Guild Wars 2

Stasticeel, I’m in the same boat. I’ve completed Verdant Brink – 100%. No Engineer’s Cache. Either it’s bugged or you need something more like every Mastery Point spot. I KNOW I’m missing at least one in Verdant Brink.

Also, I noticed talk of getting 7 items for this achievement. If you’re supposed to get the hammer after only 7, I want to know where my hammer is. I lucked out with the RNG items (or they’re REALLY common). I got both of them on the first boss down. I’m sitting at 7/14, trying to figure out the rest.

Ardid.7203:

You’ll have plenty of time to craft or get an ascended hammer while you unlock all the hero points you’ll need for the scrapper. Same for the pistols and shield, which don’t make the best use of the zerker stats.

Well, I logged in…yesterday? …to find that I had Scrapper suddenly fully unlocked…and a ton of Hero Point point surplus! (I think I have over 100 spare hero points now.) One of the patches obviously changed how many points were needed and I was nearing completion of the Scrapper tree.

I’m considering going rifle as well because I happened upon one of the pieces to the Fix-r-Upper achievement (apparently I need to pay more attention because that was something like my third or fourth). Apparently, if I can collect all the items listed, I get a free AWESOME-looking hammer that I absolutely need…and it’s an ascended weapon. I’m now sitting at 7/14…pondering how long it would take to collect the other 7 that mostly seem mastery-locked.

I’ve been giving the hammer a try…with mixed feelings about it (I seem to kill things better, but I haven’t been able to settle on a build I’m completely happy with yet). I think I’ll try rifle for a while – see how that goes.

It’s too bad they can’t give everyone what they want – have a setting to toggle…say…“epic” visuals versus “strategic” visuals.

Hmm. From the sound of things, I think I’ll hold onto the weapon chest for now, try to collect more hero points, try out some hammer builds, and go for the the hammer. I did like the hammer when I gave it a basic test-run. It’s just a very different play style.

Thank you all for the help! I really appreciate it!

Hello all. I would like some advice. I was just running the boss train, hoping to boost my old world mastery when what should drop, but Zojja’s Weapon Chest. It would be my first ascended weapon and it has zerker stats. I haven’t chosen yet and would appreciate some advice.

So far, my experience is limited. No dungeons, though I’d enjoy trying that in the future. No PvP/WvW (nor plans to do them) – just casual open world PvE stuff.

My build so far has been dual pistols w/ kits, stacking condition damage.

So, I haven’t used the rifle much. I took a few test swings with the hammer, but I’m still training the specialization. Does anyone have some advice for how to best make use of the free ascended weapon? I’d hate to let it go to waste.

Thanks!

EDIT: I forgot to actually say that I’m open to new builds and such. That’s why I’m asking – I’d be trying something fairly new.

IEatCabbage.1907:

Pecar.1236:

I would lower the HP from the new maps from 10 down to 5 and change the requirements from 400 down to 200 its the same things still need 40 hero challenge to complete.some they need lower it to 200 so when you do brink/basin herou challenge you can play spec in another 2 maps. some people dont have time to do full map completion for each character what have.

Wrong, When they lower the HP from the new maps down from 10 to 5 and lower the requirements from 400 to 200 that means people can use HP from core Tyria to complete these. Players with map completion can unlock these right away

Would that be so bad?

I like the idea. What I think we’d need then is a way to use excess hero points.

Interesting question. I assume that as with everything else Mastery, they’re account-bound. Find it on one character, it’s already found by everyone else. Plus, there must be a reason that mastery points weren’t included in map completion numbers.

I’m assuming they’re account-bound, but I’m curious to know for certain.

So I’ve been browsing the forums since the HoT launch and noticed that there’s a lot of arguing over the definition of grinding AND whether this applies to the expansion.

I’m wondering then, if you feel that HoT is a grind, what do you mean by that? If you don’t feel that the game is a grind, what’s keeping it from feeling like a grind? Where are you finding variety and what are you enjoying about the expansion?

