Guild Wars 2

Dynnen.6405:

Thrumdi.9216:

The problem isn’t WXP. The problem is the underlying mechanics of the game. (No healers, no trinity, downed state, 5-man limit to AoE etc.).

That is what creates the zerg. The rewards (like WXP) just amplify the underlying problem.

Solution? ESO.

I think its called ‘TESO’ and ‘wow classic’ not ‘ESO’ and ‘Vanilla wow’ Silly post-expansion players

jk jk

Anywho, about the only thing that is contributing to more zergs that you mentioned is the 5-man aoe limit. The trinity/healer would only prolong fights (trust me, just watch ADQQSTY videos) and downed state only supports zergs if the other players dont capitalize on it. Downed players make an impromptu killzone, downed enemies are great!
However, I knew this WXP was going to cause a kittenload of karma training off the start, but eventually people will realize that killing is a good way to get WXP too. If they really wanted to make people defend they would have made some sort of small missions in each defense point that gave you WXP the longer you held it. Like ‘feed the guards out front of hills keep’ that way you couldn’t afk and get the WXP. Then they could also give more WXP for taking a keep that was more heavily fortified and next to none that wasn’t upgraded at all.

Man, I’m a kitten genius.

Actually, internally at ZOS they call it ESO.

Link.

The problem isn’t WXP. The problem is the underlying mechanics of the game. (No healers, no trinity, downed state, 5-man limit to AoE etc.).

That is what creates the zerg. The rewards (like WXP) just amplify the underlying problem.

Solution? ESO.

shyrith.3462:

By the sounds of it, there wont be a Trinity in TES:O either. Actually, so far TES:O sounds a lot like GW2, just with TES lore.

I assume you play Warrior or Guardian. Try playing an ele or mesmer. You definitely can’t afk on auto attack, then.

There’s going to be a Trinity in TESO. In fact, there are tanking skills lines with “Taunts” that hold aggro. Also, it was confirmed that you can be effective as a full healer (little offense).

What they have said though is that it is possible to do content without the Trinity, using different tactics.

So ESO will have both Trinity, and non-Trinity systems. It will be up to the meta to decide what is the most effective.

LFk.1408:

I only took the time to read the first page of responses, but I’m very fascinated at the response concerning Character Bound vs. Account Bound.

I personally believe Character Bound to be the far superior choice.

I can certainly understand why some things are account bound, but I support as many character bound mechanics as possible. The entire reason I make new characters is for them to feel like their own separate entities, with their own separate adventures.

I run 4 different level 80 characters in WvW (Ele, War, Guard, Mes), and I actually would hate to have them level up together as one indeterminate mass, as if one of them gaining experience was somehow making the other more experienced and powerful.

I even find it a pity that achievements are account bound, as it now feels like the 4 characters I do play are all somehow sharing in some collective prestige. I would love to see each character’s stats, how many they’ve killed, what they’ve capped, what they’ve done, rather than globbing them all together.

The idea of an “Account Bound WEXP” just seems off to me. It certainly will take more time to level up each of the characters with character bound content, but it just feels like the proper design. This was the correct choice, ANet.

Character-bound WEXP would make sense if the skills rewarded were actually active skills that differentiated yourself from other players or characters. For example, finishing moves, special WvW-only boons, conditions or AoEs.

The list of WvW skills Anet has provided, however, are completely generic. At most you can say that they can heighten a particular role (like Siege-Master, Camp-Flipper etc.). Those are pretty anemic roles though, and almost not worth the effort to level them (except for the Supply bonus). Since they are so generic, nothing is lost by making them account-bound.

It should also be pointed out that another RvR game, Planetside 2, launched a few months after GW2, and has what are essentially account-bound skills. It’s an MMOFPS, but the principle is the same. Your rank xp and point accumulation goes into one pool, irrespective of the class you are currently playing. Once spent, however, the resulting upgrades are limited to a particular class that is allowed to access them. Excellent system.

Sokar Rostau.7316:

Kintari.4172:

On further thought, I think the best solution is to basically make WXP an account-wide currency, but still require per-character purchases of abilities with WXP.

This way you could earn WXP on whichever character you want to play at the time based on whatever criteria you like to use, but you would still have to earn enough WXP for however many characters you are trying to max out.

In other words, make WXP earned in the same way as dungeon tokens and titles, sPvP rank/glory/items, current WvW achievements, badges of honor, most legendary weapon components, laurels, guild commendations, gold, and so on.

