Guild Wars 2

I think it’s a useful tool and all that but I now think it’s having a negative effect.

I think there is lots of players left in game who don’t need a tag to motivate them and will work with each other in map chat. The thing is on bigger content there are others who just won’t participate until there’s a tag and that can hold everyone back.
Or worse still trolls grief cos there is no tags and spoil it for players who can organise themselves.

I saw this with LA, now with Pavilion.

Maybe only guildies should be able to see the tag and the rest of us should just get on with it.

I have a tag and can use it. But it’s a sad thing that I need to use it to motivate players.

Players who don’t need it to cooperate can just ignore it.
Players who won’t partake in big events without tags won’t benefit from its removal either – they just won’t partake anymore.
Trolls will troll no matter what you do, the only solution being learning how to deal with it.

Tags are useful to maintain the group together as you move through a map. People flock to a tag because it means there’s something happening that requires cooperative effort and collective playing – this is how it’s supposed to work. A lot of times, that’s how I know something is even happening that I’d like to be a part of.

It’s intrumental to a lot of pre-events, no only to bring people from everywhere in the map to that event, but to let other people know that it’s being done. After all, some events require multiple groups at different locations and it’s nice to know that they are there and being lead.

If you’ve been in the community’s teamspeak when they do gold boss blitz runs in the pavillion, you’ll know that tagging up is very relevant and increases efficiency. Not saying it can’t be done without them, but it sure helps.

People who would rather play without tags already have an option: change overflow.

I can’t stand Vanity tags either. 9 times out of 10 it’s someone just running around solo not even calling events out in map chat. Commander tags need to be harder to get and not bought with 100g.

I don’t really see the problem here. Tags can be useful in some big events, and in order to locate champ train etc. Yes, there are many commanders that have the tag up all the time, but I’m not bothered by it. I have a tag, but can’t remember when I used it last since there is always someone else that i tagged up when I arrive.

There will always be people in the game who want commanders to tag up in pve. It’s part of the train mentality, but usually it’s easy to organise stuff in map chat without tags as long as someone actually starts doing it instead of arguing about whether or not tags are needed.

bloodletting wolf.2837:

I can’t stand Vanity tags either. 9 times out of 10 it’s someone just running around solo not even calling events out in map chat. Commander tags need to be harder to get and not bought with 100g.

commander tags should be quiz based of some sort, to prove knowledge of the game.. instead they’re a gold sink.

Taygus.4571:

commander tags should be quiz based of some sort, to prove knowledge of the game.. instead they’re a gold sink.

Or to show you know how to use google.

The only reasonable thing to ask for regarding tags, if they really bother you and you can’t abstain, is a visibility toggle.

Still waiting for account bound commander tag :P

You should actually have to accomplish something or prove to be capable of leading a group of people in some way before being able to use it. SOMETHING to prevent all of these random people that buy gems with real life money, trade it for gold, and think they’re suddenly king kitten when realistically they have no idea what they’re doing.

Commanders in PvE don’t really have to do squat aside from at great jungle wurms where more tactical play is needed, but people on this game have the tendency to stand still sucking their thumbs until they see a magical blue tag to follow around like a lost puppy. If someone incompetent gets their hands on one, they can make events like pavilion nightmarish if they choose to.

Uhm, no.

/15shadesofdenial

I don’t think commander tags should be removed from pve. They have there place and their uses, just like most things. However, I do agree with many that there should be some need / way to earn that tag instead of just dropping 100g on it. Earning it (really earning it) would ensure that the person displaying it actually knew what they were doing.

Taygus.4571:

bloodletting wolf.2837:

I can’t stand Vanity tags either. 9 times out of 10 it’s someone just running around solo not even calling events out in map chat. Commander tags need to be harder to get and not bought with 100g.

commander tags should be quiz based of some sort, to prove knowledge of the game.. instead they’re a gold sink.

I agree, but a quiz will not be the best option. As soon as the quiz is implemented, dulfy has all the answers on her website.

bloodletting wolf.2837:

I can’t stand Vanity tags either. 9 times out of 10 it’s someone just running around solo not even calling events out in map chat. Commander tags need to be harder to get and not bought with 100g.

It’s almost like you’re implying only people with money and work beyond Legendary are capable of command and organization.

Beleth.8249:

Remove PvE Commander Tags

How about no?
How about instead of removing it we make it better?

