Guild Wars 2

Bit of a new player here. Only been playing for a few weeks, and my experience has spanned an important GW2 update – the change from skill points to hero points/spirit shards.

I came here from Wow because I loved the mechanic of being able to slowly progress my character at my own pace and still earn currency for high level gear without having to be an advanced raider, or having to grind endlessly (something I rarely have time for but still enjoy occassionally).

I liked being able to explore the rich world, absorb the lore, and still feel a sense of progression for my character and to be rewarded for exploring all the vista’s, pois, events, nooks and cranny’s.

I hit level 80, and was overjoyed that there was still no grinding necessary. High-level raiding and PvP was still there when I had time, but I was still rewarded with skill points towards my ascended gear by wandering and experiencing the world, doing renown hearts, helping other players and generally having a great time. It would take me a year of course to get to my coveted staff of course, but every login brought me closer nonetheless.

I would still earn exp, and every level would earn me another 1 point closer to my 200 necessary for the mystic forge.

Post update, it seems that spirit shards are a must now, and they can only be attained through random-drop grinding. This KILLS the impetus for exploration and renown missions post-80, as there is no reward beyond karma. I MUST grind Silverwastes/Fractals to make any headway.

Please bring back post-80 level up rewards as a Spirit Shard reward. I’m sure I’m not alone in this that is is ruining a lot of the magic of the world for more casual/intermediate players and have introduced grind into a game who’s beauty and biggest strength came from the philosophy that grinding was never needed to progress.

If I am in error, or misunderstanding post-80 rewards or how Spirit Shards are collected, I apologize (I am new after all).

Thank you for reading.

you get 3 per day by completing (any) 3 daily achievements

Doing the daily also gives you three SS. As for getting them as a drop I don’t believe I’ve got any yet, but if it goes straight to the wallet I just may not of noticed.

Aside from dailies, I’ve gotten them as drops, rewards from PvP, and from champ bags. It took me a while to pay attention to the loot stream to notice since they get dumped right into the wallet.

You should get one for leveling, don’t you?

Weylin.6478:

You should get one for leveling, don’t you?

Yes, you do.

No. You don’t. at least 10 levels past 80 and my SS is still at 39 post patch (you should though IMO)

I posted this to Reddit though, who explained about dailies (which I never paid much attention too.)

I simply haven’t explored enough of the map (only at 38%). Happy though, since dailies are giving me new impetus to explore. Having fun again, and off to unexplored region of Orr (to get my kitten handed to me no doubt!)

Thank you GW2 community for being so friendly and accommodating to this neophyte necro on a very rare night off!

What do we need spirit shards for? I’ve been at this so long I had over a thousand skill scrolls in my bank before the change so I’m out of touch with the new player experience.

That said, having that many in my bank, they must not have been that important in the first place.

Forget about the spirit shards.. same game, still fun like mad

Ack! You are correct. We get Hero points when we level.

Tome of Knowledge should give kitten to a past 80 char.

Agree. Mapping used to be my main source of skill points since I popped all XP buffs and then would kill everything I came across. Now the main source of skill points through champ bag farming with the best way is chest farms in Silverwaste which I’d rather not subject myself to a mindless grind of running around in circles.

As a result, I have no skill points left for more ascended or anything else.

I realize that xp will eventually go to the mastery system when HoT comes out but in the meantime, it would be nice if we could still get spirit shards from leveling until the new system is brought in.

Garambola.2461:

Ack! You are correct. We get Hero points when we level.

Tome of Knowledge should give kitten to a past 80 char.

Tomes of Knowledge to give a spirit shards as a reward for a lvl 80.

OP, personally, I don’t have an issue with the new system. Haven’t seen any accounts of drop rates for the shards, but personally, I do notice a fair number for my sessions.

Edit: I don’t do SWs.

I’ve actually noticed myself getting MORE with the new system, from drop bags