Guild Wars 2

http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/01/what-you-need-to-know-about-guild-wars-2s-second-season-living/#continued

Warning: (minor) spoilers.

Some cool screenshots in it though. Can’t wait to explore the new map.
Hopefully the goggles (and mask, which were datamined by that_shaman) aren’t gemstore items. If they are, hopefully it’ll be 400 to get all three different types.(I really need to start finish reading the whole article before commenting on sections

Oh yes, spoilers indeed!

“New crafting materials also enter the scene. Players can now harvest cacti for cooking or refine Ambrite into sheets, that can be used in crafting gear with bonuses to Toughness, Healing, and Vitality.”

Interesting

“…bonuses to Toughness, Healing, and Vitality.”

It’s nice that they’re focusing on building up healers, but that also makes me a little worried. I’m not exactly the best in this game, so it’s going to take me a while to get these new achievements. Maybe I should focus on a healing build?

Nice to see some new crafting mats. Maybe chef is getting a boost to 500?

Eravyn.7483:

“…bonuses to Toughness, Healing, and Vitality.”

It’s nice that they’re focusing on building up healers, but that also makes me a little worried. I’m not exactly the best in this game, so it’s going to take me a while to get these new achievements. Maybe I should focus on a healing build?

No. Still a waste of time in PvE.

Saint.5647:

Eravyn.7483:

“…bonuses to Toughness, Healing, and Vitality.”

It’s nice that they’re focusing on building up healers, but that also makes me a little worried. I’m not exactly the best in this game, so it’s going to take me a while to get these new achievements. Maybe I should focus on a healing build?

No. Still a waste of time in PvE.

It’ll be a waste of time, just like sentinel, but it’ll still sell for a gold or two. Plus the cacti can be used by a chef, so maybe new food will be added.

Well this has me super excited. I hope the new map is a REAL map though and not an incomplete desolate map like southsun was.

It needs POI’s and Vistas and Skill Points and Hearts (Hearts aren’t needed if there are enough events).

Edit: What weapon is that in the 10th picture? Is it new? I don’t recognize it.

As to the Elite Achievements section, this quote is troubling: " He gave examples like keeping all NPCs alive throughout the encounter or never falling to the boss." Never letting NPCs die? When has that ever worked in an MMO to the point that it was a fun thing to do? I am not talking about it mechanically working. I am talking about players being super stoked to do an escort mission and really enjoying it. Keeping NPCs alive has always been a chore in MMOs. Can we please do away with this notion that players find it enjoyable?

ZudetGambeous.9573:

Edit: What weapon is that in the 10th picture? Is it new? I don’t recognize it.

Is the torch the Mistforged one? (At work so can’t check ingame). Unless you mean the other hand, but I can’t really see what it is. It might be a new one.

Iason Evan.3806:

As to the Elite Achievements section, this quote is troubling: " He gave examples like keeping all NPCs alive throughout the encounter or never falling to the boss." Never letting NPCs die? When has that ever worked in an MMO to the point that it was a fun thing to do? I am not talking about it mechanically working. I am talking about players being super stoked to do an escort mission and really enjoying it. Keeping NPCs alive has always been a chore in MMOs. Can we please do away with this notion that players find it enjoyable?

“Elite” achievement. Get good. Besides, most GW2 NPCs are pretty boss, so it shouldn’t be that hard. I remember when Teq was first updated, we used to kite the champs attacking the turrets to Rox and watch her kick kitten . She’d go all Mama Bear mode on them.

Wow actually excited now. New zone and new interesting mechanics to go with that.

LOVE the sandstorm concept and was actually imaging this when i saw the trailer, a big DE arc tied in to an actual zone changing events. Finally cashing in that promise anet. thank you.

Still waiting on patch to see if ill come back to this game properly again but i gotta higher hopes than a few days ago.

I do like that the sandstorm will be an actual environmental effect that has an impact on what’s going on around you. That’s a bit of a change.

