Guild Wars 2

I’m talking about oakheart’s essence, lava tubes, zephyr skills and now these ley line critters that look like they came from Pre Catacombs.

Nearly every single map released under living story for the past year has used some gimmick to get around.

I hope it’s not this way with xpack 2.

When I land on a new map on day 1, I know absolutely Nothing about how to use these things. It’s confusing.

You gave us gliding, isn’t that good enough? Can’t we just use that to get around? You gave us bouncy mushrooms that we had to grind to use. Why can’t we just use those methods?

None of the methods introduced in older maps are viable in the newer ones. You never see these things carry over. It’s wasteful

Anet: you want the game to be accessible. You want some kinda tutorial when you release new maps. If looking up a guide or watching a video is mandatory, then the whole game should run in my browser, get it?

When I dive into a new chapter I wanna get out there, get into the action, get things done. I don’t wanna have to hunt for little neutral skelks in out of the way places to get the nearest vista/poi/wp/whatever.

It’s frustrating and makes me wanna exit game rather than find the one true method.

I second this. I appreciate the idea that they want to challenge themselves and introduce new mechanics with every new map. But it’s just too much. I just want to do my hearts and get along with the mechanics we have.

Yay. Platforming. I guess the mario crowd is the player base, so it’s time for me to ride off into the sunset…

The expansion, according to leaks, will have mounts that will do that. Provide temporary transport across gaps, up cliffs, across other terrain.

The introduction of mounts to reduce the number of mechanics would be nice. I never had any problem with the HoT mechanics(other than hopelessly getting lost in maps) though I understand if others might due to the sheer number of them.

Yeah. All of the ley-line skills, kodan’s blessings, oakheart’s essence things are starting to give me a bad taste. I dread that the second expansion will be nothing but endless “things” that replace all my class abilities in lieu of environmental ones.
I don’t really care whether we get mounts or not, but if getting around looks like this:
1. get on fast mount for 10 seconds
2. get off mount – combat with my actual class abilities
3. get on climbing mount to get up a hill
4. now get on ravine jumping mount to glide over
5. get back on fast mount to get a little further
6. more combat…etc
It’s gonna get real old, real fast and people will just move on to another game.

I hate platform games. The movement skills in the LS3 maps don’t feel anything like that to me. Rather, they seem like an obvious evolution of the MMO genre: we have three dimensions, we can finally take advantage of it.

Illconceived Was Na.9781:

I hate platform games. The movement skills in the LS3 maps don’t feel anything like that to me. Rather, they seem like an obvious evolution of the MMO genre: we have three dimensions, we can finally take advantage of it.

This.^ I love using verticality and movement as mechanics. I love having to figure out not just where on a horizontal plane something is. Now I have to search above and below me.

It gives devs much more creative license and us the chance to experience something new.

What OP said. A thousand times this. Knock it off with the JPs and logic puzzles mid level too. It’s not fun, it breaks immersion, it’s obviously padding out content. Stop it.

Much of the Ancient Magics we were required to invest in were a waste of valuable mastery points, IMO. Okay, Counter Magic was a necessity for LWS3, Thermal Propulsion was straight up useful in navigating maps, and Spectral Aid is a permanent account wide upgrade to all of PvE, but while Oakheart’s Reach is very useful in Draconis Mons, it’s the only place you can use it, and Koda’s Flame wasn’t even useful in Bitterfrost Frontier (unless you wanted to open chests) – except you were REQUIRED to unlock that skill to even access the map and advance the story, the only episode to do so. This was such a waste of hero points that I could have otherwise used in finishing off my other masteries. I get it – top end players have more hero points than they know what to do with because they’ve unlocked every single point. But I only get to play a handful of hours every week because of real life and I probably never will earn all the points. So to have to spend what I consider valuable points on a skill I rarely ever used in a map it was designed for and use it nowhere else stings.

jctkatch.4078:

you were REQUIRED to unlock that skill to even access the map and advance the story, the only episode to do so.

except you were not.

myself I have got this one two days ago when I decided to wrap up ancient magic masteries before launch of season finale,and I was up to date with all the story steps so far – the only mastery from the track truelly “required” was counter magic for the first episode – after that everything was optional

Is the new skill required for Ep VI?

Ubi.4136:

I don’t really care whether we get mounts or not, but if getting around looks like this:
1. get on fast mount for 10 seconds
2. get off mount – combat with my actual class abilities
3. get on climbing mount to get up a hill
4. now get on ravine jumping mount to glide over
5. get back on fast mount to get a little further
6. more combat…etc
It’s gonna get real old, real fast and people will just move on to another game.

Or are already moving on, because they know it’s going to be just like that.

The sheer amount of means of traversing areas has become ridiculous. Like many here, I don’t think mounts will fix the problem but rather add to it.

On the other hand, I can imagine the new target audience, kids and teens, having a blast with the direction Guild Wars 2: The Platformer Simulator is taking.

You people are seriously complaining that there are completely optional ways to move around?
You don’t need them, you don’t need to waste valuable points (of which there are many, many more available than you need).

