I dunno how much more can be said about this. Lots of different players asking for the same stuff. I’ve seen comments about how the system will be improved, but having no idea when or what changes doesn’t alleviate the frustraion players have been dealing with since the game went live.
The commander system is only the barest hint of what we would like it to be in the long term. There are a lot of things that should be better, including the visibility of squads, and we’ll make sure to not only incorporate feedback we see on the boards but also actively seek out feedback as we flesh the system out in the future.
I’ve been a bit of a broken record on this issue Devon, but only because it’s very frustrating to run and organize our guild without decent tools. Players will play the way they enjoy, and right now we don’t use the in-game systems because they don’t work for many of us. Many like to run smaller forces with multiple groups and simply don’t want to lead the entire zone by popping a commander pin.
Players are already running private forces, but they are doing so in a way that is frustrating, inefficient and clunky. Making seperate multiple groups, trying to run together by having each group mark the same player with a bullseye and using a 3rd party voice program to communicate is the only option. It’s quite franky a disappointing grouping system for a modern MMO.
Please allow any grouping changes to be flexible enough to be used for public or private/guild functions.
No new content until we get a working and flexible grouping system in my opinion. We need a grouping system that let’s people form squads the way they enjoy.
Fixing the UI and updating the Commander and Squad system to be useful to guilds and players should be the #1 priority.
I don’t understand why this hasn’t been fixed yet… It’s the number #1 that angers me the most.
“Reform guys…”
It’s the little things you have to deal with each day that build up and make people snap. Unless there is some kind of technical issue with having players from three different servers on the same map….. I have no possible idea how this has been left like this so long.
If it’s not a bug, then what is it?
I would add context menus being fixed as well. These bugs/oversights really have sat too long.
I’m not sure why they work fine in any PvE zone but not in WvW. If it was simply a bug I’m sure it would be fixed by now, perhaps some kind of coding issues with 3 servers/teams in one map? If it’s a technical issue then it should be at the top of the priority list before we get “new content” added.
Fix what we have and use daily before adding more new stuff….
Guild tags top want the list of many guilds. Adding them would make the game less zergy since players could more easily be forked off from the main zergs and managed.
Can you imagine how much more dynamic WvW would be. More medium sized forces hitting multiple targets. A zerg can only be in one place….
Until we have an in game system that lets players form private or guild forces it will always be easier to simply run with a zerg.
Great points in this thread and bumping as it’s still desired and relevant.
Made an option for different color tags or just have the function of the tag without it showing.
The function of a tag without showing it is basically a Private squad. I fully endorse this. They need to have a flexible grouping system that can be used for public, private and guild events if we choose.
Give us the tools to group they way we want and let the players choose what works best for them.
Lots of good stuff you covered. We certainly need a Grouping system that’s flexible enough that players can form forces the way they enjoy. Let’s hope that when they do make changes to the C&S system it’s changes the players want.
bumping as this needs addressed asap.
This needs to be addressed ASAP 11 months ago!
I know I posted in the Beta Weekend 1 forums about the UI and lackluster C&S system. So it was more than 11 months ago!!
Yeah Kolly we need a grouping system that can be used for all types of squads. Public or Private/Guild. We have zergs because there is no other way in game to group over 5 people. Can you imagine how much more dynamic WvW would be with more medium size forces hitting targets on the map?
Changes are coming….. but will they be changes the players actually want?
The C&S system has no features to “delegate”. As a commander you are expected to do it all. If we had a grouping system that was flexible enough and allowed you to make “assistants” to help manage the squad it would be much easier for commanders.
Warhammer Online’s “warband” was by far the best PvP grouping system I’ve used. You could assign assistants who could invite, manage 5 groups and help out while the commander just leads.
GW2 has a long way to go before it has a decent grouping system….
I had made a number of posts stating a reformed Commander system is ideal, in some respects that moment is gone. People that wanted it I know have quit, moved on or simply folded into the zerg.
Perhaps if/when an updated system is implemented it will reinvigorate people. But as it stands I throw in the towel.
We just need to let the WvW team know we want grouping systems to be the #1 priority before new content. Give us a flexible grouping system that can be used for public/private/guild forces with UI features that actually work in WvW.
