20 level 80s and counting.
(edited by Lishtenbird.2814)
Worried: Specializations vs. Expansionless
I think mastery’s Will only be in the new zone But Specializations will be everywhere , As they will only add skills and weapon types , people without the Expansion just wont have access to that skills. The game will eventually balance out (since release of new skills usually bring inbalance) and there wil be a HoT Meta build and a normal meta build but they should have the same impact
Guild Halls is in the Heart of maguuma jungle , they say so on the Expansion page , so only people with HoT will be able to get to it.
WvW I have no clue
PvP I think only people with HoT will be able to play the new maps and mode
Please note this is my opinion and NOT facts
Lordy Green , THE Elementalist
Angela Sky , THE Guardian
Orochimarei , THE Necromancer
Angela Sky , THE Guardian
Orochimarei , THE Necromancer
Masteries are effects which take place only in the new zones. Specializations I don’t know, I think they will be available for everyone.
GW1 expansions offered new skills that synergized better or in some cases were simply just better in comparison. In order to sell it, they have to appeal to everyone and that means selling progression. I wouldn’t count on specializations being free. They’ll only matter if you want to optimize however.
Masteries:
- Are only available in the new zone. (The same will apply to the other expansions/zones.)
- Have absolutely no use in the old zones.
- The announced “special skills” are similar to FoTM agony and Toxic Alliance hallucinations and only do something sensible in appropriate content.
- Gliders, obviously, only work in the new zone, similarly to environmental weapons and Zephyrite aspects.
- Language masteries have no combat effect so they don’t have to be limited to the new zone (provided that we do have readable languages in the old ones at all).
I think it makes sense for masteries to work this way. It also gives them a good framework for future expansions too, each one will have new masteries to help players do the new content there. I doubt we will use things like gliders in other zones, or get any kind of damage boost against other mob types.
New type of LFG messages will pop: “LF Zerker, 5k AP, <New Mastery> ONLY people”
Specializations:
- Are available to everyone in both games. (The same will apply to the other expansions.)
- The old Traits system is replaced in both games.
- All new skills are available in both games.
- All new weapons are available in both games.
From what I understand, only the new specializations will have access to the new special weapons (only Druids use Staff, it’s not a new weapon for Rangers).
If the new traits use the new trait system (unlocking through content) then I doubt they will be available for those without the expansion -unless they pay gold to unlock it- because the new traits will probably be unlocked in the expansion zones.
Also, it all depends how they implement the Specializations. If it involves some kind of story to “learn” the new skills it wouldn’t make sense to have it available to non-expansion owners because they won’t have access to the storyline.
- Specializations and Masteries will only be available to those who buy HoT, so if you want a staff on ranger, precursor hunting and an efficient dungeon build, go buy it!
Precursor hunting will use the Mastery system, and since you get Mastery points by playing in the NEW zones, those without the expansion will probably not have access to precursor hunting at all.
- And what about Guild Halls, GvG game mode, WvW map? Are they also HoT only? If so, how do you segregate people efficiently?
Guild Halls are said to be somewhere in the Jungle, so once again it all depends how you get them. Of course once a guild has a guild hall it wouldn’t make sense to prevent guild members to join it, even if they don’t have the expansion, but I’d guess you will need to do things in the expansion zones/areas to actually create it, so at least a few guild members will need the expansion to get the Guild Hall, but all will have access to it.
Whats the point of a paid expansion if they give you most of the features for free?
Its going to work the same way as diablo 3 and its expansion, the expansion files and specialization stuff will be downloaded into your game but locked for you until you pay.
(edited by Lifestealer.4910)
Whats the point of a paid expansion if they give you most of the features for free?
Its going to work the same way as diablo 3 and its expansion, the expansion files and specialization stuff will be downloaded into your game but locked for you until you pay.
This.
Necromancer Main
- Specializations and Masteries will only be available to those who buy HoT, so if you want a staff on ranger, precursor hunting and an efficient dungeon build, go buy it!
Is there any particular reason why you believe specializations will automatically translate to being an “efficient” dungeon build? It’s a specialization, not a level cap raise, a level 80 Druid won’t be more powerful than a level 80 Ranger, they’ll just be level 80 Rangers with different skills and waving staves.