It’s optional like stopping at a red light is optional. Sure you can ignore it. But let’s say you get a mastery point if you stop. Is it still optional then?

Sorry your logical leaps leave me with less understanding than before. Don’t stop at red lights? What?

You didn’t answer the question. Is it truly optional if the reward is only given by following the devs laid out path?

I believe it is a game, therefore someone has set up a structure and rules to follow. What are you talking about?

I have to wonder if OP is referring to the ley-infused critters you kill for a single boosted jump. If so…

GARGLBLAGKITTENBULLKITTEN those stupid things. I appreciate their existence, but the jump works myabe 20-30% of the time, and they don’t respawn nearly fast enough to make that mechanic tolerable.

SRoode.7318:

Is the new skill required for Ep VI?

nope.

from story perspective in LS3 still the only mastery that is actually required to progress the story is counter magic – everything after that is vaguely related to the plot, with a varying degree of usefullness within LS3 maps and/or outside of them.

also I’d like to point out that as far as “usuall” progression goes you also do not need anything but advanced gliding and bouncing mushrooms to be able to 100% L3 maps exploration [for whatever stuff you’d feel in need for that is awarded for these] and while there may be few mastery points requiring usage of more – if you are not going to invest in ancient magics mastery line – you will not need them anyway.

the only exception to the statement above is one specific vista in draconis mons – have spend alot of time myself to try to find a way up there not requiring usage of oakhearts reach mastery – and failed to find one so far – which does not mean it doesn’t exist – it just mean I couldn’t find it

Thanks for the feedback Lord Trejgon. I still need to complete some HoT Masteries, and I’d like to use some of these points to do that instead.

I wish they would have just reused the oakheart’s essence. Killing a ley-line creature to pick up its organ can give you up to 5 “weapon” skills, but you only get a single use of any skill before you lose it. Meaning, if you are using the skill to jump and miss your landing, you have to find another creature to get the ability again. And for really tricky jumps, it can take a lot of dead monsters before you finally make it.

This new “jump” mechanic from the ley-line creatures in the new map is basically just a copy-paste of the wind aspect found in the Sanctum Sprint activity and all over Dry Top, except you only get 1 use instead of 10 uses with a time limit.

It’s super annoying to use in Siren’s Landing. (and people hated having to use it in Dry Top)

I could do without the limit use and time limited movement skills, especially the ley-line organ one that requires killing a creature for every use. The oakheart vines were at least abundant enough to only be annoying when doing some mini-puzzle to get collectibles, but having to go get a new one to retry already frustratingly precise vine jumps can get tedious very quickly.

I don’t mind convenience mechanics like thermal tubes, but I’d rather not have more that end up being required just to navigate or get map completion. Especially when they are temp skills that replace our normal weapon skills. The added mechanic shouldn’t block playing the game normally and force players to lead mobs around (and into other players) because they can’t fight them.

I’m definitely not looking forward to mounts in the expansion, because I have a feeling they will end up being similar to the junundu wurms from GW1. I hated that part of the game because I was stuck in the same wurm skillset for most of it, instead of being able to play my own character. I really hope mounts are just something we can summon to use only when needed to traverse a specific obstacle.

Charrbeque.8729:

I wish they would have just reused the oakheart’s essence. Killing a ley-line creature to pick up its organ can give you up to 5 “weapon” skills, but you only get a single use of any skill before you lose it. Meaning, if you are using the skill to jump and miss your landing, you have to find another creature to get the ability again. And for really tricky jumps, it can take a lot of dead monsters before you finally make it.

This new “jump” mechanic from the ley-line creatures in the new map is basically just a copy-paste of the wind aspect found in the Sanctum Sprint activity and all over Dry Top, except you only get 1 use instead of 10 uses with a time limit.

It’s super annoying to use in Siren’s Landing. (and people hated having to use it in Dry Top)

I’ve had that jump glitch on me several times, and since the mob exists for other people to use for a long while, it doesn’t respawn quickly, at all. Incredibly frustrating.

Lord Trejgon.2809:

jctkatch.4078:

you were REQUIRED to unlock that skill to even access the map and advance the story, the only episode to do so.

except you were not.

myself I have got this one two days ago when I decided to wrap up ancient magic masteries before launch of season finale,and I was up to date with all the story steps so far – the only mastery from the track truelly “required” was counter magic for the first episode – after that everything was optional

Except you could not enter Bitterfrost Frontier without breaking down the ice barrier. You couldn’t break down the ice barrier without picking up a flame of Koda. You could not pick up a flame of Koda without investing the mastery points in that skill, and you could not do that without investing in the previous ones. I tried entering Bitterfrost Frontier without spending the points and it would not let me – it straight up told me I needed the skill to enter the map. Unless they changed that after the fact, which would be even more BS.

jctkatch.4078:

Lord Trejgon.2809:

jctkatch.4078:

you were REQUIRED to unlock that skill to even access the map and advance the story, the only episode to do so.

except you were not.

myself I have got this one two days ago when I decided to wrap up ancient magic masteries before launch of season finale,and I was up to date with all the story steps so far – the only mastery from the track truelly “required” was counter magic for the first episode – after that everything was optional

Except you could not enter Bitterfrost Frontier without breaking down the ice barrier. You couldn’t break down the ice barrier without picking up a flame of Koda. You could not pick up a flame of Koda without investing the mastery points in that skill, and you could not do that without investing in the previous ones. I tried entering Bitterfrost Frontier without spending the points and it would not let me – it straight up told me I needed the skill to enter the map. Unless they changed that after the fact, which would be even more BS.

