Guild Wars 2

I agree with the OP that this is a mechanic that has no place in the game. It was a bad idea during the Scarlett Invasion and it still is. That said, if the devs truly wanted event failure to be an aspect of the game, they should have instituted a mechanic where the event gets harder to succeed with each subsequent success.

The real problem with the event in question is it can be soloed, easily and by low level toons. If the mobs scaled each time the event succeeded until it was guaranteed to fail without map wide effort, this would not be a problem. This is a mechanic that should be instituted for all chain events as far as I’m concerned. For example, every time an Orrian defense succeeds the mobs should gain 25% more HP, or Power, or transition from regular to Veteran, or something that makes it nigh impossible to complete.

A mechanic such as this would still make the Legendary Journey into a waiting game but there would definitely be light at the end of the tunnel, and those waiting could reap some reward for the event as well. In the case of the other open world chain events, much of the experience is in going from start to finish with the chain.

Just managed to get in.

Another option may be to make two versions of the new maps; Explorable and Meta-event. A prompt could be added when zoning or logging into a new map that asks if you are joining the meta-event or exploring for world completion/personal story. This would help direct players into maps with like-minded others.

Or a queue could be created where a 20+ player minimum was required to activate a new mega server for meta events. Explorable maps are the default but when you zone in, much like the overflow maps prompt now, a prompt stating, “A new meta-event map is queuing, would you like to join?”

When the population of the current map drops below 20 then a notice would appear stating, “Population of the current map has dipped below the minimum level for meta-event completion.” and the map reverts to explorable status and players can queue for a meta-event map again if they so choose.

I know that’s a lot of programming but I’m just spit balling.

Strength to a Norn is different than Strength to a Human than Strength to a Sylvari…

Our Norn PC has much to add to the telling of Eir’s legend and should have been present at her wake. Accommodating and adhering to the cultural sensitivities of the member races is as much a success of the Pact as combining magitech for a stronger fighting force.

Otaur.9268:

Eir and Taimi are my 2 favorite characters so far in this game… When I saw this scene I was really upset… They could have used this as an opportune moment for Eir to become a Druid… Being healed by the spirits of Nature and passing her Bow over to Braham… It was a failed scene in my opinion, but to each their own… :’(

I think I like that even more than Funeral Rites. It definitely would have broken the drama-requires-death mold Anet has used for so long.

FrostSpectre.4198:

Yep, press F near her corpse to pay your respect in the very limits you can.

Pressed it and still feel more ceremony was in order. Rytlock’s back. The rest of DE 2.0 is scouting ahead. Taking the time would have been right for the story and it would have made Faolain’s transformation seem… more. It was too quick. More allusion on that front would have been nice too.

On other note, the player character does emphasize on “no retreat, else Mordremoth gains more power”.

Along the player character’s obvious rank and duties as Pact Commander…

Rank has its privileges. Throughout S2 we ran back and forth between the Magumma Wastes and the Priory Library while Caithe took he leisurely stroll toward Auric Basin. Time has never been of the-essence.

Braham isn’t exactly high ranking members needed that seriously, thus he had his freedom to attend short funeral rites…

Thus, once more, minimizing the loss that Eir’s death was meant to bring to the story.

One of the cheif complaints I recall from S2 was that death should have meaning. The manner is which it was executed makes the loss of one of Tyria’s greatest heroes little more than a foot note.

I’m not nearly done with the story thus far and I’m rather impressed with most of the plot. But, I have a bone to pick.

DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU FEAR SPOILERS

Eir’s death is completely anti-climactic. It’s almost a throw away scene, especially for a Norn PC. We spent the majority of our personal story as an apprentice, of sorts, to Eir. The dungeon storylines give even more relationship. While Commander, when we lost a Norn comrade, we were sent to Hoelbrak to attend the funeral. And yet, when Eir dies, we turn to Braham and say, “Sorry for your loss. Dispose of the body quick so we can get back to business.” The indifference my Norn PC showed to Eir’s death and Braham’s loss was maddening and emersion breaking.

