Guild Wars 2

Having given up on pvp, my fav part of the game, I returned to WvW. Really been enjoying it past 3 weeks – way more fun than pvp & better than in past – devs fixed a lot of earlier problems of this mode!

I run w/ zerg as necro, cuz if I run solo, I get picked off by some roaming cleaver or havoc band. I contribute a lot to the zerg, always pushing enemy players back and melting them with well build I’ve used for years (variant of new meta necro build).

I’ve always been on BG. I don’t care about bags. I prefer to capture enemy properties and get achieves, rather than bag accumulate. I run with BG zerg to help win. I like to win and play game as intended. I think GW did a great job creating its game.

However, when I read about WvW, GW touts that players work with commander teams (this game play is unique/exciting/expected). Roaming solo in WvW amounts to nothing more than running/getting picked off endlessly (unless in a havoc group, in which case, you won’t be capping SM or keeps).

So, running with zergs is not only beneficial to the server (esp as necro), but is only viable form of play in WvW. GW touts this play form as uniquely attractive. Its the only way players can immerse in full WvW experience – running with zerg to capture enemy bases.

So, I run with commander zergs. I help. I’ve never had a commander complain about my play, play style, claim I’m not contributing/not helping BG win, derailing plans or anything.

Last nite, only one commander was on when I played. After running with the zerg team for hours, he kicked me and refused to let me rejoin. I asked if I’d done anything wrong. He said no. He wanted everyone on TS. I don’t have TS, can’t access it or listen to it for personal reasons. Yet, it helps me to run with the team, as I can read team comments and links, glean plans and follow zerg to successfully help team without TS.

I don’t understand how not having a 3rd party app makes it ok for commander to kick me from the only zerg/commander run zerg on the map.

I thought this game mode was available to all players – that we can all participate in the zerg/commander/capture enemy bases experience. If GW2 has become a TS only/team only game, why advertise it as a solo player-friendly game?

This seems deceptive. I play and bought the game solo. The game said I could play solo, but that’s not the case. I can PVE solo, but nothing else. PVP is team-based (I love new feature letting solo joiners join players immediately post match). Most teams/pvp guilds require TS. Raiding is impossible without TS.

I feel if TS/3rd party app is functionally a requirement of 90% of game experience (to raid, play PVP and WvW), why is GW2 not advertising this fact on its products, official website, wiki pages, and forums?

It’s frustrating. I want to play the game. I feel I am being discriminated or prejudiced against, and advertising has not been truthful. If I need TS to run a raid, engage in PVP or WvW, or to experience these game modes to any reasonable extent (how do I capture a keep without a zerg), why is this not stated prior to purchase?

I asked this in chat last nite – players said to play at other times with friendlier commanders. I can’t play other times. I can understand kicking cuz you don’t have a certain game requirement, but to kick cuz you don’t have access to a 3rd party app seems ridiculous and prejudicial, especially against poor or disabled people (like the deaf). I could understand if there are other options available, or other commanders/zergs, but there was only one choice – so it was get TS and get to play or get lost – go do something else, play some other time, get killed running, to try to solo cap supply camps and ogres all night.

This seems harsh, unnecessary and discriminatory. I was surprised at how nasty and rude players were. I asked why I’d been kicked, explained I can’t access TS, and asked if I was doing something wrong. I was told I was fine and done nothing wrong but commander required TS to join (after running with team for hours). People got really ugly defending commander’s decision. One said I was getting free bags. I resent this – I worked hard to win, played hard and contributed a lot. I offered to give my bags to commander or other players cuz I just wanted to help BG win.

Someone please explain how this is supposed to work. I’m confused. I want to play. I want to run with commanders/zergs as the site advertises is the exciting thing to do in WvW. I want to help win. I can figure out what they’re doing. No one accused me of leeching/afk.

Please explain why the game says you can play all these modes, but the reality is different. I’m not trying to be a troll. I’m trying to understand. Please keep rude responses to yourself – I’m looking for helpful explanations. Thanks.

The answer to your question is clear and obvious. Teamspeak usage was mandated by that commander. Anet does not, has never, and will never force people to play with others if they don’t want to. Therefor, that commander simply made the decision that they don’t want to play with you. The reasons for that decision don’t matter.

If you don’t like it, get a commander tag of your own and start your own group of zerglings without using teamspeak. It’s a simple solution.

Edit: As an aside, I’m at a loss as to any reasons you could have for being unable/unwilling to download, run, and listen on teamspeak short of your parents blocking VoIP programs on your router or something like that.

People still use Teamspeak? I thought everybody already moved to the superior Discord.

Unfortunately, Fay is correct. This is a choice and as a commander they can make that choice…if oyu were contributing and not causing problems in chat or anything…in making that choice, I feel they chose to act like a bag of d!<ks.

