Guild Wars 2

Like honestly, what has this game come too? I’ve been a major supporter of PvP and have been playing it primarily since beta. In the last month though, I really have to say this…

wtf anet.

In a game that used to be about strategy, player skill, and team synchronization has turned in a clusterkitten of AI in team fights. Not to mention the amount of passive effects and “pets” are ludicrous! I just finished a soloQ against 3 spirit rangers, a necro, and a mesmer. It was probably one of the most unenjoyable matches I have ever played. During every team fight, I couldn’t even FIND A PLAYER to target because there were swarms of clones, spirits, and particle effects everywhere. Now don’t get me wrong, I love this game to death, but this is simply out of control. The instant a teamfight engages, I instantly have a silly amount of conditions on me by rangers spamming 1 on their axes or necromancer marks.

I’m not saying “ermagerd pl0x nerf everything n’ sheeeeiz”, but the amount of passive play that is in the current meta is just staggering. sigh I used to really enjoy playing this game, but there’s just too many AOE and passive effects that make players do way too much damage with no risk at all.

As I recall, ANet stated that they wanted to tone down the amount of damage AOE attacks did. It makes sense though, if it’s going to be AOE (meaning less risk in hitting someone), then it should do less damage. less damage = less risk.

I’m no balance expert, nor am I someone who normally QQ’s about things like this, but I honestly believe something needs to change. Here are some things I’d suggest to help improve competitive TPvP matches to make them more balanced.

1. Reduce the amount of damage AOE attacks do (necro marks etc.)
2. Reduce the amount of benefits that passives give to encourage more player skill (reduce damage/conditions from traits, pets, etc)
3. Increase reward for single target attacks to encourage less mindless AOE spam in team fights (this will not only make shoutcasting easier, but it will make teams have to focus on strategies and tactics more).

I apologize if this post came off as a whiney QQ nerf pl0x thread, but everything seems over the top at the moment and needs a little toning down.

Just slow down the game, that’s all I’m asking, ANet

~Cheers,
Vöz

Only it isn’t like that at all.

Minion Necromancer builds are mediocre at best, and there are better builds for competitive play. Meanwhile, Mesmers have always been clone-centric, and that won’t change, and can’t, without damaging the actual gameplay of Mesmers. Spirit Rangers are pretty strong right now, but there are alternative builds. No one is running the build because it’s giving them minions to do the work for them, they’re doing it because it’s simply the superior build right now.

AoE damage is pretty negligible, as focusing a target should be your priority. Aside from the AoE downed cleave, I don’t really recall anyone going for massive AoE unless they’re fighting over a point, in which case it provides zone control and helps deny enemies from the point; which means the AoE’s are serving their intended purpose.

iSylvir.7316:

Only it isn’t like that at all.

Minion Necromancer builds are mediocre at best, and there are better builds for competitive play. Meanwhile, Mesmers have always been clone-centric, and that won’t change, and can’t, without damaging the actual gameplay of Mesmers. Spirit Rangers are pretty strong right now, but there are alternative builds. No one is running the build because it’s giving them minions to do the work for them, they’re doing it because it’s simply the superior build right now.

AoE damage is pretty negligible, as focusing a target should be your priority. Aside from the AoE downed cleave, I don’t really recall anyone going for massive AoE unless they’re fighting over a point, in which case it provides zone control and helps deny enemies from the point; which means the AoE’s are serving their intended purpose.

Do we play the same game?

They can’t reduce AOE, it’s gw2 core.
If they tone down AOE, they need to rebalance 80% of the game, if not more.

So, they are screwed, tone down AOE is bad because then u will need to rebalance most of the game, not tone down AOE is also bad, because games become AOE spam festivals. Im happy that i dont need to make that decision.

Defektive.7283:

iSylvir.7316:

Only it isn’t like that at all.

Minion Necromancer builds are mediocre at best, and there are better builds for competitive play. Meanwhile, Mesmers have always been clone-centric, and that won’t change, and can’t, without damaging the actual gameplay of Mesmers. Spirit Rangers are pretty strong right now, but there are alternative builds. No one is running the build because it’s giving them minions to do the work for them, they’re doing it because it’s simply the superior build right now.