We already had a difference in story when playing as a Sylvari. I’m not saying this situation is as earth shattering as the subversion of an entire sentient race, but there were areas this was addressed differently based on your player race. As a Norn, our cultural responsibility, and the personal relationship we had with the deceased, necessitated our travel back to Hoelbrak to attend to Eir as much as it did Braham’s. In the PS, we put the hunt for Zhaitan on hold to attend to our fallen Norn comrade and we’d known her for all of three story steps.

This would also have been a wonderful opportunity for a cut scene showing the Norn ceremony. To show Braham cutting his hair and vowing revenge upon Mordremoth. A far better setup to Braham becoming a Dragonhunter than Taimi asking about his new hairdo.

That’s it. My bone is picked but it does indicate in my mind an area I wish Anet would explore more. Specifically, make parts of the story race specific for all PC races. Each step of this journey will have a different impact upon the PC based on their race. Yes, it would take more programming time for the scenes and the story steps, but it should be seen as an investment; a way to encourage players to create multiple race alts and thereby sell more character slots.

Ashlynx.5389:

With all the new content from Halloween and Heart of Thorns, the Open World Content section of the LFG tool is very busy! Adding some categories for popular content would help declutter the Open World Content space and help players more quickly find groups for the content they’re interested in.

Below are some of my ideas:

1. Add subsections to the Living World section for special event maps, like the Silverwastes, Dry Top and Southsun Cove.
2. Create a Heart of Thorns Living World section with subsections for the new maps
3. Change the Personal Story section to Story, and add Personal Story and Living Story subsections. — I see a lot of LFG posts asking for help doing the Living Story and its achievements, so I think it’d be nice for players if they had a place to post LFGs for Living Story, not just Personal Story.
4. During festivals, possibly create a section for that festival — So when we have content like Halloween, all those LFG posts have a place to go. Can be removed when festival concludes.

Below is an example of what this could look like:

• http://imgur.com/l53zTgh

Thanks for reading! I’m really enjoying all the new content! (^__^) <3

Fantastic post. Love your ideas and I wish I’d seen it before posting mine. Your image is a terrific template I’d hope Anet could adopt and expand upon.

The Open World section of LFG is getting bogged down by every meta-event and map in Old World and New. Could you please break the Open World section of LFG into more pieces much like Fractals? Either regionally or categorically; something like “Maguuma Jungle, Orr, Kryta, Maguuma Wastes, etc.” or “World Bosses, Levelling, Meta-Event Maps, Festivals, General Help, etc.” Or, at the very least, New and Old World.

I realize the hope was a one-stop-shop for all things Open World but Tyria has grown and with the separation of Old and New World content, the FLG needs to be more specific. As the LFG tool stands right now, SW and VB are getting lost in the chatter and organizing those maps would go a long way toward keeping/making those maps enjoyable going forward. And finding a Teq taxi in the list is a nightmare.

I didn’t used to until they became the only guaranteed method of aquiring Spirit Shards. Now I they are the first thing I do after logging in if I intend to play for any amount of time.

Ouch… You are missing out on some serious loot. Dailies give your monthly allocation of laurels so you can buy ascended trinkets. Also give mats for crafting legendary and ascended. Its pretty much free stuff, completing daily take about 15 mins

I think you’re referring to Login Rewards, not dailies. The only bonus to doing dailies is the aformentioned Spirit Shards and bonus Mystic Coins if you do the Mystic Forge daily. Otherwise the Daily Rewards are just extra crafting mats, XP scrolls and karma sips.

Recently, with nothing left in the game to hold my interest beyond dailies and gold grind, I joined a level one Fractal Daily run and had a great time. I still needed the final component for Mawdrey and it no longer seemed out of my reach.

It’s been a pleasure to join people with experience willing to run and teach a noob through an aspect of the game that I had denied myself due to pre-concieved notions of elitism. Every run I’ve been through since has been a PUG and a joy. Even one that got off to a slow start as we tried to time the Wisps properly. I feel more confident of my knowledge and abilities with each new run. I’m only up to level 4, mostly because dailies need only be at level 1 to get credit, but I’m actually looking forward to needing AR now.

