Guild Wars 2

So far, I’m taking hammering after hammering. The system experience for me is even worse than last season.

Yes I realize that… but I have no confidence that this has been addressed.

DH beyond any question. The are the current golden child.

Multiple matches tonight. Two Duos vs all randoms. This is no bettter than team vs randoms.

Well at least it wasn’t another all out hammer nerf on Mesmer.

@Yannir

Members of the community team in unranked, simply to get laughs from easy wins against PUGs. Why would they not sandbag to get classed in with new people they could easily trounce?

You’d end up with a high win rate. This would advance you quickly. Some find entertainment in winning a match with very little chance of losing.

Based on what I’ve read, there seems to be a strong intent to talk the community into reversing on solo/duo after this season. I hope that’s not the case.

I’d still like to know about preventing class stacking.

Also, what’s to stop people from sandbagging the placement matches to get an easy win streak?

If we are to have seeding matches, what’s to stop players from sandbagging them to get an easy start on the season? This community has shown an amazing tendency to exploit loopholes. Has this been considered?

Second question, why is stacking classes still being allowed?

Ouch, that was a bit painful to watch.. (no, I absolutely will not upload) Still, I learned a thing or two already.

@OlrunTheBlade

I’ll tell you what: To set an example I will start videoing and reviewing my matches and looking for a way to practice against the classes I do most poorly against.

As a lead by example thing I’ll start tonight.

Cool Topher, wanna organize a class?

Lettuce was kind enough to coach me as a healbot ele and it got me enough wins to finally get my wings at the end of S4.

I’m 100% sure there are is a population that could benefit from this.

Enough is enough. I’ve just come from a game in which I was on a side that was all light and medium against 2 DH, 2 Eles and a War. That kind of unfun game is killing PvP.

It would lengthen queues you say? Who cares I say. People would have to branch out and not just play the flavor of the month. Overall game quality would improve. Then population might return.

Allow people to see how many of each class are in the queues. It doesn’t have to be exact, just a bar chart.

So, there are too many dh playing at the moment. This leads to nerf calls which inevitably will eventually allow the rise of a new flavor of the month and the cycle repeats. This is not balance and it will never settle to a good place.

Lord Hammer Hand.4815:

I rem. seeing 3-4 DH per game during season 4 in legendary. and NO i dont think they are OP at all. most of them are really bad. they run to middle of point or teleport to you then spam traps. then they pop all blocks and invul. then maybe kite around till traps resets. removed stacking in pvp it will solve a lot of issue with balance.

This. I’ve just come from playing against a stack of 2 DH, S eles and a war. At the moment, I rabidly hate DH. I’ll get over it, but stacking is a huge issue.

@thatnaeslguard

Wish I had known, I’d have been first in line.

@exiton

This person displayed near perfect timing and skill rotations. They basically hard carried there team and seemed to be everywhere.

-edit- Also, I’d contend that “getting better” is more about the individual than it is about getting on TS and following someone’s orders.

Most of us don’t play on teams or get paid to play. I don’t see esl as really relevant to day-to-day PvP. It shouldn’t be the balance leader because it lacks connection to the main body of players.

I got hammered last night by a power shatter mez. This person must have been near ESL quality. Her/his shatters and sequences were near perfect.

After the fight I asked for tips on how to play better. That player brusquely refused. Of course, they were within there rights to do so, but it got me thinking.

I propose that ESL players do an in-game “camp.” It’s said that the best way to learn is to teach, so those players might benefit too.

Professionals in many fields hold camps to teach skills to others.

It would need one of more players who are able to be graceful. The result would perhaps be an increased connection with the PvP community.

Who knows? ESL might even gain fans or improve it’s image. The community at large might grow in skill too.

How about it, pros? Kitten, I’ll even pay gold to come to class.

I don’t “enjoy” it precisely. Unless you count masochistic pleasure.

Rather I play PvP because I want to be better at it. It might be the top individual, ( not team, ) challenge in the game.

I want to be better, particularly as a Mesmer, so, I try to get games in daily.

