Guild Wars 2

Atharsia.3249:

Good call.

Whoever calls this censorship must remember that the so-called freedom of speech is not a “I can say whatever I want, however I want and whenever I want” right, it has boundaries and that sub-forum was clearly trespassing most of them.

(As most forums, but this is an official gateway for Anet too, and having that sub-forum was hurting their image more than helping it. Just deal with it, and take the circlejerks elsewhere, its that simple)

Problem 1 with this statement (already mentioned, want to re-iterate): We’re not arguing they don’t have the right, we’re arguing it’s not a good idea.

Problem 2 with this statement: It’d hurt their image more if we moved to more public gaming forums in which more people that haven’t purchased the game yet existed.

I also believe that the observation that this is simply an attempt to scale down mod staff effort is correct – I think very little of the reasoning that the ANET staff presented actually had to do with what kind of moderation would be best for the players on the forum. I cannot confirm this, as I cannot read their minds, however, it seems more logical, regardless of reasoning given by them.

That being said, ANET, if you are reading this, or anyone else, if you are reading this and simply are interested in the subject, understand that it is of my belief and that of several others that this simply isn’t going to work. I think what is key to understand here is:
1) People are going to try to post matchup threads anyways. Some of them will do so intentionally because you got rid of the matchup thread as a statement. Even if they do not, they will be craftier in insulting other servers, using random opportunities on threads as general as discussing the value of zergs vs small groups, etc. Because of this, you will find that you will not lower the necessity of forum moderators as much as you think it is.
2) This is not a good trade-off. Once the matchup threads are gone from the forums, I’m gone from the forums, an awful lot of people are gone from the forums. Effectively, you are severing a major link of communication between you and your players, which, might I add, are providing the profits through gems to even have this forum active.
3) This will lower general opinions of the ANET WvW team. Perhaps one of the reasons that you are considering this action is the occasional slander of ANET staff within the forums, and how the matchup threads are popular enough that this becomes popularly viewed, and thus popularly received as opinion. The problem is that literally every server has their own community site, and sees this anyways, in even less moderated levels. By getting rid of the matchup thread, people will be more redirected to these forums, which, combined with the severance of communication, is a perfect formula for an unhappy wvw populace.
4) Most of the WvW population really, really isn’t interested in switching to less server-intensive modes such as PvE. Just in case it is within your intentions to get us out of WvW into other modes simply because WvW is relatively server-taxing and hard to sell gem-items from due to the fact that it’s supposed to be fair and isn’t about glimmer, please understand that most of us don’t like PvE, and we only do so when we have to to stay competitive in WvW. I know countless people who leveled up their characters to 80 via crafting so they wouldn’t have to PvE with them all the way to 80. If they are disgusted with the way WvW works, they won’t just go into PvE and start forking out more gems. They’re simply gone.
5) Many individuals have been disillusioned by leagues. Repealing this decision would be a very effective way of reminding them that the ANET team does indeed consider their opinions as valid and important.

Drakma.1549:

I’m drunk as kitten. If you see a purple Afro warrior running around just know I have zero kittens to give. Good fights tonight all around.

Drunk people in purple afros generally shouldn’t be giving out kittens, anyways.

RazGerb.6173:

Caps BP’s Bay, literally 10 seconds after we capped it around 50 BP poured in with zerg after zerg to NE bay, because we all know BP has more numbers than all of us combined now. Just look at the PPT, they own all keeps except our EBG keep. BP next bandwagon server? I think so.

We’ve had literally only one small to medium-sized wvw guild join us since league, and some of our other major guilds have shrunk. If that’s what it means to become a bandwagon server, then obviously, we must be one. If not, your claim might need a little editing, as the vast majority of the forces here have already been here. We can’t help that we have a stable community, commanders that are nice to those following them, and guilds that cooperate of all shapes, sizes, and goals, We also can’t help that some of your forum warriors give our fairweathers another reason to play, just like how some of our forum warriors give you folks a reason to try to beat us. Look, I understand morale may be affecting some of your numbers, and thus, creating an advantage for BP, but I know your server, and your server has the potential to provide us with good fights and an awesome matchup, so please, bring on the fights. It’s much more interesting than just being randomly accused of becoming a bandwagon server.

Faux Sheaux.6179:

Deathwalker.6810:

Ashadow.6874:

BP gets stomped twice when it matters.

Now it’s chest thumping when no one cares, because there are no rewards and no glory to be gained.

