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Why no condi reduction stat?

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I stated that for the example all other things needed to be equal to isolate Vitality/Hp. So if one has 10% damage mitigation, then the other one would, too.

That is the point.

If you only consider vitality neither survives.

If you only consider true mitigation one survives if on equal footing.

Vitality isn’t mitigation. The explanation is this:

If we took two characters with equal hp, lets say you 15k, and i threw a fireball worth 20k which survives?

Ill give guy A 5k hp.

Ill give guy B 33% damage reduction.

B survives. A doesn’t. Why?

B actually took less damage. A took it all.

B just cast Protection. A came up with 500 Vitality.

What good that did him.

Condition dmg has no counter like protection. A huge health pool doesn’t actually lessen damage and real mitigation is way more effective.

DGraves, you seem to have ignored the first part of my post that you quoted… I get verbose, so I can understand.

my point: 1) mitigation is a type of defense, but it’s not the only type. 2) I agree that vitality does not mitigate condition damage. 3) I’m arguing that vitality is a defense against condition damage, even though it is not mitigation.

I think that the words mitigation and defense have been used interchangeably earlier on, when they shouldn’t have been.

Vitality isn’t direct mitigation. Vitality is a defense.

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

World Boss and the empty map

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I’m super paranoid about making sure I make the Teq fights, so I show up 25-30 min early, and then go make dinner and play with my cat.

Not something I necessarily recommend for everyone, because that is a long time to wait for a world boss, and I don’t necessarily want you petting my cat if you haven’t washed your hands.

;)

~EW

Why no condi reduction stat?

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

But if survival isn’t mitigation death is not a lack of mitigation. Both your characters die if hit for 20k right?

Mitigation is a type of defense, but it is not the the only type of defense… so maybe that’s also where the confusion is…. bad use of words goin’ around.

So, it appears that I’m arguing that Vitality is a valid general defense against condition damage

And, you’re arguing that Vitality doesn’t reduce (mitigate) damage taken by condition damage.

Is that right? Then we’re arguing two different things.

I agree that damage reduction (mitigation) isn’t applied by Vitality. But, can you agree that Vitality does act as a defense against condition damage in that it allows someone to soak more damage before death?

So which mitigated more damage?

The answer is we dont know. What if the one who had 15k hp had a damage reduction of 10%? He mitigated 2k of the 20k but still died. The 20k guy mitigates nothing and still dies.

Understand that mitigation does not equate survival

I stated that for the example all other things needed to be equal to isolate Vitality/Hp. So if one has 10% damage mitigation, then the other one would, too.

Once we start adding in things like pure damage mitigation, healing, cleansing, etc, the discussion changes to how useful vitality is as a defense against condition damage.

Mitigation does not equate survival, I agree… But, mitigation is a factor in survival, just like other types of defense.

:D

~EW

Why no condi reduction stat?

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Survival isn’t defense.

To be Frank the question is as simple as “if you walk up to a lvl 1 enemy butt nekkid and he hits you and you don’t die did you mitigate anything?”

If you’re comparing yourself to the other guy who did die, and the only thing different between you two is HP… then the answer is yes.

Defense increases survival. Survival is the purpose for defense/mitigation.

Perhaps that’s where the root of the disagreement really is?

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

Why no condi reduction stat?

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

DGraves & TexZero:

Your arguments are starting to become very difficult to follow. Please remember to Keep It Simple Silly.

Atm you’re discussing the validity of Vitality (or Hitpoints) as a defense against Condition Damage. So, that should be the only variable you use, with all else being equal… especially the condition damage you’re applying to the situation.

If I have 2 characters: #1 has 12k hp and #2 has 20k hp. (this is actually true /facepalm)… Looking at them with no condition cleansing or healing, just Vitality/HP:

*20k worth of Cond damage (over any amount of duration) = both eventually die, that’s true. But #2 dies last if the condition is applied over time instead of all at once (like cond damage does).

*15k worth of Cond damage = #1 dies, #2 lives.

More hit points in this last case was a viable defense against Cond damage for #2 over #1.

