Guild Wars 2

Josh Foreman.8250:

Hebee.8460:

My favorite still is the clock tower. It took the longest of all the JP’s for me, but it felt amazing to finish it.
I’d like to know Josh, if the area in Sparkfly Fen near the Point of Interest and Vista The Tower of Modius that you gain access to through Verarium Delves is going to be a JP later?
I’m not online right now to provide a screenshot but what I came across was a rich platnium with a veteran guarding it, then some bushes to the side that were hiding a cave with what looked like a crumbling fort inside that didnt have anything inside.

Thank you Josh for all the amazing work you & everyone have put into these JP’s, ME LOVE YALL LONG TIME.

Hm. Interesting. I worked on that map mid-development. Meaning someone owned before me and after me. That’s the map where I first started playing around with JPs. The tall ruins bridges and the pirate ghost base in the NE of that map were my first experiments. Then the Lich tower was my idea for making them a mandatory part of an event. Originally you had to take a crazy circuitous rout to get to the cave opening above the tower and drop down onto it. But after I handed the map off to someone else, I know we changed our policy so that no JPs are required for events, map complete, etc. I haven’t actually gone back to that map since launch, so I haven’t seen all the changes, but it’s possible that what you’re seeing is left overs from work I did that had to be cut. But I know that several enterprising map artists are digging around for spots to add more JPs, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it got reopened at some point.

For new JP’s added to the game, would it be possible to add a one-time reward to each one that was unique or themed like the JP? I know that might be a lot to ask, but the general idea of a nice reward for the first run of a JP I think would be really cool. It doesn’t have to be unique to just that JP really, it could just be a reward that was unique to JP’s in general. Kind of like the vendor at the end of the Lion’s Arch Pirate puzzle. After your first run, it would go back to it’s normal (i.e. meager) rewards :P.

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

What would you like to be able to spend it on?

Unique skins only available for karma is nice. There needs to be more of that. Players would also probably like cosmetic things like town clothes, dances, auras, and animations. This is true for karma and the gem store.

Josh Foreman.8250:

Rifter.6591:

Anet cant program a camera properly(or design a puzzle properly, either way it comes down to broken/lazy coding)

Grumpdogg.6910:

Step 1: Dedicate time, effort, talented devs and resources to create jumping puzzles.
Step 2: Promote Jumping Puzzles as a big feature of the game.
Step 3: Change the camera at the last minute to break all of the jumping puzzles and half of the vistas.
Step 4: Launch the game because “it’s ready”.

Here’s how it worked. I started putting little jumping challenges into my maps several years ago. About a year and a half ago Colin and a couple other designers decided that these were fun enough to turn into some kind of bonus content. About a year ago all the other map artists were told to put a bonus jumping challenge or two in all their maps. We were in our polish phase and these were never intended to be anything more than small diversions for people who like platforming. Not a lot of time was dedicated to this because it was seen almost as Easter Eggs. Just fun little hidden places to discover. As such, JPs were never advertised as primary content, never included in world complete, never required for any story step, and never containing loot that could not be obtained elsewhere.

Because JPs are such a minor part of the game, specific camera issues that are primarily caused by them are not super high on the list of systems that demand the camera code bends to their needs. This does not mean that JP camera issues are ignored by the programmers who work on the camera, simply that they have to prioritize things. And while I’m not happy with the way the camera works because I spend a lot my time doing JPs, I know the engine optimization guys are not happy either because part of the compromise they have to make with us JP guys means that there are places where the world drops out because the camera can get through the occlusion planes. If the optimization guys had it there way 100% the camera would never even get close to a wall and we would build all our maps as flat planes with waist high walls. (Not that they actually want that, but that would be the ideal for avoiding world-dropping bugs) Since the camera has to serve two or three masters, who all want it to do different things, its current implementation is a compromise. This is not due to laziness or bad coding. We simply don’t hire lazy people or bad coders, and we get rid of any who show that tendency.