In point of fact, ANET just fixed a bug that was giving Guardian too much shield. I think they have all there people on the next expac or something.

Still they did fix that OP thing.

GS Shatter Mesmer is built for the purpose of bursting. I’m not sure why anyone is surprised that it bursts well.

It’s also a total glass cannon, which is why I don’t play it. Dodge or mitigate the burst and you have practically already won the fight.

This is a learn to play type issue.

Here is the build I am currently using successfully in PvP. It’s unexpectedly tanky and enemy players don’t seem to expect or notice the retaliation.

In the hands of a better player. This might be deadly.

You need to keep refreshing the phantasms as often as possible. Stay close to them and any teammates. That way the passive boon share and regeneration will affect your allies.

Fay.2357:

Ithilwen.1529:

This build did not work at all for me. I got repeatedly pounded into the soil, even worse than power shatter.

Ithilwen…

Is it really too much to ask that you read the build description before complaining about it? Let me quote 2 pertinent bits here:

Fay.2357:

This build is for organized group WvW

Fay.2357:

This build is designed for use in an organized WvW group. If you try and use this in pugs, you’re going to have a bad time. If you try and use this without your group being aware and on board, you’re going to have a bad time.

Ok? You obviously tried to use this build in PvP and failed because this is not a PvP build. Granted, I didn’t actually say “don’t use this in PvP”, but I honestly didn’t think I needed to be quite that explicit with my disclaimers past stating the direct purpose and proper use of this build.

Fay,

First, you assume too much and are not correct.

Having said that; This is clearly a niche build that works well on a rehearsed team coordinated on voice. Then again… virtually any build will work well under those conditions.

You, yourself stated the build doesn’t work well without a coordinated team.

I would be willing to bet a pretty stack of bills that a majority (perhaps a super majority ) of Mesmers don’t play under those conditions.

Therefore, I’d consider this build a weak choice for general players.

The whole issue with Brahm has kept me awake tonight. It evokes bad memories associated with the Gulf War.

This child, and “child” fits him very well, is going to call the Norn to war to satisfy his own self pity, his inadequacy and guilt over his relationship with his mother and general anger. He can’t see that he’s as twigged with himself as he is with the dragon.

Will he be twisted into a dragon minion? No, I don’t think the team will take it in that direction. On the other hand it would be a parallel to the Jora story. The player characters would then have to hunt him down and destroy him as they helped Jora hunt her brother.

How many Norn will die to feed this vendetta? Will more Spirits of the Wild be forced to sacrifice themselves? They won’t win, that’s foreshadowed clearly enough.

I can only hope a visit from his mother from the spirit realm or perhaps cooler heads in Hoelbraak will prevent this train wreck. May I send an assassin, please?

This episode hurts, ANET. On the upside, I’m definitely emotionally involved and immersed in the story. GG on storytelling

In STO, another NCsoft family game, there is a specific “Ushan” (dueling) area. ( It’s a national park on Andoria ) It’s limited open world dueling, people who want it go there, if they don’t, not.

This seems to work fairly well.

OK I’m leaving the last episode unfinished… There isn’t the slightest clue what to do and I dislike dying to wave after wave of invulnerable beasts. This is really pretty lame.

I’m guessing I’m supposed to be under the influence of the elixlir and therefore able to withstand cold, but I’m not. That may mean the episode is unwinnable.

I’ll re-up the elixir and try again later.

An AHA moment. As I was being briefed by the Quaggan farmer, I understood something of the way the story is going.

I’m being placed more-or-less in the same position as Eir Stegalkin. Team leader with alienated team members because of my “mistake.” This is probably the reason Eir was the Destiny’s Edge member chosen to die.

The player is symbolically taking her place and also taking on her burden. With Aurene, I’ll probably have to atone for Glint’s death at some point. This is interesting. I look forward to seeing where it goes.

This build did not work at all for me. I got repeatedly pounded into the soil, even worse than power shatter.

