Guild Wars 2

I feel the need to post this given the re-release of nearly all LS rewards, I find that the prestige of items is not being respected within the game both by players and by the developers (mainly in response to small groups of players pressuring) and I would like to hear peoples thoughts.

What is item prestige
It is an unwritten statement that having a certain item gives, this can be something simple like “I was there” for most LS items to more specific statements such as “I have gotten to high level fractals” (backpiece and weapons) and “I’m rich” for legendaries and high value items.

Types of prestige
There are several types of prestige,

-“I was there prestige”: These are attendance rewards usually with some also having to be earned, they show you played back then or that you participated in a limited time event. Most living story skins used to fall into this category. Is destroyed by re-releasing the item by any means as the statement is no longer valid.

-“Skill prestige”: These would be items such as the tribulation mode weapons and Liadri they not only require you to play a certain activity but to do it to a high level of skill. Care has to be taken with these as power creep or an exploit can wipe out all their value in an instant.

- “Investment prestige”: These are items that take a large amount of resources be it time or money to complete and make a general statement about your playtime and choice of activity. Is wrecked by deflation/inflation or awarding of a previously high investment item for a low investment activity.

Why is prestige important?
Personally I believe prestige items to be important because they are the main thing I work towards in any MMO. They are the main source of enjoyment for me, attempting to collect as many of them as possible under the conditions imposed by the game. They act as badges of honor cataloging your deeds and accomplishments in a visual manner.

So how is it not being respected?
Lets start with the simplest one, the living story skins, these were a simple prestige that is easy to get right but have now been re-released not only re-released but made available for a direct gold conversion ( z boxes -> tokens) this devalues a year and a halves worth of attendance and achievement completion to under 100 gold, which is an infuriating thing.

For skill based skins, the issue arises with people (who haven’t completed the content) demanding access or asking for them to be trade-able. This takes away the items prestige and would again just convert it to monetary value. A small example of this would be run selling which allowed people access to skins without putting in the work in the correct content (Irrelevant now after the PvP merge).

Why is this happening?
I believe that this is occurring due to player entitlement and an excessively gold based economy. Player entitlement being that players who couldn’t/wouldn’t attend or complete the content (this includes limited time frame events) demanding access regardless while this entitlement is encountered in many games it appears to be amplified here due to people interpreting the design philosophy as “I can have anything I want”.
For example, if you were not at the molten alliance event, due to not owning the game, not playing , being out of the country etc or did not complete the meta, you miss out on the fused gauntlets that item becomes the reward given during that event and you move on your “ideal look” does not entitle you to access to that item.

On the gold based economy: In many MMO’s gold is a “beginner currency” of sorts or is only a partial requirement to gain prestige class items. (For examples: FFXIV all high level items/gear is bound on acquire so you must do the work yourself)
In GW2 most items can be bought with gold or real world cash which eliminates any prestige an item might otherwise carry (example being if legendaries were account bound on acquire they would hold more prestige even if only due to the map completion requirement). A single currency is also far more at risk to exploitation as it will permeate every area of the game.

I would agree that the prestige of these items did diminished a small bit for the EU/NA the “I was there” is still there just to a lesser degree.

It is extreamly hard and would require a lot of farming(or a lot of gold which according to you is still prestige see legendary) to get every item that was released durring the living world. Esepcially the prestigious looking items like the molten gloves and the Gas Mask.

The true prestige that Arena-Net was going for in season one is when players talk about content that is no longer avalible. This is still there.

As for the “I am rich prestige” I am fine with it meaning I a rich in real life or in the game. Because that means one of two things. The player spent a lot of time doing something in game or the player spent a lot of time doing something in real life to earn that wealth. Agreed real life is not so proportionate to time between individuals as it is in game. But time still is money it is all dependent on how you use that time.

In short. Yes the prestige was diminished a small bit but not to the degree that I think it is worth not having something like this in the future. Also I would not call the entirety of the player-base in China a small group of players. They are the main reason some of these items were re-released. Something like this may not happen again.