One issue that a non-developer would not know is the difference between creating a single-player game and an MMO. So it’s easy to look at Uncharted’s camera or Skyrim’s camera and say “Why don’t they just do it that way?” In fact, a lot of us artists DO say that to the coders. And then we get taught a lesson in how incredibly more complex an MMO engine has to be. The sheer amount of dependencies on any one system is staggering, and there is hardly ever a time where a programmer slaps their forehead and says “Oh, I never THOUGHT about just doing like Skyrim!” There are always REASONS that our systems are the way they are. None of this is to say that all our systems are perfect and our team is perfect and nothing will improve. Of course we aren’t perfect, and we are just as frustrated by the limitations and quirks as you are.

So yeah, had we been inflexible, we would have not allowed JPs in the game because they expose weaknesses in the camera. Had we been omniscient, we would have planned the camera from the start to work with the extreme geometry that JPs have. Had we been perfect, maybe we could have come up with a solution to work for all the systems at once perfectly. We are none of those things. What we are is a bunch of people who love making this game and who are constantly looking for ways to provide interesting and new kinds of content. That means pushing against the limits of what our engine can do, then iterating the engine to try to keep up with the design ideas. It’s a process, not and end point. There will never be a point at which we are all happy with the game and declare it to be the perfect representation of our design wishes.

I’m currently in a conversation with the latest ‘owner’ of the camera system and we’ll see what comes of that.

Bravo.

Why can’t all issues be handled like this post? There are so many issues that get brought up sometimes and we are given canned responses that literally make the situation so much worse, because if feels like we are being treated like children. This post talked to us like people, not customers. It actually answered questions instead of avoiding them (and in laymen’s terms, no less). And you even gave us solid information that you are actively trying to make a fix for a problem so many players want.

I really wish all big-ticket issues were handled so well (like cross-region guesting for example).

So, the focus has some amazing skins. The best in the game, imo. I’m really trying to find a reason to use one, but I’m having a hard time. After having a discussion on reddit about this weapon I decided to look further into it’s practicality. This is specifically for WvW, where I either run D/D for roaming with my guild (which is mostly what we do) or staff if I’m assaulting/defending a tower.

One huge issue that I’m having is the choice to make some skills single target on this weapon compared to /D which is all AoE. Also some odd cooldowns on top of the fact that the base dmg is more than 100 points less.

Let’s compare each element:

Fire- Dagger:

• Ring of Fire is almost instant, does great immediate and overtime dmg, and can block people in to a ring all with a 15 second cooldown.
• Fire Grab does huge AoE dmg. It’s in a cone, which sometimes misses for no reason, but is generally a grade A skill.

Fire- Focus:

• Flame Wall has a higher cooldown, casting time that is 4 times longer, easily avoidable shape, and does WAY less dmg in exchange for only 2 more seconds of duration (8 instead of 6). Extremely inferior to Ring of Fire.
• Fire Shield is a 3 second flame aura on a 40 second cooldown. It does much less dmg, but is an aura that can be shared. It’s a wash really, because according to the situation each has their use. However, the duration should be increased.

Water- Dagger:

• Frost Aura has a 7 second duration for it’s 40 second cooldown, which is much more reasonable. Good skill for aura sharing.
• Cleansing Wave removes a condition and heals allies. The 40 second cooldown is a little steep for what it provides, but overall a nice skill.

Water- Focus:

• Freezing Gust is single target chill. Why in the world is this not AoE? This should affect multiple foes for it to be worth 25 seconds for 3 second duration. It really really hurts the whole weapon set in this form.
• Comet dazes multiple foes. This skill is amazing. AoE daze and a blast finisher. Love it.

Air- Dagger:

• Ride the Lighting is straight up one of the best skills in the game. On a 15 second cooldown you get 1200 range to do whatever you need to AND does dmg.
• Updraft is like Robin to RTL’s Batman. Gives swiftness and does AoE launch. Worth every second of it’s 40 second cooldown. It’s even instant!

Air- Focus:

• Swirling Winds is the only reason the weapon isn’t currently shunned by most players in WvW all together. It blocks siege attacks. Generally it’s a pretty good skill in it’s own right as well.
• Gale…. wtf. Why? The cooldown is 10 seconds longer than Updraft, does single target knockdown (which is like knockback but less cool), and has a 3/4 cast time. I don’t even.