I’m trying out Rune of Leadership, hoping it will work in conjunction with Illusionary Inspiration.

I’m not understanding the reasoning of the radiance rune. It seems primarily for auras. What’s the benefit here? Chaos Armor?

-Edit- After reading better I understand the radiance rune.

Do you have an alternate suggestion? The main “gimmick” that seems to work on this build is the retaliation on the phantasms, followed by the heal when in close proximity to the phants.

If the enemy bursts within 6 seconds of the phantasms coming online, they get a big retaliation hit.

It’s kind of Me/Mo style. If I can keep phantasms up, any aoe and /or aoe cleave is going to damage the attacker. I just have to be able to survive.

The Illusionary Inspiritation is mainly to help me survive. Suggestions solicited and most welcome.

This is something I’m trying. You can see all the pertinent information on the merged screenshot. One game was great, the other two we had a leaver and got stomped.

My general idea is a close combat team fighter, Phantasm style. The heal from the phantasms works a treat some of the time. The boonshare is also valuable. I saw another player testing this and decided to try it.

The retaliation from the phantasms is pretty nasty if they are conjured shortly before a burst.

I’m casting about for something I can play well. Mesmer is my preferred class by a long shot. Still, I switched back to auramancer ele ( which I haven’t touched since s4 ) and was immediately competitive.

What say you about the build/idea?

I am also impressed. GG ANET.

I’m pretty sure the script is already written.

My suggestion is about game play. Allow us to control and upgrade henchies similar to the way it’s done in GW1.

This would be very valuable in solo instances. It would permit ANET to make it’s beloved “hard” content. The change would also add a dimension to the game for the player.

Please consider this idea.

This kind of general disparagement of new / low skill players is a big reason population is low. Low population leads to long queues.

The way to fix this issue is to attract and nurture players.

Talking to a Kodan Flame Bearer feels like talking to a Lakota PipeBearer. ( Yes, I know a couple. ) I feel I should be purifying for Sun Dance. The Creator, aka Koda, would be pleased.

Cool concepts and ongoing great story.

I haven’t managed to get to the end bit with Brahm. I don’t like him at all anyway. I’d have kicked him from the team long ago. I’m guessing ANET has a setup coming for him to redeem himself.

One annoyance: I’ve been playing the story for close to 4 hours and still haven’t gotten to the hot springs. This is most definitely a zerg map, which makes solo’ing a hassle. I have to win a multi enemy fight every 10 feet or so, it seems.

I never honestly understood why Caithe was in so much disgrace. She was disloyal, yes. Still, she was acting totally in accordance with her nature.

Caithe is an alienated loner Assassin/Thief. I would almost have been surprised if she did otherwise.

She reminded us just before disappearing with the egg that we were on the same side, I believed her then and I believe her now.

@Valentine, I suspect you have to wait for reset to harvest again.

Wow oh wow! Playing catch with a dragonIt seems GW2 is going to have it’s own version of Eye of The North. That’s very interesting.

OMFG Home run ANET.

As I said while waiting for the Mordrem assault to end on Tarir so I could begin the episode; “Say what you will of ANET, they tell a great story.” The story and it’s presentation were outstanding.

Aurene is cute as all kitten. I loved her communications and animations. The idea of being a surrogate mom to a dragon has me grinning from ear to ear. I especially enjoyed seeing her knock over The Luminate in affectionate play.

I like that the trials weren’t excessively difficult once the mechanic was understood.
The last trial was the odd one out. I never saw what specifically I had to do to give Aurene her opening.

Aurene never stuck, but she was delayed many times engaging the oozes. The player needs to closely escort her so that she continues moving. This may be the source of the alleged bug.

Bug Noted:

The Luminate’s voice appeared to split into two separate voices in the first speech. I’m guessing a female and male are blended to give the voice. They became two distinct voices during the first speech.

I’ve wondered the same about the fiery footprints on Incinerator. I’n pve, the enemy doesn’t see it.

Rodgort shows no signs of being visible to enemies in PvP.