That being said, The solutions are the same:
1. Get your own tag, control your own Squad, and don’t be a jerk like this guy.
2. Find Commanders on your server who aren’t jerks, like this guy was. I’m sure they are around. Check for a server website or FB Page or something like that where you could find a list of commanders and ways to contact them. An in-game email making sure they don’t “require TS” would be a good step, allowing you to let them know you cannot access TS.
3. If #2 fails…Make some friends in-game on other servers, find out about these servers, and move to one that is more friendly.
4. Settle, and welcome to BG…where winning matters and people really don’t.(At least to the commander and the rude players you mentioned.)

Fay.2357:

Edit: As an aside, I’m at a loss as to any reasons you could have for being unable/unwilling to download, run, and listen on teamspeak short of your parents blocking VoIP programs on your router or something like that.

Personally I hate TS – usually the people with really annoying voices are talking the most and absolutely random stuff while in the midst of a fight.
I do get why commanders want everybody on TS though.

Their squad, their rules. You can be kicked for any reason. They have no obligation to you if you won’t agree to their terms especially if you’re not coordinated with their movements. Why do you need to be in their squad anyways? It’s not like the tag vanishes. The only reasons would be boon share (which you’re not in comms to coordinate), I guess how much supply you have, and broadcast which are great but is redundant if people are in comms.

Also keep in mind that a lot of these things tend to be guild events, so people are going to prefer to spend the time with their guildies. Maybe you should be thankful they’re willing to run the pugs too at all?

OTOH I would urge people that have this sort of policy to either make their squad invite only or not to spam invite to everyone around to make things more upfront and not to cause conflict. So in a way, being placed in a position where you have to kick people for that is actually a fault of your own. It’s pretty annoying to see people pull a pug blob and try to lord over everyone on the map.

Jana.6831:

Fay.2357:

Edit: As an aside, I’m at a loss as to any reasons you could have for being unable/unwilling to download, run, and listen on teamspeak short of your parents blocking VoIP programs on your router or something like that.

Personally I hate TS – usually the people with really annoying voices are talking the most and absolutely random stuff while in the midst of a fight.
I do get why commanders want everybody on TS though.

There’s always mute/volume adjust. Granted, if that annoying person is driving I suppose it’s not always possible and I would not follow any group I found that annoying.

Fay.2357:

Edit: As an aside, I’m at a loss as to any reasons you could have for being unable/unwilling to download, run, and listen on teamspeak short of your parents blocking VoIP programs on your router or something like that.

Unless they are hearing impaired. I have played alongside a player who cannot use TS due to this, and relies on Map Chat commands.

But what we have all said still holds. Their Squad, their requirements. Nothing can be done about it.

I can see why some commanders do want their zerg in teamspeak. It does help with coordination and does make that coordination easier.

That being said, there’s nothing stopping you from following the zerg outside of the squad. As said, his squad his rules.

Fay.2357:

Edit: As an aside, I’m at a loss as to any reasons you could have for being unable/unwilling to download, run, and listen on teamspeak short of your parents blocking VoIP programs on your router or something like that.

This I find incredibly rude. There are players who are hard of hearing or deaf, a simple /w to a commander makes the lack of ts completely understandable and should allow for that player to remain a part of the squad for boon benefit/scouting. Any commander that still kicks after such reasoning is a kitten.

ArchonWing.9480:

There’s always mute/volume adjust. Granted, if that annoying person is driving I suppose it’s not always possible and I would not follow any group I found that annoying.

I’m really better without TS, even in small groups. Until I’ve found who of the 50 is constantly talking I’ve died 10 times, then the next will think it’s a good idea to talk about pudding with their spouses who aren’t playing, then I’d have to mute the music bot and so on and so on.
Additionally I seem to be lagging for whatever reason so no one understands me anyway.

ETA: You can believe me that I see the movements of the zergs though. But I’m a special snowflake anyway. I have been allowed in any squad on my last server – on my new server I’m trying to avoid it altogether to not have the endless “join TS” discussion again – I really do understand why commanders want TS, just that I die a lot more when in TS.

While this is rude on the part of the commander, it is important to keep in mind that squads are tools for commanders to properly organize parties, communicate more efficiently, and coordinate fights more effectively. Squads have a limit of 50 people, so naturally a commander will want players that are in TS to communicate properly, commanders cannot always read chat.

Also it does not mean you cannot run with the zerg, just follow the tag like anyone else if that’s what your prefer. And if you don’t encounter this problem very often, that’s a good thing, but you cannot always look at it from your own point of view. Commanders use squads and TS to organize people, coordinate activity, and communicate effectively. If you are not in a squad, it does not mean you cannot be on the map, or play with that group. It simply means the commander prefers to fill those limited squad spots with people who can communicate through TS.

Yeah I don’t get on TS either. I used to but I just couldn’t stand listening to what people talk about on there.