You want an easy answer ?

The LS items are incredible ugly.
Either you look like Spider Man characters or like a Viking hobo.

People just don’t show stuff that is considered ugly.
Especially in a fantasy world where you have the classic sword n’ board cliches.

If A-Net makes fantastic looking armors and weapons, or staffs people would proudly show what they archived.

Simple and plain

@Palador: very well said. I don’t understand this notion of “prestige” or “status” at all. Wear what you like, because you like it. The only time I notice someone is when they have a well-put-together outfit that shows the character’s theme and style and personality. Or, as you said, if their outfit looks particularly bad. :p And given how ostentatiously over the top “epic” (legendaries, tier sets in WoW, etc.) gear tends to look in MMOs, it falls into the second category much of the time.

It’s just pixels, not holy artifacts demanding worship.

Yeah same here. I never really got the WHY of making your character look pretty and having the prestigious skins. Although I did make my full set of Ascended armor a small part due to the look, but mainly the stats. The look of it was more of a bonus. While I happen to like it, many people don’t. One of my guild mates often tries to get me to go for a different look. I guess the emerging trend of visual gratification is what dictates games these days. I’ve been noticing alot of visual customization in a lot of different games, but it doesn’t add anything to game play or story.

Palador.2170:

We’re talking costume parts here, that’s all. I really don’t care when or how you got something, what I care about is what I think when I see you. Is it “that looks totally bad-kitten”, or “that idiot has no sense of style”.

If I see you charging into battle with the gasmask, molten gloves, jetpack, and The Moot, I’m going to think you’re a total idiot. Wearing trophies is pointless if you wind up looking like you covered yourself in Crazy Glue and then rolled around in a junkyard to dress yourself. By the same token, getting an item that really builds a look is great, and I don’t really care how you get it.

So… yeah. More costume options, less limitations on how you get them. I like seeing characters that look awesome, however they manage to go about it.

I could not agree more! Exactly how I view “looks” in this game.

You want the items to have limited availability so you can be prestigious by having them. Other people want wide availability so they can have them at all. There’s clearly going to be no middle ground.

Maybe it is best if people wear something because it just looks good and suits them?

The only ‘items’ that should be for prestige are titles. Everything else is aesthetics.

Prestige? None of the LS items qualify. Most if not all merely say “I was at the right place at the right time.”

Then there are items that just says “I was lucky” or “I am rich”. At least “I am rich” fits the meaning of the word but going around flaunting your wealth isn’t something well regarded.

There was nothing prestigious or respectable about LS skins. I got them all by completing grindy, zerg, or braindead content.

As for my Ascended and Legendary gear? I got it all because I probably played more than you. I spent a lot of my time doing dungeons tours and was able to make money easily. Because of that, titles like the Emperor are easy. I wouldn’t say it’s something especially ‘prestigious’.

There is nothing of real prestige in the game, so I strongly disagree with your idea that such items should be gated. Why should a new player not be able to grind for the Molten Gauntlets? Because they happened to not buy the game when I did? Nah….

Should it be a give-away? Nope! They should still have to work for the item…perhaps even harder than we did for it originally. But it shouldn’t be locked off. You got yours? Great! Now step aside and let someone else get theirs.

If your sense of skill/worth is dictated by Living Story gear, you are setting your bar very, very low. There are no skill based items in this game. The time in which it takes you to get an item can be skill based…or it could also be RNG based.

" I wanna be a special snowflake"

Just make the masquerade armour drop in PvE nao!

Hence forth we shall know that there is only one motto:

“Nothing is off the table.”

Edit: Btw I’m happy for any player who had missed the skins. Bonus points that the economy is protected here and we are not able to get those other skins. Now that bastion I don’t think will ever fall lol.

I don’t care much for the “I was there”-prestige but every single one in PvE is “I got lucky”. Tequatl, Wurm and Fractals don’t care if you’ve done it 50 times.