-edit- I’ll meet you in-game and we can set up on opposite sides of a dueling arena. I’ll send you a screenshot.

I’m not a spreadsheet theorycrafter. I do know what I’ve seen in-game over the past 4 years+.

Mesmer is not currently dominant in PvP or PvE. If it were OP like an early trap DH, it would be flavor of the month. The fact that it’s not demonstrates that it’s not OP.

There isn’t a thing OP about Mesmer as it currently stands. ANET has historically been very strict on Mesmer. After destroying the glamour bomb, Mesmer was trash tier for what? A year? Two?

The OP probably lost to a Mesmer. That is not a reason that Mesmer needs a nerf… rather it means the OP needs to improve there game.

Thank you for the quick answer.

Mesmer has been hit repeatedly. Most recently, Moa took yet another strong nerf. This is a learn to play issue, not a Mesmer problem.

Twitter from ANET says not to forget to unlock the story. So far I haven’t found out how one unlocks it.

Does anyone know how to “unlock” this story?

A guardian can use Staff to build near-permanent switftness. The swiftness stack lasts longer than the cooldown on the staff skill. So, each time the staff skill comes off cd, stop and build switfness.

Over time it’s possible to stack an impressive amount of quickness and run far and fast.

Thane.9421:

There absolutely needs to be a competitive scene outside of ESL on this game (the status of which is currently questionable, anyway.) Otherwise, ESL just stagnates, and everyone just stops giving a kitten .

This last couple months, I literally watched several new teams form and start scrimming regularly and entering AG just because of ToL – it really doesn’t take that much to invigorate the pvp community, we just need something to work towards. With AG ending and a ranked season incoming where teams literally won’t even be allowed to queue together ranked, it’s not looking great.

Time to step up Anet, pvp isn’t fueled by a handful of teams getting a big payout, it’s driven by competition your players can actually participate in.

This. ^^^ I would add that there needs to be something PvE players can reasonably participate in.

With the stacked matches of s2 and s3, PvE players should have been in favored matches at least some of the time if there MMR was set high enough coming in.

I don’t know why that didn’t work out. I suspect it was at least partly experienced players farming on free accounts. Another big factor, imo, was teams on voice.

Alright, I’ll try being especially sharp on map awareness.

If by “we” you mean “paid ESL teams”, I suspect you’re right.

Just guessing, I’d say ANET is dedicating most of it’s resources to the next expac right now. That and Living World season 3.

Also, they are likely being very careful to test the next season’s system. We need a good, successful season.

Wow, yet another story telling home run. Nice improvements and new loading screen, ( if memory serves. ) GG ANET.

The one frustrating bit. In the final battle, the henchies did nothing. They followed me around with dumb looks on there faces but little else.

Very few Mesmers run substantial stealth in the current era. That argument doesn’t make much sense.

I does little good to distortion or block after an initial hit with basilisk venom, plus the thief is now high on boons. I should random block/evade/dodge?

R O C.6574:

Ithilwen.1529:

I think Courtyard would be a huge mistake. After all, a major reason population is low is massive stomps. Courtyard promotes just that.

No, please… It’s dead, let it lie.

I think if it is a checkbox you could just, I don’t know, uncheck the box if you don’t want to play with the big kids. A lot of people liked courtyard, so why should they suffer because you don’t like it?

The “big kids?” You imply that somehow Courtyard was a more advanced form of play.

I absolutely don’t agree. That is born out by the fact that ANET removed it from the queue. Not even Spiritwatch, the other primarily team fight map suffered that fate, (though the orbs were nerfed to tone down the constant mid fight.)

Death match is video game style, all about reaction speed. More than anything else, I see that it’s an opportunity to take advantage of other players.

Real pleasure comes from winning by skill in a hard fought match. The pleasure of cheesing is a pale shadow by comparison.

As for a checkbox, I’m all for it with some provisos. The map should never be in ranked or seasonal play. It should be absolutely opt-in. I genuinely hate that map and have no desire whatever to go back there.

I don’t want my fun ruined by this map.