Guild Wars 2

I’m currently leveling an alt and I have forgotten how terribly weak the NPC’s are. I just finished an escort and once we arrived at the destination they were asked how the journey went. They reply:

“Just some wildlife, nothing that we couldn’t handle”

They forgot the fact that they died 6 times and I brought them back…

Also, why is there no downed state for NPC’s? So much for continuity across the game.

Because game mechanics are a thing? Wouldn’t be a very fun game if the NPCs could do everything without you.

It would be a lot more fun to me if NPCs would be more powerful and helpful during events. Especially in forsaken zones nobody goes in anymore with a ton of events in them that aren’t soloable, NPCs could make up for it. There are a few events where you have the option to talk to a group of NPCs to help you out, but in the end they just soak up 3 hits and then die.
Also it would be cool if in some areas with a Waypoints they could hold out longer without playerhelp before the event fails. It makes the world unbelievable if you’re a warmaster of the vigil for example, and other NPCs with the warmaster title die instantly. Should I feel proud having that title while those warmasters are as weak as a sleeping kitty?
Trahearne wielding the powerful sword Caladbolg, but dies 1v1 against a kitten risen thrall. With this huge contrast between gameplay and story, the world of gw2 will never be believable and it will stay a game instead of becoming an Adventure, the actual goal of an RPG.

Destiny’s edge die like flies in the story dungeons.

I’ll just…leave this here:

Delloro.9873:

Also, why is there no downed state for NPC’s? So much for continuity across the game.

Because they don’t have the heroic resolve that we have. They just faint. Probably why they are needing help being escorted in the first place.

nethykins.7986:

I’ll just…leave this here:

Lol .. made my day

Totally agree guys
I was destroyed by laughter when firstly encountered an event (I think it’s in the Kessex hills) where a Giant (my human character barely reach his knees) is afraid of a bunch of Ettins and wants me to kill them for him, I almost died of laughter

I must honestly agree with the OP, too.

I get the Devs don’t want players to feel invalidated, but the real problems come up when players are spending the time between enemy waves reviving an NPC just to continue the chain than actually prepare for the wave.

I’m not saying make NPC allies godly, but I would suggest maybe some defensive buffs like a sort of perma-protection and regeneration effect going, maybe some more HP, and/or maybe give them more support skills so they can contribute to fights without exactly stealing the player spotlight.

It kills the immersion a bit when fort guards die against a moose but lazy players would use more “Troll vs Kholer” strategies across the whole game

You (We) are the heroes and heroines in this game. The NPC’s need our help to overcome threat. Although we don’t get credit from helping an Elonian spearmarshal to become a human goddess and a firstborn sylvari necromancer to fulfill his Wyld Hunt, we contribute to some greater purpose.

nethykins.7986:

I’ll just…leave this here:

After watching that, I’m just going to quote Dethklock here:
“Hamburger time” lol

I noticed that the Legendary rank icons (The purple circle badges) on the Destiny’s Edge characters are gone now. Guess they realized that was really silly when said NPCs couldn’t even handle a regular veteran despite being supposedly legendary. Still, wish they had actually made them more useful and stronger. Seriously..

nethykins.7986:

I’ll just…leave this here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU9H7zaD6zs

I don’t know whether to laugh or to sigh at that.

Exosferatu.2961:

You (We) are the heroes and heroines in this game. The NPC’s need our help to overcome threat.

Except they apparently need us to solve all of their problems, even ones they realistically should overcome.
It seems to me like the entirety of Tyria would be wiped clean of sentient life in a day if not for our hero…

Lostwingman.5034:

Exosferatu.2961:

You (We) are the heroes and heroines in this game. The NPC’s need our help to overcome threat.

Except they apparently need us to solve all of their problems, even ones they realistically should overcome.
It seems to me like the entirety of Tyria would be wiped clean of sentient life in a day if not for our hero…

Every MMORPG has that problem.
I’ve yet to find a game that starts you killing the game boss right out of the beginning.

Even though I get your meaning with “realistically” I still laugh because this game is anything but that. Which is good, if I wanted to conquer things realistically I’d go outside. However the respawn rate is still bugged out there, so I’m content with this game.

Yes technically a farmer could handle wurms by him/herself but considering that’s the gimmick to get you leveling up, I like to think the farmers were busy at the time.
Is it heroic? Not on the same scale as killing the Claw, but like one of the beginning NPCs said I’m helping around the community and inspiring others to do like wise.

Atlas.9704:

Every MMORPG has that problem.

Reading your reply I can see that you didn’t understand what was said. Let me try to clarify.

I’ve yet to find a game that starts you killing the game boss right out of the beginning.

We aren’t talking about the dragons, Risen Champs, or world bosses as “realistic for NPCs to overcome”. That’s you not reading what we said and making something up so you can actually have an argument. We are talking about how the NPCs die to wildlife, simple bandits, and other things. You know, things that if this were a real world they would be reasonably expected to overcome? Starting off throwing out “dirp NPCs should realistically kill the game boss!?! U so sillay!” is just misleading and diverting.

Atlas.9704:

Even though I get your meaning with “realistically” I still laugh because this game is anything but that.

So then why even start off with “dirp huerp world boss!”?
A world where trained soldiers are killed by a wolf is immersion breaking and silly. I don’t expect every single thing that happens in real life to be modeled here but I expect what can and is modeled in to be realistic for the world it is in. A world where all of the sentient races are helpless before everything in the world is not an easy world to get immersed into, the world becomes a joke instead of a representation of another world.

Atlas.9704:

Which is good, if I wanted to conquer things realistically I’d go outside.

