Guild Wars 2

Right, I am not sure if this is a bug, but I just came home from work, hoping to grab that sweet (and spicy) Recipe: Bowl of Sweet and Spicy Butternut Squash Soup from Specialist Yana before the items offered reset in three hours from now… and discovered she already has different items on her. Someone on Reddit suggested it was due to the update being pushed to the game an hour ago or so.

I was really looking forward to see that recipe pop up at PSN, since I can’t afford the TP one (unbound version costs 200g!), and now I managed to log in on time only to discover this…

Having missed the window to purchase dicounted character slots (Wiki contained info the sale would last through August 21st, and it did, but ended around 5 PM, before I got home), I am slightly devastated. :/

Is there any chance it would be manually “put” on her again before it comes back in weeks/months? Normally I wouldn’t be bothered, but this thing is so expensive and with new expansion coming, my characters could really use some tasty soup.

Right, so a little update/BUMP. I’ve been trying the more typical zerkerish shoutbow build, similar to the ones shown in the two recent “outnumbered/roaming” threads, as I had similar gear already available. They’re fine, as far as I – a scrub – can tell, so I have something to get better at.

However, I would still like to try some condition trapper roaming, so I took Justine’s build (linked above) as a base and checked the prices of gear and availability of trinkets (didn’t even know pure Dire accesories or the 4-attribute ones require either raiding or farming LS3 maps!).

Here’s what I have come up with:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQNAV8fjMqQ5K2uCusAVLWcEM4k6UNryEAmcVumvVsqDUi0PD-TVSFQBET5360Nct9Ho2BBYkKBBwDAYBHBAao+zAuAAkCYRxWA-w

Now, Exotic Dire armor is there due to the lower price (full set costs ~13g, which is equivalent to a single exotic Sinister/Viper item or 1/3 of a Trailblazer’s piece), and Sinister accesories are used because I can get them with Laurels. I can craft the ascended weapons and I have an unused ascended backpiece, so they’d be either Viper/Trailblazer ones. Not sure if I want more Power/Precision, or more survivability.

And to respond to Crapgame – I’m new to the mode as a whole, and I’m playing at off times, so it’s hard for me to join an organised group other than a zerg. I would like to be able to move quickly around the map mostly as a solo player, so probably flipping small camps and killing other solo/duo players I encounter.

Once again, thanks a lot, everyone. I really appreciate how the GW2 forums look with people taking time to respond and not just limit themselves to a few half-sentences with ten exclamation marks and twice as many emotes.

Yay, thanks a lot for the input (and the upload!).

I have to say that the video screams the build is not very viable in such scenarios. Hopefully against shorter range opponents (and with a proper setup – I’m not sure Marksmanship the guy was using was optimal for a trapper, perhaps his armor was not good either) it’d be better.

As I was trying to figue out the weaknesses MetaBattle trapper has (on paper), I assumed the lack of conditions cleanse/gap closers/ways to have ranged opponents fall into our traps would be major issues… and that’s the case apparently.

So I guess I have to choose between running a less traps-focused build, or following entirely different route.

Right, thank you for the answers. So, if we assume I grit my teeth and try to get used to that S/T dance, what would be the better choice, SB or A/D? Both have a single evade, though the one coming from D is longer, and it can also cripple from 1200 units away. Thanks to the Axe, I’d get also an access to Chill and Weakness, which are not present on SB. On the other hand the SB allows one to daze (or stun), and is a source of Speed paired with Immobilizing the chased enemies. I’m unsure what’s better in WvW environment these days, after SB got buffed with bleeds on all Auto Attacks etc.

The forums were the first place I visited, hoping to find relevant information on viable builds, and I was seriously disappointed by the number of outdated material that’s still present here – and I’m not talking only about the Ranger section. Some sort of a forums-wide clean-up would be welcome, I’m certain it looks even worse from a new player’s perspective, someone who hasn’t heard about MetaBattle and CBA to sift through YouTube videos of… varying quality.

Hello,

I know right below there are threads dedicated both to the Trapper in sPvP and WvW roaming, but the thing that concerns me is a mix of these two topics. After years of playing I decided to dust off my ranger and finally give WvW a shot. Running in a zerg doesn’t sound fun and I’ve had enough big damage numbers in PvE, so I settled on playing a conditions-using roamer, and spamming traps seemed like a fine idea.

Alas, after reading the guide and the comments, I failed to find any recent videos and discussions on the matter. Which is sad, because the short bow got buffed significantly on October 18th, and now seems like a viable choice. All older guides/posts/videos ignored the weapon altogether, pointing to A/T and S/D as only viable sets.

