Guild Wars 2

Ok so here’s the way to please both the “I need more power” crowd and those who don’t like gear treadmills in 3 simple steps.

1) Remove the extra stats from Ascended gear or come out and say there won’t be any higher stats placed on gear in the future

2) Clearly state that, while Agony resist will make it easier to complete FOTM, it won’t have any bearing on future content

3) Make all future content have a progression system using the Ascended/Agony system, but make past upgrades worthless in the new content. What I mean by this is, Agony resistance obtained in FOTM is only good for that dungeon. New dungeons will require a different type of Agony resist that you get from said dungeon. This gives progression and power without gating content.

Pleases everyone and make lots of money. Do it now!

^ Yes, this is a great middle ground between the ‘content locusts’ (that want to feel like their time/grind spent should automatically make them superior) and the players that just want max statted gear forever (and not have to worry about re-grinding everything, like in EVERY. OTHER. MMO.).

Have ascended/legendary have the same stats as exotics, the same upgrade slots, PLUS the additional infuse slot for the new content. And have these infuse slots never, EVER, EVER have general stat bonuses like power, precision, crit damage, etc. Only agony resistance/duration reduction/etc. And boom, all of a sudden the progression locusts can have their progression, and it will not affect the rest of the game, such as WvW.

Slic.2406:

^ Yes, this is a great middle ground between the ‘content locusts’ (that want to feel like their time/grind spent should automatically make them superior) and the players that just want max statted gear forever (and not have to worry about re-grinding everything, like in EVERY. OTHER. MMO.).

Have ascended/legendary have the same stats as exotics, the same upgrade slots, PLUS the additional infuse slot for the new content. And have these infuse slots never, EVER, EVER have general stat bonuses like power, precision, crit damage, etc. Only agony resistance/duration reduction/etc. And boom, all of a sudden the progression locusts can have their progression, and it will not affect the rest of the game, such as WvW.

Not exactly what I stated, but yea pretty much.

I’m down with this…. I really just want to know that I’m not going to be upgrading from Ascended gear again in 6m – 12m…

coleman.2095:

I’m down with this…. I really just want to know that I’m not going to be upgrading from Ascended gear again in 6m – 12m…

Yeah, again, that’s the other problem. They did not say anything about not introducing more tiers btwn ascendedand legendary. It’s obvious they want to continue with this treadmill approach.

Then, you can come back to the game 3-6+ months later, everyone will faceroll you in WvW, you won’t be invited to any of the new dungeons and the old dungeons will be empty (useless, since exotics are no longer BiS), forcing you to just quit again because you actually cannot be viable or enjoy WvW, let alone the existing content.

Great customer model, right? Oh and, you won’t even want to use cash shop, because you won’t want to play. I know that if this patch’s ascended gear isn’t acquirable in 2-3 days that I’m not going to bother trying to keep up with the gear curve. There’s plenty of other MMOs that are built for this kind of thing.

Slic.2406:

Then, you can come back to the game 3-6+ months later, everyone will faceroll you in WvW, you won’t be invited to any of the new dungeons and the old dungeons will be empty (useless, since exotics are no longer BiS), forcing you to just quit again because you actually cannot be viable or enjoy WvW, let alone the existing content.

This is a ridiculous exaggeration, since plenty of people play underleveled or in blues/greens and don’t face any of the problems you describe.

If we’re accusing people of having “WoW” mindsets, then this is also an aspect of WoW mentality – the notion that you need the “best” gear or noone will like you and noone will play with you.

The stat differences in this game are simply too small to make most people care about stuff like that. Only the snobbiest of the snobs would even bother to notice what gear you’re using.

Rieselle.5079:

This is a ridiculous exaggeration, since plenty of people play underleveled or in blues/greens and don’t face any of the problems you describe.

If we’re accusing people of having “WoW” mindsets, then this is also an aspect of WoW mentality – the notion that you need the “best” gear or noone will like you and noone will play with you.

The stat differences in this game are simply too small to make most people care about stuff like that. Only the snobbiest of the snobs would even bother to notice what gear you’re using.

While i agree that it is ridiculous to think a new tier gear will make anyone faceroll others on WvW , i will have to disagree that it is passable to players not be able to without much grind get the top stats gear , and always with many paths to do so.

Why? This is what this game based upon , without it … well it goes from a unique MMO to just another WoW wanna be.

Still , it is soon to bash at Anet. After the gear is implemented and we get to know how it is actually working we can make the judgment call.

Nox Aeterna.2965:

Still , it is soon to bash at Anet. After the gear is implemented and we get to know how it is actually working we can make the judgment call.

Its not too soon since they aren’t clear how it will play out in the future. Thats the complaint.

the 3rd option is worthless, still keeps us on the gear treadmill, maybe a bit worse

How to make everyone happy….morphine drip. Short of that, someone is going to complain about every single thing in any piece of software.

