Guild Wars 2

( disclaimer: really sorry if the topic is already brought up in another thread and i’m just piling it up)

So yup it’s confirmed that the BL key reward is now awarded after finishing the lvl 20 story mission batch (which you can only acces it if you are lvl 20 yourself) Keyfarming is dead, all hail the gemstore.

So, uhm… What was the point of this topic? Did you want to discuss its death, or…?

It was to be expected. Keys are a source of revenue for ArenaNet, so it makes perfect sense that they would want to find a way to prevent you from getting too many of them “for free” as that means less of them are being bought with cash.

Wait, keys are now locked until level 20? Looks like we now have a use for those dozens of level 20 scrolls now huh? :P

pdavis.8031:

Wait, keys are now locked until level 20? Looks like we now have a use for those dozens of level 20 scrolls now huh? :P

lol

Just lol

Elsdragon.5109:

pdavis.8031:

Wait, keys are now locked until level 20? Looks like we now have a use for those dozens of level 20 scrolls now huh? :P

lol

Just lol

Ok maybe not dozens of experience scrolls….but experience tomes are fairly easy to come by….And it’s just a matter of times before someone comes up with a way to be able to farm this.

That was genuine amusement on my end, pdavis. Not sure if that was meant to be funny, so yeah. xD

Elsdragon.5109:

So, uhm… What was the point of this topic? Did you want to discuss its death, or…?

well seems no one made a topic on the subject and i wanted to spread the news so…here we are.

Key farming was an unintended consequence. It wasn’t a feature. I’m glad Anet is changing it.

I’ll miss it, guess I’ll be mapping the cities over and over again :/

Well, I don’t do Keyfarming myself, and have less incentive to do so after the patch, but you could probably still do it in a less efficient fashion I take it.

Elsdragon.5109:

That was genuine amusement on my end, pdavis. Not sure if that was meant to be funny, so yeah. xD

Hehehe Yeah was trying to be funny. Glad it made you laugh!

As long as we all have access to fair equipment, they’re going to put every endgame stuff such as skins in the GemStore. Quite sad, there are already a kittening kittening kitten bunch of skins blocked by cash shop. I could understand the clothes, but now… plenty of weapons already.

Taygus.4571:

I’ll miss it, guess I’ll be mapping the cities over and over again :/

I’ve only ever gotten transmute charges from city mapping o.o Unless that’s what you’re after >_>

Yeah. Funny, or should I say the sad thing is that they.. or well the monetize people in fact think this will increase there key sales a lot.

They look at the numbers.. oow many people farm for keys, lets make that impossible and then many of them will buy. However in truth they won’t and those people tent to not understand games so much. They are to focused on making people buy stuff.

So all they end up doing is in this case removing an element of the game many people like.

It’s the sort of thing you so in cash-shop games that do not do much good for the games.

Question is.. are the monetize people also still believable after it turned out this did not increase key sales? Sad thing is that probably they are indeed still seen as professionals and can go on with making other bad decisions.

It also means that in the blog they basically lied when saying the rewards would be better. I think many people will see this as lesser rewards, not better.

Devata.6589:

Yeah. Funny, or should I say the sad thing is that they.. or well the monetize people in fact think this will increase there key sales a lot.

They look at the numbers.. oow many people farm for keys, lets make that impossible and then many of them will buy. However in truth they won’t and those people tent to not understand games so much. They are to focused on making people buy stuff.

So all they end up doing is in this case removing an element of the game many people like.

It’s the sort of thing you so in cash-shop games that do not do much good for the games.

Question is.. are the monetize people also still believable after it turned out this did not increase key sales? Sad thing is that probably they are indeed still seen as professionals and can go on with making other bad decisions.

It also means that in the blog they basically lied when saying the rewards would be better. I think many people will see this as lesser rewards, not better.

Hasn’t worked out to well for the record companies thus far, just saying.

My only problem is I don’t want to be forced to rely on the RNG in order to have these nice skins. If push comes to shove though, I’ll just not even bother with them at all.

I never did key farm, but I did like to buy the occasional skin off the TP, and if this change places any of these skins out of reach of the average player it is a kitten poor decision on ANets part IMO.

mtpelion.4562:

It was to be expected. Keys are a source of revenue for ArenaNet, so it makes perfect sense that they would want to find a way to prevent you from getting too many of them “for free” as that means less of them are being bought with cash.

