Guild Wars 2

The Greyhawk.9107:

I’m still not going to spend RL money on gems until the visual nerfs are reverted, Anet.

Amen.

Definitely going to not spend any money until I get my good old FIREBALL back. Not fire raindrop.

863 post including mine, you’d really think this would warrant a word from A-net by now?
People seem to focus on fireball and aura’s, but it’s a lot more than that.
I mean, lightning surge doesn’t even have lightning anymore!! how sad is that?
The mist of “wash the pain away”looks like dust now.. i could go on, but most of you know what’s up.
How long does that ESL thing go on? maybe they can focus on this after that kitten is over… because despite what Colin said, i still think that is the reason.

Oh, i would like to suggest thumbing up the OP. maybe that helps for visibility?

They’ve been more and more vocal on other threads… I’m cautiously hopeful they’re working up to addressing this thread.

I will never spend real money on gems unless Anet reverses this nerf in some way. This isn’t the game I paid for.

Can we un-nerf legendary effects like that of the Juggernaut? It used to make you MADE OF METAL so nice and chrome, but now it looks like some kind of translucent film got slapped over my dyes. It’s terrible.

I don’t even really care about the visual changes, but the fact that they’ve been loudly ignoring this thread is disheartening, to say the least. There’s no way they aren’t aware of it, and their stubborn refusal to talk to their players about this and some of the other more frequently discussed issues is downright gross.

I’ve got to say the visual changes are terrible. Whoever thought this was a good thing should be put in a box and shipped to mongolia.

NecroN.8306:

We will never see a response here because that would take courage. The only response I’ve seen was Colin on reddit attacking GW2’s customers that didn’t share his views about the new direction of the game.

Unfortunately, I think that “statement” from Colin is the only thing we will ever see on the matter, and it gets me so frustrated when I see useless staves vs staffs debates getting numerous commentary from the ArenaNet Forum Communications Team Lead, yet stuff begging for meaningful interaction is treated like the elephant in the room. It is honestly shameful. It’s like being in the cool clique in HS where they play it up with their pals right in front of the person they don’t like and they’re trying to annoy. As if suddenly, the other person has no feelings, no eyes, and no way of comprehending the game being played to his face.

I personally wouldn’t employ that as a business tactic, nor would I pull a ‘Colin’ or a ‘Chris Cleary’ either.

I’d just try to be as straight forward with my customers as I could, without talking down to them, wagging my finger at them or condescending to them. Talk to us the way Andrew Gray- Game Designer did on these forums, about the Shatterer. Because really, after what is it, 870 posts, there are no excuses. This has been nothing but avoidance and it’s a wretched thing to do to your customers whom are trying to open conversation on the issue of ‘visual nerfs’ with the people who can do something about rectifying the problems we have with them.

customer
[kuhs-tuh-mer]

noun
1.a person who purchases goods or services from another; buyer; patron.

2.Informal. a person one has to deal with:
a tough customer; a cool customer.

Again, I am a paying customer. Not a mushroom. I have been reasonable in my arguments, and have posted many screenshots to support the fact that my spit fireball and egg-line aura has nothing to do with the hot mess that is particle effects while in a huge shartty mess of a boss fight, so can someone please stop smacking my hand now and admit that this thing did not net the desired “nerf” result and give us our effects back, that the game had when I bought it (the expansion too) until you can develop, test and deploy a real solution to fix the eye-sores that wind up in the atmosphere of Tyria, or till those “sliders” are added? We’d like that. We actually deserve that. Thanks.

edit-typos happen

Hmm. Anything yet?

You know what finally pushed me off the wall and made me buy HoT? Seeing the amazing animations for the Tempest Overloads and Shouts. I’m not exaggerating; the ability to run around casting those skills and looking amazing was the single biggest reason I bought the expansion.

Had I known they’d irreversibly neuter those awesome animations without giving us any choice in the matter, I’d never have done so. I’ve learned my lesson: no more buying into Anet hype. You never know what feature that you loved will be removed without warning.