How is that good? What does it provide? I don’t understand this reasoning in the slightest.
Unless your dream when you get in game is to kill sewer rats and wolves for quest hearts…that’s just silly.
Not all of us want to be the only competent existence in the game universe. That just makes the world a joke.

Atlas.9704:

However the respawn rate is still bugged out there, so I’m content with this game.

?

Atlas.9704:

Yes technically a farmer could handle wurms by him/herself but considering that’s the gimmick to get you leveling up, I like to think the farmers were busy at the time.

?
No they really wouldn’t. In fact regular civilians, traders, farmers, you know the people who aren’t fighters or trained to take on monsters its expected that they can’t handle some things. It’s when people who really should be able to handle these everyday run ins are getting slaughtered. It’s understandable when you have a swarm of centaur at a contested point as that’s how it would realistically be since they are fighting them.
It’s mostly when soldiers are getting wiped so easily, it makes you wonder how the entirety of tyria isn’t overrun rampant with the true dominant species, wolves and spiders.

Atlas.9704:

Is it heroic? Not on the same scale as killing the Claw, but like one of the beginning NPCs said I’m helping around the community and inspiring others to do like wise.

Missing the point in grand fashion.

They don’t have to be super overpowered, but they could be atleast strong enough to win a 1vs1 fight with an enemy, that video of Trahearne is just a perfect example for how weak NPCs are. It’s not about realism it’s about believability of this world. This is the first RPG I can’t get immersed because of those reasons, and I can get easily immersed, so it’s pretty sad.

Lostwingman.5034:

(Snipping the condescending tone)

Thank you for your input but it seems you do not understand what I am trying to convey.
I was not trying to create any argument.

In no way was I saying Risen, Dragons, or any of the high level NPCs were “realistic for NPCs to overcome” so stop trying to put words in my mouth.

We are talking about how the NPCs die to wildlife, simple bandits, and other things. You know, things that if this were a real world they would be reasonably expected to overcome?

Oh you mean the same dangers that when real people in the real world encounter they usually get help? Yes even trained people get killed by animals like wolves, it sucks but that’s life.

“dirp NPCs should realistically kill the game boss!?! U so sillay!”

Cute. Wrong. Clearly miscommunication on both sides. Moving on.

A world where trained soldiers are killed by a wolf is immersion breaking and silly. I don’t expect every single thing that happens in real life to be modeled here but I expect what can and is modeled in to be realistic for the world it is in.

Wild animals get the best of people sometimes, both in real and fantasy worlds.
That’s the breaks to living, deal with it. NPCs are comically weak because you have to be the hero.
That’s the point I was getting at and by the numerous ? marks you’ve posted as replies it seems I needed to clarify this for you.

Not all of us want to be the only competent existence in the game universe. That just makes the world a joke.

And yet in this game and others we are. If that isn’t pleasing to you then chances are you will have a bad time.

I’m going to just wrap this post up with the main point: NPCs are weak because they need to be in order for you to be the hero.
Is it stupid they sometimes die because of a wolf or spider? Yes, but if they were as competent as you were then you wouldn’t have much to do in that map.

If you don’t like it then I’m sorry the game mechanics aren’t up to your standards.
Thank you and good bye.

They might be an exception to the rule, but don’t forget about The Pale Reavers.

Lostwingman.5034:

A world where trained soldiers are killed by a wolf is immersion breaking and silly. I don’t expect every single thing that happens in real life to be modeled here but I expect what can and is modeled in to be realistic for the world it is in. A world where all of the sentient races are helpless before everything in the world is not an easy world to get immersed into, the world becomes a joke instead of a representation of another world.

Is it really immersion breaking? There’s a long history of notable heroes throughout various mythologies that were injured or killed by wild animals. They are wild animals not some domesticated cattle. Wolves can get the better of even a trained hunter. Wolves can weigh upto 100lbs, they are predators. A single wolf can kill a bison.

Mesket.5728:

It kills the immersion a bit when fort guards die against a moose but lazy players would use more “Troll vs Kholer” strategies across the whole game

I kinda miss Troll versus Kholer. Actually I just miss the opportunity to be creative an opportunistic. I feel like it’s a better representation of realistic combat mechanics than making force the only option for every situation.

But then… I’m okay with no feeling heroic, but rather feeling clever, and that’s not what this game is about.

It’s about 200 heroes invading a cave to beat up a troll that was just minding his own business. Because he drops good loot.

Wait… I think muggers are the true heroes.

PopeUrban.2578:

Mesket.5728:

It kills the immersion a bit when fort guards die against a moose but lazy players would use more “Troll vs Kholer” strategies across the whole game

I kinda miss Troll versus Kholer. Actually I just miss the opportunity to be creative an opportunistic. I feel like it’s a better representation of realistic combat mechanics than making force the only option for every situation.

But then… I’m okay with no feeling heroic, but rather feeling clever, and that’s not what this game is about.

It’s about 200 heroes invading a cave to beat up a troll that was just minding his own business. Because he drops good loot.

Wait… I think muggers are the true heroes.

It could be though. Heroes of course aren’t universally the dumb, brutes. I suspect you’d be more inclined to playing as an Odysseus. Cunning has always been an incredibly useful thing. I just wish we could make more use of it in game.

Here is another random exception

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Help_Aria_Venom_slay_Draithor_the_Drill

the Aria can solo the champ boss easily making a group event not even require anyone.

NPCs aren’t just weak. They’re made of paper.

This is especially notable in Orr when the enemies got stronger, and the NPCs are just as useless. The worst is of course the morale ones where if they die, you fail.

The Pale Reavers are anything but weak. In fact they are so OP I couldn’t help but wonder why they even needed me at all.

Did anyone else wonder why we all didn’t get their guns, mass produce those things! no dragons would ever oppose us!