Thank you Anet, for the encouragement to try Fractals. I sincerely hope that more are in the works.

And thank you to all the more experienced players that have been kind enough to share their knowledge and time me.

To all those 50 AR Fractal runners out there who have not yet run a PUG, please consider it for the dailies. Learning groups fill fast, they’re easy and you may win some converts to fill your higher level Fractals in the future.

Finally, to all those with the preconception that Fractals are elitist and “not for me,” give them a try. You might surprise yourself at the fun you will have.

I agree completely about the quality of the story and the value for gems spent. I had to purchase the first half of S2 since real life got in the way of play. I don’t regret it at all.

Going forward, I’d like to see a phased combination of season 1 and 2. Phasing is where different players have different images dispalyed on their screen within the same zone. For example, we’ve now seen the near destruction of Camp Resolve and the Pact Fleet and yet, everyday I play SW I still see Pact airships, including a smaller version of the Pride of Tyria, flying above and Camp Resolve is still being built, not repaired. NPCs are still griping about taking orders from “cabbages and mice” with no sense of urgency regarding the Vinewraith or the lost of ships or the dead/missing comrades.

I understand that HoT will likely change some or much of this, but this could have been changed throughout season 2 with little to no impact on replayability and a much greater sense of immersion. Each story step could have been accompanied by a different phased view of the landscape surrounding, and air above, Camp Resolve. The camp could progress though under construction to nearly complete to nearly destroyed to under repair at each step in the story. The number of Pact ships players saw could have increased and then disappeared; NPC dialogue could have changed from trust to skeptism of Sylvari, all without changing any of the functionality of the zone.

Vesuvius.9874:

Azel.4786:

And pardon me for not being excited about having to sit in an attunment for X amount of time, then having to channel that attunement for 2,5s-5s hoping no one will interrupt me with the insane amount of interrupts in game, and then, if it works or if it doesn’t, being locked out from that attunement for 15s-20s.

Sure will love when I need to heal and am locked out of water or when I need to do damage and will be locked out of fire / air, sounds super!

I think you just described a play style that’s different from the current norm. Isn’t that what ANET “promised” ?

Exactly. Elementalists, with the very few exceptions of channeled skills, are a class that requires constant movement, especially with melee range weapons. The overcharge play style puts huge cooldowns on 25% of an elementalists skills and roots them in place for long periods of time as well. This is almost like the Revenant’s energy management component and a completely different playstyle then we currently have.

Edit – Had a random kitten in my post that was funny but made sentence nonsensical.

+1 to the OP.

I play staff ele in all situations right now but I think with an OOC weapon swap it would be nice to have the choice, or better yet make the mistake of equipping DD and having a go at it. I always learn things better by mistake.

/OT rant

I wasn’t even going to post. Though I like to suggestions, I understand the reasons it is not, and might not be in the game. But, the nature of the conversation above made me feel the need to say something.

I’m surprised by is the shameful manner in which many those opposed to the idea have comported themselves in this thread. It’s almost like the OP asked to beat a puppy. This would have no effect at all on any other classes ability to counter eles. It could actually be a bit of a hinderance to eles in PVE as DD probably want a bit more toughness since they are in melee range or Staff would like less so they aren’t drawing aggro, so a full equipment swap would definitely be best.

I understand reasoned opposition and discussion but some of the bile being spewed above is very disheartening.

Had to be said… (And if you take exception to what I just said, please feel free to PM me.)

\end rant

Ardenwolfe.8590:

(laugh) I’m just remember how many people said the community wouldn’t get bored waiting for the expansion. They’d be okay with nothing to do in-between like every other MMO.

I love ANet sometimes. They really spoiled the community with their updates and festivals. Players had no idea how good they had it . . . until now.

emphasis added

IIRC, most other MMOs still manage to run the scheduled festivals while working on expansions. The problem GW2 has with the festivals is that they have been blended into the LW and have been used to propel the story with massive implications for the Festival itself.