I really don’t care about this “item prestige” of yours. I much prefer everyone being able to get everything, no matter when they started and could or couldn’t play.

Palador.2170:

We’re talking costume parts here, that’s all. I really don’t care when or how you got something, what I care about is what I think when I see you. Is it “that looks totally bad-kitten”, or “that idiot has no sense of style”.

If I see you charging into battle with the gasmask, molten gloves, jetpack, and The Moot, I’m going to think you’re a total idiot. Wearing trophies is pointless if you wind up looking like you covered yourself in Crazy Glue and then rolled around in a junkyard to dress yourself. By the same token, getting an item that really builds a look is great, and I don’t really care how you get it.

So… yeah. More costume options, less limitations on how you get them. I like seeing characters that look awesome, however they manage to go about it.

Agreed!

You think you should have respect because of what skins you have? Excuse me while I go laugh into my soup

I liked having some things like the balloon that were not difficult to get, but showed that the owner was active at a particular time. I’m sorry they’ve brought those things back in a way that destroys the “I was there” element.

I have to say though if this thread is representative of the community as a whole then the OP is right – we don’t respect “prestige” items.

I dont consider any of the various items referenced to have any associated prestige.

I’ve always liked the temporary items as being indicators that you were around at that time. It’s not really a prestige thing, just a memento of sorts. I kept the molten gloves on my engi for a long time because they reminded me of a fun time I had playing with buddies.

The OP is kittened because is not more a special snowflake, I guess.

Until there are special skins that require an achievement players are unable to get carried through, I will always be of the opinion that “prestige” is virtually non existent. Beyond “I got a participation medal for completing the marathon” or lucky RNG related drops there isn’t much in terms of prestige.

That all being said, I’m actually fine with “Marathon completion” rewards being given out, I mean realistically it’s not like they are game breaking and in some cases like the home instance items not even the kind of thing you typically show off.

What I’m trying to say is that it’s more or less pointless to complain about this stuff unless your trying to push for more hardcore prestige items that you actually need to skillfully obtain.

Danikat.8537:

I have to say though if this thread is representative of the community as a whole then the OP is right – we don’t respect “prestige” items.

I don’t think we do. If we did a lot more people would be walking around with the Guild Wars 2 cap on their characters.

We just like stuff that looks cool.

The question is should we respect “prestige” items?

I agree with the OP. While I’m happy that the folks in China get a chance to get these items, I’m still a bit disappointed that having Molten gloves or the Gas Mask no longer means you were there.

neonreaper said it best: it’s a memento of sorts.

If somebody showed me a chunk of the Berlin Wall, I’d be impressed! If they told me they got it from a flea market in California, I’d be much less impressed.

anzenketh.3759:

The question is should we respect “prestige” items?

I try not to be outwardly totally elitiest to attempt to build community, I’d rather teach a player than shoot them down for their effort.

But everytime someone with a legendary gets consistantly “rekt” in fair fights. I resist the urge to say “Yet another undeserved legendary.”

So I personally don’t “respect the prestige” because I feel there is none beyond RNG and maybe (Meta debates aside) the small few who could make theirs from the ToL. (when majoirty of them still rely on RNG after obtaining their prize)

But maybe I’m just a horrible person with flawed optinions I’m willing to accept that. ;b

timmyf.1490:

I agree with the OP. While I’m happy that the folks in China get a chance to get these items, I’m still a bit disappointed that having Molten gloves or the Gas Mask no longer means you were there.

neonreaper said it best: it’s a memento of sorts.

If somebody showed me a chunk of the Berlin Wall, I’d be impressed! If they told me they got it from a flea market in California, I’d be much less impressed.

The point for me here is that Anet sold this as a feature. This is the main concept behind the LS.

Hey, is there some special WvW of PvP rewards missing that the chinese might not have access to? Hope I’m not poking into a bees nest a la “we never had special stuff”.

Otherwise I myself don’t need the supposed prestige status. I know where I’ve been and what I’ve done.

