Guild Wars 2

I just hope that the post-sale nerf isn’t too strong.

Aaron Ansari.1604:

I’ve already put down my reasons for thinking that holosmiths were at least beginning five years ago.

As for the Whispers… the asura gate is speculation. We’ve had this argument in the past, so suffice it to say that I’m not convinced the Order has been able to physically travel to Elona. What we do know, though, is that the Whispers have stayed in touch with the resistance against Joko. We also know from the demo that said resistance has been able to help a great number of refugees to flee Joko’s domain, reportedly even including the odd Sunspear. Wall or no, Elona hasn’t been able to stop the escapees, and I don’t believe for a second that an organization like the Order would keep tabs on the far side of the wall and completely fail to check in with the near side. If they do maintain a physical presence, that’s all the more reason- surely if average citizens are able to succeed, the Whispers can too?

And then there’s the Order of Shadows. Both the name and the dress are strikingly similar. While we don’t have any lore on them as yet (that I’ve seen), even their mechanical role is similar to what the Order did in Elona. It was their task to defend the nation against magical and supernatural threats, and here we have a group who is named like them, dressed like them, and arranging the deaths of menaces unbalanced by the surge in magic.

As for the maps, I don’t believe for a minute that the Whispers would tip their hands by keeping Lion’s Arch cartographers in the loop.

The Order of Whispers originated in Elona. They’d have contacts with the old Chantry of Secrets and Elona if anyone would.

Further, we know from the description of the Spellbreaker that Palawa Joko won and broke the Sunspears.

It stands to reason that the Order of Whispers fell in Elona and was replaced by the Order of Shadows.

I hope not. Raids are too elitist. There’s no reason to keep spending energy and resources on something that serves only a small faction of the game.

Yes, I started in GW1 specifically because I saw someone wearing the fiery dragon sword and asked them about it. I now have my fiery dragon sword skin. Those rewards are still being earned.

GW1 is still strong. It has an amazing story and some of the people there are really great. I think it compares VERY favorably to gw2 in terms of quality and story.

Having said that. It will likely feel quite awkward at first.

GW1 is a significantly different game in many ways and you will have to do a lot more on your own ( and with your henchies and heroes.) Take time and get used to the different mechanics.

Where you would just mob through in GW2 you pretty much have to make it on your own in many places in gw1.

Elona looks amazing. One of my big fears was that the beauty of GW1 Vabbi would be lost.

The physics and animation on the raptors knocked my socks off. In particular, the idle animation, petting my beast and having it respond. Loved the way she would get distracted at times.

How about an option to name our mounts, ala’ Rangers?

A euro friend and I remarked that it felt a lot like Kryta in the interactions of the npc’s

I’m really concerned that Mesmer will be severely nerfed after the major sell period is done.

Making Necromancers into Ritualists is an interesting change.

A warrior as a gw1 Mesmer? That’s a bit insulting to me, truthfully.

Fay.2357:

To be fair, quickness is usually a lot more scarce of a boon whereas vigor will be basically 100% uptime no matter what with mirage.

How do you come to that conclusion?

I don’t have high confidence in the balance patches. To release an entirely new set of builds in the middle of a season? Reckless at best, imo.

My demo toon stands with her arms some distance from her sides. It looks awkward and unnatural. It was difficult to catch the screen shot I wanted but her arms are nearly forming a triangle.

This is a very common folk method of expressing anger toward a particular diety. The Golden Bough also list other methods, such as placing the deity’s statue, head down, in the mud of a river.

The interesting part of this is that if the diety begins to perform as expected, the punishment ends.

I continue to be impressed by the depth of Tyria.

Except that the seasons only reward the top tier, on the backs of the people they farm. I’d rather not see seasons happen.

I don’t agree. It’s a rather petty god who can be defeated by essentially one human… If that is the case, what use is he anyway? and why should I fear him?

You are missing an important point in this discussion. The Soundless are specifically running away from the mental “noise” of all the other Sylvari with whom they are connected via the dream. This is explicitly explained during some of the early missions in Caledon.

So yes, Sylvari are connected mentally at some level. When Caithe killed her sister, (to save her from torture by Foalin,) the Pale Tree saw the action in the dream.

First, Rytlock isn’t blind. The Blindfold was an aid to concentration.

Second, Malchor was blinded after staring for a long period of time at the gods as he sculpted them.