Like others have said, the commander can’t kick you from the game, so just follow along anyway. And I’m sure there were others not in the squad, party up with them to get your boons.

I find it ironic that no one used to care about whether they were in a commander’s squad or not until the new Squad UI was rolled out.

Jana.6831:

ArchonWing.9480:

There’s always mute/volume adjust. Granted, if that annoying person is driving I suppose it’s not always possible and I would not follow any group I found that annoying.

I’m really better without TS, even in small groups. Until I’ve found who of the 50 is constantly talking I’ve died 10 times, then the next will think it’s a good idea to talk about pudding with their spouses who aren’t playing, then I’d have to mute the music bot and so on and so on.
Additionally I seem to be lagging for whatever reason so no one understands me anyway.

Well, I see your point too. There are certain times I won’t be on TS because I know I don’t want to communicate with them for whatever reason Also, Every now and then, TS kittens out on me and I have to guess. For many classes this is fine, like guardians are probably going to do the same thing no matter what. And overall, it’s not like zerging is exactly rocket science either. But there are a few things to consider.

One of them is the more exotic movements, such as portal bombing and whatever bizarre maneuvers they’ve worked together with for the last 2 years. In these cases, if you don’t know what’s going on, you could really mess things up.

The other thing to consider is that policies are based off of generalities. AKA, exceptions abound. Certainly, being inflexible isn’t a good thing and there might be legitimate reasons someone can’t use TS. But policies towards random people you don’t know specifically are there for a good reason, unless people are brought evidence to think otherwise. When you bring unknowns into a group, it’s often better to play it safe than not.

You might want to note that you yourself might be an exception. You do a lot of non-zerging so there’s a good chance you know where to go, what to build, and how the flow of a battle is going to happen and not overextend yourself. Basically, you’re not a zergling that needs their hand held all the time. It’s just necessary skills that you have to have in order to stand a chance outside of a zerg. But not everyone is like that. There’s tons of people that don’t have that level of awareness and have to be told 100 times to build a ram because either they’re here to farm a gift of battle or are busy watching porn on a 2nd monitor. Gw2 is a casual game and there’s nothing too wrong with that.

But in the end, it’s certainly within a certain group’s choice to be selective, but it’s also a follower’s choice to be selective. If toxic blob guilds try to blob while kittening people off, they may find themselves in a bad spot when they need help. Of course, I think that groups that don’t bend at all are way too uptight and they could have easily taken precautions to not get into the situation where they have to kick anyone at all (DONT INVITE EVERYONE GEEZ, some people like their small parties) In the end though, I can’t really force my thoughts on anyone.

Like many things, it goes both ways. But most parties refuse to admit it.

The squad is his and he can do anything he wants.

Looking for a helpful explanation?

The commander felt the need for faster communication than map chat. With VOIP communication (Teamspeak, Mumble, Discord, Skype, whatever) the commander can micro-manage the fight and bring himself on even ground with another zerg which is using the VOIP. At that level commands need to be issued in split seconds and followed just as as fast or the zerg could suffer a wipe. This wipe leads to a loss of objectives while the zerg regroups (not to mention a loss of zerg size due to players quitting, missed opportunity for bags and rewards and a ruined map strategy).

The commander saw players who are unable to join the VOIP as a liability. The reason for this liability is two fold: Players who are not part of the VOIP can miss communications and will not react fast enough leading to the second part: It takes very slight numbers advantage to reach “critical mass” where a zerg wipes another through sheer firepower. The commander wanted a more accurate count of the players in his squad who were reliable to fight with so he knows when this critical mass would hit and help him improve the sustain of the zerg. This was most likely why you were kicked.

I’ve been on both sides of this issue. It can really be frustrating when as a commander you need better coordination to win fights and objectives and simply can’t get it from your players. It can be equally frustrating when you get kicked from a zerg for not having voice comms.

How you should handle this: Shrug it off, follow him still if you want or do your own thing. Single players and small groups are viable in WvW despite what you may have read. 2-5 people can take towers, camps, and even keeps that go undefended and can also provide valuable scouting information to commanders on the map.

The last thing you want to do is come to the forums in a wall of text fit when you get kicked. That does nothing for the respect you wish people to have for you (it harms it quite a bit actually). You’re going to be kicked from parties, squads, and raids in the future. Learn to let it go. You’ll soon be doing the kicking too.

I love the music bot personally … and for that matter TS. More because i like having real time information relayed during all active combat, and in the heat of the battle I’m not going to see the chat box when my eyes are focusing on positioning. Secondly I know its great people play well without comms, and can combo and such, but it’s more fluid to hear fields being called to help with the ebb and flow of a battle versus random blasts.

#TSCommandersLivesOrBust

Why can zerg commanders kick for lack of ts?

