Guild Wars 2

I’ve still got about 10 characters that need to be max-leveled. This is what has been happening lately:

Step 1: I log in, and I look at the dailies.

Step 2: Then I remember how player-friendly and outright useful the old dailies were, then I usually log off straight away. Yes, that took a while – because I gave this crappy unwanted stupid useless new system a chance.

Step 2a: I MIGHT play, IF the dailies have magically aligned and two of them are on the same map – because I refuse to play any game that takes longer to load than it does to play. Perhaps YOU can load maps in under 5 mins. I am very happy for you if so, but that doesn’t benefit me, AT ALL.

And this, of course, only works on the low-end maps (Orr Forager? Wow, thanks so much, devs), because I want to level my characters.

OR I can play a max-level character and have access to the high-end maps as well – and my other characters can take even longer to level.

“Why don’t you swap between them, then?” – I hear you say.

Swapping between them? Are you joking? This crap takes too long to load as it IS without inviting even more loading into the mix.

Oh, and do the devs never have to do the ‘Events on specific map’ daily? Is that why it’s still crappy? Because that crap is annoying as all hell: “OH GOOD, THE EVENT TRAIN IS RUINING EVERYTHING FOR ME. YAY.”

Also, would it kill them to code something like an event diagram or chart or whatever into the UI, so that we KNOW what we’re supposed to be doing, instead of turning up just as the event train finishes an event, AGAIN?

I am not afraid to grind. But I do draw the line at other people who aren’t in my team being able to impact my play session to such a negative degree because of crappy game design.

“God, just stop whining and do some PvP and WvW dailies!” – I hear you say now. YOU take a non-lvl 80 into either of those and see how friendly people are. Or do you want me to do the dailies on my max-level toon, and only level up my low-level toons with the books/scrolls?

If I have to play ANOTHER toon to level up the one I want, THAT’S…

I have no words.

(Well, none that I’d use in front of my kids.)

Step 3: Wonder why the devs keep changing stuff for the worse, while I play something else.

Seriously, it is bad enough when your play session is ruled by the devs’ inconceivably unhelpful game design (see: Dailies, also ‘Endgame in general’) – it’s even worse when you’re too afraid to even MAKE A BUILD BECAUSE THE DEVS KEEP ****ING YOUR BUILD OVER.

3 times I’ve spent a lot of (game) money on builds (I USED TO like doing all my characters at once), and 3 times the devs have made that build redundant.

“Oh, you’re having fun with an aspect of the game – we’d better put a stop to that.” – the devs, in what feels like every major update.

THIS USED TO BE FUN.

In the early days of GW2, the Devs were pretty keen on saying that we could ‘play it our way’.

They don’t say that any more, do they?

And seriously, how hard would it be to just write some code to select the dailies that were leveled to the current character? Maybe my L10 Mesmer doesn’t WANT to have to traverse, like, 5 maps to do Orr Forager, or whatever?

I expect this dodgy kind of thinking from WB (way to ruin the Arkham series, jerks) or EA – not from Anet. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Step 4: Realise that GW2’s still better than any game I ever wrote – but so’s Day One: Garry’s Incident, by that definition.

Step 5: Walk away shaking head. But, today, I posted this instead.

I WANT to have fun with this game. WHY must I fight against the game design in order to do so?

Thanks for your input, Fermi. I really appreciate it.

Hi, long time player, rare poster.

I’ve played for over 2 years, but frankly I’ve picked up some very bad play habits and recently realized that Jon Snow knows more than I do. For instance, I found out last week that field combos are a thing. AND Fireheart Rise, which I didn’t even know existed. I actually lost 10 bucks in a bet about it being added at the same time as Dry Top and Silverwastes (just enough rope, as they say… :\ )

(I will pause here, while I wait for the laughter at how dense I am – it’s fine, it’s not like it’s a lie – see above: found out after 2 years about Combo fields. What next? Next I’ll find out that our toons can jump!?! But seriously, I do know they can jump.)

I’ve withheld asking too many questions about this game, but due to this recent event they’ve just reached critical mass inside my head. Here they all are!