Pibriamal.8719:

Iason Evan.3806:

As to the Elite Achievements section, this quote is troubling: " He gave examples like keeping all NPCs alive throughout the encounter or never falling to the boss." Never letting NPCs die? When has that ever worked in an MMO to the point that it was a fun thing to do? I am not talking about it mechanically working. I am talking about players being super stoked to do an escort mission and really enjoying it. Keeping NPCs alive has always been a chore in MMOs. Can we please do away with this notion that players find it enjoyable?

“Elite” achievement. Get good. Besides, most GW2 NPCs are pretty boss, so it shouldn’t be that hard. I remember when Teq was first updated, we used to kite the champs attacking the turrets to Rox and watch her kick kitten . She’d go all Mama Bear mode on them.

I did say, “When has it ever been fun?” and “I am not talking about it mechanically working…”. The point was, when has that ever been something players look forward to? Do you ever hear a player say, “Boy oh boy, that escort mission was a real hootenanny!”

I’d rather they make Zealot (Keeper) stats more available if they’re going to push this whole healing thing. Honestly, 200g just to get all the recipes…

skullmount.1758:

ZudetGambeous.9573:

Edit: What weapon is that in the 10th picture? Is it new? I don’t recognize it.

Is the torch the Mistforged one? (At work so can’t check ingame). Unless you mean the other hand, but I can’t really see what it is. It might be a new one.

It’s the Mistforged Torch and Scepter (or at the very least it looks like them).

Wow, …… so I was right to a certain extent?

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/lore/lore/Predictions-for-Season-2-spoilers-in-here/first#post4158907

Iason Evan.3806:

Pibriamal.8719:

Iason Evan.3806:

As to the Elite Achievements section, this quote is troubling: " He gave examples like keeping all NPCs alive throughout the encounter or never falling to the boss." Never letting NPCs die? When has that ever worked in an MMO to the point that it was a fun thing to do? I am not talking about it mechanically working. I am talking about players being super stoked to do an escort mission and really enjoying it. Keeping NPCs alive has always been a chore in MMOs. Can we please do away with this notion that players find it enjoyable?

“Elite” achievement. Get good. Besides, most GW2 NPCs are pretty boss, so it shouldn’t be that hard. I remember when Teq was first updated, we used to kite the champs attacking the turrets to Rox and watch her kick kitten . She’d go all Mama Bear mode on them.

I did say, “When has it ever been fun?” and “I am not talking about it mechanically working…”. The point was, when has that ever been something players look forward to? Do you ever hear a player say, “Boy oh boy, that escort mission was a real hootenanny!”

I like escort missions. I’m sure some other people do as well. I’m also sure some people hate them. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad design.

Morsus.5106:

Saint.5647:

Eravyn.7483:

“…bonuses to Toughness, Healing, and Vitality.”

It’s nice that they’re focusing on building up healers, but that also makes me a little worried. I’m not exactly the best in this game, so it’s going to take me a while to get these new achievements. Maybe I should focus on a healing build?

No. Still a waste of time in PvE.

It’ll be a waste of time, just like sentinel, but it’ll still sell for a gold or two. Plus the cacti can be used by a chef, so maybe new food will be added.

Actually quite smart. Worth keeping an eye on. It could sell well for a while to the trinity-pusher crowd.

Pibriamal.8719:

Iason Evan.3806:

Pibriamal.8719:

Iason Evan.3806:

As to the Elite Achievements section, this quote is troubling: " He gave examples like keeping all NPCs alive throughout the encounter or never falling to the boss." Never letting NPCs die? When has that ever worked in an MMO to the point that it was a fun thing to do? I am not talking about it mechanically working. I am talking about players being super stoked to do an escort mission and really enjoying it. Keeping NPCs alive has always been a chore in MMOs. Can we please do away with this notion that players find it enjoyable?

“Elite” achievement. Get good. Besides, most GW2 NPCs are pretty boss, so it shouldn’t be that hard. I remember when Teq was first updated, we used to kite the champs attacking the turrets to Rox and watch her kick kitten . She’d go all Mama Bear mode on them.

I did say, “When has it ever been fun?” and “I am not talking about it mechanically working…”. The point was, when has that ever been something players look forward to? Do you ever hear a player say, “Boy oh boy, that escort mission was a real hootenanny!”

