Guild Wars 2

All of the hyenas in that video are, in my opinion, gorgeous. You know, having all of their fur for all intents and purposes, and not looking blind. That helps. Compare:

http://www.mnh.si.edu/mammals/images/where/africa/hyena_lg01.jpg

http://gw2.mmorpg-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/juvenile_hyena_gw2_ranger_pets_1.jpg

One of these animals is, you know, alive, and barring some sort of accident or attack, likely to stay that way. One of them is horribly diseased even for a wild animal, let alone someone’s pet.

What Elegy said. And I have seen hyenas in the wild, and no, they don’t look worse than the ones in the game. The ones in the game literally look like they’re dying. They’ve got milky eyes and half of their fur gone and retracted gums.

I can live with the howling. I think that’d take more effort from the team to “fix”. I just want to not shudder and think ill of my ranger’s level of compassion and responsibility every time I look at his pet.

OK, I sort of thought this would be addressed by now, and it’s such a tiny gripe but it’s driven me up the wall ever since I started the game when it was released. And now that I have a ranger that uses one, here goes…

The hyenas are hideous. I don’t know who thought it would be a good idea to purposefully make them look as though they’re blind, diseased, and a few days away from death, but it makes me terribly sad every time I see one. Most of the animals in the game are lovely and look, as pets, as though they’re properly taken care of. Even the devourers are kind of adorable. Can’t we have hyenas without a skin disease? I can’t imagine anyone actually prefers unhealthy critters, and I’m sure it would only take a couple minutes for a reskin. Please?

Not really. Seems pretty egregious today. And I mean, I’ve been playing since launch, I’m rank 45, but maybe I’m just seeing things.

This is just something I’ve experienced a lot of today, as have my friends and the general consensus of /map at the time, so I thought I would ask about it here.

Since the patch, the old system of sPvP has become “practice”, but I notice it has undergone changes as well, particularly in autobalance. I don’t actually know what’s causing this, if anything, but every one of the six matches I have played on, win or lose, has been won 500-100 or less. It got frustrating enough for my friend (playing in another room) that he quit for the day.

The teams always seem incredibly unbalanced. I don’t know if this is just confirmation bias or people having bad luck and confirming to complain, or what would cause this if it is a thing (apart from autobalance being seriously bugged and me just not noticing). Has anyone else here noticed some serious unbalance in practice, though?

Sorel.4870:

The devs made quite a smart move to solve this Skyhammer issue: the vote system. It will only be played now if at least one player feels like it, so it probably won’t happen often.

I came to see if anyone was talking about this, because I expect the opposite: It’s only going to be played now if the team voting is all specced for Skyhammer. Pretty good way to ensure you win 100% of your matches: everyone get on your bearbow ranger and decap engi and vote Skyhammer.

I complain about Skyhammer literally every time I enter the map, even when I’m on my own characters that are good on it. I find myself apologizing after the match is done for knocking/pulling everyone off the map, so I would be very happy if it were replaced with Capricorn (which I didn’t find too unbalanced at all, and I play all classes). Someone did make a very good suggestion above, though, which was keeping the idea of people being knocked off, but not killing them. Provided it didn’t take as long for players to get back into position as it does for them to respawn and do so, I think this might be a nice balance.

Just an update: been RPing since DR got the megaserver and they’ve been working on prioritizing home worlds. It -has- worked fairly reliably, but a few times my friends and I — about twice each, now, roleplaying a good six hours a day or so — have been placed in different servers. It’s been annoying, because someone has been like “Come join the group, we’re in X” and then their friend comes on over only to find it empty, and only then do they realize they’re in another server and have to join up.

To me, this isn’t -too- bad, because overflows did the same thing, but the difference is they at least told you you were in an overflow. I think there’s still work that needs to be done with prioritizing or server loads, or just giving people different options. (I still really like the idea of an RPer tag.)

