Guild Wars 2

Not sure I’m following the use of this build:

Balanced Meditation Roamer (Sw-Sh / GS)
http://tinyurl.com/ce3yw7q

You are saying roamer. I’m reading into this more for WvW would that be correct? What armor set is used and are these builds more for sPvP?

Shield #5 is all around fun no matter where you are. Just last night I followed behind another server in WvWvW who broke through a wall at a tower. Two servers are fighting just before the tower lord and I run up and use #5 It is rather amuzing watching people who don’t have a form of stability up flying off either side of the wall.

Almost has fun as Hammer 4 / Banish.

I wonder if I could tweak this a bit to use mace/shield or sword/shield. I don’t know why I like the shield but I do

Thanks Cameirus btw. I am currently running a 0/10/30/30/0 build varrient and my health is around 14,000 but armor is 2900 or so and a 1,390 healing power. I switch between sword/focus and great sword when I’m roaming solo. Staff, mace and shield in group.

I have a bag full of knights gear in my bank with a hammer from when I was trying a AH/hammer build. I didn’t do well so went with the clearics set. Maybe I’ll try and look at this build on the calc and see what it does. I don’t have zerker weapons though for sure.

18k health pool? Heck, I’m still trying to figure out how you guys/gals get into the 15k range. I’m sitting close at 14,800 or so and feel like I’m roaming solo out in WvWvW using a wet paper bag for armor

I’ll second and third and whatever else number that mace/shield in use means you are support and won’t kill jack But…let me also say that I run a 0/10/30/30/0 build that is all clerics too. So low health (14,800) but high healing power (1,400).

Solo running in WvW I go sword/focus with GS or Staff (depends if I’m in a zerg or not). However, since they added the commadation for guild runs the tower shield looks really good with T3 armor. So….back to mace and shield.

Scepter/shield also works well honestly. Goofing around I’ll use shield 5 and punt people off interesting places. I’ll later target them, party, and remind them that stability is your friend

Teamkiller.4315:

I tried it, and if you’re losing to warriors as a guardian assuming comparable skill level, here’s my hand headed towards the back of your head.

Lol. No idea why this made me giggle but it sure in the hell did.

I, however, would probably be one of the Guardians you are smacking. I’m probably on the lower end of the spectrum in regards to skill so take that for what it is worth though. Still, I lose to my fair share of warriors and thiefs probably more than I should

So please, only do this once to me.

Well the fact of the matter is that both boons and aegis are what make us Guardians, is it not? And while I see both sides of the argument I think we could all agree it is a stupid balance mechanic. Regardless if traiting to obtain them is a tough decision or not.

I would argue that the game has it is today is getting more and more difficult to balance when you factor in both PvE and PvP with the addition of WvWvW This is a road well traveled by so many other MMO’s and similar games that it will be ground breaking.

Next round of ascended gear is only going to make it worse. Just one players opinion.

This is always a problem with classes like the Guaridan. Hate to say it but look at any other game of this type regardless if we go back to DaOC and the Thane…WoW and the Paladin, etc. There are others but you get the idea if you played either of those.

I’m just a middle of the road Guardian here but honestly if I’m playing with a 15k health pool when using a healing build AND you kill our primary gift to others (boons); then this is just another development team shafting classes because they can’t balance a game out of a wet paper bag. Just another boondoggle honestly.

I’m not sure I really understand the “proposed” changes because it seems a major mechanic of our class is getting attention for other classes and yet we are getting nothing in return. No bump in health pools. Spirit weapons? Ok yeah. Who runs those and why should I have to regear or spec because of a patch that will only get adjusted once everyone starts playing it.

This is why I actually hate these sort of games. PvE and PvP is impossible to balance. Now add in WvWvW and we have a boondoggle.

Mrauls – did you say what build or format you are running? I need to go back a few pages I think.

Only other build outside healing was the hammer AH build. I since changed because I wasn’t able to play the build well enough or found the hammer to be super slow in WvW.

Staff is a bit OP if you want a honest opinion from someone who actually uses them. In fact, it is my main weapon of choice in WvW right next to 1 hander and shield. Only time I’m not using it is if I’m solo then I go GS/sword/focu or GS/mace/shield.