Well, to be fair, it’s not always about money, as there does seem to be a bit of a Hobby Lobby-esque air about some things, and healthy and appropriate can trump money, under the right pressures from quiet letter writing campaigns.

Key farming was a bit of an odd thing if you sit down and think about it. It was never really fun or even dynamic it was just there as a time waster for a lot of ppl. I am kind of happy to see it go it will make room for a real key system that lets ppl work for it and not just spam the same thing over and over like you would see in a grind game.

Key farming now makes getting skins that much harder and more expensive. People won’t be buying more keys but less once they realize you can open 20 boxes and only get a scrap.

Really disappointed that any of the Chinese changes are coming into our game. The leveling, the story, the ugly backpeices. They all made me feel sorry for the Chinese. Thankfully we won’t get the VIP system. I’m out, if that is ever implemented.

DaShi.1368:

Really disappointed that any of the Chinese changes are coming into our game. The leveling, the story, the ugly backpeices. They all made me feel sorry for the Chinese. Thankfully we won’t get the VIP system. I’m out, if that is ever implemented.

What’s funny is didn’t Anet come and tell us we wouldn’t get the China stuff? Now here we are.

Imo ANet truly needs to take tickets and scraps out of the black lion chests and either put the weapon skins directly on sale in the gem store or sell the tickets directly to get the skins from the vendor.

Once key farming is ended and the majority of weapon skins are from buying keys, I’m expecting each weapon to cost several hundred gold each, around 400 to 500 gold.

Oh here’s an idea… the weapons tickets could be actuall GOOD DROPS in the world. You know… like actual awesome loot that you might be excited to get once in a blue moon…… naaaahhh…. that wouldn’t be fun.

/endsarcasm

Sunshine.4680:

DaShi.1368:

Really disappointed that any of the Chinese changes are coming into our game. The leveling, the story, the ugly backpeices. They all made me feel sorry for the Chinese. Thankfully we won’t get the VIP system. I’m out, if that is ever implemented.

What’s funny is didn’t Anet come and tell us we wouldn’t get the China stuff? Now here we are.

Arenanet announced the future implementation of the Chinese tutorial and leveling system already in July last year. There was enough time to prepare yourself for it.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/looking-ahead-guild-wars-2-in-2013/

Belenwyn.8674:

Sunshine.4680:

DaShi.1368:

Really disappointed that any of the Chinese changes are coming into our game. The leveling, the story, the ugly backpeices. They all made me feel sorry for the Chinese. Thankfully we won’t get the VIP system. I’m out, if that is ever implemented.

What’s funny is didn’t Anet come and tell us we wouldn’t get the China stuff? Now here we are.

Arenanet announced the future implementation of the Chinese tutorial and leveling system already in July last year. There was enough time to prepare yourself for it.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/looking-ahead-guild-wars-2-in-2013/

When the announcement of GW going to China happened and the whole pay for monthly service thing came up Anet said that NA/EU wouldn’t get a lot of the same stuff China did.

ozmaniandevil.6805:

Oh here’s an idea… the weapons tickets could be actuall GOOD DROPS in the world. You know… like actual awesome loot that you might be excited to get once in a blue moon…… naaaahhh…. that wouldn’t be fun.

/endsarcasm

Completely agree or well… maybe not completely because it would make the keys just another currency. Better would be if the weapons them-self dropped in the world and then behind specific content so you can work towards them. Not some extremely rare random world drop.

But I guess we are at the same page.

Now that would be really fun. Didn’t they say something about how this game would be designed with ‘fun’ as main goal.

I also hope they make some other way of getting the Black Lion skins. I still haven’t been able to get a legendary. To have several other sets of skins be priced out of my range now would be awful.

Sunshine.4680:

When the announcement of GW going to China happened and the whole pay for monthly service thing came up Anet said that NA/EU wouldn’t get a lot of the same stuff China did.

We did not get the title system and dyes are still not tied to gems via identifiers. There are several things that stay at GW2 China exclusively.

Belenwyn.8674:

Sunshine.4680:

When the announcement of GW going to China happened and the whole pay for monthly service thing came up Anet said that NA/EU wouldn’t get a lot of the same stuff China did.

We did not get the title system and dyes are still not tied to gems via identifiers. There are several things that stay at GW2 China exclusively.

They should keep their leveling and trait system too.

