Guild Wars 2

What’s the point of levelling up if everything you do demotes you to a lower level? I got destroyed on a quest and figured I’d level up a bit to help me out but it demotes me back down again… They might as well take out levelling up and just give you the level they want you to play at for every mission and event…

well, the point was really to provide challenge, you still get to keep all your skills and gear, but your stats get adjusted down to that level, that way you can take on all those old bosses as if you were new again

apart from that the downscaling isn’t just for you, it’s so that trolls don’t go into newbie areas and roflstomp events before newbies can even get to them

Make sure you have the proper level equipment.

The level scaling is to make all content viable even if you are max level.

Even with that, you are on the right track. Extra levels will give you more skill points or traits that will give you more options. So overleveling an area will still make it easier, even if you are leveled down.

I like the system how it is and would not like it changed… One-shotting everything in an area would make it boring

Stealth.6971:

What’s the point of levelling up if everything you do demotes you to a lower level? I got destroyed on a quest and figured I’d level up a bit to help me out but it demotes me back down again… They might as well take out levelling up and just give you the level they want you to play at for every mission and event…

Your point is valid when they still allowed players to upscale in level, i.e. have their levels brought up if they entered a higher level zone. However, ArenaNet has made the correct decision to remove the feature but keep the downscaling of levels.

The main purpose of the downscaling is to allow for players to play with their friends. If you got into this game with a group of friends but some play more, some less, or if another friend decides at a later date to pick up the game, there will definitely be a level gap. When this gap exists, as it normally does in traditional MMOs, the higher level players will traditionally have to

a) not play with their friends,
b) limit their own play to allow their friends to catch up, or
c) make a new character.

None of these choices are ever desirable, especially for the higher level player.

With the downscaling of Guild Wars 2, a level 80 with full Exotics can still drop into Queensdale to play with her level 1 buddy and not be bored: mobs won’t be one-shotted, Elite and Champion mobs will still be challenging and the Dynamic Events will still be fun.

So you ask why have levels at all? Because character level progression is still a great way to pace a player’s journey through Tyria. If you allowed everybody to skip Queensdale and head straight into Orr, nobody would ever appreciate any of the content. What’s all this hullabaloo about Zhai-wothisname? Which owl of a fool named a kingdom Orz? What, all the back story can be found in Queensdale and its surrounding? Sod that. /uninstall

Ya, I understand why they did it but it still sucks when you’re playing solo and there’s noone to back you up. I’m new to guild wars and have no idea where to find the best armour for an elementalist class. Just trying to get through the first few missions to get out of the starter area, but I keep getting swarmed with too many enemies at once which are tighly packed together so I can’t lure just one at a time. Since I get brought down to their level 1v5 is just not possible. How do you make decent money early on to buy gear? I get nothing useful early on.

You might want to look for elementalist help tips, then. One thing I can recommend is not to run off solo, but look for where other players are killing and tag along with them. They’ll be happy for the help. Another thing is that, most mobs in the starter areas don’t really congregate in groups larger than two or three. As long as you don’t keep running around, but moving around in a tight circle, you can manage your aggro.

The Trading Post is cheap, stack up on gear. That’s what i did.

I don’t know about everyone else, but I’d be prettykitten if I was lvl 10 and some lvl 80 kitten came along and 1 shot a group mob before I even got a hit in.

Stealth.6971:

Just trying to get through the first few missions to get out of the starter area, but I keep getting swarmed with too many enemies at once which are tighly packed together so I can’t lure just one at a time.

I understand where you’re coming from; I, too, am a bit on the fence with deleveling. However, please note, part of the problem here might be your class. Eles are VERY squishy, and require quite a bit of work in the early levels to stay alive.

I might suggest you try a Guardian or Warrior and equip them with a Greatsword and have at! You’ll love the facerolling.

Hi! I thought I may add that you can get good rewards from finishing all the missions in an entire map. I’ve just finished 3 maps ( Caledon Forest, The Grove and Lion’s Arch) and I got pretty good items such as gears for my level and money from the rewards. I fly solo most times but I do join other players when completing harder missions or killing harder bosses. And, I am also an Elementalist!

I would appreciate if they disable side-kicking for story quest until they fix the balance, which might take quite a while. Sometimes I suspect they only tested some of those story quests with a well-equipped warrior. As an elementalist, for some of my level 30-40 story quests, they are still nightmare modes even when I went back at 20 levels higher. Things like support NPC gets killed almost instantly, group of mob ignoring aggro and chasing you from start to end even you did nothing, support NPC bugs out and getting stuck, doing nothing … So many thing s that make you sick would have been resolved if side-kicking in story quest instance can be disabled. It makes you feel the difference that “Oh I gained levels and I am stronger now!”, like many MMOs that you enjoy leveling. Why obliged to side-kick in story quest instance? Isn’t it pointless?
Or at least give us an option to disable side-kicking in story quest would be nice.