That being said, unless the Druid has lots of support and boon powers, parties looking for optimized/efficient Rangers would still be asking you to bring a Frost Spirit and Spotter; if the Druid turns out to be control-heavy with weaker DPS than a GS ranger they might not even get to see the inside of a dungeon unless with a casual group – in which case it wouldn’t even matter if you’re specialized or not.
I get it if you’re new player and have not yet decided if you like the game or not.
But if you’re a veteran player I just can’t see a reason why you wouldn’t buy an expansion assuming you will to play gw2 at all.
There can be a price temporarily stopping you from getting the expansion. It’s temporary, MMO players tend to buy expansions eventually, you know.
No reason to balance around non-xp players. If you drop off, there will be couple layers lured by expansion, taking your place.
[rude]Antagonistka – Revenant, EU.
[SALT]Natchniony – Necromancer, EU.
Streams: http://www.twitch.tv/rym144
[SALT]Natchniony – Necromancer, EU.
Streams: http://www.twitch.tv/rym144
- Specializations and Masteries will only be available to those who buy HoT, so if you want a staff on ranger, precursor hunting and an efficient dungeon build, go buy it!
Is there any particular reason why you believe specializations will automatically translate to being an “efficient” dungeon build? It’s a specialization, not a level cap raise, a level 80 Druid won’t be more powerful than a level 80 Ranger, they’ll just be level 80 Rangers with different skills and waving staves.
That being said, unless the Druid has lots of support and boon powers, parties looking for optimized/efficient Rangers would still be asking you to bring a Frost Spirit and Spotter; if the Druid turns out to be control-heavy with weaker DPS than a GS ranger they might not even get to see the inside of a dungeon unless with a casual group – in which case it wouldn’t even matter if you’re specialized or not.
This ^^
The specializations won’t have better skills than the old ones. These aren’t skills that go beyond the level cap so in terms of power they should be roughly equal to current skills.
The only Specialization I’m a little bit “worried” about is the Necromancer with Greatsowrd. If it’s an actual melee POWER Weapon (Dagger isn’t the same), something that the Necromancer is lacking, maybe it will put Necromancers in the “Zerker meta”. We all know that Necromancer is the least favorite profession in speed clears, what if this GS Necro can be awesome in the speed clear meta?
i got a nasty feeling that the new mastery/specialization will be locked behind ridiculously tedious tasks that you have to do for each character.
a.net: I will not be buying gems with cash until you fix traits.
It’s not like you need to be have masteries to finish COE.
I presume people with masteries and without can play together. Or masteries is only for new areas.
i got a nasty feeling that the new mastery/specialization will be locked behind ridiculously tedious tasks that you have to do for each character.
If I recall from the livestream mastery is account bound.
I hope that ANet won’t descend to the tactics of “buy or be left behind”
That’s exactly what they will do. If you don’t buy the expansion, be ready to never again join a PUG in PvE and be forever behind in PvP.
So… if I don’t buy the expansion and the new WvW map is on in the rotation that means, I can’t play WvW for 1+x weeks?
This is how MMOs work. I think people are setting their expectations too high since Anet gave content for free in the form of Living Story. In which case, people are awaiting Anet to revamp their systems, create new expansions and introduce quality content entirely for free.
In this case, it would make far more sense for GW2 to go F2P since there is no need for the box price by this point and don’t fool yourself by going with ‘’if they make it F2P, I will ask for a refund’‘. Companies don’t refund games when they change models neither do they need to stick with the same model.
If most of the content is free, it makes no sense for anyone to buy the expansion.
Is there any particular reason why you believe specializations will automatically translate to being an “efficient” dungeon build? It’s a specialization, not a level cap raise, a level 80 Druid won’t be more powerful than a level 80 Ranger, they’ll just be level 80 Rangers with different skills and waving staves.
The main reason is that specializations and new weapons will most likely fill the profession holes – such as mesmers lacking AoE, or necros giving nothing to dungeon parties. Because it makes sense and because adding weapons which do exactly the same is pointless. Like AoE attack shield mesmer, full melee Hammer engineer, power GS necromancer. If no one ever wanted a necro in a dungeon, they might need GS necros now; a chronomesmer could actually support a party better than a guardian in certain scenarios, and so on.
