Guild Wars 2

With the new Champion rewards system, the already “abused” Queensdale will become even more populated. This is good because in there and few other places – Foothills and Ascalon – most people are doing their dailies.
I am sure these Champions will have the most rotation possible and as we start to see more and more people wearing legendaries, so we will start to see them wearing the Queensdale rewards
People are hunting champions which are easy to beat for the fun of it or easy leveling, so i guess this system won’t make people explore new Chanpions untill Wiki will post the new rewards pictures

for what i read around the forums, be it official or not, the fine rewards will depend on map level, ie slivers or what not from champs in 1-15 maps, hopefully this is the case

I only ever get kitten from them, and the only incentive to do them is dailies or monthly. I think even got a ripped hide or something as dumb yesterday.

Not sure how to take this post…. therefore it gets high marks from me.

Just thinking about people actually farming “l00tz” this way though, makes me sad…

Especially since I can already solo much harder Champions … on a ranger …. in melee…

What’s the deal with those 4 champs right now? Do they actually drop something worthwhile or why do people farm them?

Easy fast exp karma. Basicly nonstop train.

Queensdale is also good for dailies and monthlies due to many events that include veterans, champs and are on fast recharge. I spent some time in Ashford plains and it was much slower. Hoping ANet won’t simply tinker with QD but rather buff the event / champ rates for other areas instead.

Traveller.7496:

Hoping ANet won’t simply tinker with QD but rather buff the event / champ rates for other areas instead.

Indeed, hoping the same.. I’m getting bored to run around in Queensdale/Wayfarer for daily, if only a higher level area would have the same amount of events/champs/vets…

Tribio.8531:

if only a higher level area would have the same amount of events/champs/vets…

You have got to be kidding…

Queensdale – 6 champions

Fields of Ruin – 13 champions

Malchor’s Leap – 8 champions

Cursed Shore – 12 champions

Lots of areas – 5-6 champions

If you want to farm champions at a higher level but still want to out level them, wouldn’t Sparkfly Fen be better?

I am thinking of the lab near where Tequatl spawns…the event happens very regular and if there are enough players you get loads and loads of krait champions. Its harder than Queensdale but they still die fairly quickly and most 80’s should be able to do it without getting downed/dieing…

AntiGw.9367:

You have got to be kidding…
Queensdale – 6 champions
Fields of Ruin – 13 champions
Malchor’s Leap – 8 champions
Cursed Shore – 12 champions
Lots of areas – 5-6 champions

You have got to be misreading..
Champs, events, vets.. You only mention Champs (and indeed, I know Fields holds more than QD)..

AntiGw.9367:

Tribio.8531:

if only a higher level area would have the same amount of events/champs/vets…

You have got to be kidding…

Queensdale – 6 champions

Fields of Ruin – 13 champions

Malchor’s Leap – 8 champions

Cursed Shore – 12 champions

Lots of areas – 5-6 champions

You forgot to mention the overriding factor – ease of access. You can run around the whole of Queensdale in half the time it takes you to get away from the first set of annoying powerful trash mobs in other zones. Ok, slight exaggeration there, but the point still stands about the ridiculous crowd control skills given to trash mobs in higher level areas. In my opinion, there’s just no fun to be had there unless you’re some sort of masochist.

I think if they randomize these timers and not put things like queensdale troll on a 10 minute timer, these trains will go away.

The queensdale champs are super fast and easy.
Only the wasp is a slower fight due to it’s periodic hiding phases.

I am hoping that the loot changes to Champs will help get some people into other areas, as higher level champs should be more rewarding. However how much more rewarding vs the ease and time factor of the lower ones is what is going to make or break this. Hopefully anet took that into account.

1.) materials will drop based on their level. So you can farm all you want in Queensdale, but you won’t make any good money
2.) weapon skins will drop from these champs. If they are rare enough, farming Queensdale won’t make you rich all of a sudden. If they are frequent enough, you won’t get rich at all. So it’s a moot point

People farm those champions in Queensdale because it’s great exp for a certain level range.

