Guild Wars 2

New players cannot PvP until a higher level.

New players cannot fiddle with traits until a higher level (than the previous level 11, which was high anyways).

Weapon swapping is now not until level 15 (previously level 7, less than half of what it is now).

Underwater combat is now level 8.

Maps have been changed. Chess in Metrica Provence? Gone.
Inquest underwater lab with sharks and occasional giant crab DE? Also gone.
Change into Sylvari Dog at Dynamic Event? Gone too.

In fact, lots of content and DE’s in a lot of zones have been changed from what they originally were.

Not only can new players not experience this once enjoyed content, but past players cannot replay it on alts. Want to play Golem Chess while waiting at a group gathered dance part in the area? Cannot do so. Why? What harm was this content to players to experience?

Now I know this was part of the Sept 2014 F.P., making the changes well over 6 months old. Only through recent leveling up of new characters have the ramifications of these changes come to the forefront so well. Every new sell of the game -which is a lot lately, seeing as how every couple weeks it seems to be on sale- means that a new player is going to come into this game with major content pieces hacked about and split every which way, completely different than what Vets are used to.

Oh, and the zinger here? The NPE caused a gap between what kind of advice and help a vet is able to provide to a new player as their experience is Night-and-Day different. It is almost like each of these groups have played two different games. “You can do this to complete a heart…”,“….Oh, they removed it? Well, guess you can’t.”, “Just enter the Mists out of the tutorial zone….”, “….oh, not until level 22 huh? Dang, we could do it at level 2.” It is so confusing.

The trait system is the worst part of it the way that they’re now so expensive and a complete money pit compared to what they were in the beginning of the game. Originally it was ‘Unlock the book for each Tier at 30, 40, and 60 with some gold you save while leveling there’. Congrats!, you now have all your trails to deal with the game’s builds the way you want. Now it is “sink a lot of gold and 100’s of skill points into these and/or travel to random world places to do certain tasks to unlock them”. Who benefits from that kind of system change? Vets and new players lose equally…all players do. It is just a system of punishment to all players which just seems beyond comprehension (almost like a meeting was made where someone stated “How can we make this game a bit more grindy to force players to invest more of their time into this game just for character improvement?”, where some intern said “How about forcing tons of grindy skill points and gold for Trait unlocks, move their level requirement to level 80?”)

TLDR Bottom line?

NPE felt like a change of what Guild Wars 2 was into being more like other games in the genre, something that GW2 wasn’t. Skills are a pain to obtain, instead of being a more readily available thing. Content that was deemed “challenging” to new players was removed from the starting zones entirely so as to not be some sort of hurtle. A system of handholding is now in place that coddles the new players beyond just simply explaining things. NPE for GW2 = similar for NGE for SWG.

My biggest problems with the NPE are changing the story to full ten level blocks.
Getting a new story every 2-3 levels really used to break up the hearts and events monotony when you were doing the same level content on your tenth character.

It also REALLY hurts groups leveling characters together. When we’re done with a full block of stories, nobody wants to do hearts for the like 7-8 remaining levels.
It’s usually “Let’s just do an Ascalon Catacombs and quit.” See you next week.

Also the early stories really used to get people invested in the story. Hey, I’ll just create an Asura to show you the wacky ideas they come up at a science fair. Actually, now I don’t. People get thrown into the world and have to run around for hours aimlessly before the story even starts.
This is not what I understand as ‘newbie friendly’.

Also, I cannot understand why some of the colorful starter hearts were destroyed. Feeding cows, dousing fires, golem chess, those always served as an example when I got new people into the game: You don’t have to kill X centaurs to finish a quest. Except you now have to more than at release. This makes me really, really sad.

And finally, of course, traits. Exploring traits in classes and experimenting with builds always used to be a highlight when leveling. Level 60 gave you Grandmaster traits which really opened up the pinnacle of classes. Not anymore.
With traits moved to 30, 60, 80, I got bored of my engineer before I ever got to test out what that profession might be capable of. Nowadays he sadly sits on a Jumping Puzzle chest, forgotten and shelved.

