Guild Wars 2

Hi, I’m Dusk, and I am pretty excessively wealthy in-game. I am so wealthy, in-fact, that I can’t appreciate most items in-game because “I can just buy that outright off the TP”. In spite of all of this, I still don’t have a legendary weapon, and the reason is because I have to work on earning a weapon for myself in order to be able to use it. If I don’t have the feeling of earning something, it has no value to me. Earning it is the only thing that makes me want to use it in the first place (besides obviously looking cool). Otherwise I may as well just sell it. My problem is that if I just buy a legendary item, it has no meaning, and I can’t use it; I sell it again. If I buy any appreciable part of the legendary, that’s a huge problem too because “why don’t I just sell the legendary then”. Buying a precursor for me is therefore a big problem because I can’t appreciate the end result after just shelling out some amount of cash that has no sentimental value at all to me.

I wanted precursor crafting so badly because of that.

The idea of building a precursor was so important to me because I could then work toward something, farm some mats, grind some events, whatever. I don’t even care if grinding Frostgorge Sound or doing repeated daily dungeon runs was more efficient, I’ll go out and farm the random basic mats I need myself. You may think I’m crazy, but for my legendary progress thus far I went out of my way to go and farm 250 ghost peppers on my own. It got me out in Orr, and it got me helping out random people, enjoying the game’s content, and experiencing zones I haven’t seen since I maxed all 8 classes long ago. It took me days to get those Ghost Peppers and many, many hours. I could have earned the 7g to buy the stack in about 1 to 2 hours of proper dungeon/FGS grinding, but I chose not to because doing it this way made it feel more like it was my progress, like I was truly out in the world and making a thing of epic proportions.

Doing things that way:

• …keeps me enjoying the game doing different content.
• …feels more natural than just grinding the same stuff over and over and then buying what I want from other players.

I wanted to go out into the world and build a precursor, and then use it to finally finish my legendary, Incinerator. The ability to make constant and continual progress towards the goal of a precursor, and by extension a legendary, is critical for both appreciating and enjoying the legendary for me. I don’t think I’m the only one, either. A lot of people since the game came out have expressed similar concerns. They want to earn their legendary item. They want to build it from the ground up. They want a journey for their precursor that makes it feel epic.

This post was devastating to me.

I had been hoping for precursor crafting more than anything. I don’t care what the materials are, and I don’t care how inefficient it is for me to go out into the world and get them, I want to build my precursor. I’ve been holding out for this enhancement for over a year, and thought that this April feature patch would finally be my time to have a legendary. I suppose not. I’m not going to whine, though; I just want to tell this story of mine so that ArenaNet knows how important it is to me, and hopefully to a lot of other players. I have helped some of my friends build their legendaries by helping them with their precursors. It means a lot to them when they don’t have to grind gold and go buy their legendaries, but someone else gets lucky, or helps out, or the whole guild pitches in and gets it for them. I’m glad that makes those people happy. But for me? I need the sentimental attachment to the process of making a legendary, otherwise I simply won’t enjoy it and won’t keep the result.

Please, ANet, make this a priority for PvE development in the future. Keep your WvW and PvP teams doing the wonderful things they do and give those guys a lot of attention, too, but when you think about “What you should be working on” in PvE, always think of the tale of the hundreds who sit at 3/4 completion for their legendaries and wait for you.

Thanks for the awesome game, and I hope that one day I can have a shiny to show off that actually feels shiny to me.

ok that’s your way of playing the game, so what?

Pie Flavor.1647:

ok that’s your way of playing the game, so what?

So I’m just letting ArenaNet know by posting about it and telling my story. Feel free to agree or disagree with me and my methods, but I’m just telling it like it is in my case. Would you prefer a more personalized approach for building a precursor or not? How important is it to you? Etc.

Rising Dusk.2408:

Pie Flavor.1647:

ok that’s your way of playing the game, so what?

So I’m just letting ArenaNet know by posting about it and telling my story. Feel free to agree or disagree with me and my methods, but I’m just telling it like it is in my case. Would you prefer a more personalized approach for building a precursor or not? How important is it to you? Etc.

