Guild Wars 2

I work as an IT Administrator for a municipal government. This afternoon a vendor partner was vetting a new product to my team. My IT Director ran a security check against this providers web servers using Qualys SSL Labs. Needless to say, this vendor scored an F on the security and data integrity check. When the vendor attempted to back their product by saying a lot of “online” service providers scored low using Qualys, I immediately stepped in a put in the server address for the GW2 forums. I’m happy to report Qualys rated Anet with an A-.

So in short, thank you Anet for taking the security of our data seriously!

To the people who are harassing Gaile about knowing of this issue a week ago, consider this. While Anet has chosen to look the other way with regards with dataminers, even the beloved That_Shaman, it still doesn’t change the fact that it’s against their EULA. At the end of the day, our game client is still their intellectual property and we are still bound by their EULA. They can place whatever they want in the .dat file – It being there doesn’t supersede their rules on datamining. So in short, get over it and be appreciative that Anet even allows dataminers to post things. In reality, they don’t have to.

Server: NA
I’m in the process of making bolt, which requires A LOT of Deldrimor Steel. I’m not asking for some poor soul to gift all like 100 to me. However, it would be very nice to have some help with the steel. Thank so much! ^.^

From reddit, looks official in the way Anet normally words things…Gaile confirm please?

With the upcoming third raid wing we’ve decided to also address something we’ve felt raids were missing; a form of progression.

But to remain true to our no gear grind philosophy, we’ve decided not to add another tier of gear. Instead we will be adding agony to spirit vale and all future raids!
Our reasoning behind this decision is that raids are the true endgame content, and should be the stage of progression following fractals. Once players exhaust the progression found in fractals it will continue where it left off in raids.

The first boss in a raid wing will now require 150 agony resistance. Once defeated you will gain access to a merchant which will now have higher grade infusions which you can purchase with magnetite shards, which you will need for the later bosses in a wing, the second requiring 165, third requiring 180, and 4th boss, which the final wing in spirit vale will have, requiring 200.

Jockum.1385:

AlphaWolf.2709:

You’ve obviously never read up on social justice. I’d encourage you to do so.

This one?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillory

That’s a bit extreme…lol
No, more the ideals behind social justice. I agree that everyone in DnT may not be terrible people. I know that not all of them are responsible for what happened. However, in situations like this an example has to be made. Anet has to show that it will not tolerate such disregard for sportsmanship or community. In this situation, social justice was the right call. Publicly part ways with DnT as a way to show the community they take sportsmanship and community seriously.

mrstealth.6701:

Zenith.7301:

Zanshin.5379:

Not only did they clear it first thanks to their weeks of testing and bragged about it on their website/twitter/reddit but they also took advantage of it by being able to sell the specific loot from the raid first, therefore setting their own price.

What a bunch of doochebags.

What a ridiculous post.

So, if they put in the effort to clear something, they should just let the items rot in their inventories out of “fairness”?

That is precisely what any guild that respects themselves, the game, the devs, and the community would have done. Either hold off on completing the content until a few other guilds/groups have done it, or least delay selling their rewards until that time.

Taking advantage of early knowledge in order to profit in the live game is akin to insider trading in the real world. If I were in Anet’s position, I would have banned the members doing that. Especially the ones taking it even farther and bragging about it, while making comments that make the raid content appear trivial.

Precisely. DnT has no dignity, humility, or respect. They showed a blatant disregard for sportsmanship.

Jockum.1385:

AlphaWolf.2709:

I don’t understand why Anet is being blamed here.

You don’t fire someone in front of everybody else. That’s just unprofessional.

This wasn’t a job. It wasn’t an internship. It wasn’t a partnership.
It was an agreement to do testing on Anets terms. You’ve obviously never read up on social justice. I’d encourage you to do so.

Nuzt.7894:

So many people are missing the point, Anet is 100% justified and could take actions further if they so chose.

Raiding or Hard Core Raiding is very much a popular game mode across all MMO’s. Those Competitive Guilds do move from game to game to conquer new content very much in the same way that PvP’rs look for new games where they can conquer and become #1 across multiple games.

Now if you are not in the know you wouldn’t have been aware that DnT tested the raids, how many Competitive Raiding Guilds were looking in GW2’s direction for their next slice of pie ? Of those guilds how many will now avoid the game and its raids like the plague because they have received half the story and an extremely important half at that.

These actions have probably cost Anet a good chunk of the Hard Core Raiding community that is out there on the hunt for the “next best thing” I’m of the opinion which ever member(s) were involved should be banned from GW2. Those members directly impacted the running of the business and it’s ability to produce more revenue with their childish ignorant social media posts.

This. So much this. Couldn’t agree more.