I say this as someone who’s spent multiple hundreds of IRL cash on this game so far. No more.

I miss my water field blast. I’m truly amazed this has not been addressed.

The proper way to limit battlefield clutter is by designing combat around easily-identifiable weapons, limited ability sets with diverse applications for damage and a single unique role (movement, area denial, etc) for any given weapon, and by including projectiles with movement speed and path arcs that can be easily seen and tracked by the eye or by implementing proper delay periods should there be a ground-targeted attack which immediately pops up at the targeted location. Guild Wars 2 basically does none of this. It has too many skills per bar for its own good given how homogenized combat is across all classes, and the majority of skills are always going to be instant and ranged with no travel time or delay period if the player can help it (and the game caters to this anyway in most instances). Combined with the unhealthy amounts of on-demand invulnerability, Guild Wars 2’s combat will never be anything less than a quagmire of instant and passive ability spam no matter how much the devs cut from the visual effects.

Also, anet doesn’t like admitting that they’re wrong, so you’ll never get your fireball back. I hope you took screenshots.

Erasmus.1624:

The proper way to limit battlefield clutter is by designing combat around easily-identifiable weapons, limited ability sets with diverse applications for damage and a single unique role (movement, area denial, etc) for any given weapon

Exactly this.

It’s why Team Fortress 2 was so well-received when it showed up, because its classes embodied exactly this.

And mind you, quite a few weapons do somewhat fit this role. But it also needs to be consistent, for example it helps if a Greatsword is always a heavy, slow, hard-hitting weapon independent of class. The specifics might vary, but the overall role of the weapon doesn’t.

Carighan.6758:

It’s why Team Fortress 2 was so well-received when it showed up, because its classes embodied exactly this.

The success in TF2 is that the weapon sets in that game challenge the player to stretch what they can do with them (because they often are rather limited in their base scope but can be enhanced with timing and creativity) whereas GW2 takes any thought out of combat by lathering the player in excessive skills and tons of passives which do nothing but what they say on the tin. I’m pretty sure that GW2’s engine isn’t built for positioning-based gameplay anyway.

Carighan.6758:

And mind you, quite a few weapons do somewhat fit this role. But it also needs to be consistent, for example it helps if a Greatsword is always a heavy, slow, hard-hitting weapon independent of class. The specifics might vary, but the overall role of the weapon doesn’t.

I honestly questioned why weapons didn’t all just have a generic autoattack across all classes—or at the very least have skills corralled into similar cast-time brackets across classes (despite different effects). Having a generic autoattack could punish players for not using other skills properly while also pushing for a more condensed and utility-oriented weapon bar on a class-by-class basis. Then again, this game has no overarching resource mechanic and there’s no real sign of trigger synergy like “Generate a bonus effect if you have X or more stacks of Y/are under the effects of Z when this skill hits”

It’s honestly hard to punish anyone for anything in this game. There’s practically nothing that a player can do wrong outside of losing out on “muh optimal DPS” by not following the super 1337 hardboyz rotation to a T or somehow deciding to press all of my “haha I’m invincible now” buttons before a pvp encounter actually begins.

Also given how homogenized and straightforward GW2’s combat is, the skillbar really should have stayed at 8 slots if they wanted to promote clean combat with some unique role definition. It could easily be 5 at this point.

Any hope to see in future a Skill effect option in setting where we could calibrate it?

I will explain some bosses even trash mobs often have 1 shoot skills but seeing it is almost impossible even in 5 man dungeon seeing a small boss humanoid animation and to react to it is impossible because of all the effect on him .

I as a melee lover find it very annoying

drgast.1469:

I’ve got to say the visual changes are terrible. Whoever thought this was a good thing should be put in a box and shipped to mongolia.

^^ This.

I want the old fireball back D’:

Some people has linked this post to the feedback post Gaile made. We can only hope.

Arkanthor.2307:

Some people has linked this post to the feedback post Gaile made. We can only hope.

At the risk of being repetitive, I’m not going to hold my breath.