Nah I am cool with people telling stories, but there just isn’t anything to agree or disagree with here, or to discuss, to be honest.

Pie Flavor.1647:

Nah I am cool with people telling stories, but there just isn’t anything to agree or disagree with here, or to discuss, to be honest.

There sure is, but you probably missed it. What is happening is that making a legendary weapon with just playing and dropping the items is almost impossible because of the drop rates
You need a specific kind of weapon, exotic quality (drop chance is getting a bit low), and it’s a specific exotic (among a lot of them). It’s a bit unrewarding and underwhelming imo

I suppose you could agree or disagree with my notion of it being among the highest future PvE priorities as far as features go. As far as discussion goes, I guess I was really curious what other people thought about precursors and their sentimental value and so on. Do you feel more accomplished building something yourself or buying it outright, or what-not. I know a few people will say that it’s all the same since you put in the effort to get the gold, but I also know a few people will agree with me that it just doesn’t feel the same.

On the contrary, I agree with the general notion and was disappointed to read the post from Mark as well.

Rising Dusk.2408:

I suppose you could agree or disagree with my notion of it being among the highest future PvE priorities as far as features go. As far as discussion goes, I guess I was really curious what other people thought about precursors and their sentimental value and so on. Do you feel more accomplished building something yourself or buying it outright, or what-not. I know a few people will say that it’s all the same since you put in the effort to get the gold, but I also know a few people will agree with me that it just doesn’t feel the same.

ah alright then, my opinion on this matter is that attempting to get a precursor by yourself is what is called “gambling”, gambling is fun, it’s addictive, it makes my blood rush every time I combined 4 exotics in the mystic toilet, but at the end of the day, it’s a bad practice, because by gambling you will, on the long run, lose, and in this case it’s worth a lot more to save up gold to buy the precursor off the TP from someone luckier than me.

I do not feel not accomplished by buying down a precursor from the TP, on the contrary, I feel smart, because I know there are people who spent over 6000g on the toilet gambling for a precursor, and when I think about it, gambling is a very dangerous thing to do.

I like the story and the thought put into it, hell I shed a tear to be honest. Very passionate and moving. By the way my name is The Lover, nice to meet you.

Is there really any difference between earning the mats by yourself and earning the gold? IMO, no.

I can understand when you have people buying legendaries off the TP with a credit card – I don’t like it (but I actually don’t care to complain) and I can see how it diminishes it’s value.

But how about the people who spend their time earning the gold to purchase the components from the TP? I don’t see that any different than farming materials directly since you are still dedicating your time, however it may be dedicated to.

I cannot understand people who complain about having to pay for a precursor, while they themselves paid for all their T6 mats and lodestones, which in sum is greater than the precursor it self.

Granted though, you said you didn’t do that. But I personally can’t see why it’s any different farming gold or farming materials.

Vol.7601:

Is there really any difference between earning the mats by yourself and earning the gold? IMO, no.

I can understand when you have people buying legendaries off the TP with a credit card – I don’t like it (but I actually don’t care to complain) and I can see how it diminishes it’s value.

But how about the people who spend their time earning the gold to purchase the components from the TP? I don’t see that any different than farming materials directly since you are still dedicating your time, however it may be dedicated to.

I cannot understand people who complain about having to pay for a precursor, while they themselves paid for all their T6 mats and lodestones, which in sum is greater than the precursor it self.

Granted though, you said you didn’t do that. But I personally can’t see why it’s any different farming gold or farming materials.

There is a HUGE time and RNG difference between actually farming the mats and buying them off the TP.

Essence Snow.3194:

Vol.7601:

Is there really any difference between earning the mats by yourself and earning the gold? IMO, no.

I can understand when you have people buying legendaries off the TP with a credit card – I don’t like it (but I actually don’t care to complain) and I can see how it diminishes it’s value.

But how about the people who spend their time earning the gold to purchase the components from the TP? I don’t see that any different than farming materials directly since you are still dedicating your time, however it may be dedicated to.

I cannot understand people who complain about having to pay for a precursor, while they themselves paid for all their T6 mats and lodestones, which in sum is greater than the precursor it self.