Same reason you can join peoples lfg parties….remove their lfg listing, and then kick them from the party.

Cause its funny.

Fay.2357:

Edit: As an aside, I’m at a loss as to any reasons you could have for being unable/unwilling to download, run, and listen on teamspeak short of your parents blocking VoIP programs on your router or something like that.

FWIW: TS has become a minefield of self centered braggarts and f-bomb droppers more frequently than not. Its tedious to listen to so I don’t often do it.

Another reason is an obvious one, deafness like my nephew has to deal with.

It depends on your TS channel policies.

Going to guess here, after running with commanders who do this. They were likely fighting open field, or pushing an objective, and wanted to limit the amount of people who weren’t going to be listening to calls. A lot of commanders will first want their squad filled with guildies, and then with pugs who are running correct/meta builds and on ts. It’s not an unreasonable request when the commander is focused on minimizing the amount of deaths in the group. The situations tend to move too fast to type out, and someone may get themselves caught/left behind/killed because they didn’t hear the commands.

@Everyone talking about impaired hearing: Then just download the program and sit in the channel while (obviously) not listening to it. Hearing impairment doesn’t mean you can’t download and run the program. If being in the squad matters that much to you, it takes 2 minutes to get the program and set it up.

Ultimately though, having functioning VoIP communication is important for rapid and accurate communication in some situations. Quite honestly, I would not want include a deaf person in a raid I was driving because that would directly inhibit rapid and accurate communication. Does it suck for those people? Sure does, but that’s simply the reality of life with a disability; sometimes you’re not able to do everything.

Get over this obsession with TS.

I can’t use TS, but I am constantly given scout of the week because I’m effective.

People who choose not to use their ENTIRE team, are missing out, plain and simple.

To the OP. If you see that commander on the map, switch to one that will work with you. And leave the other guy wondering why he’s losing the map.

I have a great deal of respect for my commanders who work with my limitations. They are the ones that gather a huge crowd the minute they appear on the map.

Jayne.9251:

I can’t use TS, but I am constantly given scout of the week because I’m effective.

This means less than nothing. Scouting is easily the single role in WvW that VoIP adds absolutely nothing to. You scout, call it in team chat, done. There’s no need for VoIP.

VoIP becomes an enormous asset when communication is time-critical. Whether you see the scouting call now or 15 seconds from now doesn’t really matter at all. However, if you miss the commander calling a movement, 5 seconds later you’ll be dead and the rest of the Zerg will be going in a different direction.

While it’s possible to do large fights without VoIP, use of it provides an undeniable advantage in ease and rapidity of communication.

Why am I one of the last ones standing when I do blob?

It’s useful as a tool, but excluding players not on it is reducing your team’s power.

RyuDragnier.9476:

People still use Teamspeak? I thought everybody already moved to the superior Discord.

Yeah, it’s unfortunate. The “hardcore no-life” type of players still think TS is the kitten because they’ve been using it for years and refuse to acknowledge when something better comes along. Stubbornness and arrogance, I guess.

I, for one, refuse to join any comms unless it’s on Discord. I won’t install a garbage VoIP program when there’s a much better one available that I use daily.

Fay.2357:

Jayne.9251:

I can’t use TS, but I am constantly given scout of the week because I’m effective.

This means less than nothing. Scouting is easily the single role in WvW that VoIP adds absolutely nothing to. You scout, call it in team chat, done. There’s no need for VoIP.

VoIP becomes an enormous asset when communication is time-critical. Whether you see the scouting call now or 15 seconds from now doesn’t really matter at all. However, if you miss the commander calling a movement, 5 seconds later you’ll be dead and the rest of the Zerg will be going in a different direction.

While it’s possible to do large fights without VoIP, use of it provides an undeniable advantage in ease and rapidity of communication.

Not neccessarily: I’m a valk/zerker thief without party boons and without TS and I’m usually one of the last ones alive. I’d love to say “You’re right, one really needs TS” as I know how happy commanders are if most/all people are on TS but I know that TS isn’t all and it’s honestly distracting me and makes me worse than I am. I know there’s others who are like me. But, I also know that especially new players might avoid TS for the wrong reasons and also might become a reliability.
Haven’t read through the whole wall of text of the OP but if it’s really personal reasons why he doesn’t want to join TS, then it might help if he speaks to a commander and explains his situation – I did and the commander didn’t know until then that I’m never on TS – he accepted it in the end (I was on TS sometimes – but I’m usually attached to his butt so he sees a bit of how I’m playing).
Also, @OP – scouts are incredibly important – the balance is currently rather bad but you can even scout/roam as a Reaper, probably even as a vanilla Necro.
Good thing I’ve been dubbed “best scout NA” (loong ago) so I don’t have to compete with Jayne – I would lose anyway

Eater of Peeps.9062:

I asked this in chat last nite – players said to play at other times with friendlier commanders. I can’t play other times. I can understand kicking cuz you don’t have a certain game requirement, but to kick cuz you don’t have access to a 3rd party app seems ridiculous and prejudicial, especially against poor or disabled people (like the deaf). I could understand if there are other options available, or other commanders/zergs, but there was only one choice – so it was get TS and get to play or get lost – go do something else, play some other time, get killed running, to try to solo cap supply camps and ogres all night.