Skill 1 is great and comes in handy for defending (waiting for it to get nerfed actually)
Skill 2 is meh – needs a bit of tweaking maybe
Skill 3 is what it is when it works.
Skill 4 – already mentioned above. prz leave it alone
Skill 5 – you wanted to pass what again? Double the fun when guardians work together

Now scepter? That is another story but Staff is pretty solid already.

Some of these stats are crazy. Experienced or just stat mongers, crazy. I don’t think I even remotely stack up compared to some of these.

14,898 Health (red bubble)
1,566 Power
959 Precision
1,653 Toughness
1,241 Vitality
38 Condition
45% Boon Duration
13% Crit Damage
2,524 Attack
6% Crit Chance
2,925 Armor
14,055 Health
0 condition duration
1,365 Healing power
30% virtue recharge

This is all with clerics gear and some odd accessories, no ascended gear, superior sigils of energy and life. Staff, sword, focus, greatsword, 1 handed mace, shield running 0/0/10/30/30 build.

Expand the results to include:

1. Search
2. If armor/account – opt in/out button
3. Guild ranks
4. More detailed WvWvW options
4a. top 25 by class
4b. Dolyak kills
4c. Siege depoyed, supplies used
4d. Number of deaths vs. kills vs. duration of play (hours)
4e. Duration of life before getting killed (hours) to percent (same with above)
4f. Biggest hit, weakest hit
5. Jump puzzle attempts (first try, second, etc)
5a. Jump puzzle time – top 25 speeds

I mean, the list goes on and on and on. If you are going to collect the stats then let us at least make them usable and compare to other players for bragging rights, etc. I mean, I would laugh (as would others) if they knew it took me 3 hours to get through a certain jump puzzle or died 100 times trying. Heck, they might even feel sorry for me and help…

Note on jump puzzles – note if they took a portal or not so we don’t cheat…

It doesn’t really matter. Again, it doesn’t really provide any useful information on guilds let alone players.

Let me ask a simple question. Based on the portal release how do you know how you compare to say another “insert class here”? Lets say you play a guardian. Don’t you want to know how many kills, deaths, or anything else for that matter you did vs. others?

There should be a top 25 weekly, monthly, for each class. Then add in ranks for all active players. Then fun things like biggest hit, fall deaths, deaths in general, kills, kill streak, etc. The database probably already has it – if not, easy to add.

Um…what is there to discuss? They really don’t say much of anything about your character let alone others unless I’m missing something. The three sections are:

Achievement numbers
sPvP – win/loss ration
WvW – servers

Honestly in my opinion (and granted, it is just my opinion) they didn’t provide much information based on what they have available. Let’s say I just focus on WvW for now. I don’t join sPvP games and I really don’t care about achiement score. The only data that is available to me is what has already been by another portal. It doesn’t break anything down that I really care about.

It doesn’t tell me how my character stacks up against others. It doesn’t tell me the number of times I’ve died, it doesn’t say how much supply I used, or what siege I built. It doesn’t tell me how many keeps I assulted, supply mules I slaughtered, etc. It really doesn’t say anything of the sort let alone my rank.

I know this is all future stuff or so they say but this was done before back in 2001 via DaOC. Live weekly leader boards for players, character, class, realm points, alliance, guild, etc. This isn’t like we are trying to land on mars and thinking it is a one way trip…

Anyway, it is a start and glad they did it. For me, it isn’t anything earth shattering

Orpheus.7284:

Only things I’m concerned about is the balance team and the direction of the in-game economy.

The balance team rarely discusses their reasoning behind their buffs and nerfs and that lack of communication is creating a lack of faith.
Economy…not enough supply, too much gold.

Economy…some of us don’t have enough gold.

Personally, I’d like to see more textures in the game outside legendaries. I think dyes are a wonderful thing but honestly this is nothing too new. It dates back to DaOC aka 2001. But, I do like playing dress up Barbie and would like some new and exciting textures for weapons and armor that contain effects.

No, I don’t want anything handed down or for free. Just saying this is a “area” which can use a wee bit of attention.

Well Indigo, they have sort of already done those things. They are pretty much adding content monthly. The OP maybe forgot they added Fractles. They added a one time mother of all events. They saw the issues it raised, addressed them, and sent people items who didn’t complete it based on the client failures.