So here’s the question – in light of these changes, would a combo of SB and A/D (and Dire gear, and Water Spring instead of Troll Unguent) be a fine choice for an inexperienced roamer that wants to learn and be able to contribute in WvW? I never liked Sword in Mainhand, finding skills #2 and #3 too awkward to use. To make up for the lack of additional evades I would be running Dagger instead of the Torch, though – unless the burning is superimportant?

Also – what is the condition (ha) of WvW roaming these days? Last night I joined WvW on my PvE character and I only saw large blobs of people bashing against the castle walls, with nobody dueling over small camps or whatever. It wasn’t encouraging, to be honest.

Yay, thanks a lot, guys! Especially NuhDah, your post was very informative!

I’ll get down to the videos ASAP and will try exploring the PvE environment first, trying to at least learn the skills that way.

In the meantime – if anyone has any further suggestions/knows any up-to-date and useful guides for dummies, please share them!

Heya,

I’ve been playing casually since the release, mostly just in PvE (ranger) and sPvP (necro). When HoT hit, I started to PvE with revenant, as I was fed up with pets. Now I would like to use that free level 80 boost thing and roll a thief, and use him in WvW, as I barely know this mode.

The thing is – I created a thief for test purposes, moved him to the sPvP lobby and tried a few games with some random build found on Metabattle (D/P Daredevil I think)… and got massacred each time. I fail miserably trying to kill anyone with half a brain or not busy fighting someone else – I just feel my character is made of paper and I don’t know how to get used to that “guerilla” gameplay, with jumping in, bursting, backstabs and dodging away, all done so fast. As my plan was to roam in WvW, it doesn’t sound well, I guess.

Now, could anyone recommend me any videos covering the thief basics that are not horribly outdated? I’m a bit lost with ArenaNet’s balance changes, and I see complaints about the recent patch all around. I would also love to see any build recommendations that are not necessarily meta etc., but offer better survivability and are easier to pick up for an utter noob so that I have a chance to learn a class and not die as soon as I encounter someone out in the field.

Thank you!

TL;DR Looking for hints on how2thief and a noob-friendly build that would allow me to learn the class, preferably in WvW.

Nihilus.3015:

Ragnarox.9601:

Release date is Q3 2015.

q4

“When it’s ready”.

It will be playable at PAX in 6 weeks.

Err, interviewer is either clueless or was told asked not to ask questions that would end up revealing something not mentioned during the main presentation. :S

Just sayin’ – a chance to learn to something new after the part with YouTubers’ pure speculation.

http://www.twitch.tv/guildwars2

The excited guys shown at the beginning of the post-show – before the YouTubers appeared – said something like “there is more news scheduled for Tuesday”. Will this be a beginning of a weekly news cycle?

WoodenPotatoes also seems to think there is only a single spec per professions, so assuming he knows more than mere mortals, it made me a bit sad.

HOWEVER, Colin was using words like “so, if you choose to turn your character into a druid, then…”. That would mean there is an alternative to that.

The most important question to me is – how many specs is each profession going to have? Or, I would love them to confirm at least wheter that number is greater than 1, because the way they were talking about that – and the way the website teases it – it seems a bit unclear to me. I’m afraid it just means you can turn your ranger into a druid, and that’s it.

While I’m really grateful for all the ANet’s efforts to provide us with something fresh, new to the genre (take the lack of Holy Trinity, for example – while the way it was implemented doesn’t appeal to many people, it was a brave move and I hope they will not give up on that), the current idea of the Living Story is an exception.

I was forced to take a break from games a few months ago (an old PC exploded, and I can’t afford a new one yet), but I’ve been following GW2 all that time. And seeing the new content come and go, is terribly discouraging for me. ‘Geez, when I’m back online in September, I will have skipped tons of content already… why should I bother? Even if it’s reintroduced somehow in two years?’

While I see the point (to keep people interested in the game, to make them log in regularly etc.), I would rather see a more typical approach to the way new content is implemented – give us regular, permanent updates, focused around advancing the plot, so that even a completely new player can naturally progress and enjoy whole content: core game -> Flame and Frost -> Southsun -> whatever’s next. Temporary content should be limited, IMHO, to the holiday events AND vanity items that commemorate an introduction of a particular part of the storyline (weapon skins etc.). This way everyone will be happy – both new and veteran players will get to experience tons of content (that doesn’t get out-of-date, as in most MMOs featuring the gear treadmill), AND people playing regularly get rewarded for going through the new content as soon as it’s in the game (some of these weapon skins are truly epic, but I agree, they should remain exclusive to people playing regularly).

Good luck, ArenaNet – there are many things to be done, but I trust you will deliver.