Dragon Bash – Needs to be re-worked for the new LA adn with the rise of Mordremoth, it’s completely out of context won’t happen
SAB – was stated to have been using bugs within the movement programming that have since been coded out won’t happen
FotFW – The Zephyrites are broken and scattered won’t happen
Queen’s Jubilee – Contained exclusively in DR possible
Halloween – Hopefully HoT is released by then but has been stated will definitely occur
Wintersday – definite

WvW – The design team is hard at work with the new maps not likely

Even those few items that will occur or could occur will require many man hours to re-work just based on the condition damage patch. I’m getting as bored as the next guy, but I won’t get my hopes up for anything different until the end of October.

DieFinn.3594:

So in short words:
- you can buy the hero-points of a map, after that the challenges are done

I’m not trying to be combative here but, if the challenges are complete, you get the Hero Point. What is there left to buy?

I almost hate to bump this topic…

If one only wants to do WvW, they will still get ALL of the Hero Points they require to open ALL of the traits and skills for their character simply by levelling to 80. You are not being forced to leave WvW for any reason other than match resets and logout. Buying Hero Points is just silly, and levelling in WvW is so fast that what follows doesn’t apply.

In PVE, Hero Points are soooooo easy to get, that the OP suggestion of disgruntlement and game breaking experience just can’t hold water. If levelling in PVE and you misspend, or change your mind, you can still get easy replacements simply by doing the Hero Challenges in the starting areas;

• Plains of Ashford – 6
• Queensdale – 7
• Caledon Forest – 7
• Metrica Province – 8
• Wayfarer Foothills – 8

That’s 36 spare Hero Points easily obtained by level 15, plus those you get from levelling.

Sorry for bumping.

Right click their names in chat and click report. Select the infraction, likely Verbal Abuse, and this will notify the mods to check the chat to determine if action is required

As stated, namiong and shaming is against forum ToS.

OT; if they are being abusive when ask them to leave, you can report them and see if mods want to get involved. Otherwise, there is little you can do besides moving on to another spot like Godslost Swamp.

sPVP is a great start. Running the daily Fractal when it’s up and making sure Tequatl is in your daily routine will net you plenty of gold to buy exotic weapons from the TP.

Kal Spiro.9745:

All of your suggestions are more useful for Living World stories than expansions.

Cherokeewill.7504:

These could be in the form of smaller, semi-annual content updates, with a much smaller sticker price, and maybe even no new specializations or masteries getting back toward the vain of a Living World as seen in Season 1.

I definitely appreciate the feedback, but I already mentioned these would be smaller updates. Expansions should be just as you say, expanding the map, the story and the abilities of the players. These are suggestions to play out stories that are already hinted at in GW2 as it is today. And sideshows are just what you want, when the main event is in intermission.

As to why the Pact should be involved in the troubles of the individual races? It only makes sense that if one member race is threatened then all should come to their aid. “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

I’ve noticed many of the inevitable “Next Expansion” threads and I’ve also noticed they all seem to share one common theme; the next Elder Dragon. While these might be the most clear danger to Tyria, I feel we are forgetting there are more present threats to the individual races, and even the whole of Tyria, that could be explored and, though smaller, would be just as fun as the next ED. These could be in the form of smaller, semi-annual content updates, with a much smaller sticker price, and maybe even no new specializations or masteries getting back toward the vain of a Living World as seen in Season 1.

