Guild Wars 2

I pug most dungeons and fractals I run (about 90%) and I almost never have a negative experience. I’m always on an 80 but I’ve run a few dungeons where we had sub 80s and they are usually sub par but we don’t kick them it’s all fun.

Being kicked from a LFG you joined isn’t that big of a deal being kicked from your own is that one you’ve a right to be angry about.

evilunderling.9265:

Aidenwolf.5964:

If this class as constituted is good enough to main heal raids then raids will fail. Many seem to want Druid to be a hybrid damage / healer but if you’re able to main heal a raid hybrid then raids were a waste of Anet’s resources.

What you’re saying here really strikes me as if you believe that the only ‘correct’ raids are ones that look like the ones you’ve already played, where healers apparently have to devote all of their time and/or mana to healing once they’re actually in a fight.

But it’s self-evidently true that there’s more than one way to make any given thing work, especially something as complex as a raid. While not following your demands might result in raids that aren’t to your taste, they won’t automatically end up any worse than that.

Healing itself doesn’t need to be a thing for raids to be adequately challenging. Healing is just one bullet point in a much longer list of things a group needs to get right in order to clear any given fight.

FFXIV’s healing meta usually calls for at least one healer to DPS, and sometimes even spend most of their time DPSing, and there are even raids that are virtually impossible to clear without healer DPS.

FFXIV’s raids are speed clears if Anet go that route I’ll continue raiding elsewhere. I despise that game’s mechanic.

What my experience means is simply that I know how to do it and this class feels thrown together last minute. Zero synergy with other lines, allows weapon swapping which will cause balancing issues easily avoided by going staff only, and a gimmicky mechanism to replace mana.

@Kitty also realize they aren’t tuned yet and heal scaling is far from right. I’d expect current healing output to be tuned to full heal gear with buffs at launch, making many think Druids were nerfed when in actuality they were tuned.

Kitty.1502:

cafard.8953:

Don’t you guys have the impression that the reaction around here is very much like the kneejerk people were ranting about for WHaO? The spec has barely been tried out for a couple of days, yet it’s already being branded broken, useless or OP, in its entirety or in details. It’ll take weeks at least for people to get the bigger picture after the meta adapts around the new specs.

I don’t think the build is useless, it seems pretty good in a lot of ways for WvW raids and is a good addition to Core Ranger builds like the Power Ranger. With that said, this beta event should highlight for people who are really paying attention the issues with the ranger with every class getting lots of sustain for their dps specs, the ranger dps just can’t break the sustain of classes such as rev/engineer/necro/ele now and our dps is just to low to match mesmer/thief/guardian so we really don’t fit any where for our core ranger. Druid yes it is fantastic in WvW raids, and potentially PvE raids.

If this class as constituted is good enough to main heal raids then raids will fail. Many seem to want Druid to be a hybrid damage / healer but if you’re able to main heal a raid hybrid then raids were a waste of Anet’s resources.

Druid apart from Revenant (Tank) is the most significant addition to the game in terms of classes, a raid healer. The fact that they released it last means what we have is likely what we’ll get and that’s unfortunate.

Druid shouldn’t have weapon swap as condi druid will get heals nerfed class wide, or condis nerfed, which is a nightmare.

It all depends on how seriously Anet are taking raids. If they make them challenging we will need true healers, if not, the raid system will fail and I’ll continue to raid in other games.

Miltek.2104:

Why would typical engineer pick Gyros instead of Kit or Elixir ?

I wouldn’t. I have Quip so it would take something fantastic to keep me from using my condi build and aside from the elite gyro (which is drop dead sexy) I’d rather run what I always do

Ok here is my feedback on the design (flaws) of the Druid. I have been a main raid healer for over a decade in several other MMOs, I take this seriously.

Preamble
Anet have always stated that they wanted “active” combat and not bar watching like other games. In raids though that’s exactly what healing is, bar watching. A party member’s health drops and you as a main healer, heal them. Simple enough but this goes against what the core game design has been and I believe it’s one of the reasons Druid Celestial Avatar isn’t a stance, as it should be.

GW2 has been very much a visual dress up game as stats between exotic and ascended were so close skins were the endgame, this is now changing with legendary gear, but stats likely will not be OP vs exotics. This visual endgame is likely a factor in not wanting Druids to be able to remain in CA (celestial avatar) permanently. With introduction of raids however, endgame is now raids, not skins.

Reasons CA should be on demand on/off

WvW – CA Druid form is a strong healer and competitively it should / will be a target for enemy players. As a thief for example, killing an enemy healer could shift the battle in your favor.

As a an ally of a Druid you will want to be near one when the kittens hit the fan, and CA is your only real clue someone you’re not grouped with is going healer.

Raids – A 10 man raid will likely use 2 Druids 1 per party or 2 on the tank party and healing is the priority. I know many have said the Druid’s CA needs damage, this isn’t necessary as healing forms need only cleanse and heal, other classes can provide buff /aegis. The reason the Druid needs a resource generated within CA to mimic mana and power the heals rather than generating it out of CA is simple, attuning to CA once heals are needed is likely too late. Anyone who has healed seriously knows the panic of keeping your silly raid menbers alive when they’ve made a mistake. As currently constructed, I as a healer, will be out of CA, doing inferior damage, I’ll see someone health bar drop, switch to CA and hopefully heal them in time. This is poor raid design. Druids don’t need to be in CA all the time and they can turn it off but when healing is needed that’s ALL a healer does. Anyone arguing this point hasn’t raided.