AoE damage is pretty negligible, as focusing a target should be your priority. Aside from the AoE downed cleave, I don’t really recall anyone going for massive AoE unless they’re fighting over a point, in which case it provides zone control and helps deny enemies from the point; which means the AoE’s are serving their intended purpose.

Do we play the same game?

Ya AoE is so underpowered. Nothing strong about being able to simultaneously attack 3 or 4 ppl at a time in a teamfight from using a couple skills >.>

Gosh L2play Defektive

I agree in everything you said.. clones plus minions and spirits are everywhere.. phantasms are stronger than the mesmer itself, which it’s a bad idea to start whit imo.
At least turrets aren’t that strong, or we’d have engineers sitting in between their turrets too. Or maybe Anet wants an AI vs AI game, no idea. Last PAX qualifiers were just ugly to watch.. MVP spirits, period.

jmatb.6307:

Defektive.7283:

iSylvir.7316:

Only it isn’t like that at all.

Minion Necromancer builds are mediocre at best, and there are better builds for competitive play. Meanwhile, Mesmers have always been clone-centric, and that won’t change, and can’t, without damaging the actual gameplay of Mesmers. Spirit Rangers are pretty strong right now, but there are alternative builds. No one is running the build because it’s giving them minions to do the work for them, they’re doing it because it’s simply the superior build right now.

AoE damage is pretty negligible, as focusing a target should be your priority. Aside from the AoE downed cleave, I don’t really recall anyone going for massive AoE unless they’re fighting over a point, in which case it provides zone control and helps deny enemies from the point; which means the AoE’s are serving their intended purpose.

Do we play the same game?

Ya AoE is so underpowered. Nothing strong about being able to simultaneously attack 3 or 4 ppl at a time in a teamfight from using a couple skills >.>

Gosh L2play Defektive

back into the dungeon for me it seems.

For a game that is supposed to be about skill there is way to much aoe and pet spam.

Defektive.7283:

jmatb.6307:

Defektive.7283:

iSylvir.7316:

Only it isn’t like that at all.

Minion Necromancer builds are mediocre at best, and there are better builds for competitive play. Meanwhile, Mesmers have always been clone-centric, and that won’t change, and can’t, without damaging the actual gameplay of Mesmers. Spirit Rangers are pretty strong right now, but there are alternative builds. No one is running the build because it’s giving them minions to do the work for them, they’re doing it because it’s simply the superior build right now.

AoE damage is pretty negligible, as focusing a target should be your priority. Aside from the AoE downed cleave, I don’t really recall anyone going for massive AoE unless they’re fighting over a point, in which case it provides zone control and helps deny enemies from the point; which means the AoE’s are serving their intended purpose.

Do we play the same game?

Ya AoE is so underpowered. Nothing strong about being able to simultaneously attack 3 or 4 ppl at a time in a teamfight from using a couple skills >.>

Gosh L2play Defektive

back into the dungeon for me it seems.

I was joking lol

Necromancer marks have already been turned down quite a bit sense its hard to work greater marks into a build meaning less people getting hit and can also be blocked. The same would have to go for engineer bombs and grenades, huge damage all aoe. There is some risk in bombs but grenades you can sit at max distance and hit more per target and faster then a necro can “spam marks”

jmatb.6307:

I was joking lol

So was he. Or was he? Defektive #1 COF war NA?

I feel like you are complaining about anyone that can take you out with just aoes. The only way this would work is if you were a glass cannon of some kind. Seeing as glass cannons don’t use any toughness I feel like you should be 1 shot.

dodgerrule.8739:

I feel like you are complaining about anyone that can take you out with just aoes. The only way this would work is if you were a glass cannon of some kind. Seeing as glass cannons don’t use any toughness I feel like you should be 1 shot.

Voz plays a very compelling engineer. Being that engineers are essentially an AoE class right now (grenades, bombs etc.), I think his thoughts on this subject hold some weight.

Defektive.7283:

dodgerrule.8739:

I feel like you are complaining about anyone that can take you out with just aoes. The only way this would work is if you were a glass cannon of some kind. Seeing as glass cannons don’t use any toughness I feel like you should be 1 shot.

Voz plays a very compelling engineer. Being that engineers are essentially an AoE class right now (grenades, bombs etc.), I think his thoughts on this subject hold some weight.

