Guild Wars 2

Caliburn.1845:

So my question, is there a set of upgrades or abilities coming for the attacking side? Something to even the odds?"

I would like to think the banners can be used offensively, also the Char Car is offensive. Yes they can also be used defensively and there is more defensive focus with these upgrades but that is normally what a defensive fortification is for.

Hexalot.8194:

“Cloaking Waters

Availability: Castle
The fountains in the castle’s courtyard grant stealth to allies."

Wait What ?

They actually already mentioned this as a thing, however they also announced an airstrike for the Castle too that wasn’t put in this post. The post also has a few errors such as the emergency waypoint in the passive area and the hardened gates being for all objectives not just walled ones.

I wanna know if there are 3 levers in each objective, or how do you pick what active you want to use. Hopefully you don’t just have to use all 3 at once with one lever pull. Anyhow some of these changes are things players have been asking for so it’s nice to see that ArenaNet is paying attention to request and now has implemented them and has a way to implement more in the future easily.

Now that new guild upgrades are announced if a guild leaves the public use option on, spys can ‘waste’ the active abilities of objectives.

Just wondering if the 3rd beta will have the guild upgrades in. They have announced them so it seems they are done and ready for use.

Seems the answer is yes: 3rd Beta Weekend Anouncment

Article on Guild Claiming Upgrades

Post thoughts and opinions on the new upgrade system for guilds here.

Edit:

Adding link to Points of Interest episode on Guild Claiming Upgrades
PoI

Before the changes to conditions each condition had it’s own feel to it. Burning hit hard but could not be stacked, bleeding could hit harder if you stacked it high, poison reduces healing, chill reduces movement speed and attack speed, cripple just movement speed, and so on.

Now with the changes to conditions, burning and bleeding are basically the same condition one just scales better with condition damage. What if burning gave 10% movement speed? Kinda thematically fits, your on fire you are going to run faster. Also fire seems to be the go to condition for damage (when available) and this would be a little nerf to that particular condition. Overall I liked what the condition update did for condition players, they now can experience damage levels similar to zerker builds. Just feel that Burning and Bleeding lost their identity/uniqueness in the update.

tl;dr:
Run 10% faster when burning to give the condition some uniqueness and a small nerf.

Quickfoot Katana.8642:

1st: What constitutes LFG Abuse in the report section? Is it not griefing?

Gold selling and other things of the like that are against the terms and conditions. Nothing is done to these players because nowhere does it say you have to pay gold to join a group in the LFG system. If ArenaNet truly wanted to support this behavior they would add something to the LFG tool such as pay to join party and can’t get kicked. They don’t say either that it is forbidden so as others have stated use at your own risk.

So as it currently stands when you send out buffs to nearby players you hit only 5 players. Currently this isn’t a problem because if you want to prioritize what players get that buff (in groups larger than 5) all you have to do is put them in your party. With raids we will have a 10 man group, theoretically a 10 man party. Will they increase the player buff cap to 10 so that you can feel safe knowing you are buffing everyone, or are we going to have to split up and stand apart from other members to ensure we are putting buffs on the people we want.

Would be unfortunate if a player was low on health and never got the healing from another player’s spell or blast finisher in a water field.

I would think this change would be nice in other areas as well if the other areas allow for 10 man groups.

Could also be possible that within you 10 man group you make two 5 man subgroups for this problem. Just speculating, throwing out ideas. Could see this as being frustrating if we get 10 man groups and stick with current style buffing.

Either way hyped for the expansion

ArchonWing.9480:

*Exception! Guild siege golem blueprints are still lost instead of being returned to inventory or dropped on the ground. Whether by pack-up skill ‘2’ or any other means. This behavior specific to guild siege golems hasn’t changed. Feedback on this is welcome.

That’s a huge and expensive exception. This warning better go out to more than just to this particular forum.

This has been the way it worked since the implementation of Guild siege golem, as stated they were no changes on how they work so no need to make a huge announcement about it.

I’m like how quickly a concern with f2p accounts getting exploited got fixed. This mean ArenaNet is keeping a close eye on things and will keep f2p accounts form causing to much harm.