That’s provided they’re actual skills, and not useless gimmicks like racial skills which got overnerfed because E-SPORTS!
i got a nasty feeling that the new mastery/specialization will be locked behind ridiculously tedious tasks that you have to do for each character.
If I recall from the livestream mastery is account bound.
Which sounds like WvW rank points.
Whats the point of a paid expansion if they give you most of the features for free?
“fullrun zerk exp ritu chrono druid sniper show skills or kick”
It’s not like you need to be have masteries to finish COE.
I presume people with masteries and without can play together. Or masteries is only for new areas.
You can complete dungeons even in Nomad’s. But who among the veterans will want to complete it with you when they can get an efficient party? Calmly AFKing waiting for a proper party for a smooth run is not that rare; at some point you agree to spend time to wait just to avoid the annoyance of playing with how-I-wants.
20 level 80s and counting.
(edited by Lishtenbird.2814)
You can complete dungeons even in Nomad’s. But who among the veterans will want to complete it with you when they can get an efficient party? Calmly AFKing waiting for a proper party for a smooth run is not that rare; at some point you agree to spend time to wait just to avoid the annoyance of playing with how-I-wants.
If that’s your attitude, then yeah, you’ll have problems. It’s not the attitude of a large portion of the population, though, as evidenced in threads on gear checks, for example. People without HoT will definitely still be able to find groups for dungeons.
First off, people are probably just over-estimating Specializations. If it’s just access to one new weapon and a few new traits and skills, who says its even any good?
If the new GM traits and Healing skills are any indication I wouldn’t worry. The healing skills are generally ignored cause they suck and the GM traits are highly gimmicky. I have not a single character with all the 5 “new” GM traits unlocked.
And missing out on one weapon is not necessarily a death sentence, plenty of different weapon sets are viable for all professions. If a group says you need a Staff as a Ranger or they wont take you, odds are you’re better off not going with those people.
Fearing that missing out on one weapon options and the option of a few more traits and skills is going to make you unable to play anymore is just silly. Than you would have to accept the idea that dungeons are currently undoable, and the new stuff is so immensely powerful everyone MUST run it or that currently there is also only 1 possible way to build a character for every pve encounter ever. All of which is nonsense.
Moving on. This is not a new practice in mmo’s. More often than not if an expansion comes out you either hop on board or you get left behind. You can argue whether or not its a good thing till your eyes pop but fact remains it’s pretty much staple to this entire genre and you should’ve expect it.
I suspect the new WvW map will be available to everyone if it’s a rotational thing, but I wouldn’t be so sure if it’s a new map entirely. Like a 4th Borderland. But if it replaces any of the old maps they cant deny it to you because they stripped out a piece of old content that you did pay for in order to fit it in.
End of the day, I don’t think players who don’t get HoT will be left unable to play GW2. WvW will move on, PvP will still have an active community playing the old conquest-mode, and old dungeons will still get run just like the loot piñata’s that are Worldbosses.
(edited by Terrahero.9358)
The main reason is that specializations and new weapons will most likely fill the profession holes – such as mesmers lacking AoE, or necros giving nothing to dungeon parties. Because it makes sense and because adding weapons which do exactly the same is pointless. Like AoE attack shield mesmer, full melee Hammer engineer, power GS necromancer. If no one ever wanted a necro in a dungeon, they might need GS necros now; a chronomesmer could actually support a party better than a guardian in certain scenarios, and so on.
That’s provided they’re actual skills, and not useless gimmicks like racial skills which got overnerfed because E-SPORTS!
That’s a fair point, but I don’t believe all of the specializations are made to fill the missing roles most desired in dungeons; they’ll be filling roles, yes, but the roles that ANet believes should be filled, which doesn’t always coincide with what players believe need to be filled.
For example: the hammer engineer looks like it will be more efficient in dungeons than vanilla engineers, but is that really true? Guardians and warriors don’t use hammers in speed runs because their associated traits are generally in toughness/vitality lines, are slow in DPS, and have knockbacks; if ANet follows this trend with hammer engineers then a vanilla engineer traited and geared with berserker stats and armed with mines/grenades would still be more efficient in dungeons.