Third, if you know your mythology you know that the presence of a diety can come in degrees. The “Cheval” or human vessel of a god in Voodoo is one example. Statues are another. The Balth that appeared in LS was probably an avatar.

Those are Choya, also known as “Mexican Jumping Cactus.” They’re native to Southern California and the desert in Northern Mexico.

This was not channeled skills this was rifle auto attack. It stayed on me right through stealth.

MY channeled skill [Confusing Images] is being circumvented by daredevil jump evade.

Warrior rifle continues hitting right through decoy stealth. It doesn’t de-target as it should. Guard hits are also staying on target right through stealth.

While this is happening, my “channeled” Confusing Images is easily evaded by bound thief and cut off by guardian shield even if I was already connected.

If a skill is supposed to do something, I want it to actually do that. Mesmer is already marginal. To hamstring stealth like that is not going to work.

That forged raider that “skates” on crescent blades reminds me strongly of the Green Goblin.

Pretty neat really. I wanna ride like that. Any plans for a glider, ANET? Better yet, Forged blades as a mount?

In GW1 there are ruins in the Crystal Desert. Probably some were built by The Forgotten. Erosion could have uncovered these. In addition, those toppling pyramids are in the former noble quarter of Amnoon City which has been affected by the Balth/Joko thing.

If you’ve travelled extensively in the desert ( I have ) you know that dunes can shift entirely, sometimes daily. There are also “soft cots” where a tracked vehicle can sink as into water.. fine as talcum powder.

Having part of the new Amnoon City sinking is entirely believable.

I don’t fully agree.

First , there has been a succession among the gods. Some have risen and others fallen. As I pointed out in another thread, each of the current gods have multiple associations. Some of them overlap.

I’d place Melandru as opposite Mordremoth, Earth and her specific affinity with plants.

Glint ( the lieutenant of Kralkatorik ) was a Mesmer and associated with crystals. So, I’d associate Lyssa with Kralkatoric.

I didn’t say or imply that the dragons served the gods. I said that they counterbalance. That being the case, The gods arriving at a different moment from the gods isn’t really relevant.

I see what I’m proposing as perfectly feasible. The gods represent creation and the dragons destruction.

@Aaron Ansari; Kormir took over Abaddon’s place. He had a strong water association.

From the GW1 wiki:

Lyssa is the twin Goddess of Beauty and Illusion, individually known as Lyss and Ilya. She is the patron Goddess of Mesmers and Assassins, and is also associated with the Energy Storage techniques of Elementalists and the Mysticism of Dervishes. In the Elonian calendar, she is associated with the Season of the Zephyr.

Grenth is the God of Death and Ice. He is the patron god of Assassins, Water Elementalists, Necromancers, and Ritualists, and is linked to the Season of the Colossus in the Elonian calendar.

Kormir is the Goddess of Truth and Knowledge. Not much can be said about Kormir, as she only recently came into being. Statues of Kormir depict her as resting on the crown of Abaddon with one arm, whilst holding the Book of Secrets in the other. In 1078 AE, Hayda prays to Kormir, suggesting she is now the patron god of paragons, which was previously the domain of Balthazar.

Melandru is the Goddess of Nature and Earth, and the eldest of the modern Gods. Many of her followers are Earth Dervishes, Earth Elementalists and Rangers, who maintain shrines to her along the roads to offer travelers food, water, and rest. She is linked to the Season of the Scion in the Dynastic Reckoning.

Dwayna is the Goddess of Life and Air. She is the patron Goddess of Wind Prayers Dervishes, Air Elementalists, Healing Prayers Monks, and Leadership and Motivation Paragons, and is linked to the Season of the Zephyr in the Elonian calendar.

Balthazar is the God of War and Fire. He is the patron god of Warriors, Fire Elementalists, Protection and Smiting Monks, and Command Paragons, and is linked to the Season of the Phoenix in the Elonian calendar.

Abaddon was the God of Water and Secrets, though has since fallen, and is the main antagonist in Guild Wars Nightfall. Like the other gods, Abaddon’s origins are shrouded in mystery. The Apostate speaks of Abaddon gaining his power from an older, deposed god, however nothing more is known about this.

As you can see, the associations are heavily interlocking. In the case of an Elementalist it would seem the choice might be led by what specific element you were interested in. Energy Storage is no longer a factor for “modern” Elementalists.