Glenstorm.4059:

You know what finally pushed me off the wall and made me buy HoT? Seeing the amazing animations for the Tempest Overloads and Shouts. I’m not exaggerating; the ability to run around casting those skills and looking amazing was the single biggest reason I bought the expansion.

Had I known they’d irreversibly neuter those awesome animations without giving us any choice in the matter, I’d never have done so. I’ve learned my lesson: no more buying into Anet hype. You never know what feature that you loved will be removed without warning.

I say this as someone who’s spent multiple hundreds of IRL cash on this game so far. No more.

I think this can be said for a lot of Elementalist players, right now I don’t even have words to explain my feelings regarding all the effects taken away. After reading their explanations I was furious because every time I play I can’t go anywhere without seeing 4-5 twilights/sunrises surrounded in bees and snowflakes and sword-traps and what-all-else.

the people have spoken! revert the hilarious change to fireball, or you won’t get a single penny from us!

Taking a break from Blade & Soul that recently launched in NA to send a message to Arena Net.
THOSE ARE TRUE FIREBALLS ANET, GET YOUR KITTENS TOGETHER.

Meanwhile Anet says (not here of course) “We want to answer your questions, about creature design.” O.o Seriously?!? Why not answer questions we want answered? Or that need to be answered?

Like “Why can’t Anet have GW2 automatically down-shift graphics at world bosses, and in WvW zergs when they can’t be properly seen anyway?”
or
“Why can’t Anet comment on what current plans are for resolving the ‘visual nose issue’?”, or at least give us some hope that the pointless nerfs on individual skills will not continue.

Elden Arnaas.4870:

Meanwhile Anet says (not here of course) “We want to answer your questions, about creature design.” O.o Seriously?!? Why not answer questions we want answered? Or that need to be answered?

I know right? I looked at the thread title saying “WE WANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!”

I thought, “aw yeah! Finally we might get some answers to some very important concerns!”

Then I read the next bit, “…ABOUT CREATURE DESIGN! AREN’T YOU EXCITED?”

Okay then… that’s… good to know I guess…

Elden Arnaas.4870:

Meanwhile Anet says (not here of course) “We want to answer your questions, about creature design.” O.o Seriously?!? Why not answer questions we want answered? Or that need to be answered?

Like “Why can’t Anet have GW2 automatically down-shift graphics at world bosses, and in WvW zergs when they can’t be properly seen anyway?”
or
“Why can’t Anet comment on what current plans are for resolving the ‘visual nose issue’?”, or at least give us some hope that the pointless nerfs on individual skills will not continue.

I saw that and I thought the same thing. It’s all about saying that they are talking to us. They are answering those burning questions no one really asked about in the first place…

But hey, they’re communicating, right? Right? Unfortunately, just not on the issues we’re asking them about. Like this one.

Are the old well graphics coming back yet? Wells genuinely (I’m serious, I played beta, casted wells, preordered) sold me the game because of how amazing they looked and how much fun they were to use as a result of that.

The new wells are just… sad.

Not one single red reply? That is so disrespectful. You know of any other company that just flat out ignores playing customers legitimate complaints? People bought this game because of those spell effects and the way it looked and you full up just don’t even answer this thread? When I subscribe or buy and invest in a game as I have with this one I don’t expect to be told or pointed to anything other than the official site to air my grievances. Reddit? Really? No. Why should any playing customer have to go to a 3rd party site for any information. That’s bad manners.
HoT was so far from the original realised idea of Guild Wars 2 it pushed me the girlfriend and playing friends back to Warcraft, and yeah I was a pre order beta guy here. The visual nerfs and the fact you actually merged them without officially replying was the final kick in the teeth.
Least I can pop back in the future I guess but in the mean time my moneys being spent elsewhere which is a shame as we enjoyed our time here.

I hope Anet realizes that this isn’t going away, no matter how much they ignore it.

Maybe the next Elementalist Elite-Specialization is the “Fry Cook” so we atleast have a reason to throw burning potatoes at people.

In other news, get your kitten together Anet.