I do agree that a power-based GS necro would have a better time than a dagger or axe necro though.
I don’t think that it is descending to a tactic to only provide a product that you have spent millions of dolars developing to those who pay for it.
I challenge anyone who feels that way to go into work on Monday and tell their employer that they have decided that they no longer expect a paycheck for their work. The company no longer needs to pay them.
I suspect the new WvW map will be available to everyone if it’s a rotational thing, but I wouldn’t be so sure if it’s a new map entirely. Like a 4th Borderland. But if it replaces any of the old maps they cant deny it to you because they stripped out a piece of old content that you did pay for in order to fit it in.
you mean like SAB? :P
a.net: I will not be buying gems with cash until you fix traits.
People with Prophesies could still play with players with Eotn, only they had to use henchmen while the others were using heros.
The new Eotn zone was not available to the people only with Prophesies.
I think it will be the same with HoT. New zone not accesable for the players whithout buying it, while specializations will be “like the heros”: a bit more efficient.
Also the new profession wont be available to people whout expansion.
People without Factions cound not go to Luxon/Kurzik Pvp maps
so the new PvP maps will be available only with expansion.
(edited by Ronah Lynda.2496)
Is there any particular reason why you believe specializations will automatically translate to being an “efficient” dungeon build? It’s a specialization, not a level cap raise, a level 80 Druid won’t be more powerful than a level 80 Ranger, they’ll just be level 80 Rangers with different skills and waving staves.
The main reason is that specializations and new weapons will most likely fill the profession holes – such as mesmers lacking AoE, or necros giving nothing to dungeon parties. Because it makes sense and because adding weapons which do exactly the same is pointless. Like AoE attack shield mesmer, full melee Hammer engineer, power GS necromancer. If no one ever wanted a necro in a dungeon, they might need GS necros now; a chronomesmer could actually support a party better than a guardian in certain scenarios, and so on.
That’s provided they’re actual skills, and not useless gimmicks like racial skills which got overnerfed because E-SPORTS!
I can understand this point, and I even said it worries me that a GS Necro might be a melee POWER build, something that necros lack atm, and might be super useful in dungeon parties. Still, it won’t change how LFG work much, “LF Warrior, Ele, Guardian, GS Necro” isn’t all that different to “LF Warrior, Ele, Guardian”.
i got a nasty feeling that the new mastery/specialization will be locked behind ridiculously tedious tasks that you have to do for each character.
If I recall from the livestream mastery is account bound.
Which sounds like WvW rank points.
Since when do you get specific WvW rank points doing specific content? Masteries will be awarded account bound, and only when you finish certain types of content. I don’t think they will allow us to farm that content, otherwise players will find the easier way to get the mastery and neglect all the other content in the expansion.
You can complete dungeons even in Nomad’s. But who among the veterans will want to complete it with you when they can get an efficient party? Calmly AFKing waiting for a proper party for a smooth run is not that rare; at some point you agree to spend time to wait just to avoid the annoyance of playing with how-I-wants.
As they already said in the livestream the masteries will affect the new content only. For example, there won’t be any “+10% more damage versus Ghosts” Mastery that will be the new requirement for AC, any kind of damage boost will only affect the mobs in HoT.
If the new GM traits and Healing skills are any indication I wouldn’t worry. The healing skills are generally ignored cause they suck and the GM traits are highly gimmicky. I have not a single character with all the 5 “new” GM traits unlocked.
So you are assuming the new skills and new mechanics to be introduced in HoT will be a failure like the healing skills, and just be ignored by everyone because they suck?
Well, that’s a way to be optimistic.
If the new GM traits and Healing skills are any indication I wouldn’t worry. The healing skills are generally ignored cause they suck and the GM traits are highly gimmicky. I have not a single character with all the 5 “new” GM traits unlocked.
So you are assuming the new skills and new mechanics to be introduced in HoT will be a failure like the healing skills, and just be ignored by everyone because they suck?
Well, that’s a way to be optimistic.