This seems harsh, unnecessary and discriminatory. I was surprised at how nasty and rude players were. I asked why I’d been kicked, explained I can’t access TS, and asked if I was doing something wrong. I was told I was fine and done nothing wrong but commander required TS to join (after running with team for hours). People got really ugly defending commander’s decision. One said I was getting free bags. I resent this – I worked hard to win, played hard and contributed a lot. I offered to give my bags to commander or other players cuz I just wanted to help BG win.

Someone please explain how this is supposed to work. I’m confused. I want to play. I want to run with commanders/zergs as the site advertises is the exciting thing to do in WvW. I want to help win. I can figure out what they’re doing. No one accused me of leeching/afk.

Please explain why the game says you can play all these modes, but the reality is different. I’m not trying to be a troll. I’m trying to understand. Please keep rude responses to yourself – I’m looking for helpful explanations. Thanks.

It is not surprising. Some commanders do demand people to be in ts3 before able to become part of the squad. There are a number of such commanders in t1, it isn’t rare at all. It isn’t wrong for them to have such demand either. You are not banned from following the tag either. However, to explain why, the commander simply want to have a better picture of the squad of who are with him and not with him, who should he assign in the compositions to so that they get the boons to stay live and help to kill. Obviously, those on ts3 will more likely to stay alive (and kill) with tricky maneuver than those who are not on ts3. Obviously, you are not on ts3 so you more likely to die (or less helpful in focused push) and if you do die, the boons composition will go to waste, especially if there is another reaper that might need those boons but just simply out of luck due to limited classes.

Biglulu.3928:

RyuDragnier.9476:

People still use Teamspeak? I thought everybody already moved to the superior Discord.

Yeah, it’s unfortunate. The “hardcore no-life” type of players still think TS is the kitten because they’ve been using it for years and refuse to acknowledge when something better comes along. Stubbornness and arrogance, I guess.

I, for one, refuse to join any comms unless it’s on Discord. I won’t install a garbage VoIP program when there’s a much better one available that I use daily.

Sorry fanboy, it isn’t about your personal preference/convenience, it is about the community centralized usage and the community decide what is best for them. There is nothing to argue about, community > personal preference/convenience.

Was it a full 50 Squad? The only times I’ve been in zerg squad and forced to use TS was if it was mostly guild. And I get that running a guild in another game that will have to pug up some.

And that’s a reason to join a WvW focused guild; you have multiple guilds you can join but that’s when exceptions can be made.

Also it’s the Zerg, but there’s usually many squads within the zerg, depending of server/pop of course. Some Commanders just are more not hardcore even just want to have the right stuff. Some of my best times are guild organized squads of WvW. Granted, opening to pugs with 40+ can be annoying as hell in TS.

You guys must be joking that Discord is better than TS for WvW purposes lol.
Discord latency and sound quality is worse. Discord capture and sells your personal info. While Discord also have bots and such, TS ones like auto-verification that are super useful aren’t there yet. Discord admin control options are also way behind in comparsion to TS.
All these features where TS is ahead of Discord are kitten important to a server-wide VOIP. While Discord is great because it’s free and easier to use (I use it a lot for small things), to large scale WvW, TS is clearly better.

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t use voice comms unless you’re hearing impaired. You literally just need to tune everything out except for commander calls for pushes and other people’s call outs for sustain and cc in order to follow up with your damage.

If you get upset at people using swear words, you need to grow a set and get a grip on reality (though I understand if people are dropping the F bomb every second word, that gets tedious).

All too often, I would call for push and I would see only the people in teamspeak pushing in, with all the 20-30 pugs not in teamspeak just waiting behind looking at us like a bunch of monkeys. When the calls have an effective timer on it of less than 2 seconds (as in, if the movements are made 2 seconds later than the call out, it becomes ineffective at best or will cause a wipe at worst), then it becomes necessary to kick all people not on teamspeak from the squad to ensure you have an accurate number of effective fighters.

As an example, a couple weeks ago, I tagged up on a map with a queue, with around 30 people in teamspeak. The fights were going horribly against guilds I know we could beat. Unfortunately, due to the huge number of people not in teamspeak, it was causing us to lose too many numbers every push due rallybotting and slow repositioning from people not in teamspeak. Eventually, I just called out in Teamspeak to change map so we could get away from those pugs, pulled the particular group we were fighting on EBG onto the borderlands by hitting an objective, and fought them while outnumbered (we dropped to around 20 people after we moved maps) to a standstill with extremely impressive sustain and kiting from a pug group. The difference is massive.

