Guild Wars 2

Thanx for the encouraging words, satkis, just let me add a small correction:
Fakt is, we do have three ladders at the moment.
NA, EU and International/worldwide, which still has to be announced officially by ANet.
I do not mind this at all, I truly wish all the best to all servers, just wanted to mention it

lion, if you check EN-forums about the history of RUIN, you wouldn’t be surprised at all. Before they came over here for cheap nightcapping, they made a lot of “friends” over there, not just because they were hopping servers only to find out that they would never be in T1 / NA (that was when they all of a sudden discovered the fact, that GW2 is an international game…), no, over there they were allready shining with all sort of comments and an attitude that in the end even forced them to make an “official” apologize. You think they should have changed that behaviour when they swapped ladders? Think again.
Just a shame that they RUIN a servers reputation…

“…well, the original Arborstone players that is, not those imported…etc”
This, written by a Desolation member, made my day – thanx.

Wow, Desolation beeing attacked by BOTH servers? Shocking.
Why the french servers don’t do it the Desolation way:
They see that two servers/zergs are having a battle. They do not move in and try to take advantage of the situation, no they step back, wait until that battle is over. Then they send a pm to the winner: Are you done now? May we have our turn now? You want to refresh and rebuff first, maybe? When they get the O.K. from the opponents commander, that is when they start fighting, not a second earlier. We all should learn from that respectfull and fair behavior, that also reflects in many posts by Desolation members.

Most annoying thing to me?
ANet putting up two ladders in the first place instead of just one worldwide ladder.
ingame I agree – it’s the rendering issue.

steamrolled? Yes.
impressed? Far from it.

Epilogue
or
where we are, where will we go

Elona paid a price for the T1 efford. Commanders were exhausted far over the limit – and with no good commanders you are lost. Players were out of fuel, too.
We simply didn’t have the manpower to keep up that constant nightshift, plus many of us needed sort of a break now that we “made it”.
The result was: we got kicked outta T1 straight.
This leads me to another point:
Keep it cool, fellowplayer. Dont push it over the limits of yours. You might loose all the fun you had the weeks before. At least that is what almost happened to me. You are not T1? So what?
Did you come here to be T1 or to have fun and balanced competition?
Ask that question to the man in the mirror, when you find yourself with shadows around your tired eyes.

Elona by now is in the fitting bracket, as I see it. I have fun and that is what I came here for.
Let me quote Marv here:
“The killing? No fun. Everything before the killing will be a gas.”

You made it all through that wall of text?
Respect.
You can make it everywhere, even out there on the battlefields.

Greetings

Poke Menot
Asura thief
Elona’s Reach

Elona rising
or
the astonishing success of an average server

What Elona did, was this: we started scouting, we improved the communication between the maps, we learned using tactics other servers used against us with success (famous example: mesmer portals, wich some of our commanders improved to an astonishing grade of perfection, in the middle of a big fight, e.g.).
What also happened was: The structures in general got better and better. Commanders got better, more and more people joined the TS, the discipline got better. We were rewarded with a constant way up the ladder, resulting in even more motivation and better gameplay.
Honestly, nobody really thought we could make it to T1, until it really happened.
What I did that time was: scouting (no baggies for me but I never felt useless). Defending towers (not that much fun, but also very important). capping supply-camps (did I mention, they are important?). And kicking a** when I felt like having some fun. Through the weeks my personal gameplay had improved a lot, and by than I was able and willing to pick up a fight even when beeing slightly outnumbered. I did learn: it’s not allways the number, it sometimes is the balls.
Talking bout numbers: nightcapping was allready a big theme in the forums at that time, and for good reason. We got nightcapped, we did it ourselves, we learned that with no nightshift it doesn’t matter how “good” you are. No nightshift, no win, simple as that.
When Elona realised that there might be a chance to even make it to T1, we invented a constant nightshift, there was no way around it.
Lucky us, with the rise of our server we had a growing income of WTJ, and that indeed helped a lot.
On the other hand, looking back, it somehow stopped the constant evolution of Elona.
I mention that, because I see a lot of posts and threads concerning this exact issue nowadays, but be aware: lot’s of new players on your server will not only do good.
My personal experience, when Elona was about to make it from T2 to T1 was this: Hordes of immature kiddies floating the TS, almost destroying the structures we had developed over the weeks. Brambling about weapon skins and letting each other know about their fight against this necro down there at the ruins. Lots of new kids on the block hopping the TS with the ultimate plan to win at hand and not willing to just shut up and listen to what the commander was saying. Important commanders not able to join in because of massive qeueing.
Those were the days when my nerves became rather thin, and I am known as a polite person.
I tell you that, because I want you to be prepared.
If you are member of a server on the way up: be prepared. The WTJ will come and they will cause problems.
Just keep in mind: they will leave, too. Sooner or later, rest assured.