The have added WvW changes. Ascended gear. New jump puzzles. And a living story. This is all in what, less than 6 months? Oh, and free.

Mitch wrote:

“ANET could do worse than examine the masters of MMO’s..yes Blizzard and really investigate why an 8 year old game still trounces every new mmo release to the market…The simple answer is it listens. And Content..lots of it. They have a brand new 12 boss raid…what do we have…”

My main man Mitch, may I ask you a honest question based on what I pulled out of your Op Ed?

Ok, here it is. What does Blizzard’s two ton heavy thing have for which many of the current MMO and “similar” type of games don’t? Answer….8+ years of development and 4 expansion packs. I won’t even go into the millions of monthly income due to subscription fees and the development staff it feeds. I think if you read this you pretty much will understand why they have a new 12 boss raid.

But if truth be told there is actually much more going on behind the answer and your question if we are to both be honest. Let us face it, not everything is rosey in the land of orcs and blood elves. If you keep up on it at all or just read any of the threads out in the .net you would see that it has a community of angry wasps. PvP is unbalanced at the moment and they are having a heck of a time trying to balance PvE vs. PvP content and it isn’t too exciting right now. Let us talk about stat creep shall we? Something they have been aware of for a while now but here we are still trucking along with 3,000 dps weapons and 160,000 health pools. Fun huh? Why? Because they listen to the people rather than the code of the game to fix it.

Why does it have the numbers behind it still? Probably because it is easy to go back to something you already have maxed at. It is familar. It is a known item. It is sort of like riding a bike I guess. Once learned, easy to get back to or you don’t forget. But again, look around and you will see people complaining about every class having a healing ability. Healers are unkillable. 60,000+ forms of CC (ok, I told a lie there, not really 60,000 forms but you get the idea… IT IS BIG).

GW2 has a different design principle let alone a different way to further development. They get money from the retail sale then it is up to us to feed them more in the form of the trading company. Simple really. How long it will work has yet to be seen but there are a couple games making it with this sort of mind set. Need I say LoL? Seems to be doing rather well don’t you think?

Lastly, let me say this. You ask them to look at the ‘masters’ of the MMO market place yet who is to say they are? How do you measure success after all? Number of subscribers? Number of boxes sold? Population or number of servers? A couple other developers and publishers did exactly what you suggested and looked at their model and guess what happened? They pretty much all folded up and are free to play now. This, in fact, goes back years to something that went by the name of Vanguard. People have tried to copy or take bits and pieces of Blizzards work and all failed in the end.

Let Arena Net do their own thing. At the end of the day if you enjoy what they provide then by all means support them. I for one believe they are doing a pretty incredible job outside the ascended gear addition (or reintroduction based on their original design goal). For me, it honestly allows me to do other things and play as time allows.

In the end, I don’t feel like I’m left behind or must login daily to do something. It is a place I use to escape reality for a bit is all.

Sorry for the rant. I do hope you have a great day and maybe see you in the world we play in.

Lol – epic reply there Lynnie at the end to CMF.

CMF – nice research. I’m one of those who really don’t study the game that much and play more. Probably doesn’t help me in the long run but then again it is how I escape reality.

On the note of speed and movement. I too run with Staff while roaming. In fact, more often than not it is Staff, Shield, and then Scepter. Situational awareness is key here so you can swap as noted above. There are, though, times when you get picked off in route and you hope for the best

Shootsfoot – yeah, it does. I didn’t see it earlier because of how the forums work when you return to a thread.

Interesting twist based on his post and video page.

I have the build, and use it along with a AH build. I just wasn’t sure if something happened to get it locked due to a comment or fight within the thread. Since that wasn’t the case and it was at his own request, then all is good.

It was one of the better threads here on the forums I though with some good dialog. I feel bad that some people hounded him in game or otherwise.

Yeah, that was the thread. I wasn’t sure why it was in the locked state. It was a pretty good thread I thought with some valid discussion.

I didn’t know it was slated to be a sticky – or not, based on the name bit.

Just noticed it has gone “poof”. Locked or limit reached? Just wondering.

