Guild Wars 2

Thanks Matt.

Now here come the complaints that the masteries gating was removed.

THANK YOU! The gates behind level one or two masteries aren’t too bad, but this one was just too over the top.

Thank you very much!

I haven’t gotten that far yet but thanks in advance!

A little off topic, but do you know if changes to the hero points required for Elite specs is being discussed (on the table) or if it’s set in stone?

Thank you Cannot wait to continue with the story (the mastery grind for story is my only complaint about the expansion).

I’m glad that you can admit when you’re wrong, thank you.

Just wanted to comment that Heart of Thorns has been been one of the best new game experiences I’ve ever had (only a couple Zeldas from childhood and possibly Planescape: Torment stand out as more memorable at this point, though I’d almost put HoT over PST at this point…. Hopefully you guys have as good of an Act 3 plot twist up your sleeve as they did!).

I’ve not reached that far yet, but the story pacing has felt really excellent to this point. Thanks ANET, you guys really knocked this one out of the park! I hope you’re all basking in the good reviews and satisfaction of a job well done this weekend.

I’m also hoping your LS season 2 and upcoming quarterly balance patches for PvP / WvW impress me as much as this expansion has, cause it will be amazing times for GW2 this winter… Looking forward to it, thank you!!!

There is much more wrong than just this. I appreciate you posting and working in this direction, but for me this is still a disaster. I feel like I’m going through the wildstar attunement again.

Fix the Elite Specialization . I want to play my class not PvE for it.

Thank you! I nearly had it though from grinding dragonstand – which is kittening amazing.

So how are you addressing the players being able to pass through the poison fields deeper in Magus Falls, as that was the point of having this gate in the first place? Players don’t seem to understand it’s integral to the story line that you have that Mastery first…in this case I disagree with this change and will wait until I have that Mastery to continue onwards…that’s my honest opinion.

Zaklex.6308:

So how are you addressing the players being able to pass through the poison fields deeper in Magus Falls, as that was the point of having this gate in the first place? Players don’t seem to understand it’s integral to the story line that you have that Mastery first…in this case I disagree with this change and will wait until I have that Mastery to continue onwards…that’s my honest opinion.

Rytlock destroys them much earlier on…

Why can’t he do so now?

Thank you ArenaNet! This proves what I have been saying, that you are a company that listens and considers the issues the community raises. The next big one I hope you will address is the Elite Specialization unlock path. I know the argument is tired, but please consider the community’s point. As implemented you have made it so for most characters coming into HoT (including the main character for a good number of us) the Elite Specializations will be a reward for us completing Heart of Thorns. Our trait line uplock only near complete and able to make a viable build right before the end of the game. Did you design the Elite Specializations for us to earn as end-game regard or did you design the Elite Specializations for us to play HoT with them? We were led to believe we were going to be able to play HoT with our Elite Specializations so I hope you can understand why we disapointed you have taken the most exciting part of the game that is core to play mechanic changes and made it an end game award. We just want someone from ArenaNet to properly addresss the question about unlocks from this perspective.

We understand your business model. We understand the company depends on money from the gem store and if we had a gem store option to buy a scroll and unlock a random map hero point, well at least then those of us with really busy schedules would have an option other than grinding though map competition in the core game to enjoy our Elite Spec in HoT. I don’t think anyone wants full Elite Specialization unlock coming into Vertam Brink, but by time we’re done with that first map we should have the full trait line unlocked and be able to at least equipted the weapon and have a viable build going into the last two maps of the game.

We just want the option to play though Heart of Thorns with our Elite Specializations without having to go back to the core game and grind map competition. Is this unreasonable? Is there any middle ground?

Loki.4139:

Fix the Elite Specialization . I want to play my class not PvE for it.

Totally this. I bought the expac for new elite specs. Instead I got enforced BS pve grinds again and again and again for every single character.

Thank you! This will definitely improve the story pacing.

I am curious though, why the strange inconsistency, I mean had the Itzel lore gating been level 1 or 2 of the mastery track there probably wouldn’t have been any issue at all.