To be fair the community reacted in a way that seemed they would rather play core WvW then have another special event. For all we know they might have had another planned but after the first one well poorly they decided to scrap it. The WvW community seems to complain about stale matchups but as soon as something changes it they complain as well.

Rikit Runk.5170:

And i guess we can confirm, that using hacking tools is cheating. so to say something isn’t cheating, because everyone can do it, is an invalid statement.

WikiQuote:

Cheating is the getting of a reward for ability by dishonest means or finding an easy way out of an unpleasant situation. It is generally used for the breaking of rules to gain unfair advantage in a competitive situation.

I mean something that anyone can do with the game not 3rd party software, my apologies for bad wording. Also I don’t recall anywhere there are rules against multiple accounts and sharing information between servers, however using 3rd party software is against the rules. By rules I mean the terms and conditions of playing Guild Wars 2 on their servers. If you do find somewhere in the Terms and Conditions that this in not allowed then I would have to agree and say it’s cheating and apologize.

Is a raid specific forum going to be added to the list of forums, or is it just going to be added on to the Fractals, Dungeons one?

Does the community feel that it should be separate or together?

Either way excited for the challenge!

Rikit Runk.5170:

In my Opinion spying is like cheating.

It isn’t cheating because everyone has access to it, more like bending the rules. However in true war and warfare spying is a real thing no matter how dirty a tactic. Just like in real war there are anti-spy tactics that can get put in place given spy’s causing to much of an advantage.

Here to discuss if Spying is viable and worth the time:

Pros to Spying:

• Take up a server slot (if map has a que)
• Know location of enemy zerg (if they are pinned up)
• Can waste supply building useless siege
• Can turn trebuchets away from their intended aim location
• Can ‘kill’ golems by jumping off cliffs or running to enemy server
• Affect server population calculation (server transfer)

Cons to Spying:

• Player is not playing on ‘home’ server
• Can no longer drain supply fast by ordering upgrades (after expansion)
• No reward other than server gaining advantage (gold, karma, badges)
• Have to make new account if playing different servers each week (unless you already have)
• Have to level to 60 before spying without access some faster methods (tomes, crafting)

Summary:

Other than on servers where population is higher spying is next to useless, and even on higher servers there isn’t much a spy can do that can’t be prevented other than taking up space and burning supply slowly. Also the servers where population would matter are locked (due to being full) they can’t get spies. I think we might see some spies pop up for a while before people realize they are better off playing on their server then trying to ‘spy’ on another.

EDIT

Just adding some more that people have put in this thread:

Pros:

• Player can afk on seige to block it
• Lots of servers give teamspeak acces to any account on a WvW map
• Insite riot in map chat
• Offensive fake seige to drain supply

Cons:

• If spying becomes more common some tactics are ‘counterable’

Yea, I guess with the whole using a second computer or just hopping in enemy teamspeak prevents the not playing on home server con. I do believe this makes spies, in all their forms, more viable but still rather un-rewarding and not much gained for relatively little effort. As people have pointed out many of the pro’s can be ‘countered’ such has turning pin off on map, more requirements to joining ts, players getting use to reading before dumping supply on offense, and ignoring/blocking people trying to start riot’s in map chat.

Edit:

Pros:

• Can waste objectives tactic(active) ability if set for public use

Vikkela.7261:

The time machine was called “WvW Desert Borderlands Stress Test”

That was just a weekend, and they only had full maps for about 3 hours during the stream according to what I have read. I don’t think the people that played the map got a good feel of what could be a new meta for WvW. In addition to the new map, they are changing how guild claiming works (not in the beta weekend) and how upgrades work. People need to actual give things a chance before just assuming it’s going to suck (more than just a weekend, heck this is a week long match map).

Would be surprised if people actually start to like it after it has been out a few weeks.

Glad people have formed an opinion about the new map before it is even released and they have spent some actually time playing it. Where can I get a time machine to try the future out?