If the issue is that Anet don’t want the Celestial Avatar’s visual appearance to stop players buying / hunting skins then change the look of the form. Going CA in a 5 man party reduces damage done by the party by 20% which is good for balance. Please think of this from a raiding standpoint, if rangers are meant to be main healers, don’t lock away that new mechanic behind an arbitrary energy generation system that says we’re to DPS to enable healing, that’s backwards.

Also to those who would like to add all classes in GW2 can heal themselves negating the need for perma form, I will say this, self healing isn’t unique to GW2. Raid healing is a dedicated role and is new to this game but not a new concept, this system is inferior atm.

Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582:

Knighthonor.4061:

Justine.6351:

If you are expecting druid to be the ranger upgrade then you are destined to be disappointed.

I get where you are coming from though. Ranger has never been spectacular support unless focused kitten it. There are a lot of lonewolf type rangers, i mean they do get a pet after all so its kinda natural for them to choose this class. So to all a sudden see what appears to be upgrades to other classes in the form of elite specs, this lonewolf type class gets a “healing bot”

So yeah you got trolled. From a lonewolf perspective ;-)

Not at all. Druid support staff weapon/skills been a request for Rangers for a while now.

many players play classes with Support in mind in vanilla. Problem was, it wasnt as good. Hence we had Spirit Rangers for a reason.

i know thats how I played it. I prefer not to play DPS meta. I like team defense and protection.
Well Druid and Rev been the first time those became actual roles.

people been playing this Anti-Group Support, Pro-DPSfest for so long, they forgot about all the players who over the years been playing support and wanted to be useful while doing so.

those players likely love Druid. The healing is great in PvP, if people would actually stick to working together rather than it always being a every man for themselves mentality going around.

Healing is fine, if it was limited to the CAF, but the staff needs more damage and other forms of support, period. It’s pointless having both do healing.

Exactly my view. Staff should be tagging support and all heals should be in form and that form should function like a stance ie always on

Kidel.2057:

It only takes 3 seconds to fully load celestial avatar with a staff. 3 seconds…

Begs the question of why it needs to be temporary. Spec druid equip staff and F5 should be there as a form. Healing should be generated with the form 1 skill not the staff 1 out of form

Valento.9852:

It is not garbage, and you’re highly misinformed and biased. There’s a common opinion on most posts that BWE3 is providing a better balanced Tempest, no one agrees it’s 100% fine-tuned! It is a bit unfocused, and maybe we’re getting to a point where NUMBERS matter, but overall it’s opening for various builds…

The effectiveness will depend on what Karl changes for healing/damage coefficients, and what criteria he finds it fun to play with.

IMO, auras could cast a PBAoE effect around each affected ally. It could be offensive (Fire Shield, Shocking Aura) or defensive (Magnetic Aura, Frost Aura), like this:

Tempestuous Auras (pun intended)
When you apply an aura to an ally, give them might, and cast a spell on their location.

• Might: 2 stacks, 10 seconds
• Fire Shield: Fire Nova (strike nearby foes and inflict burning)
• Shocking Aura: Whirlwind (strike nearby foes, launching them)
• Magnetic Aura: Magnetic Push (strike nearby foes, then teleport ally to you)
• Frost Aura: Cold Cleanse (strike nearby foes, sending x conditions to them)

Auras!!!1

I don’t hate the tempest at all I’m surprised. It’s not the brawler that’s the new addition as we already had the best in DD it’s the anti attunement swapping that’s new.

To the OP put on daggers and go fire crazy. Lay down your combo field and pop F1… Enjoy.

Aurika.6751:

My feedback is WvW specific.

I think a lot of the feedback here is forgetting that the Druid is primarily a healer. The staff heal may be small, but it fills the bar fast and the Celestial Avatar can change a fight.

My original plan was to go full Nomad’s ascended gear and be a tank healer for the raid. With the squad problems that was not possible, so I went with full exotic Cleric’s. The amount of healing put out felt very strong. I still assume I’ll eventually want to move to Nomad’s as organized groups start to focus healers (the standard practice in many other games).

The staff does what it needs to do and has some other nice skills attached.

1. - Bread and butter Celestial Bar filler
2. - Used properly in WvW it adds some decent sustain to your groups melee train
3. - I used this for two purposes. 1st, I would flash to my melee group during sustain regroups to do an AOE 3k heal. 2nd, I’d use it for mobility/escapes with a weapon swap to GS #3 to create even more distance.
4. - This was good for breaking up enemy melee trains. it does not need to lock them in place. Just a split second pause for a few people gets them out of the pack to make them easier targets.
5. - This skill is amazing, especially in chokes.

Celestial Avatar healing is game changing. Skills #3 and #4 are very strong at almost all times. The #2 and #5 skills get good situational use. The #1 is a very strong spam filler.

In organized groups the class shines. We had about 20 people with 3 druids and the sustain added was noticeable.

The issue isn’t that it’s a healer, the issue is that it’s gimmicky. If heal form was always on it would make sense but as it stands now you’re swapping out of heal form to a sub par weapon to fill up a bar to activate heal form. Also not using all of your resource in heal form is punished as you lose any remaining on exit.

3 druids helped sustain 17 others I’m sure but that could’ve been done by 3 revenants. If the form was an attunement I could justify it’s existence in raids, but I’d rather use my ele based on this test.

Healing is not a class mechanic unique to druids and I see no reason healing form shouldn’t be always on

My thoughts on the new mechanic and how I would like it to be changed.

Out of celestial form Staff skills and glyphs are more offensive or “selfish” less heals more attacks.

F5 activates always on healbot mode

In celestial form Works as it does now but the resource pool from out of form is active in form to generate heal energy by using the #1.