This message was brought to you by a Kitten with a Keyboard

Felon Blade.8602:

the 3rd option is worthless, still keeps us on the gear treadmill, maybe a bit worse

Naw, its not worse I adds progression without affect any other content in the game.

that makes it worse, cause u have to scrap whole sets of armor from the old dungeons, OR save 15 diff sets, each for a diff dungeon

Xpiher.5209:

Felon Blade.8602:

the 3rd option is worthless, still keeps us on the gear treadmill, maybe a bit worse

Naw, its not worse I adds progression without affect any other content in the game.

Thats the point? Thats what most of the complaints against this system are all about.

Felon Blade.8602:

that makes it worse, cause u have to scrap whole sets of armor from the old dungeons, OR save 15 diff sets, each for a diff dungeon

You misunderstood then. You don’t scrap the armor, just the upgrade. ANET could easily make the upgrades removeable without destroying them.

yeah, then u have to have a set of infusions for each dungeon taking up space somewhere. wish they just had a tiny backbone and stuck to their guns, cause now were on the treadmill. like it or not

heres a novel idea, keep the game the way they said they were gonna and say @#$% to all the ppl who cant be bothered w/ reading before they buy a game.

but alas they said @#$% to their true fans, ppl who have played since gw1

Money is something that always turned people. Sad but true , and it will remain true.

I dont think Anet did with bad intentions , i actually think they made a mistake , they tried to please both sides.

Now it is time to see the reality and decide if we remain or not playing.

Xpiher.5209:

Ok so here’s the way to please both the “I need more power” crowd and those who don’t like gear treadmills in 3 simple steps.

1) Remove the extra stats from Ascended gear or come out and say there won’t be any higher stats placed on gear in the future

2) Clearly state that, while Agony resist will make it easier to complete FOTM, it won’t have any bearing on future content

3) Make all future content have a progression system using the Ascended/Agony system, but make past upgrades worthless in the new content. What I mean by this is, Agony resistance obtained in FOTM is only good for that dungeon. New dungeons will require a different type of Agony resist that you get from said dungeon. This gives progression and power without gating content.

Pleases everyone and make lots of money. Do it now!

On 3 I would make the progression system using Exotic/Agony.

Ascended would then be a type of Exotic.

I found this post interesting because I actually came here to make a similar thread. I have loved GW so far and agree with what it originally stood for, but I believe I know what Anet was trying to do with fractals and Ascended Gear: provide content for some more “hardcore” gamers. I don’t disagree with this move, however, I also feel—as the Op does, that the way the system is set up now is flawed.

I believe that the infusion slot needs to be the progression factor. New Infusions should be released for each dungeon to allow extreme progression. With this I believe that dungeon rewards should be cool looking and unique ascended gear. That being said… I believe that ascended gear itself should be no more powerful than other gear IE exotics. Keep the infusion slot on the ascended gear for progression, add back the standard upgrade slot, and reduce the ascended stats back down to exotic level. With this system people who want serious gear progression to clear gear dependent content have the ability to do so, while at the same time acquiring some of the coolest looking gear in the game. This saves other players though. By keeping the stat levels the same Anet doesn’t risk out gearing their old content, potentially destabilizing WvW, and dossn’t risk making players feel like they cannot be a strong player without running a treadmill.

So recap:
Ascended Gear Stays
*Stats Reduced to Exotic Level
*Upgrade Slot Added
*Infusion slot remains
*No Infusions Which Increase Base Stats!

The result:
*Cool looking specific armor/weapons for serious PvE’ers (Dungeoneers)
*No detriment to the current balance of power in the game.

I really hope Anet reads this thread and posts like these. That being said I am hoping that they implement this system responsibly. Even if they do not use our ideas, I hope their current ideas for Ascended work towards the same end that we are describing. A GW where challenge seeking players are rewarded, while those who do seek the same challenges are not ultimately harmed by the addition of content for the challenge seekers.

To Anet: The great thing about GW is the versatility with which you can play the game. Do Not Take This Away and GW will be successful for a long time.

Xpiher.5209:

Nox Aeterna.2965:

Still , it is soon to bash at Anet. After the gear is implemented and we get to know how it is actually working we can make the judgment call.

Its not too soon since they aren’t clear how it will play out in the future. Thats the complaint.

I agree that’s another Anet suggestion: Explanation.

I’m sure that a lot of us just really want to know how they intend on expanding this system later on. Then we would know if our worrying is justified, or if Anet knows what they’re doing. Plus an explanation would tell us Anet’s reasoning behind that stat increases.

Xpiher.5209:

3) Make all future content have a progression system using the Ascended/Agony system, but make past upgrades worthless in the new content. What I mean by this is, Agony resistance obtained in FOTM is only good for that dungeon. New dungeons will require a different type of Agony resist that you get from said dungeon. This gives progression and power without gating content.

This part is absolute a BAD BAD idea. The progression for future content should only require exotics because 1: people can farm relatively easily the money they need to get the exotics. and 2: no one would have to follow the standard gear treadmill model that adding this gear represents. ie. you have to get to 80, get your exotics, run the older dungeons (the new infused dungeons would be older by the time the new contented dungeons are released) just to go into the new dungeons that also require infusion.

See the problem? You are suggesting they make it even more gated then it already is.