You could have updated your OS (which is often free), instead of purchasing a new computer, but a new computer is always great!

Maining a Ranger, pet names that stick when changing pets would be nice, but they do stick when swapping, and between land and water pets. Having 45 pets names would be a nice QoL change, but I don’t find it game-breaking, as I tend to keep the same 4 pets most of the time.

Welcome return.

I don’t think it’s a closed topic. When the game launched, they used programming/data-storage shortcuts to get it out the door on time. It takes a lot more storage to allow the possibility of 45 ranger pet names for each of up to 64 characters on each current and future GW2 account. (Obviously, that exaggerates the likely scope.)

I’d like to recommend that you simplify the start of your post to include your request, and leave the rest as background to show why you think it’s important to the game.

Gaile Gray.6029:

So sorry. The Complete Pack had an issue that required us to disable it from the store. Please check back later and it will be made available again. It will be offered again as soon as possible.

I updated the Update Notes to strikethrough the note about the Living World Season 2 Complete Pack, and added a note about the issue.

Again, apologies for the inconvenience.

Can we get a FREE – Celebration Booster at TP after you fix this bug and fix the EU PvP Queue and #Stronghold Problems ?

There is always a chance stuff will “break” when its going to get on the live servers, no matter how much testing you will do. But anet seems to be a master in it but hey its Trade Post, so it will be fixed in no time. Unlike the ranger pet thats been screwed up for over a month.

It’s bugged for me too, just saying he doesnt have to be rude.

Calm down pal. It’s not that easy to run MMORPG this size without any mistakes. Just report bug and wait until they repair it. You don’t have to be rude and agresive.

They really really really need to change the trait system, and more specific the way you acquire them.
Why did they even change it from the original? Now the new players are basically forced to buy gold to get the new traits, because only a mad man would think that they would go on an “exciting journey” to hunt them all around the world.
So was this a gold sink, another way Anet to make few bucks out of the poor new players? Or did they try to make gw1-alike system? Either way they failed.
I recently decided to start leveling a warrior, and to unlock the speed buff trait at around level 30 I am forced to go to 50+ level area for this trait, really? Absolutely ridiculous.

Funset.7893:

They really really really need to change the trait system, and more specific the way you acquire them.
Why did they even change it from the original? Now the new players are basically forced to buy gold to get the new traits, because only a mad man would think that they would go on an “exciting journey” to hunt them all around the world.
So was this a gold sink, another way Anet to make few bucks out of the poor new players? Or did they try to make gw1-alike system? Either way they failed.
I recently decided to start leveling a warrior, and to unlock the speed buff trait at around level 30 I am forced to go to 50+ level area for this trait, really? Absolutely ridiculous.

Traits have had two threads of feedback (more than 100 pages, total) over the past year. They’re not part of the September New Player Experience; they’re from April 15, 2014.

We’ve been given platitudes and excuses over the course of the last 12 months. In August, we were informed that they were looking at short-term fixes that could be applied as a stopgap measure while they figured out how to give the system a complete overhaul. Then, in late January, we were informed that there would be a major overhaul to the trait system, and they were excited they could finally share the news with us. The original thread was locked, a new one was created (ostensibly to discuss this “new information”) and we’ve heard absolutely nothing about it since then.

Not only are the trait quests tied to level-inappropriate tasks, they’re also tied to buggy content, tedious and time-consuming content. Now, I don’t know much about how to computer, but it seems like a reasonable stopgap measure would’ve been to lower the prices to be more in line with what they were a year ago today. Or, you know, anything other than a wall of silence. Given how they choose to communicate, I’d say you can expect to hear more about traits anytime between late May and mid-July.

The thread “Communicating With You” was locked recently, and it left a lot of things unresolved. I’d summarize it, but I really don’t have the energy for doing that sort of thing anymore. Loads of questions were noted as being important and an answer was said to be forthcoming, but a month later and we’re still missing things like the promised top 10 list of things implemented from the CDI threads.