The visual que of the form needs to be seen as the same as an engineer holding their bomb kit (only much more sparkly)

It’s a shame this one was put out last as it needs work it won’t get done

The form feels underwhelming. There are too many heals not enough umph in the healing. If you’re gating the form like necro DS then the heals should be powerful. Why not make the form perma and CD the heals? I’d like a visual que that a player has gone full healer which is what that state is.

Also the pets have the same AI as always which isn’t good.

Love the new pets (based solely on what’s been leaked)

The Druid

I like the idea of a pure healing line in theory but a few things don’t work.

Staff 1 – A beam with a LOS heal means the druid is expected to be mid to backline firing through allies.

I would much prefer simply cloning the guard staff 1. AOE heal no CD and damages all foes in the area.

Staff 2 – Cast a Wisp to an enemy healing in passthrough? This is very Guardian but also backline.

I would prefer a ground targeted healing / damaging pulse (think guardian underwater)

Staff 3 – Looks solid

Staff 4 – Is good but… It’s designed incorrectly imo.

I wonder why it’s not more like our elite and an AOE. When I get to the glyphs this will make more sense.

Staff 5 – Is fantastic but could / should be a dome as we’re fighting mobs above us theoretically, but I like it.

The Glyphs which are 600 range or less effects on a class whose new weapon dictates he/she are running around away from allies to LOS heal through them, make no sense.

I think the glyphs say the Druid is a frontline player, but the staff says backline, and either way it needs more damage.

Gav.1425:

Tank stats and heal specs just reduce the required player skill in encounters while the only thing they increase is the duration of the fight.

We didn’t want any of this. GW2 is a dynamic game unlike any other because it requires that fast twitch reactionary play. If we wanted to face tank and heal, we’d play something else.

Pushing the trinity is lazy and unoriginal—two things I don’t tend to think of when I’m talking about GW2 content. There’s no innovation here.

I did so we aren’t the same

Precursor scavenger hunt / Collection will keep prices the same? 1000g + for a precursor is garbage and they like it that way.

I just finished Quip I think I’ll call that good enough.

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Aidenwolf.5964:

CandyHearts.6025:

Aidenwolf.5964:

CandyHearts.6025:

Cichol.7856:

I feel what they should’ve done is just restrict F2P accounts from obtaining keys via keyfarming (or atleast 1 key – per week). Them doing this to vets is another kick in the teeth, I still feel salty I have to pay for the game twice (and no i didn’t receive the free character slot Arena-net feels can make up for this). I love the game but each time they scheme makes the game more and more of a turnoff.

I really don’t believe f2p is the issue here. I think the sale we just had was them testing the market. When they put up keys for a crazy price even then very few people bought them. They then placed blame on key-farming rather than the BL chests themselves and decided to do something about it. Their fail logic is a bit silly this time. It’s the chests that are the problem, Anet. If the keys were WORTH buying, we would.

Free to play comes in and they change a 3 year old drop rate? Of course they’re connected.

How would it have anything to do with f2p when they can’t do anything but purchase the weapons? It’s not like they can affect the market. And if anet cared about people getting keys easily they wouldn’t of kept it that way for 3 years. It wouldn’t be just to SPITE f2p. I am fully firm on it having to do with the sale. Logically it’s the only thing sound.

Free accounts can farm keys
Free accounts can buy skins
Free accounts can mail those skins

A hub account (paid) can sell them

This is how

F2p can not mail out items or gold or use a guild bank to transfer.

Hmm then it’s just a slap in the face to paid accounts, fair play Flesh

CandyHearts.6025:

Aidenwolf.5964:

CandyHearts.6025:

Cichol.7856:

I feel what they should’ve done is just restrict F2P accounts from obtaining keys via keyfarming (or atleast 1 key – per week). Them doing this to vets is another kick in the teeth, I still feel salty I have to pay for the game twice (and no i didn’t receive the free character slot Arena-net feels can make up for this). I love the game but each time they scheme makes the game more and more of a turnoff.

I really don’t believe f2p is the issue here. I think the sale we just had was them testing the market. When they put up keys for a crazy price even then very few people bought them. They then placed blame on key-farming rather than the BL chests themselves and decided to do something about it. Their fail logic is a bit silly this time. It’s the chests that are the problem, Anet. If the keys were WORTH buying, we would.

Free to play comes in and they change a 3 year old drop rate? Of course they’re connected.

How would it have anything to do with f2p when they can’t do anything but purchase the weapons? It’s not like they can affect the market. And if anet cared about people getting keys easily they wouldn’t of kept it that way for 3 years. It wouldn’t be just to SPITE f2p. I am fully firm on it having to do with the sale. Logically it’s the only thing sound.

Free accounts can farm keys
Free accounts can buy skins
Free accounts can mail those skins
A hub account (paid) can sell them

This is how

CandyHearts.6025:

Cichol.7856:

I feel what they should’ve done is just restrict F2P accounts from obtaining keys via keyfarming (or atleast 1 key – per week). Them doing this to vets is another kick in the teeth, I still feel salty I have to pay for the game twice (and no i didn’t receive the free character slot Arena-net feels can make up for this). I love the game but each time they scheme makes the game more and more of a turnoff.

I really don’t believe f2p is the issue here. I think the sale we just had was them testing the market. When they put up keys for a crazy price even then very few people bought them. They then placed blame on key-farming rather than the BL chests themselves and decided to do something about it. Their fail logic is a bit silly this time. It’s the chests that are the problem, Anet. If the keys were WORTH buying, we would.

Free to play comes in and they change a 3 year old drop rate? Of course they’re connected.

ZudetGambeous.9573:

Seems like an awesome change to me. Key farming was never intended, keys are supposed to be a major contribution to their gem store sales, but were being significantly undermined by key farming.