Still have never had troubles finding anyone with the new system being tested, and I don’t guild up. Haven’t tested BC yet though, just DR. RP all day ebry day. I’d be interested to hear the specifics of what problems other people are continuing to have. Are others really not seeing any improvements? Because when I enter DR, it seems identical to “old TC” DR apart from that very initial login the instant the megaserver was turned on, before the new sorting system was put into effect. All the RPers seem to be in that instance, and no more trolls than usual (those that we’ve had are in TC guilds).

Not trying to be contrary, because I know how annoying that is, I’d just like to know specifics of problems people are having — when they happened, what home server, what exactly the story is of the problems, etc.

Asacledhae.2650:

I “think”, they’re testing a new system in DR, that gives priority to home server players instead of randomly placing people around so far…

But it’s a rumour, not sure if it’s true or false, but we’ll know soon enough, i suppose…

It’s true. I was sent a tell by a dev when DR got the megaserver. And in my experience, and that of my friends for the last two days, it’s working. shrug

I should mention that I -think- this experiment with prioritizing home shards may just be in North America. I’m guessing. Sorry, EU folks; I’m sure it’ll come soon.

But yeah, just based on that it was worded to me as if they were testing the solution out, and also that today’s complainers about DR (with examples) are all from Piken and not TC.

My friends are also unanimously reporting that BC has gotten better too. Just an update. Again, it’s just tonight (and it’s nighttime), but either we’re very, very lucky, or they’ve changed something.

Honestly, I’m OK with Anet not jumping up and being like “WE’RE DOING THIS” in this thread. They told me privately that they’re working on it, and I thought that was pretty awesome. They need to save face and I can understand a bit not wanting to be exposed to a ton of vitriol, or risking getting involved in a debate with players publicly.

So the megaserver got switched on in DR and I, being the kitten-disturber I am, immediately went into map and was like "There goes RP in GW2". A dev actually whispered me right after to tell me that they are trying out a system that prioritizes home shards when sorting into megaservers, and actually, it’s working. So far, it seems like nothing has changed, at least tonight. We’ll see what happens for me and my friends in future logins, but very tentatively it looks to me like they may have solved the problem for the Reach.

Star.Ace, it’s fine if you disagree, but the huge majority of people not just here but in the game are on the same page. Those who aren’t are those who RP in the Grove, or who haven’t really seen the damage at all and only stick around DR/do bubble RP. I’d bet ten to one you’re in one of these categories; if you go to BC, you’ll find that RP is nearly impossible, as you’re more likely to end up in a server with no other RPers but yourself, that joining often doesn’t work, and that the community is apathetic/spammy at best and outright negative towards RP at worst. A ton of people are experiencing this (look at the size of the thread, and the number of people discussing it in the game), and as much as I love a good debate, this isn’t really something that’s up for it.

Ilthuain.5634:

Geckat.6428:

I’ve tried to RP in the “new” BC. I had to block about twenty people just so I didn’t get lost in an overflow of inane chatter in /say. Furthermore, the people I was planning on RPing with took three and four tries to get into the same instance as I was in. These problems are consistent with my friends, and consistent here, so I honestly don’t know what experiences your optimism is coming from. Yes, it is killing RP; I’ve seen it first hand over and over during these last few days I’ve tried, and time and time again, my friends and I have not been able to find anything even when RPers are online and on our list and area, and it’s not at all for lack of trying.

It’s not killing RP. Get a hold of yourself. You may have to make some changes to get the type of RP you’re looking for, but it’s still there. I was just in the Grove, and people are RPing there. I guess nobody told them that RP is dead. Maybe I should tell them that my optimism is unfounded…

Also, we’re +2 days from patch. Matching friends to the same instance might be a little rocky. Being in an RP guild makes it much easier.

Geckat.6428:

Frankly, anyone who wants to RP has already come into RP through that tiny bit of effort..

Oh please. There are people who are fine RPers who have different priorities in GW2 and just haven’t gotten around to RPing. Believe it or not, some people are even a little intimidated to RP because of the insular groups and fear of appearing clueless about GW lore. A coworker of mine, who has been doing tabletop for 30 years, is intimidated by online RP. He’s interested, but feels uninvited. Perhaps if it was happening around him, it would be easier to join in.