1. The Fire Legion still represents a threat to the Black Citadel. With the loss of Scarlett but with new technology and allies at their disposal, how prepared are the Charr to deal with them on their own?
2. The map north of DR could be populated by a Centaur Horde intent on laying waste to the human race. Introduce new siege mechanics and engines. PCs would be tasked with infiltration/assasination and then facilitating peace talks hosted by the Dry Top Centaur.
3. The Dredge, also with new Scarlett tech, finally attempt to take down the last living Dwarf. The Durmand Priory must be fortified and hold the line against them.
4. The Aetherblades are still out there, somewhere…
5. The Underworld is still trying to break through in Godslost Swamp and northeast Kessex Hills. Why? Could Dhuum be awakening after the rising of Orr. Perhaps Zhaitan had been feeding off Dhuum’s weakened energy and now that Zhaitan is gone, Dhuum’s servants are stirring as they hear his call once more. The Undead minions of Orr could slowly be replaced by those servants. Maybe, the rebuilding efforts in Orr accidentally free Dhuum. Could we fight alongside Grenth and try to contain Dhumm once more, or destroy him once and for all?
6. The Inquest, again with new Scarlett tech, are at work on nefarious plans throughout Tyria. What’s going on in the labs around Tyria? In the same vain as has been alluded to in HoT, could the pact begin investigations into the Inquest in light of their alliance with Scarlett? Could the PC be sent to the various labs on ‘fact finding’ missions to determine any new threats. A storyline of political intrigue and backstabbing within the Arcane Council could lead to an eventual armed take over of Rata Sum and the Pact are called on to help oust the revolutionaries and the Inquest are finally removed from representation within the Council.

Those are a few of the non-ED story lines I can think of. What further stroies of Tyria would you like to see played out?

Yet another instance of a WB that could use a real revamp and chain with consequences for failure and true rewards for success.

As to the OP’s assertion that the rewards are unsatisfying, this is a judgement call. If you’re boss farming then it might be worth skipping. It’s not a hard fight and cannot fail, it’s guaranteed loot and thus hard to complain about. The pre-events are also a great source of T5 claws so in that respect the loot is better than most.

I think this is a very gracious and much appreciated practice having grabbed one of these late taxis myself.

As to how this effects might stacking: when you use a skill that applies might, it is prioritized to your party first, and then to an area around you. For large events such aa Teq and TT, it is desirable to run without parties so that the second priority, i.e. AOE around the caster, is in play spreading the might and other buffs more evenly among all the participants.

That said, unless you are running a character that is spcifically adept at stacking loads of might in that moment when you’re trying to burn down Tequatl, being in a group trying to taxi more participants in will have little effect on the overall stacking. Conversely, bringing more people into a map that isn’t full will increase DPS far more than might, IMO.

kanniet.6431:

I’ll wait, what’s the definition of a veteran player btw? I’ve also been playing from the beta.

Veteran player is defined as any account that was activated before January 23, 2015. Any account purchased from the web store between January 23, 2015 and June 16, 2015 has been given the chance to request an upgrade to HoT with the orginal purchase price discounted from the current pre-purchase price or a deactivation and refund.

Games purchased from a third party vendor and activated within the January 23, 2015 and June 16, 2015 timeframe are eligible for Veteran Player status as defined above.

New player pre-purchase = HoT access and 5 character slots (6 with Deluxe and Ultimate)

Vet player pre-purchase = HoT access and 1 additional character slot (2 with Deluxe and Ultimate)

This is an old topic since the advent of Ascended crafting. Many QoL solutions have been discussed but the true reason for this is to distribute wealth from level 80 players to new players as they level. If you make level 40 crafting mats useless to level 40 characters, but highly valuable to level 80 characters, then the newbies can earn some gold, get used to the TP as the source of gold, and keep level 80s gold stashes lower. It’s a necessary function of the GW2 economic model.

Crise.9401:

Of course this event can also be seen as a content skip in the core game, and by that logic the restrictions on it make perfect sense (ie. think about it as a new player with no real level 80 characters).

I don’t think that should make a difference either. It’s easy as kitten to level to 80. Even if someone has pre-purchased and has not attained a level 80 character yet, what exactly would they gain from a 3 day sneak peak at 80? Unlock all dungeon paths? Earn some extra gold/bandit crests/geodes/karma? These new players pre-purchased with the intent of playing HoT which is ALL level 80 content. Any of those rewards from an insta-80 pass for a few days would be easily attained in the next few weeks anyway.

Something else to consider; this is not beta zone rewards with a beta character where the variables are still in play for game-play, spawns, RNG and event rewards. This is test-a-toon, in a live invironment, where the only variable is game-play. Everything else is already locked down. I have yet to hear or think of any scenario where there could be game/economy breaking issues. If you can conceive of one, please tell me. I’m open minded.