If the path in front of you is blocked, then take a step back and weigh your options.

They are, in no order:
1. Bring friends
2. Visit the other 3 JP’s in WvWvW (chances are, in your favor, they will be a road less traveled)
3. Come back later

I have been set back and I have been the one to set others back. I’ve personally blocked a group of people at the log trap for over an hour. I have built siege, I have destroyed siege. Also something I am not very proud of, but I even made a poor fella transfer to our server because all he needed was 8 badges to finish his legendary… At the end of the day, it is what it is and this poor horse has been beat to death since launch.

I’ll close with this. Even after doing all of the above Capt. I have also meet some of the coolest people in the game to date by PvP’ing in the world vs. world jumping puzzle. So much that we are “in-game” friends and communicate daily.

Andytheffboy.7403, you asked:

“Also, what are your thoughts about shield vs focus. I’ve been running around with a shield and find that I’m liking it more as I rarely have to use my focus moves. A combo that I’ve been doing is shield 5 to knock my enemy back, and then sword 2 to blink at them while they’re on the ground. Works pretty well.”

I’ve found with this build that all weapons work but they are situational. Meaning my primary solo or duo is sword/focus/greatsword. This pretty much is my go-to combo.

Shield I found works well in larger groups. When I swap to this weapon I also use scepter and staff. I call this my pusher setup. I’m really only supporting in this setup and really can’t kill Jack outside the “white” NPC animals Point being is that staff gives solid movement and gets you from point A to point B. Shield, as you pointed out, pushes people over some pretty incredible places I can’t say how many times people have been punted off cliffs, off bridges, walls, etc. It is amazing.

Focus is really superior as noted above but shield has its uses. So does staff, etc. The more you run with the build or comfort level with the class I think it does well. In the hands of people who really know what to do when, it is Epic. I’m not that person but I can hold my own regardless if it is 1, 2, or 3 v. 1.

This is why WvWvW is a bit borked with the current system in place. People get tired of the same match-ups week after week until one goes up or the other falls down. Then said server dominates for a week or two until the score puts them back up a tier only to get steamrolled again for a few weeks, etc.

Wheel on the bus goes round and round

Anyway, interesting week and a rather interesting score. Almost the same spread of points between each server. My guess it will look the same if not worse come next Friday but with the same format of servers in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. That is unless EB just says screw it and takes a week off…

I run the healing Greatsword, Focus, and Sword build. However, I do pack every other weapon we can use. Here is my feedback or comment on Sword and Shield.

I don’t use it. I do, however, use Scepter and Shield nightly. In fact, when I’m in WvW with a small group I’m using Staff with Shield and Scepter. Mainly beacuse of Shields 4 and 5. Shield 5 can just push people back at the right time as well as pushing people off high places. There are those that know what we can do and will use a form of stability, but that is when you use shield 4 or Scepter 3.

I like the shield, don’t get me wrong. Just not with a sword I like the scepter with it and use it to push forward. Not dps. Staff/Shield/Scepter is really good and pushing while others take people out. Badges fall out of the sky like skittles when I’m running that build. Solo, well, it is back to Greatsword, sword, and focus.

Why focus has the blocking is beyond me

Fujikura.6754:

Nice build and glad to see it work for you. Sadly I suck at it. Been spoiled by using AH build for so long kinda get used to it.

Well, if you can play the AH build, then you play this one. I’ve used the AH build and found the Hammer to be too slow. I don’t want to say this one is easier but you don’t have to do the whole animation dancing that you do when using the AH build.

I still pack a hammer just because I’m a mean person and enjoy punting people off strange places out in WvWvW using Banish But honestly, it comes in handy farming too. Greatsword and Hammer mows down Risen…

I actually still sport this build regardless of what I’m doing in all honesty. I find it works regardless of what tools I’m using let alone region in the game. It does, at times, find me caught with my armor around my ankles which can lead to a rather quick death. Other times, or most of the time, it finds me holding the line until help arrives.

