Guild Wars 2

Well, we’re down to the wire on that subject. And honestly, it’s a bloody dice-roll. For
any server, let alone T8 ones. Let’s be honest, most gamers are never satisfied, RE:
Dev software patches/upgrading.

The funniest part, is that -respectively- the number of players is probably ranked as follows: (in order of largest % to smallest)
PvE
Wv3
PvP

But it seems that the PvP set gets a lot of leeway, as far as “convincing” the Devs to
go along with their ideas. Meanwhile, as others in this thread (and many like it) have posted, PvP specs work in PvP specifically because PvP is a smaller-scale map, with
more uniform EQ.
This does not help in PvE/Wv3, where the maps are larger, and gear-specs are bloody well all over the place.

Ben K.6238:

Except HoD seems to be handling T7 quite nicely, so unless for some reason SF is better than T7 level (I doubt it), HoD is going to give you a hiding as well.

If they get their tactics together, I’d be willing to say SF could do high 7 to low 6. But that’s just my opinion, considering the other “beast” servers what shredded around in
this Tier.

Ben K.6238:

You’ll have worse problems with every other server in the NA group.

Actually, that’s arguably untrue. ET/FC/HoD are all “High” population, the other NA servers are “Very High.” Now, if we even assume that in every server’s populace, say 5-10% are heavy WvWers, then indeed: It would seem HoD would be an even fit.

To those Fergs who’ve thought of throwing in the towel:

Narcissus.1058:

Il be back tomorrow, hold out until then FC

Good luck to all, and may Glicko be ever in SF’s favor

That sounds like a curse, bro. Kinda like “May you live in interesting times.”

I hate to say it (since I’m a hardcore conditions-junkie), but for roaming mode, you probably want to go straight shatter. Henrik’s idea is basic, but plenty workable.
GS + S/S can also get things done.
There is one thing condi-mesmers can do well, however. -Survive- Especially Staff-heavy builds with high Chaos investment.
Honestly, I’d say try every build possible. Fact is, the best build is the one YOU
feel most comfortable using.

(clutches Imryldyeen to his chest …) Get. Your. Failtastic. IMage. Away. From. My. STAFF! >_<
Ahem – sorry about that one. But, seriously … IMage is terribad. And I use Torch on occasion. +9001 for the idea of reworking IMage to no longer suck at existing.

Sylvari, and Entropy explains it best. Although, I’m tempted to snag another slot for a
Femme-sura. Sylvari have the “mystical” style, but Asura have the emotes.

And ANet says crossbreeding doesn’t exist. I dunno what you think, but that looks like some desperate Legionnaire and an Asura had sexual congress, and spawned. Needless
to say, said Legionnaire is probably now considered a Gladium, or the laughingstock of
their entire Legion.

That’s a very fair point, Leo G. Let alone Asura ‘swordsman’ animations in general
(100B, Blurred Frenzy, etc.)

Heh, over-the-shoulder GS-carrying is usually a “BA Pose.” It’s still pretty roughcore on Asura, in general: but I’d agree that for Rush, specifically, there could be another animation. Maybe, they hoist it over their heads, and rush you like berserk badger-(wo)men.

Narcissus.1058:

Long story short, this tier is hell, but surviving it makes your server stronger

Tier 8, the Nietzsche Tier.

Sounds like what our side’s going through, tbh. The only advice I can give you is to:
1.) Guest a bit on different servers, get a vibe for how people interact.
2.) While doing so, bust out some mad dungeons for Gold. (Preferably with high MF food and/or EQ, so as to max your ingame looting.)
3.) You can always ask around the main maps, how the local WvW set is. Populated, ghost town, moderate?
4.) Eventually find (and migrate to) your new home.

The problem, as we all know, is that months of folks migrating to “winning” servers en masse, has unbalanced the crap out of many servers’ populations. And, I don’t foresee any “forced” relocation happening. After all, that’d really torque folks off. Not every person who swapped servers -free transfer or paid- is a “bandwagoner.”

My only contribution to this idea is simple: it’d make sense, if only for those cases where a player swaps their toon’s gender. It’d be kinda silly for a girl to be named -for example- Killgor Rockcrusher, or something similar.
On the positive side, this idea is at least likely to eventually happen. Unlike race-swapping.

I’m always up for guerilla runs on any of the other maps. Only issue, is finding a few more
willing bodies. Of course, the lack of a certain “Blue Dorito” doesn’t help, either.

Plus, who else but an equal ranked Charr would even dare to question his fashion sense?

You know, considering I main Mesmer and experiment with builds often . . . I’d absolutely love an item like this. Especially if implemented like Odius suggests.
Only thing is: however it happened, account-bound is the way to go (particularily if it’s a consumable.)

