Guild Wars 2

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/claim-your-spot-in-the-next-heart-of-thorns-closed-beta/

I hope the RNG on these isn’t too terrible.

Rather interesting way to get into beta as well.
And a rather good way to guarantee that people in the beta are actual active players.

I thought it was a brilliant idea. Of course, the lag… the laaagggg!!!!

LOL

Next beta event will test how good servers can handle thousands of people pressing 1?

Now Anet this is how you hype people up and yet its another innovative thing you are doing in the MMO culture and I SALUTE you for that sirs and madams.

They will make it so you will have a better chance of getting a precursor drop for every legendary before u get a portal. This is because something will go wrong and the portals will only drop for devs .

If I participated in the last beta and still have that beta character staring me in the face on my character select screen, will I also need one of these portal devices?

Is this drawing an entirely new pool of players or adding on to the existing testers?

lordkrall.7241:

Rather interesting way to get into beta as well.

Hah! Did grinding become a “rather interesting way” to get something now? Because it’s fairly obvious that people who grind those two zones are more likely to get invites than anyone else.

It speaks rather poorly of the expansion, if just to access beta we’re expected to grind old content. I can’t help but wonder if the expansion will basically be a massive grind fest, and that’s why ArenaNet wants grinders to beta test it.

Not sure what to think of handing out invites based on a grind-fest.

I just hope this won’t be along the lines of the carapace armor boxes from Vinewrath…

Satenia.9025:

Not sure what to think of handing out invites based on a grind-fest.

I just hope this won’t be along the lines of the carapace armor boxes from Vinewrath…

What makes you so sure it will be a “grind-fest”? And how is it different from signing up on a list? At least this way they guarantee that the people that get selected actually plays the game.

What is that armor?

Guys?

My husband and I were invited and played the March Beta, now our char slot is still there, will be be able to take part in this one or re-sign-up?

lordkrall.7241:

Rather interesting way to get into beta as well.
And a rather good way to guarantee that people in the beta are actual active players.

Totally agree, gj anet, this makes things rather interesting.

TheRandomGuy.7246:

Next beta event will test how good servers can handle thousands of people pressing 1?

I dont know many people who press 1. Its an amusing accusation, but I rarely see it happen myself.

ZudetGambeous.9573:

What is that armor?

Datamining seems to imply that its name is “Mistward Armor”, but it’s one of the new sets that will be in HoT

Jaymee.1560:

Guys?

My husband and I were invited and played the March Beta, now our char slot is still there, will be be able to take part in this one or re-sign-up?

https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/91220997

This invitation is for this Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns testing event only. This does not guarantee access to future events.

lordkrall.7241:

At least this way they guarantee that the people that get selected actually plays the game.

Correction: that people that get selected grind the game.

That could be HoT’s new slogan: “Only grinders need to apply!”

A big step away from the “We don’t want players to grind” mentality, but I guess that ship has sailed a long time ago.

lordkrall.7241:

What makes you so sure it will be a “grind-fest”? And how is it different from signing up on a list? At least this way they guarantee that the people that get selected actually plays the game.

Looking at how “rare” drops are being handled during festive events or in BLC’s leaves me with no other conclusion. Not sure what you are expecting other than trains of players all trying to tag the mobs for the few seconds they’ll be alive (if at all). Compared to that, signing up on a list is actually fun.

Lastly, farming two maps is a rather poor representation of “actually playing the game”. If these drops were world-wide, I’d agree with you, but like this it just favours players with a lot of spare time and/or luck.

ZudetGambeous.9573:

What is that armor?

That’s the new Revenant armor.

I don’t see SW as a “grind,” myself, because I can vary what I do there. I can bull escort or fort defend, help with wall repair, tag into veteran fights, dig up a chest or two, then there’s Breach and VW and Labyrinth, each of which have a few variations if I want.

And then I have a million loots. Though unless this portal key thing drops in the bags from those loots, inventory management may change from the cool-down chill-out-in-camp period to omg-I’m-wasting-portal-finding-time. I’ll see!

And yet signing up on a list can basically mean that someone that have not logged into the game for years (or ever for that matter) get access to a beta.

Requiring stuff from an actual in-game activity does mean that only people that at least have the game installed (and actually have an interest in it) will be invited to the beta.

So you want the portal that takes you into the Heart of Thorns to drop in locations that are nowhere close or related to the Heart of Thorns?

If you were in the previous beta do you still need to find this item?

Nilix.2170:

So you want the portal that takes you into the Heart of Thorns to drop in locations that are nowhere close or related to the Heart of Thorns?

How do you figure that? HoT is in maguuma. Drytop and Silverwastes are in Maguuma. So… ?

Satenia.9025:

lordkrall.7241:

What makes you so sure it will be a “grind-fest”? And how is it different from signing up on a list? At least this way they guarantee that the people that get selected actually plays the game.

Looking at how “rare” drops are being handled during festive events or in BLC’s leaves me with no other conclusion. Not sure what you are expecting other than trains of players all trying to tag the mobs for the few seconds they’ll be alive (if at all). Compared to that, signing up on a list is actually fun.