Please use as little or as much detail as you want, I’m not afraid of reading. I’ve numbered them in case someone only knows the answer to one or two questions: I’d be (pleasantly) surprised if someone knew the answer to all of these questions:

1. A lot of the low-level resources are worth quite a bit (considering how easy they are to get hold of). If I take my L80 toon and farm them, what’s the etiquette there? Like, should I back off if lower level players are obviously trying to get somewhere (xp-wise) with their toon? For instance, if I see a low-level toon (judging by how long it takes them to defeat a mob foe) in the bandit caverns in Queensdale, should I take break? Like, what’s the general vibe in the community there?

Let me rephrase that: I DO back off. Do I need to, or am I just overthinking it?

2. I mainly play (so far) a Hammer Guardian. What use is the Elite skills ‘Renewed Focus’? When is there a benefit to ‘standing still and not taking damage’ as opposed to ‘moving away from the source of the damage’? I mean, after 2 seconds you’re back in the same situation anyway, right? I think this question shows how little understanding that I have of the basic combat mechanics.

3. I’ve started playing (lately) with a Necro and Thief (like, using my N and T toons, not teaming up with other players of those professions), and the Thief seems MUCH squishier, even though he technically has a higher armor class/rating. What gives?

4. In the Black Lion Shop: Is the Watchwork Mining Pick the only tool that has a chance to create drops (i.e. the watchwork sprockets or whatever they’re called)?

5. If I buy an armor from the Black Lion Shop, does using it unlock it for the wardrobe (like the zenith skins)? And does this count for the talking Golem backpack as well, if so? And do they take a transmutation charge upon subsequent applications (unlike the Zenith skins)? (sorry I can’t think of how to word that properly)

6. I want to start doing PvP and really getting into WvW. How can I practice PvP without actually doing PvP? I don’t think it’s fair on the folks that actually play that stuff seriously should have to put up with my eternal noobness. And before you say “WvW”, the same applies there: Why should other players be forced to deal with my inability to play the game at their level? I accept that I will get PMed heaps for my nubbishness – how do I know good advice from trolling?

7. I have NO idea of team dynamics. Should I rez someone or kill the enemies (thereby rezzing them AND removing the source of the damage)? What’s more polite? Does it depend on the situation, and if so, how so? As a Guardian, should I be healing others, or is that offensive (because we all have heals, and I should be DPSing)?

8. Okay this will take a while to ask, so here’s a shorter version of it to see if it’s worth the time for you to read: “Questions about the final mission”.

As you have probably noticed, I have no team experience. The final mission has sat in my Journal unattended for far too long, because I’m too worried that I’m just not good enough, and that I’ll waste peoples time.

Is there ANY workaround, or am I basically boned here (i.e. the people that I’m going to play it through with will basically be carrying me, and I can’t avoid that)?

And if I DO bite the bullet and put out an LFG, how do I say the following in the small space we’re provided:

“Hi, I’ve never done this before and I will probably suck at it. I’d rather not rush through, and I’d like to take the easiest path possible. I will always respawn myself, because the ONLY thing I can bring is determination. Also, please let me apologize in advance for my unintended suckage.”

9. I don’t intend to do Fractals for a while. With that in mind: how important is Ascended Gear? I have my main all decked out in Exotic, and it seems to be doing fine for me. I may have answered my own question there, but I’m always open to more info.

I’d like to sincerely thank anyone who took the time to read this, even if they can’t help.

Stay safe and have fun out there!

Huge Pro-Bell Fan here, and I don’t see how the OPs request was unreasonable. The ability to turn off the bells SFX on your own computer seems no different from being able to turn down the music or voices on your own computer.

Why all the rage? I don’t get it.

(These are all IRL)

- When all of your larger, more muscular friends are sick of you asking them to ‘become the bear’.
- When you say “What do your ears have to do with it?” as the answer to any question you’re asked.
- When you’re downtown and you just yell things like “LF1M FRACTALS 4,5,6 – PREF WARRIOR” in the main square/mall/whatever, at random.
- When you’re confused as to why your housecat doesn’t stay in the pantry/larder/food-place. You know, with all the other collectibles.
- When you’ve been punched in the face because your friends don’t understand ‘Asuran Humour’.
- When you see/hear an advertisement, and you immediately look for a way to ‘Report Gold Spammer’.
- When you wish that real life had Bots in it, so that truffles were cheaper to buy.
- When you stare very hard at a mixture of flour, water, and yeast – and expect a Loaf of Bread to magically appear, immediately.
- You have a pet plant, ‘just in case Sylvari are real. You never know.’
- When you try too hard to make jokes about GW2 in the forums, so you make a list, but they just start sounding stale towards to end.
- When you think that you can store food indefinitely without it going moldy or rotten. Or stale, like your joke list. By which I mean ‘mine’.
- I’ll stop now. Sorry.