Now, throw in factors like healing/cleanses/etc… it’ll get more complicated. But when Isolated, it is demonstrable that Vitality is a defense against degenerative damage just like the Wiki states.

~EW

edit: If I missed something in your posts and misinterpreted/misrepresented you, I apologize…. as I said, getting a little hard to follow.

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

Do accounts have "luck", and is it right?

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

The question all this comes down to (as I see it) is: Are y’all able to give the benefit of the doubt that the RNG for GW2 is accurate and working fine?

If yes: then go and play the game! Stop worrying about the code, and go experience it with all the ups and downs that come with it.

If no, but you still want to play GW2: then take advantage of the various systems that give you more control than a pure RNG. Crafting, TP, & reward tracks are all there to give you more control. Utilize them as much as possible, and enjoy the game!

If no, and you don’t want to play gw2 because of it: then you’re a Flame Legion saboteur or Inquest recruiter. :P

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

Why no condi reduction stat?

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

You’re looking at this the wrong way let me just math this simply for you

If you have 20k hp and I have 19K hp, you have 20k worth of ticking condi damage on you and refuse to heal, cleanse, or use resistance while i have the same 20k ticking damage but cleanse all of it, who lives more ?

You’re changing up the variables to purposely imbalance the equation.

If you have 19k hp, and I have 20k, and we both have 20k of ticking cond damage and we both don’t do anything about it, then we both die. You still die first.

If you have 19k hp, and I have 20k, and we both have 19.5k of ticking cond damage and we both don’t do anything about it, then you die. (and I’ll get killed shortly thereafter by a kitten sneezing on me. )

If you have 19k hp, and I have 20k, and we both have 20k of ticking cond damage, I have more time to use a cleanse before dying than you do.

~EW

edit: so that extra hp gives me more time to live and less (but still existent) need to cleanse… which means I don’t need to stack as many cleanses as you do. My higher Hp + fewer cond cleanses should somewhat balance to your fewer HP and more cleanses.

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

How would you balance classes in PvE?

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Most of them are about PvP.

I disagree. I’ve read many about WvW and PvE… they just don’t necessarily get the frequent fervent responses the PvP ones do.

One example obviously doesn’t prove my point, but there’s a couple threads by TheBravery right now which go into great detail about balance for Guards and Warriors in all 3 game modes… Gaile has even given it encouragement.

~EW

I want Tengu as the next playable race!

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

There are already 3 human races; human, norn and sylvari.

Take that last one back! I once had to disguise myself as a human to infiltrate a bandit camp… they were all squishy and awkward and missing essential chlorophyll.

*shudders at the memory

~EW

Why no condi reduction stat?

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Vitality IS a counter, and at minimum, a mitigation to condition damage. Conditions inflict a set amount of damage. How do you avoid dying to a set amount of damage? By having greater health.

Effective Hit Points is no counter.

To ask it bluntly choosing a warrior, which has greater health than a guardian, is a counter to condition damage?

To answer bluntly: yes

While conditions are always a concern, I don’t worry as much about stacking on the cond cleanse on my warrior nearly as much as I do my guard. My warrior’s extra health gives me more time to deal with and even survive incoming conds.

Because that’s exactly what you’re saying even if you don’t intend to imply it. Given the same Vitality the max health of some classes will always be lower.

So what is their counter?

Balance isn’t necessarily an obvious 1 for 1 exchange (one stat for another). For instance, guards have access to a larger variety and more frequent cond cleanse than warriors… whether or not they elect to use it.

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

3 years no precursor drop!

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

The RNG just hasn’t worked in your favor, unfortunately…. They’re just an incredibly rare drop. Similarly I keep reading posts about how World Bosses (especially Teq) are a valid source for Ascended drops, yet I’ve never gotten one… more bone spoons than I can count, lol.

You can hedge your bet, and keep trying for a precursor while saving up money to buy one on the TP. Or, just try and craft them instead.

I feel for ya’.

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

Why no condi reduction stat?

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Vitality IS a counter, and at minimum, a mitigation to condition damage. Conditions inflict a set amount of damage. How do you avoid dying to a set amount of damage? By having greater health.