Earth- Dagger:

• Earthquake is an AoE knockdowning, blast finishing monster. This skill is pretty awesome even with 45 seconds of cooldown.
• Churning Earth can change the tide of battle… if you can get it off with the enemy still in range. It’s one of the only skills that requires the help of a utility to be consistent, but either way when it hits, they know it.

Earth- Focus:

• Magnetic Wave does all kinds of things. Removes 3 conditions, is a blast finisher, does some dmg, and reflects projectiles. Looking at the other cooldowns of the focus skills I really don’t know how this one got away with only requiring 25 seconds. But this weapon needs all the help it can get. So yeah, this skill completely rocks.
• Obsidian Flesh makes you invulnerable for 4 seconds on a 50 second cooldown and it’s instant cast. A pretty great skill. The cooldown is a little stretched out, but that’s understandable for the effect.

For Focus, really the only element that both skills work well on is Earth. It, and swirling aura affecting siege, are the saving graces of the weapon. For all it’s downsides, you’d think at least the base dmg would be the same (or higher?). But it’s not. In fact, it’s 10% weaker.

What do you guys think?

They can’t give you a reply. If they respond to this program they would have to respond to all programs that get put out, which will eventually be a ton. And they can’t simply say yes/no. They would have to extensively test each program so that they wouldn’t approve something that later has some bannable feature uncovered. And that process would have to be repeated everytime every approved program gets updated. Because approval would lead to mass usage of the product, and a new update could create something gamebreaking, which left unchecked could result in massive bans.

It’s a choice they made it out like you wouldn’t have to make. I also have a similsr problem.

Player.8373:

That would be niccccceee. But I almost have the wholle time my mini activated.

I try to remember, but forget more times than not.

Nalora.7964:

prel·ude (pr l y d , pr l d , pr -). n. 1. An introductory performance, event, or action preceding a more important one; a preliminary or preface.

Some of Chopin’s Preludes were less than one minute long.

And some burgers are the size of a golf ball. That doesn’t mean its enough to quench an appetite.

You lost them because of the fixed HoM achievement exploit.

Also, I agree that the way achievement points are granted is so backwards. They are so worried about casual players being left behind, even with something as useless as these points, that they suck the prestige out of every nook of their game. But it makes sense in the sense that casuals are typically the loosest with their money. Another example of pay2prestige. Which is fine I guess, if you’re in to that kind of thing.

I agree that they shouldn’t have marketed it as if we were getting actual content when we didn’t. A living story is fine, but if they wanted to be honest they should have just told us at the start that there is just one small, simple quest added and fixed fractals the way they should have been since it was implemented.

Strifey.7215:

Rhoda.1654:

haviz.1340:

Rhoda.1654:

Meridius.6502:

Before any nerfs are done, I would like to see these bugs fixed. First, the sparks will often pass right through circles or sit inside a circle and not activate. And then you have the bug where she will stealth every 5-10 seconds. sparks are placed under 15 seconds usually. I’m not sure which groups can dps fast enough when she goes into stealth almost instantly. If these are not fixed then this fight is more about luck and dps than skill/coordination.

We were breaking even with 4 warriors and 1 mesmer (mesmer using tears). It took us 3 timewarps to finally take her down. The sparks seem to be ok now, it’s just the stealth timer that is unfair to non-DPS groups. Increase the timer as well as make Dwayna hurt some more because her threat is non-existent at the moment.

3 timewarps with 4 wars and 1 mesmer? Did you have tanks?

All of them were running with a DPS build, actually.

So groups with less dps kill it way faster, sounds like they weren’t really DPS builds or your group was utterly terrible at pulling sparks or let it heal more then you could DPS it during non-timewarp cycles which is pretty commendable because that’s hard to do with a 4 warrior/1 mesmer group in the first place.

Sounds like a l2p issue more then a boss issue at that point.

This is turning into a debate between people that have experienced the bug and those that haven’t. Again, often we had a 10-15 second dps time. There is no group other than FULL zerker dps builds that can out damage her heal in that time. Even then you have to time everything perfectly.

Us that were in the group are very experienced dungeon runners and players in general. We know how to play the game. We are in the same guild, were on TS, all have way over 1k hours played, the lowest pvp rank is 23 (I think), the lowest achievement score is 4.4ish, and we do speed runs of other Arah paths all the time. I know that all doesn’t really mean all that much, but I’m just trying to get across that we aren’t new players. And with the bug we had (unless this is the current new way it’s supposed to be) only coordinated zerker groups could complete it. Which would be imbalanced IMO.

