Guild Wars 2

Latinkuro.9420:

Rarity frames are ingame now, awesome.
My suggestion came to life in the game I’m super happy, and proves a.net does listen to good ideas when they make sense.

inventory options, the gear at the right corner of inventory and select show rarity frames.

Quoted, because the posters above me seem to be missing the fact that this is in the game now.

And it’s pretty cool!

I can’t say I agree with the general complaint. Between karma vendors, storyline rewards, and the occasional bit of crafting or dropped armor/weapons, I feel like I got a pretty good variety of gear as I progressed from 1-80. And if I got something I didn’t like, I’ve got more than enough transmutation stones from map completion to stick with what I like.

It gets more problematic at level 80, when, if you want to transmute level 80 gear, it takes transmutation crystals, but 30g for 10 crystals (at current rates) strikes me as an acceptable gold sink, to get the stats you want onto the armor you want. It gets pricey if you factor alts into the situation, but, personally, with my alts I usually wear what I want for looks, and may or may not get around to giving them proper, optimized builds. Most of the game is very forgiving of playing with less-than-optimal setups, so I’m okay with this arrangement. All that gold has got to go somewhere.

I’m less convinced that people looking similarly is an issue of cost, and more just of taste. If a look is popular, people are going to wear it, whether or not it has the best stats.

I’m marginally disappointed, although I’m even more disappointed by the degree to which some people are flipping out about it. It’s a mixed addition to the game, but you’d think it was some enormous social injustice by some of the reactions. (Emphasis on “some.”)

I’d have preferred to avoid reskins entirely, naturally, but it’s not that big a deal to me. I’d have preferred they avoid reskinning cultural armor, for the sake of pushing a little differentiation between cultures that characters can show off, but that’s not a huge deal to me, either. It’s more like I think it’s a so-so aesthetic decision than anything “unfair.”

I can’t say I’m too torn up about it, even if it’s not ideal.

Krait is not brave enough or strong enough to go after Scarlet.

Besides, Krait does not want to fight anymore.

Besides besides, Krait has other problems at the moment.

Sirendor.1394:

The armor, it has something to do with being manly, Krait. :>
Shall I teach you to become manly? Pink dyes are possibly involved…

Krait will try it! Thank you for the suggestion!

Maestria of Strat.2974:

What I don’t get is why are the humans letting a krait roam around freely. I would think you would look like a red big target and en-mass the humans would attack, like a zerg descending on a roamer in WVW.

Not quite freely, although things have improved for Krait since doing good things in Queensdale. Krait still has many enemies, but many friends now, too.

Andele.1306:

Snake friend, snake friend, me blue warm charr let go by hoodie mouses, following you for a while so i go talk to guards for you, they tell me that youll get in when trees shake hands with them, so i took tree to shake their hands, they fall asleep, then by surprise i see other snake friend i pool of mouse queen.
Also mouse queen very nice, she not like fir-..fir-..-orm… hot rat guy was…

Guards still asleep, so Krait decided to see Queen without appointment, but no one was home. Thanks for trying!

I’ve been wondering why we don’t have this since I first looked at the forums. Often times I’ll read the first post in a thread, and really just want to jump to what a dev has to say about it, if I’m not looking for a conversation, but just looking for an answer.

I’m going to regret asking this, but, other than typing the word, what makes this thread “official?” What does that even mean?

While I think the idea has potential, I also wonder how strange it would feel for characters who aren’t asura. A bit like bringing back Dervish from GW1 and having, say, Charr or Sylvary pray to the Six for their powers.

It was already a given that December was going to feature Wintersday; it’s an annual holiday stretching back to GW1, after all. I have no idea if ascended armor will be implemented along with the Wintersday stuff, but I think it’s early to come to…well, any conclusion based on the small teaser we’ve seen so far.

So, yeah, no surprises about what we know so far, which is not a problem.

Better question: Were you not expecting Wintersday content to start on Dec. 10th?

