Guild Wars 2

AH refers to Altruistic Healing, most people refer to this thread: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/guardian/Guide-Hammer-and-Altruistic-Healing-gameplay

found in the sticky section. AH is a level 80 trait that basically applies a heal for each boon you have on you, so it stacks and makes for very high survivability. Click the link and find out more.

If by funny you mean Really frustrating, then yes I agree, it’s quite funny!

I’ve noticed that the vast majority of rewards I’ve received from zone chests have contained only Medium and Light armor. As a Heavy armor wearer, I find this setup to be skewed. I can’t express how frustrating it is to get 2 yellow or orange items and have them both be totally useless.

Can you take a look at the distribution of items in this mechanic?

Cheers!

I’d love to see this feature implemented as well.

It’s impossible to tell if someone just logged off, or hasn’t been around in 10 days.

Very important when pruning guild members, as well as assessing whether a GL/Officers are active or not.

So you’d sacrifice radius for frequency. Do you find that the effect of a smaller radius has a significant or noticeable impact during group play?

@DamagePlan

Well I hadn’t really thought about it much, but I suppose that being able to click off all my Hammer skills 20% faster than being able to do SY and HtL.

I’m not married to it. Do you think it’s worth dumping 2h mastery for SA?

@DamagePlan Sorry, I didn’t click “get link” at bottom, I’m used to calcs updating a visible url on the fly.

Here is a build I’ve been thinking about since I posted here…

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQNAS7dlYg67mFyIEfIFRWhVaVggYK0YGve4QKyQA

Not really sure about the Virtues line, but I’m not seeing much else. I do roll with a scepter/focus offhand though.

As before, I would swap Strength in Numbers for Purity when running dungeons.

Ideas?

Hey folks!

New to hammer, I was wondering what you all thought about this build for PvE

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fUAQBgCIXglCAAA/AAXPAAAAA

I would swap Strength in Numbers for Purity when running dungeons.

Kaptain O, I want to start off by reiterating that I welcome discussions like these because in the end, it is the community that will benefit. For example, you may have never done that analysis if it was not in the face of mine. I’m not saying I’m trying to be some helpful troll, not at all. Just that this is being taken in the spirit of cooperation and to advance our knowledge of the game

So, to your points.

I believe you and I are coming at this from two different places. If I’m interpreting you correctly, you are interested in Which weapon is better to use under various circumstances. Since you point to various scenarios like boss moving, landing all tics of symbol etc.

I’m not coming from, or heading to, the same place at all. My interest is purely academic, and not applied. I took the numbers given by foofad and ran with them. My assumptions were: 1) they are correct. 2) attacking a dummy 3) everything else is equal.

It’s the same as asking: what is the DPS of this item vs what is the effective DPS of this item? One takes into account mob movement, miss chance, blocks, parries, bad human targeting, system lag. The other just looks at it in a bubble. If everything were ideal, what could this item pump out?

It would be like saying, well, GS has a wider swing arch than sword or mace, so you’re more likely to catch another mob at the very edge, therefore GS is superior. Whether that’s true or not has no bearing on sword DPS or GS DPS. In an ideal situation, the mob gets hit with both weapons equally.

In statistical testing, you are comparing means. The average of all coefficients between hammer and sword. You’re saying you get 7.8%. Well, what does 7.8% mean? Is it big? Is it small? Is it just noise? That’s what the test purposes to answer. When the test is run, it says that there is a 95% chance that 7.8% is not statistically significant (or rather, falls within 1.96 standard deviations) . And furthermore, with a p value as high as that, it’s nowhere near.

If I reported simply something like 7.8% increase, someone might look at that, and say Holy crap! 7.8% That’s a ton! (or That’s nothing!) It is only when you interpret that number can you see the forest and not the trees. You need context, and you need to know if that 7.8% is just noise, or if it is statistically meaningful. Anyways, I don’t think the merits of statistical analyses should be in this topic

On to your own analysis. I want to mention a few things.

You’re citing activation times and CDs when earlier in this very thread, people are reporting that animation times do not correspond to activation times, so the average player, and even a skilled player may not be able to take advantage of the skill’s activation time, since his toon will still be executing the move for longer than the move takes due to ArenaNet animation fumbles.

Also, you are reporting vs a moving boss. How are you accounting for how many hits you land etc? Not criticizing, just wondering. It’s gotta be reproducible, and really, no two fights are exactly alike (as you say) so I wonder if the whole moving target is moot.