I may be in the minority here, but I actually like the Queensdale champion train. It’s a fun zone, it’s easy to move around in, the events follow one another quickly, and (on TC, anyway) the chat is kind of fun. Once in a while, I see people get rude in chat, but that’s not very common.

If better rewards are available after the champ changes, it may spell the end of the QD train. I might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

Wolfsergi.2537:

Easy fast exp karma. Basicly nonstop train.

I don’t see how it’s nonstop. Unless it’s different in my server.

The best train atm is in labyrinthine cliff. It’s so fast you can have DR from it.

I though it was going to be more of unique skins from the champs. So the troll will drop something that only that troll will drop etc… you can spam them but you will get the same items over and over.

Jski.6180:

I though it was going to be more of unique skins from the champs. So the troll will drop something that only that troll will drop etc… you can spam them but you will get the same items over and over.

I heard that too. And IMO that situation would be ideal. A lot of incentive to go out and ‘bounty hunt’ all the different champs.

The most prevalent opinion I see among my friends about running around Queensdale is that it is accessible (no waypoint fees if you come from LA via Divinity) and easy for higher levels to run around (two hits to kill trash mobs.) Especially since the rewards for riunning Queensdale far outweigh the effort. As long as this is true, then there will continue to be champ trains in Queensdale.

If the rewards they put in place with the new system outweigh the effort that one puts in to get them, then the rest will gain “followers” as well. For instance: if the Champion Krait at the top of the tower in Nonmoa Lake in Timberline Falls has a higher rate of dropping precursors or drops a unique Uber Weapon Skin of Krait Uberness then I see it as being farmed more.

I used to farm the SB in Queensdale, but only because I wanted Final Rest. Once I got it, (and then it was through a friend) I stopped farming. I didn’t like the “cham train” so I didn’t follow.

It might be that others are looking for the same uniqueness, and adding things like that will spread the trains out.

Redfeather.6401:

Jski.6180:

I though it was going to be more of unique skins from the champs. So the troll will drop something that only that troll will drop etc… you can spam them but you will get the same items over and over.

I heard that too. And IMO that situation would be ideal. A lot of incentive to go out and ‘bounty hunt’ all the different champs.

I am some what hoping they are going to be like NM from ff11 even HNM version with out the 1hr to 3 day re spawned time and no need to get first attk on the mob hehe.

AntiGw.9367:

Tribio.8531:

if only a higher level area would have the same amount of events/champs/vets…

You have got to be kidding…

Queensdale – 6 champions

Fields of Ruin – 13 champions

Malchor’s Leap – 8 champions

Cursed Shore – 12 champions

Lots of areas – 5-6 champions

How often to the champs spawn in those other areas? Curious to know because in Queensdale there’s a champ up pretty much every 5 minutes, which is what the point of this is.

A lot of the increased traffic for the Queensdale champs this week is people getting their Homeland Support or whatever ach for Kiel.

Loot drops

- if not randomized but boss specific, then they will all be posted in Wiki after a week or two and people will farm only those who are have the loot they are interested in.

- if randomized and not boss specific, then people will farm the easier and faster spawn-able bosses

This is pretty much what will happen.

Possibly, the casual explorer might get help easier from other casual explorers if they will use the map chat to announce some boss, not like now when people avid group events if not able to do solo.

Tribio.8531:

AntiGw.9367:

You have got to be kidding…
Queensdale – 6 champions
Fields of Ruin – 13 champions
Malchor’s Leap – 8 champions
Cursed Shore – 12 champions
Lots of areas – 5-6 champions

You have got to be misreading..
Champs, events, vets.. You only mention Champs (and indeed, I know Fields holds more than QD)..

There are plenty of champs, events AND vets in other areas.

Playing the game instead of grinding the same crap actually works.

