Guild Wars 2

Hi, long time player, rare poster.

I’ve played for over 2 years, but frankly I’ve picked up some very bad play habits and recently realized that Jon Snow knows more than I do. For instance, I found out last week that field combos are a thing. AND Fireheart Rise, which I didn’t even know existed. I actually lost 10 bucks in a bet about it being added at the same time as Dry Top and Silverwastes (just enough rope, as they say… :\ )

(I will pause here, while I wait for the laughter at how dense I am – it’s fine, it’s not like it’s a lie – see above: found out after 2 years about Combo fields. What next? Next I’ll find out that our toons can jump!?! But seriously, I do know they can jump.)

I’ve withheld asking too many questions about this game, but due to this recent event they’ve just reached critical mass inside my head. Here they all are!

Please use as little or as much detail as you want, I’m not afraid of reading. I’ve numbered them in case someone only knows the answer to one or two questions: I’d be (pleasantly) surprised if someone knew the answer to all of these questions:

1. A lot of the low-level resources are worth quite a bit (considering how easy they are to get hold of). If I take my L80 toon and farm them, what’s the etiquette there? Like, should I back off if lower level players are obviously trying to get somewhere (xp-wise) with their toon? For instance, if I see a low-level toon (judging by how long it takes them to defeat a mob foe) in the bandit caverns in Queensdale, should I take break? Like, what’s the general vibe in the community there?

Let me rephrase that: I DO back off. Do I need to, or am I just overthinking it?

2. I mainly play (so far) a Hammer Guardian. What use is the Elite skills ‘Renewed Focus’? When is there a benefit to ‘standing still and not taking damage’ as opposed to ‘moving away from the source of the damage’? I mean, after 2 seconds you’re back in the same situation anyway, right? I think this question shows how little understanding that I have of the basic combat mechanics.

3. I’ve started playing (lately) with a Necro and Thief (like, using my N and T toons, not teaming up with other players of those professions), and the Thief seems MUCH squishier, even though he technically has a higher armor class/rating. What gives?

4. In the Black Lion Shop: Is the Watchwork Mining Pick the only tool that has a chance to create drops (i.e. the watchwork sprockets or whatever they’re called)?

5. If I buy an armor from the Black Lion Shop, does using it unlock it for the wardrobe (like the zenith skins)? And does this count for the talking Golem backpack as well, if so? And do they take a transmutation charge upon subsequent applications (unlike the Zenith skins)? (sorry I can’t think of how to word that properly)

6. I want to start doing PvP and really getting into WvW. How can I practice PvP without actually doing PvP? I don’t think it’s fair on the folks that actually play that stuff seriously should have to put up with my eternal noobness. And before you say “WvW”, the same applies there: Why should other players be forced to deal with my inability to play the game at their level? I accept that I will get PMed heaps for my nubbishness – how do I know good advice from trolling?

7. I have NO idea of team dynamics. Should I rez someone or kill the enemies (thereby rezzing them AND removing the source of the damage)? What’s more polite? Does it depend on the situation, and if so, how so? As a Guardian, should I be healing others, or is that offensive (because we all have heals, and I should be DPSing)?

8. Okay this will take a while to ask, so here’s a shorter version of it to see if it’s worth the time for you to read: “Questions about the final mission”.

As you have probably noticed, I have no team experience. The final mission has sat in my Journal unattended for far too long, because I’m too worried that I’m just not good enough, and that I’ll waste peoples time.

Is there ANY workaround, or am I basically boned here (i.e. the people that I’m going to play it through with will basically be carrying me, and I can’t avoid that)?

And if I DO bite the bullet and put out an LFG, how do I say the following in the small space we’re provided:

“Hi, I’ve never done this before and I will probably suck at it. I’d rather not rush through, and I’d like to take the easiest path possible. I will always respawn myself, because the ONLY thing I can bring is determination. Also, please let me apologize in advance for my unintended suckage.”

9. I don’t intend to do Fractals for a while. With that in mind: how important is Ascended Gear? I have my main all decked out in Exotic, and it seems to be doing fine for me. I may have answered my own question there, but I’m always open to more info.

I’d like to sincerely thank anyone who took the time to read this, even if they can’t help.

Stay safe and have fun out there!