I’m hoping that this will NOT devolve into yet another flame war. Please be constructive. Please be civil. Please avoid generalizations, but tell your experience. I’d hope that we all want the game to be good. Perhaps we can give Anet some useful feedback.

For myself, I do feel disappointed in the expansion. I’m having fun, but I feel that it’s not living up to the original game. Sorry, I’m going to be wordy.

Variety

The game used to have a feature that I really liked. The reputation. In almost every zone of a map, you’d find someone needing help. The tasks were varied and usually pretty fun. Occasionally they were boring and you could easily skip past it and move on. If you ran out, there’s AT LEAST one other map to visit. Usually, many more than that (as you could viably progress in a low-level zone). Adding spice, events would pop up giving you the option of assisting someone that needs IMMEDIATE help. Get tired of escorting someone to their destination? There’s always something else interesting nearby. The game had variety.

Now that there are few maps and events have taken over, it feels like event chains are tracks that you choose and must follow to the end. If you’re bored, you usually stick with it because by the time you find a new event, this one would be done…and the new event might get completed before you even reach it – you don’t know. So you stay on the track. Often, that slow escort mission. The game feels lacking in variety. You CAN explore and kill things, but those aren’t rewarding. If you want to progress your character, you do the events or you grind what feels like ten times slower on everything else.

Freedom

Simply put, until this expansion, you could go nearly anywhere that your level allowed. Now, content is gated. No amount of effort or skill will allow you to progress until you unlock the new ability or some kind group does the event you need (because events are tuned such that soloing is nigh impossible). It feels like my freedom is severely limited now. I hate that certain vendors, teleportation points, and adventures can only be accessed when a group has recently completed the appropriate event chain…which usually takes a LONG time. I hate that if no one does the event chain, I’m powerless to do it myself.

Further, hero points. If you want to experience a new style of gameplay, you must either weaken yourself (not able to use a full specialization) or you must collect a TON of them. Most hero points require completing a group event. I honestly don’t believe that soloing is possible, regardless of skill. Even with two people, I haven’t been able to come close. Get three, it’s usually easy enough. More than 3 and it’s cake. They no longer seem to adjust to available players. Then as most hero points are difficult to reach, finding a group, shouting from the rooftops, is often difficult to impossible. I shudder to think how this will go once there are fewer people playing.

Grinding

When the game feels lacking in freedom and variety, everything feels like a grind. I’m still enjoying things a bit, but once complete, I have to ask myself…would I do it again? Would I have another character do this? I don’t think I would (nor would I need to in the case of mastery – I understand that it’s account-based). So if I say that the game feels like a grind, you know what I mean.

The Good

Personally, I LOVE a lot of the new platforming gimmicks. They’re fun once you unlock them…but I’m of two minds about them as they’re also part of my problem with the game – limiting freedom.

Adventures, love ’em. They add back some of the lost variety…but I usually find them locked and inaccessible due to environment. (Time of day in the first zone, event in progress, or what have you.)

New recipes! Crafting gets expanded. I like that…though my favorite part of crafting was experimenting and discovering recipes (particularly in cooking). It’s too bad that didn’t continue.

I’m having SOME fun with the expansion, but it feels lacking compared to how things used to be. I don’t like the new feel. The old game was VERY good in my book. Now, it feels wrong. Still kind of fun…but not what I had been hoping for. Not at all. =/

1. As said before, tap [Space] while falling to open the glider and glide. Tap it again to close it and resume falling. Be careful not to glide too long or you’ll fall.
2. No parachute. Just the glider. If you open the glider as you’re nearing the ground, it’s a lot like a parachute. Just don’t wait too long. ;-)
3. It’s the mastery system – just like how you got the glider. Earning favor with groups is a matter of training the appropriate mastery down to the appropriate level.
4. The canopy is usually accessed by helicopters at night, after securing camps. They’ll fly you up to where the bosses are found. Otherwise, you’ll need to train gliding until you can harness updrafts. Those’ll get you higher.
5. Pfft. No idea offhand. A lot. There would have to be for all the masteries and all the points they’ll need. _

Have you checked out the sound settings? In-game, hit the [Esc] key. Go to [Options]. Click the speaker icon on the left side of the window (I think it’s the third from the top). There are several volume sliders there.