You absolutely could use that one outside the entrance to Bitterfrost without the mastery, I did it. How do you think the very first people got into that zone? I would contact support if you can not do so.

The new mechanics are very welcome. The only annoying part of all the new LS maps so far is the newest addition of Dwayna shrine disappearing updrafts.

Charrbeque.8729:

I wish they would have just reused the oakheart’s essence. Killing a ley-line creature to pick up its organ can give you up to 5 “weapon” skills, but you only get a single use of any skill before you lose it.

First thing I tried was killing two creatures and picking up their organ to see if I can stack the skills. They didn’t.

Would be nice to be able to pick up a couple of organs and then start jumping.

jctkatch.4078:

Lord Trejgon.2809:

jctkatch.4078:

you were REQUIRED to unlock that skill to even access the map and advance the story, the only episode to do so.

except you were not.

myself I have got this one two days ago when I decided to wrap up ancient magic masteries before launch of season finale,and I was up to date with all the story steps so far – the only mastery from the track truelly “required” was counter magic for the first episode – after that everything was optional

Except you could not enter Bitterfrost Frontier without breaking down the ice barrier. You couldn’t break down the ice barrier without picking up a flame of Koda. You could not pick up a flame of Koda without investing the mastery points in that skill, and you could not do that without investing in the previous ones. I tried entering Bitterfrost Frontier without spending the points and it would not let me – it straight up told me I needed the skill to enter the map. Unless they changed that after the fact, which would be even more BS.

then explain me how it did happen that I not only got there but completed a full story arc and didn’t get koda’s flame mastery unlocked up until final days before finale release?
[the torch in front of the portal to the map didn’t requrie the mastery as far as I recall – the ones inside the map do]

Faaris.8013:

Charrbeque.8729:

I wish they would have just reused the oakheart’s essence. Killing a ley-line creature to pick up its organ can give you up to 5 “weapon” skills, but you only get a single use of any skill before you lose it.

First thing I tried was killing two creatures and picking up their organ to see if I can stack the skills. They didn’t.

Would be nice to be able to pick up a couple of organs and then start jumping.

would be nice indeed

Coming from someone at max 193 mastery level I agree that a lot of the masteries are dumb and are by far the biggest thing I dread. After achieving max level mastery I wanted to maintain it, I like getting spirit shards. It may seem small to some people but I personally wish they would scrap releasing so many useless masteries. It became easier after some time but initially getting max mastery was a pain and not always fun, and I understand not every single thing is going to be fun for everyone but I think they kinda overdid it with the masteries.

On the plus side they added some Tyria insights for anyone struggling with maxing out the Tyrian mastery line.

This is why people were so adamant about mounts early on

It’s not just jumping but there are massive redundancies in movement across the board with this game. Instead of adding mounts early and calling it a day they filled a book with different mechanics. This is precisely why the old saying if it isn’t broken don’t fix it exists.

Knight In Shining Armor.1708:

When I land on a new map on day 1, I know absolutely Nothing about how to use these things

I don’t see what’s so confusing, all of these things say exactly what they do when you hover over them on the skill bar. And if for some reason you decide not to read what they do, it takes 2 seconds to click on them and see what they do.

Knight In Shining Armor.1708:

You gave us bouncy mushrooms that we had to grind to use.

Lol, “had to grind to use”, bouncing mushrooms is Itzel 1. There is no way that can be classed as a grind.

Knight In Shining Armor.1708:

When I dive into a new chapter I wanna get out there, get into the action, get things done. I don’t wanna have to hunt for little neutral skelks in out of the way places to get the nearest vista/poi/wp/whatever.

You don’t have to hunt for/use those skelks at all for pois, vistas etc, you can get map completion in the new zone without using them.

Like I said earlier, it’s not optional if I’m herded, steered, or encouraged to use these things. It’s not optional if reaching said location pushes the story forward.

If it’s optional, give me the option to disable it. Lower the height of the jumps so said thingy will reach. Let the gimmick last long enough for me to make use of it. Let the lava tube go directly where I need to be.

Doam.8305:

… This is precisely why the old saying if it isn’t broken don’t fix it exists.

A silly saying, if everyone followed that maxim, we’d all still be living in caves.

I don’t know that I like there being so many different mechanics, but it is nice to have something different. Being able to utilise the 3rd dimension is pretty cool.