I run:
Clerics accessories + mad kings back (need to replace that really)
All clerics armor & weapons (greatsword, focus, and sword)
PvP Hammer, Staff, and Scepter – kept in bag but used daily
Shield of the Wing

Power: 1,566
Precision: 959
Toughness: 1,653
Vitality: 1,241
Condition damage: 38
Boon Duration: 45%
Crit Damage: 13%
Attack: 2,507
Crit Chance: 6%
Armor: 2,864
Health: 14,055 (seems low)
Condition Damage: 0
Healing Power: 1,365 (seems low to some of yours)
Virtue Recharge: 30%

I really only do WvWvW to be honest. I don’t run many instances let along the fractal dungeons. I’ve done a few and this build still works fine. I think it is great that this game doesn’t have a damage meter because it lets me play the way I want to. As long as people live and complete the task I feel we all did good.

Roaming solo I will typically run the greatsword, sword and focus because I can manage 1 or 2 v 1 situations fine. Also all the JP’s out there gets this weapons package. On the other hand when I’m with a small group I switch to staff, scepter, and shield. It allows us to move around quicker and makes me support. Wall of reflection, hold the line, etc. I can push or hold while others do the dps. Supply camp hit and run, I find this to work the best. I also have a hammer from my AH build days but compared to the other weapons I find it too slow.

You know the build is really working when you get a message from the opposing force saying good fight, or what is your build? Best one so far was when I ran into a Thief who couldn’t bring me down, got tired, and left. He later messaged me to say that didn’t go has he planned, saw he couldn’t beat me, and left. Lol.

Anyway, this is a pretty solid build. Works just about anywhere that I’ve tried it with all weapon packages. I have not found a fault with it other than when I’m using the wrong weapon for the situation. That is my error, not the builds.

Commisar.8695:

I think you’ll find it’s PPPvP
;)

Lol! That is another way to say it.

Commisar.8695:

I think you’ll find it’s PPPvP
;)

Lol! That is another way to say it.

Commisar.8695:

I think you’ll find it’s PPPvP
;)

Lol! That is another way to say it.

3 vrs 1 is not pvp. That’s called ganking someone. Yes it is a pvp zone but fights are a lot more fun to me when they are fair. That’s just my opinion.

Well the fact remains you are trying to accomplish something in a “known” warzone. World vs. World in fact whereas 3 different servers fight for various reasons with one loose goal. That goal is to be number one by Friday reset. You nor I are entitled to anything for free (nor did you say) or a walk through the park for the chest in the puzzle you are attempting. Nor are you, nor I, entitled to get a free pass to points of interest or the various vista’s for map completion.

You shall enter upon your own accord with no gun to your head by anyone working for, or at Arena Net. You, the person behind the keyboard, chose to enter upon your free will knowing “BEFORE” hand that death may befall you. Some tools are placed along the way to assist you should you fail in some cases. Those tools are called:

Friendly mesmers who port
Mystic Pools that grant 5 minutes of stealth

There is no golden bombs of light and love in World vs. World. Chests are not falling from the skies like skittles. Waving is a jesture of peace but may not be returned. Moreoever, waving back may be but a ploy to lure you in only to kill you and take your badge of honor and pride.

See…we know you want the badges for a legendary or an achiement. Just like you know we don’t like to PvE or do what you do. It is what it is. 1 v 1, 2 v 1, 50 v 1. Say what you will or post complaining about how it isn’t a fair fight. Just remember this because we both know it as fact and truth:

You chose to enter.
You are not forced.

Now go and do the right thing.

I’m one who uses the staff to move around in WvW. The good news is that it does offer group and self speed and a slight AoE attack vs. zergs or control points. In fact, staff 1 with a couple other guardians defending a keep at doors is pretty amazing. The only problem is finding another guadian with a staff However, beyond that I don’t really use it much unless I’ve not swapped it out for something more dps oriented. Well, outside Line of Warding I guess and sometimes #2 (that used to pass through everything in a straight line, after patch it seems to do I’m not sure what now).

Sword/focus, 2 handed greatsword, and scepter/shield are my mainstay in the end. In fact if I’m in a group then the greatsword never gets used. If I’m solo or duo then the greatsword is probably used. Shield and scepter are good with range and pushing people back. This may change though as I gain experience with this build. I’m still thinking my dps should be better with either weapon set (sword/focus or greatsword).