@Kontrolle:
Eh, I do GS/Staff on a regular basis. The synergy’s pretty wicked, tbh. GS for your heavy offense/sniping work, then Staff for defense/escape/boons and conditions. For that matter, if you’d like to see a “non-noob” usage of GS, I’d suggest checking out any of Nevhie’s more recent vids. She uses every skill on the bloody thing, to wicked effect.

Of course, YMMV.

Heh, Warrior fits. Peacemakers and Efut immediately come to mind. Ironically, my
Asura are Thief and Warrior. The idea goes as follows: respectively, you’re dealing
with a “Corporate Espionage” agent, and a vat-grown killing machine. Any race with
Asura-level (magi)tech can definitely get away with either idea.

Trust me, XxNuggetxX and Runamok. I do not like the way this crap’s going. Feels like a bloody ghost town anymore. We got some folks working on the issue, in Ferg. Hopefully we can bring this biz back to spec.

I’d guess most folks what use The Dreamer:
1.) Enjoy being flashy.
2.) Get off on trolling the enemy.

Therefore:
3.) What beats killing your foe with rainbows and unicorns? Only thing funnier than that’d be, whipping absolute tail with stars and hearts.

As far as your concern, I can see the point. Maybe this month’s patch’ll allow one to
fine-tune enemy effects somewhat. /shrug

Speak for yourselves. My butterflies get replaced … I’d better have rose or cherry blossom petals. Of course, that could work for a male Sylvari …

I’ll be on. 7 CST’s what, 8 EST?

Well, Air. There’s a reason I said elements. All three of our servers have “rogue” elements.
Fact is, I myself go after any non-Ferg. But, between the regularity of both ET and SF splitting our BL by sides, and what my own eyes witnessed … something’s going on.

Don’t get me wrong. I expect things like that – it’s a simulated war for kitten’s sake.
It’s just funny, with how many times we’ve been accused of playing other sides against
the middle.

As for our numbers drop, take your pick.
1.) Guilds getting tired of the Tier’s wackiness, and leaving.
2.) Guilds getting tired of the Tier’s wackiness, and staying in PvE. At least until
SF moves up.
3.) Gods only know . . .

Bustanoggin.1278:

so what your saying is you a bunch of cowards?

Actually, what they’re not saying is that there’s some rather obvious collaboration
between -at least elements- of their two servers. As evidenced by the Etheron Hills attack I just died in. Bunch of SF guardin the gate, Lotta ET chillin out inside.
… coincidence…?
…or…
conspiracy?
You decide

Dog.1472:

I’m not really hating the Mesmer, I’m currently playing one. I liked it enough to level it up, and I think it’s a pretty amazing class. It’s the fact that people think this class needs to be even better that boggles my mind.

Well, that’s the thing, Dog. We all merely want to see how to make the class the best it
can be. Problems arise when we all disagree on something, is all. And, yes, Mesmer is bloody amazing. We just have certain issues (Trait/Weapon/etc) that require tweaking.

And folks wonder why I’ve always said that ANet created a really effed paradigm when they buffed move signets, across the board. Now: if you really want Thief to be the
“Master of Speed,” then they should’ve kept the 25% boost. Other classes should’ve
ranged from -say- 10-20%. Then you could toss Mesmers say 10-15%, without everyone and their bleeding mother crying “OP.”

Yet again, The Curse of Portal/TWarp strikes. Hell, Quickness -as an ability-
is another Can of Wyrms entire. And, I for one, would not argue if the game had
have been balanced without such an ability, for any class. As for Portals, let’s lay
off of that one, please. It’s sucked more nerfs than prostitutes inhale man-meat.
This without the talk over the past couple of months about the folk at ANet wanting
to share said mechanic on other classes. (Not that I’ll kitten, let an Engi or Necro go
through being the local Portalbot, they’ll be sick of it quick).

Clones: would be fine if: They possessed offhands, and weren’t foiled by a simple frigging trick like setting npc names off. Let alone moved somewhat like the caster.

Stealth: is getting shafted this next patch. Hello, “revealed!” Funny, since Mesmer Stealth tends to overwrite itself, in lieu of stacking like Thief’s Stealth. /shrug

As for blinking. Right. As any Thief player knows, there are a lot of Shadowstep options (some of which are Initiative-based, and lack an actual cooldown). So, let’s let that one lie.

You do realize how ridic the c/d on that is, Titan? As is, it could be balanced reasonably with simply reusing the weakness on Thief Haste (lose all endurance/prevent endurance regen.) Fact is, the Frenzy weakness is -IMHO- too much for the class what relies on it.

Only reason Warriors can get away with it, is their obnoxious Health pool. Anyone else, they’re most likely splattered.

Be glad your Guild’s large enough for that option. Really screws over Guild-less or small Guild people, though. And as for the ecto cost, what the kitten? Then you need what -another 50- to imbue the fraggers?

