Since commentary on what is problematic about this world event has been solicited, I’ll add my voice to say:
1. A central reason why I play GW2 is because of the game mechanics rewarding cooperation. Yet map chat prior to Mordrem Invasion instances is full of people talking about how there is no way to get enough blooms before the event ends to get the top skin rewards unless you selfishly tag-and-run. So not only does the event reward selfish behavior, but morale for those who are actually trying to make a specific encounter successful has deteriorated over the course of the weekend as we are laughed at in map chat by jerks whose behavior is being rewarded.
2. As everyone has said, the rewards are insufficient. I played a full 3-hour cycle complete with daily bonus chests, got enough blooms for a mini egg, and received a common mini I already had worth around 70 silver. I’d make more gold just gathering. I think that getting loot drops from enemies killed just like those we’d get if we were doing standard PvE would go a long way to encouraging people to see that at least their time wasn’t wasted if they get cheap dyes or minis our of their bloom rewards.
3. Seriously, no XP or karma for kills? I tried this event first on a lower-level character, because I wanted to level. I leveled a character in the prior Scarlett’s invasion events, and that was a major incentive to participate. Getting no XP actively discourages lower-level characters from playing.
4. Also, while for experienced players these events, while challenging to win, were not challenging to figure out, the same is not true for new players. I approve of holding events in lower-level areas so that newer players can participate. But I encountered some bewildered (and quickly killed) newbies. It seems to me it would have been simple and easy to put a NPC next to the bloom vendor in each area to explain to inexperienced players the aim of each type of sub-event and a few simple tips (they’re safer with a ranged weapon; look on the world map for the red Xs; basic stuff that would actually allow new players to participate, but that other players don’t want to explain mid-event).
5. As many have noted, the scheduling of these events combined with the maximum of one bonus chest per map per day per account was really frustrating. You really needed to set aside three specific hours a day to get enough blooms for major rewards, and lots of people can’t do that. If I go, “Oh, a special weekend world event, I will arrange my weekend so I have all Sunday afternoon and evening to play!” I get just one shot at the bonus chests even though I have actually arranged to spend a big chunk of time in-game.
Finally, I want to say that is seems the foundational idea behind the low rewards was that the Scarlett’s Invasion events were too rewarding. I don’t understand this. There was such great participation and satisfaction from players that I know in the Invasion events, because people like rewards. It’s basic game psychology. I know I participated a great deal, because I was able to gear up my characters from drops, and earn substantial gold. I don’t generally farm because I don’t like grinding, but in the context of a special world event, it’s fun.
I hope the next world event is improved by all the feedback people are offering.