This was my take on it. Got some support.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/suggestions/Mini-Pet-Slot-1/first#post1048442

Knowing how the RNG systems in this game typically work, I’d say the chance of getting a level 80 exotic is likely around 5%. Let’s be extremely optimistic and say 10%. If there are 10 different stat combinations like PvP amulets, that doesn’t give us very good odds on it giving us what we need from these things.

pdfrod.1948:

I disagree that Simin needs to be nerfed. This is the last dungeon, so it should be hard. A lot of people have managed to do it, so it’s definitely not impossibly hard.

Something must have gone really bad for a team of 3 DPS warriors failing to do it. I did it with a team of 3 Guardian and 0 Warriors (and I think I was the only Guardian specced for damage).

Here’s a tip some you may have missed: when Simin gets to 50% a 1 minute timer is set. When this timer expires, Simin will hide again and another 1 minute timer is set. This means you have 1 minute to put the sparks and DPS as hard as you can. The longer you take to put the sparks, the less time you have to DPS. Example:

10s to pull sparks -> 50s to DPS
30s to pull sparks -> 30s to DPS

I was part of Darkos team. We did the sparks in a super fast time. Just a few seconds each go. They were never, ever a problem. Our entire issue was the amount of time that she would go invis was random and healed for improportionally too much based on how much time we could dps her. There were even a couple times that she’d only appear for about 10 seconds and heal 20% of her hp. Even after bringing a 4th Warrior in (none full zerk but all with soldier or soldier/zerk hybrid stats and dps focused utilities/traits + hundred blades) we had to go through 2 time warp cycles.

There was nothing ‘hard’ about the fight. It was not a difficulty issue. It was either bugged or very unbalanced towards berzerker gear.

Better AI isn’t even needed really. Just don’t put bosses near cliffs and have auto-loot. It really does solve the problem. Have them always spawn in the same locations, so even if they fall somewhere unreachable, you only would have to wait a few minutes for the respawn.

StinVec.3621:

Fook, Geikamir, it’s called funds allocation and planning ahead. GW2 has been out for several months, allocating funds to something you enjoy and wish to continue enjoying is an intelligent move. Had you allocated some money toward the game each month since release and not found something WORTH spending your hard-earned cash on then by now you would have more or less than $100 allocated. Do you believe yourself to be purely righteous and altruistic? You appear to have internet access, that puts you in the 1% richest people on the planet. Scrap your internet payment and donate it to the homeless. If you enjoy smoking for entertainment purposes do you not also allocate funds to support your interest in it? The OP was stating that they allocate funds to GW2 but there is nothing of worthy to spend it on. Had Anet added in more items to keep interest then perhaps they would be receiving those allocated funds. It was a request from Anet to add stuff that may be worth spending money on.
Trolls. Grow up.

You have absolutely no idea how he made that money, how long he’s had it, what his saving plans are like, how long he’s been playing GW2 (or games at all), how he allocates his monthly worth, what his worth even is, how he values anything, etc. Yet you make that post as if you knew even a portion of what his situation actually was. You’re whole post was made off assumptions. I made a post that directly talked about his actual post. Having so much money that you feel inclined just to spend it on SOMETHING but having nothing to actually spend it on is something that I’m sure is nice to be able to do. Something a lot of people don’t have the luxury of thinking about.

You are essentially advocating being a bad consumer by you encouraging him. If a company does not supply a product or service that you deem worthy of spending money on-DON’T. It doesn’t matter how much you like that company, you are sending them the exactly wrong message. If you spend money on products you don’t want, the company is just going to continue making those products. By NOT spending money on the gem store until they have something you want to actually buy, you are telling the company exactly what it is that you are interested in.

If he genuinely wanted to send them money just because he liked them as a company than do just that, and only that. Send them $100 in the mail and tell them how much you love what they do. Or hell, what does he like about the company? The game they made. Go out and buy 2 copies to show your support for THAT, not support for items he doesn’t even want.

