Guild Wars 2

Ok, here I go. WALL OF TEXT WARNING

THE PROBLEM:
As of now the Commander’s Compendium can be purchased from certain vendors throughout Tyria for 100 gold. This systems works fine for a PvE environment. In WvW, however, this system can lead to serious problems. I see too many players buy tags (after doing their PvE moneymaking grind) and simply walk into a WvW environment to start attempting to command. I’m all for allowing for inexperienced players to learn the basics of commanding, but there needs to be some restrictions on how easy this has become. For example, today I enter EBG and see a unfamiliar tag on the map. Curious, I follow the tag for a while and become extremely disappointed / a bit angry. The commander throws catapults (facing the wrong way) for a wall that can not be destroyed. The thing that bugged me was that he was wearing T3 human cultural and had an ascended weapon, which obviously labels him as a player that has PvE experience. After this, he runs directly to the enemy keep and gets everyone following him killed ( he was not a deliberate troll ). He obviously had no idea what he was doing in WvW and decided to pop his tag while he found out. Players must trust their commanders for a group to be effective, and when inexperienced players can take over the commanding role at any point, this system fails completely.

A ( POSSIBLE) SOLUTION:
I realize that every player is not a natural commander. However, I believe there need to be some restrictions to limit the number of commanders that are new to WvW. My solution is this: upon entering WvW you can only pop you tag if you meet the following guidelines.

1) 5-10k+ WvW kills ( account bound )
2) Have completed paying a fee of 1000 Badges of Honor
3) Have map completion in the zone you are attempting to command in
4) Various amount of keep/tower/camp captures

I believe that these, and possibly a few more, guidelines would significantly reduce the number of inexperienced commanders. I also believe this change would show players that Anet is in favor of easing into being a WvW commander. These changes would force players to become acquainted with the WvW atmosphere before attempting to lead a group.

Again, I believe these changes would strengthen the bond between players and their commander, which in turn would allow for a much more fun and productive group.

Yes I agree there needs to be some form of restrictions when it comes to commanding in WvW. And god I must admit that was super funny. I had to log off and jump on my thief and level I couldn’t stand following him.

I think 1000 badges is honestly too cheap 10,000 should be the cost as well 5,000 kills 1,000 tower caps and so on. Atleast by the time you have this you have some form of knowledge when it comes to doing WvW. I am all for new commanders as well and even encourage it and try to help them but seeing someone who has NEVER entered WvW even once come in and command a 40+ man zerg and just make the most basic mistakes really hurts my insides.

I really like the idea as well but could never see this implemented in-game. I started commanding May of last year and had no where near close to the requirements I’ve read in this thread.

I think the actual implementation of new commanders is more a psychological one than anything. Think of it this way, a renowned commander in your server often gets a large following due to the trust those who have previously followed have placed in him. I’ve seen new commanders plenty of time with little to no following. and new commanders with 40-60 man zergs. A trust is built in commanders, and it is built through time and achievements accomplished on the map.

While I love the idea of this, it prevents newer commanders getting their foot in the door and building a “name” for themselves as is done today. After all, server-wide, a commanders strength in a zerg comes from the name next to them today.

Being new to WvW (for the most part) I agree there must be trust. HOWEVER, if one is to set the guidelines for the tag then all tags should be made specific to WvW, purchased (or REPURCHASED) through the new system, perhaps in the form of a Meta achiev like the one for the the tourney. They have history of your victories and defeats so the lifetime kills are easily tracked. If you don’t have the badges on hand to buy your new one guess you’d have to earn them.
I’m fortunate enough to be running with a group I like (for the most part) and they answer questions I have concerning commander actions. They welcome them openly and answer freely, truly wanting to teach. No ego involved.
I have my tag the same as you, we both bought them with the same amount of gold no matter how it was earned. For all I know the OP may be one of the commanders I left for favor of doing things I understand. If you constantly get me busted up due to stupid decisions, your on your own in my books. Willing to bet there are many others that feel the same. When the cries for help come out I may well just keep busting sentries or supply to follow another commander cleaning up the mess later.
I do not use my tag in WvW because I understand my limits. I know I do not feel comfortable as of yet but when I am I will be at the front of the pack. leading as all good commanders do. Hopefully with many victories but it is foolish to think they will all be, unlike some commanders I have seen/heard. Ask about John Wayne sometime……lol
No intent to offend any egos but in fairness, there are excellent commanders from the PvE environment as well. I have to admit I have gone from dabbling in WvW and sPvP to being much more focused. But I still have other times I do PvE, Fractals and dungeons. If a commander is requested specifically in a PvE situation, does it not make sense that once they understand the new environment they may well be just as in demand? Have you ever followed a “commander” when they had no tag?? I have because they made more logical decisions than the tagged commander. Just food for thought.

