Guild Wars 2

First, why did you pre-order? When the expansion probably won’t be released for at least several months and without waiting to see how the recent patch update would effect your characters? Any major balance update to GW2, may well result in you needing to change your gear, costing you MASSIVE amounts of playing time and gold, just to get back to where you were before the new patch.

Secondly, have you put in a ticket asking for a refund on your pre-order? If the game as changed so you are unlikely to play anymore and HoT is not going to be out for ages, you have a perfect right to your money back. Most countries have trading laws that give you that right, so Anet cannot really refuse.

Someone at Anet really hates shortbows. All they have done with them in the last 3 years is nerf them. Both Ranger and Thief.

I liked pistol on thief occasionally for a change of pace, even if it was weak before they nerfed it, making it now utterly pointless weapon.

Lack of choice = Bad.

Play the Anet way or the highway.

Disengage brains, you are not allowed to choose what you want. Anet know best.

You will comply citizen.

Resistance is futile.

Rated in terms of overall theme:-

1. Chronomancer
2. Reaper
3. Dragonhunter

Rated in terms of name:-

1. Chronomancer
2. Reaper
3. Dragonhunter

Rated in terms of overall final power levels:-

1. Dragonhunter
2. Chronomancer
3. Reaper

So well the theme/name is pants with Dragonhunters, they will still be overall more powerful. Necro’s weaknesses mean even a decent theme/skills can’t save them!

HoT is still in beta and what beta means (hopefully) is anything can change, especially in response to player feedback.

Dragon Hunter has not gone down at all well, so perhaps Anet should take that feedback on board and make some changes/tweaks before the specialization is set in stone.

Personally, the only thing that matters to me are the new skills/traits are awesome/useful/desirable. I am sick of underpowered/useless traits and skills.

It depends what the new skills are like, if they are awesome then I will forgive the rubbish name and the lack of any real theme but Chronomancer sounded really awesome, this sounds meh…

Chronomancer got me excited…

Dragonhunter had me groaning and laughing…

Of course we will after see how the skills work out and if there any good but Dragon Hunter sounds like Anet did not have any ideas what to give the Guardian and came up with some random s*it.

Also, as already been pointed out Ranger 2.0 but you have no pet so…yeah!

Yalora Istairiea.6287:

It has been 9 months now and I am just a shell of the Character Slot that I once was, cold, empty, without purpose.

So buck up little Alt and count your blessings, things could always be worse and remember, if you irritate the Puppet Master you too could end up just… like… me!

Cheer up Character Slot#6, although many months of emptiness may remain, you may eventually find new life again as a bold Revenant and then you will be the golden child.

Btw more good news you have a brother or perhaps its a sister, who knows as far as character slots are concerned, called in this case Character Slot#9. Empty since the infamous NPE appeared!

Great post OP.

I feel so sorry for my Elementalist & Mesmer who seem to have large layers of dust on them. Is it really there fault, that Anet made them so squishy in combat and the puppet master takes it as a personal affront if one of his puppets even gets downed, never mind actually dies…

Also the poor Ranger, originally back on day 1, the first ever puppet, travelling the length and breadth of Tyria. But the puppet master realised the Ranger had a ball & chain called the pet which held him back and caused him to under perform. The constant nerfs, buffs, nerfs, buffs and more nerfs, ment the Ranger has become a merchant, permanently haggling at the trading post.

I think some of specializations will be amazing and OP, initially.

A cynical person may say, they will do this on purpose to make you want to buy the expansion.

But enjoy them well you can because this is GW2 and your not allowed under any circumstances whatsoever to have powerful spells, at least in the long term. So 3 months after HoT is released every new decent trait/skill will be massively nerfed into utter boring uselessness.

I have 3 years of GW2 development as 100% proof this will happen.

Really, don’t worry about any of the new specializations being OP, because once Arena Net gets your $$$ then they will heavily nerf anything remotely good.

I think some of specializations will be amazing and OP, initially.

A cynical person may say, they will do this on purpose to make you want to buy the expansion.

But enjoy them well you can because this is GW2 and your not allowed under any circumstances whatsoever to have powerful spells, at least in the long term. So 3 months after HoT is released every new decent trait/skill will be massively nerfed into utter boring uselessness.

I have 3 years of GW2 development as 100% proof this will happen.

Enter the Chronomancer:-

•Chronomancers have access to an effect called Alacrity which reduces cooldowns. Only Chronomancers will have access to this effect (could this mean each Elite Specialisation will have access to a unique effect?)
•Chronomancer’s have access to a 5th Shatter skill: Continuum Split / Continuum Shift. Activating this the first time shatters all of your illusions and records your health, endurance, cooldowns (even elite skills) at the time of activation. After the duration – based off of the number of shattered illusions – is over, the Mesmer reverts to these values.
•The Off-hand Shield skills are called Echo of memory and Tides of Time. Tides of Time launches a wave, absorbing all projectiles, stunning foes and granting Quickness to allies. This wave then returns, applying the same effects. If you pass through the wall on the return trip, a portion of the cooldown is refunded.
•Chronomancers get 4 Time Wells. One well causes all attacks to become unblockable. After the Well ends, allies gain evade for a short time.