Also, name calling is below you and is unnecessary.

I wish I had just money burning a hole in my pocket so much that I didn’t even have anything I wanted to buy but just needed to spend it on SOMETHING.

Khisanth.2948:

xCrusadentx.2784:

I can only bet that right now one of the devs is reading this right now laughing their butt off. “Look at them trying to come up with where it is! They’re not even close! Hey guys, check out what these kiddos are saying about that one staff we made impossible to find! Its a great laugh.”

The second this staff is found, hell is going to break loose as everyone will be farming for it. Oh well, we’ll find it eventually. Try and find some hidden caves or something in Orr. I doubt it’d be in anything other than a level 80 zone.

I am hoping the reaction is closer to “This is how crafting a Legendary should have been like.”

A little bit less rare and specific boss oriented, but with the same mentality, I agree.

Yeah, and it’s such a unique case that we don’t have anything to even compare our research to, to see if we are on the right track.

Nickczh.6341:

And what makes you think where the staff drops has ANYTHING to do with its name?

That’s the point I’ve been trying to make for the longest time. Does the names of the item (Dawn, Dusk etc etc) have anything to do with where it drops? Sure there will be exceptions, but I haven’t seen any confirmation that the name “Final Rest” has to do with where it drops. Heck, Bramblethorne drops in AC.

If every named exotic has to drop in a place to do with its name, that’s an awful lot of effort on ArenaNet’s part. Do you think such a task would be high up on their priority list?

I wouldnt be surprised if this staff is dropped from a completely random boss (with a chest), and only that one boss.

It doesn’t have to HAVE anything to do with the name, but it COULD. It’s just more evidence in my case that I don’t think the behemoth drops it.

Also, I’d like to point out that this is the only weapon in the game (that I know of) that drops specifically from one boss/chest and not as a random drop or mystic forge recipe. More reason for it’s name to have something to do with the mob that drops it.

I don’t think is the Shadow Behemoth. He’s rare because he’s bugged, not inherently. He also is in a low level zone which would be odd to have an exclusive level 80 item drop. He has nothing to do with the name Final Rest or with gargoyles.

Raging Greatsword of Babe Slaying
Erotic- Level 80
69 Copper

flyingcats.6194:

Shinzan.2908:

I can transfer servers from EU to US now and it takes about a minute, so the technology is there. Since guesting isn’t what we were promised and they said server transfers would remain free until they get it working they should just keep transfers free instead and remove the time limit.

The technology for permanent switching is there. The technology for temporary switching isn’t. It’s really not as simple as just moving something and then moving it back afterwards.

But it really is. Using the same technology has “permanent switching” as now for EU to NA only. It takes away all the negatives that come with switching servers in the first place (spying and messing up WvW for servers you are fighting against) because NA and EU don’t fight each other in the first place.

And if they don’t want us doing WvW in another region either, also easy. Just don’t allow it. When you cross to the other region (other than you pre-determined home region) just don’t let me do it. Mark the character that says they can’t go into WvW. It really is that easy.

Chamone.6890:

I’m not sure why anyone would want to guest on another continent’s server anyway.

As European, I enjoy people being awake and online at the same time as me, I enjoy the wide variety of people and cultures that I run into on the various different servers, I’ve played with Swedes, Spanish, Dutch, Czech, French, Germans, Danes and more, the variety of different accents, cultures and attitudes one finds across the continent is second to none.

Why would I want to guest in the US, where everyone is American and every server is kind of the same?

I do think they should have some kind of Ryder Cup type deal in WvW. The top server from US vs. the Top server in EU, just leave the 3rd slot blank. That would make winning the top tier really something to go for

I have odd work hours. So some days I am on at the perfect time for EU and sometimes I’m on at the perfect time for NA. Currently, half of the time there is almost no one online when I am online to do ANYTHING. It’s very dead in the middle of the night.

On top of that, I have a lot of friends in NA (I am from America) but I have been in an EU guild for a while now and really like all the friends I have met there too. Why do I have to decide who I like more? I didn’t in GW1 and I shouldn’t have to here either.

Kore wa Sparta.3750:

“A-net, give us guesting please!”
Months of whining and complaining about no new content later
“You’re giving us what we want but we want more!”
Babies.