PVStar.3658:

How often to the champs spawn in those other areas? Curious to know because in Queensdale there’s a champ up pretty much every 5 minutes, which is what the point of this is.

Who cares? By the time you kill one, something else will be up.

It’s just people want the train…

People actually run in Queensdale? Anyone who doesn’t waypoint will miss every single champ kill as they die in less than 30s to the waypointing zerg.

AntiGw.9367:

Tribio.8531:

AntiGw.9367:

You have got to be kidding…
Queensdale – 6 champions
Fields of Ruin – 13 champions
Malchor’s Leap – 8 champions
Cursed Shore – 12 champions
Lots of areas – 5-6 champions

You have got to be misreading..
Champs, events, vets.. You only mention Champs (and indeed, I know Fields holds more than QD)..

There are plenty of champs, events AND vets in other areas.

Playing the game instead of grinding the same crap actually works.

PVStar.3658:

How often to the champs spawn in those other areas? Curious to know because in Queensdale there’s a champ up pretty much every 5 minutes, which is what the point of this is.

Who cares? By the time you kill one, something else will be up.

It’s just people want the train…

Because it’s consistent and easy. You can wander around other zones hoping that a few other ppl will help you kill the occasional champ that pops after a 3-event pre-chain, or you can run around Queensdale with champs almost non-stop and very quick kills.

Also Queensdale (and wayfarers) feels… right. At least in SF the chat if quite friendly and fun.
I usually run the champ train while waiting my guildies for group for a dungeon or fractal. It is something relaxing to do

ColinJohanson.2394:

Champion rewards will be different based on their level. However, like other loot rewards if you’re a high level player in a lower level area there is a chance you’ll receive rewards based on your actual level rather than the area you are in each time they drop.

Thanks for the reply. If you don’t mind expanding on this a bit, I’d be curious if you’re talking about rare materials, coin, weapon skins, or some combination of the three (or something else entirely) when you say they’ll be different.

Lisa.6102:

I only ever get kitten from them, and the only incentive to do them is dailies or monthly. I think even got a ripped hide or something as dumb yesterday.

This is why lvl 80’s do them. There is no other incentive. There is no reason to be concerned or “sad”. There is absolutely no lootz involved for 80’s except for the occasional lvl 80ish blue or green item.

I’m curious… the way I understood it there are different types of enemies who have different skins. E.g. pirates who drop the rapier etc.

But do lv.30 pirates have the same chance to drop the skin than the lv.70 pirates? And do those “different” pirates drop the same skin?

And how much weapon skins are there? I really wonder if it will be such a big deal. Let’s say we get 5 new skins which are on the trading post from day 1 with prices falling constantly… it seems that those Champion-farming trains won’t last very long imho. Too much people play the trading post and don’t really have a problem farming a bit of gold.

hope I’m wrong

Mmm, I’ve gotten 80s rare from the Champion Oakheart, and that was recently. I think drops have improved considerably as of late (the character I was using had no MF gear-perhaps a little boost, though I can’t remember.)

Also, last week I had two WvW players drop rares for me within a half hour (probably less.) IME, drops have improved from where we were 2-3 months ago (may be good luck, but that rarely happens to me.) :P

Out of subject, I know. I do wish people did anything else other than Queensdale (nothing wrong with the map) as it proves the theory that people always go for the path of least resistance. It’s also probably hype and “monkey sees, monkey does”, as there are many other areas with easy Champions if that’s the main incentive.

This overall community focus on humans (DR most populated cultural city/Queensdale most populated beginning map) also makes me believe that Kiel will win the “election” (which is fine). :P I wish the candidates would have been a bit more neutral, and not “hero” vs merchant, Human vs Charr.

Star Ace.5207:

Mmm, I’ve gotten 80s rare from the Champion Oakheart, and that was recently. I think drops have improved considerably as of late (the character I was using had no MF gear-perhaps a little boost, though I can’t remember.)