SamTheGuardian.2938:

Thank you ArenaNet! This proves what I have been saying, that you are a company that listens and considers the issues the community raises. The next big one I hope you will address is the Elite Specialization unlock path. I know the argument is tired, but please consider the community’s point. As implemented you have made it so for most characters coming into HoT (including the main character for a good number of us) the Elite Specializations will be a reward for us completing Heart of Thorns. Our trait line uplock only near complete and able to make a viable build right before the end of the game. Did you design the Elite Specializations for us to earn as end-game regard or did you design the Elite Specializations for us to play HoT with them? We were led to believe we were going to be able to play HoT with our Elite Specializations so I hope you can understand why we disapointed you have taken the most exciting part of the game that is core to play mechanic changes and made it an end game award. We just want someone from ArenaNet to properly addresss the question about unlocks from this perspective.

We understand your business model. We understand the company depends on money from the gem store and if we had a gem store option to buy a scroll and unlock a random map hero point, well at least then those of us with really busy schedules would have an option other than grinding though map competition in the core game to enjoy our Elite Spec in HoT. I don’t think anyone wants full Elite Specialization unlock coming into Vertam Brink, but by time we’re done with that first map we should have the full trait line unlocked and be able to at least equipted the weapon and have a viable build going into the last two maps of the game.

We just want the option to play though Heart of Thorns with our Elite Specializations without having to go back to the core game and grind map competition. Is this unreasonable? Is there any middle ground?

Well put +1

kitten … I’m only 1.5mill away now… oh well. At least I can finish the story without killing myself.

Thank God.. story gates are a pacing nightmare.

Endless Soul.5178:

Thanks Matt.

Now here come the complaints that the masteries gating was removed.

The only people who will complain are people who already grinded out the mastery. I think the rest of us will be celebrating.

Kalan.9705:

Loki.4139:

Fix the Elite Specialization . I want to play my class not PvE for it.

Totally this. I bought the expac for new elite specs. Instead I got enforced BS pve grinds again and again and again for every single character.

Also +1, having to grind for the new spec is a chore and not fun. We should be playing the new spec while we adventure in HoT. At this point, we have to explore nearly all of HoT and finish most of the content just in order to play the spec. It should never work like that.

You won’t be seeing me in “the Jungle” since I’m locked out. I’m not spending another dime on this game. I’m seriously considering deleting my account. No wonder they wanted us to pre-pay. ’Sure would not have paid for a locked portal.

AustrianBlade.9413:

You won’t be seeing me in “the Jungle” since I’m locked out. I’m not spending another dime on this game. I’m seriously considering deleting my account. No wonder they wanted us to pre-pay. ’Sure would not have paid for a locked portal.

Mail your gold and valuable items/materials to Farzo.8410

Geneticide.6987:

Thank God.. story gates are a pacing nightmare.

Endless Soul.5178:

Thanks Matt.

Now here come the complaints that the masteries gating was removed.

The only people who will complain are people who already grinded out the mastery. I think the rest of us will be celebrating.

Kalan.9705:

Loki.4139:

Fix the Elite Specialization . I want to play my class not PvE for it.

Totally this. I bought the expac for new elite specs. Instead I got enforced BS pve grinds again and again and again for every single character.

Also +1, having to grind for the new spec is a chore and not fun. We should be playing the new spec while we adventure in HoT. At this point, we have to explore nearly all of HoT and finish most of the content just in order to play the spec. It should never work like that.

I figured that the elite spec would have been unlocked as part of story. Kind of an epic way of showing character progression and incorporating elite spec into lore. Kind of the way the first game showed ascension. I haven’t played the story yet, so I don’t know if the elites are even explained in the story. Maybe they are, but it doesn’t sound like it.

However, I think it would have been a nice trade-off if it was implemented that way. You could play the story and fast track your unlock, or grind the 400 points. It gives you a choice to play your way. I think anytime a developer implements trade-offs and choice, it only makes the game stronger. Locking things away behind high value gates, doesn’t.

I have gotten this point in the story, just so you all are aware I can not progress because the 2nd clue Rox leaves behind CANT NOT BE INTERACTED WITH and the story does not update when you are stand RIGHT ON TOP OF IT.

What about the issue that prevents us from getting through 14 because we cannot interact with the tracks?

(Notice the green progress bar doesnt fill in the top right)

/secretgate :P

Where is the changes to the Elite specialization gating???

Who cares about the story gating.

Sinsko.9342:

What about the issue that prevents us from getting through 14 because we cannot interact with the tracks?