Just keep in mind that what appeals to one person may not appeal to the next. I think the Toxic Mantle skin looks ridiculous, but the number of people I’ve seen wearing it argues that it appeals to some people. I think the Profane set looks awful, but I still people wearing it.

Genbu.1705:

This thread totally made my day!
Has Krait seen the famous champ train choo choo’ing around Queensdale?

Champ train chased Krait for a while, but Krait threw them off by pretending to drop dead out of order. Krait has rarely been so frightened! What does “&#$%!@*NOOBS” mean?

Sophiera.1209:

Oh Mister Krait, you’re becoming famous! Maybe now you can get to see the Queen’s chamber!

Was again told “when dolyaks fly.” Krait is trying to be patient.

Astral Projections.7320:

I bet Mr. Krait here doesn’t speak good Krytan and would like a teacher.

Krait learned Krytan from Toxic Alliance sylvari. They laughed a lot while teaching Krait to speak Krytan, so they must have been being very patient with Krait.

Sirendor.1394:

((Lovely how it still goes on. Redenaz, you’re a genius.))

Thank you! Krait is finding many new adventures back in the city!

Yargesh.4965:

Just got a weird mail from Rox in game about new arrivals. Anyone know which arrivals she is talking about?

That’s a good question. I recently started a “personal bank” guild, of which I’m the only member, so I assumed it was automated nudge to recruit people. Hm.

As for the towers, I assume they’re related to the Inquest / Thaumanova Reactor, though I don’t have any guess how or why. No idea what they’re for or what they mean, but I’m always happy to see quiet additions like this sneaking in.

I don’t have a video, but here’s some advice just to get your feet wet:

Basically, use up all/most of your skills in a given element, then swap to another, drop all those skills, swap to another…

As you get more experienced, you’ll memorize which skills are in which elements, and go from just spamming everything you have to playing more strategically, but the key is understanding that each spell has its own cooldown; I can drop [Fire 5] and immediately switch to [Water 5] if that’s what I need. By swapping elements, you can fill dead space between, say, fire spells with a more useful combination of other elements, instead of just depending on auto-attack. Once you get very good, you’ll have an awareness of “Is Meteor Shower up yet? If I swap to Water and drop Frozen Ground, then should I swap back to fire?”

Options, man, options. Flexibility is what an ele is good at, and you have more situational spells at your disposal in combat than most characters. Best thing you can do to start is familiarize yourself with all of your spells by using them, so that you can learn when to use them.

I hope that helps!

I think it’s fair to design the game around the idea that 1 Player == 1 Account, balancing new features around that idea. Account-based features might not be convenient or even feasible for players with multiple accounts, but the game simply isn’t designed to support that. It’s going to be clumsy, because the game wasn’t intended to be played that way. (Trying not to project my idea of developers’ intentions on this, but all design decisions seem to point pretty clearly to “one account per player, with multiple characters” being the expected norm.)

Most of the issues that multiple accounts address (cheaper character slots, multiple account-based items, more guesting options) seem like ways to work around how the system is intended to function, so I can’t say I’m too sympathetic when they become less practical as new features are introduced. For most players, I think the balance of tradeable items/currency and account-bound ones is reasonable.

I think precursor crafting would be possible by the end of the year; the datamining of some parts of the process suggests that it’s far enough along that some of it is getting into the recent builds of the game, even if it’s not accessible yet. It would be a great way to end the year on a bang, but even if it slips past, I’m expecting it early in 2014.

As for other, new Legendary weapons, I imagine that might be on hold until precursor crafting is out, so it probably won’t come until later in 2014. No sense rocking the boat too much, when they can implement precursor crafting, see what effect it has, and decide if they want to implement additional Legendaries the same way. That’s one of the key advantages of the frequent release cycle, after all.

As for new skills/traits, I wouldn’t expect them until next year. There’s a big balance patch on Dec. 10th, and it wouldn’t make sense to make sweeping balance changes, only to upset the ship two weeks later with a bunch of new ones.