I like escort missions. I’m sure some other people do as well. I’m also sure some people hate them. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad design.

Any excuse to equip a mace and shield on my guardian is a good one

Iason Evan.3806:

Pibriamal.8719:

Iason Evan.3806:

As to the Elite Achievements section, this quote is troubling: " He gave examples like keeping all NPCs alive throughout the encounter or never falling to the boss." Never letting NPCs die? When has that ever worked in an MMO to the point that it was a fun thing to do? I am not talking about it mechanically working. I am talking about players being super stoked to do an escort mission and really enjoying it. Keeping NPCs alive has always been a chore in MMOs. Can we please do away with this notion that players find it enjoyable?

“Elite” achievement. Get good. Besides, most GW2 NPCs are pretty boss, so it shouldn’t be that hard. I remember when Teq was first updated, we used to kite the champs attacking the turrets to Rox and watch her kick kitten . She’d go all Mama Bear mode on them.

I did say, “When has it ever been fun?” and “I am not talking about it mechanically working…”. The point was, when has that ever been something players look forward to? Do you ever hear a player say, “Boy oh boy, that escort mission was a real hootenanny!”

Some of the more recent MMO’s do they quite well actually. NPC’s run at the same speed as the player, they have enough HP that they don’t die just from AOE, and it is interesting to figure out which enemies you have to take out first and see how fast you can throw out damage while also staying alive. I for one look forward to them.

ZudetGambeous.9573:

Well this has me super excited. I hope the new map is a REAL map though and not an incomplete desolate map like southsun was.

It needs POI’s and Vistas and Skill Points and Hearts (Hearts aren’t needed if there are enough events).

Edit: What weapon is that in the 10th picture? Is it new? I don’t recognize it.

Don’t count on hearts, the only reason Frostforge and below have hearts is because they aren’t considered end game zones.

Saint.5647:

Morsus.5106:

Saint.5647:

Eravyn.7483:

“…bonuses to Toughness, Healing, and Vitality.”

It’s nice that they’re focusing on building up healers, but that also makes me a little worried. I’m not exactly the best in this game, so it’s going to take me a while to get these new achievements. Maybe I should focus on a healing build?

No. Still a waste of time in PvE.

It’ll be a waste of time, just like sentinel, but it’ll still sell for a gold or two. Plus the cacti can be used by a chef, so maybe new food will be added.

Actually quite smart. Worth keeping an eye on. It could sell well for a while to the trinity-pusher crowd.

I sold enough Sentinel’s Draconic Helms to get my armorsmith to 500 in about 2 days, plus plenty of profit (I sold as low as possible to get to 500 as fast as possible). All thanks to the trinity pushers. I look forward to new, useless gear combos because I’m always hoping for a repeat of Sentinels. Little practical use, but plenty of profit for me

I see intrepid Asuran commando-entrepreneurs have already deployed waypoints…

I like the idea of the elite achievments, it may give people a use for using non zerker builds to do them!

I will be listening to Darude – Sandstorm during new patch it seems.

nearlight.3064:

I like the idea of the elite achievments, it may give people a use for using non zerker builds to do them!

Or it could be elite like Liadri – Swap to rampagers and you’ll be fine. Builds may change, but it’ll be centered around DPS unless they rework the way combat works in this game.

i really hope these challenging achievements are actually challenging and not pseudo crap like Liadri

Pibriamal.8719:

Iason Evan.3806:

Pibriamal.8719:

Iason Evan.3806:

As to the Elite Achievements section, this quote is troubling: " He gave examples like keeping all NPCs alive throughout the encounter or never falling to the boss." Never letting NPCs die? When has that ever worked in an MMO to the point that it was a fun thing to do? I am not talking about it mechanically working. I am talking about players being super stoked to do an escort mission and really enjoying it. Keeping NPCs alive has always been a chore in MMOs. Can we please do away with this notion that players find it enjoyable?

“Elite” achievement. Get good. Besides, most GW2 NPCs are pretty boss, so it shouldn’t be that hard. I remember when Teq was first updated, we used to kite the champs attacking the turrets to Rox and watch her kick kitten . She’d go all Mama Bear mode on them.

