Guild Wars 2

Within the last few weeks I have noticed that the player base is finally becoming aware that most of the game is a ghost town. Some, like myself, realize; due to Anet’s own wording that this game is suppose to be a community ccentered game.
The sad fact is that the player base still treat this game like any other MMO. They get into their little cliches (guilds) and only play a small portion of this game. This, as said above, leaves the rest of the game a ghost town.

I have suggested that guilds, especially the larger one, make daily DE raid groups. Sincce I have been making this suggestion since December it has been enough time for a guild to do this. It appears they would rather stay entrenched in thier old ways.

So I open this thread in hearing your suggestion to get community in this game.

NOTE:i. Any suggestions that are aimed at fractal. Spvp. Wvw or dungeons is not a suggestion nor helpful. Those areas are 1/4th of this game.
suggestions aimed at the reat of the game. Namely DEs is helpful

Its not a ghost town only you and a hand full of ppl who do not play much any more think this.
This type of post comes up near the update every month the game is aimed at adding in new content every month and for though ppl who can only can play one game until they finished every thing burn them self out and take time off until the next update. This is how GW1 was played. In about 6 days the game will be packed to the brim. Even now they had to make the world size bigger because of new ppl joining the game.

I still see hundreds of names around whenever I’m travelling around. I think my computer has never been able to render all them at the same time (thankfully for the anticulling update now at least I see all the names) so I think it’s the contrary of a ghost town.

I agree with Jski.

I do not find the game a ghost town in the slightest. There are certain zones where there are not many players, which I notice as i am levelling my alt. That said, I have yet to see a zone where I see 0 players. I actually like it much more this way than way back in September when there were loads of people. The reason? 1. Content is more challenging 2. the world feels more real and less like a video game 3. You do not have childish arguments in map chat.

As a whole, the game feels quite populated, and reasonably well dispersed. The most obvious exception is Lion’s Arch where most people hang out. I would like to see higher dispersion to other major cities. I’d also like to see encouragement for you to stick in your races city. I think it’d be awesome to visit other races hometowns and see a hundred players of that race there. It’d really make me feel like a visitor. I also feel like it would develop a culture for each race. I could see this happening by a number of ways, such as:
1. Gain a benefit/boon by visiting your hometown (i.e. visiting acolytes of the different gods in Divinity’s Reach, or perhaps increase the effect of the boon the longer you are in your hometown – kind of like rested exp)
2. Have mini-games in hometowns to draw people to them
3. Add in portals to each hometown from each hometown – it is silly I have to go through LA to go to the Grove from Rata Sum
4. Add entry to the Fractal of the Mists from every hometown
5. Sell race specific food with specific boons associated with them in each hometown (do they already do this? I haven’t seen anything)
6. Add in a LFG tool so that you do not need to spam map chat / be in the same zone to find a group
7. Add in a race skill which teleports you to your home-city
8. Alter vendor costs, with increased value if selling in your home city

Responses to date do not qualify as helpful nor productive.

Out of 32 zone 18 are near ghost town unless there is a timed event due.

This thread is not aimed at these areas which is where most of the population center to do the a fore mentioned activities which are off limits in this thread.

Flamer and troll will be reported.

Constructive suggestion like DE Raid Groups will be discussed

Krosslite.1950:

Responses to date to not qualify as helpful nor productive.

Out of 32 zone 18 are near ghost town unless there is a timed evevt due.

This thread is not aimed at these area which is where. Ost of the population center to do the afore mentioned activities which are off limits ij this thread.

Flamer and troll will be reported.

Construction suggestion like DE Raid Groups will be discussed

Your post made a claim that the game is a ghost town and then asked for recommendations on how to increase the sense of community outside of WvW, Dungeons and Fractals.

My post disagreed with your broad claim and then I provided recommendations on how to increase community outside of WvW, Dungeons and Fractals.

How on earth is my post unhelpful and unproductive?

This is a discussion forum (definition provided: consideration of a question in open and usually informal debate). Just because I disagree with you does not mean it’s off topic.

Jemmi.6058:

Krosslite.1950:

Responses to date to not qualify as helpful nor productive.

Out of 32 zone 18 are near ghost town unless there is a timed evevt due.

This thread is not aimed at these area which is where. Ost of the population center to do the afore mentioned activities which are off limits ij this thread.

Flamer and troll will be reported.

Construction suggestion like DE Raid Groups will be discussed

Your post made a claim that the game is a ghost town and then asked for recommendations on how to increase the sense of community outside of WvW, Dungeons and Fractals.

My post disagreed with your broad claim and then I provided recommendations on how to increase community outside of WvW, Dungeons and Fractals.

How on earth is my post unhelpful and unproductive?

This is a discussion forum (definition provided: consideration of a question in open and usually informal debate). Just because I disagree with you does not mean it’s off topic.