Yea they lock bug post when they are not posted in the bug forums like this one >_>

In my opinion the ‘cost’ to create a spy/troll is about the same. Previously you had to spend money that comes out to a few hours of work depending on pay. Now it requires a few hours of leveling instead.

Don’t people wan’t more players on their server? People are always complaining about coverage and letting free to play players in on WvW is a good way to boost participation. Don’t just look at the possible downsides look also to the possible upsides to this. With the new automatic upgrades there is little for them to troll other than population numbers.

I’m sure if it becomes a big problem ArenaNet will consider restricting their accounts in the future. I think people are just blowing the negatives out of proportion. Either way ArenaNet is going to continue for now with what they have said regardless of this forum thread.

smithkt.8062:

Given that the free accounts will require level 60 before they can enter WvW, how many people are going to spend the time to level accounts just for manipulating population calculations?

Given that players have spend money to make alternate accounts just for this type of play. It wouldn’t surprise me people would make free accounts to hinder other server’s performance. The real question is how many will pop up and how much will they actually affect the end result of WvW

The found a lot of bugs last time. Might be nice to test the fixes before this map becomes the standard for server ranking. However no amount of testing will ever get 100% of bugs out.

Maybe if it got posted in the bug forums where they look for bugs it could get found and fixed xD.

This is not the place for bug posts or bug questions, there are bug forums for that.

Seems like a lot of bugs, some of which are already in this post are getting reposted so bumping for visibility.

Maybe they are bringing back the ‘zombie’ event form the original beta’s that was fun.

To be fair longbow was the same pre expansion. Only 2 classes could use it, luckily for us we got another one with Dragon hunter. Unfortunately not a lot of people seem happy with it so I don’t see it getting much use. On the other hand greatsword is used by almost every class and now one more with expansion, guess that is why they got 2 (3 if you combine them) legendarys.

Conditioned.2467:

So a ranger or thief spouting a condi build with trapper rune is very very hard to kill. And in their infinite <insert something else than wisdom> anet have decided that for condi damage you don’t need two secondary stats as for power (prec/fero) condi dmg is enough.

There are two stats for conditions, condition damage and condition duration. Most condition builds stack both to be effective.

Kamara.4187:

Also if the enemy has to be targeted for the special to work then it really isn’t a reveal mechanic since target is lost once the enemy enters stealth.

You do have to have a target selected. Best advice is try to learn the tells of invis spells (the ones that have cast times) or anticipate invis use and cast it before they use it.

Also this is a bug thread not a thread on your opinions of how the ranger class is so please try to keep it on topic.

Create two revenants, one to boost to 80 to play in jungle (or use another lvl 80 if it doesn’t have to be a revenant) and another one that you level ‘the normal way’.

Will there be a jumping puzzle in the new borderlands map?

Here is an idea to help that doesn’t require traits or wasted supply (stealth trap for one player). Build your defensive arrowcarts (if you don’t plan on defending I don’t know why you care about the mesmer) and have some one get on them with the mastry. Use the the reveling shot. I understand the new keeps are huge so this isn’t a good way to cover the whole keep but it effectively does what the original post wanted, it makes ‘zones’ of the keep impossible to hide in with invisibility.

Heimskarl Ashfiend.9582:

The pet family would make specific F2 skills available and the pet itself is just a skin. Something like this, imo, would be perfect.

The only problem with this is players (opponents) know what to expect when facing different pets. I don’t think it would be fair to other classes in terms of counter play or adapting to what pet we have out.

If only there were a good single target ranged dps class. One that could finish off enemy downed players so they can’t rally, and to help allies rally.

Oh wait there is! Ranger, maybe people will stop telling people to get off their rangers and on necromancers.

Note: this also requires rangers to focus downed players, not a perfect strategy but then again neither is complaining about something that won’t change on the forums.

SlackerATC.5934:

Can you add this to your list:

In PvP when a Ranger dies and goes to respawn, for a split second the pet comes back where the player died at. It will trigger any trap type skills set down.

Actually I don’t know if its any of these types of skills, but I can say for certain it will trigger my Spike Trap and Flame Trap if I put them down. Its kinda annoying cause I want to lay them ASAP so I can be ready for the next fight but I have to wait to see the Ranger respawn first.

