Guild Wars 2

I think that it’s pretty cool that GW2 wants to become an Esport, the problem with that is that currently TPvP isn’t all that fun to spectate. Games like LoL, DotA, and SC2 are interesting to watch for several reasons: the concept is simple enough that you can watch without having to know a lot about the game, the gameplay itself is enjoyable to watch, and the level of skill required is easily apparent. GW2 for the most part has 1 and most of 2 down, but it’s seriously lacking in 3. Pretend you’re someone who doesn’t know a lot about GW2 but you decided to watch the tournament. What you’ll see is a bunch of guys placing red circles inside of another circle and people inside the circles dying.

This is a shame because the animations of many skills are really well done but the current meta is about dropping as many AoE’s on a tiny circle as possible. The first thing that would enhance the viewing experience would be to do away with the current small circle system. If the capture zones were made much larger AoE would be dramatically less destructive because people could just move out of the way without having to leave the point. A good example of this is Graveyard on Legacy of the Foefire. Some of the most interesting fights happen on that point because Necros and Engis are much less effective in it. Mid fights on Forest of Niflhel if the entire Keep area was the capture point. In fact, all fights over points would be more interesting if they were more than double their current size. Don’t limit yourself to just circles, shape the capture zones to the landscape.

The second problem with GW2’s version of conquest is that unlike games like BF3, it only takes one enemy on point to deny the cap. This is bad because it means 1 bunker can hold of multiple people. If there are 2 reds and 1 blue on a point then the reds should slowly start to capture the point. Some would argue that this would encourage zerging but the counter argument to that is that a good team will simply abandon that point and split up and get the other 2 points. This would be interesting because teams would have to decide how to split of their teams.

I do believe that GW2 TPvP can be an enjoyable viewing experience, but the current map design is influencing the meta just as much as the skill changes are and not in a positive way.

I think larger capture points is a fantastic idea it would allow use to use environment and still hold point. I don’t really care to much about watching or other people watching I would be happy if it was playable spvp is garbage right now. The worse part is they ruined one of the things there spvpers were waiting months for solo que. Someone should get fired over this balance.

Graveyard is the thing I like least about foefire. Stacking 2 semibunkers and a main bunker is ridiculous on that map. It’s very difficult to down and stomp a second bunker on GY before the first arrives back to support him, particularly if they’re mobile, and decapping is even more unlikely. It’s so easy to bunker mid on that map that even I can do it fine.

Trickling in works just fine when you’re running a setup like that. The way I see it, large nodes promote boring bunker standoffs and bad play. Whether you find that better than the current meta or not is irrelevant, it’s still bad.

Thesilentflute.8761:

I think larger capture points is a fantastic idea it would allow use to use environment and still hold point. I don’t really care to much about watching or other people watching I would be happy if it was playable spvp is garbage right now. The worse part is they ruined one of the things there spvpers were waiting months for solo que. Someone should get fired over this balance.

I think that the balance would naturally improve if the capture points were enlarged because it may encourage more power builds and spikes so that in say a 2v3 you can quickly make it an even 2v2 so that the side with 3 doesn’t take the point. Condis in the open aren’t nearly as dangerous as they are in the confined space of a small circle. I do think that the condi meta is bad for business and that Vitality stat gained from trait point should also reduce condition effectiveness so that it’s a more effective counter like toughness to power.

@Mammoth, If the larger points were introduced in addition to the team with the most players can slowly capture that point a bunker would be MUCH less effective and you’d would probably want someone that can spike someone down fast to give you the numbers lead.

Games like LoL, DotA, and SC2 are boring to watch. Can’t figure out why anybody would watch gaming.

Mammoth.1975:

Graveyard is the thing I like least about foefire. Stacking 2 semibunkers and a main bunker is ridiculous on that map. It’s very difficult to down and stomp a second bunker on GY before the first arrives back to support him, particularly if they’re mobile, and decapping is even more unlikely.

And that’s why you don’t let Graveyard get capped. And if you do, then it’s not over, there are 2 more points and the Lord.

I dislike small points much more where you really can’t do anything than succumb to the mass AoE or get off and lose it.

theonewhoknocks.8641:

Mammoth.1975:

Graveyard is the thing I like least about foefire. Stacking 2 semibunkers and a main bunker is ridiculous on that map. It’s very difficult to down and stomp a second bunker on GY before the first arrives back to support him, particularly if they’re mobile, and decapping is even more unlikely.

And that’s why you don’t let Graveyard get capped. And if you do, then it’s not over, there are 2 more points and the Lord.

I dislike small points much more where you really can’t do anything than succumb to the mass AoE or get off and lose it.

Yeah, and the ease with which triple bunkers can prevent GY from getting capped is also why it’s the only map that ever goes to time. If aoe is only hitting one person, it’s not really aoe that is the problem. Stop stacking on the point.

Junkpile.7439:

Games like LoL, DotA, and SC2 are boring to watch. Can’t figure out why anybody would watch gaming.

Well, opinions and all that. Just compare the Twitch numbers of GW2 and those 3 and I think it’s pretty obvious who’s got their ducks in a row. Currently GW2 has 734 viewers while LoL has 47k has SC2 32k. Even if you don’t find them enjoyable (I don’t play LoL or SC2 although I do view the odd tourney) it’s clear that a large amount do. GW2 TPvP has the potential to be a good Esport but not in its current form.

BurrTheKing.8571:

Junkpile.7439:

Games like LoL, DotA, and SC2 are boring to watch. Can’t figure out why anybody would watch gaming.

Well, opinions and all that. Just compare the Twitch numbers of GW2 and those 3 and I think it’s pretty obvious who’s got their ducks in a row. Currently GW2 has 734 viewers while LoL has 47k has SC2 32k. Even if you don’t find them enjoyable (I don’t play LoL or SC2 although I do view the odd tourney) it’s clear that a large amount do. GW2 TPvP has the potential to be a good Esport but not in its current form.

Multiple reasons for this, and I don’t think you’ve named any of them, you’re just dressing up your own bias as concern for the game.

Firstly, GW2 hasn’t launched servers in Asia yet. There are about 50k gw2 tournament players compared to like 32 million lol players.

Secondly, you get a snowball effect the larger the community is. The more people playing, the larger the skill gap between the top players and the average players. That encourages people to watch, in a similar way to more typical pro sports. Watching people at the peak of their abilities and dedication do things you could only dream of is fun.