Guild Wars 2

Temple of the Silent Storm will be the official map for 1v1 team matches and ArenaNet developer Jonathan Sharp thinks this map has a lot of tournament potential. While some of you may or may not agree with his statement, I’d like for us (the competitive community) to have an in-depth discussion and hopefully provide some critical feedback in the process. I’ll go first:

Map
-The most glaring issue/oversight with this map is that it favors the blue team in terms of map awareness and positioning due to the slight imbalance in vantage point design for home nodes (Altar & Temple). Whereas the blue (Altar) backpoint defender can have full view of Gate, Red Base, and the adjacent slope that connects to Altar while being 600 units away from the node, the red (Temple) backpoint defender has to move away 2100 units from the node only to get a semi view of Gate, 1/4 view of Blue Base, and the upper view of the adjacent slope that connects to Temple.

Secondary Objectives
I personally think that the secondary objectives of this map are cleverly designed and allow some potential comeback scenarios and interesting fights. However, ArenaNet should come up with a solution for the potential Shadowstep, Portal meditation abuses as they can’t be countered.

Gameplay
-With the upcoming AoE nerf, I’m not so much worried about the verticality of this map as I am about the underwater combat. ArenaNet continues to believe underwater combat can be viable in a competitive setting, even when the playerbase screams otherwise. I’m curious what will come out of this.
-The verticality of this map and the distance between nodes and upper platforms makes teleporting abilities quite strong. As a result, roaming professions that lack any meaning teleport will be made obsolete. 100hb Warriors will be substituted with Thieves 99.999% of the time and Engies will be made even more obsolete as roamers or backpoint defenders. ArenaNet has to find an equilibrium between roamers with this map in mind, otherwise expect more QQ from said classes.
-The distance of the most commonly used pull abilities could use a slight boost for this map as well.

So, what do you guys think about Temple?

OneArmedBandit.7936:

-The most glaring issue/oversight with this map is that it favors the blue team in terms of map awareness and positioning due to the slight imbalance in vantage point design for home nodes (Altar & Temple). Whereas the blue (Altar) backpoint defender can have full view of Gate, Red Base, and the adjacent slope that connects to Altar while being 600 units away from the node, the red (Temple) backpoint defender has to move away 2100 units from the node only to get a semi view of Gate, 1/4 view of Blue Base, and the upper view of the adjacent slope that connects to Temple.

That’s the most annoying issue with the map, second being the favor of teleport skills.

um anyone forget that there is a buff below the gate at like 6 or 8 minutes something like that, where if you get it you auto-aqcuire all three points. Thats what I have been told at least, I really only tourny so I wouldnt know.

I just dunno how if you have something like that the map could be considered competitive and balanced.

O S I A S.5460:

um anyone forget that there is a buff below the gate at like 6 or 8 minutes something like that, where if you get it you auto-aqcuire all three points. Thats what I have been told at least, I really only tourny so I wouldnt know.

I just dunno how if you have something like that the map could be considered competitive and balanced.

Pretty sure that buff is the reasoning they think it’s going to be a competitive match.

Balancing around team fights / portals to that buff when it pops, as well as controlling Gate which is the point of exit.

Balancing as a team to send the right amount of players to reinforce that buff so that you don’t over commit and get backcapped and penned in.

Mesmers are going to be essential. (Place portal up top, drop down as a team, burn down any enemy(s) there, portal back up to to avoid getting squished in at the Gate entrance).

aight I just thought by defualt that is broken, but I guess no more so than ganking GL when you hit 350 points ftw. Instead its just part of the maps strategy eh.

What I mean by the portal abuse is you start channeling Meditation of Stillness when it is active, pop your portal and teleport back to a safe location without interrupting your channeling, pop distortion and teleport back. Voilà, you have now mastered a broken mechanic. I’m pointing it out now, so we don’t have to wait X weeks for a solution.