As I said in a thread about WvW music choices, I go for Wagner or other “Orchestral/Operatic” stuff. (Video game/Anime OSTs, etc). The Alexia Ashford themes from RE: Code Veronica stay in rather heavy rotation. Lilium from Elfen Lied is another
fun choice. Or Godsibb from Xenosaga 3.

Hmmmph. As always, if you’re in Ferg BL, you = target, in my book. I’m not going to slack off, if SF’s hitting ET, or vice-versa. Hell, if you’re in Wv3, period … you’re a target.

Soylent what?

Actually, I’d bet it’s probably Wurm. They have enough of ’em floatin around.

Easy Vuln stacking is more Mesmer than Necro. Particularly high-Domination Shatter
buillds. Now, I will agree on AoE Weakness, only class that slaps that down past Necro
(and does so “easily”) is either staff-ele with combofield outta Air, or choking gas/cluster comboing SB Thief.
Now, OTOH, I can see a high-range Condimancer ripping fools up, using Traited Plague/Wells/Marks. So, tbh, I can’t see where Necros are considered some kind of … Dungeon Undesirable.

well, happyjedi: Guardian’s GS leap is also a move that can be used without a target, and has much better pathing than ILeap. Guardian also has superior pulls/area-denial
(Love those Warding moves). Frankly, I’m ok with that setup. Guard has far crappier
range, after all. They need stuff like AoE chainpull/walling off areas. As for myself, I’d
be fine if ILeap’s cruddy pathing was finally fixed. The way I usually use it, I’m getting back out of range soon after.

That could definitely work, Kasama. I know I could make that work, and strip those Centaurs offa my armour. Of course, any high-Chaos Mesmer could say that one …
Also comes with the drawback of having to drop a utility slot, as a means of balance.

jportell.2197:

Vyce.2014:

jportell.2197:

And the piercing beams is a lame compensation and depends on mesmers using those two weapons which not all of them do…

I think that is the point though… They are still trying for build diversity. If they make GS and Scepter more appealing, more people will use them.

Yes but the wind up on confusing images is insane and the strangest things interrupt it. And the GS beam while cool… Is still dependent on people standing in a straight line between you and your target and in pvp ha yeah right. So the buffs to these weapons will still be meh at best.

And in a month or so, they’ll rip that ability away. Why, you ask? Because by then, they’ll have seen what happens when someone uses GS with either Nevhie’s MSS Build, or a 30/30/0/0/10 GC Mantra/DPS spread. Let alone a Glamourbombing Condi-mes and Confusing Images. If anything, they really need to see what shatter
damage is up against, and figure out a middle-of-the-road response.
Then again, for all we know, they could shave shatter by -say- 10-20% and we’d
still get by with a majority of what we used to toss out on folks, shatter-wise.
Honestly, the shatter busines is why I wish they’d stuck more with the original design
of Mesmers. Then, it’d be more about how we can cancel someone else’s damage
potential, instead of trying to be DPS ourselves.

@Vyce/jportell: TC stacks. Thing is, you have to do TC first. I’ve done it with Focus/Centaur runeset. But yes, it is an asinine way to do things. Of course, Guard’s
arguably more shafted. 2 Shouts (one of which is on a slow c/d), heals on longer c/d than anything in a Mesmer’s arsenal (assuming Air/Centaur setups), or Staff.
@Kardiamond: I hope you don’t mean Phase Retreat. That’s a dodge more than anything else. And if you’re KD’ed in it, you’re staying KD’ed until the duration runs out. ILeap is buggier than all heck, especially in regards to pathing. Engi Shield skills might suck on c/d time, but are pretty useful defense.

As for condition removal arguments: Warriors -IIRC- are supposed to be weak versus conditions, as they were designed. Even then, Mending/Shake it Off aren’t absolutely horrid options. Hell, at least one of their condi-drop options is a free
stunbreak. Their only weakness is that -in truth- they’re arguably a little too glassy
to be a ‘front line’ class. Guards easily out-defend ’em, and a Thief built right can
out-damage ’em.

Brienson.7319:

Ross Biddle.2367:

Bah, slow builds = complainers.

Good boon duration + focus swapping + 1200 blink = faster than your zerg spamming speed skills.

Your typical mesmer:- 0% boon duration + no focus (or a smart one who swaps to focus when travelling, might even be traited) + no, or 900 range blink = complains on the forums, or takes runes of centaur/air much to the hate of mesmers who believe it’s a silly sacrifice to have to make.

not sure if you’re serious. virtually every mesmer in wvw uses focus, whether they like it or not, because mandatory if you want any kind of mobility. i rarely see pistol, sword, or torch, because the offhand is monopolized.

That or the Air/Centaur bit. Allows OH swapping, at least … running Centaur myself,
gotten used to the lack of extra C.Dmg (used to run full Undead.) But, yes, it’s a
sub-optimal solution. Problem is -as mentioned earlier in this thread/others like it-
we will probably never get an auto-speed signet/trait, since we’re so bloody “OP.”