Granted though, you said you didn’t do that. But I personally can’t see why it’s any different farming gold or farming materials.

There is a HUGE time and RNG difference between actually farming the mats and buying them off the TP.

You are forgetting the other step involved with ‘buying them off the TP’, and that involves having the gold to buy it.

Vol.7601:

Is there really any difference between earning the mats by yourself and earning the gold? IMO, no.

There is to some people. Monetarily no.. but it’s about the journey. I personally feel more satisfied when I earn what I need directly rather than random money grinding to buy stuff off the TP. It’s one of my biggest gripes about the game.

Lothirieth.3408:

Vol.7601:

Is there really any difference between earning the mats by yourself and earning the gold? IMO, no.

There is to some people. Monetarily no.. but it’s about the journey. I personally feel more satisfied when I earn what I need directly rather than random money grinding to buy stuff off the TP. It’s one of my biggest gripes about the game.

Exactly. The key word is ‘earn’.

I personally see no difference between earning the materials themselves, versus buying them off the TP with gold that I earned.

4 1/2 of my legendaries were earned by me (My bifrost was half funded by gems in November 2012) by hardcore farming. I spent hours dedicating my time to farming mobs, keeping track of metas, guesting, e.t.c.

I feel that I have earned it because I put the time to get it.

But if I went out and cashed my bonus cheque to buy gems? I wouldn’t feel the same way.

Vol.7601:

Granted though, you said you didn’t do that. But I personally can’t see why it’s any different farming gold or farming materials.

I can only really respond with “sentimental value”. I mean, in real life I work as a space systems project manager and make a good deal of money. I could go and buy a golden trophy that says I’m awesome very easily, but it just doesn’t feel as awesome as if I earned that trophy performing some feat I consider epic. Similarly, I could easily take a helicopter that I paid for to the top of a mountain, but it isn’t as personally gratifying as if I trekked up that mountain on my own two feet against all opposition. That’s the difference to me.

I use gold in-game to buy “stuff” like sigils and other things, but when it comes to something like a legendary, it is more about the journey than the end result, and the end result is made that much sweeter if I truly loved the journey. Using gold to buy the precursor is meaningless to me, but working and building it myself… That’s a journey I could be proud of. I guess it really breaks down to this for me: I don’t personally consider earning gold an epic feat in-game or out of game. It’s just a thing that enables me to enjoy my stay in-game or on-earth.

Hopefully that helps.

This is why I like the Fractal Weapons best of all. You can’t sell them, have to get them as drops and that’s it. Dusk, I suggest you just start collecting Fractal Weapons.

I can understand your point of view and I actually have my own however to understand the current system, we have to understand that Anet wanted the game to be player-friendly. While you ask for crafting others ask for legendary missions and complicated bosses. Yes it would feel more statisfying to get it through drops or crafting perhaps (both methods still have flaws) however it will force everyone into a specific game aspect that many people can’t enjoy especially the casual players and trust me, those won’t be able to finish a legendary mission, cause the game was never meant to be hard-core to that point.

That is also one of the reasons why we don’t see drops becasue the game will shift slowly into a raid-based one and obviously since the harder dungeons are gonna mean higher drops, the casual players may never get thoose fancy items. Yes there is grind in both this and gold farming, yes gold farming may still be easier for old player atm, however everyone got at least many option to go with as to how get that gold.

Being able to craft a precursor or obtaining it through some journey would’ve been such a wonderful idea and fits the idea of what GW2 stands for. Unfortunately, their most beautiful weapons fall in line of what most mmorpg do -> grind grind grind for gold. If you’ve obtained a legendary before, you know how much of a grind it was from the start til finish. It was a dreadful grind. This was one thing I never understood about this game since it contradicted so many core values that Arenet tried putting into it.

I am 100% with you…I have had every gift for my Legendary for 9 months (two sets for the last 1 month now since I made my second set of gifts) but I am one of the unlucky few that the gods of RNG do not love…I have never had a pre-cursor of any type drop…I have been playing since opening day…and nada, nothing, zip….despite putting over 2500 items (almost 900 exotics, the rest rares) into the mystic forge and having every single “slayer” achievement as well as my 5000 kills on almost every single weapon (so I have killed a LOT of creatures around the world). Not-one-single-precursor to any legendary has graced my presence.