(please note that I am not asking for more calendar-gating, that’s a separate issue)

The important thing is giving players the latitude of playing whichever character they want while still making progress toward the same long term goal. It’s a little bit troubling that they seem to have grasped this early on and have since unlearned it.

Which is what I said earlier, though perhaps not as clearly.

I used to play LotRO on one of the then-new servers. In LotRO, the only form of PvP was Player vs Monster Player where you could take your regular character to a certain area and kill Sauron’s forces or you could make a new character that was a member of Sauron’s forces (Monster). Monster classes were unique to PvMP and started at max character level. Killing players and doing quests (capture the bridge/keep etc) earned you experience to gain PvMP ranks which unlocked cosmetics and, in the case of Monster Players, new skills. Each rank came with a visible icon next to your name. PvMP rank was character-based.

In the time I played LotRO I was an officer in the top raid guild and regularly played with the top PvMP guild of my server (and the two guilds later merged). I knew all of the top ranked players on the server and, in many cases, I watched them level up their PvMP ranks from scratch. It took over a year for our server to get a level 10, and that person almost exclusively spent his time in PvMP, by which I mean 8-10+ hours per day 6-7 days a week. The last time I checked, which was a couple of months ago, the server had finally managed to get a couple of lvl 14s but still lacked a lvl 15 (max rank). It’s been over three years and the server still doesn’t have a lvl 15. In fact there are relatively few level 15s overall and the vast majority are characters on the heavily populated servers that were started in 2007.

Do you really want to spend 80 hours per week on one character in WvW for the next 3 years in order to get all your unlocks on that character… and then another 3 years to do the same on a single alt?

I immediately thought of LOTRO PvMP when I read the WvW changes, and not in a good way.

LOTRO PvMP is the epitome of kitten RvR design. That is: put together a relatively interesting, but basic, system. Then layer an excessive grind over top of it. Afterwards, change nothing except for some tinkering around the edges.

Within these parameters, LOTRO PvMP is actually pretty fun. And so is GW2 (in a slightly different, zerg-oriented way).

However, it really remains to be seen if anything will actually change in the future in WvW. It could end up stagnant like LOTRO PvMP, especially, if like LOTRO, Anet puts all their resources into PvE.

GW2 WvW is a lost cause for small groups, at least in the upper tiers. The maps are just too small, and the Devs have said they can’t expand them because of technical limitations.

Otherwise the only other solution is to change some fundamental game mechanics. These would include removing the downed state, limit rezzing to healers, and removing the 5-man limit on AoE’s.

I doubt this will happen, however, as the systems are just too important to the game. All the rest – changes to scoring etc. — is just tinkering, and won’t do much.

GW2 is currently the top for casual, zerg-oriented RvR. But if you want something different, you have to look elsewhere.

Guild Wars 2 Roleplayers

As easily as game-breaking as culling when it happens.

On Tarnished Coast, it seems to happen when there are large fights in Stonemist or the Garrison.

Krakah.3582:

Thrumdi.9216:

Here are my criticisms:

1) This is the final nail in the coffin for small group play in WvW. The carrot now belongs to zergs (and zerg guilds) that deliver the WXP goods.

Enterprising groups with the supply buff will take more on their own without needing pugs as mules.

Thrumdi.9216:

2) WXP is awarded only through PvP, and not capping objectives. It is fine to have PvP-only point awards in WvW, however, they should not be tied directly to aquiring WvW abilities. This favours PvP-farmers and zergs (see above).

Events reward WXP, which is everything involved in capping camps, towers, and keeps.

Thrumdi.9216:

Here are my criticisms:
3) Character-bound points, rank and WXP. This anti-alt, anti-Manifesto (“play your way!”), and favours grind.

I do agree this method of grind is bad. This will create a power gap for new players, and a large annoyance for those with multiple toons.

Thanks for the clarification on what awards WXP. I went back and looked at the blog post, and this is what it says:

When you participate in WvW events and defeat enemy players, you will earn World Experience (WXP).

It does appear to say events award WXP.

Here are my criticisms:

1) This is the final nail in the coffin for small group play in WvW. The carrot now belongs to zergs (and zerg guilds) that deliver the WXP goods.

2) WXP is awarded only through PvP, and not capping objectives. It is fine to have PvP-only point awards in WvW, however, they should not be tied directly to aquiring WvW abilities. This favours PvP-farmers and zergs (see above).

