Guild Wars 2

Hi all,

I’ve only played solo PvE for the last three years. I’m just starting to do Fractals and maybe some PvP or WvW and am really struggling to survive – especially in HoT content.

The thing is, I’ve been told that I should change my builds/weapons/armors for my alts for each game mode, but am confused and reluctant about whether or not/how to do this.

I have several level 80 alts, all of whom are using high level armor/weapons/sigils/runes, which have cost a lot to make in both gold and in ‘grind-time’. All alts are spread over light/medium/heavy armor classes.

Is the only option to stick with the same set of armor/weapons for each game mode for each character, or do you ‘professionals’ buy or craft new weapons/armor, as well as add full sets of runes and sigils to that gear, and simply keep the new items in your inventory and swap according to the game mode you decide to play for each alt?

For example, my main is a Warrior who may or may not be using the right weapon/armor stats for PvP, but is fine in PvE. If I want to change stats/armor/weapons for my full Ascended gear and play some PvE, is there any option but to add new runes/sigils by replacing/destroying the old ones, or do I have to craft a whole new set of Ascended armor/weapons and add new runes/sigils to it and keep it in my inventory …Or use Upgrade Extractors every time I want to change stats/runes/sigils etc?!

Hopelessly confused, and probably needlessly complicating the whole issue, so any advice would be very much appreciated.

I’m not missing a hidden weapon/armor set option somewhere, am I? If not, surely that’s something that ANet needs to look at adding to the game.

Many thanks in advance.

Log in, log out. Unplug ethernet cable. Plug it back in. Restart PC. Log in, log out, shake it all about.

This has worked a couple of times in the past for some reason, but not tonight. Lag-o-rama here.

Had enough.

Back to WoW.

VeX.8750:

It’s lag’a’clock

i have noticed a few times when i lag, i log out and in again

after about the 4th or 5th time ‘usually’ i get a stable connection with about 50 ping.

i might suggest trying that, i lose the stable ping on area change but this might help, give it a try

Lag O’Clock indeed! I’ve been trying the login/out repeatedly recently, and it seems to sometimes make a *difference. God knows why. Probably just luck. Still SERIOUSLY annoying.

EDIT:
Well it ain’t making a difference tonight!

Chameleon Dude.1564:

Well, it’s just kicked in

Me too. Like clockwork. Unplayable.

It would be nice to have some recognition from ANet that there is a problem and that they’re looking into it.

Do they even look at this forum?

Why do they insist on checking lines and getting BT engineers involved? How much is that costing them?

I’m guessing everybody here has done a speed/ping test and all stats are good, and more than likely all other games work fine and download speeds are normal, so it’s nothing to do with our individual Broadband lines? Isn’t there just some setting they can tweak somewhere, or at least speak to each other (EE/ArenaNet) about this problem? If any of them are taking any notice, that is.

I know nothing about how this all works, but it seems to be a problem with EE and GW2 servers ‘speaking’ to each other at certain times of the day.

My game has lasted longer than usual today, but I’ve just now hit ‘The Wall’ and the game is unplayable. Yet again.

Guys and girls, we really all need to get together on this.

I’ve emailed, and so have many others, but I just got the standard “Call the helpline” drivel by way of reply, which apparently leads us nowhere judging by others’ comments in here.

Isn’t there some sort of online petition we can all sign and send to EE? Or EE and ArenaNet if it’s a problem of them not working together properly?

VeX.8750:

suprise suprise, peak time on the dot and BOOM lag, unplayable again.

Coincidence?

I really doubt it

Yep. Been on for a couple of hours today, then it hits 7pm and game is totally unplayable.

Just out of interest, is there anybody here who’s changed ISP and had no issues since? I’m more than happy to leave EE if it’ll fix the problem.

Is it EE, the GW2 server in Germany or a combination of the two not working together correctly for some reason? How does one tell? From the sound of other posts, EE are blaming GW2 and vice versa, so I don’t know how we’ll get it sorted.

It’s the same with all EE customers in here, and it’s only a problem with GW2.

Everybody’s lines/speeds seem to be fine, and all other online games working tickety-boo, so it’s either a problem with the GW2 servers in Germany or a problem with EE and their connection to them, or a matter of both not working together correctly, presumably.

Having said that, I haven’t a clue about anything technical like that, so probably completely wrong.

VPN has been mentioned, but how do you do that? Haven’t a clue what it means. Any help getting on via a VPN appreciated if not too technical! Maybe a link to a YouTube video? I’ve searched but couldn’t find anything to do with GW2 on there.

Please join us all at this thread. We’re all with EE and it’s a nightmare:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/support/Severe-lag-during-peak-times-with-EE/page/3#post5640546

I’ve been on most of the afternoon with everything working ok, and just as it hits 7pm… BOOM!!! Game is totally unplayable and up to the usual 3500+ ping with thirty seconds of lag when I try to do anything.

May of us are calling or emailing EE ‘support’ (ha ha). If enough of us get together, maybe they’ll bl**dy well do something about it.

