Guild Wars 2

I’ve been doing a good amount of commanding for EoTM now and have found myself getting the best PPT when just karma training. Running routes specifically to maximize captures and minimize zerg v zerg confrontations has appeared to get us a ton of PPT while getting the best possible rewards. I’ve found it not worth it to defend on many occasions, particularly if I’d have to go out of my way. It also helps keep my side’s population high when we are getting good rewards too. Maximizing PvD and minimizing zerg v zerg confrontations also makes it more likely the other two servers hit each other which gives my side an opening. A few key differences I’ve noticed in EoTM different from WvW:

1) nothing can be upgraded so losing something is not as big of a deal
2) if a 30 pt structure is being attacked, there’s typically no good way to defend it that gives you an overwhelming advantage (unlike towers and keeps)
3) if you decide to waypoint back to save something, the group in EoTM doesn’t follow waypoints near as well as players in WvW

Typically when I’m leading my karma train and I see something on my side is being attacked, I find it much more effective to just continue on my path and flip something else, with the trading mentality. I always get accused of not defending enough though I dunno if that’s really a problem. Typically, if some 30 point structure is already being hit, I don’t have enough time to waypoint back and save it (that means they’re already on champ and all sides have one 30 point structure that doesn’t take a gate to get to). I’ll always waypoint back to defend our keep (extremely important) but I give less significance to 30 point structures. I’m tons more willing to defend towers too because those have gates so I can get on siege in the tower.

One exception I can think of is being on blue side and defending workshop so our keep doesn’t flip instantly.

Thoughts?

You want to defend your home territory as much as possible (this applies to any WvW map). Even if you can’t upgrade something, you should still try and hold it the best you can. If you can drop one or even two arrow carts to deter the enemy group, they will focus their attention on something else. This often leads to the enemy focusing on the third party and allows you to setup an easy 2v1. If you let the enemy push too hard into your land, it’ll be hard to get out of spawn and eventually your PPT will really suffer which is why people will get cranky if you don’t defend certain things.

It also depends on what the people you are with want. Some people really want to play the PPT game (more dedicated and hardcore WvW players) while others just want to karma train (people just looking for easy loot/gold). Either way, you can’t please everyone but if you want to make a good name for yourself in WvW and keep leading, you’ll play the PPT game before your reputation plummets and the mean/trolling whispers start.

eotm is not about defense. it is about having a karma train.

But karma trains are stupid and give lot’s of bags.