This is not limited to PvP and happens in WvW too. The pet is there in it’s entirety you can use abilities on it. If you are good you can CC it until you kill it, unconfirmed if the ranger then has a dead pet.

Serious.7083:

So… All of the guilds on the top server get together, have a chat, and move to the same server. A few weeks later that is top and we have the same issue again.

I don’t think this is a good idea.

Except the other server’s would already have people on them and would get full after so many joined from the winning server. If a server’s population is so low that a whole server can transfer to it there are other problems in WvW.

Baest.4061:

oh ok, ty
will it be fixed? cuz its an important issue for the ranger

Might be awhile, there is actually a sizable list of ranger bugs at the moment. If you find more post them here so the dev’s can look in one place to fix up the ranger

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/bugs/Ranger-Bugs-Updated/first

So the air buff that everyone is talking about as being strong has a fairly good counter to it. Just to go to a shrine and kill the units there then cap to 90% and step out of ring. Have a scout find their zerg and wait for them to head towards a large cliff. Once they jump finish the cap and watch them go splat.

Inb4 youtube videos of zergs falling to death (similar to necromancers in EotM)

Disclaimer: I did not get a chance to participate in the Beta so I’m not 100% sure how this buff works but I think you need all 3 shrines to have it. I’m also not sure if the buff has a ‘fall off’ time or if it is instant on losing the shrine.

LughLongArm.5460:

Mcrocha.3891:

Where is the information found that says rangers are getting aspects?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/3hde8l/data_mining_some_datamined_specialization/

That make me think aspects will have some on swap AoE, hopefully it looks as cool a call of the wild or the legend swapping.

briggah.7910:

when I see ideas that would destroy any communities I will disagree with them.. Ever been on a server that is considered dead and try to help rebuild it? If not maybe you should try some lower tiers and see what its like. I feel like for the past year we have been trying to rebuild but every server around us gets transfers yet guilds just leave us.. Its not an easy thing to do..

Fair, I don’t particular want to destroy communities and I don’t think ArenaNet want to either.

On the flip side, yes trying to get the lower servers going is near impossible. However, redistributing the WvW population can help with that, and let’s be honest it isn’t going to redistribute itself any-time soon.

reddie.5861:

if they care about cappin stuff EoTM there amazing place no PvP and alot of kitten to cap.

Capping and wanting WvW to be more competitive are two completely different things. It would be nice to see servers trying to go up the ladder and adapt different WvW strategies and a shift in power every year/season.

style.6173:

I like the idea of resetting the ratings every year. I just don’t think that anyone should receive a reward.

The reward is just to offset the forced server transfer and give a bit of and incentive to try to win as a server. Are you suggesting rank reset and no server transfer force? I think this is a good idea as well the only concern is that people won’t move to try new servers and after a few weeks the ladder will be the same. I do like the idea of not destroying server communities and maybe a reset is going to get people to server hop. Maybe in a few months/years when the population stabilizes in WvW this will work perfectly because the gap in server population will be much closer.

@Boysenberry

Well this idea is dependent on the new population changes that are in place. All of the winning team (JQ in your example) will not be able to fit onto another server so they will be forced to spread out. The ranks get reset and who says that second(BG) will win next year. As there will be servers that used to be limited by numbers now have them and have players or even guilds from the previous winning server. There is a very big possibility that a rotation occurs and knowing that WvW population tends to ‘work together’ to exploit the system so this is probably the case. That is why this happening only once a year helps. Let’s say you are on server 4 in the list to get rotated to the win position. What is the likely-hood that you and your server are just going to sit there and wait 4 years to get your reward if you have the chance to win sooner? Something we will never know unless it was implemented.

Crazy Idea…
… what if F5 was to swap places with the pet, or to play as the pet.

A more buffed up version of the pet, but similar to necromancer death shroud where we get independent health bars. Just a fun idea to bounce off of people. I always considered druids shape-kittenfers or being able to connect with the spirits of animals. The second options sounds like norn though so less likely.

briggah.7910:

Yes lets destroy every single community every single year and give gems to the people that stack on the winning servers.