The alternative’s that they’ll be completely OP and make the base classes lackluster in comparison. There’s only extremes with ANet.
But if you’re a veteran player I just can’t see a reason why you wouldn’t buy an expansion assuming you will to play gw2 at all.
Reason why I won’t be buying an expansion if the price is too high is that I have to buy it for both my wife and I plus I was in an accident this past week.
Things that should be locked by the expansion are the new profession, the new zones, and the new zone masteries.
The moment guild halls appeared in GW1, players did not have to have Factions to go to the hall. I only had Prophecies for a month when I found Guild Wars and I had access to guild halls.
It would be a prick move by ANet to block expansionless players from the guild hall.
Matter of fact, I could almost see guilds kicking members just because they can not access the guild hall. That would be ANet adding grieving fuel to grievers.
Same for the specialties. If expansionless players can not specialize, they will get excluded from various activities. Not to mention the imbalance in Core PvP and Core WvW.
Head of the Order of the Iron Ravens [OoIR]
Lady Alexis Hawk – Main – Necromancer
Ravion Hawk – Warrior
Lady Alexis Hawk – Main – Necromancer
Ravion Hawk – Warrior
^ The masteries will be game wide so that should be included too?
What if the Rev becomes meta? Should it be included too?
And the zones will have skills, traits, etc. linked to specs/masteries, etc. So it should be included too?
By your logic it should be free for all players.
I understand the issue but we’ll have to wait and see how Anet tackles the problem. They did say they wouldn’t want to split the playerbase.
Razor xxxx (Desolation ; Off)
Bring back: ‘Gamer’ title + MAT’s!
Throw out: Hotjoin!
Bring back: ‘Gamer’ title + MAT’s!
Throw out: Hotjoin!
But if you’re a veteran player I just can’t see a reason why you wouldn’t buy an expansion assuming you will to play gw2 at all.
Reason why I won’t be buying an expansion if the price is too high is that I have to buy it for both my wife and I plus I was in an accident this past week.
Things that should be locked by the expansion are the new profession, the new zones, and the new zone masteries.
The moment guild halls appeared in GW1, players did not have to have Factions to go to the hall. I only had Prophecies for a month when I found Guild Wars and I had access to guild halls.
It would be a prick move by ANet to block expansionless players from the guild hall.
Matter of fact, I could almost see guilds kicking members just because they can not access the guild hall. That would be ANet adding grieving fuel to grievers.Same for the specialties. If expansionless players can not specialize, they will get excluded from various activities. Not to mention the imbalance in Core PvP and Core WvW.
They already said that the Guild Hall will be the MEETING PLACE for GUILDS, for Guild Missions and the new Guild Related content they are adding in the expansion. It DOESN’T MAKE any sense to block this meeting place from those without an expansion.
Here is what I think they could “lock” behind the expansion regarding the Guild Halls. Someone, or some people, in a guild need to get the expansion and build the thing, since the Guild Hall is in the jungle, it makes sense to tie it to mastery and the new content (to upgrade it etc)
However, once activated all guild members, even those that don’t have the expansion, should be able to visit the guild and use the services there.
This talks about adding those to existing content.
[TAO] Founder/Owner and Administrator for the NSP Server Website
What they have shown us so far can be categorized into three categories:
Game Mechanics
Profession Specialties
Additional Content
Revenant
PvE Zone
PvP Map
Zone Masteries
Muddy Water
Guild Halls
WvW Map
Game Mechanics should be applied across the whole game whether or not a player has the expansion due to imbalance/grieving. In order to keep PvP balance, there would have to be a check for the expansion to ensure that all players have access to Profession Specialties which would increase wait times. No need to go over the grieving part, we all know how it would happen in LFG.
Additional Content is the common locked stuff when it comes to expansions for any game. Since GW1 shows how ANet has done this in the past, we will use it. The content that was locked out for a Prophecies player was:
Assassins
Ritualists
Dervishes
Paragons
Factions Armor, Campaign Map, PvP Maps, Skills
Nightfall Armor, Heroes, Campaign Map, PvP Maps, Skills
EotN Armor, Heroes, Expansion Map, Expansion PvP Maps, Skills
A Prophecies player could still buy dropped weapons from other players and therefore equip Spears, Scythes, and Daggers.