Kurrilino.2706:

You want an easy answer ?

The LS items are incredible ugly.
Either you look like Spider Man characters or like a Viking hobo.

People just don’t show stuff that is considered ugly.
Especially in a fantasy world where you have the classic sword n’ board cliches.

If A-Net makes fantastic looking armors and weapons, or staffs people would proudly show what they archived.

Simple and plain

dont diss spiderman!

Hmmmmm, I see where the OP is coming from, in part, you work really hard to get something, and its a reminder and a badge of pride for your accomplishment.
And then all of a sudden its much easier to get.
Now, I don’t have a problem with anybody having anything I have, this is not taking pride in something just because other people can’t have it. (at least for me, for many others this is the only reason they care, and I do not consider that cool but that’s just me)

The problem, as I see it, is that it feels like it lessons my achievement to a degree. See for me, when I see someone else with the same thing I worked for, I know they went through the same thing, brothers in achievement if you will. A feeling of “aw yeah, someone else who knows exactly what I went through to get this and will actually appreciate it more than most” kind of thing. So I at least like to see other people achieve the same things, and actively encourage people to do them (opposed to a few I know who try to get people not to because they don’t want anyone else to have it)
Then all of a sudden you don’t have to do that anymore, and everyone assumes you got it the new, easier way (heck, I’ve caught myself thinking along those lines, “ha, probly just bought it”) >.<

But to be fair, when you have one-time world changing events being the source of a skin, how do you keep getting it fair to both people who missed the event and people who were there? How do you let newer players in on the new skins without making the older players who worked for them feel like their efforts have been trivialized?

Take the Fervid Censor as an example, I love it, its an awesome skin. But to me that skin belongs as the reward for a set of achievements set on Southsun. That way even if they weren’t here for Lost Shores there’s still that “uh hunh, that Southsun, those Karka, nudge nudge wink wink” with new people who have it.
Now I’ll get “Southwhere? Karkwhat?”

That, to me, is respecting the prestige. You know what I mean?

So my suggestion going forward would be after a big one time kind of event or living story part, instead of leaving an empty space behind, fill it in with leftover traces of the event, like the tower stuff still in QD and Kessex, only have enough stuff to do that its still possible to achieve the meta, if maybe a little longer to do timewise since there’s less stuff around.

The entire point of MMO’s are to be a special snowflake- more so in a game that is basically cosmetic based,

Now I had no problem whatsoever with this- even when I missed out, because the things I did get, showed that I was there.

This goes for stuff I would have loved to have but didn’t get at the time, too- like the gas mask skin

This also goes for “limited offer” stuff on the store btw.

Sooo.

Now I have a mini white kitten I bought originally as well as a witch’s outfit…
I also have, let’s see- a Fervid Censer, Zypherite helm, a Zephyr back pack, Cthulhu backpack ……
and what ever else I have..

I was proud to have them.

I missed the Clockwork combat tonic last time- and really regretted it- guess what?
I have no desire to buy it because I missed it.

I want aalllll the things is a disease.

In MMO’s you need to honor your long term players.
Being there matters

Edit: if the GW2 cap didn’t make me bald I might actually wear it :P

Morrigan.2809:

The entire point of MMO’s are to be a special snowflake- more so in a game that is basically cosmetic based,

Now I had no problem whatsoever with this- even when I missed out, because the things I did get, showed that I was there.

This goes for stuff I would have loved to have but didn’t get at the time, too- like the gas mask skin

This also goes for “limited offer” stuff on the store btw.

Sooo.

Now I have a mini white kitten I bought originally as well as a witch’s outfit…
I also have, let’s see- a Fervid Censer, Zypherite helm, a Zephyr back pack, Cthulhu backpack ……
and what ever else I have..

I was proud to have them.

I missed the Clockwork combat tonic last time- and really regretted it- guess what?
I have no desire to buy it because I missed it.

I want aalllll the things is a disease.