(Notice the green progress bar doesnt fill in the top right)

/secretgate :P

WORKAROUND –
1. Quit the story from your quest Journal
2. Activate a different chapter
3. Quit that chapter and reactivate 14
4. Zone out of Tangled Depths and walk back into the zone line

Then continue with Sign Cutting and it worked for me, hope it does for you too!

Er…what? There are 50 pages of complaints on that thread because you gated specialisations behind hero points for every single character we have. Not once have I heard anyone complain they couldn’t progress their story. This change solves nothing.

Many of us are happy to grind masteries as you intended as long as we can access and play around with the specialisations while we are at it.

AustrianBlade.9413:

You won’t be seeing me in “the Jungle” since I’m locked out. I’m not spending another dime on this game. I’m seriously considering deleting my account. No wonder they wanted us to pre-pay. ’Sure would not have paid for a locked portal.

Have you done the first part of the story? It unlocks the HoT zones.

I would have thought that the top priority would be to deal with the firestorm that the hero point system for elites has created. Apparently lore more important than thousands of kittened off players.

That’s good. Happy to see this.

This was literally my only problem with the expansion. Everything else is amazing! Thanks for listening guys!

I don’t normally forum at all but this is good news, the story-line block was a huge mistake past the first 2 tiers, with absolutely no way to efficiently farm for the EXP gains I honestly wish you guys would alow for other means of progressing and unlocking masteries.

A lot of us have useless stacks of Tomes of Knowledges, Writs of EXP, etc.

I myself play games on a regular basis of like 18 hours a day (Yes yes no life) but I myself see this whole grind excruciating and quite frankly “I/We ain’t got tiiiiiiiiime for dat”

Do you guys see yourself doing any sort of changes to leveling up masteries?
I mean 2-3 hours to gain one level or so is just why…

I’m happy to hear this, despite not being at that story step yet. I’m glad because I’m already getting bored to tears just getting 1 mastery level to continue the story. No offense to you guys, but for not wanting us to zerg and ‘farm’ champions and events you’re really making us do exactly that just for mastery levels since we can only level these things up here in the HoT areas.

I don’t think this is good at all, this encouraged people to actually play events, and it’s about the only mastery that really did.

buh. Why do you cave in to complainers?

Thank you so much!

Fox.3469:

I don’t think this is good at all, this forced people to actually run events over and over again, and it’s about the only mastery that really did.

Fixed

Slowpokeking.8720:

Fox.3469:

I don’t think this is good at all, this forced people to actually run events over and over again, and it’s about the only mastery that really did.

Fixed

…these events are the most amazing thing about hot, they are the best events gw2 has ever had, if you don’t like doing events, why are you playing GW2? And no it doesn’t force yyou to run them over and over, at least not if you actively participate, the kill xp is what levels your masteries the fastest.

Fox.3469:

…these events are the most amazing thing about hot, they are the best events gw2 has ever had, if you don’t like doing events, why are you playing GW2? And no it doesn’t force yyou to run them over and over, at least not if you actively participate, the kill xp is what levels your masteries the fastest.

You don’t force people to run it simply because you think it’s amazing, it’s up to their choice. Why should I spend hours and hours to grind when I just want to enjoy the story?

It does, especially the level 4 mastery require many hours to achieve.

MatthewMedina.5419:

Hey all,

I just wanted to pop in here real briefly to let you all know that the team discussed the complaints we’ve been seeing here about the masteries gating story progression, and with tomorrow’s patch we’ll be removing the Itzel Poison mastery gate from chapter 14 “Sign Cutting”. If you were already on this step, when you next log in, your story step should automatically advance as though you had earned the mastery. If you haven’t reached this point, you shouldn’t notice anything different (apart from the fact that you can progress the story faster). If you’ve already advanced past this point by earning the mastery, well there’s just no other way to say it: you’re a rock star, and you deserve an ice cold beverage and a toast from the story team at Arenanet! :-)

I don’t have an exact ETA on when this fix will go Live, but we just wanted to get the word out there ASAP so that if you’re currently on this step, you might want to wait as you will have the ability to bypass this gate sometime tomorrow.

We wanted to use mastery gating as a way to try and prepare you for the challenges ahead the deeper into the Maguuma that you went, but we realize that in this particular scenario, it ended up not being the experience we wanted for all of you and we wanted to correct it.

See you in the jungle!

THANK YOU!!!