Then I don’t know what kind of computer you’re running. Sound cards and even integrated sound on a motherboard will often come with Windows drivers and a program to manage the settings. On my computer, I have an equalizer that I can adjust. Perhaps you have a similar option if you dig around in the settings and installed programs. If you can lower the high end, it might not be as bad.

Good post. I feel similarly. Not sure whether I’m group 2 or 3, but I’m definitely no longer group 1…and while I’m getting used to the expansion and having some fun, I don’t anticipate sticking with the game unless changes are coming. I’m just not having as much fun as I used to have. Meanwhile, there are games that I KNOW would be more fun. Right now, the expansion is just new…and new doesn’t last. Fortunately, GW2 is free. When I do leave (probably when Fallout 4 comes out), it won’t be forever. I’ll come back eventually and just level a new character ‘til I’m bored again.

I think the problem is that prior to this expansion, you had A LOT of choice. You had reputations to work on – so-and-so wants you to herd cows here while a guy over there wants you to kill a bunch of scorpions WHILE working on these, random events would pop up giving variety. You could do this in a ton of different zones within a few different maps and nothing was gated, locking you out.

Now we have to deal with NO reputations to fill. They’re gone. Events no longer feel random and fun, but they’re ongoing. In fact, much of the time, you can’t access that next vendor or teleportation spot unless someone has completed the right event chain in the past hour or so and kept it clear of enemies.

The game is different than it used to be. Me, I’m starting to get used to it, but I do miss the original design. This one feels like it’s keeping you on tracks. Tracks that you inevitably repeat while trying to advance.

Shyh.6908:

Please guys, grow up

Shyh.6908:

dont be lazy people.

Assuming you’re serious and NOT just trolling, please understand that not everyone has fun the same way as you. When you make comments like “grow up” or call people lazy, you aren’t advancing your viewpoint – you’re shutting people down and making them angry. Please reconsider how you phrase your thoughts.

Personally, I DO like the game as it was. I would have liked a similar experience, just more content. I liked playing the game casually where I didn’t have to worry about constantly dying. Unlike you though, I think there’s room for people who think differently. I think there should be much more difficult options in the game – just not the entire expansion.

Unless you’re using multiple accounts and confused which one got upgraded or which one you’re logging into…no clue. Hope you can catch the attention of the Arena Net people…though if I were you, I wouldn’t be looking for help on this forum. If you haven’t already, I’d try getting help through the support section at help.guildwars2.com

I got the ultimate version a month or so ago. Took about 4 minutes in my case. =/

Sounds like it’s slower now.

I agree with the OP here. So far, I’m making some slow progress in the first zone of the expansion. I’m enjoying the game in small bites, but I’m dying A LOT and progress feels slow. The rest of the game from 1-80 didn’t feel like this. Something feels different now. Something feels wrong.

Now, granted, I’m a filthy casual player that’s barely touched group play and only has exotic gear plus a few ascendeds…but that’s how I play. I like solo play. I like exploration. I like collecting. I like a LITTLE grinding, but not a ton.

I think I’d enjoy the expansion more if it were just re-tuned a bit. I don’t play in the open world expecting to need fast reflexes and no mistakes. That’s why I don’t bother with a lot of group play. I like to play it casually. So far, it feels like this expansion doesn’t have a good place for me…and that’s disappointing. If the open-world enemies were re-tuned so that I don’t lose half my health the second I engage an enemy, I think I’d have a lot more fun with the game. =/

Personally, I’m hoping that things just aren’t balanced yet and things aren’t yet working as intended.