It’s also interesting to note that there has been a succession of gods. The most recent “new” Goddess being Kormir.

I don’t think you’re right. In the preview game, the Holosmith explains that his art comes through trade with the zephyrites and there crystal lore.

The Mirage also explains that her power comes from magic infused in the sand. Kerida’s song speaks specifically about glint’s soul being scattered in the sand.. let’s also not forget our new ( baby) dragon ally Aurene. She’s the scion of Glint.

I’m still seeing body blocks on Thief SB5 and Blink.

After the most recent build change, my toon is not going alpha when in stealth. This is confusing and makes stealth plays more difficult.

The movement an animation on the mounts is outstanding. Well done ANET team.

Irenicus.4873:

Vesuvius.9874:

I was faced with this difficult choice as well where I had to pick one. After playing years of GW1, I was used to the fact that Elementalists revere all five equally (yes, five. This was way back in Prophecies). The five gods worked perfectly for Elementalists since the five attributes of Elementalists lined up well with the five gods.

Dwayna – Air Magic
Balthazar – Fire Magic
Grenth – Water Magic
Melandru – Earth Magic
Lyssa – Energy Storage

Ah good old days of GW1

And what about Kormir? I know, she was a “new god” in GW, and have no idea, how Elementalists viewed her.

Kormir became a New Goddess when we helped her defeat Abaddon. Prior to that she was the head of The Sunspears, the Spearmarshal. In Elona ( especially Istan ) she was pretty much everybody’s hero. The final cutscene from the Nightfall storyline shows Kormir being lauded by all.

It’s true that we are acquiring conflicting loyalties as the story goes on. Before long we’ll be Sunspears as well.

To the OP’s point; Rytlock explained at one point in the story that Rox (and presumably the heroes ) are free agents and no longer attached to a legion.

Americans who hold office are forbidden to hold foreign titles. For this reason, When something like a Knighthood is bestowed on an American politician it is honorary. I consider most of these accolades and positions in-game honorary.

Countess Anise made it quite clear we’d be free agents. General Soulkeeper also made it clear that the rank of “Commander” was more-or-less honorary.

Aspiring Masons make a similar oath as do new members of an organization I belong to. It’s meant to emphasize the seriousness of membership.

We saw something very similar to Taimi’s simulation. Scarlett appeared to have the goal of waking the dragons.

The dragons seem to be more-or -less mirrors of the gods. Wake the dragons, call back the gods ala’ the Chutulu mythos?

The Sylvari are/were minions of Mordremoth. We also know that there are other Sylvari we haven’t met. ( We learn this in one Sylvari personal story.) who are the minions of Melandru then? Druids?

Destroyers serve Primordus, who serves Balthazar?

I think Scarlett was making radical moves to balance out the system of Gods/Dragons. Grenth’s opposite number was killed. Does this mean Grenth is excessively powerful? It would tend to unbalance the system toward entropy.

While she opens the first set of doors at the White Mantle hideout ( Brisban Wildlands ), Livia sings about Glint.

She tells us that Glint’s soul wkittentered and incorporated into the desert sands. This is the apparent power source for PoF specializations.

I hope that ANET develops this part of the story further. Glint, the crystal dragon, was a powerful Mesmer. ( I might also point out Kralkatoric and The crystalline Branded. )

Crystals resonate at specific frequencies and actually grow. How will that and the Zepherites figure in the story?

Also Mesmer sword main hand 2 fails. It doesn’t want to change my z position. It’s very strict on path.

It “seems” to be working better. I did apparently get body blocked at one point, but that could have been camera issues.

Thank You for the fix.

I’ve been running the classic PU; sw/t and staff. It works well. I haven’t gotten back into pvp since the latest patch, but it feels like it should be good.

Akenos.4762:

The simple truth of the matter is; I have played with the same several people over the past 10 to 15 years, across many games, and they have recently looked at GW2 and thought “we cannot actually play as a 5 stack team, so why would we play GW?”. To which I have no response.

Only being able to queue as a two stack is the best part of pointless, I thought GW2 was supposed to be an MMO? And if the developers cannot make the game work with 3v3 or 5v5, perhaps they should stop advertising it as an MMO…

You can’t stack as a pre-made because it was blatantly abused. It pleases the 5 and kittens off the 100 solo’s that they farm in an evening.