No, they are giving us only a portion of what we want (and were led to believe).

Next time you buy a car, try receiving it without the engine and tell me how happy you’d be.

Astraea.6075:

For those comparing guesting to free server transfers, there is a difference between being able to guest on 2 different servers per 24 hour period and changing your home server once every 7 days.

Now I can understand the frustration that guesting isn’t cross-region, and that for those with friends in both regions that guesting feels like a backwards step over what is currently available, but don’t deny that a lot of people will find this an improvement over the current situation.

Hopefully, ArenaNet will be able to eventually overcome the technical limitations, so everyone is happy.

Edit: is =/= isn’t

They haven’t even said they are trying to work out another solution. So odds are, they aren’t.

Delsabre.5934:

Guess it’s time to remove all the friends on the “wrong” continent from the friends list then since we won’t be playing any GW2 together.

Basically you changed the name from “Free Server Transfer” to “Guesting” and called it news. :/

Yeah, basically. Except worse, but cause we have to pay to play with people in another region and can only do it once a week (even after paying).

endirasae.3015:

Geikamir.6329:

Loosifah.4739:

A one time fee would also cost them revenue.

Think about it. If a server transfer costs say $20. Even if they upped it to a one time fee of $100 to switch indefinitely between data centers on a timer, people would be switching as often as they were allowed.

What are you even on about? Guesting. Allows you to swap out to play with other PvE’rs forever for free. They said they can’t allow guesting across regions because of technical limitations with out the guesting system works.

Transferring does not have that same limitation. So allowing transferring for free across regions only (with WvW locked) solves this problem. You would still have to pay to switch servers in your region or to be able to play WvW on another server.

You’re missing one thing though. Transferring across regions also requires the selection of a world within that region. If you can transfer for free to any world in that other region, then you can transfer for free to any world back in the region you came from, effectively bypassing any need for fees.

If there was a way to lock which world you transferred to between regions as a freebie, however, that would work. You’d get 1 free NA server, 1 free EU server, and have to guest or transfer to access any others.

It would still work the same way. Your home server is where you can play WvW, and no other place no matter what.

But yeah, even in your set up I’d be completely happy. I only need 1 server from NA. I’d even be willing to pay a one-time fee to be able to do that, too.

Loosifah.4739:

A one time fee would also cost them revenue.

Think about it. If a server transfer costs say $20. Even if they upped it to a one time fee of $100 to switch indefinitely between data centers on a timer, people would be switching as often as they were allowed.

What are you even on about? Guesting. Allows you to swap out to play with other PvE’rs forever for free. They said they can’t allow guesting across regions because of technical limitations with out the guesting system works.

Transferring does not have that same limitation. So allowing transferring for free across regions only (with WvW locked) solves this problem. You would still have to pay to switch servers in your region or to be able to play WvW on another server.

Loosifah.4739:

They’ve said from the start that transferring servers was going to come at a charge. Why would they give you the ability to switch between data centers for free?

Or for a one-time fee, to be able to play with other regions. It would be like guesting, which is free. How is it different?

Why couldn’t transfer between regions be kept free (or at a one time charge) and just block us from participating in WvW? I honestly don’t understand why this can’t be the way it’s done.

ColinJohanson.2394:

Pinkus.2860:

Fiontar.4695:

Fozzik.1742:

It all sounds really good. The only thing that is a tiny bit frustrating is the TONS of achievements I’ve already completed and gotten nothing for. I wish I could do them over again once they are worth tokens. =\

Indeed. There better be a way to get rewards on previous achievements, because we can’t reset achievements and veteran players will really be at a pretty big disadvantage.

Either retroactive rewards, or a reset of completed achievements, with the current AP totals not being effected would be fine. I don’t mind having to revisit achievements I’ve already finished, but retroactive token rewards would be nice to have. (I’ve been focusing on achievements recently, now I have to wonder if I should stop that until there is some clarification on this).

They have explained in another post that once the initial system is implemented (Daily/Monthly for crowns), they will retroactively reward players with crowns for their already completed achievements. It WONT be part of the initial release though.