No thanks.

First off, you clearly didn’t read. Only one server (per region) would get ‘destroyed’ a year not every single community. Also with the new populations changes it will be much harder to hopefully impossible to stack a server. I do agree it goes against the whole ‘server identity’ aspect. The real question at had is, ’What is more important, that a server always has the same identity for a long time with the same community, or there is something worth fighting for the top spot in WvW and keeping the match-ups interesting.

Just putting this out there, I enjoy playing WvW and don’t mind the ‘stale’ match-ups. However I don’t think I would mind switching things us once a year, and having a goal to get top server would make server communities have to work together more to reach that goal, maybe even making the community stronger.

I noticed a fair amount of people being upset with the ‘stale’ match-ups every week and wanted to know if people would generally want some change about once a year. The idea is that servers would compete like they currently do but at the end of the WvW year/season the top server would ‘win’.

When a server ‘wins’ all of the accounts that have been participating for the year/season (flagged active WvW for 50% of the year/season by the new population calculations) would receive 1600 gems, and would have to pick a new server (just like when a new account is created).

This gives servers a desire to be the top ranked server at the end of a season/year and also ensures the same server won’t win every time. It would also (hopefully) mix up the compositions (major guilds) of the servers but not to massively.

Also in-between every season/year the ratings of servers would be reset (since the players on the servers would be different) so they climb for best can start again.

Currently being on the top ranked server isn’t good for anything and there is no real drive to try to climb the ladder. Also the ladder has mostly stabilized itself as designed but that means no servers are going anywhere anytime soon.

One unfortunate downside is the concept of ‘server identity’ would be damaged by the forcing of players to find a new server once a year (only one server). Hopefully a year is a good amount of time to build a new ‘server identity’ for lower tier servers that got the winning guilds and the higher tier servers to continue on the patch to glory.

tl;dr
Give the top server every year a good reward (1600 gems) and them make the active players join a new server. Also reset server ratings at the same time.

Not sure on class itself but for Rangers I use healing spring trap. If traited it lasts for 10 seconds and clears 3 conditions every second. Basically 10 seconds of condition immunity. Also it grants regeneration which I always considered a soft counter to conditions.

To all the people saying they haven’t noticed anything.

BillFreist.1527:

More improvements coming with our next release.

They normally do releases on every other Tuesdays, sometimes in-between if they feel they need to. Check the game update notes to see when changes happen. This change isn’t live yet so you shouldn’t be seeing any changes unless they decided not to log it on the update forum.

Here is to hoping it helps, for both the players and the developers. As a developer it’s super frustrating to think you have made a solution or project better only to find no improvements or it get worse.

I still enjoy the game mode. I think it could use some quality of life updates and either more ‘events’ or ‘tournaments’ to keep things interesting.

I would like to think others still enjoy the game because well, lots of people still play WvW (not as much as use too). We all know they aren’t playing for the rewards, achievements, titles, or unique loot.

@Raven, do you think attacking teams should still be able to place arrowcarts with the defenders only having specific spots?

Yea I think the tower lords need some help, luckily with the new map from what I saw they were more unique and stronger.

Ofir.2405:

Put the doc so only you can edit it because trolls.

Last I checked others can ‘suggest’ which means their change requires approval I believe.

coglin.1867:

It appears to me that this generally happens late at night when there are not enough on to put 4 maps of coverage out.

I would say that most of the time there is not coverage for 4 maps, on JQ at least maybe that is why it seems to me it’s happening often. I understand that there are guilds and groups that sill play for PPT but a majority jump on the Zerg and just follow from one objective to another.

Updated topic title to Why Zerging is the Meta as its represents this discussion better I believe. I was more trying to discuss why people don’t split up more for capturing objectives where it’s clear that you will get objectives faster split earning more PPT. Also why small groups aren’t sent back to defend objectives often, it’s either send the whole zerg (only done if they have run out of paper to flip or if it’s a major objective like WP keep). I’m not saying that 100% of the population plays this way just that a majority do especially unorganized groups.