Well, we did make it to T1, we even managed to win the first week. We learned that there was no massive canadian nightshift on french servers (unlike many warnings we received before meeting them on the battlefield), and we also learned that the two french servers do not work together against a third (exception: the final day of the matchup, but by than it made no more difference, to us that was). Don’t be fooled by all those it’s 2v1 threads – not just concerning bracket 1 – 95% of them is trolling or misunderstanding of WvWvW strategies.

Getting into it
or
things I had to learn

As you could allready see, I was the perfect noob back then, but I also knew :
Everybody starts as a perfect noob, it’s just up to you to change that state of yours.

What I did, was: I started reading the forums. I learned basic things about WvWvW, and I learned basic things about playing a thief in WvWvW. I digged through guides of all kind, I got a taste of the flaming and hating you will only find on WvWvW forums. Most of those flames were not meant in a friendly “let’s poke the opponents abit” – way. Most of these flames were written by immature kids with no respect for other players or servers, trying to make themselve look like the unbeatable masters, who got kicked to the dust just by cheating, hacking, outnumbering. Sounds familiar to you? Right, this didn’t change and never will, you better learn to live with it. What you CAN do about it, is not hopping on that train, be a role model for mentally younger gamers/posters.
Back to the battlefields:
I learned about those Dolyaks, I learned why to check this strange barrel-symbol on top of my screen, and I learned why supply-camps are so important if you want to win a fight or keep a garrison. I learned why it is no good idea to take supplies from inside the towers and why it makes sense to pay a visit to those strange toads living in the middle of the see evey now and then. I learned the map. I learned a lot about playing a thief effectively (and No, I never played glasscannon, and never regretted this decision) in WvWvW. I learned were to place those trebus and the other siege weapons. I learned about those orbs and the jumping-puzzles…
You see, I learned a lot, but rest assured, it didn’ take that long, all it took was a certain degree of dedication.
After about two weeks of constantly beeing in the battlegrounds I was sort of an average-player.
But the most important thing I learned was : if there is a TS were the majority of the players are – move your bloody a** right there.
To me this decision changed my gaming experience totally.
All of a sudden, I understood much better, what was going on, why Ze Zerg is on a special destination, what they want to achieve there and how they are trying to do so.
You think, all this comes to you by reading and posting in the map chat? Frankly, I thought so too, but it is flat out wrong.
My biggest mistake, looking back, was to join that TS not right from the beginning.
My advice to you is: join the TS, mute the micro and just listen. I am not talking hours here, I am talking days, Trust me, you will not regret it.

Well, at that time Elona discovered the nightcapping. Another server used to wipe the floor with us during nighttime, and we faced a real problem.
What happened was: we organised. maps got “handed” to special guilds, guild leaders had serious meetings and talked strategies. Aside that, one result was we started building up a nightforce. Astonishing enough, it worked out immediatly.

Prologue
or
What is the purpose of this wall of text?