3) Character-bound points, rank and WXP. This anti-alt, anti-Manifesto (“play your way!”), and favours grind.

An official blog post on the March 26 WvW is up.

It confirms World XP will be given for enemy kills (based on how long they’ve been alive). WXP lets you rank up. Some ranks will give a title visible to the enemy. Each ranks gives you an ability point that can be spent on passive WvW abilities.

WXP, ranks, titles, points and abilities are confirmed as being character-bound.

Discuss.

Jski.6180:

Thrumdi.9216:

PS2 has both a level and gear system. Utility slots unlock by level, and gear can be upgraded with points. Of course, by gear, we mean armour, which in PS2 means shields and nano-weaves suits.

The PS2 and GW2 systems are actually remarkably similar. Both make it so that new players are competitive in terms of weapons and gear. And the difference between starter and high-end gear is actually fairly compressed, as it is in GW2.

Like I said, these are the systems other modern PvP/RvR games are using. Ranks, experience and points that are character bound, instead of account-bound, are oldschool, grind-oriented methods. (Once spent though, utilities can be character-bound).

If they show up in GW2 = bad sign.

But there is a great deal more depth to one hero in GW2 then one account in Ps2. An ele can go full on support with a staff or a full on dmg with a scepter or a full on tankly aoe dmg with daggers. It dose not stop at the weapons of chose the level of hero customization with treats add a higher level of play. You can have a hero set up in treats purely for dmg purely for speed purely for def etc.. At the same time you can set up your gear to be the same way but to a higher level. Then you have the non level 80s these player cant fight in 1 v 1 combat but they can jump on wvw weapon to make up for it take up supplies to help build.

In Ps2 your “hero” is a faceless grunt who has no story beyond the side they chose. The game more like a battle field game with a bit of low end progression. In GW2 there is depth behind your hero they are not a faceless grunt but the sum of the story of pve.

Actually, I would disagree with you as well on there being more depth and variation in builds in GW2 than in PS2.

Build variety in PS2 is all about weapon choice. There are weapons available for every conceivable combat niche (close quarters, mid-range, long distance, anti-tank, anti-infantry, anti-airplane etc.). The high levels of character advancement are all about expanding sideways into these niches.

And we all know that the number of builds that are viable in GW2 WvW are actually pretty limited themselves.

Jski.6180:

Thrumdi.9216:

Planetside 2, a game that is actually the best modern RvR game out there (despite being an MMOFPS), has account-bound progression.

Ranks, experience and ability points are awarded by account. Points are then spent by character (actually on abilities/weapons, most of which are class-specific).

If it happens, it will be very strange to see character-bound WvW progression in such an innovative game as GW2. It’s something you see in last generation MMO’s.

And if it does show up, it will undermine my confidence in the WvW design team.

If? Do you think your comments of damnation to the wvw design team will sway there views? I think you think too much of your self.

Planetside 2 has money progression not player progression (you play more you get more money to buy more things). If it was a level system and gear system then the game would become imposable to start once the game has been out for some time (as in if you have players who take a tank + to kill and could just simply one shot new players). GW2 wvw has hero progression and player progression (with a bit of money progression too). There is a major difference between the 2 games and about all that they have in common if the “2” in there names.

PS2 has both a level and gear system. Utility slots unlock by level, and gear can be upgraded with points. Of course, by gear, we mean armour, which in PS2 means shields and nano-weaves suits.

The PS2 and GW2 systems are actually remarkably similar. Both make it so that new players are competitive in terms of weapons and gear. And the difference between starter and high-end gear is actually fairly compressed, as it is in GW2.

Like I said, these are the systems other modern PvP/RvR games are using. Ranks, experience and points that are character bound, instead of account-bound, are oldschool, grind-oriented methods. (Once spent though, utilities can be character-bound).

If they show up in GW2 = bad sign.

Planetside 2, a game that is actually the best modern RvR game out there (despite being an MMOFPS), has account-bound progression.

Ranks, experience and ability points are awarded by account. Points are then spent by character (actually on abilities/weapons, most of which are class-specific).

If it happens, it will be very strange to see character-bound WvW progression in such an innovative game as GW2. It’s something you see in last generation MMO’s.

And if it does show up, it will undermine my confidence in the WvW design team.

It is bringing alt-hate to WvW. (Though you could argue it already exists with Ascended items, though the impact hasn’t been felt yet).

