Guild Wars 2

This is an open letter: ArenaNet, your new players joining PvP STILL do not know how to set up their builds, STILL some beleive that armor (armor rating) has 0 effect on their character in PvP and STILL do not understand some basic fundamental design principles in place for the PvP environment!

• The most important issue that needs to be addressed currently is that players are not properly reminded or directed to the PvP Builds window, and since the new patch makes you unable to open this window (without a hotkey) during a practice match, most players stumble into sPvP with the pre-build traits/runes/amulet/etc. thinking they are running what they have in other game-modes.

But on top of that, I still see we have this not-so-great PvP tutorial, and pre-set pvp builds that players don’t even know they have loaded, because the game doesn’t tell how anything works in the sPvP lobby. (See: Any Class with Soldier’s Amulet w/ Rune of Lyssa)

Players are never directed to the training grounds properly either…SO how about:

For the very first time (prior to ever joining a pvp match/ranked/unranked/practice)

(Optional)All PvP reward tracks are locked until you complete a basic “Training Track” that would involve mechanics in the training area and progress something similar to: (excluding cannons…because no current maps use them)

Each of these will have a popup window (like hints) that would describe actions and rewards for these mechanics. (the hints/popup descriptions will be in bold)

• Visit the Training Grounds area.
  (Here, we will learn about the basic mechanics of the various PvP Environments.)

• Open your PvP Build window.
  (This screen will help you build your character to fight alongside teammates in PvP matches. The Traits, Sigils and Amulet are all you need to get started in PvP. These will change as you swap between PvP and PvE areas, so be sure to open this window when you enter any PvP zone to double-check your setup.)

• Rally an ally in the Training Grounds.
  (Keeping your allies alive is important in all game-types, but even more so in a PvP environment, so be sure to revive fallen allies to keep your team strong.)

• Stomp an Enemy in the Training Grounds.
  (Just as important as reviving allies, defeating an enemy is also a great way to strengthen your team, and make your enemies rethink their strategy.)

• Use a Trebuchet in the Training Grounds.
  (This secondary objective is located on the Battle of Khylo PvP map and allows you to bombard an area with heavy hitting Trebuchet shots to give your allies the edge in battle.)

• Destroy a Trebuchet in the Training Grounds.
  (Both teams in Battle of Khylo start the match with a trebuchet ready for them, so destroying the enemies is a great way to reduce any advantage they can gain from it.)

• Repair the broken Trebuchet in the Training Grounds.
  (Even if your Trebuchet is destroyed, or you destroy the enemy team’s Trebuchet, the Repair Kit is a tool that can make it usable again during a match.)

• Gain a temporary buff by defeating The Chieftain or Svanir in the Training Grounds.
  (By defeating these neutral monsters on the Forest of Niflhel, you will grant your team an instant 25 points as well as a helpful buff to boost your team’s power and stats.)

• Kill the enemy Guild Lord.
  (On the Legacy of the Foefire map, there is a powerful NPC heavily guarded in each team’s base. By defeating this NPC you will grant your team an instant 150 points.)

• Channel and capture a neutral node in the Training Grounds.
  (Many maps in PvP require you to channel for a brief moment in order to capture an objective or buff. Such as the Orb of Ascension on Spirit Watch, the Cannon on Skyhammer and various buffs on Temple of the Silent Storm.)

>>This is where the Training Area stops, and the in-game training begins<<

• Capture a neutral capture point in any PvP match.

• Capture an enemy controlled Capture Point in any PvP match.

• Defend a capture point your team controls for 10 seconds in any PvP match.

• Rally an ally in any PvP match.

• Stomp an Enemy in any PvP match.

-Done-

Agreed

The game also does not tell you that key binding your skills is imperative to success same with keyboard turning

Why do I have to learn about meta builds outside of the game?

Why do I have to learn the roles of PvP outside of the game – Bunker/Roamer

Literally nothing is in-game which is why you see 10k AP players making the same mistakes constantly – double capping nodes or going after svanir at the beginning of the match

We need this so badly! If any anet developer read this: Implement this stuff!

It is beyond me why none of this is already implemented…

I think this is fine.
Also, kinda angaist ANet policy but why not restrict Ranked games? Like people can’t do Ranked until they get to either Rank 20 or 30. At these ranks players are getting more into PvP, they know the basics pretty much well if they are not stupid an this would maybe promote a better experience in Ranked. I’m getting tired of getting people that think that are top tier and push far mindlessly. Like more than 60% of PvP player base doesn’t even check map when PvPing and this is a basic thing to do.

Idk just a sugestion maybe a bit off topic but in order to get better Ranked and having this type of Q taken more serious you need to have there a playerbase that take the PvP more serious. A bit like you can’t do rankeds in LoL until you are maxed lvl, because at max lvl ppl are going to take the game serious if they aren’t trolls, but about those we can’t do much

mPascoal.4258:

I think this is fine.
Also, kinda angaist ANet policy but why not restrict Ranked games? Like people can’t do Ranked until they get to either Rank 20 or 30. At these ranks players are getting more into PvP, they know the basics pretty much well if they are not stupid an this would maybe promote a better experience in Ranked. I’m getting tired of getting people that think that are top tier and push far mindlessly. Like more than 60% of PvP player base doesn’t even check map when PvPing and this is a basic thing to do.

Idk just a sugestion maybe a bit off topic but in order to get better Ranked and having this type of Q taken more serious you need to have there a playerbase that take the PvP more serious. A bit like you can’t do rankeds in LoL until you are maxed lvl, because at max lvl ppl are going to take the game serious if they aren’t trolls, but about those we can’t do much

Because touching PvP is the last thing on their list. They gave us Stronghold because a new game mode was the highest priority on the PvP Community’s list. That and it’s an “Expansion” by default it touches every aspect of this game… so it really doesn’t count.