Lastly, farming two maps is a rather poor representation of “actually playing the game”. If these drops were world-wide, I’d agree with you, but like this it just favours players with a lot of spare time and/or luck.

Those to maps are level 80 and a closer representation of the type of content/gameplay that will be encountered in HoT, compared to like a starter zone. This helps ensure that those that play the beta will understand the base-mechanics of the game. They probably could have included a few more high level maps and accomplished the same results, but I get their reasoning behind it.

Also notice that they have this spanning two days. I forsee them looking at the total number of players who received a portal after the first day and either increasing the drop rate if they are not near the numbers they want yet or decreasing the drop rate if they are close.

Morfedel.4165:

Nilix.2170:

So you want the portal that takes you into the Heart of Thorns to drop in locations that are nowhere close or related to the Heart of Thorns?

How do you figure that? HoT is in maguuma. Drytop and Silverwastes are in Maguuma. So… ?

I believe he was responding to the guy that said it should be across the entire map.

Is magic find gonna help us find the portal at a faster rate or nah?Completely rng?

Nabrok.9023:

If you were in the previous beta do you still need to find this item?

From the FAQ on the pervious beta.

https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/91220997

This invitation is for this Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns testing event only. This does not guarantee access to future events.

Morfedel.4165:

Nilix.2170:

So you want the portal that takes you into the Heart of Thorns to drop in locations that are nowhere close or related to the Heart of Thorns?

How do you figure that? HoT is in maguuma. Drytop and Silverwastes are in Maguuma. So… ?

The question was more directed to the person suggesting that the portal drop would probably be better as a game-wide added thing. I mean, in terms of absolutely everything, the decision to do it this way looks to be more of a lore-choice than anything. It’s an object that appears to active players who are closest to the new content. If a “portal” drops in the middle of my Caudecus Manor run, sweet! That’s cool, I guess. It just… doesn’t make as much sense. Why is this portal item in my dungeon run?

Nilix.2170:

Morfedel.4165:

Nilix.2170:

So you want the portal that takes you into the Heart of Thorns to drop in locations that are nowhere close or related to the Heart of Thorns?

How do you figure that? HoT is in maguuma. Drytop and Silverwastes are in Maguuma. So… ?

The question was more directed to the person suggesting that the portal drop would probably be better as a game-wide added thing. I mean, in terms of absolutely everything, the decision to do it this way looks to be more of a lore-choice than anything. It’s an object that appears to active players who are closest to the new content. If a “portal” drops in the middle of my Caudecus Manor run, sweet! That’s cool, I guess. It just… doesn’t make as much sense. Why is this portal item in my dungeon run?

Why it would be better to have them drop anywhere? Well because you don’t want a small subset of players to only do your testing, you want a wide variety of players. I Consider this move to be a bad business move to be honest.

Anet has this inane fear that not funneling players into specific content is bad, because that is eaxctly what they keep doing, funneling players into specific content.

This isn’t a great way to get into beta, but it’s better than just signing up. Can’t wait to farm the kitten out of SW even more.

Test.8734:

lordkrall.7241:

At least this way they guarantee that the people that get selected actually plays the game.

Correction: that people that get selected grind the game.

That could be HoT’s new slogan: “Only grinders need to apply!”

A big step away from the “We don’t want players to grind” mentality, but I guess that ship has sailed a long time ago.

Bit of a slippery slope argument you got there.

How do you think they should have done it then? Preorder beta access? Mail list RNG?

Conner.4702:

Why it would be better to have them drop anywhere? Well because you don’t want a small subset of players to only do your testing, you want a wide variety of players. I Consider this move to be a bad business move to be honest.

Anet has this inane fear that not funneling players into specific content is bad, because that is eaxctly what they keep doing, funneling players into specific content.

All HoT areas will be max level. Therefore it makes sense to target people that are in max leveled areas when it comes to testing.

Conner.4702:

Nilix.2170:

Morfedel.4165:

Nilix.2170:

So you want the portal that takes you into the Heart of Thorns to drop in locations that are nowhere close or related to the Heart of Thorns?

How do you figure that? HoT is in maguuma. Drytop and Silverwastes are in Maguuma. So… ?

The question was more directed to the person suggesting that the portal drop would probably be better as a game-wide added thing. I mean, in terms of absolutely everything, the decision to do it this way looks to be more of a lore-choice than anything. It’s an object that appears to active players who are closest to the new content. If a “portal” drops in the middle of my Caudecus Manor run, sweet! That’s cool, I guess. It just… doesn’t make as much sense. Why is this portal item in my dungeon run?

Why it would be better to have them drop anywhere? Well because you don’t want a small subset of players to only do your testing, you want a wide variety of players. I Consider this move to be a bad business move to be honest.

Anet has this inane fear that not funneling players into specific content is bad, because that is eaxctly what they keep doing, funneling players into specific content.

PvE is a small subset? I think you’re forcing your perceived intent into this. This isn’t a business move. They aren’t making money from you farming in the Silverwastes and I don’t think they have any financial reason to keep you in a certain spot of the map beyond your natural desire to be there for X thing. Proximity and active play just makes a lot more sense.

