Guild Wars 2

So I recently got back into playing Guild Wars 2, or rather thought I would, but Guild Wars 2 launches to a black screen. All the music from the newest update plays as if it’s on the character selection screen but the mouse is the Windows UI mouse and the screen is just black (and sometimes flickery).

I’ve already checked and there’s no nVidia Driver Crash recorded in the event viewer like there would be if the GPU driver stopped responding and recovered and all I have to do to get out of it is repeatedly tap ALT + F4 and then ALT + Tab and repeatedly press the “X” button until the game closes.

I am currently in the process of trying to repair the game but something tells me that it won’t work based on some threads that went unresolved said.

I’m just wondering if there is any fix or if this is a known issue before I open a support ticket with AreaNet.

OS: Windows 10 Pro (Anniversary/1611)
Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 5GHz
GPU: nVidia GeForce GTX 960 4G Gaming (MSI) [8/30 Drivers – Latest Available)
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-M Pro
Network: ASUS PCI-E AC68 WiFi AC Card (Active), Realtek Gbe Ethernet Card (Not Used), Array Networks VPN (Work Use), VMWare VMNets (NAT and Host-Only)

If it matters:

ISP: Verizon FiOS (500/500)
Gateway: Verizon/Greenwave G1100 “Quantum Gateway”
WiFi Access Point (AP Mode): ASUS RT3100

Though that information won’t be relevant at the end of the month as I’m moving.

Update: Repair and Reinstall Did Not Fix the Issue

Interesting. It sounds like the game has had some improvement and some… not good ideas added as well.

Well, I will hop on JQ again and see for myself. And google more into these Tokens thing.

@PaxTheGreatOne: I know Elementalist are supposed to be “squishy” but the were getting to a point where there ANet just kept nerfing any offensive ability they had to the point where a running joke back in my day was that Elementalist was “hard mode” because you die if you are breathed on wrong and you had to do 2-4 times the work than any other class. I am hoping the that last part is fixed.

I actually went ahead and updated my Guild Wars 2 client since I still had it installed (why not? I have an obscene amount of storage). When I signed into make sure everything was still there I noticed something – aside from my character which is actually level 58; all of my lower level ones have suddenly moved up to 20. There’s a character that I literally never did anything else but play PvP that was at level 2 or 4 when I last played a year or so ago that is suddenly a 20. Did they change something?

There was this one event I played where you fought those horse creatures (it’s really early in the morning; I can’t remember the name :P) which I used to level from 30-58 (with some food bonuses) because it was the only event I stumbled upon where people were lining up to play.

I keep hearing that the game really doesn’t “open up” until level 80 – the trouble is getting to 80 without it being so tedious.

I’d be interested in knowing more about these Tomes of Knowledge are. They sound like an easy way to bridge the gap from 58 to 80 without repetitively playing the only active event I could ever find (seriously, the rest of them were like abandoned).

It’d be nice to finally make it to 80 and see if those events that I’ve seen on YouTube at the so called “end game” are actually fun. I already know World vs World is (for a time, that’s all I played) and PvP I know is pretty fun too.

Have dungeons improved? I only ever did two dungeons because it seemed like the only thing people were ever interested in a year or so ago was “speed running” them (etc.).

The last time I played this game, which was quite some time ago considering the last signed in IP address in my security history, I found this game to be entertaining and than suddenly very boring.

My problem was the exploration hearts that they made you do just to be the correct level for a story mission; the latter being the part of the game I really enjoyed (it didn’t help that they were nerfing the Elementalist left and right in those days).

However, with this game getting an expansion pack plus the considerable amount of time that has passed I’d figure I’d ask if this game is actually good now for those of us who may like to do the story missions, World vs World (go Jade Quarry! <- if that’s still a thing :P) and the occasional PvP.

So, is this game worth trying out again or are there still those annoying gaps where you have to spend hours going around “exploring” (or as I like to call it, the most boring activity in an MMO I’ve ever played because of its bad execution)?

I think I stopped playing at level 58 or 63 – I don’t remember. Did I miss a lot?

Having only read the first two pages I find this idea quite intriguing.

Name: Annabella (Bells or Bella really)
Main Character: Aceliana – Human Elementalist
Current Server: Jade Quarry (NA)
Interested Activities: Socializing and having fun =)
Active: Sporadic; depends on my schedule
Additional Comments: I seem to usually play during the times the Europeans play. Maybe I’ll switch to a European server since I usually play with the Europeans anyways in the one or two other games I’ve played. Any suggestions?

Are you willing to participate in Operation: UNION’S project, Y/N?: Yes. The only other guild I’m a member of is my personal additional bank space project. Naturally, I’ll have those additional slots in about fifty years :P.

