Guild Wars 2

I strongly urge ArenaNet to do away with the one-named-item limit when equipping ascended gear. The reasons are as follow:

1) Not everyone frequents these forums, and not everyone has been farming Fractals since its release. Ergo, not everyone is aware of the fact that the “unique” label on ascended accessories means you can only equip one of each named item. This has resulted in players unknowingly purchasing two of the same ascended accessory with laurels, only to find they cannot equip both simultaneously.

2) Even barring the argument from ignorance, the limit places an unnecessary, unhelpful, and hypocritical constraint on play-styles: some players want the same item twice with the same infusion slot type depending on how they choose to build their characters. Placing unclear limitations on player builds sends a mixed message to players: GW2 is supposedly a game embracing diversity and customization, but this constraint runs counter to that alleged design philosophy.

3) Relatedly, the unique restriction punishes players who desire a certain gaming aesthetic or setup. If a player has previously been equipping duplicate non-ascended accessories out of preference and is suddenly barred from doing so with ascended accessories, the sudden (ill-explained) change in dynamic is both confusing and disturbing. Confusing in the sense that this restriction was previously unknown; disturbing in the sense that it jars the player’s previous understanding of the game. If a player farms the daily requirements for a thirty-five or forty day period for a certain item (a considerable grind), it seems unfair to deny said player the ability to equip that item, regardless of duplicate status.

4) The response that one should equip a duplicate item on some other character is unsatisfactory. The suggestion that players should be forced to play a certain way, including necessarily playing alt characters, runs counter to GW2’s design philosophy. Some players simply do not want alternative level 80 characters; even if one does have such a character, it does not follow that one will desire to invest any further in said character. It is also insufficient to suggest that one might equip a “quasi” duplicate by using one infused and one non-infused version of the same item: presumably, one may wish to infuse both versions in the future and would then be unable to equip one again.

In summary, the unique limit is neither comprehensible nor reasonable given the game’s design. One would not prohibit a player from equipping duplicate legendary weapons on a single character; why should ascended accessories be prohibited from such a status? It would not be game-breaking to allow doubling-up of equipping a particular item, so I fail to see the point of the restriction, hence my suggestion that it be removed. Promptly.

When the Ancient Karka event from “The Lost Shores” ended, I brought up this topic. Because the Ancient Karka Shell accessory was the first unique item added to the game.

I know this because I bought a second Ancient Karka Shell and found out the hard way. I purchased Gems and sold them for gold a couple of hours after the event ended. Used the gold from Sunday night til Tuesday buying up 1,000 karka shells on the TP. Took them to Southsun Cove and traded them in for a second Ancient Karka Shell. I was really happy that I got it. Until I went to equip it and….. nothing! I was irate.

I’m not a farmer, nor a dungeon runner. Gold in the game is hard to come buy for me. Thus, the spending of US Dollars was required. Still to this day I’m kinda ticked off. I contacted customer service about it but, they couldn’t help me. To pour salt on the wound, they came out with the ascended accessories making my $40 or so purchase kinda worthless.

Why am I telling you all this, one may ask. Because I ended up not being the only one whom fell for this. With some severely ticked off customers, you’d think they’d change the “Unique” status back then. Heck, it was only one item at the time, right? Instead, they came out with a whole slew more since then. So…. whomever in the company loves being obsessively controlling, they aren’t going to budge on this.

“Unique” is pretty clear. But I’d be happy with a 5 minute full refund window for us that don’t catch that term. The limits help define what the game is. A-net can still plce constraints on how diverse they desire their game to be while still producing a diverse game. Diversity seldom equates to complete freedom and anarchy. Which means there are always some kind of limit.

Has nothing to do with the name, you just can’t equip 2 offensive slot accessories or 2 defensive ones.

Dustfinger.9510:

“Unique” is pretty clear. But I’d be happy with a 5 minute full refund window for us that don’t catch that term. The limits help define what the game is. A-net can still plce constraints on how diverse they desire their game to be while still producing a diverse game. Diversity seldom equates to complete freedom and anarchy. Which means there are always some kind of limit.

@Dustfinger: First, “unique” is not clear, at least not to players who have not played games in which the label means what it does in GW2. This debate has been brought up in several topics on these forums and, frankly, it seems like a cop-out response. One might argue that if the items were truly intended to be “unique” then there would only be one of each of them in-game at all; that would make them unique, but that would also probably be seen as ridiculous.