Geckat.6428:

You’re not going to get any decent writers at all by recruiting randoms who have never even heard of roleplay before. You’ll get a handful who are interested but if they haven’t considered it enough to make the effort and guest to an RP server to see, they’re not going to be interested enough to commit to a whole storyline. And, on the off-chance that they are, you’re never going to see them again anyway unless you invite this brand new RPer into your guild. Most of us aren’t comfortable with that.

Well, that might be a problem with your expectations. We invite new people all the time. Some aren’t exactly Cormac McCarthy, but then again, neither are the DR nobles. I don’t think we’re trying to win any awards here, just have some good times.

Geckat.6428:

I’m glad your experiences so far have been good, but I’ll be interested to see how long your optimism can hold up; I don’t know anyone else who thinks RP can survive at all the way things are now.

It entirely depends on what you’re looking for. I don’t need/want a hermetically sealed environment for my RP, so I’ll be just fine. I guess we will see how many other people adapt and form RP guilds.

There is a reason I’ve been talking about BC and not the Grove, and it’s because the Grove was quite sparsely populated to begin with by players compared to RPers. If you’re talking about the Grove this entire time, then yes, it still works for RP. Unfortunately, BC and I would guess Hoelbrak and Rata Sum do not.

Your coworker could always join in on TC. It is not difficult. I really don’t understand how you think someone being exposed to one group of RPers one time in their life, never to see them again, is going to turn them onto RP when it’s turning everyone else off. I’ll believe it when I see it. You don’t seem to understand that these megaservers aren’t just everyone being shifted around once, and now you have your new home shard: it’s more like, everyone is in an overflow, and every time you enter an area, you’re placed into a new overflow with an essentially random group of other people who are playing GW2 in that area at the time, regardless of server, guild, friends list, or intentions. You are -not- going to be seeing these people again unless you strive very, very hard.

The guild matchup does not work as it stands, so it doesn’t matter that I’m in a guild. It especially doesn’t matter if that guild is based on interactions with other random RPers, as is most RP. It seems to me, unless you’re in the Grove, unless you -are- in some hermetic bubble-RP, you’re not going to find the resources you need to write.

Essentially, you’re telling me to adapt by:
-Moving all my RP to the Grove (once DR gets the megaserver)
-Reducing the continuity of my story
-Inviting new randoms into my guild who might think RP is “kinda interesting” and would like to try, having never heard of it before

This really just isn’t acceptable to the large majority of people, I’m sorry.

Ilthuain.5634:

Geckat.6428:

Most people don’t view RP as a performance. It’s a story, often a long-standing one, and in this environment, that sort of thing just -becomes- a comedy performance, because all of these people from non-RP servers are going “lol wut r these nerds doing get a life”

As far as introducing new people to RP, we did that before. It was called guesting to Tarnished Coast.

Yeah, I’m not exactly a noob when it comes to RP, I just wanted to show that some of us actually dig the new system and see it as an opportunity.

We’ve had our performances trolled with the “lol nerds” people. We ignore them (or play along with the heckle). I can only imagine that it’s even easier to ignore trolls if you’re not trying to control a stage or entertain dozens of people. Just don’t respond… or do, and make it part of your scene. These people existed on TC before and I’m not convinced that this problem will be pervasive enough to destroy RP.

And yes, people guested and we introduced those people to some fun RP. That was great. Now there will be a larger pool, and some of those people haven’t even considered RPing will get to see it and maybe get a taste for it. There will be some culture shock, but there will also be some huge positives, depending on what your goals are.

I’ve tried to RP in the “new” BC. I had to block about twenty people just so I didn’t get lost in an overflow of inane chatter in /say. Furthermore, the people I was planning on RPing with took three and four tries to get into the same instance as I was in. These problems are consistent with my friends, and consistent here, so I honestly don’t know what experiences your optimism is coming from. Yes, it is killing RP; I’ve seen it first hand over and over during these last few days I’ve tried, and time and time again, my friends and I have not been able to find anything even when RPers are online and on our list and area, and it’s not at all for lack of trying.

