Guild Wars 2

I see it in all the meta builds but isn’t it only up like 2/3rds the time? Whereas you could take vital striking, or stone splinters for more damage and have it up all the time? This is primarily in regards to dungeons.

Trying to plan ahead. Need to decide what to take to 500 first (artifacer or weaponcraft). I’d like to start to get serious about fractals soon. Both already at ~400, weaponcrafting bit higher.

Arti could make both staff and focus but focus doesn’t really need to be ascended I don’t think..and auto attack is most important I think for damage?

Not really a sceptor ele (so not taking that into account). Love the style of staff and dagger-focus (or dagger dagger for wvw roaming.)

Anywho, thoughts? Is one more useful for the other for high level fractals? (staff or d/f?)

I get that some are better in burst, some better in single target, aoe, or might stacking, but otherwise are they all about the same?

Darkalons.1764:

If you want to play PVP with your PVE Gear, and all you have is Exotics, then what difference would it be? Everyone else would only pvp at 80, with exotic equipment, so it would be exactly the same. Except of course if you are vs someone with Ascended equipment, which would have an advantage.

The pvp system in this game is by far the best I’ve encountered in a MMO. Nothing is worst than losing to a bad player just because he has the best gear.

That’s the point. Its an RPG its about over coming adversitiy. My actions are a part of the story of my character. And I don’t mean Living Story or Roleplaying like you’d immediately think of. The point is I earned that exotic equipment. Doesnt matter if only people in ascended queued for it. It’d still 10x more fun than sPvP.

Also not asking to change sPvP. I’d like a mirror version added. Shoot, even just a 3v3 thing arena straight up deathmatch.

I dunno maybe its just me. But I doubt it. Even if most people don’t realize it I think they feel like PvP is too artificial.

Also if gear doesn’t matter why do we level at all or pick up gear at all in PvE…….it does matter whether you want to admit it or not. Gear becomes the soul of your character and when you strip gear off the character in PvP you strip the soul from PvP as well.

Normally I love PvP. Its just this game alone that I cannot bring myself to care about it. Couldn’t figure it out for a long time. And the main reason the game lacks true long term appeal (I come back for as long as I can stand the PvE, then take along break, I played since early access/day1).

Finally figured why I really can’t stand PvP here.

This is an (MMO)RPG. For me, the RPG is a key portion of it. When I enter the mists I am stripped of my character. I am given equipment, last time I was in there I didn’t even have armor, exactly, just stats… level is meaningless…in a sense all story is gone.

Gear is still a part of the story for me, something that has shaped my character to make him or her what they are. Further, PvP is not a mini game to be taken out of context of the RPG. It should be woven alongside the story as seamlessly as possible.

That said, can we have a mirror of the sPvP system (without rewards – just like the maps and queuing ability) but leave our characters as is? And come up with some story reason? Maybe with HoT?

Before you say it, I’d like WvW…if it wasn’t so much PvE or zerging. And yeah, I do currently roam a bit and solo camps and such. But its pretty meh. Takes forever to get much action.

PS also before you say anything, I don’t even have ascended weapons or armor. Not looking for advantages. All my 80s are in full exotics except for the jewelry.

pretty much what the title says. s/f?

frifox.5283:

Mightybird.6034:

PvE dungeons

In dungeons you should never range. If for any reason you do, use gs because at that point dps will be the least of your worries.

That’s so silly to say. You mine as well say you should never ever PUG or play with any new players ever then either.

I guess I was asking what range I should use? GS staff sceptor?

Zerker gear. Mostly PvE dungeons but sometimes WvW. What should I pair it with? I need some kind of range so either staff or GS. I don’t think scepter would be any good.

Ok so S/S meta. With focus as needed. But what should I use for range option? I’m too new not to have range in PUGs.

Anyone run it? Then share the boons with sig?

Was thinking something like PU obv (46004 I think), with GS/Sw-T with zerker gear. Stats are a tad wasted on torch but I try to think of the skill more for the boons I’ll get. And then decoy over one of the mantras probably since I won’t have 6 in dom. Or instead of GS staff or S-S or S-F.