He just posted “They were meant to be small, and you do not need to see if your opponent is necessarily using a skill. Take a chance, Tyria is filled with it.” in regard to asura’s. Clearly he doesn’t pvp.

Nikkle.4013:

Defektive.7283:

dodgerrule.8739:

I feel like you are complaining about anyone that can take you out with just aoes. The only way this would work is if you were a glass cannon of some kind. Seeing as glass cannons don’t use any toughness I feel like you should be 1 shot.

Voz plays a very compelling engineer. Being that engineers are essentially an AoE class right now (grenades, bombs etc.), I think his thoughts on this subject hold some weight.

He just posted “They were meant to be small, and you do not need to see if your opponent is necessarily using a skill. Take a chance, Tyria is filled with it.” in regard to asura’s. Clearly he doesn’t pvp.

Discussion is about AoE in PvP, not Asuras.

dodgerrule.8739:

I feel like you are complaining about anyone that can take you out with just aoes. The only way this would work is if you were a glass cannon of some kind. Seeing as glass cannons don’t use any toughness I feel like you should be 1 shot.

I don’t believe you have played tPvP if you think you have to spec for damage in regards to AOE damage. People can spec for practically bunker traits (for instance, a ranger or engineer can spec for mostly survivability) and still pump out massive amounts of condition damage… and even cleave damage in regards to spirit rangers.

dovrak.4376:

phantasms are stronger than the mesmer itself, which it’s a bad idea to start whit imo.

I wonder, how many of the top teams run Mesmer? Sure high Phantom Damage, they offer very little else other then a few Utilities that other classes can do better (Minus Portal) In this Meta, Mesmer might be at the very bottom of what class to take.

Plus that is ONE build, Mesmer have others you know, if Anet actually made us more diverse we wouldn’t be forced into select builds.

The general rule for PvP used to always be that single target skills did the most damage, AoEs were reduced damage because they affect multiple players and require no need for selective targeting if people are fighting close together. Pets/Minions/Clones/etc. have always been, in MMO PvP of games past, about supplementing the damage of the player, not the player supplementing the damage of the pet.

GW2 at this point has thrown both of these philosophies out of the window. A good fight should come down to a skillful dodge, or a well timed stun, or the right combo at the right time, not cluttering the screen with so much garbage that you ultimately just blow your CDs and hope for the best.

This is not the case in 1v1 encounters, mind you, but the problem is, in good tPvP, there are not very many 1v1 encounters, and furthermore, the good single target builds are neglected for tPvP because they serve no use… why take a single target nuke when you can do the same damage or better to an entire node?

AoE was mentioned long ago in a state of the game as needing a nerf by the Devs. It hasn’t happened yet, my guess is due to the reluctance to divide PvE/PvP, because it would unbalance the PvE side of things if they started adjusting the passive damage that has become the stable of it at this point.

That’s why I am gonna push for splitting PvP as long and hard as I can.

Individual player skill requires risk/reward. There’s hardly any risk to spamming the ground beneath a point that players have to stand on to defend or cap.

jmatb.6307:

That’s why I am gonna push for splitting PvP as long and hard as I can.

Individual player skill requires risk/reward. There’s hardly any risk to spamming the ground beneath a point that players have to stand on to defend or cap.

That’s exactly the issue. People can choose to either spec for damage on a single target and risk getting hit by attack OR they can stand as far back as possible and do the exact same amount of damage to everyone on a node for the same risk… This is the issue in this game >.>

I’d include evade spamming to this too. Not much point in attacking someone who is going to evade everything you throw at them. Oh, and they run zerker ammy lol GL HF

This will probably be true as long as conquest is the primary gametype and the points are as small as they currently are. As long as the primary objective is pushing the opposing players off the point AOE will be highly valued.

A couple things can address this:

• Larger points – This will make it harder to just spam aoe on a point and be effective, you need to actually make a choice about where your AOE is going to be most effective.
• Smaller AoE radius on all skills – Same as above just a different approach.
• Different game modes – Small scale deathmatch, CTF or any other game type will massively reduce the reliance on AoE.

The good news is the devs are already working toward solutions to these problems, via better tab targeting and overall reduction in AoE damage. I think your problem is a temporary one.

Too many pets!
Aoe them!
Too much aoe!