Since I think all of this can be a little confusing until seen in practice, and because some of the details aren’t yet fleshed out, a few points to help clarify:

• Previous daily and monthly achievements will not be reward retroactively with crowns, it will be newly completed daily/monthly achievements only. (January achievement if completed after the release will not give crowns, monthly from February on will qualify.)

• We will develop a separate reward system you’ll see later for other types of achievements, this system hasn’t been finalized, it’s entirely possible this system will not reward the crown currency at all. This system will retroactively reward achievements you’ve already earned (except dailies/monthlies) and may possibly cap out the rewards you can earn from infinitely repeatable achievements, so no one has an unfair advantage.

Hope that helps a bit, more info once we’ve finalized more of the details.

I completely understand that have no way to give accurate time frames on systems that haven’t even been decided on yet, but could I ask just to clarify on this one part: Does this (the overall achievement rewards structure-not just dailies etc.) count as part of the Jan/Feb/March series of updates or will it be after them?

TSLlol.4879:

Martin Kerstein.3071:

Let me explain to you why you cannot guest on worlds in another region.

There are two databases: European player data is stored in our European datacenter, American player data is stored in our American datacenter. This is to ensure that people in these regions can still properly play in case there is an issue with the connection between the datacenters.

When you do a world transfer from the US to the EU (and vice versa) your player data is transferred from one datacenter to the other. This is not the case with guesting, as you are still “registered” on your home world.

I understand that some of you are disappointed that you cannot guest on worlds in another region, but considering the complexity of internet routing, our main priority is to ensure that players have as much of an uninterrupted game experience as possible, which is the reason why we have two datacenters.

On another note: I will try to get an answer to the guild influence question that has been posted a couple of times.

In that case… Just leave EU -> US server transfer free without a time limit? It really sucks playing on EU servers in the midnight, while you could be playing on US servers where there’s actually life at that time of day…

This is exactly my problem. Sometimes I on at perfect EU times. Others (because of my job) the server I’m on is dead. Why can’t they just let US to EU transfer be free? So I can play with other people and RL friends on the certain days/times.

CaptainFabulous.8410:

Geikamir.6329:

I really don’t understand why we can’t guest across regions. Could we please get some official response on why? Could I pay for the option? Because I would.

This was such a huge selling point for me. I play on an EU server but work really odd hours and often times just want to play with more people on certain days when I am on late at night in EU.

Look 3 posts up.

We posted at the same time. When I wrote my post his was not written yet.

I really don’t understand why we can’t guest across regions. Could we please get some official response on why? Could I pay for the option? Because I would.

This was such a huge selling point for me. I play on an EU server but work really odd hours and often times just want to play with more people on certain days when I am on late at night in EU.

Entropy should cap at no more than 5% your total achievement points. That way it’s never useless as you can keep going as you get other achievements, but it will permanently be the minority of your total points. This solution would be perfect because it will scale well with the growth of the game too, as more achievements are added.

Habib, I appreciate your time to answer so many questions.

The one I’m most concerned with is the loot bag in WvW since I have lost so many bags because of it.

The present thing, while it makes sense, it doesn’t translate well to WvW in the majority of cases with it’s current implementation. When you are fighting multiple enemies (so like, 95% of the time) you are just spamming F to get bags before you die/they despawn/you move on/you just don’t see them. That feels nothing like opening a present because you don’t even have time to see what you got most of the time. Having the bags stack in your inventory (by 250) like others have mentioned gives WAY more of the ‘opening a present’ feeling.

Not only the present thing, but it also addresses the concern about space better. Up to 250 bags would only take up 1 space instead of 250+ spaces according to what rewards you get. [Well actually, now that I write that down I think I come to realize something: What if you guys WANT us have all of our bags taken up instead of having a bunch of empty space…. Hmmm.]

The only issue having the bags stack in your inventory doesn’t solve is the already written code for bags to fall at your feet. What I’m curious about is, wouldn’t having something just pop into your inventory be much LESS server demanding? The game would have no additional images to render and wouldn’t have to keep track of where the bag is laying or where you were when the other player died.

It seems like a better solution is every single aspect except the one that involves cramped bag space (and according to what the end goal is with that, it’s much better in that regard too).

I really hope these new rewards cover lodestones as well, because their prices are pretty unbalanced with other currently.