A quick point, you write DPS, but we’re talking about coefficients, did you actually work out the numbers from Skill Damage = [(coefficient) * (weapon damage (which is a range)) * (power)]/armor or was that supposed to be Coefficient and not DPS? If so, what weapon are you using in both situations (Hammer / Greatsword)?

Finally, I just have to point out that Theorycrafting is all about math and theory, and not about “in game applications” it is a tool to discover if one way is mathematically better than another way. Then players go out into the game and try, and report back that there are other factors to consider. But even then, it’s reduced to numbers and math and theory once again.

We aren’t discussing Strategy, that’s a different topic. This is about numbers and math.

Thoughts?

I appreciate your comments. A few clarifications on that.

If we are theorycrafting, then yes, we’re going to control for everything aside from the weapon. That is to say, the mob doesn’t move, and you manage to land every hit perfectly. Otherwise, the comparison is pointless.

Secondly, nowhere did I say I was giving an Average per swing. That was all you. The point of my cumulative total was to show the coefficient for all 3 swings, since a lot of your damage comes from auto attack. I see no issues with that. Giving an average per swing is not as useful IMO because not all 3 swings always land, and so it is incorrect to say that even if I landed just 1 hit, it would be 1.5667.

The Total average counts All coefficients, not just auto attack, and so it does come to 1.375. Check it again.

On your third point, you may disagree with the usefulness of my calculations, and that’s totally fine. That is why we have many different options It says nothing about the validity of the calculations. Take it or leave it, makes no difference to me. Though I think you’re confused as to what Auto Attack Cumulative, and Total Average mean in my post.

On your last point, I’m sorry, but I have to disagree with you. We’re dealing with numbers, and when numbers are involved, they can be subjected to statistical testing. No one is questioning the validity of the set. You are misunderstanding the point of the test. The point is to say whether or not the difference in damage between 2 weapons is likely to deviate from one another significantly by chance alone.

Now, an important caveat here, convention says we use 5% (one tail) as a cut off, but that is arbitrary (and Maybe that’s what you were referring to, I’m not sure) but in any case, 5% is pretty good.

Your conclusion is your own, but you’re making a statement that is based on your feeling, and if that works for you, great I guess you could say the same about the 5%, but the methodology behind it is completely different. Consider my analysis to be only intended for those who want a bit of conventional statistics behind their decision.

You could argue that even 0.0009% increase in DPS is totally worth swapping weapons. Is that wrong? Absolutely not. But the info should be out there, and I see no flaw in the logic of my calculations. Take from it what you will.

p.s. I take all your comments constructively

I believe it’s a known fact that animation times exceed the actual required time to execute the skill. In fact, there are many videos that show just how and when you can maximize damage by interrupting yourself using other skills while still getting full effect.

It’s always sad when these things don’t align perfectly because it then turns out that you need to game the system a bit to be more competitive, especially in PvP.

Kaptain O.1348:

What do you mean by this:

Balerathon.2184:

Hammer

Auto Attack Cumulative = 4.7
Total Average = 1.375

Well, the first 3 attacks are really just the chain of auto attacks, so you hit once, then it’s a different attack, you hit the second time and it’s yet another attack. Three hits to complete a cycle. The cumulative for all 3 attacks is 4.7.

If you calculate the average coefficient for all attacks per weapon, and divide by the number of attacks, you get an average coefficient per weapon.

Then a simple t-test of significance and Bob’s your uncle!

That’s it really

This is great stuff

Here are some preliminary calculations for each weapon for an “at a glance” comparison. (It assumes you’re hitting 1 target, and that all things like the different weapons all have the same stats) so if you needed to choose between comparable weapons, you can.

Keep in mind that 2 handed weapons should not be directly compared to 1 handed weapons since the damage is significantly different, and would depend on what you were using in your off hand.

Hammer

Auto Attack Cumulative = 4.7
Total Average = 1.375

Greatsword

Auto Attack Cumulative = 2.8
Total Average = Unknown because of Whirling Wrath.
Without WW = 1.275

Comparing the means of Hammer and Greatsword (1 tailed @ .05 ) yields a p-value of p = 0.4174. This is not a significant difference. What that means is there is no real statistically significant difference in choosing Hammer over Greatsword based on these numbers, though your mileage may vary! However please keep in mind that we do not have all the data for GS, and so this is an incomplete analysis, and should be treated as such!