What do yall think? I normally dungeon run on thief, so wanted to know others opinions before i inflict it on a group

Love thief. My main for sure but I want to work on an alt sometimes. Note I like profs that can use similar builds and gear in both dungeons and wvw. For instance I can roll D/D and (mostly) zerk gear in both and only need to trade out a few utilities/traits for wvw or dungeons on thief.

Ele – I liked but a bit too squishy – good complexity -overall though skills felt weak

Necro and Mesmer – I wanted to like but both felt too clunky (and necro too simple)

Warrior – too simple

Ranger? They any good now? I don’t like pets/minions but I hear they have some neat melee.

Guardian? They seem like they might be complex enough? Not sure. Just a step above warrior?

Engineer – hmm I want to try but am worried lol. I hear so much complaints. Also I like damage.

Asking instead of just trying btw because all my char slots are filled and I’ll have to delete someone. And I hear with the new trait system its a PITA. So when I delete I wana make sure I make a character I am actually gonna try to 80.

Thanks.

I would LOVE to be able to solo/duo a dungeon even if it was harder (and what’s currently possibly I don’t mean, that takes too long and is too punishing for 1 mistake. Makes you go insane, especially with bugs and resets…)

Currently, a group of 5 that knows what they’re doing, steam roll dungeons. I would like to be able to solo or duo a dungeon in the similar amount of time (maybe 20-30% longer), and more difficult level. (relativiely 20% harder maybe?)

Its not a scam its a common guide people follow. Which means all those things listed are going to be in higher demand because of people like you following it its simply supply and demand.

Ascended is a PITA to get. I hate crafting. Its dumb. Its not fun. Why it was ever invented, and then a game based it around its end game is beyond me. Currently doing dungeons for the gold for the mats. But it literally just took me 20g for 150 in weaponsmith. That was like 4-5 days of dungeon running for me (and my limited time.) And then nearly an entire play sessioin just to get those 150 points.

I hate crafting, and don’t want to be good at it.

I tried following a guide and was half successful. At a certain point of complexity and unfun (in a GAME) I’ll say screw it.

I can’t imagine how expensive its going to get, then to get 500 for armor, then get another 500 weapon craft so I can have my secondary as ascended as well. Frankly it may drive me away from the game for good (and certainly not buy any expansion.)

Its certainly not the TIME or money investment that is my problem. I played EQ for 5 years. It is the PITA crafting.

Saw one today, was something like “all war – all ascended/legendary ONLY!!!!”

eh OP badly though stated has a semi point. Why the heck is crafting basically a pre-req for an end game dungeon? Shouldn’t it be drop based within fractals? earlier than it is if its going to impede progress. Or am I missing something? (I’m new)

I…who’d want that? I throw my tonics away (not that I’ve had one of those lol.)

Godmoney.2048:

Building a computer in 2015 is one of the easiest tasks any human being can do. All the parts literally snap together and are almost universally compatible. The most anyone needs to do now days is match a socket type.

Oh man I remember the days where you had to wire kitten together then do all that test kitten with the lights. Hated building em then.

Chrispy.5641:

Slaptjip.4895:

Running GW2 on absolutely max settings, only Vsync turned off.

Very smooth, PVE/Dungeons 100FPS.

100 FPS!!! For what possible reason does any human need a frame rate that high to play a video game? It does look super smooth, but pretty much nothing can maintain that frame rate, and that’s bad. If you are playing for several hours and notice drops in frame rate (lets say 100 to 60 frames a second), the visual difference would be the same as if a person were playing at only 30 frames a second, and experienced fps drops to 18 frames a second. So even then, you’re still experiencing noticeable lag.

Its mostly so you never dip below 60frames in even the most stressed situations.

But yes, some games definitely need 60+fps, comp first person shooters mostly. A few miliseconds difference in loading a rocket or w/e can change a fight.

for those of us new to fractals what is it?