I did say, “When has it ever been fun?” and “I am not talking about it mechanically working…”. The point was, when has that ever been something players look forward to? Do you ever hear a player say, “Boy oh boy, that escort mission was a real hootenanny!”

I like escort missions. I’m sure some other people do as well. I’m also sure some people hate them. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad design.

The player’s failure gets predicated on something they can’t control. Namely, the fact that the escortee has the self-preservation instincts of a cruller at a police precinct, and so there’s the endless rounds of ‘I did everything right, but I still failed.’"

I personally hate escort missions with a burning passion. I’m perfectly fine with challenging content, but the chances of success should depend entirely on me (or other players), not some NPC whose intellect can be put to shame by a glass of water.

Kibazuka.1390:

i really hope these challenging achievements are actually challenging and not pseudo crap like Liadri

I wouldn’t get your hopes up. I would expect the average difficulty to be slightly lower than Liadri at best.

GW2 is a very casual oriented game. They need to make the challenges reflect that. If you alienate too many of your players then you lose your playerbase.

Iason Evan.3806:

Pibriamal.8719:

Iason Evan.3806:

As to the Elite Achievements section, this quote is troubling: " He gave examples like keeping all NPCs alive throughout the encounter or never falling to the boss." Never letting NPCs die? When has that ever worked in an MMO to the point that it was a fun thing to do? I am not talking about it mechanically working. I am talking about players being super stoked to do an escort mission and really enjoying it. Keeping NPCs alive has always been a chore in MMOs. Can we please do away with this notion that players find it enjoyable?

“Elite” achievement. Get good. Besides, most GW2 NPCs are pretty boss, so it shouldn’t be that hard. I remember when Teq was first updated, we used to kite the champs attacking the turrets to Rox and watch her kick kitten . She’d go all Mama Bear mode on them.

I did say, “When has it ever been fun?” and “I am not talking about it mechanically working…”. The point was, when has that ever been something players look forward to? Do you ever hear a player say, “Boy oh boy, that escort mission was a real hootenanny!”

No, they have not. Noone in his right mind EVER uses the word “hootenanny”.

ZudetGambeous.9573:

Kibazuka.1390:

i really hope these challenging achievements are actually challenging and not pseudo crap like Liadri

I wouldn’t get your hopes up. I would expect the average difficulty to be slightly lower than Liadri at best.

GW2 is a very casual oriented game. They need to make the challenges reflect that. If you alienate too many of your players then you lose your playerbase.

My problem, is many people couldn’t even beat Liadri. If I have to rely on others, I want it to be closer in challenge to, say, the pirate crew. If it is Liadri hard, then it will just be a luck based challenge hoping your pug or people around you know what to do.

I’d love to see Power/Precision/Toughness and Power/Ferocity/Toughness gear.

Awesome another useless stat mix added… the only way healing builds are ever gonna be viable for PvE group situations is if they re-design every encounter in dungeons/fractals, etc. which will never happen.

OJM.5103:

Awesome another useless stat mix added… the only way healing builds are ever gonna be viable for PvE group situations is if they re-design every encounter in dungeons/fractals, etc. which will never happen.

Sigh

Perhaps useless now, but that could change with new content. Don’t be so hasty.

Morsus.5106:

ZudetGambeous.9573:

Kibazuka.1390:

i really hope these challenging achievements are actually challenging and not pseudo crap like Liadri

I wouldn’t get your hopes up. I would expect the average difficulty to be slightly lower than Liadri at best.

GW2 is a very casual oriented game. They need to make the challenges reflect that. If you alienate too many of your players then you lose your playerbase.

My problem, is many people couldn’t even beat Liadri. If I have to rely on others, I want it to be closer in challenge to, say, the pirate crew. If it is Liadri hard, then it will just be a luck based challenge hoping your pug or people around you know what to do.

My understanding is that Elite Achievements are accessed from the story journal which is for the story INSTANCES. I.e. there are no pugs around. Just you and possibly your guild mates.

They are running out of stat combos aren’t they? This stat combo might be awesome for a bunker that simply wants to hold a point and deal no damage but it would be worthless in PVE, but you have to go to PVE to get it, makes sense from the stand point that they want players to spend more time grinding in one mode of game play so they can get stats for another.