Have fun winning nothing this week BP. Please feel free to win. (We had enough of your tears when you were crying yourselves to sleep during League. So our bottles are full, but we’ll see you next League, and pound you into the dirt where you belong.)

P.S. I think most of us just feel sorry for you at this point.

Look back at your league rewards and tell me again that those matches matter.

A couple yellows and a few greens. The yellows didn’t even salvage for anything ;(

Now you see the issue here. Inexplicably, Ehmry Bay, or at least a few individuals under it, is under the impression that a league match in a league that nearly nobody wanted, for the reward of a few golds and greens, actually somehow matters more than a decent, even match where the server matchups are more fair and are in a clean slate from the demoralization of leagues that occurs.

I’d like to take this a bit further. EBay essentially suggests that they hold about zero accountability for the results of this match because they are on break – exactly what happened against our last match against EBay and Yaks in reverse – we were just finished with a close match with CD and thus wanted a break, whereas EBay just came from being propelled by YB ahead of SBI (not going to try to argue a YB-EB alliance for our week, but SBI week was obvious), and thus was under major morale boost.

What this shows is pretty simple – when the only league-favoring difference between the matches is simply “one gets you possibly an extra green if your server manages to rank up due to a match”, in contrast to all the negative effects that leagues offered, really, in terms of what matters and does not matter, what is really the difference between the matches? Ehmry insists that our last match was an embarrassment for us, and that we should be utterly ashamed even though a lot of us were on break, however, when some of them are on break this match, suddenly they should have near-zero accountability. So, I guess this double-standard sort of takes place. BP is guilty of it as well – we insist the previous match shouldn’t matter, because of a supposed YB-Yaks alliance, and because we just came from a close match and put our efforts there. In reality, if the standards for what counts for a server are equal, either neither match matters, or both do. Plain and simple. I’d argue, myself, for the first one. Though, beware, this comes with somewhat of a caveat – on the relatively next even matchup that occurs, note that it has to be even to prevent the top server and 3rd-place from heavily focusing on second, there will be no real excuse when we win. PvE? Both servers have PvErs. Not the other server’s fault if a side can’t bring your PvErs in. Outnumbered? Not the other server’s fault if a side can’t or doesn’t want to attract numbers.

I just want to say that I’m really, really glad we’re facing CD this matchup. I have a ton of respect for CD. They play well, are calm on forums, and don’t give up.

Ashadow.6874:

BP gets stomped twice when it matters.

Now it’s chest thumping when no one cares, because there are no rewards and no glory to be gained.

Have fun winning nothing this week BP. Please feel free to win. (We had enough of your tears when you were crying yourselves to sleep during League. So our bottles are full, but we’ll see you next League, and pound you into the dirt where you belong.)

P.S. I think most of us just feel sorry for you at this point.

Look back at your league rewards and tell me again that those matches matter.

I think it’s almost kinda convenient on their part that they just declare the first even, decent matchup in weeks their “break week” just in case things go adversely for them. Don’t forget BP and CD are recovering too. It’s not like EB’s the only server that was in leagues, and I’d appreciate it for both BP and CD’s sake that you guys don’t treat it that way :P

Siege turtles. Those things were simply epic. Maybe you should be able to choose what kind of siege weapon is on their back, though. Possibly one with a ballista on their back, or an arrow cart.

BP will usually queue 3-4 maps depending on the matchup in reset, as long as you get there before the pugs do, you’ll be just fine. Even if you don’t, the queues won’t be that long. Throughout the week, there will sometimes be one map queued, in really rare instances two.

[Lost] – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5Xg3x-NE1w
[VNG] – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qZ-BjZgprk
[BB] (one of our GvG guilds – facing SBI’s [TE] in GvG) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3lplCCRx_U
[Rekz] – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eICwIP7ws8
[MM] and [WFD] -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shBl-z6W0eM
[PINK (a once-a-week zerg that tries to wear all pink) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0cz5SDDavI

Just clarifying, I mean a lot of people have humor. I’m not trying to pass us off as a gigantic server, I mean…we’re not. We’re mid-size.

Looking at Razgerb’s post, I can immediately tell you BP has a lot of the same things – the TS with the exact same perks, the forum, a well-built community, similar reset numbers (though in reality, you’ll probably get in as long as you get through before the pugs do). What sets us apart? First, we have one of the most durable communities out of any server and the game. BP isn’t gonna fade away any time soon, even if we face servers that outnumber us every day (leagues are proof on this one, plus the 13 matches against EB ages ago back when they were substantially stronger than us and the tiers were locked). Second, a lot of people in our server, and by that, I mean a LOT of people, have absolutely hilarious senses of humor and will leave you laughing half the match.

