Guild Wars 2

This is something that has been on my mind for a while so I’ll just toss it out there…

I personally feel there is way to much use of the targeting reticle skill design for this movement heavy game, and that’s what creates a lot of the “clunky” feel during combat. I would like to suggest taking a whole bunch of reticle attacks, and support skills that also have an enemy attack or debuff component, some support skills like druid celestial avatar skills… and change them to targeted aoe skill. Making these changes will greatly improve the “smoothness” to the fast paced combat gameplay here.

Edit- This could also be a change that helps to alleviate some of the lag in mass combat situations because it’s less “stuff” the system has to calculate and account for… I’m sure zergs in pve and wvw would appreciate that.

A suggestion that I made could help with these problems:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/Suggestion-for-better-Targeting-Skills/first#post6222192

Check it out and support if you think it would improve your problem.

I dunno. I like this game’s use or reticle targeting. It gives the game a unique feel and control. Games like blade and which only have targeted aoe which is cool and fast pace but it comes with its own issues that makes you wish for more control.

Basically, the combat may have its quirks but it’s not bad, just different. most good games do the same, try to have a unique feel to them.

Actually, after typing it, wouldn’t you call it drop targeting or something? I thought reticle targeting was what Tera uses.

Do you know about the snap target option? That drops aoe target circles at the current position of your target’s feet (they can still move away by the time your cast is done) without you having to put the circle there. You can even set a hotkey to toggle that on and off for when you really need to aoe somewhere else while keeping your target in your sights.

It will still drop it at your feet if you have your cursor on a UI element, though.

Leo G.4501:

Actually, after typing it, wouldn’t you call it drop targeting or something? I thought reticle targeting was what Tera uses.

The term used in the Options is “ground targeting.” Tera does indeed use a targeting reticle.

Players can, in Options, select Instant in the drop down for Ground Targeting, and also checks the box for Snap Ground Target to Current Target. This eliminates the ground targeting circle and allows one to target an AoE at a foe. There are a couple of problems with this option, but it is still, in my mind superior to the targeting circle/dual click option.

Problem One: The option does not always work if you select a target (click or tab) and use an AoE to initiate combat. By not always work, I mean almost always doesn’t work. What happens instead is that the AoE goes off wherever the cursor happens to be (if in range). The workaround for that is to put the cursor on the target as well as selecting, then initiate combat. I have not had similar problems with dropping an AoE once combat has started.

What this suggests to me (I may be wrong) is that the “Instant” option (which triggers the AoE where the cursor is is available Ooc, whereas the “Snap to” option only works if in combat.

Problem Two: It seems that, if the target is moving, that the AoE cast targets the point the target occupies at the time the button press registers with the server. Depending on target speed and the size of the AoE, the target may well not be in the area once casting is complete. This is especially noticeable with longer cast time AoE’s.

I’m not sure if Problem 2 is really a problem, although I accept it is for the OP. In a faster moving MMO, particularly in PvP modes, being able to hit an AoE on a target regardless of its movement seems problematic. Also, unless I miss my guess at least half of the OP’s issue has to do with friendly AoE’s, as in heals.

I have no idea what issue you are running into but I have never had any issues with trying to target my AoEs. Between Staff elementalist, Scepter/Focus elementist and Grenadier engineer there has been plenty of AoEs for me to throw around. Some necro staff too but I don’t like marks. On the other hand I was using wells until HoT and now my chronomancer uses them instead.

Teleports are a slightly different issue since those require a path check.

IndigoSundown.5419:

Problem Two: It seems that, if the target is moving, that the AoE cast targets the point the target occupies at the time the button press registers with the server. Depending on target speed and the size of the AoE, the target may well not be in the area once casting is complete. This is especially noticeable with longer cast time AoE’s.

I’m not sure if Problem 2 is really a problem, although I accept it is for the OP. In a faster moving MMO, particularly in PvP modes, being able to hit an AoE on a target regardless of its movement seems problematic. Also, unless I miss my guess at least half of the OP’s issue has to do with friendly AoE’s, as in heals.

Final Fantasy Tactics has a solution for that. When targeting an AoE on top of an enemy you could select to have the spell target the area they are standing or follow the target.

As for targeting friendlies, that is a matter of knowing your allies and having your allies trust you enough that they don’t end up running around like headless chicken.

Snap targetting is a lot like how AoEs was handled in GW1’s and I hated that for the entire time I played GW1.

In general, I don’t mind manually placing my AOE skills. However, there are some weapon skills that used to be where you attack your enemy, hit the skill button, and when it lands, it is AOE by default, but now are manual targeting, and that’s what I dislike. Honestly, Dragon’s Tooth for Ele Scepter? That AOE “retical” is so small as far as AOE goes that it is tedious to aim with. I preferred it when it was like any other attack. Don’t know why they changed it at all.

Thanks for the comments all.

Yeah, so the idea is instead of chasing around moving enemies with reticles, we change some skills to function like the sigil of fire. Some attack/support skills could be the same. Support skills are another ball game, but there are options.

The current designs are ok for stationary or close quarter stuff, but whole mobile thing becomes a very “clunky” scenario and it would be great to have more smoothness to controls and skills.

I’m sure there would be an added benefit to reduce lag some because the system has to account for a quick X target aoe attack, as opposed to having the game process all those ground aoe skills. Not a computer/tech person so I hope my simple lingo is sufficient.

Edit- snap ground targeting is not the same, it’s also kinda funky.

Moyayuki.3619:

In general, I don’t mind manually placing my AOE skills. However, there are some weapon skills that used to be where you attack your enemy, hit the skill button, and when it lands, it is AOE by default, but now are manual targeting, and that’s what I dislike. Honestly, Dragon’s Tooth for Ele Scepter? That AOE “retical” is so small as far as AOE goes that it is tedious to aim with. I preferred it when it was like any other attack. Don’t know why they changed it at all.

because it allows attacking where you want whenever you fee like it instead of having to wait for something to conveniently walk there. Less relevant for PvE. On the other hand in PvE attacking where the enemy will be rather than where they are currently standing is also sometimes useful. Aggro mob → cast Dragon’s Tooth in front of it. If you casted Dragon’s Tooth on where the mob was standing then you have to wait until it hits before you do anything else that might attract its attention otherwise it will probably walk out of DT’s range.

I’ve never liked ground targeting all that much, though I don’t really hate it or anything. Mainly, my reason is that I map movement to the right side of my keyboard (number pad) and skills to the left (letters). A lot of ground-targeting doesn’t really fit my playstyle, which is, I admit, likely not the “best way to play”.

I do know about the option of “snapping” ground reticles to current target. I mapped that to my keyboard like everything else. It doesn’t completely remove the need to reach for my mouse every now and then, but it helps.

One change I would really like is a self-cast option, i.e., the option of casting your heal or attack centered on yourself. It could be useful for staff elementalist’s water heals at times, but still wouldn’t eliminate totally the need to use the mouse to place them.