Muddy Water covers stuff that can cause severe community rifts (Guild Halls) or severe game mode imbalance (WvW Map) if locked behind the expansion. Guild Halls should be accessible game wide to encourage guild communities. I’m personally on the fence with the WvW Map. While I will agree that it should be locked behind the expansion, I also understand the argument that it could cause severe imbalance with WvW as a whole.
In conclusion, I personally believe that Profession Specialization and Guild Halls should be implemented and unlocked as game wide without the need for the expansion.
The rest can be locked behind the expansion as traditional Additional Content. The WvW Map though is a tough call.
So, out of seven announced features/content, I only think that two should be added to the game as a whole and not locked behind an expansion wall.
Head of the Order of the Iron Ravens [OoIR]
Lady Alexis Hawk – Main – Necromancer
Ravion Hawk – Warrior
Lady Alexis Hawk – Main – Necromancer
Ravion Hawk – Warrior
I honestly dont remember but could a prophecies only player unlock other campaign skills with Balth faction and then buy with tomes ?
I honestly dont remember but could a prophecies only player unlock other campaign skills with Balth faction and then buy with tomes ?
Not that I recall, though by the time I even started doing that I already had the Whole GW1 set.
I literally bought Guild Wars w/EotN from Circuit City when it was on its last week of operation for $15. Played for about a month or two then found Factions and Nightfall at Target for $7.50 (Factions) and $10 (Nightfall). I then got my wife hooked after we met and I was able to find the full set for $20 at Wal-Mart. So neither of us would know that answer.
Head of the Order of the Iron Ravens [OoIR]
Lady Alexis Hawk – Main – Necromancer
Ravion Hawk – Warrior
Lady Alexis Hawk – Main – Necromancer
Ravion Hawk – Warrior
On a better thought.. the expansion is only boxed because the cuccrent living story episodes have not sold as intended. So the season 3 of living story plus some feature packs (guild halls, WvW map and PvP map) will all be in one huge patch behind a pay wall.
Let say the expansion will be released in august there are like 6 months. which include about 10 living stories plus some festivals (April’s fools day and Dragon bash) and from our experice so far every festival was loaded with a feature pack.
So my assumtion is the expansion is boxed becasue people wanted an expansion in a box and because the old style of living story episodes haven’t reach the estimated income profit: either for those who have not bought them becasue they havent logged in regurally and aloe for those who have not bought the specifit gem store items with real cash but with game gold. And we know there are a lot of rich players in the game already, handeling tousends of golds weekly.
(edited by Ronah Lynda.2496)
Some more info from http://www.pcgamer.com/guild-wars-2-heart-of-thorns-interview/ and other articles mentioned on reddit:
- Sounds like all maps will have their masteries.
- Hang gliding (most likely) will be limited to the new region.
- Masteries will indeed work like WvW points:
PCG: Looking at the masteries, one thing you said was that mastery points were account bound. Does it follow the World vs. World system, where you expect characters to specialise in masteries rather than trying to collect them all? So you have one character focused on a particular thing, and another maybe another?
Colin: The World vs World ability system is in some ways a template for what the masteries system provides. But I’d say the mastery system is a more advanced, more expansive system than that—built on things we’ve learned both for what we want to do with PvE, and some of the things we learned from the World vs. World system as well. And we’re actually going to make some changes to the World vs. World system to make it a little bit more like the way the masteries system is going to function.
- Specialisations will indeed fill the role holes for professions:
PCG: So philosophically, with creating these specialisations, was the idea to fill gaps a profession wouldn’t normally be equipped for?
Colin: Yeah, I think that’s a fair description. We definitely looked at each profession and asked what are some of the things that we think this profession doesn’t currently do that we’d love for them to be able to do? What role do we want to try to expand on that they can’t do, or what gameplay would be really awesome to add to this profession? In some cases, we went way outside the box to go with some stuff that I think people are going to be pretty shocked and pretty excited when they get a chance to see how some of this stuff works. It’s definitely trying to create a wider variety of roles for players in combat and with their profession. That is a big part of the specialisation system.
20 level 80s and counting.