- How do we make sure that people playing the game now are the ones getting access into Beta and tie it into the game?
- Make it an item drop that they have to get.
- There is a place opening up in the Magumma Wastes.
- An item that you can get in the Maguuma Wastes will provide you with access to it.

If you want your dungeon tokens, go play dungeons. If you want your PvP rewards, go play PvP. If you want to dive into the Mad King’s realm, stay within the L1-15 areas. If you want to get into the beta, go to the Maguuma Wastes and find your portal object. You want to talk “business moves”? They can open up preorders RIGHT NOW and access to beta will be determined by that.

Silvercyclone.1462:

They will make it so you will have a better chance of getting a precursor drop for every legendary before u get a portal..

My feeling as well XD

Test.8734:

It speaks rather poorly of the expansion, if just to access beta we’re expected to grind old content. I can’t help but wonder if the expansion will basically be a massive grind fest, and that’s why ArenaNet wants grinders to beta test it.

I don’t see the causality, maybe you’re reading into things?

Satenia.9025:

I just hope this won’t be along the lines of the carapace armor boxes from Vinewrath…

So I’m going to get an invite the first time I kill a mob? Awesome.

I think it is a good idea. This allows current players a chance at the beta. It elevates players who troll the forums, with agenda filled negativity, who do not actually play the game, from getting in by simply adding their name to a list, through a simple application.

Predicted 5 years ago:

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Beta_key_hunt

I have to say what an awesome way to go about closed beta access. Although i’ll probably be pulling my hair out because of the low drop rate. Haha

shame the drop isn’t world wide I’d like to take part in the beta’s just like I did before release of GuildWars 2 but I’m not going to grind area’s I am bored of for a chance of a drop.

Why not let every active player play how they want to and still have a chance of gaining access to the beta?

I doubt this thing will have anything on the elusive Mini Gwynefyrdd

such a low drop rate… i bet several people will have it within an hour of the update/initial addition of the item

Ready for Tier 1 Lab fail for 24 hours since everyone will be farming during Time Out.

But I am totally for this method. Good luck everyone!

guess everyone forgot about DT. Haze will probably be a very popular guy since so many mobs show up near him.

Conner.4702:

Nilix.2170:

Morfedel.4165:

Nilix.2170:

So you want the portal that takes you into the Heart of Thorns to drop in locations that are nowhere close or related to the Heart of Thorns?

How do you figure that? HoT is in maguuma. Drytop and Silverwastes are in Maguuma. So… ?

The question was more directed to the person suggesting that the portal drop would probably be better as a game-wide added thing. I mean, in terms of absolutely everything, the decision to do it this way looks to be more of a lore-choice than anything. It’s an object that appears to active players who are closest to the new content. If a “portal” drops in the middle of my Caudecus Manor run, sweet! That’s cool, I guess. It just… doesn’t make as much sense. Why is this portal item in my dungeon run?

Why it would be better to have them drop anywhere? Well because you don’t want a small subset of players to only do your testing, you want a wide variety of players. I Consider this move to be a bad business move to be honest.

Anet has this inane fear that not funneling players into specific content is bad, because that is eaxctly what they keep doing, funneling players into specific content.

The subset of players you want for a beta is completely dependent on what you want to test. For all we know this is the perfect way for anet to get the groups of testers they need for this test.

Also, it’s not like they didn’t announce it before hand. People who don’t normally play those areas have been alerted so they can temporarily change their routine for 2 days in hopes of getting an invite.

Nilix.2170:

Morfedel.4165:

Nilix.2170:

So you want the portal that takes you into the Heart of Thorns to drop in locations that are nowhere close or related to the Heart of Thorns?

How do you figure that? HoT is in maguuma. Drytop and Silverwastes are in Maguuma. So… ?

The question was more directed to the person suggesting that the portal drop would probably be better as a game-wide added thing. I mean, in terms of absolutely everything, the decision to do it this way looks to be more of a lore-choice than anything. It’s an object that appears to active players who are closest to the new content. If a “portal” drops in the middle of my Caudecus Manor run, sweet! That’s cool, I guess. It just… doesn’t make as much sense. Why is this portal item in my dungeon run?

Ah sorry, my bad.

Morfedel.4165:

TheRandomGuy.7246:

Next beta event will test how good servers can handle thousands of people pressing 1?

I dont know many people who press 1. Its an amusing accusation, but I rarely see it happen myself.

You don’t have to press 1 more than once. Just let the auto attack function have a chance to do it’s job.

I see some reference to this opportunity to obtain a Portal being two day in length. I’ve not seen any official mention of that. Was it on Twitter or something? Does someone have a link?

Thanks in advance. =)

Does anyone know if this is in the game yet as of reset?
If not, what time tomorrow does it get put in?

I think it’s a safe bet to say that Vinewrath is going to be victorious many, many, times on the 28th. It will have a field day with the droves of noob lemmings that are unfamiliar with his scripts.