Also, last week I had two WvW players drop rares for me within a half hour (probably less.) IME, drops have improved from where we were 2-3 months ago (may be good luck, but that rarely happens to me.) :P

Out of subject, I know. I do wish people did anything else other than Queensdale (nothing wrong with the map) as it proves the theory that people always go for the path of least resistance. It’s also probably hype and “monkey sees, monkey does”, as there are many other areas with easy Champions if that’s the main incentive.

This overall community focus on humans (DR most populated cultural city/Queensdale most populated beginning map) also makes me believe that Kiel will win the “election” (which is fine). :P I wish the candidates would have been a bit more neutral, and not “hero” vs merchant, Human vs Charr.

It’s true, it is possible to get lvl 80 rares in low lvl zones but in no ways profitable or worth the time to try and farm them in low lvl areas. Mats are map lvl specific so again, not a lot of profit there.

I think most just noticed this lately because of the procrastinators trying to finish up their monthly or helping low lvl guildies/friends grind throw the events.

ColinJohanson.2394:

Champion rewards will be different based on their level. However, like other loot rewards if you’re a high level player in a lower level area there is a chance you’ll receive rewards based on your actual level rather than the area you are in each time they drop.

Is there a plan to use some sort of “the longer it’s alive, the better the rewards” system to compensate for the popularity of some champions?

The Boz.2038:

ColinJohanson.2394:

Champion rewards will be different based on their level. However, like other loot rewards if you’re a high level player in a lower level area there is a chance you’ll receive rewards based on your actual level rather than the area you are in each time they drop.

Is there a plan to use some sort of “the longer it’s alive, the better the rewards” system to compensate for the popularity of some champions?

2 consequences of this:

1. The fewer people the better. Champion takes longer to kill with 3-5 people, any more and everyone gets worse loot. This runs counter to the core philosophy of GW2 – you’re supposed to be happy to see other players.
2. Coordinated prolonging of fights. Which would mean players who aren’t in on the coordination get raged at, etc. Same problem as #1.

They are either going to play with the timing or the rewards wont be good enough for them to have to adjust it.

BuD.7851:

They are either going to play with the timing or the rewards wont be good enough for them to have to adjust it.

Rewards won’t be good enough? That’s like saying its better off just not having this change to even be implemented.

Something is better than nothing. It will be once a day for each Champion I would imagine so the players who go to multiple zones to find and kill these champions will be very happy. I myself will be starting parties to trek across Tyria to find and kill these champions.

ColinJohanson.2394:

However, like other loot rewards if you’re a high level player in a lower level area there is a chance you’ll receive rewards based on your actual level rather than the area you are in each time they drop.

*cringe*

Welp GG... Was really hoping this might breath some life back into Maelstrom & Straits & a few other places. NvM... Atleast we get BETTER odds in dungeons right? .... RIGHT??? Pleeeease tell me the probabilities are atleast higher for dungeon champs where you’re locked at 5 players total...

Check external page for timer on next event
Teleport directly there
Race the zerg to spam enough hits on the boss to get credit
Check external page for timer on next event!
Grind grind grind! Gotta get that grind!

Hurry, XYZ Dragon is up soon!

there need to be more incentives to roam around in the area (even after you’ve got mapcompletion) instead of perma-waypointing from one champ to the next.

It’s like people love to skip content because they get more loot because of it :-/

TBH I think arenanet is pushing GW2 down a slope they cannot navigate. They’ve pumped so many rewards and reward systems into the game in such a short time, so many carrots and rewards to chase after…that all they can do is lure is around the game with rewards.

I say this because if they said that champs in queensdale only drop zone level-appropriate stuff, and no chance at high lvl stuff, no level 80s would bother going there anymore.

Its funny…Because of games like WoW, we have been trained many years to gear grind and run on that treadmill. That is the legacy WoW leaves behind. Im beginning to think that Gw2’s legacy will be that of constant reward. Gone are the days where you play just because the game is fun. If theres no carrot, the rabbit doesn’t come out. If there is no worthwhile reward for a level 80 to revisit a zone like queensdale, we wont go.