Just create a low level rally bot thief and zerg right next to him. He’ll love it.

RodOfDeath.5247:

Just create a low level rally bot thief and zerg right next to him. He’ll love it.

Problem with this: All who hit him rally – wouldn’t be many for a low level rally bot thief.

ETA: Then again I was today focussed by ~10 viz who all fired at once – woohoo that was fun.

OP

Playing WvW entitles you to queue for, enter and play on the maps. That includes following a zerg/commander around if there is. It does not include guaranteed membership in a social circle, no matter how informal it might be. That commander cannot stop you following him around, but he is not obliged to let you into his squad. Nor is he obligated to show you a good time.

It’s unfortunate that your lack of VOIP cost you a place in the squad. You have the right to decide for yourself whether to use such programs or not. He has the right to decide whether there are requirements to be in the squad he set up.

Naw Jana, I know you’re OP <3

Reverence.6915:

If you get upset at people using swear words, you need to grow a set and get a grip on reality (though I understand if people are dropping the F bomb every second word, that gets tedious).

My 2 cents. I have a 3 year old who sleeps in the room next to the computer room. I usually play when he’s sleeping or almost asleep and it’s mom’s night for the bedtime stories. However, I like to be able to hear when kiddo cries, gets up and starts walking the hallway, etc. so the headphones are not an option. And I’m not about to play most TS chats on my speakers due to the language if wife or kiddo can hear. I got balls – I got ‘em and I’ve put them to good use already so that’s not the answer.

So yeah, different people have different situations. If you’re running a zerg and have a few people not in TS it’s not going to ruin effectiveness under a good comm who pays attention to the map.

p.s. case in point, kiddo just woke up as I typed this. he went back to sleep soon after but yeah, the parents get it

This thread has turned into something entirely different than the original OP. Keep it on topic……

Everyone should be allowed to play the way they want to play. If they want only Ts users in their squad following them ….fine. If they want only non-Ts users in their squad following them…..fine. If you are kicking someone for either of these reasons you are limiting ur effectiveness in wvsw…..but thats UR choice as well. You can’t force people not to follow the tags either……so if you want to start hating on people I don’t see how that is going to be in ur best interest. If it does make you popular and allows you to gain the followers you seek……then i kind of pity humanity. But play the way you want, and respect others for playing the way they want.

That’s really what it boils down to….a lack of respect. Be respectful. The game is setup originally to be played through text based chat. People not following that are really the ones who are rebelling…..its rather ironic that voip users are the ones doing the discriminating when in similar examples it would easily be the other way around.

Fay.2357:

snip…

Edit: As an aside, I’m at a loss as to any reasons you could have for being unable/unwilling to download, run, and listen on teamspeak short of your parents blocking VoIP programs on your router or something like that.

I can give you one extremely valid reason for not using TS or any other teamspeaking gizmo that relies on being able to HEAR… some people that play the game are DEAF.

Hmm Its not a big thing if your not in a squad. The only time I join a squad is if the commander sends me an invite. But then I am a ranger so my main job is at the back of the zerg dropping speed buffs to help keep the zerg tight and chase down any random thiefs that try to pick off the slower zerg members.

“hey lets help improve the score” “hey screw that guy not in ts” “hey lets kick him” “why don’t we have enough to fight this?” “Hey…You guys in TS I only see like 5..” “Hey…get on TS guis” “Hey….why is nobody following me?” “Hey….know what f this game…”

(cont) "musicmusicmusic DRUNKEN WHATEVER NOISES musicmusicmusic, “Hey stack…STACK I SAID…” “WHY IS NOBODY STACKING…oh…nobody is on ts…nobody likes my yelling…nobody likes my music…nobody likes me…f this game.”

Lysander Freeman.4186:

Reverence.6915:

If you get upset at people using swear words, you need to grow a set and get a grip on reality (though I understand if people are dropping the F bomb every second word, that gets tedious).

My 2 cents. I have a 3 year old who sleeps in the room next to the computer room. I usually play when he’s sleeping or almost asleep and it’s mom’s night for the bedtime stories. However, I like to be able to hear when kiddo cries, gets up and starts walking the hallway, etc. so the headphones are not an option. And I’m not about to play most TS chats on my speakers due to the language if wife or kiddo can hear. I got balls – I got ‘em and I’ve put them to good use already so that’s not the answer.

So yeah, different people have different situations. If you’re running a zerg and have a few people not in TS it’s not going to ruin effectiveness under a good comm who pays attention to the map.

p.s. case in point, kiddo just woke up as I typed this. he went back to sleep soon after but yeah, the parents get it

I think that’s the thing a lot of these wannabe red guard players don’t understand who are in college or younger. People that play the game have a life with kids or the amazing verbiage used in TS by a lot of players today that you don’t quite want your fiance or kids to hear.