In MMO’s you need to honor your long term players.
Being there matters

Edit: if the GW2 cap didn’t make me bald I might actually wear it :P

thing people forget is even limited time items usually have a last chance thing. But i dont think they would have lost much by not giving people a last chance

perhaps the items should be unbound though, so people could sell it to people later, maybe not

Easy solution is to make prestige items skill based and then have them only for permanent content instead of temporary content. That way if someone gets it then it has value since you needed skill to do something to get it. On top of that it isn’t impossible for others to get it eventually over time or it isn’t gated through RNG (look at new back piece as an example). So people can attempt to get this through practice rather than just simply being on GW2 at the right time and getting something (living story) or just being plain lucky (recipe: chaos of lyssa).

I did’nt expect such polarized answers to come out of this,

For the people against any form of limited items/prestige items, what motivates you to play the game?

I will say I did’nt mean for it to come across as a “I have this you don’t nah nah nah nah” It was more along the lines of “this guy has every LS item and a bunch of cool rare items I can respect that he clearly put a fair amount of work and effort and played in an efficient manner.”

That said In my opinion an MMO is all about being a special snowflake and trying to out special all the other players I mean thats the competition? the whole basis of trying to get items? the “victory condition”.

As Rouven said it was sold as a feature the once off LS events and items. I have nothing against china getting a chance at the items and wasn’t talking about them at all I’m focusing on the EU/NA aspect.

CuRtoKy.8576:

Easy solution is to make prestige items skill based and then have them only for permanent content instead of temporary content. That way if someone gets it then it has value since you needed skill to do something to get it. On top of that it isn’t impossible for others to get it eventually over time or it isn’t gated through RNG (look at new back piece as an example). So people can attempt to get this through practice rather than just simply being on GW2 at the right time and getting something (living story) or just being plain lucky (recipe: chaos of lyssa).

Problem with that is, barring Liadri mini- all skill based rewards are RNG

Conski Deshan.2057:

I did’nt expect such polarized answers to come out of this,

For the people against any form of limited items/prestige items, what motivates you to play the game?

I will say I did’nt mean for it to come across as a “I have this you don’t nah nah nah nah” It was more along the lines of “this guy has every LS item and a bunch of cool rare items I can respect that he clearly put a fair amount of work and effort and played in an efficient manner.”

That said In my opinion an MMO is all about being a special snowflake and trying to out special all the other players I mean thats the competition? the whole basis of trying to get items? the “victory condition”.

As Rouven said it was sold as a feature the once off LS events and items. I have nothing against china getting a chance at the items and wasn’t talking about them at all I’m focusing on the EU/NA aspect.

I don’t need having things that show that I’m better than others.
I don’t need symbols of status.

If you ask me it’s pretty stupid be mad because other people can access to your super-dupper-special-leet-status things.
Seriously, reminds me the players mad because in WoW you can still get the achievments and rewards for old raids.
And the new players? They have no right to get them?
It’s pretty stupid and egoistical.

Worse than all is the Living World stuff. The LW is an horrible concept. If forces you to play all the time. You take a break. Sorry, you lost forever story and stuff.
It’s a big incentive to stop playing.

For me. I stopped played a while because that.

I’m back. For now at least.

There is only one prestige in GW2 that I admit;
YOUR NAME
And It’s the best by far, rules over everything.
Don’t ask why, it’s pretty obvious…

Gear? Grind it. Gem it. (you can still have style tho.-)
Legendary? Eeeh ugly overpriced lorebreakers on my part.
Title? Griiiiiind it, or just keep playing and get it after a while – as intended.
WWW Rank? Griiiind griiind griiiind. or this above ^^

Y’know what I’ve mentioned in my [iR] Redesigns topics?
There is no respect towards materials, and not even a crafting system to manage them. It is the main problem with the gear’s prestige.
Other thing is the stuffs you can simply buy or grind, but not earn by challanges.

As someone who has been playing since release and religiously (and sometimes painfully) picked up and hoarded every single LS item (except the karka shoulders, which I sadly destroyed):

I don’t give a skritt.