As I did go ahead and make the purchase, I can answer 1 and 2. Living World Season 2 IS exclusively for level 80 characters, but once purchased, you have it unlocked for all characters on the account.

As for question 3, I can’t help you there. I haven’t had time to try it out yet.

Ahh, THANK YOU! That makes sense. I’ll probably go ahead and give it a try while on sale then. It sounds like the sort of thing that I’d want to experience sooner or later and this seems like a fun time while waiting on the expansion.

Hello all! So I see that the Living world Season 2 pack is on sale. Once again, I’m looking at it and trying to figure out what this thing is and why I should care. I’ve looked around and all I’ve found it useless info like:

“The Living World in Guild Wars 2 is ArenaNet’s official term for changes to the game intended to bring the world of Guild Wars 2 to life.” – Guild Wars 2 Wiki

I don’t know if there’s just NO good info on Living World…or if I’m just dense? I don’t get what this thing is and I’m failing to find anyone really explaining it. Could someone help explain what on earth this thing is so I can decide whether it’s worth the $10+ price. Like…is it like the character’s personal story? Personal instances, solo content, and stuff?

I appreciate any help you guys can give. Thanks!

Haha! So I guess I’m an idiot. I was confused at first, reading your responses. I was positive that no other second-factor options had ever been implemented…but looking in the settings, there they are! I certainly will look at them.

Man, here I thought text message authentication was the only option so far.

Hello! I have some concerns regarding the new text message authentication system that I want to address.
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First off, I don’t want to use it. There is no device that I lose more than my phone. When I can find it, it travels outside the house all the time! If it’s lost or stolen, I don’t want to be locked out of my account! If I someday switch phone providers, I don’t want to have to trust the phone companies to properly port my number or LOSE access to my account.

So I don’t want to tie my phone to my account. I’d normally be fine, just using a strong password, but now it appears that I’m going to be pestered upon login. That’s a horrible user experience! You give me two options, to add a phone to my account or to “remind” me later. That is patronizing and it is bad design. Give an option to opt out.
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Second, I DO want other second-factor authentication options! Second-factor authentication is great! When Blizzard introduced their multi-factor authentication token, I bought one immediately (and keep it in a safe spot where it doesn’t travel and get lost)! …and you don’t need to roll your own solution either! For instance, I already own multiple Yubikeys (multiple keys in case one gets lost). If I could link a couple keys to my account, I’d be very happy! Of course, there are other great options too. Google Authenticator, for instance. (I don’t use Google’s solution, but I’d sure be willing to give it a look if it were an option.) I’d like to see other options (especially Yubikey).
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That’s it for me. Thanks to any GW reps reading/considering this! I’m also curious what other users here think on the subject.

Xiahou Mao.9701:

For the Ultimate Edition, you should get the perks within 2-4 hours of ordering. The gems, Mini Rytlock, bonus character slot, etc.

For the extra “veteran” bonus character slot, those are being given on a weekly basis, so you wouldn’t have to wait more than a week for that if you qualify for it. You qualify for it if you bought the game before January 23rd this year.

Awesome! Thats exactly what I was looking for. Thank you, I apprecite the help!

Hello all! Sorry if this question is answered elsewhere (if so, I fail at Googling and searching the forums/FAQs). I was thinking of getting some gems and a character slot. I see that if I get the Heart of Thorns Ultimate edition, I’ll get what I want along with some other perks. So I’m wondering, if I purchase the Ultimate edition today, when do I get the gems, character slot(s), and everything else (other than the action expansion)?

From searching, it looks like there’s some sort of schedule to the release of at least one of the character slots. (I understand that Deluxe/Ultimate get two?) What about everything else? Specifically, when would I get the gems? If I’m waiting ‘til someday when the expansion is released, I’m just going to buy gems instead.

Thanks for any help you guys can give!