I know Chris Whiteside has had some family emergency of some sort and my thoughts go out to him, but is he really the only one at ANET who is motivated to communicate with people? Is there really nobody else who could pick up the slack while he deals with his hardship? I don’t expect the same level of commitment, but at least answer SOME of the questions? Maybe try to group up with the five people slated to run through the NPE with Mr. Whiteside? Perhaps an update on how that discussion of the trait system is going?

Communication doesn’t need to be feast or famine. Feast is a good way to burn out employees and famine is a good way to alienate players. Figure out some kind of happy medium. Please. Thanks for reading.

The traits thread, SAB threads, megaserver threads and hobosacks thread (off the top of my head) are in need of attention.

That said, Gaile is trying to keep us informed as well as Chris.

Note: Gaile is a superstar. I absolutely did not mean to downplay her efforts.

Ardid.7203:

We should be able to replay PS, just with the choices fixed to the ones we took the first time.

Downlevel us according to the chapter, just like happen with the different maps, and add some achievements to the mix to make it more interesting.

If you want to replay a chapter with an old character, you can. If you want to try another path, you must create a new character.

No conflicts, no retconing, better replayability, no bugs, no complications. Everyone happy.

I can argue this. Some story chapters would involve having your characters choose options on how to approach the next situation. And having the other choices that weren’t the ones you picked initially be present be unchoosable when replayed would just make it even more awkward from a design standpoint.

EdgarMTanaka.7291:

Try to play the game as the Veteran you are and let the new players play the game as new players and let them complain about the NPE.

Except we can’t…that’s the whole problem. Anet’s philosophy seems to have changed from “play the game however and whenever you want” to “play like a brand new player or GTFO!”

shadow.6174:

P.S.: @ Sages: I don’t think you should worry that much. I don’t see how your post is bad enough to deserve an infraction, I don’t think you made so direct attack, I see it as a good criticism actually. I have seen similar posts around here and they stayed fine (still published), but who I am to say anything, it’s up to mods anyway.

Meh… I’ve gotten warned for being off topic and yet Vayne’s semantic derails and “Forum users are all numbskulls who are just trying to make trouble!” posts are a-ok… so I wouldn’t put much faith in them.

EdgarMTanaka.7291:

Trait system is no part of the NPE and will also get a makeover before release of HoT … Well atleast that was what they have said.

But they haven’t said that. They have said it will be changed, period. No time frame and no more info than that.

I know traits are separate from the NPE, but that statement is wrong and is a big reason why the trait thread keep growing, even after they opened a new one to talk about … whatever it is they expect us to talk about. Or more likely it was opened so they could get that behemoth of a thread off the first page.

If you wished to challenge the MMO genera why did you change the entire kittening unlock system to a generic MMO feeling? Arenanet come on, ive tried to be patient and hint to this. but i believe perhaps a more direct comment is best, the way skills are unlocked and the slots they use coming with levels are not new, they are the same as WoW, Rift, Everquest, And just about every other kittening MMO out there.. what you did with the trait system was also bullkitten. When it comes to leveling, there are a couple of viable options now that arent entirely grinding on the nerves like hearts are.. you can level through EotM which turned into a kittening bag hunt or you can use Crafting.. which tbh, that defeats the purpose of the games original design. you are discouraging players from going into queensdale by taking out 90% of the good events there, are doing the same to just about all the starter zones, tomes of knowledge arent frequent enough to make a real difference, and PvP isnt for everyone.

everything was fine till china release then it at went down hill with that! dance fort he cows now , instead of feeding them hay ! Need to say anymore? everyone from kindregarden on up knows cows eat hay!!

kindofabuzz.9357:

As a new player I can speak for other new players. We have no idea what you’re talking about.