Frankly, anyone who wants to RP has already come into RP through that tiny bit of effort. You’re not going to get any decent writers at all by recruiting randoms who have never even heard of roleplay before. You’ll get a handful who are interested but if they haven’t considered it enough to make the effort and guest to an RP server to see, they’re not going to be interested enough to commit to a whole storyline. And, on the off-chance that they are, you’re never going to see them again anyway unless you invite this brand new RPer into your guild. Most of us aren’t comfortable with that.

I’m glad your experiences so far have been good, but I’ll be interested to see how long your optimism can hold up; I don’t know anyone else who thinks RP can survive at all the way things are now.

Ilthuain.5634:

I’m a TC roleplayer in an RP guild, and I think the Megaserver has fantastic potential. We do comedy performances in places that aren’t traditionally RP strongholds, and for the most part, our most grateful audiences have been non-RPers. With populated maps we’ll draw larger crowds.

Also, it’ll be cool to introduce RP to new folks.

I don’t think it’s going to be better for everybody, but some of us see this as a huge opportunity.

Most people don’t view RP as a performance. It’s a story, often a long-standing one, and in this environment, that sort of thing just -becomes- a comedy performance, because all of these people from non-RP servers are going “lol wut r these nerds doing get a life”

As far as introducing new people to RP, we did that before. It was called guesting to Tarnished Coast.

Astraea.2981:

Geckat.6428:

Just found out Diessa Plateau was added to the list. Discussed this with a friend and I have decided that I am going to start ERPing disgusting, horrible things in /say. It’ll get rid of the trolls in a hurry, and what better protest? Take -that-, megaservers!

All that will do is get you a crowd of people taking screenshots, until the GMs ban you.

Even if I say “just kidding” at the finish?

Just found out Diessa Plateau was added to the list. Discussed this with a friend and I have decided that I am going to start ERPing disgusting, horrible things in /say. It’ll get rid of the trolls in a hurry, and what better protest? Take -that-, megaservers!

This is another thing I really don’t like, actually. My fps is usually around 12, so until I can afford a new machine, there are a lot of things I’m not going to be able to do anymore. Haven’t enjoyed the fact that a lot of the Living World things have been all about putting yourself in a giant bioball, either. Marionette was almost impossible for me.

Actually, it was done, if I’m not wrong, for financial reasons: servers are expensive, and they can run fewer servers this way.

That having been said, I think they’re going to lose money by high-paying customers leaving. (RPers have a love affair with town clothes.)

Also, I saw my dev acquaintance on, but they didn’t respond when I asked. Either they were afk for a very long time or the staff has been instructed not to comment on the issue yet.

Most of those three pages are people experiencing problems, actually. And they’re quite consistent problems, and all of my friends are experiencing the exact same problems even if they’re not posting here about them. Also keep in mind this doesn’t even include DR yet, which contains the majority of the game’s RP.

I don’t think a ton of swearing and raging and negativity is warranted, but I really do find this update extremely depressing.

I already bugged them a couple times yesterday with little questions here and there about what was happening, but I’ll send them a tell if I see them online to maybe hear what’s going on, though I’m sure they are working on a solution already. If you’re already reading this, sorry in advance for bugging you so much!

I do like Anet. I love GW2. I don’t hate them for doing this, but every once in a while something happens that makes me wonder if my love of the game and the lore they’ve created for it is matched by their appreciation of me as a customer that roleplays.

When the patch first dropped and the megaserver only existed in the PvP lobby, I contacted a dev I have RP’d with and asked them if the megaservers will be a problem for RP. They replied that they don’t believe it will: that people will still end up in servers populated primarily by people from their own server. I was very happy to hear this; it sounded like very little would change, so I went on happily with my life.