Every month, all tags are refunded by the game and 100 gold goes into the person’s bank. If you want to get your tag back you have to go to one NPC located in Orr and speak to him. After a while, only the people most determined to have a tag will keep getting it, others will give up or forget.

Hmm, managing tags seems to work in WvW, I guess the strong presence of the community in WvW means that they have a better handle on things. Not sure this is possible to carry over to PvE. I do agree that acquiring a tag for 100g is not a sufficient method to prove leadership. God help us if they make tags account bound, because when they do, there will be a huge spike in players with tags, oh noes!

Give every player a single commander point. For some reasonable price (like 1g) you are able to give it to another player (and also take it back). With enough points (like 10 – 20) you get access to the commander tag.

Also, more points you have, more bigger your tag gets eventually devouring entire Tyria.

The commander tag should just stay in WvW.

Every time I see tags up in PvE, the map chat is filled with profanity laced insults and bickering while they try to figure out who is the “main” commander.

It just degrades into an ego contest.

Myself and others use our commander tags when we’re keeping our guild and/or server together.

Even though there is an option to join a Squad so you only see one tag, it would actually be good if they did introduce some sort of toggle where you could remove tag visibility from your map if you so chose.

But removing tags from the PvE map entirely – No.

Astral Projections.7320:

Every month, all tags are refunded by the game and 100 gold goes into the person’s bank. If you want to get your tag back you have to go to one NPC located in Orr and speak to him. After a while, only the people most determined to have a tag will keep getting it, others will give up or forget.

Nah, put the commander tag vendor in Fort Vandal and make players have to take down all the level 80 champs while at the Vandal’s Claim level scaling. If they really want that tag for PvE, they’ll figure it out.

For WvW though, use your idea, but make it only useable in WvW.

Azhure.1857:

Myself and others use our commander tags when we’re keeping our guild and/or server together.

Easy solution there, Guild Member tags. Make those free upon joining a guild and only other members of the same guild can see the tag.

I would like a big smiley tag.

I don’t have an issue with “commanders”. Most of them are people willing to organize things.

But seriously, give them an option to change the icon or at least the colour.

join a specific commander squad the others will vanish.

if squad dont work or lack of tools, well that is another story.

Ravion Hawk.4736:

Azhure.1857:

Myself and others use our commander tags when we’re keeping our guild and/or server together.

Easy solution there, Guild Member tags. Make those free upon joining a guild and only other members of the same guild can see the tag.

I’ll say it again.
Myself and others use our commander tags when we’re keeping our guild and/or server together.

Here’s hoping to that discussion about changes to the commander tags. I think removing features is never a good direction, its better to improve/adjust them. The 100 gold limit is a pretty good limit to people getting tags. Also I do not support account wide tags, and this comes from someone with 10 toon slots. Considering the Megaserver tech, another option may be to have a flag that only shows your tag to your home server. Some discussion before was also on allowing guild only. Till a CDI, cya.

Edit spelling before coffee.

I think the general Commander Tag system needs revision (so the actual Commanders can in some way be “rated”). Seen too many clueless Commanders for my taste while I would like to be able to identify those that are skilled (and there are a good many of those as well).

Ravion Hawk.4736:

Astral Projections.7320:

Every month, all tags are refunded by the game and 100 gold goes into the person’s bank. If you want to get your tag back you have to go to one NPC located in Orr and speak to him. After a while, only the people most determined to have a tag will keep getting it, others will give up or forget.

Nah, put the commander tag vendor in Fort Vandal and make players have to take down all the level 80 champs while at the Vandal’s Claim level scaling. If they really want that tag for PvE, they’ll figure it out.

For WvW though, use your idea, but make it only useable in WvW.

individual skill and equipment do not = good rallying and organizational skills
It cracks me the kitten up you people seem to be under this delusion.

I’ve seen new players show more effort, enthusiasm, support, and ORGANIZATION than some Commanders.

Yes. You can solo 20 gagillion champs, good for you.
But do you know how to effectively manage and lead players, most of whom don’t want to be reined in?

This is true to real life as well.

This is why I love being a historian.

If ANet knew their European history, they would know that the ability to purchase officer’s commissions between the 17th and 19th centuries led to highly incompetent armed forces. The greatest of the early modern period’s armies (Prussia) never used allowed such a practice and consequently was able to win wars where they were literally surrounded on all sides by hostile nations.

Why then would ANet include a system in game that mimics one of the greatest systemic military blunders in history?