Agreed!

From the Wiki, the very first thing written about Vitality: “Vitality is a defensive attribute. Each attribute point put into vitality increases the maximum health of the character by ten hitpoints. More health allows a character to better withstand burst damage and degenerative damage.”

~EW

edit: there’s always going to be people/mobs that have outrageous condi damage, just like there’s always going to be people/mobs with outrageous burst/physical damage. That doesn’t invalidate vitality as a defensive stat any more than that burst/physical invalidates toughness.

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

whats the best heavy armor class?

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

The one you find the most fun to play will be the best heavy armor class for you. Give each a spin for 15ish levels, then decide… it won’t take that much time, and you might be the happier for it.

Crowd sourcing a decision is rarely rewarding.

~EW

(edit: and if you don’t like the ones you try, park ’em in metrica province to harvest potatoes… good source of TP income atm for a few seconds of logging in)

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

What are best weapons in game?

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

The comments are all correct. However I am interest in the “best” weapon in terms of base weapon statistics (kill power) regardless of class and specialization.

The wiki has a table that lists base weapon strength for the different types of weapons and their rarities.

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Weapon_strength

Hope that helps,

~EW

How would you balance classes in PvE?

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

If you go into the different class forums, you’ll find an inordinate amount of suggestions that tackle your question.

As for me, most of what I do is explore build diversity… I find it a ton of fun (and a worthwhile gold sink). So, I’m a person who’s mostly content with the way things are. People latching onto a ‘meta’ or a few select builds is a people problem… if it is a problem at all.

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

Teq Loot.

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Killed teq got green, blue, and yellow bag. Does the gold/silver/bronze rank affect the orange bag?

I think it’s how damaged the batteries get that affects getting the orange bag.

I stand corrected.

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

Egocentrism

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

…snip…

Treat others as you would wish to be treated. If you wish to be insulted, insult others. If you wish to have fingers pointed at you, point fingers at others. If you wish to have a rational discussion, then discuss things rationally.

It’s not always going to work because you are the only person you have control over, but it’s a start. Getting angry and rage-posting isn’t going to help anyone.

~EW

I would go with the first sentence and call it good: Treat others as you would wish to be treated. That says it all.

Agreed… But, I’m chronically verbose.

~EW

Egocentrism

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

…snip…

Treat others as you would wish to be treated. If you wish to be insulted, insult others. If you wish to have fingers pointed at you, point fingers at others. If you wish to have a rational discussion, then discuss things rationally.

It’s not always going to work because you are the only person you have control over, but it’s a start. Getting angry and rage-posting isn’t going to help anyone.

~EW

Please change the art on Sunrise!

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Screen shot this look please! (explosive diarrhea)

I suspect the forum filter would replace it with a screenshot of a kitten.

If this isn’t a feature of these forums, it needs to be.

~EW

Legendary Dyes

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I don’t know what legendary would offer in the way of dyes as they are free to change at will. On the basis of increasing worth on color, I supposes there could be ascended or legendary. Just think of the mats to craft them, since that’s how leg/asc are made….

I could see the dyes creating particle/movement effects like the legendary weapons do… but that’s about it.

~EW

[Suggestions] Gemstore Items

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I’d love a pirate hat (only) skin so I can fully realize my dream of having my char warrior look like a steampunk pirate! ChYarrrrrr!!!

~EW

Wishlist for the Future of Guild Wars 2

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I’ll be happy with getting more narrative…

…and a pirate hat (only) skin for my char warrior.

~EW

[Satire] My New Game: Outside

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I didn’t like having to feed myself and any pets… also, having to count bullets… ugh.

And let’s not even talk about the fatigue system if you try to auto-run everywhere…

Yeah, I’m sticking with GW2. :-)

~EW

How exactly can I help downed people,,

in Players Helping Players

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I reported this thread.

Why? The OP hasn’t even made a second post in this thread.

I suspect they did and then deleted it. Or a mod deleted it.

We had lots of replies with basically the same info and tone, then the thread went quiet for a day or so, then we’ve got a few replies sounding offended and angry and seemingly responding to things which weren’t in the first post.