The OP’s list is very much needed and should have been added from day 1, along with numerous other “Esport” criterias. I’ve said it numerous time already, this is not an Esport game. There are many aspects in the PvP scene that the PvP community wants, that every MMORPG has, that will never ever be added… unless we get an expansion.

That said, i’m excited about Stronghold. It’s going to draw a huge crowd from PvE and WvW into the PvP scene.

+1

Thing is, by adding more gamemodes (see: Stronghold) with more mechanics, it is vital that players know at minimum the basics of PvP, and the current tutorial does not push that hard enough, and does not provide players with the information needed to allow them to customize their pvp loadouts.

Meanwhile we are at it, anyone have a guide for bunker strategy’s and roamers rotations?

Pretty much all linked guides on the sticked topic are down. I can’t find that kind o information anywhere. (that sucks since 90% of SoloQ loses is because the team doesn’t know how to rotate)

Not really sure there is any guides besides Backpacks. I could be wrong though. Here are his & should give you some helpful information in general (not necessarily on “bunker”).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvPb2jY19oU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z-k9OMpJOY

Other options are to go to top player streams and watch their VODs on what they do. Can find a ‘bunker’ top player stream for that specific roll.

SoulSin.5682:

Meanwhile we are at it, anyone have a guide for bunker strategy’s and roamers rotations?

Pretty much all linked guides on the sticked topic are down. I can’t find that kind o information anywhere. (that sucks since 90% of SoloQ loses is because the team doesn’t know how to rotate)

http://metabattle.com/wiki/MetaBattle_Wiki has some basic usage guides, and http://intothemists.com/guides/ has its own set of stuff too.

not a ton of guides out there really, but still a good place to start,

And am still seeing players coming into matches with the default traits/amulet/sigils

….come on guys

yes it’s not hard to do and they should really do it.

The difficulty new players have understanding sPvP is actually a symptom of a much greater, core problem of the game; something the New Player Experience patch was supposed to address but failed (miserably) at.

Considering that almost nowhere in the game players are taught about the following (let alone their importance), I’m surprised so many stick around as it is:
Boons
Conditions
Crowd Control
Stun Breakers
Weapon Swapping
Their Class’s Profession Mechanic
Runes
Sigils
Combo Fields
Combo Finishers
Dodging

Sure, players don’t have to learn all of the above list at once, but at some point they need to be eased into learning them so that they are not annihilated when they enter sPvP playing against people who do. The problem is, they never are. I wouldn’t be surprised if most players don’t learn about any of these until they enter Dungeons, WvW, or sPvP; assuming they learn it at all. Which they don’t need to for almost all of the open world and story content, which is likely part of the problem.

Zietlogik.6208:

And am still seeing players coming into matches with the default traits/amulet/sigils

….come on guys

You can see these things? Leave hotjoin.

Here are some great tutorials for new players:

http://qqmore.net/basic-guides/

Roy.7405:

The difficulty new players have understanding sPvP is actually a symptom of a much greater, core problem of the game; something the New Player Experience patch was supposed to address but failed (miserably) at.

Considering that almost nowhere in the game players are taught about the following (let alone their importance), I’m surprised so many stick around as it is:
Boons
Conditions
Crowd Control
Stun Breakers
Weapon Swapping
Their Class’s Profession Mechanic
Runes
Sigils
Combo Fields
Combo Finishers
Dodging

Sure, players don’t have to learn all of the above list at once, but at some point they need to be eased into learning them so that they are not annihilated when they enter sPvP playing against people who do. The problem is, they never are. I wouldn’t be surprised if most players don’t learn about any of these until they enter Dungeons, WvW, or sPvP; assuming they learn it at all. Which they don’t need to for almost all of the open world and story content, which is likely part of the problem.

Just want to point out a few things.

Boons and conditions: are explained through the NPE
Weapon Swaping: Unlocked and explained in the NPE
Dodging: A tutorial, and explaination in the NPE
Class mechanic: Explained in the NPE
Runes and Sigils: Explained in the NPE

Crowd control, combos, and stun breakers however are not fully covered.

Also new players (with new accounts) are unable to even access PvP (unless they go through the portal) until level 22. The theory being that by the time they are level 22 they should have at least a basic grasp of combat mechanics. But it is also true that traits and utilities may be a bit of a problem. But I do agree, at least having a pop up showing where to change your build would be desirable. But the rest comes with experience.

Narkodx.1472:

Agreed

The game also does not tell you that key binding your skills is imperative to success same with keyboard turning

Why do I have to learn about meta builds outside of the game?

Why do I have to learn the roles of PvP outside of the game – Bunker/Roamer

Literally nothing is in-game which is why you see 10k AP players making the same mistakes constantly – double capping nodes or going after svanir at the beginning of the match

Meta builds are solely player derived through lots of experimentation and a general acceptance. Anet isn’t going to endorse one build over another. Providing a build set up in game discourages build diversity (which is one thing they are continually try to do through various nerfs/buffs).

The bunker/roaming builds are also player dervied, and won’t be touched upon by Anet for the very same reason. They want players to experiment and try different things until they find what works for them.

Key bindings are unique to the player, and aren’t always the key to success. I’ve personally tried a few different key bindings, but eventually went back to default as it is much easier for me to do. Sometimes I win, sometimes I don’t. I feel I would do far worse if I has forced to have a particular key set up, build, class and play style in order to enjoy PvP.

Basically what you are asking is for Anet to implement a particular way of playing that a few people have developed after many hours of trial, error, and research. No. Let a new comer try out new things (for them) learn what works for them and what doesn’t work, and have fun.