"No grind philosophy"
Don’t worry the reduce-a-grind-a-tron will (probably) be coming to a gemstore near you soon in order to alleviate this grindfest. ker-ching
I’d be a lot more OK with the grind of masteries if they weren’t really required to enjoy the new zones and the elite specs and such.
Grindy but not required is basically how the general concept of masteries has worked in all RPGs since I am aware of the first ones in the late 1990s.
Dunno why anet had to make them such a prereq to fun in this case.
The maps truly amazing, however it does feel very grindy and gated. I almost feel like it would be more enjoyable to simply grind experience in verdant brink to unlock everything than to actually play it normally.
Although the second play through will be a completely different experience i guess.