Guild Wars 2

I always thought they were referring to the Suggestion Forum, where threads go to be ignored.

It would be nice if they could find a better ( and more player friendly )way to monetize their game then through Gems→Gold. At present it seems to provide too much temptation for them to resist.

ShadowAgent.6053:

<Snippity snip> See above ^^

Thanks for running with the analogy . You bring up an interesting point about the skill needed for the game. Much of the game does require a fair amount of skill, and of fairly varying level, IMHO. However I think it is the wrong type of skill needed to make the game as interesting as it could be for the long term.

I would posit that GW2 requires too much emphasis on execution based skill, and too little on skill based on depth. HERE is an interesting video that I think demonstrates what each types are extremely well. You see the most depth in sPvP or perhaps roaming/organized guild groups in WvW, but it could be so much better.

What they really need is a way for players to generate content for each other. World pvp works in some games, though that usually requires people to be out in the world for other reasons.

People need something new and interesting to do in a zone they’ve long since completed. People also need some sort of incentive to get out there. Imagine for instance guilds being able to claim an outpost/waypoint, they could then make some upgrades to it, add some useful vendors/hiring more guards/etc. The guild could then get a cut of the coin spent on the waypoint/vendors. Maybe they could even offer people quests for particular materials they need, allowing people in the area to make some money off of the stuff they loot in the area. Of course losing the outpost to centaurs or undead or whatever would reset everything.

milo.6942:

When thinking of GW1 and what made me play that game so much, I can safely say it was the combat and its related aspects. I spent hours pouring over the skill lists and trying new builds all the time. I would get crushed by an enemy mob in pve that was using heavy hexes so I would go back to town and rethink how many and which hex removal skills would be best, maybe consider using some interrupts to relieve some pressure. How many different ways there were to experience the same content by trying wildly different builds. That was GW1’s spark. Its finite content could be endlessly replayed and experienced differently every time with new and different skills and strategies and approaches. Its pvp was also amazing (better than its pve even) with dominant metas giving way to new counters all the time (though let’s be honest it wasn’t perfect).

You have detailed here one of my major disappointments. The skill and build system lacks a lot of meaningful player choice. Many builds are basically derived logically from whatever weapon you choose ( or are forced into by the lack of other viable weapons ). I also feel the hand of the developer fairly transparently in utility choice. By that I mean builds seem to have certain utilities that were created specifically for certain builds. Very rarely do you discover an ability that has interesting synergies or uses in situations that you hadn’t already considered.

Many patches even seem to limit your choices while also somehow missing the underlying balance issues. Many of the classes are still at the same or close to the power they were at release relative to the other classes. Some classes could really use some more spice added to them to freshen gameplay and to revitalize the meta game.

Elite skills are particularly uninteresting and useless. Having cooldowns far longer than their power would suggest. I know many classes that would be greatly improved by slotting another utility skill instead. I am still hopeful that Arenanet may be able to resolve many of these issues, but I don’t think its going to happen if they continue along the same path as they’ve been retreading so far.

Guardian.5142:

LOVE the analogy. Totally get that.

Maybe the problem isn’t the bar though. Its the same bar with the same drinks, but you literally went there for every chance you got, you ordered many of the same drinks over and over and the same folks came to hang out with you every day. Even the greatest things are bound to get old if you depend on them too much.

BUT THEN… you have bar hoppers. They keep it fresh by bouncing between MANY bars, enjoying each for its unique eccentricities and distinctive flavors… meeting many new people in many new areas and new interests/events to keep things interesting.

So.. my friend… its time for you to learn the nomadic lifestyle of the game hopper. Find a few that you can call “home” and bounce between them as each starts getting a little dry. Set goals in each of them and try not to focus on just one. GW2 is the casual gamers paradise… if for not all the hardcores trying to somehow make it their lives. Try not to depend too much on one and live the age old adage that ‘variety is the spice of life’

I go to many bars, but what I really want is to have some good reasons to come back to this one =).

dace.8019:

I understand, but GW2 is not a vocation. A game is only going to be able to offer you so much, even if it is constantly updated. Once you utterly exhaust a specific item of entertainment you are meant to move on, or enjoy it more sparingly. The time you want to spend in any given game is going to be finite, it could be a week, it could be a lifetime, but it will come to an end! Moving on is fine (er, as is dying).

It’s part of the natural order. For many others, new or old, your exhaustion is your concern, and that’s why posts like this are often attacked or criticized. Tired of the same beer? Start tasting new ones

Unfortunately I already play sparingly, and increasingly so, which is sort of my point. From the similar posts that pop up I think its evident that a decent amount of people agree. It isn’t burn out for me precisely. When I read about a new patch or new content rarely does it seem interesting enough to dust off the game and log in for it. I am not convinced that you would not like the quality of content that I would be interested in.

VOLKON.1290:

To run with the bizarre analogy in the OP, I still feel like Norm when I log in. Maybe you just need a new bar… the one I’m in keeps adding new items to the menu, new beer to the tap and the patrons are as raucous and fun loving as ever.

I can see where you are coming from, and many people seem to agree with you. I don’t think the content coming out now is bad exactly, it just isn’t very satisfying. I don’t feel that the two experiences are mutually exclusive. Would you really be upset if the content added was a bit more meaty and a bit less achievement focused?

GW2 doesn’t discourage you from grouping, but it doesn’t particularly encourage it either. Even when playing with other people, it feels like you are just soloing next to them. This is the case in open world, or even in dungeons. There is very little in the way of team dynamics (not even talking about trinity type roles). What little interplay there is, is not required or encouraged by the mechanics or dungeons of the game.

Honestly for anyone looking for interesting cooperative pve style gameplay, GW2 is not the game for them, and they were wise to leave early, because GW2 is not that game, and never will be that game.

Dadnir.5038:

Well, in fact I’ve done him recently and I think they buffed is mobility. I had to Kite him in a low dps team and he was awfully fastest then before.

Lupi definitely seems to be using Deep Breath more often too.

So, I quit this game back in December/January and have checked back now and then to see if anything has been added or changed to the game to interest me in coming back. So far however none of the living story updates sparked my interest enough to bother.

I also want to mention that I have been pretty harsh when talking about this game to others. When people ask me about the game I generally tell them that the game is extremely fun leveling to 80 the first time, but quickly loses the spark after the exploration has been played out. From lackluster Living Story arcs, to poor dungeon mechanics, and lack of meaningful/challenging content, stagnation of gameplay elements, etc. I had basically given up hope that the game would ever be interesting enough to pick up again.

I state the above to drive home the effect Shriketalon’s suggestions made on me. If GW2 was the game described by Shriketalon (or contained story lines of equal caliber), I would start playing this game again in a heartbeat. Even if the gameplay elements that I am unsatisfied with were never fixed, I would at least want to log in to experience these story arcs. I would even play this game while playing other MMO’s that are coming out next year. In fact I almost re installed the game on the spot, the richness of lore that the OP describes almost cast the game in an entirely new light and livens up the tired story line all by itself.

The framework of this game has so much potential, it has been hard to watch as it has been squandered all year long. I really hope Arenanet takes notice and breathes some new life into this game.