If anyone has a problem please understand that the game is barely 1 year old and if it is anything like other games, takes time for new releases to be implemented.
I hear what you are saying Fuzzion. My issues are not improved or new content… but the grouping systems and UI at release. There is no way we should have to reform groups everytime someone goes offline in a WvW group. Basic things like “inviting” and sending tells through the UI. This is not new content, but current UI systems that work in any PVE zone.
Not having some sort of guild or private squad system is beyond me as well. Forcing people to zerg if they have over 5 people is silly. Players are forced to make multiple groups, use 3rd party voice and “mark” a driver in one of the groups as an alternative.
Social and flexible grouping need to be the #1 priority. A flexible grouping system for all players and guilds that WORK through the UI should have been here at release. I could frankly care less about new content until we have a working and usefull commander and squad system.
Awesome, so get on Anet’s back about resourcing and prioritizing to do it.
I think this should be our focus as a WvW forum. But that’s just like, my personal opinion, man.
I agree i think we need to let Anet understand that this issue is the one that frustrates us daily and needs to be put on the top of the list of WvW changes. Grouping in a social MMO should be flexible and easy…. right now it’s not even close.
I am sure a great majority of the community would love more info on this subject. Vague ‘its not an overnight job’ comments don’t do much to ensure us thakittens currently being looked at or at least planned to be looked into.
Quality of life stuff like this is arguably more important than the wvw progression system already implemented…
Well that’s it… almost a year in and I have no idea when, how or if this is gonna be changed the way players would like. Even if this will take awhile I’d love to hear a rough timeline. Frustration builds each day we don’t have the tools to group and organize properly.
Asking for features is fine. But perhaps you should ask Anet to assign more resources (i.e. manpower) to WvW. That way they can start working on these things now, since the current guys are tapped with other projects.
Changes to the lake/quaggans are coming, as well as a new orb mechanic. That requires resources from different departments. What resources are available need to be prioritized…. there seems to be a difference between the players and Anet in priority content.
I could care less about any changes to WvW maps or WXP trees until the grouping issues are resolved. I’d like a modern MMO to have a modern grouping system that can be used for whatever players need and has WORKING UI functions.
THAT should be the main priority for whatever resources are available IMO.
^ This
(p.s. Even just adding different colored/guild only commander tags, the ability to kick offline party members and to invite people already in WvW, those would make a big difference.)
I’m sure Anet is aware that players are not satisfied with the grouping systems. I’m just not sure if they are aware of the magnitude of the frustration we feel daily. Coordinating in GW2 and forming forces they way we ENJOY is very difficult. A flexible in game grouping system is needed that can be used by all different guilds an player styles. Can’t group effectively the way we enjoy because the system is not flexible and can’t group effectively using the current system as the UI options don’t work.
Trying to maintain a group in WvW is like using an old DOS system. Using /slash commands for everything because the UI is disabled.
As this seems to be a big issue.. one final bump
If you agree that the game needs something of this sort please add your 2 cents in.
I’ve added my 2 cents on this subject so many times that Arenanet has about $7,523.42 from me so far. Let’s make it $7,523.44
Please make some changes Anet to the C&S system!!!!!!
WvW needs more love. I hope ANet has noticed this thread…
Devon acknowledged the C&S system was not up to par. The problem is the WvW team seems to be putting resources into other “new” content instead of making a flexible C&S system. We still can’t use the UI to invite players to a group or kick offline players. Basic UI functions that already work in any other PvE zone, but ignored in WvW for almost a year.
Perhaps plans are underway to revamp this system, but the perception players are getting is that the focus is on new content instead of giving us functional grouping systems.
Please put the focus on a flexible (public/private/guild)grouping systems and basic UI functions that actually work in WvW.
Devon I understand you have limited resources and dev’s to do “everything at once”. The changes that players would like to see are the things that FRUSTRATE us on a daily basis. Pet Peeves and annoyances that build daily and cause full blown rage in some people. (I’ve seen it and it wasn’t pretty.)
The lack of being able to group and coordinate in a functional manner is one of those things. It actually feels DIFFICULT to group in gw2 the way we enjoy. Any changes are great, but I really feel that existing systems need to be addressed before adding NEW content.