Arena Net can change anything they want, when they want.

Changed skill points didn’t they? Deleted glory from the game. Totally abandoned underwater combat, deleting the underwater PvP map. Deleted water from WvW.

Nothing is safe or off the table. If someone at Anet says change Tomes of Knowledge so we don’t have hordes of 80th lvl Revenants about 10 mins after HoT drops. Then that’s it, you will after lvl the hold fashioned way or via crafting. I really would not get your hopes up. They really don’t care about s*itstorms on the forum.

Hopefully, someone will ask them officially about it and we get a definitive answer.

There are going to be dozens more blogs between now and HoT is realised going into more details about the expansion. Would not surprise me one bit to see Tomes of Knowledge disabled on Revenants.

There is no way Arena Net is going to let you go from 1-80 instantly with Revenant using Tomes of Knowledge.

Arena Net have said nothing official on this AFAIK.

But expect incoming blog explaining why it is a bad idea to let you all instantly lvl to 80 with Revenant. Just like you won’t have any skill points to use with Revenant anymore, Tomes of Knowledge will be changed in some way to stop you levelling Revenant to 80.

I fully agree with the OP.

ArenaNet have for sometime now been moving GW2 were all players, no matter what class have a very, very narrow range to operate in. It’s like they have no faith in players to understand the simplist of systems or they can’t be bothered with balancing much so desire to make everything nearly the same. Or perhaps its to help promote Esports.

But, putting straitjackets on what players can do with there characters will cause them to lose players but perhaps they just don’t care or don’t want those type of players. Or perhaps players today just don’t want diversity, just a liner, straight simples path.

sorudo.9054:

i currently have about 8 characters grandfathered so i have all the traits on them, what they are doing is pretty much destroying them completely.you’re ignoring quite a huge part here, i (and many others) have characters that luckily don’t have the NPE trait crap but with this change they pretty much force everyone of them to grind all that crap just to get everything back they already had to start with.

sorudo has got it spot on here, I have 8 grandfathered characters too. 7 of those I levelled to 80 via WvW because I enjoy that far more then PvE.

So under this new system I will after regrind my traits on all my 7 characters who have little to no map completion. I am not buying HoT if that’s the case. I prefer to walk away and just have the good memories of playing GW2 when it was worth playing.

The devs seem completely obsessed by recycling old content and they are always changing systems even when there is nothing wrong with them. Why waste all this dev time, just give new content and new masteries/specializations to earn, leave the old stuff as is.

Its good we get to see the trait changes before we have to choose wether to buy HoT or not.

Before those trait changes / specialization information was announced I was 100% buying HoT, now I am not sure.

If those changes mean my 8×80th lvl have to all re-run old content to max out there traits once again, ie…repeat what I have done, then its time to get off the GW2 train. Especially, if it looks like the end result is going to be less choice, less diversity, less builds and forced to take traits you don’t even want.

7 out of 8 of those characters were levelled in WvW, so have little to no map completion.

I don’t want to continue to play GW2 or buy HoT if it means I will only have 1 complete character with everything unlocked.

I have no problem at all with playing NEW content to unlock NEW skills/abilities like masteries/specializations but I not swallowing any B*LLS*IT that forces me to repeat/recycle old content just to get back where I was before. Prefer to walk away, then that.

You know what, rather then wasting dev time dumbing down traits and making up new ways to grind our kitten off to regain traits we had before I wish that dev time had been used to give us the ability to save builds and 1 click between them.

That alone would increase build diversity.

Atm and ever since GW2 was released its quite a bit of hassle/time to switch builds, what with swapping out equipment, skills, traits, food etc…

A lot, of players after a while can’t be bothered and just stick with the same build all the time, cause its just too much hassle to keep changing.

Even PvP where its considerably easier than PvE or WvW, cause you don’t after spend gold, its still a chore.

Essence Snow.3194:

What are the “crafting mats”? I love how they always remain vague…….

Probably waiting to see just how angry we are at the changes, so they can gauge how much they after to bribe us with the rewards for those, ‘crafting materials’.

Atoss.1056:

Can we still use traits like they are now, or will it be replaced with these specializations? For example – if I want to put my traits like 4 4 2 2 2 – from what I read the specialization only allows to use 3 types of ‘trait line’ at the same time. Is this the same thing in HoT? Or will we be able to use both the old way and new way?

New way or the highway and it won’t matter wether you buy HoT or not the trait system is changing for everyone.