Hologramx.6402:

I would appreciate if they disable side-kicking for story quest until they fix the balance, which might take quite a while. Sometimes I suspect they only tested some of those story quests with a well-equipped warrior. As an elementalist, for some of my level 30-40 story quests, they are still nightmare modes even when I went back at 20 levels higher. Things like support NPC gets killed almost instantly, group of mob ignoring aggro and chasing you from start to end even you did nothing, support NPC bugs out and getting stuck, doing nothing … So many thing s that make you sick would have been resolved if side-kicking in story quest instance can be disabled. It makes you feel the difference that “Oh I gained levels and I am stronger now!”, like many MMOs that you enjoy leveling. Why obliged to side-kick in story quest instance? Isn’t it pointless?
Or at least give us an option to disable side-kicking in story quest would be nice.

Exactly! If anything, disable de-levelling for quests so that your grinding actually gets you somewhere. Or depending on how many players are around you get de-levelled less if you’re solo vs. in a big group.

If you are scaled down in an area and you still find it hard, you need to update your gear.

A level 80 in the starting zones will still tear a new one in everything he comes past because of his gear

Like others said, if you’re getting obliterated, check out your gear for the level you actually are, that seems to be a major factor.

I actually like the de-leveling system because I’m able to go back and help out friends much lower level than myself and still get credit for it without being a major overkill to their experience (and the others around) by participating in the activities. It’s not challenge detrimental to them and it’s not experience detrimental to me.

But yah, I still understand where you’re coming from, though that’s mostly based on experience from every other MMO ever.

To add to the suggestions, you also have study it and formulate a strategy. Adapt to the situation. Attack the problem from a different perspective, and so on.

That’s what I did with a few of my storyline missions where I got scaled down to the max level for that mish.

That’s also what I do everytime I want to take on the challenge of doing storyline missions 4 levels above me. I adapted and adjusted my playstyle, skills, strategy and I was able to finish a couple of missions (1 level above me, 2 levels above me, and 4 levels above me), solo. It didn’t even take much time than what I expected.

In other words, you have to think dynamically and expand your view of the game. It’s not a hack-n-slash game where all you do is Tab, click, press 1,2,3,4, tab again, click, press 1,2,3,4, rinse and repeat. It involves studying, learning, planning, strategizing from beginning to end.

Yes, that includes your weapons, sigils, armours, skills, the weaknesses and strengths of your profession, mob control, which skill to activate first, timing, etc. Especially if you are running solo.

Hope that helps.

80 roles into the lower Dungeons?
Repairs as expensive

Good gear does make a difference, you won’t be one shotting everything and you still need to watch out for the larger mobs but you’ll find low level areas not as challenging.
Anyway de-leveling is a good mechanism, it stop content from becoming trivial, it ensures that you have a at least partially challenge, and like has previously been noted there are several benefits in terms of friends.

If you’re pulling huge packs of mobs it’s because you weren’t looking where you were going. You need to be aware of your environment at all times. Zoom your view out and look around while you’re moving.

You can set up the camera and controls so it’s possible to pan your camera about while still running in one direction, or you can alternate side-strafing from one side to the other to keep moving in one direction while your camera is panned to the opposite side, eg.:

• While holding the W key down, turn with the mouse to the left and press the D key, as you keep turning release the W key so that you are looking completely to the left of your direction of travel.

After some practice you can move and look around without any effort.

Also, a lot of the time you have to fight your way into an area, not just charge in there, and you may have to plan your attack, and lure out a few mobs from the edge of a pack in order to weaken it gradually (the respawn rate still sucks in some places though, making soloing things impossible, and some dynamic events need to have a wider range of scaling in the downward direction, because otherwise you’re left waiting for someone else to show up).

I LOVE this concept. It makes sure that no matter where you are, the content is relevant. You could be level 80 and go to a starting zone and still get rewards from doing the things there(although they would be minimal at that point).

Although, I do agree that a lot of content needs a lot of re-balancing and is not balanced or fun for the level it’s scaled to, story quests and dungeons being the most relevant examples, but heck, even some overland PvE is really unfair.

I think that the concept of scaling your level down to the zone you’re in is the most brilliant thing Guild Wars 2 has done, and probably one of my favourite parts of the game.

My warrior is level 40, and in mostly level 30 gear. I had to go back to the 5-15 zone to farm copper. The mobs were challenging enough that I didn’t want to fight more than 3 at a time, but easy enough that 1-2 didn’t worry me. I took part in most of the events I came across.

I went around the rim of the zone, killing and farming and eventing. Then I went back to town, and used the mats I’d farmed to take weaponsmithing from 45 to 120. This process levelled me from 40 to 42.

That’re revolutionary. Being able to level from 40 to 42, in a level 5-15 zone, and working on a low level craft. I’m not a slave to the story, or to the zone level requirements. The levelling path I take will be entirely different from yours! That’s great, and I hope they don’t change a thing.