Anet should sell a tool that allows players to hide Commander tags from their UI. Perhaps charge 100 Gold for such a mechanic.

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Anet should sell a tool that allows players to hide Commander tags from their UI. Perhaps charge 100 Gold for such a mechanic.

It’s like, why did they not do that with the bobble heads? Doh.

NewTrain.7549:

This is why I love being a historian.

If ANet knew their European history, they would know that the ability to purchase officer’s commissions between the 17th and 19th centuries led to highly incompetent armed forces. The greatest of the early modern period’s armies (Prussia) never used allowed such a practice and consequently was able to win wars where they were literally surrounded on all sides by hostile nations.

Why then would ANet include a system in game that mimics one of the greatest systemic military blunders in history?

Because this is a video game, not the real world. There is no organized military force (non-NPC) in game for professionally training and ranking commanders. Nor should there be; either hiring a group of people for this purpose or doing it themselves would be a waste of money and resources on ANet’s part.

Instead of making unrealistic comparisons, how about some constructive suggestions? For example: a rating system. Allow players to +1 a commander. Players can only +1 a particular commander once, and cannot -1, though they can rescind their +1 if they desire. When hovering your mouse over a commander’s tag you see their rating # underneath their name. This would prevent trolls/rivalries from downvoting commanders into oblivion, while allowing anyone to easily see how respected/successful a commander is.

bloodletting wolf.2837:

I can’t stand Vanity tags either. 9 times out of 10 it’s someone just running around solo not even calling events out in map chat. Commander tags need to be harder to get and not bought with 100g.

having the ability to hide the kitten things when out and about and not interested in seeing them on the map would be good too …..

I’m not trying to offend anyone, but what is the harm in having a few blue pixels on the map? Is it so distracting that you are unable to play becasue of it?

Perhaps a /Squad Ignore command, similar to squad join but a way to specifically hide a particular commander’s tag for the rest of the play session.

As a measure against troll commanders you could have a squad block command to permanently hide their tag. Alternatively the whole ignore list used to mute people could double as a commander tag blocker.

No.

Next topic?

Taygus.4571:

bloodletting wolf.2837:

I can’t stand Vanity tags either. 9 times out of 10 it’s someone just running around solo not even calling events out in map chat. Commander tags need to be harder to get and not bought with 100g.

commander tags should be quiz based of some sort, to prove knowledge of the game.. instead they’re a gold sink.

Oh hai google.

How about no.

Ravion Hawk.4736:

The commander tag should just stay in WvW.

Every time I see tags up in PvE, the map chat is filled with profanity laced insults and bickering while they try to figure out who is the “main” commander.

It just degrades into an ego contest.

Are you playing on US server?

Ravion Hawk.4736:

The commander tag should just stay in WvW.

Every time I see tags up in PvE, the map chat is filled with profanity laced insults and bickering while they try to figure out who is the “main” commander.

It just degrades into an ego contest.

Horsepucky! I’ve never seen that anywhere, be it in WvW or PvE zones. Just like I never saw any of the alleged verbal abuse in the QD Champ train.

Easy fix: Give us an option in settings somewhere to the tee of “Show commander tags in PvE” Yes/No. Problem solved. Everyone gets their way.

Sounds like a better option than flat-out removing them.

Purple Miku.7032:

You should actually have to accomplish something or prove to be capable of leading a group of people in some way before being able to use it.

Nonsense. If that were true, no one could ever try to be a commander. I think every players has the right to try it, and they don’t need to prove anything. Heck, there’s also plenty commanders that only bought the tag so they can use it to host community events. But those players are conveniently ignored aren’t they?

Report and block, boys, report and block.

/thread.

Mugiwara Luffy.1087:

Taygus.4571:

bloodletting wolf.2837:

I can’t stand Vanity tags either. 9 times out of 10 it’s someone just running around solo not even calling events out in map chat. Commander tags need to be harder to get and not bought with 100g.

commander tags should be quiz based of some sort, to prove knowledge of the game.. instead they’re a gold sink.

I agree, but a quiz will not be the best option. As soon as the quiz is implemented, dulfy has all the answers on her website.

Well, it could be random XD.
Maybe not just an ingame quiz, but a “test area”. Like a solo dungeon where if you complete it you get your comm tag.