The writing was on the wall though when Anet broke the Manifesto and brought in Ascended items.

I would not be surprised if we see a run-of-the-mill “grind for PvP stats/armor” system introduced sometime in the future. The kind you see in most other MMO PvP.

Invaders is one of the main choices for “tank” armor.

This suggestion comes purely from an aesthetic point of view.

I hate watching my 8 foot Norn Guardian roll around on the ground in his heavy armour. I know we suspend our disbelief in video games, but that just goes over the line. Heavies should be blocking instead of dodging.

Since the dodge mechanic is underneath a few seconds of invulnerability (with movement), my suggestion would be to replace the animation with a blocking one as an option. Blocking would have to include some movement to duplicate dodging, as a static block would actually be better in some places (dodging on edges of cliffs). But I’m sure it could be worked out.

People could still have dodging if they wanted it, but others, especially on heavy classes, could have the option of blocking.

The exact same thing happened to me as well recently, with LOTRO.

This was a game I thought looked great (and still does in certain places). But the outdoor landscapes now looked they are lined with flat, green carpet. It makes you appreciate just how heads and shoulders above the rest the art design and execution of GW2 is.

I still wish roles were a bit more defined for WvW (clearer support and tanking classes). And I hate dodging on my Norn Guard in heavy armor (he should be blocking instead). I will be looking at other games when they are released (ESO) to see if they do this better. But it is hard to see how other games can best GW2 in the other departments until it reaches its sunset years.

I don’t know if we have any specifically Aussie WvW guilds on TC (but I could be wrong).

Your best bet might be contacting one of the larger WvW guilds (like TV, DIS, PiNK etc.) and see if they have active players in your prime time.

As said above, if you post on TCGW2.com, someone can put you in touch with the right people.

Hi dangerous.

Our guild The Tarnished Coastguard is dedicated to skirmishing and small group content in WvW. This is a little harder to find in T2, but we still have a good time. Mostly we play in EB, coordinating with the zerg to cap objectives while they are off doing their thing.

We’ve been around since launch, and only require repping in WvW. (Repping other guilds for RP or PvE is okay). We don’t do much PvE, but we have friends in other guilds who do (and who we run Guild Missions with).

I’ll add you to friends, and an officer will try to contact you in-game.

Setsunayaki.4907:

So basically, I get penalized for running a boon build…even though Anet directly stated in their update thread that “Guardians without boons are weakened” when they spoke about their projected role for each character…

…so If I play an Elementalist and use my Trait “Increase damage by 2% per boon on me” on water, an enemy will be able to have more damage dealt against me in the return to smash my entire build than the 2% I get per boon?

I am concerned about how I will be able to run a support build.

If you end support builds, you will not get any of my money in the Gem Store. In fact I do not have to lift a finger because the playerbase will post in every major MMORPG forum out there and site about those changes and people will rage quit on their own and guild wars 2 will become the laughing stock of the genre.

…and I like this game too like many of us.

I don’t want to tell people ‘I can’t boon you because you will take more damage from your enemies"

Boon-hate is definitely anti-support. But then, GW2 is anti-support.

Nothing to see here, move along.

If this goes into production, it needs to be offset with a HP buff, at least in WvW.

Or else, Guardians will effectively walking around with permanent stacks of Vulnerability.

Hi dangerous,

Our guild, The Tarnished Coastguard specializes in small group content and skirmishing in WvW. Typically we operate in EB, in coordination with the zerg, hitting objectives while they do their thing.

We’ve been around since launch, and love training WvW’ers. Hit us up if you want to some fun people to run with in WvW.

Hi Wellread,

If you are looking for a close-knit guild that runs small group content and skirmishing in WvW, please check us out at The Tarnished Coastguard.

WvW is our main thrust, but we do have friends who run dungeons. We require 100% rep in WvW, but repping other guilds for RP or PvE is okay. Look us up if you want some fun people to hang with in WvW.

Agree with the OP. Except from the point of view of WvW.

I don’t want to gather or craft to get laurels. I want to kill people and take objectives. Before Ascended gear, this was a perfectly viable way to get best in slot gear. Not now.

There better be a forthcoming way to get Laurels in WvW without having to depend on dailies. I hate the concept of dailies to begin with. Same with dungeons. I’m not going to do them to get my gear.