For those of you, who see themselves allready as “pro’s” in WvWvW, the following might be not that much interesting. You may skip and head on to the next thread. The people I want to adress here, are the newcomers and those who are just curious what is going on in WvWvW. I want to encourage them to give it a try and to not give up when things are confusing and sort of disencouraging. I think the best way to do so is to tell them my personal experience.
This is not a guide in the true meaning of the word, but it might help you handling things that lay ahead.
Please keep in mind, that all the following is totally personal. I do not speak for my server (Elona’s Reach), I do not speak for my guild.
Other people might have completely different opinions on the subjects I will handle.
All I hope, is to make you curious enough to give it a shot yourselfs.
Because, all the flaming and hating in many of the threads concerning WvWvW aside, it is a whole lotta fun and you might miss something if you skip it.
That said, let’s kick it and start with

The beginning

I didn’t start WvWvW right from day one for different reasons. First, I am a member of a guild that exist since the ancient days of DAoC. We went through many MMO’s, including WoW, RIFT, SWTOR and GW1, for sure. So I tended to experience GW2 side by side with my fellow-members, and that meant we went through PvE stuff the first weeks. Not that I mind, we had loads of fun.
But it was allways clear that sooner or later we would join the battlefields, because all of us had great hopes in that part of GW2 (remember – we have been in DAoC for quite some time).
After about two weeks in the game we started with WvWvW, and this is how it was to me:

I hopped in and the first thing I thought was : Dayem, these maps are BIG and confusing. How am I ever supposed to get a grip on that? But I am a tough little Asura, so I went for it and just started running around and keeping my eyes open. By then we used to be in our guilds TS, and we all were perfectly fine with it. It still was playing with my guildies, and we were sure we could contribute as a small group rather than joining the WvWvW TS that was posted in the map chat every 15 minutes. Needles to say, we got our a**sses kicked pretty frequently, not because of the TS, but because we had no clue how to fight in WvWvW and we met others that were allready a few weeks ahead experiencewise.
Elona was a mid-bracket server at that time, and looking back I can say, Elona was right were it belonged.
Me, I simply had no idea what the supplycamps were good for, why everyone wanted to lay hands on these mysterious orbs, and why people got mad at me when I went out to kick the worms butt. I made a fool out of myself by asking what this blue sign on top of one char meant (no, it was not the “looking for group” sign) and when there was a command in mapchat saying “everybody to the hill, we have massive income”, it took me some searching on the map to just find that dayem hill. When I arrived there, the party was over, most of the time.
You see, I had lots to learn. Thing is, I was willing to.

all thumbs up for voice twitching and music – you made my day, thanx:)

I am reading alot (and writing, sometimes) on the DE and EN forums, and by now I still miss the answers to some very basic questions I personally have:

Why did ANet put up two ladders?

Is it because they wanted NA guilds to join english-speaking servers on EU? I frankly doubt that.

Why are NA guilds joining english speaking EU servers at all, instead of giving the best for the servers the run from?

Is it because all of a sudden they discovered that GW2 is an international game? I doubt that, too. If that would be the case, where have they been in the beginning?
Famous example (not the only one for future times): Desolatioin / RUIN. Where was RUIN in “the old days”? I have full respect for Desolation players who gave all they had for the server back then. I also have full understanding for NA guilds to join english speaking EU servers now, cause this is the way you have to go if you want to play in T1. But do not expect me to give respect to them. Aside this kitteni attitude “we are Desolation, everybody wants to kick us, we hold the ground 1vs2 blabla”. To me all you do is ruining Desolations reputation.

and the most important question to me:

What’s so cool about beeing in T1?

Just to tell to your friends: look, I am member of worlds best server? I say worlds best, because I often read in the EN forums that the EU servers are better organised, more competetive and such. I cannot judge this, cause I never played on a NA server, and never will.

On my server we allready know we will never stand a chance to compete in T1, just because we lack the 24/7 manpower. To us there is allready an unofficial ladder: T1, the international servers, and then the others. I say: so what? As long as we have good competition, I am perfectly fine with this. I wouldn’t mind playing in T8, as long as we get kicked our a**es and can pay back.

