Guild Wars 2

So now that we have these new 25% movement speed signets, we now have huge groups constantly zerging in every spvp map. I know we always had this, but there was generally a limit on what you would encounter in the zerg, that is; thieves and warriors and maybe about 3-4 players. Its now most of the team, and more diverse, and much more dangerous.

Before the zerg was avoidable, and could be beaten through careful back capping and awareness. People tended to spread out or hang around certain portions of the map, because of that lack of mobility between professions. Some people would defend points. Not so much anymore though. Now that you can slap on that 25% movement speed signet you can just zip around the whole map on the coat tails of the people who already have swiftness in a rolling death ball. Back cap? HA with all that free speed you can zip back at a moments notice! No downtime, no boon stripping, just give up a utility slot and you’re set! Before there was usually a more severe trade off for speed, now not so much.

This is why having some professions not be as mobile as others was a good thing. You needed to know were to be for effectiveness, not just play follow the leader. It also spread out players and allowed for smaller 2v2, 3v3 skirmishes to occur on our small maps made for 5v5. Temple of the silent storm probably suffers the least, as it’s layout encourages players to spread out, but Foefire and Ruins suffer hard due their small size and simple layout. Its just too easy for a large pack of players to roam and maintain cohesion, with no coordination or effort to do so. You’re forced to group up with your own team just for survival now more than ever. That would be fine, but this isn’t W^3.

The consequences are pretty strong, as it is now harder to outplay the simple method of rolling around in a big-ol-party.

I hope we get some larger maps that are more complicated to make 8v8 less huge teamfighty, or just remove 8v8 and stick with 5v5 only.

I can see how that can be a problem in 8v8.

In 5v5, I think it promotes quicker decision making, and on-the-fly strats.

5mid? back-cap offpoint, back off mid, hold close and off.
4v4 Mid? try and solo svanir/chieftan quick.
etc etc.

It definitely encourages fighting with your teammates more. That’s definitely not what 8v8 needed. In tournaments it’s basically a buff to premades, nerf to pugs. I suppose it’s good for premade vs premade.

Yezhik.2071:

I can see how that can be a problem in 8v8.

In 5v5, I think it promotes quicker decision making, and on-the-fly strats.

5mid? back-cap offpoint, back off mid, hold close and off.
4v4 Mid? try and solo svanir/chieftan quick.
etc etc.

In tournaments speed roamers are not viable outside of Thief and Warrior after the last patch blocked weapon and trait swapping in tourny.

So it doesn’t really matter.