Or a voting system. “I like how this person leads +1000 votes = comm tag”, .you could lose votes this way to, and also continue to increase, depending on how you lead. an addition of explanation why you’re voting a person up or down, could help prevent abuse through this system. “trolled at teq” is a good reason to vote down.

idk,
almost anything would be better than it’s current state of just being a gold sink

I mostly ignored all the pve commanders and hoping we’ll get account bound tag.

I came up with a real simple solution to this a long time ago.

If I see a commander doing events and organizing, I join their squad. I have the squad channel on. I have map chat turned off. Any good commander will use it and everyone will benefit for it.

Now that I have my tag, I pop it on anytime I want to offer help or need help doing something. People just appear out of nowhere sometimes. I don’t even need to be organized. Players generally know what to do, and if they don’t it takes a sentence or two to educate on any given specific task. Easily the best 100g I spent in the game so far.

If you are really just sick of seeing commander tags on the map, there is a super simply way to stop seeing them. Log out. No one is forcing you to look at them.

I get where some people are coming from, and dislike the use of vanity tags. Show up at any world boss and you’ll find 4 or 5 people running around with them for absolutely no reason.

They do have their uses in PvE, though, with events like marionette, CP, Tequatl, Triple Trouble, the Watchknights, etc. That is, if the person with the commander tag is actually doing any commanding. The tag is a good way for people to find placement for these events, and if the commanders are communicating for coordination, that’s how it’s supposed to be done.

I and some others routinely do gold Boss Blitzes together, wherein we have a basic rule: 6 tags or no tags. Some of them don’t have tags, but we try to have people rely on the commands only coming from the commanders/boss callers, such as the boss health percentages, whether a turret is up at BB, if a boss has accidentally reset, and hold/burn calls. While a lot of people intrinsically know this already, a lot don’t, so it’s very helpful for them to understand the mechanics of why we only burn after BB goes (otherwise known as “don’t call the burn until BB is crit and the last turret is down”), and why you shouldn’t immediately burn your boss if someone else accidentally burns theirs early. It’s the difference between a gold and silver run, or worse, bronze.

Just a few examples. I don’t think PvE tags should go away any more than I think WvW tags should go away. There’s nothing preventing someone from buying a tag and popping it in WvW and having no idea what to do with it.

Is it so kitten difficult to block the person whose taged up or join the god kitten squad?

Its not difficult at all to notice someone whose capable of organizing and leading and whose not. Not difficult at all. It applies for PVE and WvW.

Get some glasses people. Also joining a squad and /block works quite well.

I’m happy for you, Trogdor. I’m also quite sure that if you volunteered to pay all of those people’s bills instead of them learning how to do it themselves they’d be all for it and you would be very popular, but does that mean it’s a good thing? I don’t think it does and appeals to popularity in defense of a certain type of activity are always irrelevant.

And since when do new players need to be led around on some sort of “map tour”? The very idea of such a thing is ridiculous. Did YOU need to be led around by your little nose on a map tour or does it just feel good to lead others around by theirs?

I’ve done map tours lead by a commander, it’s actually a lot of fun when you’re in the mood for that. Especially if you have 8 level 80s and it’s a map you’ve done so many times the very thought of doing it again is tiring.

Randall.6850:

I’m happy for you, Trogdor. I’m also quite sure that if you volunteered to pay all of those people’s bills instead of them learning how to do it themselves they’d be all for it and you would be very popular, but does that mean it’s a good thing? I don’t think it does and appeals to popularity in defense of a certain type of activity are always irrelevant.

And since when do new players need to be led around on some sort of “map tour”? The very idea of such a thing is ridiculous. Did YOU need to be led around by your little nose on a map tour or does it just feel good to lead others around by theirs?

It’s an MMO and it’s called helping other players that are interested in a joining a community to you know, have fun. These events are a lot of fun for everyone involved and usually involve great chat while more experienced players share tips with newer ones. I’m not the only one that does this and when events like this are held they are usually very popular. That should tell you something.

Hey, I’m sorry to see such things are so offensive to you. As you said you have almost quit playing entirely due to PvE commander tags. If little things such as this get under your skin so easily perhaps it is best you just quit all together.

If you end up not quitting over PvE commanders and people helping each other in organized events let me know next time you decide to roll an alt. Send me a PM and if the timing works out I’ll invite you on my next tour.

Astral Projections.7320:

I’ve done map tours lead by a commander, it’s actually a lot of fun when you’re in the mood for that. Especially if you have 8 level 80s and it’s a map you’ve done so many times the very thought of doing it again is tiring.

So true and it is a lot of fun.