Now just fix the Elite Spec gating and the game will be golden!!!

Slowpokeking.8720:

Fox.3469:

…these events are the most amazing thing about hot, they are the best events gw2 has ever had, if you don’t like doing events, why are you playing GW2? And no it doesn’t force yyou to run them over and over, at least not if you actively participate, the kill xp is what levels your masteries the fastest.

You don’t force people to run it simply because you think it’s amazing, it’s up to their choice. Why should I spend hours and hours to grind when I just want to enjoy the story?

It does, especially the level 4 mastery require many hours to achieve.

Because the events are as much part of the story as the kitten personal story is, it’s really naive to say “i just want to enjoy the story” when you are actively ignoring 90% of this game’s story.

I can get the QQ about elite specs, i don’t agree with it but i can get it, however the QQ about the story it utter bullkitten. If you want to play the story then play the story, events are part of this story.

And yet there is still no update on Elite Specs and Hero Points.

So much for this being a GRIND FREE game.

Fox.3469:

Because the events are as much part of the story as the kitten personal story is, it’s really naive to say “i just want to enjoy the story” when you are actively ignoring 90% of this game’s story.

I can get the QQ about elite specs, i don’t agree with it but i can get it, however the QQ about the story it utter bullkitten. If you want to play the story then play the story, events are part of this story.

No, it’s a different line and you don’t want to do it over and over again.

Again it’s up to player’s choices, if they want to do it they will do it, it’s not wise to force them to do it for so long(level 4 mastery) when they wanted to enjoy other stuff.

nikdik.1934:

And yet there is still no update on Elite Specs and Hero Points.

So much for this being a GRIND FREE game.

I think the Elite Spec require bigger change to work, so they need more time.

Slowpokeking.8720:

nikdik.1934:

And yet there is still no update on Elite Specs and Hero Points.

So much for this being a GRIND FREE game.

I think the Elite Spec require bigger change to work, so they need more time.

It takes 15 or fewer seconds to type, “We understand that Elite specialization progression is terrible. We’ll change it.”

runeblade.7514:

Slowpokeking.8720:

nikdik.1934:

And yet there is still no update on Elite Specs and Hero Points.

So much for this being a GRIND FREE game.

I think the Elite Spec require bigger change to work, so they need more time.

It takes 15 or fewer seconds to type, “We understand that Elite specialization progression is terrible. We’ll change it.”

Or “Entitlement is not becoming of anyone. Earn it or visit the Apple Store for a massive selection of casual games for people without motivation.”

Allisa Wonderland.8192:

runeblade.7514:

Slowpokeking.8720:

nikdik.1934:

And yet there is still no update on Elite Specs and Hero Points.

So much for this being a GRIND FREE game.

I think the Elite Spec require bigger change to work, so they need more time.

It takes 15 or fewer seconds to type, “We understand that Elite specialization progression is terrible. We’ll change it.”

Or “Entitlement is not becoming of anyone. Earn it or visit the Apple Store for a massive selection of casual games for people without motivation.”

Why does every grind apologist always have to resort to strawmen?

Because they don’t actually have a real argument?

Thanks for this, as I’m currently gated by a mastery I haven’t earned yet. Too bad as I was enjoying the personal story too. I was alternating between personal stories and map objectives, it was working out ok until I got gated.

It’s time to re-think gating elite specs also. I can stomach how masteries are done mainly because it’s account based so once I get one unlocked, I know I have it unlocked for all characters. But elite specs is just too much of a grind. I really wanted to play the elite specs in the new expansion content, but as of right now, 50% into Reaper, I can’t even play him because I don’t have access to necessities and proper build specs. This method does not work and makes no sense.

There needs to be a way where we can unlock the elite specs fully so once unlocked, we can play them with all their skills, elites, and spec builds. The unlock should’ve happened at the very beginning of HoT content, like after going through the initial story line. The way it’s going, by the time I fully unlock my Reaper, I would be too far into HoT and I likely won’t want to touch the content again. Makes it bad for replayability as right now I’m not planning to run another alt through hero point grinds.

Can’t you just let us enjoy HoT? Judging by the dev’s post and your decision to change story gating, it sounds like you get it. So please get it with regards to elite spec hero point grinds. Do it soon before people give up playing, or before too many on the fence people get turned off by the negative feedback they’re seeing on the forums.