Also, as a non-zerg-sized guild group, you won’t be alone.
[Krew], [MM], [VNG], [WAR], [BEEP], [Lost], [Jynx], [Rekz], among others all run small to moderate-sized guild groups, so you won’t find yourself as a lonely sheep in a zerg server.

Likewise, I think the best thing would be to talk to one of the BP commanders, or even set up an all-out meeting, as I believe they have done that before.

Aeros.2046:

Whatever people might say about BP, we don’t roll over and die like we should.

That’s right! We’re not dead, we’re undead!

…wait…

Bucket Lips.5017:

All I can say is wow! All I read from BP & NSP are how much FA blobs, they have no skill, don’t roam, hide in towers, we are gold league rejects, blah blah blah. You guys sound like a broken record. Think of something original to say.

There is a simple solution to this however, stop being so bad and get better. Some of my FA comrades have even given you guys good advice on how to get better but you don’t appreciate it, therefore all I can say is continue to be destroyed and whine about losing.

The reason why FA is so good is because we have excellent commanders, we are organized, we communicate well and we have tons of experience facing the top servers. We have weathered the storm (just before leagues started) and we are very confident moving forward. In short we are a dangerous server to face right now.

I didn’t think any server could whine more than YB & SBI after we destroyed them, but you guys take the cake. I will however, thank you both for being walking bags cause I’m getting rich this week!

To my FA comrades; keep the pressure up! let’s keep on sending these noobs to the afterlife and get rich in the process muhahahahah!

See, here is the problem – you’re whining at us calling you bad, but you proceed to call us walking lootbags, noobs, and bad. Your server has members of this forum as well doing the exact same thing. When we do it, we’re “whining about losing”. When you do it, it’s “helpful advice”. Why the double standard?

Quite frankly, I’m not going to call you names. I’m not going to directly insult you, nor insult your server. It’s not bad. However, ours isn’t bad either. As already pointed out, we’ve managed to get a decent portion of our population based involved with WVW, despite being a relatively small server. We also have faced servers larger than us, in fact, a while ago we faced the same bigger server in a row 13 times, and finally, at the very end, ended up surpassing them. When other servers end up in such situations, usually they break, they burst, they falter. We didn’t. The fact is, a lot of our players have at least some decent experience in WvW. Of course, like every server, some don’t, and so, you’ll always be able to figure out evidence for random claims like, “Oh look! BP doesn’t maneuver when we attack them! Free loots for us!”, and your one example becomes the laughter point for your whole server. We aren’t perfect, but neither is FA, nor any server.

Really, what it comes down to is numbers, and I think even a decent portion of FA can see that.

For the most part, we do not want to go to the land of endless queues and nothing but mega-zergs. Quite frankly, it really doesn’t interest us to go to your level of numbers. So, likely, we won’t, nor will we try to. But we will fight with the numbers we have.

Gasoline.2570:

Is this really necessary, bp?

Yes.

saiyr.3071:

Most people should understand it, imo. That’s the entire point about nightcapping. Two servers have to fight between NA prime points while one server (cough DB) is weak, then they take over at night and 695 like a PvD boss. Only this time it is (very, very oddly) reversed.

Yes, and the fact that it’s reversed is what makes it really interesting.

saiyr.3071:

Snow Ghost.6817:

saiyr.3071:

ParaldaWind.4523:

Snow Ghost.6817:

VP have had a good time in Mag BL today.

Props to PYRO… always good fights with you guys.

/salute

Uh… we’re in BP bl tonight…

Pls stop stealing our thunder

I did say “Today” and not tonight.

It was PYRO that was trying to ninja hills back a few times before the much larger force turned up and took it back.

Anyway, still had a nice time in your BL for a few hours.

/salute

The PYRO ninja must have been before I got on (1:30pm Pacific) but it was mostly NOVA/DERP all afternoon. I was one of the two you guys ambushed in the actual keep take before the larger group showed up. Ho’s pro skills actually kept me alive \o/

Deathwalker.6810:

Just food for thought.

Pardon my skimming as I just woke up and have no patience, but isn’t this long post just saying “coverage wins”? This is exactly why people complained about night capping back when PPT was still a thing. I don’t really know why it’s interesting.

