Hey, I’m a veteran WvW player, former guild leader and commander currently residing on Aurora Glade EU.
With over 2 years of active WvW on all bronze, silver and gold tier servers, having seen different communities and WvW on different levels I’m here to present my thoughts on possible alliance system, new maps and WvW in general.
If you wish to read just the suggestions scroll down past the 1st segment!
Current state of WvW:
Just before expansion the hype on Aurora Glade was high, during EU prime time 1-3 maps were usually queued up. Server was rising in ranking towards gold league and better matchups, people were even slightly afraid what affect the expansion would cause for the already full maps and fast a message was posted on website for all potential players and guilds looking to transfer to consider some other server instead as we were seeming to close full.
Not quite what happened. After HoT the only map that queues up is EBG where guilds and pugs alike crawl in to try and find action and combat, borderlands are outside EU prime dead empty, and even on prime very silent.
It’s been a fact that WvW as it is has not worked like it should be outside the very top population servers (1-5) for years now. The players who create their characters on low population realms or who play in low silver/bronze have no idea of the potential the game mode has on higher tiers and I picture don’t bother with the game of PvP missing the other P replaced by D(oor).
The main reason why people fight for the PPT in lower tier servers is the fear of dropping even lower to even emptier matchups. And that is not fun.
Alliances system and how to improve WvW:
Create 6 / 9 / 12/ 15 Alliances by force merging servers together based on statistics.
- This way the former server communities aren’t broken and new alliances are formed
- Each alliance has it’s unique color
- PPT system for matchup victory
- Enough maps for larger alliances if needed (3 borders + 2xEBG like maps)
- Allow Transfers on Alliances in need for reinforcements and deny transfers on winning teams
- Server based French/German Alliances/EU Alliances
- Have players post suggestions and vote for alliance name to create feeling of togetherness (voting already done in LS, and name suggestions in rebuilding LA)
!!!- Unique WvW reward tracks to award players like the other two game modes PvP/PvE do.!!!
Complete tracks with captures, defenses, PvP kills etc.
It is absolutely insane how bad rewards you get by playing this game mode compared to PvE/PvP for the hours you sink in it.
- Weekly rewards for part taking in WvW matchups.
Something that pops on screen saying = Your alliance has conquered in mist wars awarding all alliance players with [+1/3/5% gold gain | + 5/10/20% MF | Also award players who completed certain amount of reward track with either rare/exotic/ascended chest based on reward track points made]
- Remove/redesign EotM = Better rewards on WvW will move players to normal maps. This map does not work as intended, it is currently unnecessary for passing time in queues and solely used for karma training.
- On WvW unlock at level 30 player can choose an alliance to join forces with. Once alliance is chosen WvW becomes available. You don’t have to make the pick straight away but it’s required for part taking in WvW.
– Clear representation on which alliance every player belongs to by hovering mouse over them / clear UI for alliance pick
- Players will create new community sites/teamspeaks themselves
UI changes: Replace WvW tab with Alliance tab.
- Add alliance chat on the tab for alliance to keep in touch
- Add visible counters for players on borders/player cap to help organizing
Desert Borderlands Thoughts:
+ beautiful map
+ Interesting mechanics (rocks, lava, fall damage) that are all good and spice up the gameplay.
- Central PvE event needs to be tuned. More PvP. Capture and hold event? Also it’s causing the whole server to lag out of control.
- Make towers / camps more worth holding. With current auto upgrades not nessecity. How bout upgraded tower produces cannons/oil/mortars or workers for keeps to be escorted in heavily armored caravans to the keeps.
- Add open areas to fight on without gimmicks close to the main objectives. More areas for fair fights without knocking people off cliffs or getting hit by turrets etc.
- Current N tower location too far from other objectives and has absolutely no meaning for the map control. Previously you could siege garrison from N towers.
Other suggestions:
- In game guild recruitment tab where guilds can advertise their recruitment.
-Separate skill balance/banned skills for WvW (like GW1 PvP used to have)