“Thanks to everyone here for their efforts to try and get this resolved”

I second that. If they don’t even make the effort to do something, i’ll be moving ISP because we’re out of contract.

That makes perfect sense, Insomnai – thank you.

Now how does one go about using GW2 with a VPN? Do you just Google ‘VPN’, connect through one of their suggestions (how?), then start GW2, or is it far more complex than that?

I’ve emailed EE and linked to this thread too.

insomnai.2136:

Hi guys, i’ve been testing different connections today and have come across a bit of a discovery, especially for us EE users.

If you run the GW2 diagnostic on your normal connection without vpn etc check the ip list immediately prior to telia based ip’s. If it is 62.157.249.202 then this is the ip causing the issue.

I have compared logs from the GW2 diagnostic without and with VPN and all connections that successfully allow me to play the game do not cross 62.157.249.202.

I hope this helps. I will be contacting EE to see if the routing to the GW2 servers can be moved since they have to direct their traffic somewhere. I am hoping for a better path. Until then, VPN it is!

And now in English please – for all us oldies and technophobes! :-D

Thanks very much for the replies everybody.

It seems like a huge problem with EE – who I’m with.

Will follow those posts you mentioned now. Thanks again.

This makes depressing reading, but is somewhat of a relief to know I’m not alone.

EE Fibre (40+MB/s) Broadband here, Leicester (East Midlands) and getting 3000-4500 ‘ping’ or lag or whatever you call it in-game every evening. When I manage to get on the game is totally unplayable. Again – it’s ONLY GW2.

I’ll certainly email EE with my complaints using that email address, so if we all do that maybe they’ll do something about it.

I also like the idea of a Twitter account that somebody suggested so we can all pester EE with it. Not sure how that works as never used Twitter, but will certainly join in the barrage if somebody knows how to do it!

Feel free to private message me (if you can do that here?) with Twitter info.

P.S.
I think we should all email them and use the same or similar title in the subject line. I’m writing now and titling it “Serious connection problems with Guild Wars 2 game”. Surely they’ll take notice if everybody here takes a few seconds to email them with similar wording in the title.

Many thanks for the reply.

If I can work out what that means, and how to do it, is there anything I can do to any settings anywhere? Modem? PC? Or do I have to call my ISP – and will they be able to do anything about it?

Hi all,

I’m guessing 3500+ ping isn’t good. Since getting back on GW2 (when I can actually log-in without connection errors) I’ve been experiencing this with 30+ seconds of lag when starting combat, crafting, trying to enter an instance, swapping weapons or harvesting etc, etc.

I’m in the UK, but somehow managed to choose a French server as my Homeworld.

If I change Homeworld, will I see an improvement in my ping/lag? I don’t want to waste money changing if it will make no difference.

I’ve done ping tests and broadband tests galore, and they all say my connection/ping etc is very good. I’m on fibre and get 40MB/s+. This is only an issue with GW2. I never had this trouble when I was last on, and the game is now totally unplayable.

I’m playing a hunter/ranger with longbow and greatsword – not a thief.

Somebody in-game mentioned this French server thing once, but as far as I remember, when I got the game I just clicked everything it told me to and I think it just recommended that server, so I went along with it. I can’t see anything anywhere about UK servers – just general ‘EU’ servers. Presumably I was automatically assigned to one of these when setting the game up? If I did have an option, then it wasn’t clear. You have to pay stupid money to transfer servers, don’t you? I’d happily do that, because I don’t care what server I’m on, but not paying out loads of money just to transfer. Having said that, do you think it’d be advantageous to do so? Would I find more UK players to team up with?

Things I know how to do, and what I’ve done:

I’ve equipped speed sigils (is that what they’re called? The stone things?) on my weapons, and a few random others on armour etc. I’ve s**t loads in my bank, but not too sure what they do or which are the best to use – it’s all so complex! Loathed to destroy or sell them in case they’re useful to my four alts, so would like to keep them.

Traits: I’ve chosen things that appeal to my play style. Probably not got an optimum build, but happy with it at the mo and don’t really wnat to start all over again and learn new skills, as I’ve tried Warhorns and swords/daggers and they just don’t feel right. Probably not a good build for WvW, but who knows – will check the build topics for that.

I managed to grab a couple of POIs last night, but got killed time and time again when venturing further. I suppose it’s like you say – just run quickly and grab what I can when I can.

Not sure about these:

What’s a ‘BL’, please?
What’s this ‘Reset’ thing and how do I know when it’s going to happen and how it will affect things?
How do I know where enemy players are? Green dots are friendly, I know, but can you show enemies on map with an option?
I know you can get through blue shimmering doors, and red are obviously locked enemy doors, but what about green? Couldn’t get in those last night. If you have to break the doors down, how do you do that? I’m doing no damage with any weapon or skill that I use, but even if I could, I’d surely have to be with a group to get anywhere in the castle I’ve entered to grab the POI or Vista?

Many thanks again for all the time and help you’ve all offered – much appreciated.

Thanks very much guys (and girls?). I’m on 96% ‘normal’ map at the mo, so just need to get the last few maps in WvW.