All in all, I’m pretty satisfied with the checklist. There have been a lot of good improvements, and the things getting delayed are either ambitious, open-ended expansions (new skills/traits, more legendaries) or something they seem to be taking time on to do it well. (Precursor crafting.)

Edit: Ascended armor is also on the “not there yet” list. I’m not exactly in a hurry to have more 400+ crafts, however, so I can’t say I mind them drawing it out.

It’s harmless marketing shenanigans, so I’m not taking it as seriously representative of the game or company, but, man, is it cringe-worthy.

I don’t like it when players get a sense of entitlement, that they “DESERVE!!” whatever pet feature they want, or to be free of whatever they don’t want, but this kind of marketing feeds that sense of dramatized investment in the game in a bad way. I mean, the old manifesto was a little idealistic, but I generally got the impression it was coming from a sense of “Here’s what we want the game to be!” rather than “It’s so UNFAIR that you have to PAY UNJUST FEES for OTHER GAMES!” Even though I love GW2 and its business model, I hate framing it as a question of justice or freedom. That’s not idealistic; it’s embarassingly cynical, and I’m disappointed to see it.

Oh, and that spin on The New Colossus is a very tasteful comparison. I mean, on one hand, we have actual poor, tired immigrants, and on the other, we have a contest that can save you $30 on a game by recording yourself pledging allegiance to a game you very likely haven’t played before. I got on a guy a while back for appropriating FDR’s Infamy Speech in his complaint about the introduction of ascended gear to the game, and this isn’t any better.

This isn’t anywhere near the worst marketing campaign I’ve see for a game, but I’m disappointed to see GW2 rolling with it. If marketing wants to engage players by dramatizing the struggle against the dragons, or the frequently evolving world, that’s great, but if they’re going to dramatize the business model, I see no reason for players not to be just as dramatic about imagined injustices like gem store armor, ascended gear, grind, etc.

Edit: The video looked silly and fun. It’s…basically the rest of it that I’m rolling my eyes at.

Sophiera.1209:

How do you tell each other apart? To us, all krait look the same.

Krait is not wanting to say you are racist, but…

Krait will not say it, then.

Rune Lockhart.3016:

THIS is the best post ive seen this whole year!! sooo funny and cute! makes me love krait!!

Thank you! Krait loves humans, too! Even if some of them cannot tell krait apart.

Merus.9475:

I am suspicious of this “krait”. They haven’t once tried to get people to build obelisks to their gods, and they’ve shown an uncharacteristic amount of empathy and humility.\

Are all charr Flame Legion? Are all humans bandits?

pessimist.7294:

Out of curiosity: Does Krait listen music? And if yes what kind of?

Krait’s ABSOLUTE FAVORITE music is in Divinity’s Reach! But Krait is too frightened to get close enough again to hear it well…

Kain Francois.4328:

This thread got mentioned by the official ANET Twitter. Woah! :O
https://twitter.com/GuildWars2/status/405140321069445120

Thank you, everyone who is nice enough to tell Krait place things to see, and to ask Krait questions!

Krait returned to hospital, to see human soldier friend, but found this human instead.

This is one of those threads that I read, and just assume it isn’t serious. It’s just too silly, and I’m a little scared to see where it ends up from taking it seriously.

It makes the lore-fan part of me twitch unpleasantly.

._.

Sylv.5324:

Aren’t you supposed to be taller?

Krait was not the biggest krait in brood. Taller than most humans, shorter than many norns.

Lucian.8235:

Get off my land beast.

Krait sorry! Did not know it was your land!

Aeolus.3615:

No krait will be as cool as this one!

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Sariss_Yassith

No human will be as cool as this one!

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Professor_Yakkington

viv.1892:

Krait? I-is that you? I finally founds you…..
remembers that night in Orr, with the lovely moon? Well I have somethings to tells you…

Damoss does not remember— Could be other krait? Ask perhaps the turkey-finder krait?

There seem to be many krait here now! Are more krait exploring the world?