I don’t understand why Anet is being blamed here. Compare this situation to Martha Stewart / stock market. In the stock market, having information that isn’t available to the public and using that to gain advantage is insider trading. Translate that to GW2. DnT had access to knowledge for an entire month and used it to their advantage. Now, had DnT not gone public with their “glorious” kill, their use of said information would have been meaningless. However, they used the information to gain publicity and to do something publicly before anyone else would even have a chance. All of this was in poor sportsmanship and against the spirit in which Anet invited them to test. They got exactly what they deserved.

Anyone who thinks this was abusive on Anets part is obviously a pleb. DnT got exactly what they deserved. Its about time Anet stops rolling over for the sake of PR.

So much QQ. Feel free to send me your items and go play another game. HoT is a great expansion, hands down. All of the “I’m burnt out” is only coming from those who didn’t get handed everything immediately with a bow or from those who blaze through everything and no have nothing to do.

Raiders Rage [RAGE] [GW2][PvX][Raids][DB]

With the announcement of Raids coming November 17th, RAGE has decided to start recruiting. We are a small guild – 10 members – of close friends who have played this game since launch. We are looking for GW2 players who enjoy all aspects of GW2, including the soon released raiding content. We have almost no requirements. The few things we do ask are:

Be polite
Be friendly
Be active
Be cooperative
Be open to trying new things

We are almost fully upgraded guild wise. We haven’t claimed a hall yet, as we wanted to do this with a larger group of guildies. We do have a fully operational Raidcall as well!

IM or PM Hades Soulhorn (alphawolf.2709) for an invite. Our family looks forward to adding more to it!

I just wanted to give a shout out to the art devs who designed the bosses in DS, particularly Stavemaster Adryn. I’ve always found the art work in this game to be a wow factor. However, to date only GW2 has left me feeling truly speechless…and creeped out by its character art. The way he moves, the twist of his limbs, his thin malnourished body, and his armor all combines into one truly amazingly well done and creepy character. Being in that map alone makes you feel a sense of impending doom, but seeing that event “Stavemaster Adryn Approaches”…idk. I’m ranting at this point, so well done Anet. You made me feel as if my life were actually in danger in that map!

What a stupid idea to drop it with HOT. If anything has been made obvious since this games launch, it’s that ANET cannot release ANYTHING without breaking much more. So why would you release a festival at the same time you drop the first expansion. Yay, won’t get to play HOT on launch due to server issues, won’t be able to play Halloween because of server issues. Get it together anet.

PATCH IN 10 MIN

@ Gaile – I <3 you so much….but this is really unacceptable.

It has become a normal occurrence with ANET to released bugged events, items, and patches. Is there no QA team at ANET? Also, 5 blooms per 30 minutes? 90 hours to get the top tier of reward with no other rewards? It’s almost offensive if this is what you guys intended, especially for us veteran players who work full time. On top of this all, your response “this could take several days” the event only lasts 4 days… how long does ANET expect us to play unreliable content. Sadly, I’m starting to wonder if I should have waited a month or two after HOT is dropped before I spent $100 on it. Here’s to hoping things get better!

To all the players who have been with the game since Gw1/Gw2 launch and are going on and on about “I’ve been with the game since xyz, I’m so offended, blah blah blah.” :

A. No one forced you to buy the game, you did so because you enjoy it.
B. Offering the original game on a f2p basis opens the door to those who want to try the game but are unsure if the financial investment is worth it. How many times have you bought a game to go, “man I don’t like this game, $50 down the drain.”
C. The accounts have almost no access. They are locked down to a point where they can get the flavor of the game, without disrupting the existing base.
D. Stop acting like GW2/Anet/NCSoft owes you something. At the end of the day, it’s a business. It’s nice when they treat the older players to something nice (the new outfit), but at the end of the day what keeps the game going for US OLDER PLAYERS to KEEP ENJOYING, is new blood/new money.

Keepers of Olympus – KOO is nearly complete with upgrades.

We are a guild focusing on players who are investors, gold hoarders, and dungeon/fractal speed-runners. If you are looking for a guild that has ZERO requirements and that you can utilize for investment/dungeon running help, we are for you!

Missions to come soon!
Guild hall will be FOR SURE.
Raid Call open to members.
18+ and mature only requirements!

Come join and find new players to trade with or cruise through those dungeons SUPER fast!

Note: While we DO NOT turn anyone away, please be mindful that this guild will home a lot of speedy runners. If you ARE NOT comfortable with this, or open to using speedy builds, be sure to think joining over. However, we’re always friendly, no matter what.

Whisper / In-game mail – AlphaWolf.2709

http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/3104n7/extremely_tasteless_joke_considering_recent_events/

The person posting these things on reddit IS NOT ME. My reddit account is AlphaWolf91. I’ve pleaded with reddit to remove the account but they refuse. PLEASE do something about this – it’s affecting me in-game.