There are other games that currently have viable WvW-only progression systems (e.g. Planetside 2). The fact that WvW progression is currently so screwed up shows it was an afterthought added when the game was handed over from the developers to the live team.

If this isn’t fixed relatively soonish (next month), I’ll start counting the days until TESO.

Also check the Guild subforum, quite a few TC guilds are recruiting.

Our small guild is primarily in WvW, so I had no idea what a kittenstorm there was over the guild missions.

After investigating, I’m flabbergasted.

My only comment is this: why did Anet gate access to large raids according to guild size?

It seems like some bizarre experiment in human psychology (like the Stanford Prison Experiment.

So, guesting = Trolling?

I honestly didn’t see that one coming. But it certainly stands to reason. The guests can crap in the bed, since they don’t have to sleep in it.

The declared aim of the system was for people “to play with their friends”. But it is clearly being used for farming, temple accessing etc. purposes.

Anet should put in some restrictions such as time limits, or invitations.

It said in the patch notes Krait were buffed, and anyone who has played in Borderlands central lake can confirm that is the case.

My question is: are the buffed Krait bad for WvW?

I’m leaning towards “yes”. Before the Krait were more or less just an annoyance when you fought someone underwater in the lake. Now, if you are fighting and draw even one or two Krait on you, you are severely gimped.

People already avoid underwater combat in droves. These “super-Krait” will only make the problem worse. They should be toned down to encourage more aquatic fighting.

If you are looking for a WvW-focused guild (that is RP-friendly,) we are The Tarnished Coastguard.

We’ve been around since launch, and specialize in small group WvW activity (though we lead larger groups on reset night). We are casual in terms of time commitment, but serious in terms of play. Above all, we value camaraderie and good times.

The best way to see if we jive, would be to run with us one night. Please PM either Thrumdi, Kendrick Duskomen, or Lord Michelangelo. We look forward to storming the battlements with you.

OP is definitely QQ’ing.

I’m a bigamist who currently supports two families with a total of 16 children. I work 60 hours a week at my day job (long haul trucker), while studying for not one, but two Ph.D’s (in totally unrelated subjects). I also govern a small African country on the side.

If I can find the time to complete GW2 dailies (in between celebrity golf tournaments), then surely those without a life like mine can do so.

Eclipses.7152:

Turkman.1089:

I think the only reason why the whole WvW-Community hasn’t abandoned the game altogether yet, is the lack of a real alternative. But I really hope that the promised update in March will be something huge and bring real improvements.

This is pretty much it.

The real reason that GW2’s WvW, imho, hasn’t imploded yet – is that there hasn’t really been any Triple A MMO releases since it’s began to compete with. There was MOP to be sure, but it flopped and it was for a very old game with an aging fanbase.

Once TESO or Archage or any new thing that comes out that can offer Open World PvP like it was meant to be, then this game is done.

I actually disagree that TESO’s RvR will mean that GW2 WvW is done.

GW2 WvW will always appeal to the casual player. You just jump in, find a zerg and run around capping stuff. You can shoot other people and watch them fall down. This makes it a nice supplement to GW2’s casual PvE, a category of which is now the undisputed market king (and which = $$$).

Those looking for a deeper or more persistent RvR experience may well be better served by TESO. This is what I expect.

(And the jury is still out for ArcheAge. On the one hand, it could well be a Korean grinder. On the other hand, Trion is publishing it. So we’ll have to wait and see).

There will be new skills to be earned in WvW. However, they will be passive WvW-only skills such as “carry more supply”, that sort of thing.

I also believe the orange swords change is scheduled for next weeks patch, though don’t quote me on that.

Dutchares.6084:

Hallowed Ground is for stability

Yep, I wrote that last night when I was tired. It should read Purging Flames.

If this is a coordinated group of 10 you are running with, have some of them throw down group condition removal.

For example, the Guardian has a ground-based AoE called Hallowed Ground that removes conditions. Shouts in Guards and Warriors can also remove conditions on others.

The Light Field + Projectile Finisher Combo also removes conditions. So have someone throw down Light Fields, and your range can shoot through it, removing their conditions. (Guards are also good at laying down Light Fields).

I believe they are things like being able to carry extra supply.

I assume buffs to actual weapon or utility skills are off the table.

On the warrior thing, my understanding is that Shouts + Rune of the Soldier setups are pretty widespread, and offer almost continual condition removal.

This is my theory as to why condition builds are at such a disadvantage in WvW.