I think it’s probably account bound because of the Bloodstone Brick involved, the only other use for which is for making a Vision Crystal, which is also account bound. Or, to look at the bigger picture (including Ascended Weapons,) I suspect they’re using the Obsidian Refinement materials as a way to make items that are somewhat exclusive (can’t be bought for gold/cash,) but are more open-ended than, say, dungeon gear or Living Story rewards. (In this case, you can’t just buy bloodstone bricks, but you don’t have to farm a particular area for them, either.)

It’s a tricky balance. It would be convenient to be able to sell them, but this kind of content is also valuable for players who don’t like the game revolving around the trading post all the time, or to be completely accessible with gems-to-gold. Money might get a player most of the way in this, but not all the way, and I think that’s a fair barrier for at least some rewards, given how many are available for pure money.

What’s the reset on the WvW puzzles? 24 hours after opening?

Ogre Pet Whistles come from Gladefall Run, in the Iron Marches.

Fire Elemental Powder comes from Fuller Cistern, in Fireheart Rise.

Hope that helps! I’m a big fan of Fire Elemental Powder, though I haven’t tried the pet whistle yet.

What’s the difference between resetting at 3AM and resetting at the current daily reset?

I’m not sure what advantage it gives, and it seems confusing to give jumping puzzles a different reset time from everything else.

…What did I just read?

Was there a starting post that’s gone now, or does this conversation make sense and I’m just cracking up?

Sophiera.1209:

Krait, I am not sure if i should ask this sensitive subject but… why do kraits live on slaves? There are many other ways to make a living other than selling slaves. I know bad humans sell slaves too, but it doesn’t mean your folks have to follow them

Maybe you can be like the Asura? Their golems do all the hard work.

So krait should enslave golems?

Draco.2806:

Can krait feel love?

Explain “love” to Krait, please?

Krait feels very full of questions.

Met the Windmill King today! Krait hopes Krait bowed enough before his majesty.

Huh, strange. That’s an excellent question.

Samuli.7852:

I am glad to see you took my advice and helped the citizens of Queensdale, umm… I just realized I don’t know what to call you. Do you have a name, krait?

Krait only tell names to family, closest friends, and priests. To other krait, krait go by caste name, and to non-krait, Krait is simply “Krait.” (“krait” for species and “Krait” for Krait!)

Krait hopes that helps?

Sophiera.1209:

Mister Krait, do you have parents? We Salads are always curious about the concept of ‘parents’ because we only have one mother

Krait has biological parents, but all krait raised in hatcheries by broodmothers instead of egg-layers.

Sophiera.1209:

By the way, your adventures are warming up my heart Mister Krait! That shows there are good Kraits out there

Oh the big spinny thing in the sky are called “Windmills”, they harness the power of the wind to move things. Usually they’re used to grind wheat into flour.

Ah-hah! Then Krait has nothing to fear!

Hamfast / Quaggans
Be careful, quaggans! Arena is loooOOOOoong way to fall dooooowwwn!

Arena is very dangerous for falling into. Arena could use a net. Arena net would be very important in the world!
——-

Lafiel.9372:

BURNN THE KRAIITTTT

No! Do not burn Krait!

Sirendor.1394:

He’s my friend. Forever.

K-Krait so happy to hear it! Krait could cry

Natsu Dragneel.1625:

This thread made my day, Cheers for Krait!

Cheers for Natsu! Cheers for everyone! \o/

Hamfast.8719:

Beetletun is full of crates tooooOOOOOoooo! When they hatch, we’ll be overrun by baby Kraits!

That is probably not where baby krait come from, small quaggan. But krait will say no more.

TriggerSad.2597:

They’re a cool race, and it would be even cooler to have one as a friend!!

Krait thinks other races cool, and wants to make many friends! Made a new, dear friend today, in fact.

TriggerSad.2597:

Quaggan-kabobs are the best thing you’ll ever eat this side of the Shiverpeakes!!

What is better on other side of the Shiverpeaks?

GameVeight.2745:

Hot water, good dentistry and soft lavatory paper.

“Lavatory” is…volcano?