Second, I agree that a game’s limits, its rules, help define it. The point here, however, is that some limits/rules are sensible while others are not. Points 2 and 3 above address this matter: allowing players to equip two of the same ascended accessory would not be in any way game breaking, and the measure as it stands makes little to no sense. Rules are also presumably intended to promote some end with regard to how they shape the game; the end here (if it does exist) is unclear.

Third: although I agree that such a refund window would, in theory, be a potential resolution to this problem, I am uncertain of how it could be practically implemented. I would think that lifting the restriction would actually be an easier mechanic to alter, rather than implementing something new like this. Nonetheless, the idea as a compromise is appreciated.

Sorry bout the tone of that post. I think I was already geared for war from another post. In no way was I implying I haven’t been caught by that term. Only that it means the same thing in multiple games so I also have learned the hard way in other games which is why I’m in favor of that grace period

@Dustfinger: And I apologize if my post came off as self-righteous or something I am a bit confused as to how these suggestion topics work, so I did not know if I needed to defend my argument further. I thought your tone was quite civil, which is refreshing given the attitude of many other forums I frequent.

Again, I think the grace period would be a fair way of dealing with this issue if ANet really does not want to do away with the uniqueness restriction. They might also more explicitly describe “unique” on items. I know that probably sounds like I am advocating for something like more health warnings on a carton of cigarettes, but really the point is more about explaining a less-addressed game dynamic.

In-game, when you don’t know what something means, use the wiki command to learn more before making a mistake. Try this:

“/wiki Unique”

I’d chock this error up to the same error as someone who spends 42k karma on one toon for an item and tries to transfer it to another toon, not realizing that the item is Soulbound on Acquire. It sucks, but this sort of issue is user error, and there should be a refund window, but I’d mark that as a low priority compared to other issues ANet needs to resolve.

Back in Diablo 2 Unique just meant quality level :>

Rising Dusk.2408:

In-game, when you don’t know what something means, use the wiki command to learn more before making a mistake. Try this:

“/wiki Unique”

I’d chock this error up to the same error as someone who spends 42k karma on one toon for an item and tries to transfer it to another toon, not realizing that the item is Soulbound on Acquire. It sucks, but this sort of issue is user error, and there should be a refund window, but I’d mark that as a low priority compared to other issues ANet needs to resolve.

Exactly! The armor used to be account bound, then they changed it. Answer this: Why would they allow me to buy armor that I could never equip? Say I am a Warrior, why would that armor vendor even show me light or medium armor?

Its things like this that ensure I will never make a cash shop puchase with RL currency. They are too all over the map with how they implement things.

You spend your money and they switch up the rules of the game. You think your gear is the best then ascended comes out. Then with no warning you can only equip one unique?

The same with paing for server changes. You pay your real money to switch and then they just randomly move you? They switched my server, I don’t remember giving permission.

These are just a couple of example. I’ve heard that others spent a ton of money on magic find then they switched that up on them, etc, etc.. This game doesn’t work pay to play. They are just too inconsistant.

SHM.7628:

Exactly! The armor used to be account bound, then they changed it. Answer this: Why would they allow me to buy armor that I could never equip? Say I am a Warrior, why would that armor vendor even show me light or medium armor?

You can buy a piano if you don’t know how to play.

misterducky.4876:

SHM.7628:

Exactly! The armor used to be account bound, then they changed it. Answer this: Why would they allow me to buy armor that I could never equip? Say I am a Warrior, why would that armor vendor even show me light or medium armor?

You can buy a piano if you don’t know how to play.

How is that relevent? At least I can take piano lessons if I buy the piano. This specialized karma armor can never be used. (and I remind you, at one time it could)

It wouldnt be “unique” if you could have more than one.

u·nique

Adjective
Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else

Noun
A unique person or thing.

Synonyms
singular – single – only – sole – unparalleled

So, no, dont change the limit, just make the unique items track if you purchased it before, and if you try to purchase it a second time, a window pops up that tells you that you are not allowed you to purchase it, with a message stating you already bought this item, and that you cannot equip more than one of the same unique item per character.

No, unique means that only one of these exists (even if that is only true in the “experience sphere” of an individual character).

That means, once a character owns a specific item, vendors (laurel or otherwise) should no longer list it as something you can buy.

No, unique means only one can be equiped at any given time. It has ALWAYS been this way int he MMO world. Geeze, people get away fromt he hand holding of WoW and completely lose the ability to be responsible for their own actions.
Why do they show you armor you cannot equip? So you are able to preview it and know that the armor is there in the first place. If you don’t watch where you click that is entirely your fault. Own up that you made a simple mistake and move on, it is not the end of the world but you should still own up to your own mistake.

