in this game is about dumb luck, winning the lottery can’t take the place of long term goals. Entering your CC info isn’t a long term goal either. PvP is a bust because the game doesn’t have a competitive PvP format(GW1 launched with GvG ladders and Hall of Heroes)

Thereon.3495:

Oh and before you go and say ‘Go Play Rohan then…’ theyve ruined the game by making it a lot harder to obtain decent equipment, forcing you to buy from the cash shop. Plus this is just my opinion on what would make GW2 more exciting.

Anyone got anything to add? What would you like to see in the game to make it more exciting? Is it exciting enough already for you?

OMG a wall of text from a player who played a garbage game and now compare it with GW2. I’m just kidding, no hard feeling, no offense, but Rohan IS GARBAGE. Deny all you want, it’s true.

Ok first of all. Rohan is a free grindfest game just as all those others asian F2P games. That garbage was over hyped when it first out (yes I was there when Rohan first born) This forced Dev open more servers out of excitement, but when its “true face” reveal, people left in mass till now it’s just another Runescape.

Experience from level 70 Dhan over here (after I’m fed with the game and left) Why do you think people play WOW and not Rohan?

The game pvp is as broken as its instances. You gank some noob randomly while he do quests, and you on his list, and he get to teleport back at you and bite you one beautiful day is hardly considered a PVP, especially when you in instance fighting boss, and suddenly 6 players pop out from nowhere and pawn you. Yup that’s fun cough*

Long story short, GRIND is a curse of MMO, and no way all games can completely avoid. Now, GW2 did a very good job minimize it so far, even better job than WOW, so let’s not embrace grind ok? cause that’s where people start leaving out of boredom. Hey if you like grind for legendary weapon, there is a F2P WOW clone call, Allods and Runes of Magic, go plays them, then you will miss GW2. If meat dull your taste, there is always grass, then you will realize what you took for granted. People didn’t pay 60 bucks to stand in one spot waiting mobs to spawn and kill them for countless hours, sorry wrong game.

There is one thing Rohan did right, it’s the party group search system. You can sign your party up, or yourself on the board and people who need to run dungeons can find you. Much easier than to world shout.

~~~It’s nice that you enjoy hell, but don’t go tell others how beautiful hell is.~~~

I have the idea, from your post, that you’d rather be playing Rohan. If so, feel free to do so. If you don’t want to play Rohan, I don’t think making GW2 more like Rohan would be a good idea?

You are playing this game because GW2 has a drastically different philosophy. I do not support your suggestions.

No don’t bring Asian style MMO into GW2, I used to play runes of magic. I found all the suggestions are the exact reasons i left runes of magic, so please, don’t!

I support the general spirit of this thread about encouraging groups. The only thing I am against is grinding. It’s a personal thing; grinding immediately kills any game for me.