Guild Wars 2

Pros:

• Ability to retrait on the fly
• Addition of new traits
• Hunting for the new traits

Cons:

• PvP and WvW no longer an even field experience
• Weakening the PvE enemies created a steep power curve
• Push back to level 30 is tedious, especially on trait-reliant professions
• Pattern of obtaining trait points (every 6 levels, etc)
• Cost increase from 2g70s to 43g and 360 skillpoints
• Bugged unlock events
• So much waiting around
• Map complete for a single trait
• Level inappropriate tasks
• Dungeon and group content unlocks
• Prohibitive to alt creation
• Actively discourages build diversity
• Flattens the experience into a single roadmap to character progression
• Does not allow for choice of game mode- PvE, PvP, WvW
• Obsidian Sanctum for the fall damage trait? Really?
• Is repetitive and generally not fun for the average player
• Makes the entire trait system daunting and less accessible to new players
• Renders the leveling experience (which was previously lauded as being one of the best) a race to reach level 80, just in order to be able to unlock many of the traits.

Here’s my ideal solution, which is an aggregate of many great ideas in the traits megathread.

Undo the nerf to low-level mobs from the April feature patch.
The first trait point is awarded at level 15 and every 5 levels thereafter.
All adept major traits are unlocked at level 20.
Master traits become available at level 40.

• One in each line is unlocked automatically.

There are a series of trait challenges around the world in level-appropriate areas.

• They function like skill challenges and can be started upon arrival.
• They award a trait point to be spent as the user desires- tier specific to Master or Grandmaster levels.
• The new traits are still tied to their events and cannot be unlocked with the trait points, but they can be unlocked with gold, karma, or laurels.
• Any other newly added traits will follow this pattern.

The Grandmaster tier opens up at level 60, or 70 at the latest.

This space is also reserved. I will be updating the first post with more pros/cons as people remind me of things I’ve missed.

I’d change “does not encourage build diversity” to “discourages build diversity”, and that’s putting it mildly.

I’d also add “Not fun”.

Just another note, in case this thread takes off, it’s worth pointing out that when this thread launched, the original trait thread had 2,786 posts, almost all of which were negative.

Great summation. I would add that the new trait system cheapens the overall level experience because it encourages the player to reach 80 as soon as possible (usually via zerg activities like EotM).

Acquiring the Traits is much easier to do at level 80 in full exotics; it’s not something efficiently undertaken while leveling.

CrashTestAuto.9108:

I’d change “does not encourage build diversity” to “discourages build diversity”, and that’s putting it mildly.

I’d also add “Not fun”.

I support both of these changes, especially the “not fun” part. It is less enjoyable leveling with these changes in place, and since this is a game, it being enjoyable is kind of important.

I’ve updated the pros/cons with these things. Thanks for the feedback. I’ve also outlined my ideal solution. I’d appreciate any feedback about that, too.

Jon Peters, this thread is dedicated to you.

I won’t be adding to this thread any longer as I don’t feel like ANET intends to address this issue, given the timely responses to many other issues in the six+ months since this happened. Best of luck, all.