Awesome idea, thank you! If possible, I would love to get a portrait for my Asura Ranger, Kree Manov. I’m attaching two pics below, though I was too early in-game to grab desired equipment.

I would describe my character as a withdrawn, yet slightly mad being that would rather spend his life roaming in the snowy mountains than inside a typical Asuran lab. His first and most trustworthy companion is a boar named after its great ancestor, Oink. My ultimate goal is to make Kree wear a Citadel of Flame outfit, with a more traditional, assassin’ish mask, so that he can show off his fabulous haircut. I will probably make use of the HoM rewards and equip the guy with Balthazar’s burning gauntlets. In case you’d be featuring weapons in the portrait, I would suggest either two poison-dripping axes or a destroyer shortbow. Once again, big thanks!

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/4736/94185132.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/1013/62444836.jpg

Great read! How many episodes are planned? Got any estimations?

Feel free to link the story in the Biographies thread!

I love it! You managed to give that little, witty bugger a woman-ish feel, that’s great!

“Kree Manov”, part 2/2

Completely soaked, surrounded by panicking Asura, Froonk was trying to decide what to do. He knew no serious krewe would now be open to him, and serving as an Asura Gate operator wasn’t what he desired either. He slowly realized he had to follow a path more and more young Asura were choosing these days – a path of an adventurer, sometimes called W.W.T.T.G. (“Which Way to the Grave?”). Few people, who chose it, came back – but those, who did, always brought tales of great wonders and even greater dangers lying beyond the horizon. Yet, with Elder Dragons awakening and the continent swarming with terrifying monsters, a quick, painful death was more than possible.

Froonk recalled what Disaster Master Woom told him. “Froonk the Useless, you clearly have no place among us, not in the fine city of Rata Sum”. Woom had no authority in the city, but there was an element of truth in what he said. Froonk had a quick look around – just in time to notice two malfunctioning security golems ripping each other’s arms off on a terrace below, surrounded by a cheering crowd of Asuran children. Offspring, as they called them. Yes, he loved Rata Sum… but he had always treated it like a safe haven he could return to from a journey, not a place where he would like to spend his entire life, fixing various gizmos and comparing achievements with other inventors.

Froonk reached to his pocket and took out a small, old book. It was surprisingly dry – a minor dwarven spell held well, protecting paper from dampening. Smile appeared on Asura’s face, as he opened the tome. The dwarven chronicle, telling stories from well over 250 years, has always been his favourite book. It was written in Droknar’s Forge, soon before the tragic events that resulted in the demise of the noble dwarven nation. Young Asura was turning the pages, thinking. “I know how to use a bow, and my father taught me how to fight with a sword. I believe I could survive in the wilderness, I know how to prepare food out of most edible things… excluding mushrooms, I hate them with passion… and turnips! Nobody likes turnips! And I would probably be able to make a living during my travels with my jewelcrafting skills – people of Tyria love shiny trinkets, be it bookahs or leaf-skins, catmen or the half-giants… heck, this could work!”

“But… it won’t be Froonk the Useless, who will be doing that. No, Froonk died two weeks ago, humiliated, fired from the Fire Throwers by that madman, Woom. From now on, I shall be known as…” – Asura quickly flicked through the book, looking for his favourite chapter. “Kree Manov! Great human ranger from days of old, a long-forgotten savior of Tyria, Cantha and Elona, Bane of the Great Destroyer and friend to Gwen Thackeray, immortalised by dwarves in their chronicles! Yes! Under his name will I venture from now on! Heck, that’s right! I’ll travel the length and breadth of Tyria, studying Tyria’s wildlife and exploring pristine lands! And then, at the autumn of my life, I shall write a book. Or two. Or thirteen! And it’s gonna be an absolutely legendary punch in the face of those narrow-minded brethren of mine!” Feeling like a true hero, with his heart set on fire and wild zeal in his eyes, young Asura tried to spit, just like the Norn do before attacking. Sadly, it didn’t work – his wide lips were not used to spitting like a drunk Norn. Undiscouraged, he wiped his mouth.

Reborn after 250 years, Kree Manov closed his eyes. He didn’t know what to expect from the road that lied before him, but there was no turning back – Froonk the Useless was no more. Kree took a deep breath, inhaling damp air, smelling of an unspoken promise… and a wet pig.

The would-be hero looked down, surprised, and noticed a large, furry boar with disproportionately small tusks, standing in front of him. Oink, a young boar Mistress Zinga gave him right before he joined Fire Throwers, was staring at him, with intelligence gleaming in its eyes. Kree blinked. The boar blinked back. Embarassed, Asura looked around, and whispered: “Erm, Oink, weren’t you supposed to be locked up in my laboratory?!”. The boar oinked happily, turned around and walked a few yards, waving his short tail. Feeling rather awkard, Asura didn’t move, whistling and pretending not to be engaged in a conversation with a pig. The boar stopped, looked back and grunted impatiently. Still shocked, Kree frowned and followed Oink, slowly realising his long, yet slightly unexpected journey is about to begin.