Had many more adventures in Queensdale!

Well, there’s taking different paths on the personal story, playing different races (for story, abilities, and cultural gear,) and, of course, playing different classes. I love my Elementalist, but some days I want to play Mesmer, or Ranger, or whatever. Playing alts has done a lot to keep me interested with new experiences.

Some people are happy to focus just on their main, I’m sure, but alts do a lot to keep the game fresh for me.

Sirendor.1394:

Hopes nice krait visits again.

Feel better, soldier human!

Arikyali.5804:

Heeere kraity kraity kraity~ Heeeere kraityyy~ Anakysha has some smoked herring for youuuu~

Krait would love herring, but is out of the city at the moment…

Samuli.7852:

Perhaps you could help some villagers in Queensdale?

That is an excellent idea! Krait has gone to spread trustworthiness in Queensdale!

Krait visited hospital and found human soldier in armor in bed. Krait tried to help human priestess remove armor so soldier could sleep better.

Krait was asked to leave.

Yumiko Ishida.3769:

Yumiko drawn her daggers and attuned to fire ready to make Krait sushi out of him.

Aah! Run away!

Draco.2806:

These krait stories warm my heart.

Krait still believe there are nice people in Divinity’s Reach.

TriggerSad.2597:

May I use your warm heart to light the torches I’m going to be selling the townsfolk. I have special going on; if you buy a touch, you can also get a pitchfork at half the cost!

Krait would like to buy a torch. Krait cold at night!

Ah, so he does! You can also use the Flames of Kryta while transformed.

That…what.. :\

This is an incredibly rambling post, and also one of the single most nonsensical references to Occam’s Razor I’ve ever seen. (It’s not about reducing complexity, it’s about reducing assumptions.)

Teknomancer.4895:

ANet is a software company. These people are all programmers. Corporate IT assets, including personnel, get reassigned to different projects (both long and short term) all the time.

That’s…fundamentally confused. That’s the same level of confusion I get when family members see my 3D art and ask if I drew or programmed it. Just because Anet is a software company doesn’t mean that everyone is going to be able to contribute to bug-fixing full time, even for a single release.

Zacchary.6183:

Actually, tengu Caesar salads are better. Tengu meat is great for grillouts and its so versatile.

What meat do Tengu use? Is delicious? Is expensive?

I had a krait over for dinner once.

He brought over a whole village of slaves. It was awkward.

Sounds very awkward. Krait never have enough dishes for such everyone.

Sirendor.1394:

Dear scaly inhabitant of swamp.
We humans would like to welcome you this very moment, yet sadly we are busy helping a world in danger of the vicious alliance Scarlet created! Come back in approximately 3 days, 2 hours and 20 minutes. I’m sure we won’t be busy then!
Oh wait…

Is that when dolkyak flying time is? Krait is enjoying human city!

Found little humans, arena, “balloons,” and circus!

…What are people doing now, if it’s not “actually” farming?

I guess I’m just not sure what you’re suggesting. Make farming one zone/dungeon path more profitable? I’m not sure exactly what problems that will solve.

Nice guard made appointment to see human queen “when dolyaks fly.”

When is dolyak flying time? Does krait need to buy sundial?

Human stew taste strange. Crumbly, lots of fruit, not enough fish.

Krait ate it all for good manners. Krait is trying to act civilized and hardly broke any silverware at all!

Anymras.5729:

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women. This is what is best in life.

Krait have tried all of these things, yet still empty and sad inside. What else is best in life?

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Festive_Hat

Unfortunately, they’re not available anymore, although I expect they’ll probably reappear in the gem store once Winterday rolls around.

I am krait and want to make friendsss.

I have come to Divinity’ss Reach to make friendss and learn to ssociety. I have learned the human language.

What sshould I ssee? What is bessst in human life?

Pleasse, I need your help!