Hopefully with the restrictions in place they can increase the drop rates in the chests now so people will buy keys again.

Why do players hope a company sucks micro transaction dollars from players? Is the game buy to play or free to premium in your mind.

This event was designed to not add gold to the economy that is why it’s not popular. A mindless zerg fest is tolerated if players are rewarded (see the last 3 years).

This is the 1st event post FTP and I’m happy that my fellow players wholeheartedly rejected the grind for no reward concept.

1. Mobs drop loot (no exceptions)
2. Short term events must have achievable goals
3. Boring / repetivive events are only ok if the rewards are worth it.

And this hasn’t been merged into the main thread, I wonder why? I also bought the game 3 years ago and that granted lifetime ownership of my game key necessary to play GW2 and while I welcome all new players to the game I’m not happy my B2P game is F2P

Inculpatus cedo.9234:

Bog Otter and Wooden Potatoes play!

Bog Otter? Sorry the OP asked about celebrities.

Quarktastic.1027:

Aidenwolf.5964:

briggah.7910:

Aidenwolf.5964:

This was our (reward? Bribe? Pacifier?) for paying money for the game that is now free? It’s a decent outfit not something I would’ve purchased or am likely to use but thanks for the gesture.

No the reward was all the memories you’ve had through 40 content updates for FREE.. This was just the cherry on top.

Nothing was free I paid to play

I’m going to assume you’re the type of person who probably has around 4000 total hours played.

So for every dollar you spent on the core game (assuming $60 at launch) you got nearly 67 hours of entertainment. To expect Anet to give you anything at all as compensation is absurd.

$150 pre-order pre launch. The company devalued my purchase to zero forgive me if I’m not alright with that.

Ashen.2907:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Ashen.2907:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Nothing was free I paid to play

Agreed.

And you received what you paid for right ?

I didn’t buy a 3 year access I paid for permanent access to game that requires purchase to play. GW2 is no longer B2P it’s FTP, HoT is B2P (for now).

You paid for ongoing access to GW2.

You have that.

I paid for a key to door which is longer locked

Arcadio.6875:

You pay for access to the game. Price is very much related to that. People pay higher to get in early. Those who don’t feel the price is worth it can come in later. If you get in early but don’t take advantage of your access, that’s your problem. There are many games I could afford but held out on because I realized I wouldn’t have the time to play.

Or play for free… Wait what did I pay for?

Ashen.2907:

OtakuModeEngage.8679:

Its a matter of principle and fairness, of equal worth. content of the same value should be of equal worth. players who invest more money and time in a game, should recieve services equal to the resources they put in. if I’m to pay in more, I should recieve more. if I’m going to recieve the same amount, I shouldn’t have to pay more for it. I’m not saying we vets are entitled to more things then new players, but we certainly arnt entitled to less. and less is what we are getting, THATS the problem.

We are not getting less than new players.

We absolutely are getting less than new players. How do you even write that without laughing? Unless this was meant to be a joke in which case, well done.

Aramil.9503:

Is it true that people are boycotting this because it is overpriced? I’ve got like 20 friends who all play and none of them are preordering. In fact, when I suggested that I was going to preorder they all told me not to and that there was a huge boycott on this game. Can somebody tell me if it’s just my friends or if this is a game-wide occurence?

There are plenty who aren’t buying HoT many who’ve quit altogether and many who want to wait for it to go on sale or some like myself who if they buy will do so from a retailer receive a DVD and a box to ensure Anet make the least amount on my possible purchase.

As for an official boycott who knows, most simply move on to another game without looking back.

Ashen.2907:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Nothing was free I paid to play

Agreed.

And you received what you paid for right ?

I didn’t buy a 3 year access I paid for permanent access to game that requires purchase to play. GW2 is no longer B2P it’s FTP, HoT is B2P (for now).

briggah.7910:

Aidenwolf.5964:

This was our (reward? Bribe? Pacifier?) for paying money for the game that is now free? It’s a decent outfit not something I would’ve purchased or am likely to use but thanks for the gesture.

No the reward was all the memories you’ve had through 40 content updates for FREE.. This was just the cherry on top.

Nothing was free I paid to play

This was our (reward? Bribe? Pacifier?) for paying money for the game that is now free? It’s a decent outfit not something I would’ve purchased or am likely to use but thanks for the gesture.

TJgalon.5012:

There really is no reason for all this hate. The restriction are pretty good, the security is tighter then it ever been, lets welcome the new players, and be the friendly people we are supposed to be,.

I’m not an employee I’m a customer who has paid to play the game. A B2P that’s gone F2P but is still asking for another box sale? Madness

gooeykat.1875:

BolkovonHarnfeldt.1372:

I think one of the problems is that they – at least subjectively – continue to devalue the core game for players who do not want to buy the expansion (yet).
I’m not saying that devaluation is real but I can certainly see why people would perceive it as such.
Basically: if you don’t own HoT you are kind of 2nd class from now on (no new content, class development probably geard towards elite specializations etc.)

Come again, no new content for the core game?

Living Story will be in HoT I believe is the arguement

Kormeg.2469:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Kormeg.2469:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Kormeg.2469:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Gaile Gray.6029:

Mortifer.2946:

Sorry I was so sceptic. I have just created the F2P account and it looks like everything will be fine. No bot spamming, no gold selling, no changes to major things in trading post. I really like it. The restriction for free players are not restricting them from enjoying all the aspects of the game…. and if they want to join the community, they can either level up their ranks and levels, or buy the game.

Bravo ArenaNet.

I just shared this post with the team. Thank you for looking at this objectively and for sharing your thoughts. As one of our team said, “We really did think about this a lot.”

