Guild Wars 2

Give each server a 99600 stat point buff in WvW. Divide that bonus by the number of players in that server for each realm.

On a full server (assuming 166 players/realm max) that would result in each player getting a 600 stat bonus (or 4x the orb bonus). When both sides are maxed they would get the same bonus so there would be no net effect- and orbs would now be a nice boon for the team that can take them. If a competing server was only fielding 83 people, each of those players would have a 1200 stat bonus- which might give players an incentive to log on when outmanned and mitigate (but not eliminate) the orb bonus. They would have a 600 stat point bonus against the full server, but by definition would be fighting at 2:1 odds. My money would still be on the side with more numbers, but not as much as the current fight of 2:1 odds and a -150 stat point handicap.

Currently WvW is semi fun, but almost entirely pointless as there are way too many positive feedback loops. This buff would give the devs a knob to add a reasonable negative feedback loop which could promote stability. 99600 is just a starting point based off 4x the orb bonus. But as an example of tweakability and effect, consider if they made it a 98483738829 buff. The side that is outnumbered would one-shot every opponent. Effect? Players on the overnumbered side would log out increasing their teams buff-> numbers would balance. Players would strive to log in to the undermanned servers reducing the bonus existing players get and-> numbers would balance.

‘Bandwagoners’ would all rush to join the least populated servers so they could have the OP chars, which would rapidly make them not the least populated server anymore. Every reaction to actions would promote stability so the outcomes would be more dependent on ability and teamwork rather than numbers.

Scores would no longer be so lopsided because during the off hours hopefully the outmanned crews would have the tools to at least put up a fight. As it is now, whomever doesn’t have the most players off hours log in and see that the zerg server for their triad owns every node on the map, has been running cows all day so has full supplies, has fully upgraded everything and siege equipment everywhere, and has all 3 orbs. If you take one node on the map it immediately sticks out and gives their megazerg one target to finally hit so they all rush their like rabid chihuauas- which makes it somewhat pointless. Personally I don’t mind the uphill battle- but most players do and wvw activity shows it. Despite that overwhelming advantage in numbers/orb stats/and single target focus we log in every night during primetime and even the score (or even get a slight edge without owning any orbs)- and come in the next night to the same situation. Give the undermanned time zones a chance to fight unreasonable numbers odds and they might be able to at least hold one or two nodes.

Obviously 98483738829 is just an example for cause/effect and would be stupid to implement =p. 99600 might not be enough, the side with the numbers would still have a huge overall advantage, but it might be enough to convince the heavily outnumbered side that there is at least a point to trying to fight and could be tweaked as needed to find a sweet spot.

Oh, and put a 5min delay on it so theres no ‘okay we’re in- everybody not in the keep lord room log off so we get a bonus’ :p

That’s the point. You’d be psyched and go fight being outrageously outnumbered.
You wouldn’t be the only person on your server for long though >:)

lol i can only imagine a thief with + 99600 to each stat running around in wvw for his server alone. Can you say untouchable and that thief would 1 shot anyone….. Chew up a zerg of 50+ in secs. That would be nice lol…..

A couple recommendations:

1. The buff should divide by number of players for that server across all maps (~667 players).
2. The buff should not apply to fights against mobs. (Bots anyone?)

Cosine,
Good thoughts. I like keeping it specific to each map. People might try to join the least populated map that needs the most help.

On point 2. I agree- except a far better solution would be to make mobs in WvW not drop any loot or give any xp.

The strategic mobs would still be worth fighting, and the random mobs would just be scenery. As it is now even actual people join the outmanned servers to go farm with the ‘outmanned’ magic find and exp bonuses- which just frustrates the people who actually want to fight even more. Seeing groups of bots in the outgunned WvW just adds to the chagrin.

Seriously I would prefer no bonus stat for anyone, being on the outmanned side or not.
Do you realy feel that good killing someone when you know that you got a boost at your stats and the other guy not? Sincerely I won’t feel that good and powa, I prefer winning in a balanced fight

I disagree with it based on one thing. The whole design of WvW revolves around rewarding participation and teamwork, not lack thereof. Aside from caps to map population, I cannot think of anything that directly boosts an outnumbered team’s effectiveness that doesn’t require someone actually doing something.

The bonus needs to account for the server size. If your server is full or high but you cannot fill a WvW zone, it isn’t the fault of the game. It is the player. If it is an off-hour and no one is playing on your server but the other is full, give a stat bonus.

@Kolly:
The boost doesn’t really apply to me or other players that play during prime time when most sides have a queue (this weeks’ HoD maybe being the exception- and given their poor numbers I really wouldn’t mind them having a small stat boost).

It might have an impact in the off hours where there are typically like 20-30 people logged in to a zone.

There’s going to be even more class balance QQ when you have “out-manned” players dealing 40k damage to other players.

Scratch that, I mean 60k.

there are some times like 7 -8 am when are 5 ppls logged on WvW on 4 maps totaly
so i wake up in morning and run arround with
20k armor
20k attack
230 k hp
100% critical rate
let’s assume i have an stability buff for 20 seconds ( like rangers does) or more stability buffs like guardian does
i run intro an keep shot solo gates in 30 seconds 20 ppls come to stop me , i kill them in 2 aoe hits, cause i am outmaned?
yeah i’m raid boss !!!
and that happens on at least 30% of servers to have no ppls on a map or 1 /2 ppls max

and people thought 150 stats from the orbs was op… lol

Might have merit if you only did health. I would not let outmanned sides kill outrageously faster, would greatly throw off the balance of combat and everything else.

A great 5 or 10 man team on a near empty server could then run around avoiding the zerg rather easily, be able to defeat all but the biggest zerg group by themselves, and instantly slam down camps, gates, guards, lords, etc. Not to mention bots farming ridiculously faster.

PVE designers understood this is a long time ago, to make one or lesser number of mobs a challenge for a group, you scale up its health, but not greatly its damage.

Ugghh… not a good plan.

We have too many botters taking up queue spots as it is.

Why do you want to penalize people for forming up good teams? It’s just backwards from warfare concepts.

If you want balance and fair fights, do sPvP. It’s skill-based (and a lot of fun).

WvW, the devs have said, is only balanced by the cap # of players. It’s meant to be a big sandbox. (albeit a big sandbox with arrow carts and trebuchet)

just stop free transfers…