I will be playing WvWvW on and on, cause basically to me it’s a bunch of fun.
I see ANet somehow messed it up – not that I care.
But can someone maybe enlighten me and answer these questions I have?

Metixo:
You are welcome. I had a good time, too. People kicked me to the ground like they got payed for it, and there was allways action whenever I came around a corner.
Or, like Marv in Sin City used to say:
“The killing? No fun. Everything that comes before the killing will be a gas”.

Gratz to Desolation from an Elona-Player (seriously).
You were the first ones to show ANet that the separation of NA and EU-servers is worth nothing. I guess you will stay in th T1 for quite some time, because mostlikely you are covering 24/7 on all maps by now (or soon you will).
We as a german server will never have the chance to accomplish that, but me personal I am fine with that. I don’t care which tier we play in, as long as we have a good competition.
Just some advice: take care of having enough dedicated as well as educated – meaning they know what they do – commanders on your server, because the more WTJ players will join (and I can see that wave allready starting), the more problems you will face with having those commanders on the battlefield.
Secondly: keep your feet on the ground. Because sooner or later you will face servers like yours (Blacktide seems to try to head the same road, e.g.) and that will be the time when you will have to proove yourself.
Wish you the best for the future, a shame we will never have a real competition between the two of us, I would have loved to see what wood you really are made of – but that train left the station long ago.
Keep it respectfull, and you will be respected. Act like children, and people will have nothing but a tired grin for Desolation.
No offence intended, hope you do not get me wrong, all the best.

Poke Menot
Asura thief
Elona Reach

I have to admit, that I am a little bit astonished about FS performance in this matchup.
We on Elona were pretty excited to meet you again on the battlefield, cause we remembered you as really tough opponents, everyone on Elona said, that you deserved to be in T1.
This week it’s a totally different story, like someone switched off the lights at FS.
Whats up? Are your top commanders exhausted – like ours were a week ago?
Did important guilds leave FS?
All I can say is, I am a bit sad to see a highly respected server go down like this, and I just hope you get back on your feet and kick some a** again.
About the theorie that ER should be T1: I honestly don’t think so. We simply don’t have the manpower to make a stand there in the long run – not that I mind.

Only Chuck Norris is allowed to ride a Yak.

Just wanted to mention, that there is ways to counter the turtle.
When Elona encountered this tactic first time we were taken by surprise, I still can remember.^^
But it took just a few days of trial and error to get the counter working.
By now we are working on countering the counter

German player here, just my 2c:
Up to now nobody could really explain to me, why for gods sake NA-guilds want to play on EU-servers at all.
In the german forums we had a good laugh when RUIN introduced themselves stating that they come to us for reasons of competition and fighting against good organised european servers. Hello? Anybody home?
First of, that sounded like there was no real competition for RUIN on NA-servers. Ahaa…
Secondly – what competition are they looking for? Kickin NPCass when in europe 90% of the players are deep asleep?
I don’t mind playin’ games and having fun with people from all over the globe, but come on…You want to tell me you did not come to europe because its easy nightcapping over there? And in the end, when other NA-guilds followed that example, RUIN will fight against those players they wanted to get rid off – sort of funny, I think.
Again, I am not xenophobe or anything like that, but I see trouble ahead. People claiming that german players would have to speak english, because english is the worlds language (wrong, imho, but that would be another topic), are arrogant and poor minded. There are lots of german players, who are not capable of speaking english fluently and good enough for this game.
Another thing is the qeues – they will be longer, no matter what.
One more thing (speaking of Elona Reach, where I play on). We have a structure here that was developed over the last weeks of WvW – commanders the people trust in, a community that starts to work together instead of whining at each other. I honestly do not feel the urge to go through that procedure again, and I doubt that NA-guilds would come here and say: OK, we do it your way.
I could rant on for some more time, but basically I still have this question: Why, after all, do NA-guilds want to join european servers?

Poke Menot
Asura Thief
Elona Reach