Kinda, but not entirely. What it shows is that two servers can cancel eachother out by having their coverage at the same time. Some of this post, though, was geared to individuals who didn’t know about this already, as, yes, they still exist, but obviously you’re not the main target of my post, being that you already understand it.

x per fection x.2096:

Deathwalker.6810:

x per fection x.2096:

Deathwalker.6810:

So, this matchup is rather interesting, especially in the timing patterns of when each server’s ppts are the highest.

Then the weekend ended and everything changed.

Actually, no, look at the graph, the timing patterns are still similar. Notice how ppts are narrowing now that it’s approaching 4 again. Quite honestly, this is probably the most consistent match yet timing wise. Also, just to clarify, I’m referring to the income graph, not the score one.

I predict the rest of the week will be karma train hurts morale and guild groups leave raids early due to boredom. At least its SAB this week and not some living story bull.

Edit: Anet can’t even get forums right

’Tis true. SAB is legit.

x per fection x.2096:

Deathwalker.6810:

So, this matchup is rather interesting, especially in the timing patterns of when each server’s ppts are the highest.

Then the weekend ended and everything changed.

Actually, no, look at the graph, the timing patterns are still similar. Notice how ppts are narrowing now that it’s approaching 4 again. Quite honestly, this is probably the most consistent match yet timing wise. Also, just to clarify, I’m referring to the income graph, not the score one.

So, this matchup is rather interesting, especially in the timing patterns of when each server’s ppts are the highest.

Consider this graph:
http://mos.millenium.org/servers/view/49/

From this graph, you can easily note two things in particular:
1. Maguuma’s best ppt time for this match is at roughly 4 – 8 pm pst.
2. BOTH Ehmry Bay’s and Borlis Pass’s appear to be between 4 – 8 am pst.

This is a rather peculiar situation, and I believe it to be one of the flaws in the current wvw rating system that determines which servers are stronger than others (albeit, a nearly unavoidable one).

The reason for this is simple. As Mag has 4 – 8 pm as its sheer firepower and no other server in the matchup does, this gives Maguuma a relatively significant points boost.

However, Ehmry Bay and Borlis Pass have managed to create destructive interference – being that both of them have their best profit points at the same time, effectively blocking eachother from gaining the full benefit.

Let’s give a theoretical example.

Let us say that Maguuma + Gummy Bear server both manage to have their strongest ppt at 4 – 8 pm, and are at relatively equal strength (for this theoretical example, all servers involved are).

Now, let’s look at Borlis. Suddenly, its strongest ppt level is not destructively interfered, and so, it does better. It would also work similarly if you put Ehmry in the spot Borlis was.

I’m not saying this means that overall, the skills of any server are better than another – rather, it is arguable that survival during primetime with the leading ppt is a definite show of strength, however, I still think that this shows an interesting unintended variable regarding how matches turn out.

It would also happen that this sort of interference, or the lack thereof, is what really, really drives the power of servers with a high oceanic presence, like dragonbrand.

If one looks back to the BP, DB, Mag matchup, it could be noted – DB essentially had oceanic time uncontested, giving them full potential, however, during primetime, Mag and BP essentially canceled themselves out.

Just food for thought.

Jinks.2057:

How’s BP losing this matchup?

It’s a weekend. We do better on weekdays. You should know this from the matchups where EBay would be ahead of us on the weekend and then we pull ahead.

Josh Foreman.8250:

Lady Vireo.5189:

Without ourselves knowing the true situation and full extent of the decision, maybe we players shouldn’t fill in the blanks with “NCSoft Overlords perma-banned Cantha!?!?” I for one will try to stay open and keep hoping!

Indeed. I’ve been in this industry for 16 years and worked with a several publishers including Interplay, Sierra, THQ and now NCSoft. And for what it’s worth, the amount of creative freedom that NCSoft gives ArenaNet is MASSIVE compared to the others. NCSoft is crazy successful for a reason. They recognize the talent here and support us with a very hands-off policy in general. They give us a LOT of feedback and data to work with, but I’ve never got the impression that they are overlords like I have with the other publishers I’ve worked under.

Here’s the thing with this quote. I like the idea of it, I like what it has in mind. However, I take it with a grain of salt. This is simply because even if NCSoft was the strictest company imaginable, I really doubt a developer would do anything but praise it on the publicly viewable forums. It’s understandable, if I were a dev, I wouldn’t want to do anything that risks my job, but it leaves this quote in question.