If somebody who only joined the game in February need the fervid censer or molten gloves to complete their outfit idea, the best of luck to them.

I’d rather see more cool, thoughtful outfits out there than feel like a special little snowflake showing off my “I was there” items.

Morrigan.2809:

CuRtoKy.8576:

Easy solution is to make prestige items skill based and then have them only for permanent content instead of temporary content. That way if someone gets it then it has value since you needed skill to do something to get it. On top of that it isn’t impossible for others to get it eventually over time or it isn’t gated through RNG (look at new back piece as an example). So people can attempt to get this through practice rather than just simply being on GW2 at the right time and getting something (living story) or just being plain lucky (recipe: chaos of lyssa).

Problem with that is, barring Liadri mini- all skill based rewards are RNG

Which is why they need to move in that direction instead of time gate (temp living story) + RNG based rewards which nobody likes.

rincewind.9528:

I don’t need having things that show that I’m better than others.
I don’t need symbols of status.

If you ask me it’s pretty stupid be mad because other people can access to your super-dupper-special-leet-status things.

As somebody who I’ve seen be very upset that ArenaNet changed something about the game you liked (the champ train), I’m surprised you have so little empathy for another player who had something they liked changed on them.

Just because you don’t need status symbols doesn’t mean that other people are stupid for liking them.

Conski Deshan.2057:

Types of prestige
There are several types of prestige,

-“I was there prestige”: These are attendance rewards usually with some also having to be earned, they show you played back then or that you participated in a limited time event. Most living story skins used to fall into this category. Is destroyed by re-releasing the item by any means as the statement is no longer valid.

-“Skill prestige”: These would be items such as the tribulation mode weapons and Liadri they not only require you to play a certain activity but to do it to a high level of skill. Care has to be taken with these as power creep or an exploit can wipe out all their value in an instant.

- “Investment prestige”: These are items that take a large amount of resources be it time or money to complete and make a general statement about your playtime and choice of activity. Is wrecked by deflation/inflation or awarding of a previously high investment item for a low investment activity.

Requoted because relevant. All three types of these should exist to allow players with different goals and styles of play to acquire items with prestige.

Sartharina.3542:

The only ‘items’ that should be for prestige are titles. Everything else is aesthetics.

Titles are the only thing worthy of prestige, especially if you manage to earn Yakslapper. To everything else, the only response is “This isn’t WoW.”

timmyf.1490:

Conski Deshan.2057:

Types of prestige
There are several types of prestige,

-“I was there prestige”: These are attendance rewards usually with some also having to be earned, they show you played back then or that you participated in a limited time event. Most living story skins used to fall into this category. Is destroyed by re-releasing the item by any means as the statement is no longer valid.

-“Skill prestige”: These would be items such as the tribulation mode weapons and Liadri they not only require you to play a certain activity but to do it to a high level of skill. Care has to be taken with these as power creep or an exploit can wipe out all their value in an instant.

- “Investment prestige”: These are items that take a large amount of resources be it time or money to complete and make a general statement about your playtime and choice of activity. Is wrecked by deflation/inflation or awarding of a previously high investment item for a low investment activity.

Requoted because relevant. All three types of these should exist to allow players with different goals and styles of play to acquire items with prestige.

Couldn’t the last two be combined together. Skill based is also an investment. You invest time and money (since you aren’t doing something else like farming) to practice and increase your skill level to get something.

The value of certain things should differ but I don’t think sole investment based items should exist because it isn’t good for the game over the long term. The other two are perfectly fine

As someone who did not join GW2 at release, and has to take haitus during LS content, I am very happy that these items come back. I got my fervid censer, and even if I got it already, I don’t care that others will be able to get their Mask of the Night. I love this game because there’s no underlying ‘I must play, or else I miss out on something forever.’ My life makes me miss out on a bit of the living world content, and I’m really happy they brought these things back. Not just skins, but events too. This is actually my very first Queen Pavillion and Festival of Four Winds event. I love it. I can experience what I didn’t get the chance to before.

timmyf.1490:

rincewind.9528:

I don’t need having things that show that I’m better than others.
I don’t need symbols of status.