I just went into Black Citadel and asked on /m who is from Tarnished Coast. There were a number of people on my friends list from TC and in BC, but they weren’t there — in fact, no one was from Tarnished Coast. I didn’t end up plopped in a server mostly made up of anyone else, either: people were from all different North American servers, and not only were none of them RPers, but most hadn’t even heard of it.

Last night, after the megaservers dropped in the cities, we were immediately treated to difficulties finding one another. It took some of us three to five tries to get in the same server as people on our friends list and from TC. Once we did, we were surrounded by people using say and emotes (unblockable) as a chatline. We had to block literally dozens of people just so we could do our thing and not be harassed directly or indirectly.

The solution given by the devs is “join an RP guild”, because these megaservers still put you in with your guildies, but this is NOT a solution. The huge majority of RP that takes place is not between guild members, first of all. Second of all, recruiting for an RP guild is impossible if other RPers who are not guild members are not around. Thirdly, the great thing about RPing in an MMO as opposed to a forum, IM, chatline, etc. is that it is fluid: characters can walk by and join in. This is also impossible in a megaserver populated wholly by non-RPers except for your guildies.

These megaservers really are the worst thing that’s happened to the game thusfar. I understand why they were done: servers are expensive, and Anet and NCSOFT want to save money. The issue is, they’re going to lose their entire RP community within the next few months if they don’t undo this mistake immediately, and I don’t think the amount of money RPers put into the game through gems, buying town clothes (which were also nerfed horribly), instruments, armour skins, and other expensive items, as well as gems to exchange for gold to buy things from the trading post since many of us don’t grind dungeons and such to make the gold in-game.

I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on GW2. I’ve purchased the game twice, and bought a crapton of gems to deck my characters out. I barely play the game at all: I have ten characters and they are all roleplay characters, and none of this is unique to me: all of my friends on the game are in the same boat, having spent much more money on the game than any of our non-RPing counterparts. I know I’ll be leaving the game even after 4000 hours or more spent on it, as will probably the majority of the RP community, if this problem isn’t solved quickly and effectively.

ToaLux, thank you very much! I’m not terribly disappointed; this gives me more freedom with the language. Maybe I can even make those two lines mean something relevant to the place they were found, eventually.

Another mystery solved. Back to work!

Yeah. It’s a strange transliteration, because to make things simple it SHOULD just be “kwa umza lagi” and “o kwa tanzin wan”, but yes, I want to know what they mean.

I jumped the gun a little and churned out this, though. Behold: the mathy language (presented to you in-character by Philologist Sprokk!)

It just needs words, so actually, in the meantime, I’m taking word donations. Asuran has very few rules on what a word can be apart from “don’t make it too long, and it should at least be kind of pronounceable”, so if anyone wants to have a little fun and throw out random asura-y words, I would welcome it

EDIT: I would also welcome anyone reading this and interested to tell me anything they find confusing in there. I know the math stuff is confusing and needs more examples, but if there’s anything linguisticky that people have difficulties with… I sometimes forget what’s hard for people without degrees in this stuff, so I’d appreciate reminders :P

I’m not sure if this would be the best way of getting in contact with someone, but I wanted to try this before doing something like submitting a support request.

I’m a professional linguist, experienced conlanger and active member of the Language Creation Society, and a Guild Wars fan, and I’m interested in creating the Asuran language just for the sake of player immersion and my own amusement. I have some fun ideas of how to integrate the “half-mathematical” aspect given by the writing team, but I would first like to know what (to my knowledge) the only piece of the language available to players means: “qwa umza lagee wan” and “o kwa tanzin wan”. If that can be released to me, I can make the conceptualized language more authentic, and if anything else regarding the language has been considered, all the better.

Whether or not Arenanet gives me a hand here, my grammar and lexicon for the language will be available publicly online for the interest of fans. I understand the need to keep certain aspects of story and canon development under wraps, but any information I could get would be very much appreciated. Thanks very much in advance!

Sincerely,
Justin Mann