So they must give us the chance at level appropriate stuff.

the thing is: people make their own goals. Currently there is little to work towards to other than weapons/armor which needs certain materials. So people are running around gathering those materials, mostly by killing stuff.

So you run around, look to your left and see a risen. Then you look to your right and see a risen champion. Which one would I battle? The risen has a 50% (?) chance to drop a t6 mat and it takes 20sec. to defeat him. The champion risen has the same or worse chance to drop the t6 mat, but you have the chance for a blue (worth almost nothing) and a green (same). Rarely a yellow or orange. Very rarely. It takes about 5minutes.

Which one would you choose?

So let’s look at it from a different angle: To your left there is a risen and to your right there is a champion risen who guards a gate you haven’t seen before. Which one would you choose now? Now you have a new goal: find out what’s behind the gate.

I only use Queensdale to do events because they are every where and its much faster, every other map is lacking or dead so its harder to get stuff done, if i wanted rewards id go kill a few scripted dragons

ColinJohanson.2394:

Champion rewards will be different based on their level. However, like other loot rewards if you’re a high level player in a lower level area there is a chance you’ll receive rewards based on your actual level rather than the area you are in each time they drop.

This is the way it should be. You should be able to get decent rewards anywhere in the game, but it’s also important to provide incentives for people to do higher level content.

PVStar.3658:

AntiGw.9367:

Tribio.8531:

if only a higher level area would have the same amount of events/champs/vets…

You have got to be kidding…

Queensdale – 6 champions

Fields of Ruin – 13 champions

Malchor’s Leap – 8 champions

Cursed Shore – 12 champions

Lots of areas – 5-6 champions

How often to the champs spawn in those other areas? Curious to know because in Queensdale there’s a champ up pretty much every 5 minutes, which is what the point of this is.

Fields of Ruin (L35+, low-mid area) has a bunch of chains in it with champions. In Ebonhawke there’s the prison break champion -> mad bomber champion, 2 champs right there.

There’s the Ogre Wars chain which (iirc) has a champ at each pre-event (not sure if you can kill both or just one), goes on to fight 5? more champs and tons and tons of vets, trash mobs and pets, plus some buildings to smash Also, daily chest like Maw, SB etc.

Then there’s the peace talks place that has 2 wasp champs spawn together quite often (champ wasp queen + champ wasp soldier)

I have a feeling there’s a branded fish champ in the NW, plus I know there’s a bunch of other quick repeating events all over the zone (skritt helmets, harpy kidnappings, settlement protections, escorts etc), plus some different gathering nodes to usual. Just a question of learning the map really, if you want to nail a rotation.

All of this is super easy access via the asura gate in DR that links to Ebonhawke, plus you get bank access and a TP all in one place. Pretty sure Gwen’s grave qualifies as a “place of power” to do your crystal charging too.

I had a funny thought this afternoon….

The Svanir champ spawns about every 5 minutes in Wayfarers… It might be nice to see him drop something other than T1 mats and the occasional blue

Redfeather.6401:

The queensdale champs are super fast and easy.
Only the wasp is a slower fight due to it’s periodic hiding phases.

And? they will make champions harder to fight in the same update they are adding these rewards. You can kill wurm in 1 second, the shatterer in 3 minutes etc. It’s not even fun.

LanfearShadowflame.3189:

I am hoping that the loot changes to Champs will help get some people into other areas, as higher level champs should be more rewarding. However how much more rewarding vs the ease and time factor of the lower ones is what is going to make or break this. Hopefully anet took that into account.

I hope the world champs (the ones not bound to an event) will get better loot. Not so much the level, as much as the rate of kill. A bit like how the bonus XP works for less-often-killed foes. With event champs you already get a reward: the event reward. With the world champs, you will be happy if you even get a blue (with the current setup).