I wouldn’t recommend the champ train. It might be efficient, but it’s mind-numbingly tedious. I would recommend exploring the world, doing map completion (renown hearts, points of interest, etc.) You’ll get to see a lot of places that way and go up against a lot of different enemies in different situations, and I think that’s more valuable when you’re just starting out than learning to farm the same events over and over in a mob.

As for Ele in particular, just try not to engage too many enemies at once while you’re learning to play the class. It’s a bit complicated, with all the attunements to swap between, but if you’re patient, it’s a ton of fun once you get the ropes.

I have mixed feelings about that. On one hand, it would be nice in the abstract to be able to complete the set.

On the other hand, I imagine someone actually wearing a full set of Radiant armor. Then more than one person. Then I stop imagining, because my imagination’s eyes have gone blind.

Zelanard.5806:

For instance, half the elementalists playing, at the very best, can figure out how to use their profession mechanics… making it so, they can focus on one element, (5 skills) instead of all of them (20 skills), would make it possible for the elementalists to do what they like (focusing), and be good at it, instead of doing what they like, and being kicked for it…

I’m not sure how the advanced classes help in this regard, since you said profession mechanics don’t change, just armor class and weapons, at least the way I read it. Can you go into more detail on this?

It’s not for everyone, but I think that was pretty obvious about Tonics from the start. They’re just for fun, and if it’s not fun for you, that’s okay; that’s part of an MMO, designing a little something for everyone.

I’m very excited about being able to use this tonic in water, but I do think there’s a missed opportunity to give it some costume brawl skills, or some more emotes. Either way, as it is, I still thought it was fun enough to plunk down the gold for Armored Scales, and I don’t regret making it.

Something worth noting: Just because it can be done in a day, doesn’t mean it will be done in a day by each player. If you can only play a couple large sessions a week, or lots of small ones, it might not be such a bad thing to have relatively quick main objectives (reach the top of the tower, fight the hybrid, do enough achievements to earn gas mask) while still providing additional bonuses for prolonged play. (More achievements/AP, achievement-based mini krait, rare drops like spore backpiece and breathing mask, everything you can make/buy with Toxic Spores, etc.)

It does mean that you can finish most of the particularly exciting content quickly in Tower of Nightmares, but that’s not strictly a bad thing for everyone.

Some releases certainly hit that balance better than others, but I think Tower of Nightmares and The Nightmares Within were okay about it.

Right click on the skin and choose preview. That will bring up a window showing your character wearing the gas mask, so you can decide which one it’ll look best on without having to actually use it first.

This works with skins, weapons, armor, and dyes, whether they’re in the bank, in your inventory, on the trading post, in a vendor window, or even in chat. It’s super useful and takes all the “How would that look?” guesswork out of purchases.

Just off the top of my head, the first example that comes to mind is Icy Runestones. They’re obtained from exactly one vendor, cost a gold each, and are necessary for every Legendary Weapon.

I’m not sure if they have a confirmation on each sale (since they cost a gold,) but the only use for them is if you buy 100. There’s no reason to buy any more or less, or to buy them in installments. (Of course, maybe it would just be better to require one Icy Runestone and price it at 100g…)

Beyond that, I’m coming up short on ideas. Consumables like Fire Elemental Powder might be nice to buy in bulk.

A hood, perhaps? Winged and Cabalist armors both have hoods, and they could probably look pretty festive if dyed the right colors. GW1 did give a hood away one year, after all.

Do you think it’s a balancing issue, or an issue that a lot of people love greatswords because, well, they’re enormous swords? A lot of popular characters in other media have large swords (most famously, Cloud from FFVII,) and we have a lot of cool greatsword skins.

I’d be wary about making balance changes based on “Well, lots of people use <weapon>, so it must be overpowered! Plus, it looks bad when so many people use that weapon!”

Looks like Dierdre’s Steps, the location of the Hidden Garden Jumping Puzzle?

I am filled with an endless sadness that Memory of the Sky hasn’t gotten any love yet. (Also available as Strong Avenger’s Staff of Force)

I’m seriously considering building a Wupwup Spire and transmuting the stats onto Memory of the Sky. Man, I love that thing.