Therodin.2970:

AlphaWolf.2709:

Despite my opinion of SAB, I just don’t understand why people can’t understand “no” when it’s being told to them over and over. Anet has already stated SAB isn’t in the current plans. How many times do you have to let yourself down before you believe them? Also, stop hating on Anet when YOU do this to yourselves. They have already given everyone an answer, now believe it or continue to be disappointed. I agree with wanting to know what are we suppose to do in the meantime, but throwing a fit about something anets already told you isn’t the answer.

All of that would make lots of sense except for the infinite continue coin.

It still makes perfect sense. SAB doesn’t fit into the current direction of the game. Not saying its never coming back, but they never promised a date. IF anything, what you can bank on is not any time soon, as they’ve stated. Which is why I don’t get people getting so worked up when it didn’t come today, as anet already hinted it wouldn’t.

Despite my opinion of SAB, I just don’t understand why people can’t understand “no” when it’s being told to them over and over. Anet has already stated SAB isn’t in the current plans. How many times do you have to let yourself down before you believe them? Also, stop hating on Anet when YOU do this to yourselves. They have already given everyone an answer, now believe it or continue to be disappointed. I agree with wanting to know what are we suppose to do in the meantime, but throwing a fit about something anets already told you isn’t the answer.

SO this begs the question then with regards to Chris post:

Are the PVP custom servers dedicated to PVP dailies against the rules? Where one side intentionally lets the other win then next match the losing team will win for dailies. Chris please respond as soon as possible? If this is illegal I’d like to advise my guild as such.

So I’ve been thinking about this for awhile, and have avoided posting because I can only imagine the level of negative feedback that’s going to follow. However, I’m going to post out of hopes ANET reads this and takes it into consideration.

With HOT we are getting the mastery system. From current understanding, you progress through the mastery system by leveling up past level 80. I really hope ANET does not make it possible to pop tomes of knowledge as means to gain mastery points. There are people who have stacks of these, and it will be extremely disappointing to see players fully leveled on day 1. This is just my opinion, looking forward to seeing others constructive feedback!

psizone.8437:

It was just a stress test, there will be other betas. If they add a preorder for the expansion pack, then you can say you “paid for the game” otherwise you’ve just paid for the base game and as it stands you have no more rights than anyone else to play the beta for a paid expansion.

Exactly, tired of seeing people who think they are “entitled” to the xpac/betas. You paid for the BASE game, HOT is new. Therefore, you aren’t owed anything.

First of all, BRAVO Anet. The stress test went smoothly and the artwork is BEAUTIFUL. There ARE things I’ve noted, but I’ll post them in a merged forum. Now, onto the point of my post here:

While anet asked for everyone to post feedback on the forums, I think the true meaning of today was lost in the crossfire. Today was a STRESS TEST, not a full on beta. The purpose of today was to see how their technology handled us. Obviously there are still things to be revealed, obviously things still need work, and even more obviously, they aren’t going to give you everything during a stress test. So, stop complaining about this not being done or how “worst beta ever”. This wasn’t a true beta, it was a stress test and was clearly designated as such. Again, bravo Anet. My hype has never been more real!

Today has been SUCH an awesome day. 1st I got the job with the Google Fiber project, then tonight I just got an email from Anet…I’ve been selected for beta testing. THANK YOU ANET! SO much love tonight!

Dear Arenanet,

While I know its EXTREMELY unlikely you would release the expansion anytime during the 2 week period between April 8th and April 22nd, allow me this moment to kindly request you don’t do anything related to HOT during this point. My reason is this…I just was hired on with the Google Fiber project and I’m Kitten STOKED, and well, while your game is pretty much my life…it doesn’t pay bills. In summary, PLEASE RELEASE EVERYTHING BEFORE APRIL 8TH OR AFTER APRIL 22ND.

Sincerely,

Overly Giggly Alphawolf.2709

P.S. Edit – I’m going to Atlanta April 8th to April 22nd for training!

So this morning I purchased 500 gems for about 70ish gold, which I then used to buy 5 shadow dye packs.

1 Shadow Abyss dye (first drop)
1 Shadow Yellow dye (Second drop)
3 Regular dyes

Thanks for the AMAZING luck/profit!

Just wanted to give the team a heads up, when using the Hall of Monuments portal stone, during the loading screen you are disconnected with an error of: Code=19:9:18:1582:101

The response on this forum is really making me laugh. All of the “hardcore” wvw players complaining about what? The fact that this map isn’t flat? The fact that you have to actually defend something to gain any progress? The fact that you cannot just blob everything? Everything I’ve read in this forum is ridiculous. The point of this map is to break zergs up, force you to defend meaningful objectives, and to add diversity into the game play. I’m sorry but if you want a flat, plain battlefield, go organize a minecraft map and make room for those who want in the map. Anet, thank you for taking wvw and diversifying it. The current BL are BORING, especially on a larger server like TC. It’s the same rotation, Server X takes this, followed by Server Y, followed by Server Z. WvW has never felt meaningful, it’s always which team is smart enough to blob. I’m confident the new map will force blobs to break up and actually play wvw strategically. You don’t have to agree with my opinion, but I do think its a kittenildish to instantly say this map is trash from a 10 minute teaser presentation. Anyone who believes anet divulged every detail is a fool.