IIRC (I don’t have crafting high enough yet) you can change stats on ascended gear for relatively cheap if you change your mind on a certain build. Can you also change stats on amulet/trinket/ring/accessory that is bought with laurels?

Basically I bought some ascended stuff with laurels with bad stats before I learned the game.

Thanks for the replies. I got another dagger and it was an easy transition. Will grab a sword next. Already getting used to switching around weapons and builds depending on what I’m doing (I came mainly from wvw hence the d-p.)

but cloak and dagger vs black powder cost the same initiative to stealth. Only difference is I throw a heartseeker but its not like the damage is wasted for that 3 ini.

I see the advantages of s/p. but not seeing d/d unless I’m missing something.

Quick question regarding thief. I usually see I think d/d or s/p is there anything wrong wiith d/p for dungeons? Its the set I’m most comfortable with.

list of professions that can solo each dungeon/path?

Not what’s best, but is there a list of what’s been accomplished?

Faux.1937:

morrolan.9608:

1 ascended and 58 exotics and still anet dithers on the RNG thread. Most unrewarding western mmo ever.

The game is gold based tho… he made 1100g.

he can buy full sets of ascended armor.

I think that’s the real matter. Many players including myself find it more fun to have a drop based economy over gold/crafting one. Of course the latter doesn’t make anet money. So I guess I’m ok with it since there’s no sub fee.

I just came back after a long break. The game has gotten a lot better IMO (except for how traits are acquired for new characters.) There’s actually been a decent amount of new content added for a non sub game. And the mega servers always make it feel populated wherever you are. Welcome back.

For thief d/p? Seems decent. Lose a little power for a lot of vitality – toughness – healing.

If you play ANY class badly you die really easily. Thief included. Its largely active defenses over passive (dodges, activating skills/utilities at the right time.) That said I still STRONGLY recommend you go with Knight stats (PPT) over zerker. It gives you time to react. The people who run, or the ‘meta’ of zerk are people who have been playing this game nearly none stop for 2 years and know every in and out of every fight and can use their active defenses to their fullest.

Tier lists in this game are vastly misleading since its usually new people who look at them. The higher tier in pvp for instance like ele is difficult to play and a new player will fail hard with.

dungeons speed runs are the fastest I think. Then either doing world events or WvW* or silverwastes after (dungeon money is once daily.)

*if its a karma/bag train/trade type situation

what’s a feature pack?

I actually like being on a small server. I like the smaller fights. But I’m weird…

Akik, that’s a dungeon tier list for sure.

OP- I just came back after a long break as well. AFAIK things are very similar in terms of what a class can do (necros,gaurdians, and wars are still tanky) but balance is loads better in most areas. Like at launch eles were OP then very quickly nerfed into the dirt for the longest time. They finally seem to have balanced them decently though they are semi about to get another nerf. But it seems its needed.

With the exception of dungeon runs, which has pretty much remained the same, (except I think mesmer used to be good IIRC for one of their buffs….) I think things have balanced out pretty well. All classes have strengths and weaknesses. Most seem to be viable in some part of the game. Warrior is no longer the best at everything all the time.

Any class can have a roll in WvW. SPvP not as sure about as I’ve never been interested/followed it.

..those are my random scattered thoughts.

I’m using QERFCV for 1-5 and my heal. Trying to figure out where I want my attunements bound…. not into my mouse extras but I may have to I guess. What you guys do?

anybody out there on borlis? lol

When I hear people say they farm a dungeon for gold do they mean those dungeons you can do while leveling up or fractals? And is there a best gold per run/hour? Or can I just do world events? Thanks.

Why do I still see an option to guest to different servers?

I remember you used to be able to guest to a different server and there bosses and the like would be on a different timer.

Left before it was implemented. Then came back when they introduced guesting, left again but I don’t think its the same thing we have now…

So there is like one version of all the zones (unless it overflows then a new copy is made,) except for wvw right?

Lookin for guild! Borlis Pass. Online at random times really, but a lot of morning often enough. Not on late at night. (US time – pacific)

I used to play in the beginning but left for over a year and need some help getting back up to speed!