Worst part of having all these weapons is that I’m usually stuck with something I didn’t want outside in WvW and need to get away quick or just die When I have equiped the right stuff then at times I’m actually amazed at what the build does and can only imagine what it does for people that actually key bind and know how to play. This build I’ve actually pulled off some pretty epic fights compared to my previous ones.

Are you swapping out the rings and weapons also out in world pvp? Or is that only for the dungeon crawl?

I tried this a bit in sPvP and have to say “I” didn’t enjoy it that much. WvWvW I love this though. I really don’t do shades of mist much so just copied this set up with gear and runes, etc. I’ll probably have to fiddle with it a bit more to see if it was me, the build, or just not knowing WTF everyone is doing or what my job is while in there.

WvWvW though I find this to be a really good set up after additional hours under my belt. Solo roaming is very doable. Only issue I’ve seen is having the wrong weapons at the wrong time. Roaming solo I’m using my staff with sword/focus. While this works for faster movement it lends me to have zero or lower DPS. While I’m able to stay alive it seems 1 v 1 or 2 v 1 I end up losing in the end because I’m not really bursting anyone down. Couple times I’ve got people down and lost because I forgot to use stability and while trying to finish them they pull off a stunt and end up killing me. More learning to do On the other hand when I do have my 2 handed weapon loaded up I can usually hold my own and get the kill. So overall it is a win win.

Small or large group I just end up playing support. Depending on whom I’m with I’ll usually go staff with scepter/shield. Staff for range and speed and sheild for pushing people back or control. Here I’m not getting as many kills but my team mates do. Something I think Arena Net needs to look at is supporting players and badges. They just don’t come with this set up (I find anyway) so I’m a bit sad panda.

Still love the build and really glad I spent a few days to aquire the armor. Funny thing is this though. The last couple of days I’ve been grouping with the same people (I’m usually solo oddly enough) and one night they are like you want to run a instance / dungeon. I’m like, no. Not really. They are like, come on – we’ll do AC (lol). I’m like ok, I at one time needed that for some runes, why not.

Interesting place never the less and this build worked in there too. I wasn’t that great but in the end it was fun and I got some tokens. I just thought that was rather funny

This is fun.

WvWvW isn’t a bunch of idiots running around mindless like the above poster said. In fact, that really isn’t fair (not that I think you intended it to be). Same as sPvP nothing being the bread and butter of what Arena net is offering. I think it is safe to say that WoW is the cause and effect of what many companies are trying to copy in the format of sPvP because of their BG and arena system. Pre WoW anyone who PvP’d at all more or less came from DaOC which didn’t offer that (thank God) and relied on RvR. That is why Tarren Mill was always so popular and why many hated it.

Structed PvP is predictable. It is a known state with set objectives and a set map. It doesn’t really change if that makes sense. What does change, however, are the teams you face based on a set limit by the developers. Smaller parties and confined spaces means you face in the end predictable configuations and/or comps. We see this today in WoW and have since season 1. I know, been there done that. So have many of us here on the forums. R/P/M anyone? Healer/DK? I mean the list goes on and on and on and nothing changes.

WvWvW on the other hand isn’t “as” predictable because you are facing many bigger factors such as keeps, NPC’s, people both groups of large and small composition, and various skill and gear levels. Not to mention up ticked players. It isn’t just a mindless zerg because a small group of 2 can, and actually do, take keeps and/or supply camps because it doesn’t cross swords. Then there are solo players looking for a fight or pull off cool tricks like pulling champs to camps and taking stuff out that way.

But WvWvW isn’t just idiots running amuk with their heads cut off. To say that is just plan ignorant on the posters part and dosn’t understand the format.

So a solid several hours with this build now coming off the AH/Hammer build. Knights Cleric + accessories + runes and sigils now. Got the final water runes this morning. Barring the fugly Cleric focus and sword looks I have to say it is a rather fun build.

Me and a elementalist paired up this morning taking supply camps. Outside pulling too many (I always do this for whatever reason) the two of us took camp after camp after camp with ease. Yeah, I was able to before hand but the interesting part of this is when we started to get the standard camp guards + a roamer or two enemies checking out supply status and also engage. Before I’d do OK but more often than not the hammer was just too slow with many people around and I’d die quick.