Isn’t this new trait system effectively the N(ew)P(layer)E(xperience) system being reskinned, rebranded and put into HoT so we all after swallow it?

The only real alternative is not buy HoT and walk away from GW2.

Skill point scrolls btw way and any other excess skill points will become crafting materials for the mystic toilet. It will likely be Arena Net RNG, wether you get anything good or not. But, because this new trait system is going to be HUGELY UNPOPULAR with a lot of players, they may offer us big bribes to accept it.

It should (in theory) stay the same I think, so at least that’s not a problem.

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Meglobob.8620:

Skill point scrolls and any other form of excess skill points will be changed into crafting materials for use in the mystic toilet.

Anyone saving them for use on the new Revenant character class, well ArenaNet just did a number on you.

Yah. I have about a thousand sitting in inventory. I was planning to use tomes to get to 80 then unlock all my skills using scroll.

They do say chars will get the a Hero point with each level up so that will be 79 points at level 80.

Would not surprise me if they made it so level up scrolls will not work on the Revenant, they have just done that with skill point scrolls, so why not level up scrolls?

ArenaNet hates, really, really hates players fast tracking anything or burning through content too fast and will do anything, change anything to stop that.

Grind or go that’s the Arena Net way.

Isn’t this new trait system effectively the N(ew)P(layer)E(xperience) system being reskinned, rebranded and put into HoT so we all after swallow it?

The only real alternative is not buy HoT and walk away from GW2.

Skill point scrolls and any other form of excess skill points will be changed into crafting materials for use in the mystic toilet.

Anyone saving them for use on the new Revenant character class, well ArenaNet just did a number on you.

I think skill points from levelling and any other source are being deleted from the game and any excess you have of those is being changed into crafting materials for the mystic toilet. Where presumably players will be encouraged into gambling it away until they have nothing in exchange for those skill points…

Skill points being replaced by heroic challenges.

This also means anyone wanting to fast track Revenants with there skill points in the stash, not going to happen. You will after grind those heroic challenges.

In other words MASSIVE CON and ArenaNet, ‘smoke and mirrors’.

They are definitely deleting traits from the game, I presume every character class is going to lose a whole bunch of traits. The say it here, quote:-

’ By locking traits to tiers and reducing the overall number of traits, we’ve made each choice much more compelling.’

Also, present lvl 80’s will lose some traits they have now and after unlock them again. Again this quote:-

‘A level 80 character that’s done none of the hero challenges should be able to unlock more than enough skills, specializations, and traits to make several unique full builds.’

So well you may be able to run some builds, those builds could be awful ones or ones you personally don’t like/hate.

Got to say I agree with the OP.

I just read Specializations, Part One and Part Two. It sounds pretty horrific.

Firstly, I will admit it give me a huge headache and I am not sure I understand it all.

But, I get the impression they are dumbing down the trait system even more, making stats even more ridged and lessening our ability to vary them, introducing lots of new forms of grinding (reward tracks). Also, ultimately the rewards, skills, we get are no better then we have now and in some cases worse, dumbed down.

Also, this was the bit I am not sure on, are some of our present level 80 traits being stripped away from us? I get the impression Anet wants us to re earn traits we already got.

Really, sounds terrible…

lorddavito.2395:

So, this may sound as a Q_Q forum, and maybe it is, but really the RNG is a serious problem and ruining the game for me right now really

This is one of the main reasons why I currently don’t play GW2 and also (sadly) one of the reasons why I will probably never buy another game produced by Arena Net. Basically my viewpoint after 2,000 hrs play over 3 years is you have almost 0% chance of getting a great drop. So what’s the point playing really?

I like about 70-80% of the content in GW2, so its a bit sad but I am completely disillusioned with Arena Net, rewards and RNG. So much so, I will avoid Arena Net and probably NCSoft games in future, since there’s no point investing the time.

Its hard to be jealous of healing, when in the type of harder content Anet puts in, its either make your dodge (or pop a invulnerable skill) or downed, occasionally its even straight to instant dead, miss out the down state altogether.

So healings, pretty much pointless…

This is probably what I am most excited about in the expansion and its good to see most comments have been very positive about it so far.

Revenant is boring to play…

Not surprised…they after keep it balanced because of there precious PvP.

All those new healing skills that they did were pretty much utter rubbish/useless/boring. Same with the new traits they have introduced over the past few years and that pass they did over the Sigils/Runes was a TOTAL JOKE and a utter waste of time for all the impact it had.

Let’s face facts Anet have lost the plot and can’t do any exciting skills/abilities. Certainly nothing that is ever going to be any kind of, ‘awesome’.

The utter stupity of Anet devs NEVER FAILS to surprise me…

STOP! STOP! Removing content already in the game…no other devs do it and for very, very good reasons.