Tbh you should have enough awareness in WvW to not follow someone if they clearly have no clue what they are doing… just because they have a tag you are not forced to stick to them. Also you probably have regular commanders, why not have one of them tag up, join squad and let the PVE guy take skillpoints in a golem by himself or something.

Zord.6457:

Tbh you should have enough awareness in WvW to not follow someone if they clearly have no clue what they are doing… just because they have a tag you are not forced to stick to them. Also you probably have regular commanders, why not have one of them tag up, join squad and let the PVE guy take skillpoints in a golem by himself or something.

Precisely my point (this also goes for the PvE side as well)
Goes along with someone saying on TS earlier stating that if you are going to be on WvW you should be on TS. I tend to agree out of ease of communication but does that seem possible at all??? I don’t think so.

I think you guys should be abit more grateful, most ppl that have the cohones to tag up are trying to help out, let the new ones take the baby steps and as a server help him out by whispers, not on public.

If that still doesn’t work out and the commander refuses to learn, he will naturally lose all his followers

Just because someone has a tag doesn’t mean they are a commander you have to follow or should follow.

It isn’t an honorary title. it is a convenience. Treat it as such and determine which commanders you want to really follow.

My problem is when there are multiple commanders on the map.
and in the mess of the fight, two groups might join together…and after the fight i often end up following the other commander by mistake (I check my mini-map for commander’s movement).

If commanders themselves could change the tag colour…that would be great.
So when multiple group merged in the field temporary, I know I am following the yellow tag or the blue tag.

LaMizzy.9804:

My problem is when there are multiple commanders on the map.
and in the mess of the fight, two groups might join together…and after the fight i often end up following the other commander by mistake (I check my mini-map for commander’s movement).

If commanders themselves could change the tag colour…that would be great.
So when multiple group merged in the field temporary, I know I am following the yellow tag or the blue tag.

Mizzy you can actually right click on a commander tag and join their squad which takes all other commander tags off of the map in your screen. That way you know which one you are following for the times your groups cross up! Then when you are done following that commander you can go to the party selection tab in top left part of screen and leave that commander’s squad!

As far as original post, I agree 100%. It seemed that at the time we needed some of our best well known commanders on at reset we had some people that I have rarely to never seen. (this coming from someone who has done a lot of WvW lately) Also to anyone saying “I don’t see you tagging up” or “it takes balls to tag up” I know for a fact that OP is one of our servers best commanders I think he’s just trying to make a point

I think that some people are missing the point. I am able to tell when I am following a good commander and when I am not. This is not what I am trying to convey. I am trying to find a solution to limit the number of inexperienced tags. I am completely aware that right now the best way to deal with inexperienced commanders is to simply not follow them, however I believe that this system needs some major work. Again, the best way to build trust between a commander and is group is to require commanders to be familiar with the environment.

For those that agree, thank you.

The problem is the lack of a flexible grouping system. Some people are putting a pin up simply to organize two groups or more. 30 extra people flock to the pin and that person is a “bad” commander because he’s not leading right.

Without a way for guilds or players to make private squads, people will put pins up without the intention of actually trying to lead zergs properly.

The requirement to tag should be to be somewhere around rank 250-400 and have 5-10k kills (what op said). This would somewhat ensure the server a decent-to-experienced commander