Belenwyn.8674:

Sunshine.4680:

DaShi.1368:

Really disappointed that any of the Chinese changes are coming into our game. The leveling, the story, the ugly backpeices. They all made me feel sorry for the Chinese. Thankfully we won’t get the VIP system. I’m out, if that is ever implemented.

What’s funny is didn’t Anet come and tell us we wouldn’t get the China stuff? Now here we are.

Arenanet announced the future implementation of the Chinese tutorial and leveling system already in July last year. There was enough time to prepare yourself for it.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/looking-ahead-guild-wars-2-in-2013/

They also mention crafting precursors, new legendaries and the returning festivals section has a picture of SAB in that article.

EDIT – to clarify; that is meant as unreliability of the article due to things being subject to change as development continues.

It sounds like you still get a key at level 10.
“EDIT: I actually was WRONG! You STILL get the key at level 10!!!?” um… no ideal how to quote this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6N8v43D1H0

Still a weird system to give you a key for redoing level 1 to 10 over and over for keys there needs to be a work to get a key kind of like how spvp rewards are but for pve or even wvw setting any why not a spvp version too. Once a day seems good enofe if you ask me getting 10 keys a day in about 5hr sounds bad.

Added note not the video i am linking its just where he made an fix to something he said in the comments.

nexxe.7081:

Key farming was an unintended consequence. It wasn’t a feature. I’m glad Anet is changing it.

The ignorance of many players is astounding. If you don’t key farm that’s your choice. Farmers supply those lovely skins you get to buy cheaply.

Keep applauding the Chinafication of GW2 I’ll pass.

Key farming would have gone away if keys actually dropped while playing the game the way it was supposed to be played.

SRoode.7318:

Key farming would have gone away if keys actually dropped while playing the game the way it was supposed to be played.

As they once did before tickets and scraps were added.

The author has updated his video (via Comments) that the key is still awarded at Level 10, but I suppose we’ll find out for sure one way or the other tomorrow.

Personally I would hate to see keyfarming removed, although I would understand their reasoning if they did so — but it’s one of the things I enjoy doing from time to time. I enjoy all types of grinding/farming to be honest.

Behellagh.1468:

SRoode.7318:

Key farming would have gone away if keys actually dropped while playing the game the way it was supposed to be played.

As they once did before tickets and scraps were added.

Ya right? I remember those days so fondly…..mmmmmmm.

Glad to hear the keys still drop at Level 10! I never finished my key farm before Levels 11-14 anyway, so it will still be fun for me. =)

That poor cow will now be able to breath between two meal

mtpelion.4562:

It was to be expected. Keys are a source of revenue for ArenaNet, so it makes perfect sense that they would want to find a way to prevent you from getting too many of them “for free” as that means less of them are being bought with cash.

Except keys are still a terrible purchase.

Sunshine.4680:

Belenwyn.8674:

Sunshine.4680:

DaShi.1368:

Really disappointed that any of the Chinese changes are coming into our game. The leveling, the story, the ugly backpeices. They all made me feel sorry for the Chinese. Thankfully we won’t get the VIP system. I’m out, if that is ever implemented.

What’s funny is didn’t Anet come and tell us we wouldn’t get the China stuff? Now here we are.

Arenanet announced the future implementation of the Chinese tutorial and leveling system already in July last year. There was enough time to prepare yourself for it.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/looking-ahead-guild-wars-2-in-2013/

When the announcement of GW going to China happened and the whole pay for monthly service thing came up Anet said that NA/EU wouldn’t get a lot of the same stuff China did.

Obviously they said that. People don’t want to think they are playing second fiddle to Chinese players, but it should be obvious with Arenanets stance that they want to focus on attracting new players that they are going to put more focus on new markets.

My guess is that the initial purchase accounts for a very big percentage of the average players lifetime investment in the game and they find new players are more likely to buy gems. So the current community takes the backburner.

If Anet didn’t put so much crap in the black lion chests, people would buy more keys.

Aidenwolf.5964:

nexxe.7081:

Key farming was an unintended consequence. It wasn’t a feature. I’m glad Anet is changing it.

The ignorance of many players is astounding. If you don’t key farm that’s your choice. Farmers supply those lovely skins you get to buy cheaply.

Keep applauding the Chinafication of GW2 I’ll pass.