- Upgrade the Commander and Squad system. Flexible social grouping in GW2 should be a PRIORITY. The commander and squad system needs to be flexible enough to be used for Public or Private/Guild forces. We are unable to group the way we enjoy with only two ways to group in game for GW2. A 5 person group or Zerg are not enough options for players to coordinate.
- Fix the UI group options in WvW. We need the same working “right-click” options in WvW that we have in any other PvE zone. Reforming groups because we can’t remove offline players and typing player invites during WvW combat are frustrating.
I feel whatever limited resources you have should be directed to these basic issues.
The community asks for fixes and getting the core of the game working properly, so the development team decides content will resolve it. We’re not those drooling PvE 1-pressers happy to farm garbage content and forget about the problems with the game.
We keep saying that the house they built has a damaged foundation and they think redoing the kitchen will fix it. Makes perfect sense if you don’t think about it.
Many of the core WvW players simply want flexible and functional tools to coordinate and group in WvW. We do NOT have them right now. They were asked for before the game went live, and constantly suggested on these forums since the game went live almost a year ago.
Implement a flexible grouping system and UI functions that work before adding new content…. THAT"S what the players want changed first.
IMO..
- No new WvW content until they give us a flexible Commander and Squad system useable for all players. Private and public abilities and allow us to form forces the way we enjoy.
- No new WvW content until we actually have functioning UI right click options in WvW. Basic things like removing offline group members and inviting people through the UI.
let’s actually fix the things that haven’t worked for about a year before adding “New” stuff.
Devon I understand you have limited resources and dev’s to do “everything at once”. The changes that players would like to see are the things that FRUSTRATE us on a daily basis. Pet Peeves and annoyances that build daily and cause full blown rage in some people. (I’ve seen it and it wasn’t pretty.)
The lack of being able to group and coordinate in a functional manner is one of those things. It actually feels DIFFICULT to group in gw2 the way we enjoy. Any changes are great, but I really feel that existing systems need to be addressed before adding NEW content.
- Upgrade the Commander and Squad system. Flexible social grouping in GW2 should be a PRIORITY. The commander and squad system needs to be flexible enough to be used for Public or Private/Guild forces. We are unable to group the way we enjoy with only two ways to group in game for GW2. A 5 person group or Zerg are not enough options for players to coordinate.
- Fix the UI group options in WvW. We need the same working “right-click” options in WvW that we have in any other PvE zone. Reforming groups because we can’t remove offline players and typing player invites during WvW combat are frustrating.
I feel whatever limited resources you have should be directed to these basic issues.
It is almost blasphemy to support a JQ idea [joking] but I support a focus on these topics Ahmrill.
These are the things that frustrate me every single time I WvW. All this feedback was given in the Beta Weekend forums and it’s still frustrating on a daily basis almost a year later.
We need to get this cleaned up before adding “new content and fluff”.
Devon I understand you have limited resources and dev’s to do “everything at once”. The changes that players would like to see are the things that FRUSTRATE us on a daily basis. Pet Peeves and annoyances that build daily and cause full blown rage in some people. (I’ve seen it and it wasn’t pretty.)
The lack of being able to group and coordinate in a functional manner is one of those things. It actually feels DIFFICULT to group in gw2 the way we enjoy. Any changes are great, but I really feel that existing systems need to be addressed before adding NEW content.
- Upgrade the Commander and Squad system. Flexible social grouping in GW2 should be a PRIORITY. The commander and squad system needs to be flexible enough to be used for Public or Private/Guild forces. We are unable to group the way we enjoy with only two ways to group in game for GW2. A 5 person group or Zerg are not enough options for players to coordinate.
- Fix the UI group options in WvW. We need the same working “right-click” options in WvW that we have in any other PvE zone. Reforming groups because we can’t remove offline players and typing player invites during WvW combat are frustrating.
I feel whatever limited resources you have should be directed to these basic issues.
Any changes are great, but I really feel that existing systems need to be addressed before adding NEW content.
