Guild Wars 2

I just want to start of saying I’m enjoying the game and the expansion and I will still continue to play I have just noticed some core elements that were unique to GW2 have seemed to vanish with the release of HoT.

In original GW2 if you wanted to earn something you didn’t need to go to a specific zone or do a specific type of content. For the most part you could play the game mode you liked and work towards you goal. There were a few exceptions such as dungeon gear(skins) and originally PvP was kinda its own area that didn’t transfer over to PvE (that changed later). With the addition of PvP rewards tracks some of these became more accessible such as dungeon armor being obtained in PvP rather that just in dungeons. Even the more prestigious items, like legendary, could get worked on in any area of the game (other than world completion).

Now lets take a look at HoT, if you want to get something that comes with the new content you almost always have to go to a specific place to earn it. Magmuna jungle mastery, has to be out in the Magmuna jungle. Centeral Tyria mastery only in central tyria not even just in core GW2 content zones. To this some people say, “Why do you need those masteries if you don’t plan on playing in those zones?” To that I would say, “Why did PvP’ers get ways to level up and earn PvE skins and gold if they never planed to go out to the PvE zones?”. It’s the freedom to play the game the way you enjoy and be able to easily SWITCH BETWEEN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE GAME without having to ‘level up’ in that area of the game.

There is also the new legendary armor which is stuck behind raids. I love that raids are difficult, I have managed to down the first boss and have fun running it for hours. What I don’t like is the only way to obtain Legendary Armor is by completing Raids (for now at least) which are designed to be super difficult and for more hardcore players. Why can’t there be a more casual way to obtain the same armor? Most people would say it’s only really needed in Raiding where you have to change build often (which is wrong other areas would like this too). It’s a piece of content that a majority of GW2 players would love to obtain, reason doesn’t matter, that got put behind content designed for hardcore players.

Now, I’m not saying everything they have done for ‘unique’ rewards for specific areas is bad. For example you might think I’m against the fractal and PvP legendary backpieces but I think this is the right direction. Just needs a little more, like a PvE legendary backpiece and WvW one. That way if you want the legendary backpiece you can get it however you like, but the skin is unique so it sill has a uniqueness to it.

Original GW2 didn’t limit you to playing specific areas if you wanted a specific tier of gear, or to level your character to 80. In HoT you are limited (for now) and it takes away from the play your way style that was unique and super casual. I like the newer more hardcore content but I feel the casuals of GW2 got left it the dust a bit. Overall I like what HoT offered as an expansions and I don’t regret buying it, I’m just concerned in the direction of the future of GW2 if it will get tunnel vision for the more dedicated/hardcore players and continue to leave the casuals in the dust.

Thanks for reading have a good holiday season!

Pink Ninja Man.4375:

There is also the new legendary armor which is stuck behind raids. I love that raids are difficult, I have managed to down the first boss and have fun running it for hours. What I don’t like is the only way to obtain Legendary Armor is by completing Raids (for now at least) which are designed to be super difficult and for more hardcore players. Why can’t there be a more casual way to obtain the same armor? Most people would say it’s only really needed in Raiding where you have to change build often (which is wrong other areas would like this too). It’s a piece of content that a majority of GW2 players would love to obtain, reason doesn’t matter, that got put behind content designed for hardcore players.

Funnily enough, my opinion is that raiders actually need legendary armor the least. One of the stated goal of raiders is they love the gear grind. That chase for the best equipment. Legendary armor stops that gear grind. It’s a very ironic end reward.

I, basically, agree.

The game has changed, quite dramatically, in nature.

Time will tell if that was the right decision, or not.

From past experience, I’m going to say not.