We were typing at the same time and you posted first. You have given welcome suggestions.

Wasn’t aimed toward you.

It may seem broad to most but let me as you this. When was the last time you were in Fireheart Rise?

I was there two nights ago. I was alone. No one else there but me

Will cover your suggestions during lunch

Krosslite.1950:

Jemmi.6058:

Krosslite.1950:

Responses to date to not qualify as helpful nor productive.

Out of 32 zone 18 are near ghost town unless there is a timed evevt due.

This thread is not aimed at these area which is where. Ost of the population center to do the afore mentioned activities which are off limits ij this thread.

Flamer and troll will be reported.

Construction suggestion like DE Raid Groups will be discussed

Your post made a claim that the game is a ghost town and then asked for recommendations on how to increase the sense of community outside of WvW, Dungeons and Fractals.

My post disagreed with your broad claim and then I provided recommendations on how to increase community outside of WvW, Dungeons and Fractals.

How on earth is my post unhelpful and unproductive?

This is a discussion forum (definition provided: consideration of a question in open and usually informal debate). Just because I disagree with you does not mean it’s off topic.

We were typing at the same time and you posted first. You have given welcome suggestions.

Wasn’t aimed toward you.

It may seem broad to most but let me as you this. When was the last time you were in Fireheart Rise?

I was there two nights ago. I was alone. No one else there but me

Will cover your suggestions during lunch

There are tons of people in Fireheart Rise doing CoF, and doing events while waiting for it to open…

As far as this game being a ghost town maybe you are on a private server Because well, its not.

Krosslite.1950:

Responses to date to not qualify as helpful nor productive.

Out of 32 zone 18 are near ghost town unless there is a timed evevt due.

This thread is not aimed at these area which is where. Ost of the population center to do the afore mentioned activities which are off limits ij this thread.

Flamer and troll will be reported.

Constructive suggestion like DE Raid Groups will be discussed

Ok i will try to work with some what that point of view.
Its hard to talk ppl into thinking open world events as being a raid if you want to use old zones and make them less of a “ghost town.”
An idea could be adding in training guild rushes so ppl can try out evens that use the lower level maps.

did you really think the lower zones would busy

But it is better that it not in this games cause

the issue when the game came out was the swarm you didn’t even know what was going on in event.

not every event is easy to do solo but with a few people yes easy

why is it good the people that are lvled that want to explore can and new players don’t get stuck in the swarm making the game mostly more enjoyable for all

but yes having a few players is better then solo
but having 20 players other then huge bosses is worst

What? The lower zones ARE busy almost all the time. it is in mid level zones you see a drop off due to being more then one zone for many lvl brackets and so many personal and racial stories take toons to level in different places then each other.

As for the starter zones many people level in all 5 of them.

well Krosslite did say Fireheart rise which is a mid-high level zone.

I feel like these areas will have the lowest populations, because they are more difficult than lower areas and worse loot than higher areas.

I think the best way to increase people in other areas, is to increase the reward given by doing these events. Perhaps adjust how karma is gained from events, so that karma is gained according to the amount of time you were active in the event. For example you could have a formula that you get karma = 0.8*seconds active in event. That means if you do an event in a low level area for 5 minutes you get the same karma (240 karma) as a high level area for 5 minutes, but if you own the Great Jungle Wurm in 5 seconds, you get 4 karma for it. Then, make Karma more useful – add in more armor skins, consumables, or entry to events. Perhaps add a mini-game into cities that costs 100 karma to participate.

EDIT: Another advantage of this, is the discouragement of actively participating in an event for 5 seconds and getting full credit.

Jemmi.6058:

I agree with Jski.

I do not find the game a ghost town in the slightest. There are certain zones where there are not many players, which I notice as i am levelling my alt. That said, I have yet to see a zone where I see 0 players. I actually like it much more this way than way back in September when there were loads of people. The reason? 1. Content is more challenging 2. the world feels more real and less like a video game 3. You do not have childish arguments in map chat.

As a whole, the game feels quite populated, and reasonably well dispersed. The most obvious exception is Lion’s Arch where most people hang out. I would like to see higher dispersion to other major cities. I’d also like to see encouragement for you to stick in your races city. I think it’d be awesome to visit other races hometowns and see a hundred players of that race there. It’d really make me feel like a visitor. I also feel like it would develop a culture for each race. I could see this happening by a number of ways, such as:
1. Gain a benefit/boon by visiting your hometown (i.e. visiting acolytes of the different gods in Divinity’s Reach, or perhaps increase the effect of the boon the longer you are in your hometown – kind of like rested exp)
2. Have mini-games in hometowns to draw people to them
3. Add in portals to each hometown from each hometown – it is silly I have to go through LA to go to the Grove from Rata Sum
4. Add entry to the Fractal of the Mists from every hometown
5. Sell race specific food with specific boons associated with them in each hometown (do they already do this? I haven’t seen anything)
6. Add in a LFG tool so that you do not need to spam map chat / be in the same zone to find a group
7. Add in a race skill which teleports you to your home-city
8. Alter vendor costs, with increased value if selling in your home city