Of course, now one can stack Temp. Curtain > Swiftness. I’ve played around with TC > Centaur heal, and it provides some nice Swiftness uptime, especially with 20+ Chaos.

Could be that crap what’s going around lately. Hell, I woke up feeling like Trahearne’s minions look, this morning.

Hrist.8972:

Advent.6193:

My Thief kills to Touhou Project music or Intersect Thunderbolt (From Exceed 3rd)

Only one song from S.S.H.? I hope you’re kidding. I mean, if you like that song, you might as well play his whole discography.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5VD9cdzV28

(No, no. This isn’t the discography, just a medley.)

Trust me, it’s merely a favourite. S.S.H. in general is a frigging beast. As is ZUN.
Might have to even break out Daisuke Ishiwatari, for an alt.

Depends on the alt, actually.
My Thief kills to Touhou Project music or Intersect Thunderbolt (From Exceed 3rd)
Mesmer’s more operatic in scope, so Wagner or any “orchestral” styled BGM
(Stuff like One Winged Angel, or Alexia Ashford’s themes in RE: Code Veronica).
Symphonic Metal works as well.
My Necro’s Gothic Rock/Punk/or Visual Kei.

Still figuring out what the other 5’ll roll with. . .

I went for Rabid, personally. I’ll admit that I may go Celestial once I get to worrying about Ascended accessories. I figure I needed the extra Toughness, considering I’m like 80% WvW.
Of course, I stay in Condi builds. For a Zerker-type I’d have to say that the Celestial
might just prove rather workable. You’d gain a small amount of T/V, which would help make you a little less glassy.

Yea, I would hope they’d eventually tweak it to recognize a legitimate attempt to bypass, versus a coincidental arrangement of letters.
Failing that, why not set it up like the chat filter ingame? Turn it on or off at our leisure.

Alright, Fergs. We didn’t get it last week … but, it’s bloody well time we take it to ET.
Are you lot with me?

Go figure. I run a different spec than most of you mention:
P/P + SB
0/30(III, VII, XI)/20(IV,VI)/0/20(IV,VII – would be X, but 20% chance is crapola)
Vit/Healing/C.Dmg Armour (and 6 Superior Melandru), and the eventual plan’s for Rampager weapons/Exotic trinkets.
(I probably should switch things around for 30 SA + Trait XI, tbh … still putzing about
on which Traitline to drop.)
Heal: HiS or Withdraw
Utilities:S.Refuge/Shadowstep(or RFI)/SoS
Elite: Thieves’ Guild

Fact is, I got into this weapon spread due to it feeling almost like a Bullet-Hell game.
I love zipping about, blasting the living crap out of folks. Although, yes … I am rather
squishy if caught flat-footed.

There’s always. . .Focused. Psychokinetic. Study.
Now, kindly send all of your pet Bookahs to the nearest Dynamics laboratory. We’ll handle things from there.

Well, Filthy: I’d have to say that is because -in general- FC’s been dealing with the T8 biz longer. We’re sneaky mofos, and accustomed to having to go shadow-warfare on folks. Note, this is nothing against ET. Fact is – I’m seeing recently why they were higher Tier. Some of their guys get decently tactical.
In the end, however, you’re all targets to deal with. My only issue is I just wish we had
the same kind of hella fun fights we had the first couple of weeks

Well, Swimsasa. There are folk on the other side of the divide who’d think “Bunker” Ele
(and/or Guard) are OP to the max. Especially with the massive boon-uptime/high-scaling Healing Power stat. Now, I’ve run Ele (80) and have a Guard I’m working on (41), so I realize that those aspects are the main power-boost for those two classes.
Just goes to that old phrase, “The grass is always greener on the other side.”

The funny part there, is they modded Healing on PvP-side, but didn’t touch it for WvW. And I must say, Bunker Ele (especially FotM D/D) is still a sick customer
to deal with. I can generally kill ‘em, but I’d better be on my P’s and Q’s. Otherwise, they’re getting away, pronto. Especially on my Mesmer.

Sebrent’s last point is indeed correct. I main Mesmer, and have an 80 Thief I’m still learning to work well with. That kind of change will modify how stealth builds on
both classes work. Now, I’ll definately admit it will modify Thief far more, since
chain-stealthing works differently between both classes. I’ll wait to see how it plays,
but at this point, I’m rather glad I’m SB/Dual-Pistol build. Might have to drop that 20 SA … or just use it as an “Oh kitten” switch, like I use Stealth on my Main.

OTOH, the idea of improved mobility/boon-reaming is bloody fun. Especially when I roll with a boon-ripper signet on my SB. Overall, as long as the planned “nerf” to Stealth is compensated in some fashion, I’d think most Stealth-users’d find a way to work around it.