I don’t care about story or skins. I play WvWvW primarily. And was curious about ascended armor which is why I asked if it still takes ages to farm.

that’s quite useful thanks Naqaj

Is thief or mesmer still best for roaming? Coming back after a long break.

Donari.5237:

The basic game mechanics are the same. Town clothes are gone, replaced by outfits and tonics. Traits are now a real pain to unlock. Many QoL changes have come in such as the Wardrobe, account wide dyes, mini previews, and Hero Panel/TP UI alterations. Tequatl got a revamp to be a much bigger fight, and a similar zone-wide fight got added in Bloodtide (I think … seriously I have just forgotten what zone Wurm is in). You can scan through the Gem Store to see some new items like infinite tools. In your Friends panel there is an LFG tab you can use to find groups doing content (be warned there are some community-developed etiquette rules, and the easy groups fill too fast so you will mostly see only the really picky group makers who want you to be perfect by their definition).

In story, there was a year of Scarlet attacking the world. She nuked LA and woke up an Elder Dragon. That all is not replayable as of yet. More recent Living Story can be played whenever you like but you must pay 200 gems per chapter if you never logged in during the active time of that chapter.

Black Lion Chests from the Gem Store can contain ticket scraps or full tickets, it takes 10 scraps to make a full ticket. The weapon trader in the city BLs sells skin sets at a ticket per skin for current items, 5 tickets for older ones, and the skins can be traded so you can get them for gold on the TP.

Dungeons: TA got a new path and lost an old one.

WvW: I have no idea, I don’t do it, or SPvP.

I hope that gets you started.

Thanks above and beyond what I needed.

Zypher.7609:

Mightybird the reason no one likes writing out a one or two sentence post is because with all the “I have been gone, what did i miss” posts. The moment it is summed up in two sentences, we get a ohh so nothing has changed at all. It takes a bit to show everything that has changed, or even if the changes are something you will like. The best bet is not to ask what is changed, but to just go and play the game. If you like what you are playing keep playing, if not take another break and check it out in a few more months.

It hasn’t been two months its been almost two years (so trust me something has changed.) I feel so lost and out of place in the game at 80 I don’t know what to do so I came here first.

My guild is gone and I’ve no idea where to even start playing.

Azhure.1857:

Here are two links you can sift through.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/
and
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/info/updates

You can find the changes over the last year there. Enjoy.

And just to reiterate I am asking for a “what has changed” from a players perspective. Not for an objective point by point compiled list of changes. I am well aware of what patch notes look like.

At this point I barely remember how the game was before I left. A subjective view point of a player is a lot more useful to me than a compiled list of changes.

This has nothing to do with laziness.

Azhure.1857:

Please forgive me for the following…

There have been too many players returning that open up the same type of thread. “Look at me, I’m back! Now what has changed?” The information you’re looking for is found in the links I posted and the Releases tab that Inculpatus mentioned above. Its all there. Yet even with it posted you want us to do the work for you and compile a list of the changes so you don’t have to go look? No. I won’t do it.

It would have taken to less work to have simply answered my question in one or two sentences. I also specifically asked about the grind for ascended gear. Since I don’t remember how long it originally took, I could read every single patch note and still not have the answer.

If this post offends you no one is forcing you to post. Shoo.

That’s like 50-60 (100 pages actually I think, ~20 links @4~ pages lol) pages of info. I’m not normally one to be lazy but pretty sure someone could sum it up in a quick paragraph.

Sounds like megaserver, eles got a big buff, ascended gear account bound, and ?

Played since head start off and on. Took a year (actually think its been more like 16-18 months) off as things had gotten quite stale. The new announcement has me excited. I figure others will be checking things out as well.

So what’s changed? The in game message told me ascended gear is account bound or something although I don’t have any. Does it still take like 6 months to grind? I heard something about celestial gear? I forget if we had that.

Sounds like a lot has changed?

I’ve said it is neither of those things. They can reach me. And I’m aware mobs are tied to locales. It is something that is almost akin to a bug.