Southclaw.2471:

1. A lot of the low-level resources are worth quite a bit (considering how easy they are to get hold of). If I take my L80 toon and farm them, what’s the etiquette there? Like, should I back off if lower level players are obviously trying to get somewhere (xp-wise) with their toon? For instance, if I see a low-level toon (judging by how long it takes them to defeat a mob foe) in the bandit caverns in Queensdale, should I take break? Like, what’s the general vibe in the community there?

Just do whatever you want, it doesn’t matter

Southclaw.2471:

Let me rephrase that: I DO back off. Do I need to, or am I just overthinking it?

You’re overthinking it.

Southclaw.2471:

2. I mainly play (so far) a Hammer Guardian. What use is the Elite skills ‘Renewed Focus’? When is there a benefit to ‘standing still and not taking damage’ as opposed to ‘moving away from the source of the damage’? I mean, after 2 seconds you’re back in the same situation anyway, right? I think this question shows how little understanding that I have of the basic combat mechanics.

You can move while using Renewed Focus

Southclaw.2471:

3. I’ve started playing (lately) with a Necro and Thief (like, using my N and T toons, not teaming up with other players of those professions), and the Thief seems MUCH squishier, even though he technically has a higher armor class/rating. What gives?

Necro has more HP and Death Shroud. Thief is supposed to be squishy. Armor rating isn’t everything.

Southclaw.2471:

4. In the Black Lion Shop: Is the Watchwork Mining Pick the only tool that has a chance to create drops (i.e. the watchwork sprockets or whatever they’re called)?

Yes

Southclaw.2471:

5. If I buy an armor from the Black Lion Shop, does using it unlock it for the wardrobe (like the zenith skins)? And does this count for the talking Golem backpack as well, if so? And do they take a transmutation charge upon subsequent applications (unlike the Zenith skins)? (sorry I can’t think of how to word that properly)

Yes to the first, and I do believe it requires transmute charges to apply the skin after the first time.

Southclaw.2471:

6. I want to start doing PvP and really getting into WvW. How can I practice PvP without actually doing PvP? I don’t think it’s fair on the folks that actually play that stuff seriously should have to put up with my eternal noobness.

Just queue up, you should be put in with people at least decently close to your skill level.

Southclaw.2471:

And before you say “WvW”, the same applies there: Why should other players be forced to deal with my inability to play the game at their level? I accept that I will get PMed heaps for my nubbishness – how do I know good advice from trolling?

No one will care in WvW, although I’d recommend against bringing a sub-80 character in there. That being said, you won’t really learn the sort of stuff that you need in sPvP in WvW, assuming you’re zerging.

7. I have NO idea of team dynamics. Should I rez someone or kill the enemies (thereby rezzing them AND removing the source of the damage)? What’s more polite? Does it depend on the situation, and if so, how so? As a Guardian, should I be healing others, or is that offensive (because we all have heals, and I should be DPSing)?

Southclaw.2471:

8. Okay this will take a while to ask, so here’s a shorter version of it to see if it’s worth the time for you to read: “Questions about the final mission”.

Do an LFG saying “everyone welcome” or whatever, then just tell the people you haven’t done it before. There’s pretty much a 100% chance that no one will care/they’ll tell you what to do if you ask about it or up front about it.

In general, you should tell the people you’re running the dungeon with that you’ve never done it before. It’s just polite.

Southclaw.2471:

9. I don’t intend to do Fractals for a while. With that in mind: how important is Ascended Gear? I have my main all decked out in Exotic, and it seems to be doing fine for me. I may have answered my own question there, but I’m always open to more info.

Exotics are fine until you need AR and you need Ascended weapons/armor to fit it into.

Thanks for your input, Fermi. I really appreciate it.

A little I would like to add.

1. On the low level resources – there is no competition between players in gathering them. We all have a copy of it, so taking it will not stop others from being able to, and even if you see 15 players take it, you will still be able to.

2. On top of being able to move while using Renewed Focus, you can use it like another dodge, kind of. Time it when a PvE mob is about to hit with a heavy attack, or if you think an enemy is PvP is about to burst you down. If you’re in a zerg in WvW, you can also use it to help keep yourself up. If you use it, I suggest using all your F skills first – you’ll recharge them anyway, and you can get a bit more out of them this way.