Thank you very much for this guide, I found it very useful.

I would like to respond to the comment “I doubt anyone would rather spend 30 minutes reading tiresome jokes about their class instead of just playing it”.

I most certainly DID prefer reading this instead of ‘just playing it’ – sure, it took a while – but you’ve saved me HOURS of ingame experimenting.

And I enjoyed the jokes, which lightened the tone of the guide and (in my opinion) made it more accessible. I guess some folks don’t like humour.

Thanks for sharing you Guardian knowledge with us.

The main reason I’m playing less is because my guildies never seem to want to actually play. “Hi man!” soon becomes “Yeah, I’m crafting I’ll let you know if blah blah like never or whatever.”

There are two other things which have cooled my love for GW:

-The Lost Shores event (I played at it for hours, and I’ve still not even SEEN a Karka.)

- The only type of PvP I’m interested in is 1v1, and I will never understand how a game can be released in the modern age that doesn’t have it. But DOES have 5v5 and 8v8. What year IS this? I’m STILL waiting for the opportunity to 1v1 in GW1 – it’s not looking good for me…

I have faith in ANet, I know that they will fix as many bugs as they can, and I know that they care about us.

But not seeing any possible way to realistically 1v1 is very very disappointing. I really thought GW2 would be ‘The One’.

There is no way that I will stop or quit, but I couldn’t care less about the dailies anymore. And that makes me a little sad, to be honest. But I have already gotten my money’s worth from this game – I give ANet full props for that.

Is started playing about GW2 about a month ago, and I didn’t know the GW accounts would EVER come to a head so I had no reason to find out if they had. Nothing that I read anywhere told me about this.

So you could definitely say I didn’t research it: That’s totally true, but not the point at all.

So, you can say that I’ve had X amount of time all you want, and miss the point of my post completely if you like. I probably didn’t help, what with my rambling and all. Look, I’m doing it again.

To simplify my point: “It’s happening for sure in a week” is not as useful to me as “It’s happening for sure in 2 weeks.”

I don’t want all 15 reserved, just 2 more than I currently CAN.

Also, I couldn’t really justify spending the money on the slots until Time/Names thing became an issue.

If you’re going to roll your eyes at me, at least get the reason right.

Hi.

I’m Southclaw.

I’ve played Guild Wars for over 6 years. I have 15 characters. Getting to keep the names of some of them was the main reason I linked my GW-GW2 accounts. Seriously. Lame, I know. But the fact remains.

Now, I am told that I can lose the names. Even though I am the type of person who threw money at ANet because I believed in the no-subscription model. This is a shabby way to treat people who have supported blah blah blah etc. Look, we all know basically everything I’m going to say. Except maybe this:

I’m not upset that they’re doing it – it makes sense, and seems fairer to our newer GW2 Tyrian bretheren (because there’s no good locking a name up if it’s never going to be used again).

But I am VERY upset that we only get 1 week’s notice. I’m obviously going to need to buy more slots if I wish to keep the names, which I am happy to do for a reasonable price (which they are).

Except that I can’t buy more slots in time to be ironclad certain of keeping the names I want, because I get paid fortnightly and run a tight budget (and a tight ship, but that’s not relevant here). And I’m certain that I’m not alone in not being Mr Instant Moneybags Esq. I’ve never even SEEN a monocle in real life, let alone worn one. Or however that works.

So on one level, it’s like “Oh stop whining, your names might not be touched. Also, you might need a better job, you miserable pauper, you.”

But on another level, it’s also like: “Well, if you would have given me a little more warning, I could actually have some control over the situation. Also, 6 YEARS. COME ON. Is this because I didn’t ever play PvP? Is this, like, a punishment or something?”

Ahem. I might have some stuff to work through, but the point is:

“Can we please implement something whereby GW1 patrons/veterans are able to request a 1-week extension, possibly via Support?”

Because some of my character names are AWESOME*, and I don’t want to be forced to use inferior ones.

Cheers.

Dreaming hard,
Southclaw

*Mileage may vary