Inset an angry/sarcastic post by the OP about how they know how to push F between Mostly Harmless and Nash’s posts and the thread makes a lot more sense.

You are correct, the OP did make a follow-up post… and it was a very angry post.

~EW

[Suggestion] Guardian Balance

in Guardian

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Thank you for sharing.

No worries. Despite being one of my favorite weapons across the classes, the scepter seems poorly regarded among the Guardian community as a whole… which contributes to my attempts to find ways to make it useful and fun (at least for me) in its current state. I think it has a lot going for it that is often summarily dismissed/ignored (not that you are; just generally speaking).

I apologize for my original flippant comment on p.1. All the forums are littered with suggestions for balance and change, and I’ve found them to largely be very poorly thought out and unnecessary. Usually they’re trying to make changes that improves only the player’s play style, instead of considering the play style intention of the skill/trait/whatever.

Yours isn’t like that. It looks like you put a lot of time and love into your suggestions. I’m sorry that it took Gaile’s comment for me to give them the consideration they actually deserve.

Also, sorry to keep my commentary strictly centered around my current build… but, it is the freshest information in my mind, and as you can see I can get very verbose… I could spend all day discussing the Guardian.

:)

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

[Suggestion] Guardian Balance

in Guardian

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

TheBravery:

Your suggestions as-is would completely obliterate my current build (I change up my build semi-regularly, so take that statement with a grain of salt).

Obviously I’m not claiming you shouldn’t propose those changes just because of my build. But, I feel I need to explain how I’m using what I’m using to help with some perspective. So please take the following as the constructive criticism it’s meant to be. As a side note, I’m primarily a PvE player.

Atm I utilize Scepter + Torch combined with Zealous Scepter, Supreme Justice, and Permeating Wreath traits. Playing off of this combo I’m also utilizing Altruistic Healing.

In brief what this build does is allow me to utilize #2 Smite + #5 Cleansing Flame to stack on and maintain 10-18 stacks of might (sometimes even more) by synergistically using rapid hits and VoJ procs; while simultaneously gaining a moderate stream of healing. The synergy of all of this is really tight, and I find it a blast to run this build.

The problems your changes cause for me:

1) Chains of Light. In order to keep foes who are not in melee range with me inside of the first Smite use, Chains of Light is very useful… but as it currently is it does not keep moving foes inside of the area for the entire duration of Smite. I’m okay with this, because it requires timing and positioning on my part. To reduce the immobilization duration means that Chains of Light becomes largely useless for my needs of making Smite hit as much as possible. Having Chains of Light hit 5 foes doesn’t matter if I can’t keep them inside smite. Usually groups of foes are clustered anyway and when they are they’re not moving much… so multi-target isn’t largely helpful in that way, either.

2) Cleansing Flame / Conflagration. Having movement cancel this skill means when I’m using it on moving targets, I’ll have less hits land when they move around and out of range. It already has an understandable but limited range. Less hits means less procs of VoJ, which means less healing and might for me. When I’m in combat with a fair number of other players around me, I find that I often need to chase mobs a little bit when I’m channeling Cleansing Flame.

3) Zealous Scepter Trait. The scepter (my build or otherwise) revolves around very rapid hits, and the original trait capitalizes on this feature. Your suggestion I don’t feel does, and is the main cause why my build would go bye-bye. Your reasoning about the boons that guardians already have access to isn’t realized in my build… I utilize might from the original trait. In this case the redundant boons you refer to in your notes allows for a variety of possible builds, and I think is a good thing that there can’t be too much of. Also, I start off with scepter out, so having the trait useful when I swap to scepter also makes it largely useless…. especially because those charges would likely only build up in combat only; I can’t see them being allowed to build up out of combat.

Your change to this trait and the scepter skills also tells me that you view the Scepter as a back-up weapon, and aren’t considering it much for a role as a primary one (which is what I use it for).