I’m in the UK and on Arborstone (FR) server – whatever that means! I honestly haven’t a clue!

I don’t know what a “commander tag” is, or how to follow it, or change my traits (to what?), but I’m playing a level 80 Hunter. Advice on changes/upgrades more than welcome.

There must be somebody who needs to do the same as me here, surely? Please send me a message in-game (if you can? Do I need to provide any contact info for that?), and I’d like to join a guild who’d be happy for a clueless WvW ‘noob’ to tag along with them.

Thanks again for taking the time to help – very much appreciated.

Thanks very much for the replies. Forgive me, but what’s a Zerg and a Blob? I honestly haven’t a clue about any terminology or anything to do with playing with other people in servers or whatever, as I’ve only played PvE on my own since I got the game. I have so much to learn!

I think I’m just going to have to run through and get what I can when I can. I’m so close to 100% map now, but am not confident i’ll be able to get the final 5%, because so far it has been a nightmare.

I did join a guild, but just didn’t have a clue what was going on, so thought it best to leave and not make a fool of myself or the guild by having their name above my head!

Thanks again for taking the time to help. Much appreciated.

Hi all,

I’m on 95% map completion now, and have been told I have to enter WvW and do all those maps to get 100%. I’ve only ever happily played PvE for the past year or so, and I’ve absolutely no idea what I’m doing in WvW or PvP, which is probably why I keep getting killed within a few seconds of arrival.

I presumed that respawn ‘spawned’ you where you were killed, but it apparently spawns you back where you started, so it’s becoming a real pain to run to every POI or Vista that I need every time I die, because the Waypoints are so far apart – or contended or whatever it is. Is there another way to travel to more remote areas you need to get to instead of using Waypoints? No idea what all the icons are on the map.

I’ve done one Battlegrounds map (somehow!), but how on earth are you supposed to get the one that is occupied by ‘enemy’ players? Presumably I need to join a guild or group, because some of the skill challenges are impossible when you’re alone, and even the supposedly friendly maps are full of enemy players who inevitably kill me whenever I’m right near a POI or Vista that I need.

I was really loving my time in GW2, but having to kill other players and going to WvW, when I had no intention of ever doing either, is a real pain. If I can’t find a way to finish my map, I don’t see any point in continuing to play, unfortunately, because it’s just frustrating me now. I think ArenaNet should change the way you can get 100% map, because not everybody enjoys killing other players in PvP or WvW, and forcing this upon people who just want to get 100% map, whilst enjoying their adventures in PvE, is very unfair.

Has anybody else finished the main world map and only needs to do WvW maps to get 100%? I’d be more than happy to play along with you.

Having only ever played PvE on my own, I’ve no idea how any of the WvW, friends, guilds, chat or group things work, but feel free to email/message me in-game if you want to team up.

Many thanks.

Hi all,

I was wondering if there’s a quick way to ‘do’ an emote rather than typing “/(emote)” in the chat box every time?

Is it possible to create a keyboard shortcut for each emote, so you only have to press one key – e.g. one emote for each key on the number pad?

Many thanks.

Hi all,

Thank you all very much for your replies.

I’ve had some fantastic help and advice from a Guildmaster who, unfortunately, I’ve discovered I can’t play with because he’s on a different server to mine.

I think I’m on a European server, and apparently need to join a guild that’s also on the same in order to be able to play online with my fellow guildies.

I really am a total newbie, so please add/message/chat to me in-game (if that’s possible?) if you have a friendly, older member guild that’s willing and able to take me under their wing and show me the ropes of true MMO questing.

Hi all, and thanks for your replies.

“If your on TC or guest over give me a shout…”

Thanks for all the replies folks, but I’m afraid I have no idea what the above (or any similar suggestions) means. I’m totally new to guilds, server names, chat, searching for players and everything else to do with playing with other folk, so am going to need a ‘from-scratch’ mentor if anybody can be bothered to help. I really haven’t the foggiest! I’ve literally only ever played an RPG role on my own, but would love to play with other oldies.

I’ve tried to reply to two PMs I’ve had, but got a spam warning message when I clicked send saying that I need to wait two days to send a PM for some reason!

Hello all,

Slightly older GW2 addict here (42!), who’s looking to join a guild for fellow ‘oldies’ for PvE questing and for dungeon lessons.

As a new MMORPG player, I have been playing GW2 for just a couple of weeks (level 60-ish), and having been made aware of the guild/WvW/PvP aspects of GW2, I would like to join a guild made up of older, like-minded, friendly and patient players.

I recently had my in-game message to enter the Caudicus Manor level, and was more than a little confused about what to do. I eventually found my way in (somehow!), told the members of my group that I was new to anything other than PvE, that I really hadn’t a clue what was going on and needed guidance, and was promptly kicked out of the level after becoming downed and dying within two seconds of encountering the first ‘baddies’. Not a good first dungeon experience to say the least!

If any friendly/patient older individuals, or guilds for older players see this post, please get in touch.

I have plenty of spare time on my hands and am playing pretty much every day – for what might be considered by lesser mortals as far too many hours!