At the end of the day, it’s just a game. Nothing really matters and not sure why commanders get stressed or demanding like it’s real life.

I was in a recent teamspeak and was reminded on why I don’t get into TS on the FA server. Guild drama and two leaders arguing and accusing each other of this and that. I just don’t understand to be honest and don’t care to.

It’s the toxicity that turns players off to teamspeak in my opinion. Very few guilds can pull off a positive vibe in teamspeak in my experience transferring and experiencing several servers. Those toxic serious guilds tend to fade away very easy and the ones that are more on the positive note seem to hang around longer in the game.

Imagine that.

Lysander Freeman.4186:

Reverence.6915:

If you get upset at people using swear words, you need to grow a set and get a grip on reality (though I understand if people are dropping the F bomb every second word, that gets tedious).

My 2 cents. I have a 3 year old who sleeps in the room next to the computer room. I usually play when he’s sleeping or almost asleep and it’s mom’s night for the bedtime stories. However, I like to be able to hear when kiddo cries, gets up and starts walking the hallway, etc. so the headphones are not an option. And I’m not about to play most TS chats on my speakers due to the language if wife or kiddo can hear. I got balls – I got ‘em and I’ve put them to good use already so that’s not the answer.

So yeah, different people have different situations. If you’re running a zerg and have a few people not in TS it’s not going to ruin effectiveness under a good comm who pays attention to the map.

p.s. case in point, kiddo just woke up as I typed this. he went back to sleep soon after but yeah, the parents get it

I actually do think that using coarse language is a reason for people not to get in TS, actually and it has nothing to do with developing body parts but more of not wanting to associate with juvenile edgelords that lack manners. If for whatever reason people offend your beliefs, you are definitely free to not have to deal with them and sometimes if I feel the speech is too offensive, I just don’t bother.

It’s fine to say whatever when you’re with your friends or guildies, but if you’re opening a public run, then I think it’d help to watch these things to whatever extent of audience you want. Social awareness and all.

And I cuss a lot myself in-game, on ts, and in real life, and so do a lot of the people I run with. Sometimes the F word is great for emphasis such as when you’re about to go down or when you have 396 supply but both rams are still incomplete. Censorship filters I feel do impede my posting style. And yea, our chat is a bit politically incorrect but that doesn’t mean everyone has to accept that or it makes us especially edgy or grown up. I’m generally more offended by stupidity than words though. =p

Commanders need their squad to be effective and using ts is a great way for commanders to make their squad better by giving the important information (like where enemies are or what you intend to do) and not having to type everything in say/squadchat.
Additionally if everyone is on ts he can for example send subsquads on special errands, like getting camps or blocking opponents etc.

So people may have reasons to not be on ts, but commanders also have reasons not wanting to have you in their squad if you don’t want to be on ts. Like has been said: nobody is stopping you from walking with the commander though, just expect to die more often if you don’t hear the commander telling you to fall back etc.

Nothing wrong with someone requiring teamspeak to run with them, even if it’s to just listen to commands, it’s faster and more efficient for battles. Someone puts up a tag and creates a squad, they have the option to run open or closed, and make their own requirements.

Make your own squad if you don’t like how others run theirs, or find another commander that’s running open. If you like to run on your own and do your own thing you can do so without a squad, it’s not stopping you from playing the game.

Commander has a right to require TS or dichord or whatever.

Personally, I just find something else to do. I’d rather focus on WvW than listen to a bunch of people making kitten jokes and trying to see who can be the crudest/most disgusting.

Looking at the timing of this post and the feedback I got from others, that was probably me commanding.

First off, I had no idea that OP was talking or saying anything because I have him on my ignore list. I remember him complaining ad nausium about one thing or another and being very poisonous. So, if you felt ignored by me, it wasn’t direct, it’s something inadvertent because I got tired of your endless vitriol from a long time ago.

The most important thing for me, and I mostly only do this in EB, is knowing who I can count on. If people are in TS, I know that people are going to be following my movements. Big fights require fast movement. Any delay, even a few seconds, can mean death. Also, I can communicate where I’m going longer term. I can get immediate feedback, I can count on what supply I have in squad and know that if I need something built, the people in squad, and in TS will get it built.

EB has been full of people not playing on tag, following directions, or not wanting to join TS for one reason or another. I can’t count on those folks. Commanding EB not in TS is not enjoyable to me. If I try to fight, they mostly run away.

Heck, even if people are in TS, but consitantly off tag, not scouting, not contributing, and are people I don’t know, I’ll kick them too.

It’s also a way to try to get people into TS. There are so many new players to WvW, some don’t even know we have a community TS. It can be very enriching to the WvW experience and provide more success.