Ah Chinese food day.. ok.. lunch as begun now to address response:

1) interesting idea but that would be an Anet change not a community change

2) again an Anet change

3) once again an Anet change… key of the thread was to give suggestions on how to make the players themselves more active. Not make Anet more active making stuff (which is why I do not understand how this thread ended up in suggestions for Anet to make)

4) This suggestion is counter-productive in two way:
a) again requires Anet to make changes
b) caters to 1/4th of the game content not the other 3/4 that is hardly ever touched by anyone.

5) again Anet work not community centric work

6) This will help and is in the works but keeps getting pushed back

7) and still again an Anet change… not doing so good on suggestions here that would cause the community to become more interactive with itself

8) an Anet change yet again..

Sorry but all but one of these suggestion were not productive to helping the community be more interactive.

PearlGore.7419:

There are tons of people in Fireheart Rise doing CoF, and doing events while waiting for it to open…

As far as this game being a ghost town maybe you are on a private server Because well, its not.

since Dungeons only occupy a small area of a zone and all have wps right in front of them this does not count as being community building. It actually does the opposite, which is one reason I support the high cost wp fees. it forces people to run through the zones and only use wps in cases of great need ot greed as the case maybe.

I guess I misunderstood, I thought you wanted changes to the game that will foster community, not changes to the community to enhance the game.

I do not think that you will succeed on your mission to change the community. The only way to do this is to provide incentives/mechanics which encourage the community to act in the way Anet wants.

Jski.6180:

Ok i will try to work with some what that point of view.
Its hard to talk ppl into thinking open world events as being a raid if you want to use old zones and make them less of a “ghost town.”
An idea could be adding in training guild rushes so ppl can try out evens that use the lower level maps.

interesting idea. Thing is to date a lot of the suggestions require Anet to make changes to the game. In future some may happen.

What are we going to do in the mean time?

What can those that play this game do to become more proactive in this?

All the folks should be spread out all over not just in those areas that give access to wvw, spvp, fractal, etc etc.

that is why I made my suggestion which when you look at it is a good one, but if none act upon it how will we know. I am in a guild of 2. Me and my son. I will gladly join a guild that starts to practice what I have been preaching about, but until then I will still be in a guild of 2

Jemmi.6058:

I guess I misunderstood, I thought you wanted changes to the game that will foster community, not changes to the community to enhance the game.

I do not think that you will succeed on your mission to change the community. The only way to do this is to provide incentives/mechanics which encourage the community to act in the way Anet wants.

thing is Anet has. We as the community just haven’t made the effort to find these rewards

Krosslite.1950:

Jski.6180:

Ok i will try to work with some what that point of view.
Its hard to talk ppl into thinking open world events as being a raid if you want to use old zones and make them less of a “ghost town.”
An idea could be adding in training guild rushes so ppl can try out evens that use the lower level maps.

interesting idea. Thing is to date a lot of the suggestions require Anet to make changes to the game. In future some may happen.

What are we going to do in the mean time?

What can those that play this game do to become more proactive in this?

All the folks should be spread out all over not just in those areas that give access to wvw, spvp, fractal, etc etc.

that is why I made my suggestion which when you look at it is a good one, but if none act upon it how will we know. I am in a guild of 2. Me and my son. I will gladly join a guild that starts to practice what I have been preaching about, but until then I will still be in a guild of 2

Well its still a new game these things are going to be added in over time. Most mmorpgs do not even get real meat until a year + this is true for GW1 even.

A 2 man guild not going to be able to do much at the level of map wild events you will end up joining with other random ppl. That partly why we can be in 3 guilds at once you can have this 2 man guild as your home guild but still join up with bigger then 2 man guilds to get to more guild events.

I would love to see more diversity between classes and I am a huge fan of the GW1 combat and skill system. However, I don’t think it would work in GW2. Everyone will go Mesmer or Thief just for the stealth. And it will turn into Stealth Wars.

Jski.6180:

Krosslite.1950:

Jski.6180:

Ok i will try to work with some what that point of view.
Its hard to talk ppl into thinking open world events as being a raid if you want to use old zones and make them less of a “ghost town.”
An idea could be adding in training guild rushes so ppl can try out evens that use the lower level maps.

interesting idea. Thing is to date a lot of the suggestions require Anet to make changes to the game. In future some may happen.

What are we going to do in the mean time?

What can those that play this game do to become more proactive in this?

