WvW has many different ways it can be played. From strictly PvE to strictly PvP, a combination of the two and even things that are separate entirely.
While it is true that the basics of WvW is zerg -> spam 1 -> get karma, there are many other ways one can immerse themselves in the game and in the community.
Here, I’ll be doing a short summary of each of the different areas of WvW trying to be as neutral as possible. For many, this thread will contain nothing they don’t already know but for others, it may help to feel more comfortable and aware.
Let’s start with the most basic of basics, Zerging.
Teamspeak (<- link to download provided here) is a priority for any co-ordinated zerg so that the team can hear verbal commands from their squad leader(s). This will allow them to instantly get information on what they are being requested to do without the commander having to type the orders and without the zerg having to read it.
Although TS is not the be all and end all, it does help immensely and without it you will be at a disadvantage.
If you are not on TS, here are some tips to help you to contribute and to survive:
- Keep your eyes on the commander always. Where ever s/he is, you should be following.
- Always be on your commander, not ahead of them when travelling. It is important that you let your commander lead the way as in some situations, they may want to stay hidden.
- If your commander drops blueprints, put your supplies in to them immediately. Remember to only build what what your commander drops unless they say otherwise.
- Consider the durability of your build. If you are squishy (low defenses) you will want to remain closer to the back of the group while in combat. If you are tanky (high defenses) you will want to be closer to the front.
- If your commander suddenly stops, get on top of them as tightly as possible. This is a “stack.” There can be a number of reasons to stack but the primary ones are: to share boons/buffs, to limit enemy AOE’s and to keep the group together so that individuals do not venture too far ahead or lag too far behind.
- When you see fields (fire, water, static, etc.) during a stack, blast them. Do not place your own fields if you are not in TS as you may be placing one(s) the commander is not asking for. This can overwrite the field that they need. So remember to only blast fields unless you are reading/hearing exactly what the commander wants.
- Learn to develop an eye for the flow of a fight. It is hard to say how one can do this but it often comes with experience. The more fights you are involved in, the more familiar you will be with when a push is happening, when a bait is happening, etc. It is important that you (eventually) learn how to recognize the flow of fights so that you can predict when/where your weapon and utility skills will be needed.
All of these tips are also valid if you are in TS but are far more necessary to know if you are not.
Scouting
Scouting is a vital part of WvW strategy. An effective scout can be the difference between a win and a lose, a safe structure or a lost structure and a life or a death on the field. It is not something that everyone enjoys doing but for those of us that do, here are some tips to help you improve on being an asset to your server:
Be detailed when relaying information. If a structure (tower/keep/castle/camp) is being attacked, you do not want to simply say, “X is being attacked.” Although it will get the basic point across, it may not be enough information for your commander to decide whether they should come to help or not.
Being detailed with your information means stating; numbers, direction, guild, current gate/wall health, siege being used and any other information that might be applicable. Although all of this is not always necessary to say, it can greatly help your server mates in deciding how much help they will need to send to support you.
Some examples of information to provide would be as follows:
8 – 10 YB at Brav, rams up, gate 50%.
15+ [Os] moving north along the west wall of SMC.
2 Thieves at Umber.
Example 1 = Numbers + server @ location (Brav = Bravost) + siege used + gate health.
Example 2 = Numbers + guild + direction they are moving by the structure(s) closest to them.
Example 3 = Numbers + profession(s) @ location.
Scouting is also more than just communication. Although it is not always necessary to do the following, there are other things you can do to be a helpful scout.
- Escorting dolyaks
- Building defensive siege in towers/keeps/castles
- Defending supply camps
- Helping passing roamers if they are in danger
- Repairing towers/keeps/castles if they are damaged (but only if they are no longer being attacked)
Next let’s talk about roaming.
Roaming is as important as any other role in WvW but perhaps the most dangerous. It is a hobby that demands a high level of skill and understanding in order to be effective as it often deals with many different threats.
If you are interested in pursuing this kind of activity in WvW, here are some things you will need to know:
- You will not win every single fight.
- You will get outnumbered frequently.
- Design your build with mobility and cleanse in mind. It is important to be able to move around the field quickly and to shed conditions when you are overwhelmed.
- Learn your limits. There are no builds that are 100% effective against everything. Get familiar with what you can and cannot beat so that you can avoid death without tempting it.
- Fight on your terms. Fights will happen between you and other players at many different locations. Some will be in such a place that your opponent can retreat to recover, to rally friends to outnumber you, use the terrain to manipulate you or to outgun you with siege support. Consider where you are about to engage so that you can turn the environment in your favor and not theirs.
- Pay attention to your scouts and your commanders. They will help you to avoid (or to find, if you wish) zergs or other groups that will outnumber you.
- Be a pest! A good roamer is an annoying roamer. Flip supply camps frequently, kill dolyaks, tie up scouts/other roamers by occupying them, contest waypoints, flip sentry’s, lay supply traps, kill siege in structures, etc.
Roaming is about as complicated as scouting with as many different nuances. I could cover every aspect of both but it would take an entire separate thread to do so so just remember to learn and to evolve! You will learn the rest as you go.
Lastly, let’s talk about the controversial dueling.
It can happen anywhere, sometimes in ideal places, sometimes in less than ideal places. Duels happen when two players meet that respect each others skill and wish to have an honorable practice. When one player begins with a /bow, this usually insinuates that they wish to have a friendly skirmish and a /bow in response signifies the other participants approval.
Some people feel that “red is dead” while others view their opponents as they view themselves, just playing the game. In the event that you either interrupt or happen upon a duel, here are some things you should know:
- Often there will be more than two players. The two that are in the duel and others that are standing idle nearby watching the fight unfold. If you see that there are other players with a neutral presence, this is the first indication that you are seeing a duel.
- If you happen to interrupt two players that are having a duel, a few things might happen. Your teammate may rage at you, they may tell you to stop or they may simply back away. If they tell you to stop, you should definitely stop at the risk of upsetting them. If they back away, you can either choose to continue with the potential to embarrass yourself or you can sheath your weapon and attempt to flee. There aren’t really any right answers here from either party as this is a game and can played as one pleases. Just know that by interrupting a duel, intentionally or unintentionally, you can upset other players which shouldn’t be something you want to do. If they are rude to you, there is no need to respond. Walk away and ignore their insults.
- Do not stomp (finish/spike/defeat/kill) your opponent if you are the victor. One of the major aspects of dueling is that neither party has to be killed if they lose. They are put in to downed state and allowed to recover so that they can either leave or start another duel.
- Players that are observing a duel are usually quite playful if you are kind to them. If you see a neutral player that is on the offending team, you can usually have a bit of fun with them by using tonics, toys or other gizmos to interact with them. Remember that they are players just like yourself and will likely respond to a bit of horsing around with some good humor of their own.
And the most important thing of all
Remember to have fun! It’s just a freakin’ game and no one has to hurt or hate anyone. Explore, evolve and make friends, whether they’re on your server or on the server you’re against. Don’t take things too seriously or you risk ruining the fun for more people than just yourself.
Take care and I hope this does some good for someone out there (:
Champion: Phantom, Hunter, Legionnaire, Genius
WvW rank: Diamond Colonel | Maguuma
(edited by SpellOfIniquity.1780)
And one should note, it also applies to WvW and to EotM as you can practice the same things there and I have had a few good duels in EotM and done scouting and roaming there too.