Today I didn’t have that issue. Couple cases it was 2 v 7 and we’d last a long long time taking out several before we lost in the end. Other times it was 2v2 or 2v1 + guards, etc. The build worked and I seemed to stay up longer than before. Has the day progressed and I learn the build when to do what, I actually think I was doing better. Solo and duo sword/focus and 2 handed sword work best. Swapping for burst is really key. Zergs though I find that I go back to sword/focus and staff or sword/focus and scepter/shield. Scepters range and CC is really key. The shield 5 is just too good of a tool to pass off when you are trying to push people back.

Its a good build and gets better as it ages I think. Thanks.

Just a side note in case anyone has already done so, but I also run GW2 in Linux. Both Ubuntu 12x and Mint under the ‘wine’ wrapper. It didn’t perform any worse if truth be told. I swap between the two at boot and honestly didn’t notice anything different nor in graphic quality.

I don’t have a top of the line system but it does well. I know the CPU is fine and memory because it folds like crazy. Both CPU and GPU without issues.

This may sound like a nit pick, and it probably is, but they did release specific drivers for GW2. Read the patch notes for 306.02.

“The new NVIDIA GeForce 306.02 beta drivers are now available to download. Recommended for players of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Darksiders 2, Guild Wars 2, and MechWarrior Online, the GeForce 306.02 beta drivers add realistic ambient occlusion shadowing to each of the listed games, in addition to adding NVIDIA Control Panel MSAA and CSAA anti-aliasing support to Darksiders 2.”

I’m not sure what issues you are seeing or having to be honest and I also didn’t read the thread. It is of my opinion that if Nvidia could do something to improve it they would have. 3 of us playing in my house are on i7’s with 1 being stock and the two others OC’d the South side of 4 Ghz all with Nvidia cards. 1 is a 670, 1 is a 580, and 1 a SLI using 2×460′s. Performance is the same across all comps running windows 7 64 bit. Only difference between the systems is the Intel chip set. 1 is 67 series which uses a Crucial SSD and the other 2 are using the z68 set with a SSD has Cache and traditional HD for storage.

All of us are running with max settings but honestly we have also used Auto, minimum, max, etc. Nothing ever really seems to change other than the beauty of the game. In fact oddly enough the slowest of the bunch in feel is the SSD based compture which also has the 580 in it (which also happens to be the stock CPU).

So to me and those in my house the computers North of 4 Ghz seem to feel better compared to the stock CPU regardless of what video card is in there. If you have two monitors fire up performance monitor and you will see. I honestly think it is the game engine. It has some issues around rendering and culling. Also don’t use the ambient occulsion the driver mentions. I’ve had nothing but issues with it whereas ramdom textures will not appear which makes you seem to be in space

Short side of this. GW2 is CPU and not GPU.

Rock on Christos and thanks. I thought 3 2ould net me the same so that is what I’m going to do Yeah, go me! I don’t have to run a instance

I am actually running the build as of last night with everything except the 3 runes – lol. I’m not sure honestly because some fights I’m doing ok and others I’m not. Not even close. Part of me thinks the players I’m facing are just 10x better than me (probably true) and destroy me. Yet earlier today I was facing a up scaled 80 and a real 80 in a 2v1 situation and came out with 2 kills.

I have to say even missing 3 runes it is a fun build. I did swap 2 handed sword to staff earlier for some ranged world pvp. I also miss wall of reflection a ton but also know you mentioned in the video that it is optional and ok to switch as needed. I always forget to do that based on what I’m doing. Jump puzzle fighting is different that open field and I forget we can swap those around

Thanks again and I have to save the spec and gear is fun. All I need now are a 1 handed sword and focus texture I actually like Sea Shells by the sea shore are not very epic feeling

Arena net will not care if they leave, you know this right? Why? Because they already earned their money off the retail box or software download. Since there is no monthly fee there really isn’t a reason to care.