@Polaritie - Apparently I can’t quote you but I didn’t mean to sound as if I was having an issue with survivability or DPS. I quite like the Elementalist. However, compare the Elementalist to any other class and you’ll be able to sum it up with the following: “what the Elementalist can do any other class can do better and faster.” There is an exception to AoE.

This is why a trend is forming where Elementalist are being excluded from dungeon runs. Given the Elementalist’s maximum obtainable health and survivability, their DPS is pathetic. The Elementalist is the “spell caster” archaic type in this game which typically means high DPS and low survivability compared to other classes. Here however, it means low DPS and low survivability compared to other classes which renders them virtually useless. That’s the issue most people have with it. Of course, there are those that are content with 16 buttons to do the same damage as others do in 1, 2, or 3 buttons but if they want to be useless compared to everyone else that’s fine as that’s the way they want to play.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/professions/elementalist/ – The only time the Elementalist meets that description is in sieges during WvW. Particularly against doors.

I am completely shocked by those rating this event as a “10.” It makes me wonder if this was their first MMO holiday event or if they have their head under a rock.

4/10 - As far as holiday events go in MMOs, this event was atrocious. The most glaring issue about this event was that there was nothing to tell you what was available to do. If it wasn’t for being linked to Dulfy.net I wouldn’t have even found where the Scavenger Hunt began. That is not to say that the events, once found, weren’t fun. They were quite entertaining. However, hiding these limited time events and making the player find where they begin is silly at best. No one wants to be spoon-fed how to complete the events but we’d like to know where they start without having to enlist the help of third party sites.

Secondly, the little mini-games such as Lunatic Inquisition throw you in without really elaborating on what to do and what’s going on. In fact, since I was put into a game already in progress, I was unable to read the little pop-up that appears which tells you what to do before being killed by the opposing ghosts.

Third, the fact that that a dungeon was part of this event. Mad Kings’ Ascent to Madness dungeon sounded like fun aside from the fact that it seemed gated to level 80s. Maybe people were farming them on Jade Quarry but the fact that people were only looking for level 80s to join their groups is very telling. Limited time events shouldn’t be gated to max level but something more reasonable. I don’t have much time to play so I have yet to reach 80 yet. Even though I’m level 52, this wouldn’t have bother me as much if the level requirement was 60, 70, or even 75-78.

Fourth, the issues with the chest. I have no problem with buying from the gem store and like to do so from the few MMOs that I do play – even the subscription ones that have “cash shops.” However, my issue is that there was really nothing you could obtain as “memorabilia” from the event in-game. Yes, you could craft weapon and armor skins but the input value is way more than the output value. While this is an inherent design flaw with the game, the issue doesn’t make it easy for those of us below level 80.

Finally, I’ll end this with saying that once found, the little Halloween events were fun. In addition, it was nice to see Lion’s Arch in Halloween flavor and look forward to seeing the halls of Lion’s Arch decorated for Christmas. However, the sheer number of problems with this event outweigh the good. In a sense, I’ve seen this event described as “a drain for the economy’s wealth” and I agree. Comparing this event to my favorite Halloween event, Star Trek Online’s Night of the Comet from several years back I say this is disappointing.

4/10 – Too man issues that plagued this event make it atrocious at best.

Guardians & Warriors would probably be the most wanted.

Elementalist are the least wanted. If you check the Elementalist forums you’ll see stories of groups kicking them out because they are Elementalists. The issue, which some of the players in that forum won’t admit to, is the fact that Elementalist are all the glass without any of the cannon. For what little survivability they have, their DPS is pathetic.

On Jade Quarry I’ve noticed a lack of players in certain areas. It seems like the lower level areas are starting to become more and more deserted*. I don’t know about the higher level areas though as I’m only level 52 on my main character. Since Jade Quarry is one of the most populated servers I’m actually kind of surprised. I heard good things about some of the EU servers and Blackgate however so I’m interested in seeing how this thread turns out.

My assumption of the lower level areas being deserted is based on the fact that I’ve seen 1-2 people running by and never really see anyone talking in these areas.*

I recently decided to play Guild Wars 2 again to see what the Halloween event was all about. I like when the few games I play do these special seasonal things. However, I can’t for the life of me figure out what to do. The first thing I did was went to Lion’s Arch since this is where the “hub” of the event seems to be. I discovered the candy corn vendors (I <3 candy corn), carved a few pumpkins and found as well as participated in costume brawl. You know, the nice little things they added. But I’m guessing from the fact that there appears to be an ongoing story and one of the descriptions I read said something about a mini-dungeon that the things I’ve done isn’t actually all there is to do.

So either I’ve completely had a blonde moment, something I frequently do, or the other stuff really isn’t advertised in the game to well. Is there not somewhere that tells you what events and stuff are going on and where they are? I don’t think it’s too much to ask for some sort of list, maybe even with descriptions, of the festive events one can participate in.