Stealth.6971:

Ya, I understand why they did it but it still sucks when you’re playing solo and there’s noone to back you up. I’m new to guild wars and have no idea where to find the best armour for an elementalist class. Just trying to get through the first few missions to get out of the starter area, but I keep getting swarmed with too many enemies at once which are tighly packed together so I can’t lure just one at a time. Since I get brought down to their level 1v5 is just not possible. How do you make decent money early on to buy gear? I get nothing useful early on.

Ok so for my ele i found it super easy to mow aoe threw mobs using a staff. On my server mighty staffs at level 1 go for 12 copper. 1 drop pays for it if you vender trash it. That gives you power which increases damage. If you really want also look into possible armor. At level 5 i would look into crafting your own armor and weapons keep them up to date as that will help you a ton.

I love the level scaling system. One of my favorite system I’ve ever seen within past 8 years.

For those talking about gears, I don’t think you understand the problem.
You have to try playing classes like elementalists and you will find some of the story quests are severely imbalance. I am a skilled player and have all my gears usually up-to-date every 5 levels, usually masterworks until level 60+ which I start to add rares. Not to mention I did them 20 level higher. Other than those, other story quests are extremely easy because being outleveling them. There are many variations, some too easy, some are nightmares because of the rush to release and they didn’t have enough time to test them on all levels and classes. I don’t blame them for that. I am only suggesting that disabling side-kicking would help a lot if you can simple gain level before you do that impossible challenge again. Just imagine a light armor class + another light armor class helper NPC (who cannot tank and deal hardly any damage) who have to fight a veteran + 6 or more trash mobs at the same time. Should be a lot easier if you are heavy armor class or have a tanking pet but not with 2 light armor class.
What I suggest is an option, so those who prefer to challenge or play as a class which has no problem can still use the side-kicking system.

I guess its my gear then. My gear sucks but don’t know where to get better gear. Haven’t done crafting so i guess I gotta figure out how that all works so I can gear up better. Also need to find better weapons but I don’t know where to find good monster drops yet. Any ideas? Also need ways of getting good money too.

Hologramx.6402:

For those talking about gears, I don’t think you understand the problem.
You have to try playing classes like elementalists and you will find some of the story quests are severely imbalance. I am a skilled player and have all my gears usually up-to-date every 5 levels, usually masterworks until level 60+ which I start to add rares. Not to mention I did them 20 level higher. Other than those, other story quests are extremely easy because being outleveling them. There are many variations, some too easy, some are nightmares because of the rush to release and they didn’t have enough time to test them on all levels and classes. I don’t blame them for that. I am only suggesting that disabling side-kicking would help a lot if you can simple gain level before you do that impossible challenge again. Just imagine a light armor class + another light armor class helper NPC (who cannot tank and deal hardly any damage) who have to fight a veteran + 6 or more trash mobs at the same time. Should be a lot easier if you are heavy armor class or have a tanking pet but not with 2 light armor class.
What I suggest is an option, so those who prefer to challenge or play as a class which has no problem can still use the side-kicking system.

Why do people complain about something challenging? Rise to the occasion!! If there is a way, find it. If it’s hard, so much sweeter is victory.

Because if you work to level up to give yourself an edge you should not have that taken away at least to a certain extent. This is mainly for quests where you are running solo or with weak npc’s.

Stealth.6971:

Because if you work to level up to give yourself an edge you should not have that taken away at least to a certain extent. This is mainly for quests where you are running solo or with weak npc’s.

It’s not, really. Your gear is your edge. Your traits are your edge. You have advantages that the other characters in that zone don’t. I mean, what is the fun of stomping everything?

Stealth.6971:

I guess its my gear then. My gear sucks but don’t know where to get better gear. Haven’t done crafting so i guess I gotta figure out how that all works so I can gear up better. Also need to find better weapons but I don’t know where to find good monster drops yet. Any ideas? Also need ways of getting good money too.

Crafting is a good idea, so is doing the renown heart events for your level, as quite a few of them will have reasonably good armor, weapons or accessories. And since you’re paying with karma points, you won’t need money for that.

I’m level 40, and I have a noticeably easier time on a lvl 25 quest than a lvl 40 quest. Yeah, I still have to pay attention and not pull too much, but it’s still easier.

I’ve started checking all the completed hearts (quest givers, whatever) for new gear. If I want it, I buy it. I’ve got 5k+ karma, so I might as well spend it. Since doing this, I’ve started dying less. Keeping your gear up to date does make a difference.

My personal exp is that at my level of 56, or maybe its 57 or 58 now, I have more difficulty with lower level stuff than i do things at my own level. For things to be hard for me i tend to have to be looking in the 63 to 65 level range before i have issues. Might just be the fact im a guard or something to do with how i build my traits/skills and gear. I dont know but when i drop to say level 25 to 30 content i find it to be a much better fight due to how it scales me down.