Anyone know how to enter the SW maze outside of story?

Figures. They work on this for months and its still shoddy. Oh and a new zerg fest pvp map. Joy.

So…this is REALLY annoying. I’ve progressed to the first stage on the balthazar progression line, now I’m trying to progress on the Arah line and am stuck right before the first box. PLEASE fix.

“With the new dye system, how will dyes be unlocked?”

“Each dye that one of your characters currently has unlocked will become available to every character on your account when you log in with that character. This means that if Character A has Green Dye unlocked, it will not be available to the rest of your characters until you log in with Character A. Once you do that, any character may use the dye.”

Source – https://help.guildwars2.com/entries/45889307-Dyes

You’re the one misunderstanding. ALL dyes your characters have AT THIS MOMENT will be account bound after this patch. It would make zero sense for this new system to only give you account wide dyes from the patch date forward based on what you opened.

Wait…so after this patch I’ll be able to wear heavy looking armor on my Mesmer?

So the prestige of having a legendary is completely gone. We will see level 1 key farmers with legendary weapons and T3 cultural. Tell me ANET, what incentive do we have to keep playing your game?

When you say skins, does this mean I’ll be able to withdraw a legendary for each of my characters (full stats and all) or will it be like the Zenith weapons where it’s a skin that you have to apply over an existing item that has stats?

So I’m feeling very confused about this after today’s blog post. I myself have made Twilight for my mesmer. Does this mean that after the patch I will be able to have a legendary GS on all of my characters simply because I made it once on my mesmer?
Anet some clarification would be awesome!

That makes zero sense..why would they add the notes about it in this patch if it’s not something we can access right now.

Anet – Can someone please give an official response as to when/where/how often this merchant spawns/will spawn/is suppose to spawn?

I’ve been waiting in LA since patch and have not seen the merchant once.

I present my picture of me inside/on the pact airship in LA.

It’s a bug. You’re suppose to get a cutscene when you first enter LA but a lot of people aren’t getting it. Go figure, this huge finale Anet kittend up. Also, don’t get too excited. This “end” is crap.

Sometimes I wonder why Anet hides these hidden gems behind hidden wall or barriers. I present to you, through the wonder of <minor/no exploits/normal game mechanics> map breaking, Rata Sum: The Unseen Gems.

These are screens I’ve taken from the surrounding jungle and other areas around the Asura Capitol. I hope you enjoy!

http://imgur.com/KK8PUAM
http://imgur.com/Z4vK3ut
http://imgur.com/9Kc1WsS
http://imgur.com/2Joye2G
http://imgur.com/RpkcsJq
http://imgur.com/pVrvzhk
http://imgur.com/kQTppFM

Zmaj, I never implied that it should be automatic. Like any reporting system in this game, they would have to VERIFY the leeching activity. However, I strongly feel that once it was verified, action should be taken against the offender.

Carighan – IMO it should be a report option. Then Anet can go back and watch their activity from the past couple of events. If they went into tonic form each time, they are leeching. If they stood in one spot each time, same thing. Anet has the ability to go back and see these things. Just as they have the ability to go back and see chat. Its my understanding that in GW1 it was a bannable offensive to leech ( I didn’t play but I’ve heard from Vet. players) so I’m so curious as to why its not still such in GW2.

Ceph because someone who went to answer life’s call, doesn’t go on and on in map chat about how they want their free loot, or they don’t go into quaggan form and run around the platform telling people in say chat to hurry up.

This question is presented to Anet directly:

Why are you allowing player to intentionally, directly, and pointlessly troll, leech, and negatively impact players who make an effort during these events? I’m so tired of watching people go into tonic form, afk in the “safe corner”, or run around doing nothing and talking about it in map chat to be trolly. Every time I do this Scarlet event there are numerous people trolling in chat about how the map needs to pick up the pace because their afking is becoming boring and they want their “free” loot. So again, as a player who bought your game and has paid, and continues to pay, for gems, I demand to know why this isn’t being dealt with? Players shouldn’t be able to reap the rewards of an event from the work of others.

I agree with this! I have so many keys, cogs, and trinkets from the LS over the last year! Let us spend them some how!

Are these weapons still on sale or is 1 ticket the permanent cost? I cannot seem to find the answer anywhere. Thanks!