- Upgrade the Commander and Squad system. Flexible social grouping in GW2 should be a PRIORITY. The commander and squad system needs to be flexible enough to be used for Public or Private/Guild forces. We are unable to group the way we enjoy with only two ways to group in game for GW2. A 5 person group or Zerg are not enough options for players to coordinate.
- Fix the UI group options in WvW. We need the same working “right-click” options in WvW that we have in any other PvE zone. Reforming groups because we can’t remove offline players and typing player invites during WvW combat are frustrating.
That should be addressed before adding new content and Wxp ranks….
The entire grouping and commander and squad system needs to be updated into the 21st century. Different users asking for the same things should let the WvW dev team know how we feel. The have said they are going to address it but I feel the lack of a timeline or “How” they are going to address it is frustrating a lot of people.
All these requests were given in feedback during the beta weekends and we’re coming up to a year post release….
- Fix the broken UI functionality. No way to right-click on a name in chat window or guild window in WvW to use basic functions other than “report”. Only way to use the UI is if player is in LOS and target nameplate. We really enjoying typing everyone’s name out when inviting and reforming groups 3-4 times a night because people didn’t leave group before going offline.
Almost a year and we can’t even get the same options we have in ANY pve zone?
Upgrading the commander system and UI is on our goal list. It’s a complicated task, requiring lots of resources however, which means it isn’t going to happen overnight. Believe me though, I find our commander system almost entirely lacking in useful functionality.
Devon any chance of a timeline when this may be addressed?
a month, 3 months, 6 months … a year?
This is a focal point of frustration for many of us…. we need better tools to communicate and organize the WAY we enjoy.
Just think how much easier this would be for Devon if he could get all the player WvW suggestions in one easy forum!
bumping as this needs addressed asap.
Because they don’t have any alternatives.
The only in game grouping system allows for a single 5 man groups or a blob. Why do we zerg… because we have no other in game system to organize. I guarantee we’d have less zerging if they allowed us to form private or guild only squads.
Seems like Devon is hovering around .. so am bumping for his eyes and any other devs. Please consider.
Hopefully he noticed and acknowledged players the need to create a flexible C&S system that players can use to form a private/public squad!
Devon already mentioned that they are looking to make improvements to the C&S system but it involves coding and different departments and isn’t something done quickly. I hope that those changes are things the PLAYERS are asking for.
Foremost being able to use the C&S system for private/public/guild forces. Make a flexible system that can be used all the different ways players like to group.
What they need is a new overflow WvW zone where players can fight each other for fun. Points don’t count towards the score, but you can still earn Xp/karma. Once your spot in que comes up you can hop into Eb or a borderland.
This at least gives us some entertainment while waiting in the que lottery.
What we need are some basic functionality changes made. UI fixes that allow the UI to give us more options than “report” in WvW. Basic social grouping changes that allow ALL players to form forces they way they enjoy instead of being pigeon-holed in a zerg if they have more than 5 people.
Please stop with new WvW mastery lines and fluff in WvW…. at least until the commander and squad system is revised and the UI is updated. It’s functionality we want added… not fluff.
How about some basic UI bug fixes? You know… things like being able to invite to group, kick offline players and whisper players in a WvW zone…. basically everything we can do in ANY PvE zone through the UI.
Or how about giving us a commander and squad system we can flag “private” to form private or guild squads without inviting every single player in the zone to flock to us?
Changing culling does not make up for the lack of attention WvW gets.
(edited by Ahmrill.7512)
Another new living story patch…. but no basic WvW bug fixes or changes to the grouping systems. Still can’t kick offline players, invite through the UI or group the way we enjoy in WvW.
With every patch the screw tightens going into the brain of WvW players….
You can already CTL T your commander and all organised groups use TS so while I’d like a better grouping system I don’t think it’d change much in this regard.
MMO’s that came out 6 years ago have 20x the grouping functions the commander and squad system has. A third party voice program is not a decent substitute for lack of in game grouping and organizing tools. We use TS and Ventrilo because we HAVE too, it’s pretty much impossible to organize properly using what is given to us in game.
They need to grab some devs away from the living story content for a week and let’s fix all the UI bugs in WvW and give us some BASIC functionality to group in-game.