I have read all the Discworld novels and they are the funniest fantasy books I have ever read in my life. So, so sad that he will never write anymore…

I hope DEATH met him personally and did speak in CAPITAL LETTERS, it would have put a smile on his face.

In recent years some of the very best, creative human beings on planet Earth have passed to the other side…we are all diminished as a result, so, so sad…

I liked Capricorn too, should have kept it in hotjoin/Solo at least.

But that’s how Anet roll, since launch 3 years ago, they have removed probably as much content, as they have added and with lots of nerfing on top.

Test.8734:

Ashtaeroth.3940:

but when I lose some 10k-15k health in 1-3 shots and the log shows 15 damage, I can only assume it was the illusions, it really and seriously baffles me how this can be possible. I mean ranger pets show the damage they do, guardian spirit weapons do

Yeah, you really didn’t understand what happened to you.

Mesmers have two kinds of illusions: clones and phantasms. Clones look like the player character, use the same skills, and do next to no damage. What you are reading at the combat log is the description of the damage done by the clones, specificially the clones using the greatsword auto-attack, Spatial Surge. They do, indeed, the very low damage you are reading (7, 16, 4, 10, etc).

In other words, the combat log is fine.

So where’s the 10,000-15,000 damage coming from that they are taking? Doesn’t show up in combat log, when it should surely?

How will GW2 Welcome Returning/New Players?

Have you seen our lovely gem shop? Lots of great stuff to buy, you insert your credit card/debit card details here.

Warriors got over nerfed last year and yes they suck quite a lot now.

Class to avoid.

What do when someone Scam ur gold?

Live with it…

Also, post on the forums so we can all laugh at you.

I reckon HoT will be released end of August to early October.

Now you know the approx. date, happy now?

That’s when they expect GW2 to jump massively in earnings anyway.

+1

With the separate characters PvP daily, all 8 of my characters end up in the mists.

I then after waste time running all 8 to where I want them in Tyria until of course yet again they all end up in the mists. Rinse, repeat…

The old system was better where you could play sPvP but your character would still be where you placed them in the world of Tyria when you next log in..

Your problem is your concentrating on your personal score, rather than your team winning the game.

Often its better to bunker a point keeping it for the majority of the game than running around killing other players. Boring I know but that’s conquest…

They have not done as you suggest in nearly 3 years…

So I doubt they are going to bother in the next 6 months do you?

They are probably better off working on HoT and ignoring 50-60% utterly useless traits, utility skills, elite skills, healing skills, Sigils, Runes and useless equipment stat combo’s that are in the game already.

Honestly, even after the expansion, I wouldn’t hold your breath…

Any must have items to buy with gems?

No.

No must have items at all.

Anet have done a good job with the gem shop, stocking lots of tempting items but nothing you absolutely have to have.

I have been tempted into buying quite a few gem shop items but they are all fun items or make the game more user friendly, like extra storage, character slots etc…

I am not a noob but every update is total confusion…Anet explains nothing…you after read the wiki, ask in map chat (which is usually useless, as no one on the map knows what’s going on either) and finally visit Dulfy.

I after admit even after 3 years playing combo’s are a bit of a mystery…

1. A WvW water world map.

Anet have officially abandoned underwater combat, so zero chance of that now. Yes something that’s actually 100% off the table!

2. A reward system that actually drops stuff that makes me yell, ‘yeah’, ‘awesome’ and ‘OMG’.

Anet have revamped the rewards 2-3 times in 3 years but all loot in GW2 is utter garbage that destroys your mouse and hurts your clicking finger with 1,000’s of clicks and at the end you have nothing, plus 2-3 gold! WTF! Anything that you actually want is protected behind a RNG wall of 1 in 1,000,000 chance of dropping! WTFx2!

3. Less balance more awesome skills please.

Never going to happen because of sPvP and balance. True fact : Anet was going to bring out a new sigil, the sPvP crowd got it pulled before Anet even put it into the game! WTF!

4. A one click changing of builds.

I honestly have no idea why this is not in the game. Its a quality of life change that’s been asked for countless times. No problem for GW1, a older game!

5. Pet/companion AI that actually works.

After 3 years, I have come to the conclusion this is totally beyond the capabilities of Anet’s devs. Apparently this is another thing that worked well in GW1…

I think Anet will eventually see sense and put it in its own queue before the expansion comes out. Just takes them sometime for common sense to kick in….

I voted yes along with 91% of all the other people.

I think Anet will eventually see sense and put it in its own queue before the expansion comes out. Just takes them sometime for common sense to kick in….

It may be a good idea, so long as the players chosen are reasonable, balanced and don’t try to push there own agenda. Also, they are allowed to give negative feedback without upsetting any Anet staff members, very, very sensitive bunch Anet staff.

Been playing games 30 years+ and its amazing sometimes the disconnect between how devs think there game should be played and how players actually play it.