4) Orb of Wrath. Your change here obviously doesn’t negatively affect my build. I think an increase to velocity would be welcome. However, there’s one thing I’d take over increase in velocity, and that is to change the orbs from quasi-homing to fully homing. I’d like to see them home like the Mesmer staff skill Winds of Chaos. That may be too much of a power boost, I’m not sure, but you asked for other suggestions…

Anyway, I hope that helps…

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

Pointlessness of ingame titles

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I’m very proud of my title “Been There, Done That.”

~EW

3 game modes, only 1 happy?

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Lol, no worries. I think the forums could definitely use more levity. And, I’m definitely happy to speculate for ya’.

~EW

3 game modes, only 1 happy?

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby good point (are you descended from the trendykangaroo?)
+1 +1

I’m sorry, i don’t know who/what trendykangaroo is… my google search-foo has failed me. I’m just someone with an unconventional naming method.

To expand a little bit on what I said earlier… When I imagine what it’d be like to be in ANet’s shoes with regards to forums, I’d want my forums to accomplish two main things. The first is to have the sense of community within the game grow outside of the game. There would need to be hard lines made so that the community organically grows itself instead of turning into a player-dev interactive podium. The second is that I’d want to use it to analyze the GW2 zeitgeist, so that I can bring that information plus my other metrics together to determine courses of change within the game. To do so effectively, I’d need to directly influence the community as little as possible. Also, the zeitgeist alone would rarely give enough reason to create change.

Add to all of that legal concerns, PR concerns, responsibilities to employees and especially investors, coding conflicts, budget allocation, and many many other things I can’t even fathom that must come together to create productive change within GW2….

…I think it’s incredibly realistic and reasonable for there to be a perceived “lack of communication” when it might actually be better than what the alternatives would create.

But again, this is all speculation with no back up evidence to support it…

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

3 game modes, only 1 happy?

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

but like khisanth says, “general lack of communication everywhere” why is this?
just asking your thoughts

My guess with no supportive evidence whatsoever is that ANet utilizes the forums as a tool in a different way than the posters do. Assumptions are being made on the parts of the posters as to what ANet’s role is to them on these forums.

After all, the internet is a bastion of rational and mature dialogue cat memes.

~EW

Can you invest in your...

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I love how Ephemeral Wallaby ends every of his/her posts with “EW”. Very expressive.

ROFL

Well, this is the internet…

~EW

Can you invest in your...

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Your post is predicated on conjecture, straw-man arguments, anecdotal evidence, and other logical fallacies.

~EW

W.e you say man…lmao

he pretty much right bro lmao

No he’s really not.

Conjecture is the formation of a conclusion while excluding evidence. Unless somebody round here has ears inside ANets office, he’s used all the evidence he, and we, have, being largely personal experience and viewpoint.

Straw man fallacy… doesn’t even make sense in this context. It’s attacking an argument that your opponent didn’t make. Who was his opponent prior to this persons post and what argument did they make? Especially seeing as he was the very first poster after the OP.

Anecdotal evidence, is just evidence based on personal experience, already covered that.

In short, he’s just some jerk using buzzwords he heard elsewhere to try and make people feel inferior.

Conjecture: 1. an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.

He has incomplete information on which he’s forming his opinion. That’s very obvious.

Straw Man: a common form of argument and is an informal fallacy based on giving the impression of refuting an opponent’s argument, while actually refuting an argument that was not advanced by that opponent.

Perhaps I used the wrong term, but I feel as though it fits. The premise of his argument that revenue isn’t being reinvested into the game at all, but he’s actually arguing that revenue isn’t being invested into the game in the ways he deems appropriate. But, if you feel I’m in error, I’m fine with admitting that I used the wrong term on this point.

Anecdotal Evidence: is evidence from anecdotes. Where only one or a few anecdotes are presented, there is a larger chance that they may be unreliable due to cherry-picked or otherwise non-representative samples of typical cases.

This isn’t the same as conjecture. Twice he uses himself as an example for his argument.

I hope that clears up any misunderstanding you have of the reasons for my words, and that I’m not “just some jerk using buzzwords he heard elsewhere to try and make people feel inferior.”

~EW

Can you invest in your...

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Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Your post is predicated on conjecture, straw-man arguments, anecdotal evidence, and other logical fallacies.

~EW

GW2 playerbase

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Why does it matter so much?