Did you ever stop to think that maybe Anet will be forced to change how keys are acquired now? If there are very few keys being bought now because of this change, they will be forced to change their tactic on selling them or making them more available by other means, or perhaps getting rid of them altogether. The current system keeps the keys in place that isn’t even a viable alternative, as to how the game should be played. Again, it was an unintended consequence that was unforeseen.

nexxe.7081:

Aidenwolf.5964:

nexxe.7081:

Key farming was an unintended consequence. It wasn’t a feature. I’m glad Anet is changing it.

The ignorance of many players is astounding. If you don’t key farm that’s your choice. Farmers supply those lovely skins you get to buy cheaply.

Keep applauding the Chinafication of GW2 I’ll pass.

Did you ever stop to think that maybe Anet will be forced to change how keys are acquired now? If there are very few keys being bought now because of this change, they will be forced to change their tactic on selling them or making them more available by other means, or perhaps getting rid of them altogether. The current system keeps the keys in place that isn’t even a viable alternative, as to how the game should be played. Again, it was an unintended consequence that was unforeseen.

Or perhaps the same number of keys will continue to be bought by the people who bought before this.

Key farmers as a group probably didn’t buy key then and won’t buy keys now. There is no real evidence that there will be a net change in the numbers of keys bought after the patch.

If players can’t discern the difference between a game feature/mechanic being reworked like the tutorial, TP or leveling system from a monetization feature for China in the Gem Shop then critical thinking has left the building.

China was ANet’s chance to revisit certain aspects of the game design. Even the PoI video on the new TP said that the Chinese one was built using these tools and they’ve been waiting to port it here. These are technical and game mechanic issues they are modifying and bringing over and that’s it.

Their statement on China was about the types of offerings that were in their Gem Shop during development.

Zanshin.5379:

If Anet didn’t put so much crap in the black lion chests, people would buy more keys.

Tickets were added because players weren’t buying them. They always were Gem Shop grab bags. Just now they occasionally have a part of a wining lottery ticket.

SRoode.7318:

Key farming would have gone away if keys actually dropped while playing the game the way it was supposed to be played.

This! A friend and I farm keys for giggles usually about once or twice a week, about two or three runs. Its not unfun, and has allowed us the opportunity to collect scraps to buy a skin or two if we so desire for our characters, or to sell for extra gold, or to gift a friend.

It was in no way harmful to us, or anyone else. Would we buy keys with gems? Absolutely not. The prizes from the chests are not good or reliable enough to be worth ‘real’ money.

Is this the end of key farming? Maybe not. We were already in conference tonight having read this post, plotting how we would game the new system to get keys.

I would rather see keys drop in the world at a rate less than chests. Maybe from various world events or something else. That seems reasonable, and fun to me. If Anet didn’t want us to play the game like how we have been farming keys, they should have been giving us keys from our normal dragon slaying, event farming play.

SRoode.7318:

Key farming would have gone away if keys actually dropped while playing the game the way it was supposed to be played.

Black Lion Keys do drop in game from random mobs, but the probability is so tiny that it’s almost non-existent. I’ve been playing regularly since early launch, and I’ve gotten about 4 keys from random mobs over that span. Outside of precursors, they seem to have one of the lowest drop rates of any item.

If ANet would increase the BLK drop rate to a reasonable level (for example, maybe half the rate that black lion chests drop), it would probably help quash a lot of the angst over key farming getting nerfed.

Kalendraf.9521:

SRoode.7318:

Key farming would have gone away if keys actually dropped while playing the game the way it was supposed to be played.

Black Lion Keys do drop in game from random mobs, but the probability is so tiny that it’s almost non-existent. I’ve been playing regularly since early launch, and I’ve gotten about 4 keys from random mobs over that span. Outside of precursors, they seem to have one of the lowest drop rates of any item.

If ANet would increase the BLK drop rate to a reasonable level (for example, maybe half the rate that black lion chests drop), it would probably help quash a lot of the angst over key farming getting nerfed.

Black lion keys are probably a pretty good moneymaker for ANet. Tolerating key farming is one thing, as key farmers probably wouldn’t have bought keys anyway. Giving keys away to all, including to the people who will pay for keys, is another thing entirely. Giving keys away cuts into their profit in a way that key farming doesn’t.

They said keyfarming was alright. Why change it now? This is horsekitten.
Way to be inconsistent as always.

Windu The Forbidden One.6045:

They said keyfarming was alright. Why change it now? This is horsekitten.
Way to be inconsistent as always.

It was all right.
Now it is still all right but more time consuming.

Nothing is inconsistent here, just unpleasant for those who farm.