MastaNeenja.1537:

They are running out of stat combos aren’t they? This stat combo might be awesome for a bunker that simply wants to hold a point and deal no damage but it would be worthless in PVE, but you have to go to PVE to get it, makes sense from the stand point that they want players to spend more time grinding in one mode of game play so they can get stats for another.

You don’t get your sPvP stats from PvE. Unless you’re talking about WvW, but what points are you bunkering there? It’ll have its uses in WvW frontline zerging for sure.

It’s a little disappointing that even though they stress Scarlet’s dead, it looks like they’re still not over her.

How many more seasons until the story legitimately moves forward?

They can’t just pretend like Season 1 never happened. It’s canon in the storyline and it will have tie-ins. How many forum threads until the detractors legitimately move forward?

Maybe another thing they’re planning on doing is making healing not useless. If suddenly healing power got a significant buff, that could be a game-changer in terms of mechanics and viable builds.

Aesthetically, Dry Top looks fantastic. I’m getting Elona flashbacks looking at it. I’m hoping that the Hylek shown are Heket , though I’m not sure how they would have gotten to Maguuma from Elona.

I’m just really relieved to get a new, aesthetically distinct zone, and an arid one at that. I miss Elona.

Windu The Forbidden One.6045:

…the escortee has the self-preservation instincts of a cruller at a police precinct…

This made me laugh so hard

JLHiggs.6258:

They can’t just pretend like Season 1 never happened.

And yet that’s basically what they’re doing by going back to it instead of using it as a narrative device to naturally and fluidly propel the story in another direction.

Of course, to each their own. I would just prefer seasons to be successive and progressive, rather than parallel.

JLHiggs.6258:

It’s canon in the storyline and it will have tie-ins. How many forum threads until the detractors legitimately move forward?

Brilliantly astute, but this thread isn’t about complaining, the first post is just pointing to an article that people then discuss. That is usually what the forums consist of – discussions.

Drebi.1875:

OJM.5103:

Awesome another useless stat mix added… the only way healing builds are ever gonna be viable for PvE group situations is if they re-design every encounter in dungeons/fractals, etc. which will never happen.

Sigh

Perhaps useless now, but that could change with new content. Don’t be so hasty.

Useless for always unless they re-design the whole game’s mechanics so that Berserker becomes an inefficient gear choice for PvE content. Which I can’t see happening.

Faceless.7549:

And yet that’s basically what they’re doing by going back to it instead of using it as a narrative device to naturally and fluidly propel the story in another direction.

I would love some elaboration on this, as I feel as if they’re fluidly propelling the story forward.

I’m already a bit bummed down. More Scarlet’s backstory? Maybe if they put emphasis on her inner fight with Morthermoth/entity that was invading her mind. I’m still cautious about seeing more of her road to Mary Sue’ism.
If they leave her alone and concentrate about her seconds in command and their reasons of allying with clearly psychotic character, different than “for the Evulz”, I’m ready to enjoy this
Finger crossed and twitching with anticipation anyway

ZudetGambeous.9573:

Well this has me super excited. I hope the new map is a REAL map though and not an incomplete desolate map like southsun was.

It needs POI’s and Vistas and Skill Points and Hearts (Hearts aren’t needed if there are enough events).

Edit: What weapon is that in the 10th picture? Is it new? I don’t recognize it.

New map looks to have PoIs, skill points, and vistas. No hearts from what I can tell. (Based this off preview videos by Wooden Potatoes)

Look… another teaser!

(or maybe I just missed it previoulsy, either way, I felt like sharing)

Edit: Since someone else mentioned WP’s videos.. here’s the link for the first one (has some nice map footage)

Looks like sandstorms come in on a timer.

Well the map isn’t huge, but it seems to be full of content, achievements, events, SP’s, POI’s and WP’s so that is a plus.

I’m kind of annoyed that they give non-employee’s access to the patch notes days ahead of time. Now we know why prices for things start rising days before the patch goes live… because they let people know exactly what to buy well ahead of time…