I was REALLY looking forward to precursor quests and / or / crafting….RNG hates me so much…and I am REALLY disappointed by this news…devastated actually, because now those gifts will remain in my bank for an even longer time than they have already been there….lonely…unable to be used to their potential in crafting a legendary.

Rising Dusk.2408:

Vol.7601:

Granted though, you said you didn’t do that. But I personally can’t see why it’s any different farming gold or farming materials.

I can only really respond with “sentimental value”. I mean, in real life I work as a space systems project manager and make a good deal of money. I could go and buy a golden trophy that says I’m awesome very easily, but it just doesn’t feel as awesome as if I earned that trophy performing some feat I consider epic. Similarly, I could easily take a helicopter that I paid for to the top of a mountain, but it isn’t as personally gratifying as if I trekked up that mountain on my own two feet against all opposition. That’s the difference to me.

That’s actually a pretty good analogy, and I can understand your side a bit better. It really boils down to personal preferences.

Either way, a precursor crafting/scavenger method is always a good thing, as long as it keeps the current alternatives of TP/Mystic gambling a viable choice on average. It’s a shame that it’s not coming (if at all).

Essence Snow.3194:

Vol.7601:

Is there really any difference between earning the mats by yourself and earning the gold? IMO, no.

I can understand when you have people buying legendaries off the TP with a credit card – I don’t like it (but I actually don’t care to complain) and I can see how it diminishes it’s value.

But how about the people who spend their time earning the gold to purchase the components from the TP? I don’t see that any different than farming materials directly since you are still dedicating your time, however it may be dedicated to.

I cannot understand people who complain about having to pay for a precursor, while they themselves paid for all their T6 mats and lodestones, which in sum is greater than the precursor it self.

Granted though, you said you didn’t do that. But I personally can’t see why it’s any different farming gold or farming materials.

There is a HUGE time and RNG difference between actually farming the mats and buying them off the TP.

True. If you decide to grind for matts, you face two issues. The chances of it dropping are low and you get hit with diminishing return. If you’ve never actually grind to obtain a legendary before, you probably won’t see why this method isn’t very effective. On the other hand, farming for gold (dungeons/champ bags) is usually consistent.

Vol.7601:

Exactly. The key word is ‘earn’.

I personally see no difference between earning the materials themselves, versus buying them off the TP with gold that I earned.

Well I do, not in a monetary amount of course and yes both ways are earning the reward (there’s semantics regarding “earn” though)… but as I said it’s about the journey, working for yourself.. whatever. People are different and perceive things differently you know. Neither way is “right”. I’d rather be self sufficient. Others like being active on the market. To each their own, but right now ANet only caters to the market players. (edit: I see Rising Dusk has explained the value of the journey.)

I don’t see your problem.
You don’t wanna buy it, you wanna earn it or craft it.

Alright, even if Anet introduced Precursor crafting, that would demand an enormous amouth of mats, around 400 gold worth of mats.

So whats stopping you from go out and collect a metric ton of mats, but instead of using them for craft the thing, you sell them and buy the thing?

Is there really a difference? After weeks or months of grinding for mats, clicking a few buttons on the crafting menu VS clicking a few buttons on the trading post makes that much of a difference?

You’ll still get that satisfaction of working hard for it instead of farm gold.

Dean Calaway.9718:

I don’t see your problem.
You don’t wanna buy it, you wanna earn it or craft it.

Alright, even if Anet introduced Precursor crafting, that would demand an enormous amouth of mats, around 400 gold worth of mats.

So whats stopping you from go out and collect a metric ton of mats, but instead of using them for craft the thing, you sell them and buy the thing?

Is there really a difference? After weeks or months of grinding for mats, clicking a few buttons on the crafting menu VS clicking a few buttons on the trading post makes that much of a difference?

You’ll still get that satisfaction of working hard for it instead of farm gold.

There is a difference, and it’s primarily because we both don’t know what materials list ANet would use and we surely can’t redeem any value for account bound materials which I can all but guarantee would be used.