For whatever reason auras have been my favourite effect since launch. Go kitten yourself anet. No more money for you.

With the implementation of the option to move the position of the Compact option in the last patch, it’s only a matter of time until we get an option to select our own visual noise level. Right?

……right?

Zoltar MacRoth.7146:

With the implementation of the option to move the position of the Compact option in the last patch, it’s only a matter of time until we get an option to select our own visual noise level. Right?

……right?

Umm.. with this silence and no video asking for a solid?

Siobhan.5273:

Zoltar MacRoth.7146:

With the implementation of the option to move the position of the Compact option in the last patch, it’s only a matter of time until we get an option to select our own visual noise level. Right?

……right?

Umm.. with this silence and no video asking for a solid?

I still live in hope. And quite possibly delusion. :/

Please revert the elementalist fire 1 animation! It looks like a placeholder Unity projectile now! The old one was perfect the way it was!!

And, while not necessarily relevant to nerfed visuals, it is on the topic of kittenty visuals:
Can we PLEASE see our nocked arrows on bows? I’d say it would add to the feel of being a bow user, but honestly, calling the presence of arrows on a bow-and-arrow character a bonus is like saying fire is a bonus to a pyromancer..

The most sensible, easiest solution will be a new option

[ ] Enable Full Skill Animation for my own Character only

Why not? We could turn on Hi-Rest textures for Charactermodels. So why not have the choice to opt in or out of the Visual Clutter on our side, which doesn’t influence others.

Best from two worlds….less Clutter for the one’s who need it, less ressources used (in principal)

If my System can stomach it then let me enable it.

The new Animations are Crap and seriously hamper my enjoyment of the game. Because visuals matter!

Roda.7468:

And, while not necessarily relevant to nerfed visuals, it is on the topic of kittenty visuals:
Can we PLEASE see our nocked arrows on bows? I’d say it would add to the feel of being a bow user, but honestly, calling the presence of arrows on a bow-and-arrow character a bonus is like saying fire is a bonus to a pyromancer..

Well, it WAS the bonus to being a pyromancer…
now we got flame-dart x.x

But honestly I’d love nocked arrows, as-well.

Captain Prinny.6492:

The most sensible, easiest solution will be a new option

[ ] Enable Full Skill Animation for my own Character only

Why not? We could turn on Hi-Rest textures for Charactermodels. So why not have the choice to opt in or out of the Visual Clutter on our side, which doesn’t influence others.

Best from two worlds….less Clutter for the one’s who need it, less ressources used (in principal)

If my System can stomach it then let me enable it.

The new Animations are Crap and seriously hamper my enjoyment of the game. Because visuals matter!

I’m still hoping for a slider so I can set my visuals to …… OVERKILL!

Yes, imagine it: fireballs the size of buses. Explosions worthy of Michael Bay. Like you said, if your system can stomach it….

NayNay.7680:

Roda.7468:

And, while not necessarily relevant to nerfed visuals, it is on the topic of kittenty visuals:
Can we PLEASE see our nocked arrows on bows? I’d say it would add to the feel of being a bow user, but honestly, calling the presence of arrows on a bow-and-arrow character a bonus is like saying fire is a bonus to a pyromancer..

Well, it WAS the bonus to being a pyromancer…
now we got flame-dart x.x

But honestly I’d love nocked arrows, as-well.

That’s the thing!
It’s not a bonus if it’s less logical to go without it!

Captain Prinny.6492:

The most sensible, easiest solution will be a new option

[ ] Enable Full Skill Animation for my own Character only

Why not? We could turn on Hi-Rest textures for Charactermodels. So why not have the choice to opt in or out of the Visual Clutter on our side, which doesn’t influence others.

Best from two worlds….less Clutter for the one’s who need it, less ressources used (in principal)

If my System can stomach it then let me enable it.

The new Animations are Crap and seriously hamper my enjoyment of the game. Because visuals matter!

I support this.