The simplest solution to this would have been (and I say it that way as it probably will not change this late in the game) soulbind all equipment at character creation and then leave loot and currency in their original state; i.e. anything earned or spent, including transmutation charges, would be reflected in the account in real time. When the beta (weekend or months) is over, any loot or account bound items in the beta character inventory is mailed to the player account and soul bound items are lost.

It does seem a bit of a disincentive. I would love to see what a Revenant would do in a Tequatl fight, but that’s 2G one would lose and a possible Hoard. I understand limitting unkown exploits that may arise, but currencies and account bound items ought to be saved.

One solution could be the inventory of the Beta slot remains locked until HoT release and Anet reviews it beforehand for anything they deem the results of an exploit.

Beat Teq on a map I hopped into 5 minutes before reset last night. We didn’t have a south hills group setup or a finger team. A few attentive players took out the south hills mobs when the turret called for help and remained for defense. But otherwise this seemed like a pre patch fight that required less coordination than the last two weeks and felt a little less like an accomplishment. I can’t complain because it was a win, but the fact that it would have failed on Monday made the fight a bit more exciting.

“It’s not that difficult.”

Each headgear item is a seperate object in the game as is each hair-style. Each object must be created seperately by a modeler. Once hair is involved, each peice of headgear must have a seperate hair model created for each hairstyle… for each race. Discounting the number of peices that have no effect or are complete covers you still have a large number.

2 sexes X 5 races X 12 hairstyles(or more) X n armor styles. I’ll let someone else actually do the math but I hope you can see why it’s easier for the characters to be bald.

WvW is not technically expansion content. It will be available to all, and does not require the purchase of HoT. Though pre-purchasing may allow access for WvW beta, my thought would be to view that as a bonus rather than to expect it.

I love the stories. I wish I was that inventive but here is my contribution;

Expac: Gw2 Shattered Kingdom
Mastery: Zephyrite mobility

Because of the wide open spaces and intermittent canyons of the crystal desert, player characters will be able to master the magics of the Zephyrites without the need to carry crystals. Players will gain the ability to toggle between mobility and weapon interfaces. As their Mastery level increases they will be able to traverse greater distances per charge. Eventually, players will be able to combine these new abilities with the glider and even into new special attacks.

Expac: GW2 Flames of Hope
Mastery: Grappling hook

A new mobility function allowing players to swing from the ceiling of the caverns and climb the ropes to reach new levels within the depths of Tyria. Fights could be designed where the only way to avoid AOE would be for players to hoist themselves above the fray.

Again, this ability could be combined with the glider and/or the Zephyrite mobility functions to make for an extremely dynamic movement system.

Mastery: Night Vision

As players move further into the depths of Tyria lighting becomes a real issue. Players must unlock this new ability to see in the darkness. The distance a player can see would increase for each mastery point. Players with torches or other light granting equipment would be able to push a bit further at the beginning but this mastery would be required to react to the dangers waiting for them. To simulate this, AOE markers (the red circles indicating an impending attack) from enemies would not be visible unless they are within the visual range of the player character. Players would also not be able to fire a stable grappling line to a wall outside of the visual range.

I’m still considering the Jormag mastery…

I asked Dave how the redesign might affect official in-game holidays as well, and he explained that Halloween will remain in Lion’s Arch since it has strong roots in the city. However, Wintersday will continue to be celebrated in Divinity’s Reach, since it is a human holiday at its core. Events will take place where they fit best, rather than simply designating Lion’s Arch as the holiday hub.

How it Wintersday a human holiday when it’s based around helping an Asura deliver toys to all of Tyria?

That said, when are we going to get Norn, Asuran and Char Holidays?

OT, I hope the new LA gives us a new Halloween too.