On a nearby platform, hidden behind a disabled security golem, Mistress Zinga smiled heartily.

“Kree Manov”, part 1/2

Froonk was an outcast. Oh, he would never admit that – but essentially that’s exactly what they turned him into. “Go ahead! Take your stinking pig, find yourself a stinking cave in the mountains, and become a stinking hermit! And stay there forever, and freeze to death, because you clearly have no place among us, not in the fine city of Rata Sum! Froonk the Useless, I hereby fire you from Fire Throwers! See what I did there? You are fired… from… Fire Throwers… Ahahaha!” – cackling voice of not-so-sane Disaster Master Woom still echoed in Froonk’s head, as he was standing in the rain pouring down from the darkened sky.

Asking the krewe’s leader, if you could take a week off, because you’d like to spend some time studying mating habits of the animals inhabiting Far Shiverpeaks definitely wasn’t a good idea. At least not exactly three hours after he furiously refused to let you travel to Ullen River, because you wanted to see herrings during their spawning season.

Hundreds of soaked Asura were running around, cursing and trying to figure out who was responsible for that day’s failure of Water’n’Bug – Repellent Dome, commonly known as the Coat. The magical device was supposed to push rain drops and insects away from Rata Sum, but that day – for the third time within a week – it seemed to be pulling rain from all over Tarnished Coast instead, turning light drizzle into a catastrophic downpour. Good thing the insects hide whenever it starts to rain – should the malfunctioning Coat attract thousands of insects living below the floating city, Rata Sum’s not-so-tall citizens would probably be no more.

Froonk liked the rain and how the wet world smelled. He also liked the insects and their buzzing, resembling sound of a thousand small machines. And he frankly believed nobody should blame him for what he had done – after all, for Asura, getting kicked from a krewe and being publicly named „useless” was among the worst things that could ever happen. He had a right to get angry, didn’t he? Fortunately for Froonk, these days the blame for most Rata Sum’s problems was conveniently put on the Inquest, and risk of being caught was negligible. The young Asura definitely felt pride in his portable Transatmospheric Converter, which, after a few minor adjustments, was successfully disrupting the Coat’s work. Just imagine it was his very first invention! When he introduced it for the first time, though, other students couldn’t stop laughing. Who would have thought they would be calling it “Inquest’s most annoying idea to date” just a year later.

They disregarded his other projects as well. When he announced he would go on a great expedition to explore and describe Tyria’s natural environment, and study animal species living in the most remote corners of the world, they were laughing their heads off. But he insisted there was nothing wrong with his plans – according to Eternal Alchemy, everything in the world has its place and serves a greater purpose – following that logic, everything could become a subject of a research, right? Professors he met in the College of Synergetics would certainly agree, but it didn’t matter now – all Disaster Master Woom and his Fire Throwers cared about were the explosives. Big and small, used to open jammed locks or blow up three-storey buildings. Froonk joined the Fire Throwers thanks to the references from his advisor, wise Mistress Zinga. She has always praised her student’s creativity and selfless obedience, and it was her who encouraged Froonk to follow his heart in his pursuits – even if they related nature, force commonly overlooked by Asura, folk favoring powers of traditional magic and technology.

It wasn’t passion for watching various things burst into flames that led Froonk to Fire Throwers krewe. Sure, he liked explosions (everybody likes explosions, even bookahs!) and wasn’t bad at causing them, but the reason behind joining Woom’s krewe was much more prosaic. As a fresh member of the College of Synergetics, Froonk had no money for his projects – even with Mistress Zinga‘s support, he was unable to continue his nature-oriented work on his own. That’s why he decided to join the (in-)famous Fire Throwers – with Elder Dragons rising and deadly threats coming to life all across Tyria, Asura weapon industry had a chance to become quite profitable business. Alas, now he got kicked out of it, after less than three months spent as Expendable Junior Fuse Specialist.

With its incredibly rich lore, Guild Wars 2 is a perfect place for all role-players. I’m certain many of us prepared awesome biographies for our characters – why not share them with the rest of the world?

Let me begin with a biography of my main character – Asura Ranger known as Kree Manov. It’s more of a short story, so I hope it’s possible to read it without falling asleep (at least not more than twice). I had to split it into two parts – it was too long to squeeze in a single post.

Hope you enjoy, and I’m looking forward to digging into your walls of text!