Objectively because it’s pro FTP or in general? Looking at this from my pov as objectively as I can it seems incredibly offensive. I purchased a GW2 collector’s edition at launch (pre order) and have bought an account for my wife (not $10) and we’re asked to purchae HoT for the same price as a new player who’ll get GW2 and HoT for the same money, while you now give away GW2 for free.

Going free to play while selling a paid expansion and continuing your gem store centrism feels shady. I haven’t pre purchased and I’m now glad I didn’t if I buy HoT I might do so through a box retailer, sure I’ll lose my free character slot but it will profit Anet less than buying digital it’s a small thing but it’s how I’ll show my displeasure should I continue

I really really don’t get this mentality. You paid for something and have been using it fine for 3 years, they now offer a restricted/incomplete for free to other ppl as a means to get them interested and you are ‘offended’.

Really, you take offense to other people being given something nice that won’t significantly affect you?

You’ve had a 3 year leg up on them, and have received content updates for free that they’ll have to pay for to experience. Whatever. People will find anything to be ‘offended’ by nowadays.

I paid for lifetime access paid for those “free” updates I cannot stand when someone confuses a BTP with a FTP model, I received nothing in GW2 for free.

Ok, fair point. But now HoT is here, and you haven’t paid for that yet, but what…you deserve that for free too? Or at a discount? or not even, just as long as those new players pay just as much as you did on a depreciated product. That’ll make you feel better.

What I own, my lifetime access which is what B2P means is now worthless and you think I’m jumping in the HoT train? I’ll wait

I really don’t care what you’re decision is regarding HoT. All i wanted to figure out is if there was any motive to your original comment besides not wanting new people to save money. Apparently not.

Your lifetime access allowed you to get living story season 1 and 2 – something free players won’t have unless I’m mistaken. And you were never supposed to have ‘lifetime access’, at least not in the sense of anything other than the core game. If that’s what you thought you should have been complaining that HoT wasn’t just free right off the bat.

If you don’t care don’t comment. My opinion as paying customer is my own. I paid for lifetime access which was the only reason I was able to play GW2 now it’s FTP what did I pay for?

maddoctor.2738:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Kormeg.2469:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Kormeg.2469:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Gaile Gray.6029:

Mortifer.2946:

Sorry I was so sceptic. I have just created the F2P account and it looks like everything will be fine. No bot spamming, no gold selling, no changes to major things in trading post. I really like it. The restriction for free players are not restricting them from enjoying all the aspects of the game…. and if they want to join the community, they can either level up their ranks and levels, or buy the game.

Bravo ArenaNet.

I just shared this post with the team. Thank you for looking at this objectively and for sharing your thoughts. As one of our team said, “We really did think about this a lot.”

Objectively because it’s pro FTP or in general? Looking at this from my pov as objectively as I can it seems incredibly offensive. I purchased a GW2 collector’s edition at launch (pre order) and have bought an account for my wife (not $10) and we’re asked to purchae HoT for the same price as a new player who’ll get GW2 and HoT for the same money, while you now give away GW2 for free.

Going free to play while selling a paid expansion and continuing your gem store centrism feels shady. I haven’t pre purchased and I’m now glad I didn’t if I buy HoT I might do so through a box retailer, sure I’ll lose my free character slot but it will profit Anet less than buying digital it’s a small thing but it’s how I’ll show my displeasure should I continue

I really really don’t get this mentality. You paid for something and have been using it fine for 3 years, they now offer a restricted/incomplete for free to other ppl as a means to get them interested and you are ‘offended’.

Really, you take offense to other people being given something nice that won’t significantly affect you?

You’ve had a 3 year leg up on them, and have received content updates for free that they’ll have to pay for to experience. Whatever. People will find anything to be ‘offended’ by nowadays.

I paid for lifetime access paid for those “free” updates I cannot stand when someone confuses a BTP with a FTP model, I received nothing in GW2 for free.

Ok, fair point. But now HoT is here, and you haven’t paid for that yet, but what…you deserve that for free too? Or at a discount? or not even, just as long as those new players pay just as much as you did on a depreciated product. That’ll make you feel better.

What I own, my lifetime access which is what B2P means is now worthless and you think I’m jumping in the HoT train? I’ll wait

The core game was already free for anyone who bought HoT. It’s the same discussion all over again.

Wasn’t happy with that AT ALL but this is entirely different. Those people were getting noted for their money than existing players but they were paying for access to a BTP game. This FTP move invalidates my purchase of GW2 as everyone has access for free.

Kormeg.2469:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Kormeg.2469:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Gaile Gray.6029:

Mortifer.2946:

Sorry I was so sceptic. I have just created the F2P account and it looks like everything will be fine. No bot spamming, no gold selling, no changes to major things in trading post. I really like it. The restriction for free players are not restricting them from enjoying all the aspects of the game…. and if they want to join the community, they can either level up their ranks and levels, or buy the game.

Bravo ArenaNet.

I just shared this post with the team. Thank you for looking at this objectively and for sharing your thoughts. As one of our team said, “We really did think about this a lot.”

Objectively because it’s pro FTP or in general? Looking at this from my pov as objectively as I can it seems incredibly offensive. I purchased a GW2 collector’s edition at launch (pre order) and have bought an account for my wife (not $10) and we’re asked to purchae HoT for the same price as a new player who’ll get GW2 and HoT for the same money, while you now give away GW2 for free.

Going free to play while selling a paid expansion and continuing your gem store centrism feels shady. I haven’t pre purchased and I’m now glad I didn’t if I buy HoT I might do so through a box retailer, sure I’ll lose my free character slot but it will profit Anet less than buying digital it’s a small thing but it’s how I’ll show my displeasure should I continue

I really really don’t get this mentality. You paid for something and have been using it fine for 3 years, they now offer a restricted/incomplete for free to other ppl as a means to get them interested and you are ‘offended’.