Do you feel that it’s going to change if or not you’re going to continue playing? If that’s the case, then you’ve already made that decision, and are looking for an excuse.

Are you writing some sort of graduate thesis? If so, then there’s better ways of getting information and finding cite-able sources than a forum thread.

This thread feels like a thinly veiled means for doomsayers to ferret more ‘reasons’ to state the sky is falling.

It’s a clear day in my Tyria, and there are certainly enough people adventuring about that my banner is regularly swiped. ;-)

~EW

Do accounts have "luck", and is it right?

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

All the anecdotes and n=1 conjectures are amusing to read.

Although I think there’s a huge lacking of superstitions to give all these stories more flavor… someone must kiss a lucky stone before attempting a MF precursor, or pet their lucky cat before opening a dragon chest… something. Are those plastic trolls with the wild-colored hair still a thing people use for luck?

~EW

Is Ascended Gear too Hard to Get?

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I don’t think it’s too difficult to get. I do think it’s too time consuming and resource intensive to craft.

I like to change up my builds fairly frequently. So in my case I’d finally get a set crafted and then after a week I’d find it useless for the new build I want to play; ultimately ascended would just sit in my bank collecting dust.

For my needs, I’m sticking with exotic for the foreseeable future. That’s plenty of gold sink for the way I play.

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

A dye whiter than celestial

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Despite the code, Icing never looks greyish to me when I step “out of the light.”

ymmv

~EW

Cruel lack of diversity

in Warrior

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I’m mostly a PvEer. For my warrior I use hammer/rifle. Atm I kitting him out for a regen build (which by many people’s accounts suck, but I want to try it).

If you’re looking at pure dps, then yeah GS might be best.

But, that’s not what I look at. With the hammer I get 1 ranged cripple (#3) and 3 different interrupts (#’s 4, 5, and F1). My hammer gives me control on the battlefield. Also, I can keep weakness up almost all the time with #2… mathematically that alone reduces enemy damage by 25% (50% damage 50% of the time = 25% overall damage reduction)… which is awesome defense against spike damage, and makes (I think) a regen build viable.

When it comes to PvE most people can do just fine with a majority of the content no matter their build – that’s why Power/Precision/Ferocity is favored, because it means you get through it faster. So for me the test comes with the champions and otherwise prolonged fights. It doesn’t matter to me if it takes me longer to kill something, so long as I am victorious in the end. With the above berzerker focus, people tend to go down much faster in those prolonged fights than those who are kitted out for survival and control.

I think there’s more to look at than just pure dps for any class.

So when you see me running around, you’re going to see a warrior with a big maul and/or a rifle setting down a banner of tactics… at least for the next little while.

~EW

P.S. some weapons don’t fit a persons’ playstyle. It’s entirely possible that a person will do more dps using another weapon because they’re naturally really good at it and maybe not so good with the GS. So, GS dps might be awesome on paper, but how well the person can use the GS can change the real dps they do by a lot.

Your own playstyle

in Players Helping Players

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

So sad not willing to join a guild. There are several guilds out there that put no pressure whatsoever on their members. It’s not so bad being in small guilds because then you have a few people to come to your aide if needed.

It’s honestly all me, and has nothing to do with guilds. I do recognize they’re awesome. But, I’m no longer a good fit for guilds due to a number of factors not worth enumerating. I do feel I’m getting the best out of the game right now by not being in one. Though, I still have a lot of guild rep potions and whatnot stored up in my bank should I ever change my mind, lol.

As far as meta or no… what ever makes you happy is the way to play. Don’t worry about meta, you may or may not come to the same conclusions, and end up with a similar build. Or you may find those odd traits (far less of them now) are quite usable in your own sort of way.

That’s been my philosophy from the start, lol. I get a lot of satisfaction by discovering and making effective weapon/skill/trait/equipment combinations that others vocally claim aren’t good. I love exploring a class’s potential… that’s honestly now what I spend the majority of my time (and gold) doing.

This game touts a lot of customization and choice, and I firmly believe it delivers it in spades. I love that I’m playing a game where I can explore “my own play style.”