My one crticism: eliminate the crit spot. If the Boss is critable then it should be from any location. The problem with a crit spot is it encourages stacking and afalse belief that 11111 should be sufficient (i.e. MK II before the patch). Stacking is great for buffs and rezzing but it should be a mobile stack where a decent Commander moves from one safe spot to the next and the zerglings moves with them. DD spots are just logical as it represents the sweet spot where one’s swing hits multiple locations on the Boss.

Word is getting around and decent Commanders already have the fight figured out. I did it last night with a PUG and it was more fun than I’ve had in a long time.

The REAL problems with the Teq fight break down as such;

1. Learning curve – Defenses are REQUIRED. Read map chat if you’re unsure of the new mechanics. If the burn doesn’t move into the next Laser Defense phase it is not a fail. Defenses need to get back into position quickly and zerglings need to keep fighting rather than QQing in map chat.
2. Gear – Soldier gear is no longer king, time to invest in Precision; drop Banners of Discipline and Lightning Hammers; retool Sigils and Runes.
3. Loot – I’ll say again that Teq should have tokens. He’s been part of my regular World Bosss rotation for almost a year with no Hoard. That said, where else in the game can you stand around for 30 minutes, play for 15 more and walk away with 2G?

I’m hoping that the Sea World theme park theme has some story chapters that we will get to explore as the Consortium’s true nature is revealed.

Is this a a wholey benevolent thing and the Consortium just has a group of whimsical designers who were given total control of over the design?

Or, is this a bright and cheery front for a far more nefarious organization who’s true motives are concealed behind the glitz?

Personally, I hope it’s the latter and we get to delve deeper as the game progresses.

OT, I love the design though I do find it a bit out of place in the dark world that Anet has created. It seems far more in line with a rebuilding effort decades, not months after a major calamity.

I actually thought that LA stood for Lobster Arch now.

Nice post OP. I want to be able to climb to the top of Airray though. With the detail of this new design, being locked out of that area is disappointing. I mean, we are the Commander of the Pact afterall.

I love the concept and the execution of this character and I would be even happier to see them somehow brought more to the foreground as a character we have to interact with for some future quest. Leave this dialogue as is and as an optional click but make her a character with some Order of Whispers info we have to seek out. Still not ‘in your face’ and more proof that she’s a regular person just doing her job.

But then I’m also hoping that Anet will explore the interspecies love triangle that is inevitable between Braham, Rox and Taimi in Season 3.

I don’t think I’ll be pre-purchasing either. I was on the fence due to money, $50 for an unknown, even with relatively good track record for entertaining me over the last 2+ years, is a bit steep though not completely unreasonable. But that’s not the primary reason.

When the announcement came, I immediately did the math after realizing there was no character slot in the base. I felt like I’m being forced to buy the most expensive edition since it is obviously the best deal. But I don’t need another title. I don’t want another mini. Glider skin? Finisher? With the character slot already included, do I really even need 4000 gems?

Then I saw that the base game is included in the HoT download. Where’s the equivalent exchange? Then I discover it’s not actually included if you already own GW2. What was the point of the sales on GW2 for the last six months? This forced me to take pause.

Veteran players ought to get something. It’s not something for nothing. It’s something for years of support; monetary and word of mouth. It’s something for keeping the game alive for so many years. It’s something for keeping Anet in business and providing them the resources necessary to create this XPac.

And finally, the FAQ edit just seems sleazy. I’m not making accusations or trying to cast aspersions, but to make an edit that completely contradicts the message for the last half year, with no mention of recourse or even understanding, has put my willingness to buy HoT on permanent pause.

RabbitUp.8294:

Jon Peters said this: “Guardians fight for justice and the dragonhunter faction believes justice is the eradication of dragons and their minions.”

How then would the Dragonhunter faction allow for Sylvari Dragonhunters? This one line to justify the name has negated one player race from the lore of this specialization.

Reposting from another thread:

Sentinel
Exemplar
Paladin (too common and carries preconceptions like DH)
Templar
Gallant (It is a support class afterall)
Arcarius (Old Latin – Why not?)
Bowman (A little too specific but still better than DH)
Illuminatus

Ojyh.9842:

The major aspect of this spec seems to be light magic

Illuminatus

I have to agree with the dislike for the name. The title ‘Dragon Hunter’ has preconceptions within the fantasy genre. Paragon also wouldn’t work as the profession has Guild Wars history that doesn’t jive well with the playstyle this profession is taking on.