Why? Because everyone can trait for condition removal, they do. Furthermore, group condition removal is also widely available to many classes (frequently overlapping with personal condition removal skills). As a result, large groups can ensure they are almost condition free.

In a trinity system, the average non-healing class would have few ways to remove damage over time (i.e. conditions), just as they have only rudimentary healing skills. Guild Wars 2 is also unique, in my experience, in having a separate category of heals specifically for damage over time (condition removal). Most games just just have general heals that cover everything.

As a result, it is more rational to go to a burst build, as the counters to burst are shared less widely among the classes. Guardians have blocks, and thieves have blind, but beyond that, others don’t have access to it like they do to condition removal. This means classes that don’t spec burst well, like the Necromancer, are at a disadvantage in WvW.

What’s the solution? I don’t think there is one. Reintroducing the trinity, or taking condition removal away from people are probably off the table. Condition builds are always going to be bad in WvW, short of a redesign of the game.

Mass Viscosity and Mass Confounding! Those are two of the greatest suggestions I’ve seen in any MMO thread.

+1 to you, sir.

Akari Storm.6809:

well, considering that I think no server will come away with no bonuses at all, I don’t think this a problem. Not to mention that the entire point behind WvW beyond pvp in the first place is to gain bonuses for your realm.

Why state the obvious?

Edit: also, if a realm/server has more pve players with little WvW representation and are gaining tiny bonuses, then that server basically gets what it deserves. You don’t wanna fight, then you better pick up the pace with the mob farming and node looting.

Actually, it has nothing to do with the level of WvW participation on your server. It is totally based on your rank within the tier.

Thus, you could be a Tier 1 or Tier 2 server with a huge segment of your players who are always in WvW. However, if the other 2 servers in your Tier have better Oceanic coverage than you, or are just better organized, and you always come in third, you will get the lesser bonus. In this respect, coming in third in Tier 1 is the same as coming third in Tier 8.

The larger point really is the problem with a universal TP in a system where servers have unequal access to resources. As said above, those servers who win their tier get more, those who lose, get less. If each server had their own TP, it wouldn’t be a problem. But since winners and losers share a TP, the inequality comes into play.

The numbers are relatively small, but when you see how up in arms people get about minor changes to loot drops, it’s surprising this hasn’t bee more discussed. If one server had been arbitrarily awarded more copper nodes than another there would be a huge controversy, even if the amounts were piddling.

And reason is, skill has nothing to do with scoring in WvW. It comes down to has the most off-peak “night-cappers”. If it was purely skill, economic penalties would make sense. But not in this case.

Zenith.6403:

Your argument doesn’t make sense. There’s always a total of 695 points to be shared between servers in every matchup every 15 minutes. This is the static rate at which WvW-induced inflation occurs and how the points are divided between servers doesn’t matter.

695 points are awarded every 15 minutes. The portion of these 695 points a server wins are then added to a pool that counts towards the next bonus unlock. When the pool reaches a certain amount, the bonus is awarded, and a new pool starts for the next unlock.

The bigger the share of the 695 points a server gets per tick, the quicker they unlock the bonuses. This is where the winning servers get their advantage on the universal TP. They get the bonuses more quickly, and, if the losing server is unable to get enough points to get the unlock, “a bonus gap” will be opened up.

At least that is how I understand it. Though if I’m wrong, I can certainly be corrected.

I’m not sure if this has been discussed before, but a universal Trading Post (across all servers) puts those on losing WvW servers at a disadvantage.

In a particular tier, winning WvW servers accrue more points than the losing servers they are beating. The more points they have, the larger bonuses they get to crafting, gathering and gold drops. And every point the winner takes, is a point the loser does not get, depressing the bonus they receive.

So, on the winning WvW servers, PvE players will have more mats and better crafted items to put on the TP, depressing prices. Furthermore, they will have more gold from drops, inflating the prices for rare items like precursors or legendaries.

In the short term, the numbers are small, but in the long term, it may well make a difference. WvW rankings have stabilized, so those who are in third place in their tier, may well spend a long time locked in that position.

TL;DR : Winning WvW matters, because if you lose, with the global TP, you will get less money for your crafts and mats, and will have less gold to pay for inflated rare items.

I’ve got to admit, I was considering Elder Scrolls Online, and I thought: “Wouldn’t it be nice if there were no Mesmers?”

(That and the big WvW map they are supposed to have).