~EW

Quaggans and Lack of Content (Very Important)

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Waiter, I’d like to order a Gin and Quaggan Tonic, please!

~EW

How to bring up DS to the level of RS?

in Necromancer

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Ephemeral yea i read it but didnt understand it. When i break down the word it looks like side upgrade, an addition to the class that is better than what already exists. He is saying that it isnt an upgrade which confuses me.

If what you are saying is tru about the dev quote and from what you say, im sure it is. Then the studio is a lot more confused that i thought.

When people say something is lackluster, that usually means it is not as good as they expected not it is not as good as what already is. Also people make really dumb criticisms all the time. Some criticize without any alternative which is just as dumb but between what i see in game, on the forums and my experiences, using an elite with 2 cores is a lot better than using only cores. This means that the profession mechanic and the class as a whole is more effective when you use the elites than without them.

Are you saying this isn’t true? you personally, not what people say. Are you saying that base guardian virtues is better than DH virtues and thatt guardian with longbow and traps is as good as a guardian without them. Is DS as good as RS or the condition damage potential on base necro as good as it is on reaper?

I feel it’s essential I establish that I am not a good example of ‘the norm.’ Also, PvP is not my favorite mode to play in… So any assertion I make should really be taken with a grain of salt. The only authority I can confidently pull from for my commentary is my extensive build testing… it’s nearly all I do in this game amongst all the classes I play… and I’ve been doing it for 3 years. I have build-aholism.

But, yes, I’m saying from my personal perspective that it’s not true. I am claiming that neither is better than the other, except situationally.

The main topic of this thread: RS vs DS… For me, out of the box, it depends on if I am being in-your-face aggressive or hit-and-run. Also for these two I think it depends on what mode of play I’m in as to which is more favorable to use. I think RS is more generally beneficial to PvP, where as I think DS favors PvE more. And I think that’s just fine. I’m happy that there are skills/etc that are better in some modes than others.

You mention Core Guard Virtues vs DH Virtues… For me, out of the box, Core Justice is better than Spear. DH Resolve is better than Core, and both Courages are on par with each other, with Core Courage being a bit more universally useful because it doesn’t require facing.

You mention Guard DH Longbow and Traps. The Longbow is great, but not any more so than the Ranger longbow. The reason why it seems so awesome is that Guards really never had much in the way of effective ranged (especially in PvP), and now they do. This is coming from someone who currently loves using the scepter on his Guard. The traps aren’t OP because like many guard skills 3 of the 4 of them have too long of cd… that’s their biggest weakness. CD usually is for the more ‘powerful’ skills. And, it’s not like the Necro when facing those traps doesn’t have possible minions he can send in to trip them while remaining safe at a distance.

There’s no such thing as a universally good skill… in this game it’s all situational… and part of that situation is what mode (PvP, PvE, and WvW) you’re playing in.

I hope that clarifies my perspective

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

How to bring up DS to the level of RS?

in Necromancer

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

DS is never going to be on the level of RS for a few reasons, one of which is elite specs were sold to us as these beastly class upgrades that change the way the class works and turns you into a god.

I mentioned this to someone else just before the recent DS “buff” and the patch that followed pretty much proved it. Its just not going to happen. What they might do is allow DS be used even if you have Reaper line active.

Elite specs were meant to be sidegrades and ways to play the profession differently than normal, not upgrades. Unfortunately ANET can balance about as well as a sinking ship so that’s what a lot of elite specs came out as.

Dont know what a “sidegrade” means. Side upgrade? an upgrade on the side? but is not an upgrade?

He kinda clarified what he meant after saying “sidegrade.” That it was an addition to the class, but not intended to be better that what was already there… just a new option. Another metaphor might be that the Elite is an annex to the Core’s main building.

If Anet didnt intend on the Elite specializations being better than the core specializations even after first of all calling them Elite specs and the base Core specs then why are all the elite specs better than the core specs? Unless you want to argue that for some reason they aren’t then i have to disagree that the intention wasnt for elites to be better than the cores

I read a forum post a week or two ago where someone quoted one of the devs when discussing the term Elite as it’s used in this case. To paraphrase, he clarified that Elite was intended to signify a new option once you have unlocked and understood all the other options available to that class, not that it was supposed to be Better-Than-Core. That dev even went so far as to admit the word “elite” was a misnomer.