I don’t think they would really do anything over 10 gold to be honest though. I mean that is a low amount. If they did ban a legit account then I’m pretty sure all heck would break loose. I mean we all can see with our own eyes how bad of a bot problem we have regardless of how many they have already taken out. Any zone sit at a gather node, any type, and watch out many people are using the teleport hack to gather

Better yet, hit any of the lvl 70 – 80 zones and sit at the portal spawn. Tell me what you see? I’ll tell you since I frap’s it yesterday while working on my world map completion. All you see are bots teleporting to a known location to start their routine. Nothing but guardian after guardian after warrior after ranger. Insta pop up, then poof, gone. Same thing over and over all with names like asf, aadc, etc. 90% of the time you can’t even click them to report because their programs are so quick.

So yeah, they ban someone for sending 10 gold then might as well ban everyone because that is nothing compared to the bigger issues on hand. Personal opinion.

To the OP – nice idea and good way to get people together.

Monk and Water are the same rune type, correct? At least that is what I"m seeing. Only reason why I’m asking is because I really don’t want to dungeon crawl for the monk runes Water seem darn cheap and do the same thing with a base of 3 and 6 is elite skill vs. group it looks to be the only difference.

Are the superior runes of water the same as the monks?

They look the same and I’m trying to find an alternative so I don’t have to dungeon crawl

I may be swapping to it here tonight. I picked up the armor finally and sword/focus. I already have the pvp sword and hammer (also torch/scepter – lol). Anyway just waiting on a few bids to make it through (fingers crossed) on accessories. Once I have those I’ll pick up the sigils and try it.

Only draw back, and I really hate to admit this, is I only have the water runes. I haven’t run the dungeon yet for the other 3. I’ve never gone into those so no idea what to expect and my story isn’t even complete. So outside of a bid for accessories and the last 3 runes I’m good to go.

Oh – and still finding / looking for some nice weapon skins. Lots of karma to burn since no legendary has fallen from the skys

Heritage is from GW1 and the halls of monuments, right?

If so, bummer for me. I never played GW1.

Ok – serious question

Are there any reasonable (cheap) replacement skins for the Cleric’s Pearl Sabre/Focus???

Not wanting to insult anyone but those things are fugly I mean, they are pretty bad.

Alcopaul – Gold….the bane of our current MMO / MMORPG or whatever it is called Here is a tip but please note your mileage may vary. You have been warned

Do you craft? No? Ok, cool.
Are you, or did you, gather while you leveled (if 80, or currently in route)? Yes? Ok, cool.
While leveling, or working on 100% map complete, did you bank mats? Yes? Ok, cool.
Are you planning on crafting today? Yes? Ok, stop. No? Cool.

Visit your bank / vault and take a look at the second tab and see how many goodies you have. Then grab a bag or two full of the goodies and proceed to have a fire sale. Sell anything you do not think you are going to use, or plan to use, or have a use of today. Trust me, if you have played since launch, and not crafted yet, chances are high you are not. Furthermore, if it is there chances are high you forgot about it (like me) and running out of space anyway. How many times have you tried to bank ore, only to find you exceeded the 250 cap, and see it in your inventory?

Point is – if you don’t need it, or plan to need / use it, get rid of it. Seriously I did this today and pulled in over 30 gold. 30 gold just sitting in my bank I’m not going to craft. I don’t have the time or really the need at the moment.

On the other hand if you do craft, or plan to, want to, etc. Then this won’t probably work for you.

Another question regarding sigils. Are Energy/Life mandatory? Seems they are tied to either killing something (not sure of my success rate in WvWvW) or swapping weapons (which I do a lot of).

This may be, or sound, like a dumb question but does it matter which slots the runes are placed? I don’t think it would since it is split down the middle of 3/3.

And Monk runes are only from a dungeon, eh? I’ve never set foot in any outside a few fractals I’ve done. I usually avoid them like the plague

Zomg! I also didn’t know anything about the Anomaly! That…looks way cool and I think I’ve found something to work for.

250 Glob of Ectoplasms? Houston, we have a problem! That is almost what, 70 gold at current market. Hmm…T3 culture armor or a shiny focus.

Saraman, I know. Really! He gets to choose and the rest of us are begging on our hands and knees to the RNG

Actually, I’m not. If it happens, it happens. The good news is that if you don’t have the precursor you want you are actually in a great position to sell. Then buy what you want and whatever is necessary to make it

Congrats to you. Btw, I didn’t even know there was a precursor focus.