Jeff, when you say that the game would have to constantly keep checking if a player enters an area instead of a trigger going off, is that how events work too? Like an event that requires a certain amount of people in the area to start or when you get close enough to an event that it tells you in the corner of the screen? Because that’s the type of thing I was talking about.

If it does work that way (constantly checking all players for all events), then that does seem quite server intensive. Would there be another way to go about it? Like: Only if X happens does Z happen.

Jeffrey Vaughn.1793:

So, the game would constantly check for nearby players from the moment the respawn timer expired? If you have to do this for every monster, it would be extremely taxing to the servers. (Plus the added overhead of storing player IDs any time a creature dies, so you have a list to check against.)

Could a trigger system work instead of a constant check? The boss would span if both requires are met of: 1- A new player enters the designated area. 2- A certain amount of time as passed since its last death.

One of the most requested features from beta and launch that still hasn’t shown it’s face yet sadly. I really hope this gets added soon (or at all?).

I definitely agree that we need more armor and weapon skins in the game. However, most of the ones that you posted look pretty bad. Too anime for GW2.

What if they are just prepared for the inevitable inflation of currency and are planning to add in platinum once most of the player base has 1000+ gold in liquid assets?

The changes sound good. I look forward to seeing them.

What I’m most curious about it why they need to push them at the same time. Why not just release one as soon as it’s done. Just one of these improvements would help out greatly.

RvLeshrac.2673:

Geikamir.6329:

Seems like one of two things needs to happen. Either these types of posts aren’t allowed to be made at all (and if they are they result in a temp. ban) or people that scam in this way get punished in the same way and forced to give the money back.

With the way it is currently, people are allowed to post on here in attempts to scam people AND they are allowed to keep the stolen money with no threat of repercussion. That makes no sense to me.

Well, if you’re dumb enough to send them money…

They should be banned, of course, but ANet already made the policy pretty clear:

a) Report, and they’ll do what they can once they have enough reports.
b) Don’t do this in the first place because IT IS ALWAYS A SCAM.
c) IT WILL NEVER NOT BE A SCAM. THIS IS ALWAYS A SCAM.
d) STOP FALLING FOR THIS CRAP BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS A SCAM.

I understand you shouldn’t do it, that’s why I don’t. But by them allowing these types of threads AND not banning people that scam others, they are facilitating this behavior.

Seems like one of two things needs to happen. Either these types of posts aren’t allowed to be made at all (and if they are they result in a temp. ban) or people that scam in this way get punished in the same way and forced to give the money back.

With the way it is currently, people are allowed to post on here in attempts to scam people AND they are allowed to keep the stolen money with no threat of repercussion. That makes no sense to me.

I think something as deadly as retaliation should make the character glow or something. If a Warrior is doing 100 blades every body on the map can clearly see that he is doing it. If a Guardian pops up retaliation in his sea of boons you are have to go out of your way to look through all of them to see what all you have to avoid, including that one.

Also, no other boon on someone else causes me to die. Conditions are easy to spot, because they are right there on my bar. That specific boon makes a huge difference because it’s so different than the others.

A special type of aura specifically for that boon would help a lot.

Medazolam.3058:

I can easily picture new dynamic event chains in the existing areas that are many events (thus a chain), very difficult, scale to number of players, and have very worthwhile rewards (i.e. always at least 1 exotic). They can have announcements in lions arch for specific event chains starting, either ‘explorer or ambassador NPCs’ making announcements about ‘something happening’ in this zone. If the events are fun, challenging and rewarding, people will do them.

I like the idea but don’t think flooding the market with exotics is the best reward structure. Better yet is they give you tokens that you can use to buy new gear skins after a decent amount. You could also exchange a lot of them for an account bound lodestone. And there would be a rare chance (not super rare) to have trade-able town clothes, temporary in-town auras, or other cosmetic items to drop.

The games needs more armor and weapon skin variety. Add it to karma and WvW vendors, dungeons, and fractals. That combined with guesting, mini-games (with titles/emotes), and fleshing out Lost Shores really well will keep players occupied for months. And it requires less resources than one-time holiday events.

Your user name is appropriate for this post.

Large chest could mean a high level PvP chest.