I really wish I could remember what forum post that was in…

I’ve also read/watched commentary of people criticizing the elites as being lackluster… so I feel that just like everything else in this game, it’s awesome if it fits your play style, and can be left out if it doesn’t. I see it more as Elite is still the new shiny, and that’s more of why people are playing it more than the Core when they open the option… That doesn’t make Elite intrinsically better than Core.

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

Camera Collision Sensitivity

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

….the game was designed around the Asura sized character. It just seems to fit better.

You might think the game was designed around asura height until you lose sight of your asura because of all the flashing and effects during a huge multi-player battle. I can’t recount how many times I didn’t know if I was inside or outside a red ring, because I couldn’t see the little guy.

I have my fingers crossed for Gem Store stilts

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

Ascalon Tears for Legendary

in Players Helping Players

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Ephermeral, there are definitely enough PUGs to get you 500 tears quickly. Maybe even in a few hours if you’re lucky. I see them all the time (on NA).

That said, yes they are soloable, but considering you likely weren’t a dungeon runner back in the day it probably would be a miserable experience for you. You need to learn all the mechanics perfectly, and in that time you could have pugged 10000 tokens.

Thanks Fluffball, I appreciate that info

No, I wasn’t a dungeon runner back in the day. Back in the day I kept putting off dungeons in favor of exploring every nook-and-cranny in PvE Tyria… and when I wasn’t doing that I was constantly experimenting with different builds; something I still find vastly engaging even now. But, more and more lately I want to craft Foefire’s Power… and maybe even one day Mjolnir.

Anyways, thanks again for the input!

~EW

Ascalon Tears for Legendary

in Players Helping Players

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I’d like to piggy-back on the OP’s post, and ask if the Ascalonian dungeon is at all soloable? I know some dungeons can be (difficult though it might be), but my general searches for this specific dungeon have come up scant at best.

I ask this because I am primarily a solo PvEer… and have an aversion to most PvP. If I can find ways to get what I want solo, even if it takes a lot longer, it is my preferred method.

If I must do group or PvP, then I must do group or PvP… but I wouldn’t mind definitively knowing either way.

Thanks, and sorry to the OP for piggy-backing on your thread…

~EW

About making gold

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Do a youtube search for Mikei the Mighty. He has a series of videos on how to make gold in GW2… just a head’s up: he emphasizes the ways to make gold, not necessarily the best ways.

So maybe watch some of those and see if it sparks any ideas or methods that you’d find interesting?

~EW

Question to Community: Shield & Block?

in Guardian

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

I might be in the minority on this, but when I use the shield, I never use the #5 for the projectile block.

I use it mostly for the extra heal. It’s not great on its own for that heal, like Asmodal above mentioned… but like all healing in this game, good healing is about stacking it from multiple sources… and #5 is a good little extra burst to have if you’re decked out to heal.

The other thing I use it for is the push-back interrupt. I think the heal and push back together make it worthwhile to keep as-is. It doesn’t need to add more block, thematic though it may be.

~EW

Edit: and if you think about it, that one #5 skill provides 3 distinct uses. It makes sense that they’d seem a little lackluster to some, because what you’re getting in return is versatility.

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

Returning player

in Players Helping Players

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Maybe look at the Necro?

One of the things that helps me figure out the play style of a class is to look at the Signets the class gets. I feel they are a solid indication of the play styles each class excels at, regardless if you actually use them.

After that, then look at the class-specific f-powers (just their general function), because you will be utilizing them no matter what… if one sounds fun, or definitely fits into your play style, then maybe try that class out.

~EW

(edited by EphemeralWallaby.7643)

where does it go - conspiracy thread

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Zommoros has diversified.

~EW

What class is your archnemesis?

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EphemeralWallaby.7643

EphemeralWallaby.7643

Engineer.

Too many options, not enough fingers. Including the middle one.

~EW