Really, you take offense to other people being given something nice that won’t significantly affect you?

You’ve had a 3 year leg up on them, and have received content updates for free that they’ll have to pay for to experience. Whatever. People will find anything to be ‘offended’ by nowadays.

I paid for lifetime access paid for those “free” updates I cannot stand when someone confuses a BTP with a FTP model, I received nothing in GW2 for free.

Ok, fair point. But now HoT is here, and you haven’t paid for that yet, but what…you deserve that for free too? Or at a discount? or not even, just as long as those new players pay just as much as you did on a depreciated product. That’ll make you feel better.

What I own, my lifetime access which is what B2P means is now worthless and you think I’m jumping in the HoT train? I’ll wait

Kormeg.2469:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Gaile Gray.6029:

Mortifer.2946:

Sorry I was so sceptic. I have just created the F2P account and it looks like everything will be fine. No bot spamming, no gold selling, no changes to major things in trading post. I really like it. The restriction for free players are not restricting them from enjoying all the aspects of the game…. and if they want to join the community, they can either level up their ranks and levels, or buy the game.

Bravo ArenaNet.

I just shared this post with the team. Thank you for looking at this objectively and for sharing your thoughts. As one of our team said, “We really did think about this a lot.”

Objectively because it’s pro FTP or in general? Looking at this from my pov as objectively as I can it seems incredibly offensive. I purchased a GW2 collector’s edition at launch (pre order) and have bought an account for my wife (not $10) and we’re asked to purchae HoT for the same price as a new player who’ll get GW2 and HoT for the same money, while you now give away GW2 for free.

Going free to play while selling a paid expansion and continuing your gem store centrism feels shady. I haven’t pre purchased and I’m now glad I didn’t if I buy HoT I might do so through a box retailer, sure I’ll lose my free character slot but it will profit Anet less than buying digital it’s a small thing but it’s how I’ll show my displeasure should I continue

I really really don’t get this mentality. You paid for something and have been using it fine for 3 years, they now offer a restricted/incomplete for free to other ppl as a means to get them interested and you are ‘offended’.

Really, you take offense to other people being given something nice that won’t significantly affect you?

You’ve had a 3 year leg up on them, and have received content updates for free that they’ll have to pay for to experience. Whatever. People will find anything to be ‘offended’ by nowadays.

I paid for lifetime access paid for those “free” updates I cannot stand when someone confuses a BTP with a FTP model, I received nothing in GW2 for free.

Ashen.2907:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Gaile Gray.6029:

Mortifer.2946:

Sorry I was so sceptic. I have just created the F2P account and it looks like everything will be fine. No bot spamming, no gold selling, no changes to major things in trading post. I really like it. The restriction for free players are not restricting them from enjoying all the aspects of the game…. and if they want to join the community, they can either level up their ranks and levels, or buy the game.

Bravo ArenaNet.

I just shared this post with the team. Thank you for looking at this objectively and for sharing your thoughts. As one of our team said, “We really did think about this a lot.”

Objectively because it’s pro FTP or in general? Looking at this from my pov as objectively as I can it seems incredibly offensive. I purchased a GW2 collector’s edition at launch (pre order) and have bought an account for my wife (not $10) and we’re asked to purchae HoT for the same price as a new player who’ll get GW2 and HoT for the same money, while you now give away GW2 for free.

Going free to play while selling a paid expansion and continuing your gem store centrism feels shady. I haven’t pre purchased and I’m now glad I didn’t if I buy HoT I might do so through a box retailer, sure I’ll lose my free character slot but it will profit Anet less than buying digital it’s a small thing but it’s how I’ll show my displeasure should I continue

Perhaps because he tested it and based his opinion on the observable results of the testing rather than on preconceived notions. Its about as objective as one can get in a matter such as this.

He’s observed no results he performed 1 test this is an mmo the proof comes when tens of thousands trample in the FTP line and have their fun

Conncept.7638:

Agent Noun.7350:

Conncept.7638:

On the other hand, you got charged for a free game.

No, I didn’t. I bought a game three years ago that has received a rather dramatic price drop today. That’s what happened. What you’re saying is like… if you bought a game on Steam for $60 three years ago, it’s on sale for $5 today, and you start saying, “I got charged $60 for kitten game!” It’s an absurd statement.

The free players coming in today did not get to play for those three years. I did. They also lack a lot of the privileges that I have as a paid player.

Nope, the price was removed, not dropped, that’s the flaw in your analogy. By the same logic you used to claim that you are owed nothing because of the play time you had, you are owed something for the game play you paid for. And frankly, its a stronger argument, GW2 is not a subscription game, you were not charged by time for the game but by content. And now that that exact same content is given away for free, you, he, and all of us were charged for free content.

Agreed. GW2 is a B2P game pay once play forever, now what the hell did I pay for? It’s not a sub game removing the sub and going FTP because in sub games you pay a monthly for access I paid a box price for access.

#Shady

Gaile Gray.6029:

Mortifer.2946:

Sorry I was so sceptic. I have just created the F2P account and it looks like everything will be fine. No bot spamming, no gold selling, no changes to major things in trading post. I really like it. The restriction for free players are not restricting them from enjoying all the aspects of the game…. and if they want to join the community, they can either level up their ranks and levels, or buy the game.

Bravo ArenaNet.

I just shared this post with the team. Thank you for looking at this objectively and for sharing your thoughts. As one of our team said, “We really did think about this a lot.”