For example, I hear that there was a scavenger hunt that started in Lion’s Arch. I never actually found the person to start that event. Maybe I missed her or him in that lag-fest that was created in Lion’s Arch by costume brawl.

Guild Wars 2 Description”

Elementalists are multi-faceted spellcasters that channel elemental forces, making fire, air, earth, and water do their bidding. What they lack in physical toughness, they make up in versatility and the ability to inflict massive damage in a single attack.

When the Elementalist actually fits the description of it as posted on the Guild Wars 2 website. Right now, we are all the glass without any of the cannon. We lack physical toughness and we lack the ability to inflict massive damage in a single attack unless it’s a wall or a door for a keep in WvWvW. Don’t get me started on versatility, especially when it’s becoming more and more obvious that the Elementalist versatility is a joke compared to other classes.

“Anything the Elementalist can do every other class can do better. Except die.”

I find it quite funny that the people against dungeon finders are those that believe it would “destroy” the “social” aspect of Guild Wars 2. The irony being is that there really is no true “social” aspect to the game. Sure, there are the group events and all that good stuff, but how much of that actually results in some sort of conversation getting started or actual parties being formed?

Guild Wars 2 is perhaps one of the most anti-social MMOs I’ve ever played. Maybe that stems from the fact that Guild Wars 1 was basically a single player game played online so that’s how the community is but to be honest: aside from a few people I’ve come across during a couple of dungeon runs everyone in this game is completely introverted.

Now I agree that there needs to be some sort of real LFG system for dungeons and the likes. Whether that be a finder or some server wide lobby doesn’t matter. It has become extremly difficult to find people doing story dungeons. I remember it took me four days to find a group running AC Story – I had actually done all three AC Explorer paths before I found a group for AC Story.

There is no real reason why this should be. I shouldn’t need to go through such effort to find a group in this day of age. I shouldn’t be required to join a guild if I don’t want to. I also shouldn’t have to read what is essentially “LFG spam” or have to write “LFG spam” myself.

Some sort of accessibility option is needed. Not all of us have the time to spend 24/7 online on the off chance that a group is actually running story mode.

Having to deal with my own set of severe vestibular issues, the fact that AreaNet doesn’t seem to want to budge on this situation is very troubling. Guild Wars 2 is perhaps the only PC game that I can think of that makes me truly sick when I play it (Skyrim did initially until I Googled about it and of course there are those fast paced FPS that always make me sick).

Aside from seeing what these “holiday” events are I don’t think I’m going to be touching Guild Wars 2 until AreaNet offers us a way to adjust the FoV. To put it simply: I have no interest in your art if it makes me sick.

Apparently, I am unable to find a quote reply. Perhaps that skill has been nerfed too? Hmm.

In any case, I’m more than happy to offer my satire on the “fixes” offered by Areanet for the Elementalist each week. If they don’t want to take the class seriously and instead choose to “fix” it, I’m more than happy to not take their patch notes seriously and instead choose to “fix” it myself.

I look forward to next week’s patch notes =)

Offering up one change is quite difficult but I can offer up the following changes:

• Maintain the HP of the Elementalist
• Defense can go either way. It should either be buffed or stay the same.
• Make the attunements more “specialized.” This means to encourage attunement swapping while not requiring doing so or pressing seventeen keys. It’s obviously clear that with the staff at least Fire is offensive, Air is a psudo-AoE, Water is healing, and Earth is control.
• Significantly buff the DPS the Elementalist does. Right now the Elementalist is not a threat whether that be in sPvP, WvW, or PvE on a one to one basis (note: AoE is fine; I’ve seen “zergs” back off to Meteor Shower and Healing Rain make a difference on a siege assault). I can blindly go up to the Elementalist as nearly any other class and not be afraid of the repercussions because unless the other class is built like the Titanic, it’s not going to be your iceberg.
• DPS should be as followed against a singular target: in melee range, the melee class has the advantage against the Elementalist; in medium/medium-long/“approach range” the Elementalist has the advantage; at long range/AoE range the long range classes should have the advantage while Elementalist has the AoE advantage.

The Elementalist is a spell caster class and was essentially overly nerfed after BWE #2 for being what the spell caster archetype typically is: devastatingly powerful while being incredibly weak. Now, we are devastatingly weak and if we get sneezed on we die. Our attacks are supposed to be devastatingly powerful – the balance is offered up by the devastatingly low defense that allows the spell caster to be picked off easily.

[b]In addition, I should not be required to get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and push seventeen keys perfectly in order all the time. This is not skill as some claim. This is a precursor to a medical condition. Every other class puts out the same damage you did in seventeen keys in three keys – oh, and it took you significantly longer to do so meaning they’ve already out damaged you some more.

Oh wait, are you still alive? That means you faced a horrible opponent and pressed seventeen keys perfectly. Guess what? That’s not skills. I say this after winning 15 of 16 games as an Elementalist before trying to the other classes in sPvP.