All the folks should be spread out all over not just in those areas that give access to wvw, spvp, fractal, etc etc.

that is why I made my suggestion which when you look at it is a good one, but if none act upon it how will we know. I am in a guild of 2. Me and my son. I will gladly join a guild that starts to practice what I have been preaching about, but until then I will still be in a guild of 2

Well its still a new game these things are going to be added in over time. Most mmorpgs do not even get real meat until a year + this is true for GW1 even.

A 2 man guild not going to be able to do much at the level of map wild events you will end up joining with other random ppl. That partly why we can be in 3 guilds at once you can have this 2 man guild as your home guild but still join up with bigger then 2 man guilds to get to more guild events.

Yes I totally agree more will come. (20 year MMO vet)

The thing with guild missions when you really look at them is that these were Anets attempt to get people out in all the zone.

To a degree it had worked but not to the degree it should have. Heck you have to have spent influance in warfare ie WvW.

I have moved beyond wvw. Pvp. All my influabce ad been spent inthe other categories.

But back on topic. If doing the guild missions made the guilds cover the entire zone and required they do DEs would be nice. But that goes against Anets pylosiphies.

Which again places the issue with us the player base

Krosslite.1950:

Jski.6180:

Krosslite.1950:

Jski.6180:

Ok i will try to work with some what that point of view.
Its hard to talk ppl into thinking open world events as being a raid if you want to use old zones and make them less of a “ghost town.”
An idea could be adding in training guild rushes so ppl can try out evens that use the lower level maps.

interesting idea. Thing is to date a lot of the suggestions require Anet to make changes to the game. In future some may happen.

What are we going to do in the mean time?

What can those that play this game do to become more proactive in this?

All the folks should be spread out all over not just in those areas that give access to wvw, spvp, fractal, etc etc.

that is why I made my suggestion which when you look at it is a good one, but if none act upon it how will we know. I am in a guild of 2. Me and my son. I will gladly join a guild that starts to practice what I have been preaching about, but until then I will still be in a guild of 2

Well its still a new game these things are going to be added in over time. Most mmorpgs do not even get real meat until a year + this is true for GW1 even.

A 2 man guild not going to be able to do much at the level of map wild events you will end up joining with other random ppl. That partly why we can be in 3 guilds at once you can have this 2 man guild as your home guild but still join up with bigger then 2 man guilds to get to more guild events.

Yes I totally agree more will come. (20 year MMO vet)

The thing with guild missions when you really look at them is that these were Anets attempt to get people out in all the zone.

To a degree it had worked but not to the degree it should have. Heck you have to have spent influance in warfare ie WvW.

I have moved beyond wvw. Pvp. All my influabce ad been spent inthe other categories.

But back on topic. If doing the guild missions made the guilds cover the entire zone and required they do DEs would be nice. But that goes against Anets pylosiphies.

Which again places the issue with us the player base

The idea of guild mission was to make it worth being in a guild. Ppl where asking for a reason to be in a guild and they gave them one at the same time ppl where asking for more open world so they did that too.

Well should a zone be comply taken over by one guild? I know its a pain when running guild bounty when there a world boss going on both lag and overflow. There also more guild then zones you would end up bumbling heads with other guild for spaces.

Jski.6180:

The idea of guild mission was to make it worth being in a guild. Ppl where asking for a reason to be in a guild and they gave them one at the same time ppl where asking for more open world so they did that too.

Well should a zone be comply taken over by one guild? I know its a pain when running guild bounty when there a world boss going on both lag and overflow. There also more guild then zones you would end up bumbling heads with other guild for spaces.

I agree that making guild missions did accomplish what you say.

They were IMO a knee-jerk reaction by Anet to not lose these people.

This to me also states that either how lazy or how selfish the guild leadership are.

Many guild have been around for many years and play many games. They are set in their ways when it come on how an MMO should work.

GW2 did not fit this model and so people started leaving. The Ascending gear issue was just their excuse to do so.

Since 2010 Anet has stated that it wanted the community to explore and unlock content that would be repeatable. In other words DEs

They also stated that most of the DEs are in Orr.

There are over 1500 DEs.

I have read thread after thread of “I’m bored;” “I have nothing to do” threads.

Personally I am sick of them. I know what to do. I just can’t get any large scale help to accomplish my goal. Since Anet made it clear that “Open world online games are always strongest when players are encouraged and rewarded to interact as a community, to support other each other, and when the flow of the game ushers players to go places where they run into other players across all levels and have shared experiences.”

Does the community do this? no

TeaDoa.5968:

but yes having a few players is better then solo
but having 20 players other then huge bosses is worst

Actually per Anet some DEs need to have large numbers to get the best rewards form them. SB/Maw/Jungle Wurm are examples, but not all of those available to us. Many have not been found as of yet. Or if they have been are being kept under wraps but those who wish to monopolize upon it