3. Thief also has some skills that would come in handy here. You can use Smokescreen to block projectiles, or if you’re meleeing mobs, drop a pistol 5 to blind them all, and fight in it. Thief tends to be more about avoiding attacks rather than taking them.

5. Yes, they do take transmutation charges after the first use, but like Fermi confirmed, they will go into the account wardrobe.

6. PvP – you can try going into some of the ‘hotjoin’ rooms, though I’d be careful looking at the description, to test some things out. Otherwise, perhaps stick to unranked for now, and try to learn the maps if you can too. There’s not much to say here other than you’ll need to experience it to get experienced.

WvW – roaming, you can do whatever you want really without bothering most other people. If you’re in a zerg, and they have some voice program (TS or Mumble, probably), I’d highly suggest joining in on that, even if you don’t have a mic/can’t speak. Being able to hear what they’re doing makes things much easier, and I would hope most people would be fine helping someone new, and willing to get into voice with them, without much trouble in most situations.

7. It really does depend. If there’s something in the area that’s near death, or would die without much trouble, go ahead and kill it to rally them. If they’re nearly dead and you can rez them through damage, or if there’s nothing that you could use to quickly rally them, then go for rezing them yourself. Also, for groups that are a bit weaker, having some extra healing/support can go a long way. It just depends on the people with you. Having more damage doesn’t hurt though, until you get to the point where you don’t know the encounters well enough/react quickly enough to stay alive without more defense.

8. I’d suggest adding ‘first-timer’ or ‘new to dungeon’ or something to the LFG… but then you do get some people who don’t actually seem to read it, so saying it is probably best too. It’s just a bit more likely you’ll have people who will work with you already – and really, some people who would leave as soon as they hear you are new won’t join an ‘everyone welcome’ run. Don’t be discouraged if you get unlucky at first with it though, there are plenty of people who will run with someone new.

9. You can go up to fractals level 9 without any agony resistance – and as you do them you’ll gain fractal relics, which you can use to get +5 ar infusions from the vendor in the fractal lobby. Ascended trinkets are relatively easy to get at this point, and you can slot the infusions in those as well – if you get to 10 ar, you can go up to level 19 without dealing with agony in any real way, and 5 ar still cuts the damage you would take from it in half. Exotics will be fine – the more important part is to have the agony resistance you need for your level.

1. You should consider farming lower tiered mats on a lower level toon. When you farm on your L80, 80-90% of the drops will scale up to L80 so you just end up with tier 5 mats. Also consider just mapping, when you map a zone you get 2 pieces of gear scaled to the map’s level, 1 black lion trading item, and 40 mats tiered to the level of that zone.
2. Renewed Focus is more for group play, when you’re supporting your party via your virtues. Or if you WvW or PvP, it’ll save you.
3. Necro’s have one of the highest health pools in the game, add that to their Deathshroud its like they have 2 health bars. Thieves aren’t as squishy once you master blinds and evades.
4. Yes, unless you count the wintersday tools which give you snowflakes
5. Zenth skins are unlocked via achievement points, before the wardrobe was added, you could make as many of those skins as you wanted for free to apply, so they transferred the free cost over to the wardrobe system. Black Lion skins are automatically stored into your wardrobe when you receive them, you get one free skin to use without a charge, but all other transmutations will need you to use a charge.
6. When you queue up, 30% of the time you’ll be queued with players at your level, so a third of the time you’ll be playing with other noobs. If you don’t want to do that, just hit the second from the rightleft button to instantly enter a match, they’re usually more casual there.
7. When rezzing, it’s what ever is faster, if hand rezzing is faster, then do it. If rallying is faster, then rally them. Healing is whatever, if you can and they need it, just do it, no one is going to complain if you heal them, no one is going to complain if you don’t.
8. Lols, final mission. When you do do it, come back here and post how it was for you. Take some fireworks with you, to celebrate.
9. Ascended gear is only important for fractals. The stat increase isn’t much unless you get all 16 pieces of ascended gear.

Oh, and for WvW, just join a WvW guild, as long as you have a L80 anything, they’ll teach you their strategies/comps. Just be okay with getting whatever voice program they’re using, they won’t ever need you to talk, its just easier to tell commands than typing it out.