If you ask me it’s pretty stupid be mad because other people can access to your super-dupper-special-leet-status things.

As somebody who I’ve seen be very upset that ArenaNet changed something about the game you liked (the champ train), I’m surprised you have so little empathy for another player who had something they liked changed on them.

Just because you don’t need status symbols doesn’t mean that other people are stupid for liking them.

But you dont lose you things. You DENY other people those things.

I have this! I don’t want to anybody else to have this because is mine and make me special!

Who have little empathy?

I’m pretty sure I have a skewed version of what conveys prestige in comparison to the majority — whoever that is. Sure, I can look at top tier raid gear in other games and see that that conveys a sense of accomplishment and exclusivity. However, prestige by definition is something that others grant by valuing the exclusive looks.

Personally, the most impressed I’ve been by a given player’s look happened in Guild wars. The character was wearing http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Assassin_Shing_Jea_armor — a starter armor. It was dyed black.

Also… what’s all this talk about work? I’m playing a game over here called Guild Wars 2, it’s really fun. But, I’m off to work at the bar in a few hours.

Sartharina.3542:

Also… what’s all this talk about work? I’m playing a game over here called Guild Wars 2, it’s really fun. But, I’m off to work at the bar in a few hours.

What is this association between bar and work? I’m going to be off to the bar in a few hours as well, it will be really fun!

Sorry, could not resist.

CuRtoKy.8576:

timmyf.1490:

Conski Deshan.2057:

Types of prestige
There are several types of prestige,

-“I was there prestige”: These are attendance rewards usually with some also having to be earned, they show you played back then or that you participated in a limited time event. Most living story skins used to fall into this category. Is destroyed by re-releasing the item by any means as the statement is no longer valid.

-“Skill prestige”: These would be items such as the tribulation mode weapons and Liadri they not only require you to play a certain activity but to do it to a high level of skill. Care has to be taken with these as power creep or an exploit can wipe out all their value in an instant.

- “Investment prestige”: These are items that take a large amount of resources be it time or money to complete and make a general statement about your playtime and choice of activity. Is wrecked by deflation/inflation or awarding of a previously high investment item for a low investment activity.

Requoted because relevant. All three types of these should exist to allow players with different goals and styles of play to acquire items with prestige.

Couldn’t the last two be combined together. Skill based is also an investment. You invest time and money (since you aren’t doing something else like farming) to practice and increase your skill level to get something.

The value of certain things should differ but I don’t think sole investment based items should exist because it isn’t good for the game over the long term. The other two are perfectly fine

mmm if you look at" investment prestige"- I crated some skins in the Mystic Forge because I wanted them.
To me they are prestige- I worked really hard for them- they were also rare because frankly they were painful- I made them simply because they suited my characters perfectly.

Enter wardrobe- now I see the skins I worked for on level 5 characters- sure the original is still there, otherwise they would not have the skin….

but still- I sweated blood and tears for those skins-I do not use it on my alts

Actually now that I think about it the wardrobe- apart from the charges thing that is just stupid- isn’t all that great and I would go back to trans -stones in a second- certainly it cost me less, and I still had what I worked for

I could care less how a player got an item, skin, shiny, bauble, whatever.

It’s just a game and they’re only pixels, after all.

That’s not to say I won’t tell some random player they have a cool look, or a sword looks bad kitten, or whatever.

It’s just that I could care less how they got it.

Sartharina.3542:

Also… what’s all this talk about work? I’m playing a game over here called Guild Wars 2, it’s really fun. But, I’m off to work at the bar in a few hours.

I intentionally used the term investment instead of work in as many places as possible. Your work and play can be one and the same, are you telling me you’re not “working hard” when you try to beat a single player game on the hardest setting?

Work does not necessarily mean not fun.