Other name suggestions;
Sentinel
Exemplar
Paladin (too common and carries preconceptions as well)
Templar
Gallant (It is a support class afterall)

I can’t think of anymore at this time.

Edit:
Arcarius (Old Latin – Why not?)
Bowman (A little too specific but still better than DH)

If Anet has a closed beta for the new WvW map, would you rather it be populated with WvW players or PVE farmers? Would you have the same objection if WvW closed beta tickets were falling across Tyria?

Those questions are both rhetorical but feel free to answer in the negative and see why your question is self-explanatory.

Or, Legacy characters would receive Hero Points for all of the skill points currently attached to their character up to the maximum number allowed. Then mark the Hero Points on the map for these characters as complete starting from the low level areas up to the highest. Skill points in excess would still be awarded the new MF currency.

The only adverse effect would be they cannot complete these challenges if they ever feel the need to complete the map as they would already have credit.

Yes, this is ‘unfair’ to those that have completed the map already but all of these legacies would still need to unlock every POI, Vista and Heart.

This has the added benefit that Anet could remove Hero Points from the current map making the maximum number available equal to the maximum number needed to complete a character and new expansions could add new HP that gate progression to new specializations.

PistolWhip.2697:

A better idea for adding substance to races would be to add prominent points in PvE play or story which change. I.E. Adding alters that humans could pray at around Tyria to their Gods for easing certain events, or adding Asura workstations around Tyria in the same fashion which would summon golem allies temporarily for a nearby meta event etc… You get the idea.

Absolutely. More race specific choices in aesthetics, in PVE interactions and achievements but never is core mechanics. The OP’s suggestion is one of the reasons ‘that other game’ fails to win me back. Why would anyone roll a non-Tauran Warrior when they get a free Stomp? Why do I have to roll a Draenei (sp) if I like the game play of the Shaman? These should not be questions players have to ask themselves during character setup, especially new players. Starting from a level field gives players the best set of options at character creation and makes the job of class balancing far easier.

Anet has stated that many of the new zones will have meta events like Dry Top and Silverwastes. I think this idea is brilliant even if I don’t luck into the drop. Consider the pool of players Anet targets with this scheme;

1. All members are level 80
2. All members have experience working meta events
3. All members are available for this timeslot to actively play
4. Many members are likely to have Commander Tags
5. All members are actively playing at the moment and not just waiting on a email
6. Some members may even be from coordinated guilds (i.e. Dry Top L6 guild)
7. I’m certain there are far more metrics involved that I missed.

Please be honest with yourself. This pool is far better to test/stress a meta heavy zone than a group of twice monthly loggers and World Boss farmers.

Seera.5916:

The problem with the OP’s idea as written is everyone will set it to level 50 and then camp in Queensdale or another such starter zone and farm. Tanking the economy.

They should have a setting where the loot is either based on your actual level or based on the area’s level.

Swordplay.8392:

If an option could be added to the game, in the hero panel or something, for players to choose to only get loot for their down levelled levels, that could potentially be a solution to players wanting to get mid level crafting materials easily.

That is exactly what the OP wrote. Players camping Queensdale would get Jute and Green wood in this scheme. As it is, players only go to Starter Zones for easy Champ trains and World Bosses. Mid level zones might see a marked increase in population with something like this.

I like the OP’s idea very much. It would be another way to incentivize play in lower level areas. The original change was made because they felt players weren’t playing the low level zones due to low level loot. Now, as pointed out, ascended gear has made low level gear valuable again.

One added toggle would be to omit Champ bags. I got my only precursor drop from a Champ bag (one of Mordniir’s dogs) and that could just as easily have been a level 40 rare if this was in place.

I hate to be the downer on this one, and I agree with Walls and Neutral creatures, but the Ranger pet taking damage priority over the Ranger is a mechanic of the class.