Guild Wars 2

OP:

I play this game for similar reasons. I could have the fun of group combat without having to deal with people directly. The organic grouping that occurs in the open world is really magical sometimes. Without the need for a group, there was a cooperative experience. It was great. Also, the visual experience is uniformly fantastic.

I never did the “cool” stuff. Two dungeons with a group, ever. No fractals except for what I can solo. No champ train or boss train for hours. Never had much gold (until I found out about PS keys (lol)) so I habitually used cash to buy gems. Bought them a few times for skins, mining tools and upgrades but I haven’t spent that much. Have my own guild for a “don’t need an invite” tag and some upgrades. So, pretty dull and isolated… and I’ve been here three years (with long breaks here and there) quietly having a great time.

Over the last couple years, it has become increasingly clear the original game that I liked so much was, from ANet’s perspective, an embarrassing failure. The expansion solidified this impression. I was really enjoying their former “missed mark” and have found almost everything they’ve done to “fix” it unpleasant. LS boss mechanics and overall difficulty are often flat out obnoxious. Attaching event/dungeon completion to trait acquisition was ridiculous, if not in concept, in sheer volume. Incessant introduction of arcade game nostalgia to which I can’t relate. Outfits instead of sets. And now the game has an elite/raid culture developing.

It seems like there was a genuine misunderstanding on my part regarding what ANet was intending to create. As they approach what must be that which was the intended experience, I find myself alienated by it.

That said, I’m not demanding anything and I don’t expect anyone to accept that my complaints are legitimate or universal. I just feel a little weird after spending $100 for an expansion full of content for someone else. The game is what it is and it can never be what it was for me again – I accept that.

Sorry for the rambling but this seemed like the right place to make these comments. I hope you find favorable resolution to your guild dilemma or perhaps you (and I) will come across another game that feels the same way GW2 did two to three years ago.