I myself don’t like being in TS sometimes. Some groups chatter endlessly. I hate that. My suggestion to those of you who feel similar to me is to put your mute button on a hot key and un-mute when you get into a fight.

In the end, it’s the commanders prerogative. I’m here to have fun, just like you. I do not exist to sacrifice my fun for you. I did not sign a contract with Anet to be inclusive to every player in my squad. Fun for me, when commanding EB, is to have a closed squad and know that I can count on those people. If you don’t like it, don’t follow, or follow with the others, and do your best. Or go to another map, or start your own squad. If you don’t want to get in TS, fine. Just don’t expect to be in my squad while on EB.

Lysander Freeman.4186:

Reverence.6915:

If you get upset at people using swear words, you need to grow a set and get a grip on reality (though I understand if people are dropping the F bomb every second word, that gets tedious).

My 2 cents. I have a 3 year old who sleeps in the room next to the computer room. I usually play when he’s sleeping or almost asleep and it’s mom’s night for the bedtime stories. However, I like to be able to hear when kiddo cries, gets up and starts walking the hallway, etc. so the headphones are not an option. And I’m not about to play most TS chats on my speakers due to the language if wife or kiddo can hear. I got balls – I got ‘em and I’ve put them to good use already so that’s not the answer.

So yeah, different people have different situations. If you’re running a zerg and have a few people not in TS it’s not going to ruin effectiveness under a good comm who pays attention to the map.

p.s. case in point, kiddo just woke up as I typed this. he went back to sleep soon after but yeah, the parents get it

I get that, and I sympathise, I really do, but in my guild, I have members who have newborns and toddlers as well. They usually wait until they’re asleep before playing, as well as working with their partners to look after their kids.

Granted, you probably have a completely different situation, and I completely understand RL issues stopping someone from using TS3. My comment is generally directed at people who can, but choose not to, when they have no barrier of entry.

Jana.6831:

Fay.2357:

Edit: As an aside, I’m at a loss as to any reasons you could have for being unable/unwilling to download, run, and listen on teamspeak short of your parents blocking VoIP programs on your router or something like that.

Personally I hate TS – usually the people with really annoying voices are talking the most and absolutely random stuff while in the midst of a fight.
I do get why commanders want everybody on TS though.

I like ts, ts gets funny at night weekends when people get drunk/high. Also we both play thief so it isn’t really required for us but when I play front line I will always make an effort to use ts in open raids.

Just zerg on the oldskool way before squads were a thing.

Fat Disgrace.4275:

I like ts, ts gets funny at night weekends when people get drunk/high. Also we both play thief so it isn’t really required for us but when I play front line I will always make an effort to use ts in open raids.

I should’ve recorded more fights of Flex and I together. I only have some hours of very boring fights, some fights in which I played really bad and one very grainy video of a good example how we “worked together” and well, lately there was only blobs which allowed no real strategy, it was more or less just trying to stay alive and slay as many as possible.

I can see what’s up without being on TS and TS is distracting me from that “instinct”.

And don’t forget that I’m German and that Germans can’t do anything without being on TS, no dungeons, no fractals, no pvp, no wvw, no map completion – I have been pestered to be there for years.

Spurnshadow.3678:

Looking at the timing of this post and the feedback I got from others, that was probably me commanding.

The most important thing for me, and I mostly only do this in EB, is knowing who I can count on. If people are in TS, I know that people are going to be following my movements. Big fights require fast movement. Any delay, even a few seconds, can mean death. Also, I can communicate where I’m going longer term. I can get immediate feedback, I can count on what supply I have in squad and know that if I need something built, the people in squad, and in TS will get it built.

EB has been full of people not playing on tag, following directions, or not wanting to join TS for one reason or another. I can’t count on those folks.

I can confirm the commander (probably you, can’t exactly remember your name.. Simon was it? but you were either MAS/XVX tagged) in TS yesterday asking TWICE if “Eater of Peeps” is in TS. No response. You kicked them and you had every right to because you and multiple others asked prior (map chat etc) for people to get in TS if they would like to be in squad; organised, reliable people to actually get things done in a swift and appropriate manner.

As for OP, there is a reason most commanders use TS and want their followers to use it as well – to be on the same page with the commander and make game impacting decisions asap. Voice communication is a superior, common tool used in many online games. I don’t have a mic, and even if I did I wouldn’t talk much due to my reserved nature/shyness yet at least I have the decency and respect to download the program and help benefit the commander’s intentions of successful team play by supporting their request.

Gone are the days of ‘typemanding’. Nearly every commander I’ve ran with has advertised to be on TS. No one is forcing you to join and if you don’t like that particular content then don’t be part of it or make your own dedicated squad or non-TS group.

At the end of the day… his squad, his rules. If you don’t abide by those rules, consider yourself kicked out and for good reason.