Staff

Auto Attack Cumulative = .6
Total Average = 0.8

Sword

Auto Attack Cumulative = 3.26
Total Average = 1.246

Mace

Auto Attack Cumulative = 3.2
Total Average = 1.22

Comparing the means of Sword and Mace (1 tailed @ .05 ) yields a p-value of p = 0.17603. This is not a significant difference. What that means is there is no real statistically significant difference in choosing Mace over Sword based on these numbers, though your mileage may vary!

Scepter

Total Average =2.805

Shield

Total Average =1

Focus

Total Average =1.5

Torch

Total Average =2.775

Smite Condition

Total Average =0.945

Questions? Comments?

Thank you foofad for the data!

Speaking of those transformation elites, I suppose Wolf is the best bet because it’s normal attack stacks bleeding? What are your thoughts on this?

Also, I’ve been playing more and more with Scepter, and I have to say, I’m Loving it! The DPS is fantastic, the AoE is solid and has a super fast CD, the root is meh, but still ok, and the defensive options that Focus gives is pretty sweet. Plus, it’s so much easier to evade and avoid attacks with Scepter because you can circle kite in a wider diameter.

I almost forget to switch back to GS most fights

Well, are you going for a more Sturm Brightblade sort of distrust of magic and “Est Sularus oth Mithas” or are you looking for a more Paladin like build, that is, heavily armored, and uses holy wrath to bring down flames and swords to cleanse and slay?

I noticed you didn’t mention Scepter in there. I think it’s important not to leave that out as the damage output can be pretty good, and it’s a great pulling tool.

I’m personally running this build: http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mccz0mz9MMnLwcMnLwc0fxGVoozqos

Taken from the Paladin 2.5 thread in this forum.

I find myself pretty unstoppable, and can routinely take on 3-4 mobs of +3-4 levels.

In the end, as I’m sure everyone will agree, it comes down to playstyle, and what you’re comfortable with. I know some players who are always hesitant to use their skills, and so end up not doing so because “what if I need it in a bit??”. Others pop them every time they’re up.

Also, think about the following; this game is meant to allow a wide variety of play styles, and so really, there are tons of different and fairly viable ways to play. In the end, it’s a game, so maybe your starting point should be… “How do I envision my Guardian reaping through his enemies?”

Is he a “Ajax” from Troy type person who just mows people down with a giant hammer?

Is he a classic Sword and Board / Mace and Shield?

Is he a Conan with honor

Is he a new-age alternative fighter (using Focus, Torch, Scepter)?

However you envision your hero, you’ll be able to find a playstyle that’s viable

Thanks for this. I’m just starting a new Guardian, and gonna follow your 2.5 build using GS/Scepter+Focus (or 1h Sword + Focus for the blind). Looks promising.

Would you suggest going Valor 10, then Honor or Radiance 10? Or something else completely?

Cheers!

Haven’t seen any posts for guilds on AR. Any suggestions?

Hey bud,

I’m currently running this build: http://www.gw2db.com/skills/calc/warrior#11|9|11|65|3903|45|1890|0|0|0|0|20|1975|1846|0|30|1541|1535|1491|10|1513|0|0|10|1545|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0

(I’m sure it could use some work…) Seems very very close to what the link above me means. Just looks like Weapon & Talent choices pretty much.

Level 36 so far, I use a GS/Axe+Shield and I’m lovin it! I may not be the fastest killer, but chaining my abilities I have some good burst, and can keep the pressure on.

I start with my GS, pop FGJ and either charge in, or 100blades, or the cripple sword throw. Get in, pop another CD based on the situation, then swap to Axe, dump that and stay in for a bit since around this time the harder mobs start blowing their CDs so you get an interrupt and an invul.

I guess Sword would work as well, you get that leap which is nice, and the bleeds, but I like the Vuln that Axe gives.

Currently, I can take down Veterans up to 3 levels above me (perhaps after a death or two), if that’s a measure for anything (probably how bad I am )

http://www.gw2db.com/skills/calc/warrior#11|9|11|65|3903|45|1890|0|0|0|0|20|1975|1846|0|30|1541|1535|1491|10|1513|0|0|10|1545|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0

Here’s the build. The idea is to have a mix of DPS and survivability. I’m trying stuff out, but then again, I’m only 36 at the moment.

Advice?

Is it just me, or does the link to the build not include what skills you’re using/taking?

Also, I was wondering if you had any suggestions as to progression for a lowbie (ie: which trait tree to fill out first in order to maximize this build?

Thanks!