Objectively because it’s pro FTP or in general? Looking at this from my pov as objectively as I can it seems incredibly offensive. I purchased a GW2 collector’s edition at launch (pre order) and have bought an account for my wife (not $10) and we’re asked to purchae HoT for the same price as a new player who’ll get GW2 and HoT for the same money, while you now give away GW2 for free.

Going free to play while selling a paid expansion and continuing your gem store centrism feels shady. I haven’t pre purchased and I’m now glad I didn’t if I buy HoT I might do so through a box retailer, sure I’ll lose my free character slot but it will profit Anet less than buying digital it’s a small thing but it’s how I’ll show my displeasure should I continue

Vayne.8563:

You get the core game free EVEN IF YOU HAVE GUILD WARS 2.

You can start a brand new account with the core game and the update, just like any new player.

If you’re not willing to give up your progress, then you should understand why it’s so hard for people to start playing an MMO years in. They’re really far behind.

Anet is trying to remove barriers to entry. WoW does this. EQ does this. This is logical and good business.

But this also benefits players who are already here. Veteran players need new people coming into the game, or their won’t one day be a game.

Seems to me the OP doesn’t really understand the business. Five, six years from now should we make people buy 4 games to get into Guild Wars 2?

By giving new players more than I get for my money (as HoT is 90% GW2 10% expansion) Anet is creating a barrier because I won’t buy it. I haven’t posted in awhile or played for that matter which is a shame since I’ve enjoyed this game.

Many are happy to throw money away but I won’t. Don’t mistake that a lack of anti HoT posting means players have given in, some have simply left.

Ardenwolfe.8590:

Despite everything, I know the majority of us will buy the expansion because of the updates to the game and future Living Story content.

Look at it this way: You’re unlocking future, and free, content.

Don’t get it twisted. The expansion’s content, new class, or fluff are not its biggest selling points. Access to future Living Story, Seasonal, and Special Events episodes, achievements, and rewards are.

You don’t pay for free things now do you? If it’s free later but requires payment to unlock, it was never free

You can claim I’m not paying for the base game again until you’re blue, the fact is that all 3 bundles contain it and I am not discounted for what I already own. I never double buy software and that’s that. Until I see a package that recognizes I already own the game I see no need to upgrade my software (at least to early adopt).

MordekaiZeyo.7318:

Gazareth.7230:

Unfortunately it seems it’s not as easy as DX12/64-bit to solve GW2’s performance issues.

Here is a post an engine programmer made on the GW2 subreddit:

http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/3ajnso/bad_optimalization_in_gw2/csdnn3n

The problem is apparently not something that can be solved by APIs, but by the lower-level code itself. It was not programmed to work in parallel, so even if you make it multithreaded, those different threads all try to access the same data at once, and have to wait their turn.

One thing that stood out to me though, was that the developer said the main stack is the bottleneck. This doesn’t line up with the story about the different threads having to queue for memory access. I am wondering if, despite this developer’s claims, DX12 would relieve the main stack bottleneck by reducing the impact of the rendering stack/draw calls. But I am not a programmer, I am just speculating there.

A good speculation.

That’s DirectX 12 what you are talked about approximately… the rendering stack are spreaded from single cpu core to multi core to reduce the latency and increases the maximum possibly amount of draw calls per sec. (depends on which CPU and GPU model are used). The GPU have not to wait for the CPU.

I have attached a screenshot from 3DMark Advanced Edition with Windows 10.
I had noticed a very huge FPS improvement at the beginning of a scene during the test.
DirectX 11 was mostly less than 80 FPS while DirectX12 exploded the 300 FPS barrier.
There is no DirectX9 test sadly. I think it’s lesser than DirectX 11.

Guild Wars 2 during World Bosses/WvW uses a lot of draw calls per sec that can not be solved with DirectX9.0c due of single threaded utilization. DirectX 11 Multi threading would help but the biggest impact is DirectX12.

My 8 core CPU crossfired GPUs and 8 gigs of high speed ram approve. DX 12 should be in Anet’s plans if the game wants to move into the future.

I waste a ton of ram playing GW2 and most of my CPU and half of my GPUs due solely to the fact that the game is 32 bit and not multi thread. It’s a shiny coat of paint on an old school engine.

Ayrilana.1396:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Ayrilana.1396:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Ayrilana.1396:

Kityn.8247:

Ayrilana.1396:

Kityn.8247:

Extremely horrible pricing model. Paying for something that you already own. I don’t care that GW2 core game comes ‘free’ with HoT. You are basically throwing away an entire account. Current GW2 owners should get something when they purchase HoT other than a throw away account. I would be happy if 2000 Gems came with it.

You’re not paying for something you already own. It’s a free bonus for new accounts/characters.

Then why does it feel like it? And why does so many people agree with me on this?

They don’t understand how sales/promotions work? It’s the same people that would say that a buy one get one 50% off means that each item is 25% off regardless even if you buy only 1. It’s the same people who thing candy single candy bar is half price when you buy only one during a buy 2 get 2 free sale.

Giving the core game is a way to get new players into the game which is important for any MMO. They market the product so that all new accounts from now on will get the core game, plus all previous expansions, by purchasing the latest expansion. Anyone can take advantage of this regardless as to whether they are a new player or veteran so long as they follow the criteria outlined in the promotion.

You also have companies that repackage products together. You often see this with GOTY editions which contain the core game along with all of the expansions. The value that players had when they first bought the game and expansions at their original price is not diminished when someone purchases the GOTY edition at a lower cost.

I understand very well how pricing works and I’ll enlighten you. The base game is in all 3 bundles meaning a new player is getting a buy one get one free software package while current players get only HoT.