This debacle and the mention of skins in other posts got me thinking about the possibility of skill skins. Imagine if you could apply a skin to your fireball to make it blue, or to dribble sparks as it flew, or maybe one skin could have a little quaggan riding it and waving his cowboy hat ala Doctor Strangelove. The skins wouldn’t be anything outrageous so that the skills are still recognisable for what they are, just playful tweaks to make skills more customised. Imagine a skin for the phoenix that turns it into a “dark” phoenix. Or a skin for dragon’s tooth that turns it into an anvil, or a grand piano.

Zoltar MacRoth.7146:

This debacle and the mention of skins in other posts got me thinking about the possibility of skill skins. Imagine if you could apply a skin to your fireball to make it blue, or to dribble sparks as it flew, or maybe one skin could have a little quaggan riding it and waving his cowboy hat ala Doctor Strangelove. The skins wouldn’t be anything outrageous so that the skills are still recognisable for what they are, just playful tweaks to make skills more customised. Imagine a skin for the phoenix that turns it into a “dark” phoenix. Or a skin for dragon’s tooth that turns it into an anvil, or a grand piano.

A fun idea, probably won’t happen but it’d be nice if it did.
Honestly they can do whatever the hell they want with the skill visual effects AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE OPTION TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL, and by original I mean how they came when the core game (or HoT in the case of the elite spec skills) was first released.

Zoltar MacRoth.7146:

This debacle and the mention of skins in other posts got me thinking about the possibility of skill skins. Imagine if you could apply a skin to your fireball..

No, please, no. They’ll gut our graphics and then charge us to get something decent back..

Siobhan.5273:

Zoltar MacRoth.7146:

This debacle and the mention of skins in other posts got me thinking about the possibility of skill skins. Imagine if you could apply a skin to your fireball..

No, please, no. They’ll gut our graphics and then charge us to get something decent back..

I had that thought as I was writing it.. but I think (or hope) that community pressure would protect against that kind of blatant money grubbing. It seems a shame not to mention ideas for fear of them being misused.

God, will they ever restore visual effects? Effects subjected to nerf are beyond ridicilous. Played mesmer with staff and elementalist recently. Cried

Zoltar MacRoth.7146:

Siobhan.5273:

Zoltar MacRoth.7146:

This debacle and the mention of skins in other posts got me thinking about the possibility of skill skins. Imagine if you could apply a skin to your fireball..

No, please, no. They’ll gut our graphics and then charge us to get something decent back..

I had that thought as I was writing it.. but I think (or hope) that community pressure would protect against that kind of blatant money grubbing. It seems a shame not to mention ideas for fear of them being misused.

Community pressure? This thread has 900 posts in it divided in 18 pages, if this ain’t community pressure I don’t know what is, and yet there is absolutely no response from Anet.

Hirosama Nadasaki.6792:

Zoltar MacRoth.7146:

Siobhan.5273:

Zoltar MacRoth.7146:

This debacle and the mention of skins in other posts got me thinking about the possibility of skill skins. Imagine if you could apply a skin to your fireball..

No, please, no. They’ll gut our graphics and then charge us to get something decent back..

I had that thought as I was writing it.. but I think (or hope) that community pressure would protect against that kind of blatant money grubbing. It seems a shame not to mention ideas for fear of them being misused.

Community pressure? This thread has 900 posts in it divided in 18 pages, if this ain’t community pressure I don’t know what is, and yet there is absolutely no response from Anet.

Well SAB thread has over 100k views and Anet didn’t reply in over a year.

Today´s guild chat had a special effect dev as a guest but they only hyped the -coming soon- first raid boss and talked nothing about this issue. Sad .

I say, that whenever we see a red tag ingame, we let them know our displeasure. Make it so no Anet employee can play their own game without hearing about how angry we all are. Don’t do or say anything that can get you suspended or banned, but let them know how furious you are. I also encourage that you tell them you won’t spend another dime on this game until we get our visuals back.

About the fireball visual nerf (absent for about two years and still hearing Anet is nerfing this, nerfing that…), the solution is simple :

Just rename the skill to ’ fire ping pong ball ’.