I’ll play this evening and report impressions back. Thanks for asking.

Take heart. Mirage will be nerfed into the ground after release. Warrior will be up again soon enough. This a well established pattern.

Shrug. The overall problems of the last season take most of the shine off that title.

It’s interesting that the big clone burst coincides with dodge. If an opponent is attacking, there best defensive modes aren’t available.

We will attack and defend in the same moment.

I see some potentially big kills here.

VB is mostly solo. The Golem, The Bat Brood Mother, and the Coztic over by Treacherous Paths need at least 2 unless you are just really super at the game.

I play a Mesmer because that’s the class I want to be.

Giving away our unique abilities ( confusion, moa, alacrity and now portal ). Weakens and cheapens the class,. That’s how I feel about it.

Alacrity was to be Chronomancer’s signature ability and only ours.

So, in comes Mirage. At first glance, it may be the Mesmer I’ve long wanted to play. Yet I know that large nerfs and sharing of our abilities are likely on the horizon.

It’s like receiving a gift, then having it snatched away. Yes, I’m pretty depressed about it.

Mesmer is among the best choices. Be aware though, some of the HoT content is expressly set up not to be solo’d.

I started the season in gold. Stopped playing ranked when it became one blow out after another.

Oh well, maybe next time.

I don’t agree. There are strong reflex and muscle memory requirements. That’s especially true in pvp.

Special equipment like a razer gaming mouse and or tartarus will help also.

I have been fighting this issue for quite a while. It’s partly age and partly injury. Yes, I could take up DH.. but I don’t want to play DH.

My solution has been to play an odd build that people are not used to. Some of the super reaction time kids get confused because I don’t do what they expect. Then they have to hesitate and consider there next move. This is significantly slower than simply running through memorized responses.

ANET ought to back off the “hard” content model, it really is not working. In my view, PvP fell under the spell of the league players and has never recovered.

And conversely this kind of match lowers the population. /shrug, the season is over tomorrow.

Here’s mine. She has her regulatation Sunspear staff and armor, ready to report for duty in Elona. Her name translates “Princess of Delusion” in Arabic, I think. Mirage looks like the Mesmer I’ve always wanted to be.

I’m excited for returning to Elona. It’s a beautiful land.

The thing of it is… I started Mesmer after the huge glamour nerf. I waited years for things to improve. Chronomancer was amazing but it was severely cut down.

Now along comes Mirage. This is the Mesmer I always wanted to be in GW2, able to actually confuse an enemy. Also, dare I dream? It looks like we’ll be able to buff our clones.

As one Dev said of Alacrity, ( paraphrase,) It was too good to be exclusive to Mesmer.
I see that as the probable course for Ambush.

tldr; I’m strongly depressed in real because the Mesmer I’ve always wanted to be is arriving. I think it will be nerfed too hard and lose it’s specialty mechanic.

Not only no, but kitten no.

First it would be hugely laggy and we already see issues with the servers.

Second, the trolling would be epic and unreportable. There’s already more than enough trolling in PvP.

Kadj.6725:

I don’t entirely know what your architecture’s like, but from my (hacky) Unity perspective, I have to ask – are raycasts not an option?

I obviously understand engines can be waaay different, but that’s how I’d handle it in Unity… Since both skills are a single moment of activation, I’d raycast from the target in the direction they’re about to travel and make any point of contact the upper limit of their travel.

That would take a fair amount of rotation math ( slow.) It would also result in very short pushes and pulls in many cases. Personally, I’m foul sick of the pull-through-the-traps trick… but that would be a pretty severe nerf.

Deliberately exploiting a bug like that is “less-than-ethical.” I think that people who do it should be banned.. though that almost certainly won’t happen.

I just came from a game against elements of an old ESL team farming unranked with a premade.. I don’t think that’s ethical either, but it’s been going on from season 1.

Triskell Quay has crashed twice now. It occurs just as the player’s avatar completes the line; “Alright Captain, we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

The screen goes black and you are at the character select screen. No credit is given for the mission.

This will prevent progress on the Human personal story.

Livia was/is legendary on the level of Jora. If memory serves, she was one of the survivors of the original Shining Blade. Our characters in Prophecies were also members of the order…

Shock and awe are appropriate responses to seeing her return.