I have been trying to focus on “solutions” rather then the problems.
My question has been since the beginning “how can my guild access and have fun from the Guild Missions?”.
To be honest my question is still largely unanswered.
For reference, my guild averages 5 players in the evening and peaks at 10 in weekends.
Influence cost: we can – using gold – unlock one mission, maybe not today, but soon.
We are trying to decide which mission will be more “fun”.
Doability: we are checking if our current roster may be able to cope with any single mission (tier 1).
We are considering bolstering our number asking friends and teaming up with other guilds, potentially other guilds who have unlocked a different Guild Mission.
We still don’t know if it would be worth, and if it can be done without losing the fun of playing.
I believe that most of the disappointment in guild missions came from communication from ANet. A different way of saying things, even if everything would have been the same, would have created a very different reaction.
I think we may all (well, most of us at least) agree that Gw2 lacked what in other mmrpg is called “Raid content”.
Raid content requires:
- many people
- organizational skill and coordination
- good gear and gameplay skill
- dedicated players
We may like it or not, but Guild Missions basically introduced a Raid complexity element to the game. And, let’s be honest, not in a hardcore way like most other mmrpg.
Besides, most players that are in small guilds and prefers small guilds are used to not be able to play Raid content, unless by going with more organized and larger player groups. And even when a small guild tackles the Raid experience it is expected that it will take time before it actually works.
On the other hand, when I first heard about Guild Missions, I was all geared up. I was looking forward to content I could have shared with my friends in my small guild… something to do with our flag, our uniforms (sometimes we dress all in the same color, and yes, it’s pink ^^), because we are a guild and we play like that. But it would have been nice to play it alongside the game.
What I felt is that Guild Missions have been a way to introduce Raid content to the game. And not to give content to guilds (even for big guilds).
This created a dissonance, and fueled the huge critics that are flooding forums everywhere.
As for my guild, we will really treat Guild Missions like Raids.
If we discover we can do them, without betraying our way of playing and being together… we shall do them.
If not, we will ignore them.
If we cannot to those, I will encourage my players that want to access those missions and those reward, to find another guild to play with. I will never want my guild to be a burden to its player. (luckily people can have more than one guild).
I still miss Guild Content that could enhanche our playing as a team, with my small (yet open and international) group of friends.
I hope A-Net will think about us in future enanchements.
I also hope that in ANet team the equation:
Guilds = Big Hardcore Guilds will not stay.
Casual players buy gems too.
And they are dear to us… me and the most active of mine, will not ditch them. So baing barred from new content just because of our “love” for friendship and small friend-based communuty, creates a bad feeling. ^^
Peace and love and brigth blessing to all players in all servers and all around the world. ^^