Yes I am talking about grouping in this game. For 10 months we are unable to manage our parties. In PvE there is not a problem. You can invite players. You can kick players. You can whisper players. Even if they log out. But in WvW, this is not functional.
And commander system. I dont know if this is serious intension to have commanders like that. Look you implemented squads but gives to squad leader no options to manage their squads. And we are not able to make private squads. Your game is forcing us to do bigger groups. With current downed state, it really encourages to make bigger groups. But we are not able to do more than use third party software to organize ourselves in some way.
Bugs, those are difficult to repair. I know that. But you need to focus on them too. You have the tools for identify bugs corectly not us,players.
So please Anet, if next months. Please focus on your current state of game. And improve what is in game right now. Dont make new things. I know that community will accept this.
Regards
player of Your game from day 1
Wow it’s like you taped electrodes to my head and read my mind. I completely agree. The lack of basic WvW functions and bugs should have been fixed at release not almost a YEAR into the game going live.
It’s the little things that are missing and don’t work that eat away and build frustration every day you log in. WvW players are feeling like a low caste group of forgotten people.
Fixing culling doesn’t make up for the lack of attention to UI bugs and lack of private grouping systems. We need a commander and squad system that can actually help us organize better and is flexible for all player grouping needs.
This is not the only thing need to be done. WHole grouping need to be better. Like groups for more people than 5.
Or commander UI.
But we got copy&pasted masteries each month
As primarily a WvW focused player I’m feeling completely alienated ArenaNet. I know that they fixed culling and made some other changes but the lack of BASIC functions is killing me on a daily basis.
Stuff that has been a basic feature in most MMO’s that have come out in the last 6 years or so are missing in GW2. Heck even some of the basic features from GW1 are missing here.
Yes! This would promote a more efficient use of squads instead of everybody piling into one zerg.
Sounds simple but…..
We can’t even kick offline players or invite in WvW…. dangit let’s get some basically functionality and make social and tactical grouping a priority Anet!!!!!!!
A large part of the GW2 player base are playing primarily for WvW. I’m sure the percentage of WvW focused players are lower than PvE focused players but it’s still significant.
We need some improvements to basic functions in WvW and having a sub forum might help devs get a better handle on what the WvW focused players actually WANT and what is frustrating them.
I thought this was regarding the complete lack of functionality and lack of private grouping systems with the commander/squad. A modern day MMO with a pre-21st century grouping system.
Sounds like you have an actual bug report….
To get rid of the blob/zerg is easy. How about actually giving us an in-game grouping system that ISN’T a zerg. We only have one way to group over 5 people and that is the current commander and squad system. Pin goes up and invites everyone in the zone to flock to it and cannot be made private.
Give us a way to create private squads and you’ll have more medium sized forces running around the zones instead of one massive zerg.
I don’t see a way more flexible or simple than a four digit passcode. Can you think of anything that offers as much flexibility?
Remember – people guild switch all the time, you would have to take this sort of thing into consideration, and that is why I would opt for a pass-code. Use the infrastructure that exists through communicating in chat channels, determine the group composition that way. Commander “Hey my code is 4321! Come fight with me!” etc. Don’t enforce an artificial limit like “guild” or “party”. Both guild and party are terribly under-supported in terms of features as it stands.
I agree in principle. Any private grouping system needs to be flexible enough to meet ALL player and guild requirements. Guilded or non-guilded, you should be able to create a private or public force any way that increases enjoyment and fun.
Stop forcing us to group in ways we don’t enjoy. Make a system that can be used for ALL grouping formats and let the players choose the way that works best for them.
Lots of stuff should be in the next patch. There seems to be a big gap between the WvW dev teams vision and what players want. I sure hope they look at the feedback and suggestions here regarding commander & squad system and the entire grouping system in general.
It’s no where near adequate to meet all guild and player grouping styles.
You could start by making clicking the map commander icon to join a squad work, this has been broken forever. Fix existing bugs before introducing new
onesfeatures.
Agree, just give us the same basic UI functions we have in WvW that we have in PvE. I hate typing invites out all night and reforming groups because someone forgot to leave the party before going offline.
double bump as nothing heard on this!