While this makes it easier and more desirable for a new player to get into the game it’s sending a message to current players that we’re a given to buy it so pay up. I own GW2 so I can continue without HoT I’m not a 100% guaranteed sale for Anet.

Yeah, I know the core game is included as a free bonus for new accounts in all three packages. Yes, it does equate to a buy one get one free situation more or less. I’ve stated this before and it’s fairly obvious.

It’s generally easier to get players who are already playing the game to purchase an e passion compared to new players. There’s nothing wrong with trying to focus on being new players to the game and this doesn’t mean that they’re neglecting existing players.

What is does mean is that New players are getting a far better deal than existing players. I’m being urged to buy a bad deal, that’s the issue.

Yeah. And as in one of the examples that I gave, those who only buy one item in a buy 2 get 2 free deal are getting a worse deal that those that take up the offer. That’s kind of how it works. I have also brought up when they sold the game for $10 kne weekend or sold the deluxe upgrade for half price. All vet players who bought those at full price got the worst deal.

I do have a question for you though. If the prices for all three packages were reduced by $20, would you have any issue at all?

I don’t believe that’s possible as NCSoft priced the expac. Minus the core game the expansion should be between $30- $40 and I’m being generous. I can wait as can others.

Ayrilana.1396:

Aidenwolf.5964:

Ayrilana.1396:

Kityn.8247:

Ayrilana.1396:

Kityn.8247:

Extremely horrible pricing model. Paying for something that you already own. I don’t care that GW2 core game comes ‘free’ with HoT. You are basically throwing away an entire account. Current GW2 owners should get something when they purchase HoT other than a throw away account. I would be happy if 2000 Gems came with it.

You’re not paying for something you already own. It’s a free bonus for new accounts/characters.

Then why does it feel like it? And why does so many people agree with me on this?

They don’t understand how sales/promotions work? It’s the same people that would say that a buy one get one 50% off means that each item is 25% off regardless even if you buy only 1. It’s the same people who thing candy single candy bar is half price when you buy only one during a buy 2 get 2 free sale.

Giving the core game is a way to get new players into the game which is important for any MMO. They market the product so that all new accounts from now on will get the core game, plus all previous expansions, by purchasing the latest expansion. Anyone can take advantage of this regardless as to whether they are a new player or veteran so long as they follow the criteria outlined in the promotion.

You also have companies that repackage products together. You often see this with GOTY editions which contain the core game along with all of the expansions. The value that players had when they first bought the game and expansions at their original price is not diminished when someone purchases the GOTY edition at a lower cost.

I understand very well how pricing works and I’ll enlighten you. The base game is in all 3 bundles meaning a new player is getting a buy one get one free software package while current players get only HoT.

While this makes it easier and more desirable for a new player to get into the game it’s sending a message to current players that we’re a given to buy it so pay up. I own GW2 so I can continue without HoT I’m not a 100% guaranteed sale for Anet.

Yeah, I know the core game is included as a free bonus for new accounts in all three packages. Yes, it does equate to a buy one get one free situation more or less. I’ve stated this before and it’s fairly obvious.

It’s generally easier to get players who are already playing the game to purchase an e passion compared to new players. There’s nothing wrong with trying to focus on being new players to the game and this doesn’t mean that they’re neglecting existing players.

What is does mean is that New players are getting a far better deal than existing players. I’m being urged to buy a bad deal, that’s the issue.

Purple Miku.7032:

This game doesn’t need to reflect things happening in real life constantly, especially when it only affects ~10% of the population of one country in the world.

Well…. You could also say up to 10% of the world’s population or roughly twice the total population of the United States 700 million people. Ya, not big enough.

Odyssey.2613:

Dear Social Justice Warriors,

Please stop trying to turn this game into a big political message.

This game has enough problems without having to be further dragged down by political correctness.

Sincerely,
Everyone who just wants to play the game.

Dear “everyone”, I’d buy a rainbow dye and wear it though I’m not gay and prefer black dyes. That’s a sale for Anet and cash is king. Today is an important day in history and I’ll support it.

Rainbows are cool

Ayrilana.1396:

Kityn.8247:

Ayrilana.1396:

Kityn.8247:

Extremely horrible pricing model. Paying for something that you already own. I don’t care that GW2 core game comes ‘free’ with HoT. You are basically throwing away an entire account. Current GW2 owners should get something when they purchase HoT other than a throw away account. I would be happy if 2000 Gems came with it.

You’re not paying for something you already own. It’s a free bonus for new accounts/characters.

Then why does it feel like it? And why does so many people agree with me on this?

They don’t understand how sales/promotions work? It’s the same people that would say that a buy one get one 50% off means that each item is 25% off regardless even if you buy only 1. It’s the same people who thing candy single candy bar is half price when you buy only one during a buy 2 get 2 free sale.

Giving the core game is a way to get new players into the game which is important for any MMO. They market the product so that all new accounts from now on will get the core game, plus all previous expansions, by purchasing the latest expansion. Anyone can take advantage of this regardless as to whether they are a new player or veteran so long as they follow the criteria outlined in the promotion.

You also have companies that repackage products together. You often see this with GOTY editions which contain the core game along with all of the expansions. The value that players had when they first bought the game and expansions at their original price is not diminished when someone purchases the GOTY edition at a lower cost.

I understand very well how pricing works and I’ll enlighten you. The base game is in all 3 bundles meaning a new player is getting a buy one get one free software package while current players get only HoT.

While this makes it easier and more desirable for a new player to get into the game it’s sending a message to current players that we’re a given to buy it so pay up. I own GW2 so I can continue without HoT I’m not a 100% guaranteed sale for Anet.