This being said,
I fear that NCSoft or whatever other entity, possibly within ANet itself, dismissing the idea is rather at a disconnect from these forums, simply because whatever comes from them is a rough idea – It’s really hard to estimate what proportion of the population agrees with the whole Cantha idea from just this forum – This isn’t to say that this forum shouldn’t be here, and that we should not keep trying this methodology, as it at least gives awareness to the issue to a larger sect of the GW2 population – it simply means that other means might not be a bad idea. There was a petition mentioned earlier – this is a good idea, because it gives a minimum cut-off of supporters, and is at least slightly more tangible data. Of course, we need more people to sign that, but if we rally our people, our guilds, our sheer numbers, that can easily, easily happen.

It’s really as simple as signing.

Another way to help is to simply suggest ideas. This shows developers and anyone else with access to the forums that we really, really are serious about Cantha, rather than just saying that we are serious about Cantha.

I have one in particular that I think can work pretty well – Integrate parts of Cantha into the WvW schematic as maps as well as the normal PvE story.

I have a feeling that a lot of the things that exist in Cantha can make for excellent use in WvW (In fact, I think someone mentioned earlier that they don’t need golems, they want siege turtles!) and the Jade Sea and the Echovald Forest can make interesting maps, especially with the stronger vertical dimension capabilities in gw2 (imagine a zerg coming down from the trees, or setting up ACs and other siege there!)

Perhaps the narrow canyonlike nature of Kaineng can make for an interesting challenge as well, as there would be all sorts of choke points that could be used in narrow alleyways, plus all sorts of places for mesmers to hide.

Another thing we can do is simply be creative. Hold Cantha Lore parties in places like LA or other towns. Maybe Cantha quizzes with fun and prizes, really show that supporting Cantha can be fun and something others want to do.

This being said, I do not see Cantha as simply just a matter of “we either get it, or we don’t.” Many people have already mentioned how integral Cantha is to the lore of the game, and I can’t help but agree. However, its meaning has become more than that.

The Battle for Cantha now represents the strength of the GW2 population to advocate for a positive outlook, in a positive way.

By continuing to post here –
By inviting others to do the same –
…and above all, to never falter nor give up,
I feel that we, as the GW2 community can help bring back Cantha, and all the wonders within, back to life.
And I understand some people’s pessimism – but is that reason not to try? Even a footstep can begin our journey to Cantha.

Jinks.2057:

Sigmar.2185:

Jinks.2057:

Sigmar.2185:

Jinks.2057:

(…)be forever known as the Bard of Arenanet!!

I can be, if you play along as the monkey who will collect the coins and perhaps with your thief skills you bring some more :P

You just had to go and ruin it with this subpar response…

Couldn’t resist and this applies to both of us:

A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The frog asks, “How do I know you won’t sting me?” The scorpion says, “Because if I do, I will die too.”

The frog is satisfied, and they set out. But in midstream, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown, but has just enough time to gasp “Why?”

Replies the scorpion: “It’s my nature…”

This reminds me of my favorite story of all:

There once was a big fish who was king of the pond. Everywhere he went in his pond he was feared and respected. One day this fish found a river and decided to leave his pond to find new waters. He traveled for days upon days searching for that new home.

Finally that river dumped into the ocean, and the fish danced with joy!! For he had finally found a pond big enough for him! It was then that he saw another fish in the distance and he said to himself, “Time to show them this is MY pond.”

So he darted off to this strange fish to show all that he was the biggest fish in this pond too, but as he swam closer he noticed that fish just kept getting bigger and bigger. Finally he made it right up next to the other fish and he proclaimed, “My name is Sugmor and this is MY pond!!!”

Well the shark turned upon this little fish and chuckled. He replied with a tired voice, “My name is Jinks and I’m hungry.”

That was the last thing that little fish ever heard for the shark then ate him……

GROG TURN TELL STORY.
ONCE UPON A TIME
JINKS NOT SHARK.
JINKS GRUB.
THE END.

ETTIN GROG UGGBERRY SAY HI.
MATCH PLAY EBAY.
GROG SAY PEOPLE ARE POINTS.
GROG SEE PEOPLE ARE LOOTS.
GROG EAT LOOTS. AND GRUBS.
EBAY ARE GRUBS.
JINKS IS BIG GRUB.
ETTIN GROG UGGBERRY SAY BYE.