Been here since launch, i know what the original game was like before the “New Player Experience.” quality of life was much better for new players interms of leveling and overall fun, though it may not seem it now. it was much different, they could have added all the stuff they did without dumbing everything down.

JediYoda.1275:

kindofabuzz.9357:

As a new player I can speak for other new players. We have no idea what you’re talking about.

he’s talking about the leveling ,skills, and trait unlock system we have now, it was different before same for feeding cows now to dance for them in Queensdale, Heart quest.

In some ways.. yes, but in others its much more than just the cows lol

Turamarth.3248:

Azure Fang.8605:

Placing certain content behind level walls, like the wardrobe, daily achievements, and downed state, is terrible.

According to the wiki the wardrobe doesn’t need to be unlocked. You just get information about it with level 6 and 31.

Actually Wardrobe, finishers and many other stuff is locked for new accounts.
The first character at lvl 1 can use only equipement and dye tab.

Personally, I hate new level gating and NPE as a whole. Why? Because it is out of place. They wanted to build tutorial in leveling while they should use the first instance as a tutorial zone, with 2 ways – follow the tutorial or skip the tutorial – just like GW1 did. Now every player has to survive tutorial mode, no matter if he wants it or not and again, I don’t feel like tutorial should be matched with leveling. This is so out of place.

Placing certain content behind level walls, like the wardrobe, daily achievements, and downed state, is terrible.

Placing certain content behind avoidable level walls, like PvP and WvW, and lumping personal story into “divisible by 10” level groups, is silly.

The trait unlock system will soon change and be a moot point.

The rest is fine: weapon skill insta-unlock and announce on equip, level popup explaining changes that level plus hints, level appropriate minor rewards or bonus items (tasty, tasty Unidentified Dye), account level based gold transfer restriction… I feel like I’m missing some of the changes.

trait revamp was really the only thing that severely damaged the new player experience compared to the game on release.

before, you started to have decent builds/ a feel for the class between lvl 45-60 depending on the class………..now, you kinda have to get to 80.

Aleksander Suburb.4287:

They will change the current trait system (they told it some weeks ago). The other level mechanics are in my opinion much better than before. You really get something special each level. In the system before you get one useless traitpoint (need five for a real change), one skill point (for better skills you will need a lot more) and some attribute changes where you can’t see a difference to the level before.

I see that you’re complaining, but can’t see what about nor that you make a suggestion what to change.

no offense, but the stuff you get for leveling is insignifigant, you can buy those gears or find better while leveling, a trait point however actually gives you something that you can pick that alters your charachter.
ill admit its packaged to make you happy, but that doesnt mean its actually better. They substantially weakened your charachters growth, and back loaded it to be more 80+ heavy. This is why, along with these changes they had to weaken enemies all throughout the game.

Now, im not saying they should stop giving the grab bag when you level, but all of the stuff that is not free loot, that came with the change, sucked.

Lets hope this post doesnt get barried in the sea of posts.

JediYoda.1275:

Sages.3496:

JediYoda.1275:

kindofabuzz.9357:

As a new player I can speak for other new players. We have no idea what you’re talking about.

he’s talking about the leveling ,skills, and trait unlock system we have now, it was different before same for feeding cows now to dance for them in Queensdale, Heart quest.

In some ways.. yes, but in others its much more than just the cows lol

yeah i know, just that one just irks me haha

I would hope the Devs and forums moderators would take into account, this isnt the first time i have atempted to speak up against what they are doing and after having spent 9860+ hours in this game, earning 13500+ AP (i dont go after AP i just earn it), and spending over $1000 on it that they would listen.

It’s not a bug but an option to ignore pets, minions, walls, etc would be nice.

We should be able to replay PS, just with the choices fixed to the ones we took the first time.

Downlevel us according to the chapter, just like happen with the different maps, and add some achievements to the mix to make it more interesting.

If you want to replay a chapter with an old character, you can. If you want to try another path, you must create a new character.

No conflicts, no retconing, better replayability, no bugs, no complications. Everyone happy.