^This is my first MMO. The wiki didn’t even have an entry at the time either. I took the term “unique” as a noun. Meaning that it is unique, in stats, from all other accessories. Which at the time, it was the only celestial accessory. Also, it’s an exotic with no infusion slot for offensive/defensive. So, it’s a bit odd why this can’t be equipped twice. Then they came out with two Ascended celestial stated accessories anyway! So… only being able to equip one is ridiculous even to them!

As I said, it was the first “unique” item in the game. Though the never went back and fixed this.

Like dye’s on the TP, it should have said that my character can only equip one of them on the purchase screen. Anet still had my $40 regardless. But, I could have sold my karka shells and recouped most of the money. The fact that I’m just going to junk them for Ascended accessories sucks even more. If they keep introducing “The Next Best Thing” in equipment, I’ll be done with the game.

Yeah, it is silly that they just added “unique” and assumed everyone knew what it meant. If you played WoW you probably knew, but if not it was a slap in the face.

Even worse that they made identical ascended amulets without ultility slots, which resulted in myself and both of the people I know that play this game to get rid of their amulets because we got useless offensive and defensive slots. They need some kind of tool tips kitten

had no idea unique was a thing, sounds dumb

I think we are beginning to lose track of the greater argument here. The point of this suggestion was not to bring up contention about how to interpret “unique”, but rather to question whether the concept fits well with the game as designed, and whether or not the equip restriction should be done away with completely or, barring that, whether some “grace period” mechanic should be put in effect (or, another possible alternative, some method of swapping one unique item for another at vendors).

Etaoin.4362:

I think we are beginning to lose track of the greater argument here. The point of this suggestion was not to bring up contention about how to interpret “unique”, but rather to question whether the concept fits well with the game as designed, and whether or not the equip restriction should be done away with completely or, barring that, whether some “grace period” mechanic should be put in effect (or, another possible alternative, some method of swapping one unique item for another at vendors).

Nope, I find things fine as they are. Before I spend any currency that takes considerable time or effort I always research and/or ask questions in map/guild. There is no reason to code for buyers remorse/error.

As my Dad used to say to me when i was growing up, “Slow down, you’ll get done faster”. Taking your time and making the right choice the first time is almost always faster then rushing, making a mistake and having to start from scratch again.

the funniest thing about this is that if you look real good you can find two different item name … same stat. I thought this was a waste of time to code for all that extra rings just cuz its unique

Catisa.6507:

Nope, I find things fine as they are. Before I spend any currency that takes considerable time or effort I always research and/or ask questions in map/guild. There is no reason to code for buyers remorse/error.

As my Dad used to say to me when i was growing up, “Slow down, you’ll get done faster”. Taking your time and making the right choice the first time is almost always faster then rushing, making a mistake and having to start from scratch again.

Again, this assumes that the sole motivation is simply “buyer’s remorse”; it is not the sole motivation, but one (in fact a minor one) among many. A more substantial complaint is that there seems to be no good reason for the unique limitation in terms of game mechanics: Why can we not equip two items with the same stats and infusion slot type?

Dragoon.9536:

the funniest thing about this is that if you look real good you can find two different item name … same stat. I thought this was a waste of time to code for all that extra rings just cuz its unique

The items might give the same base stat bonuses, but they do not have the same type of infusion slots (e.g. “offensive”, “defensive”, or now “utility”). One of the points is that there seems to be no good reason to prohibit players from equipping two items with both the same stats and the same type of infusion slots. The reason that this is impossible is because of the uniqueness restriction. Maybe I am misunderstanding you, though, and this was your point?

I just fell victim to the whole “unique” tag on ascended rings. I purchased a second Doric ring (going for Defensive) and was shocked to see that I could not equip it. It wasn’t until I asked my guild that I found out why.

One could argue that I should of asked beforehand but really, how would I KNOW to ask? I would be nice if there was a prompt saying “you cannot purchase this item because you already have it equipped” but sadly there was not. My only course of action at this moment is to grind Fractals up to 20+ in order to hopefully get a shard to drop then infuse the ring so it is more unique THEN I can equip it. I do not like this idea since I don’t frequent Fractals very often so I am left with a paper weight in my bank until something changes or I grind Fractals.

Anet, please remove this “unique” item category. It really causes problems.

Thanks in advance