Adding some more details, skipping the questions for which I feel you’ve gotten all the info already.

1. There is no protocol to follow for gathering nodes as everyone has their own ‘version’ of it and it doesn’t have to be competed for. If you mean getting mats by killing mobs, I would suggest simply being careful to let any low-level players also attacking that mob have some time to deal enough damage to get credit for the kill. It’s not necessary and lord knows there’s a lot of level 80s running around oneshotting mobs during events in starter zones, but personally I always do my best to not use my highest-damage attacks until I’m certain everyone around will get their loot and XP.

2. People use Renewed Focus because the invulnerability is a life-saver during long fights when you run out of dodges/aegis/blocks, and because it lets you renew the virtues which, when traited, can bring a bunch of nice things to the table (like the blind on Virtue of Justice activation, or the party heal + condition removal on Virtue of Resolve).

3. Thief has a higher armor stats, but is one of the classes with the lowest base HP pool (with elementalist and guardian) while necro has death shroud and is part of high base HP classes with warrior and (soon) revenant.

6. For sPvP: grab a build off metabattle.com so you can start with a set-up that is known to be good and give you a chance to not get destroyed immediately, then go test it out in hotjoin servers. You don’t have to stay there long (they tend to be pretty chaotic and not always welcoming) but try to at least see every map available and get familiar with the points and the secondary mechanics. Once you feel like you’re past the beginning stages of flailing randomly, move on to unranked queue.

For WvW, the safest way to get started is to get on at a time when people are online and try to find an open raid – assuming your server is active, probably in the evenings or week-ends. You’ll be able to tell from the commander tags and possibly mapchat, and then all you need to do is follow the commander and maybe get on teamspeak with the group so you can keep up better.

7. Basic guidelines: rez the downed unless it puts you at risk of also being downed, but do not rez the dead until the fight is over. If you can get them up by killing a mob, do that.

Guardian-specific: this is going to depend A LOT on your party composition and your preferred mode of playing. It’s possible to focus on healing and being pure support, and that’s fine if that’s what you like to do – it’s one thing guards do extremely well in PvP for example. However, a number of people who run dungeons (which is where party dynamics tend to come into play the most in PvE) tend to favor setups that, simply put, will maximize damage as much as possible (what you might’ve seen referred to as the “meta”). In which case healing takes a backburner – since as you said everyone has their own healing skills, on top of dodges/blocks/etc – but a lot of utility skills and buffs come into play and are valued. In this kind of environment people will expect the guardian to bring along projectile blocks/stability/aegis/condition clears and the likes, while DPSing – active defenses, if you will.

This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it can be fun. Whatever way you decide you want to do it, you should be able to find people who want the same. Just read descriptions carefully or be sure to make clear what the expectations are, and you’ll be fine.

8. Anet have mentioned that when they finish reworking the Personal Story they’ll make that last step soloable. However, if you don’t want to wait, it’s a relatively easy instance, if long (expect 30-45 minutes to be safe). I’ve done it several times with inexperienced people, just have the LFG says something along the lines of “Arah story, first timer, anyone welcome/help appreciated” and you’ll get people.

Generally speaking, for any dungeon – most experienced people I know are more than fine running with first timers and explaining encounters as long as said first timer is upfront about it (and didn’t join a LFG specifically asking for experienced people). There are definitely unpleasant or impatient people around, but if you’re honest and willing to listen/learn/communicate, a lot of runners will be glad to help you out.

9. Full ascended gives ~5-10% stats higher than exotics. It’s a difference, but you’re fine without them.

A last note – if you’ve got more questions or need details about something, feel free to send me a mail or a whisper ingame anytime. Hell, if you get me at a good time I can also probably show you around sPvP/a dungeon or two if you’re interested. I mostly play on EU but if you’re NA I can probably hop on my second account.

It’s refreshing to see another long-term player asking similar questions to me. Been playing since the beta, and still simple things confuzzle me.

Just adding that if you want to complete the personal story you must not run a path of the dungeon Arah (which is explorable mode), but story. Story has no paths (just 1) and is 1000000x easier than explorable. If you run a path you will not complete the personal story. For story mode people are usually much more relaxed because 90% are casuals or newbies, as people don’t farm those because of the relatively bad rewards.