Easy fix: disallow all environmental weapons that are not created by a class (warrior banners, ele swords etc.).

Why has this not been done?

My Dead Characters.9517:

Eclipses.7152:

3. WvW has devolved into ZvZ (ZergvZerg)

When I first started playing WvW in the BWE’s and the weeks and months after launch, zergs were a valid tactic, a tool to be used, but could be tactically outplayed using coordination. More often than not, at launch the guilds in TA were outnumbered vs the guilds from other alliances, notably Ascension Alliance, due to HoD bandwagoners and queues. I remember going against devastating, brutal zergs; even when you beat them they’d come back again and again knocking on your door over and over and over like a battering ram. Like a heavyweight boxing match they’d just keep bashing you again and again until you felt like you couldn’t take anymore. As soon as you finished the last of a zerg, regrouped and got your bearings – they were on your doorstep again. It was awesome.

Once when our homeworld garrison was occupied by Ascension, my guild and 2 other TA guilds were assigned to take it back. Using about 5 guys to attack Bay and draw swords, the rest of our motley crew hit garrison for all we were worth. Eventually they were too slow getting back to garri and we ninja’d it from them. It was a great feeling.

Eclipses.7152:

I told this long story because the WvW pop has consistently dwindled now to where ZvZ is the only way to play. Sure, you can try to play tactical with a small group and ninja an obj. A zerg can take it faster though. Sure, you can try and defend your only remaining objective on the map with the handful of people you have. A zerg will just ram right through you and your defenses though. Due to culling and the way the maps are designed, a zerg will get to a location just as fast and stealthily as a small tactical group (and maybe even more so).

Zergs even have the advantage in fights vs smaller groups, due to the AoE limitation. The AoE limitation is so utterly idiotic I cannot wrap my head around it. Zergs are a valid tatic – they shouldn’t just be the ONLY tactic. AoE limit needs to be lifted/increased and some other mechanics need to go into place to dull the power of zergs and ecourage more tactical play.

very dumb section of this post, a group of 9 can decimate a group of 30+ if you are smart and know when and where to hold them. as you can see in the picture below, we had 9 arrow carts at a perfect location to defend as we had a choke point. if we had tried to defend at quentin instead of langor we wouldve DEFINITLY been wiped, but we used.. wait for it.. wait for it… STRATEGY afterwards, we retook quentin and proceded to take durios and bravost before the enemy invaders were able to get enough discouraged people to come back and fight for it again, and by that time we had fully upgraded tower, and once again we decimated them. we did this one more time before they took our keep instead, and then trebbed us. we held them off for 30 minutes after our wall was down. so yea, you think zerging is the only way to make a difference? newsflash, small group can cap most stuff if they know something called Strategy. try it, it works, just take 3 towers and your helping more than a zerg taking a keep. there are plenty of rewards to doing towervs keeps, you can get more exp and karma and money from taking 3 towers, while in a zerg you attract another zerg and they will fight you for hours on end before you take the keep. taking 3 fully upgraded towers in less than 30 minutes. now where does that encourage zerging? where? honestly, zerging is incredibly boring, and not zerging is incredibly fun.

Why do arrow carts work vs. zergs?

Because they have a 50-man limit to their AoE, not 5.

The thing is I don’t want to play an arrow cart with its 3 skills, I want to play my character.

Very possible. I did it on my Guardian.

About the only thing you might need to go to PvE is skills points. But only if you experiment with buying lots of different utilities.

Oozo.7856:

Kagato.4061:

I’ll give you guys all a helpful tip:

If you have a crap ton of confusion stacked on you, don’t attack.

And don’t defend either. Don’t heal, don’t dodge roll (if you have a trait on dodge). Don’t use CC. Just don’t do anything.

How does that work out for you when you have a thief on you as well?

Also, not attacking or using skills is against the “action combat” that Anet is rightfully proud of. Even support classes have to be offensive.

Hey, how come we never see any Charr babes in these updates?

Samhayn.2385:

I am disappointed that wvw changes are getting pushed back a month but at the same time I would rather it work when released then have it shoved out the door to appease the people who can’t wait.

As for ESO, so what. People saying eso will kill gw2 will be on the eso boards sayin CU will kill eso. It’s the same thing on all the time with every game.

I’m following CU and TESO, and I don’t think GW2 has much to worry about (provided they give WvW the attention it needs).

Camelot Unchained will probably end up with a toxic community like Eve Online in my opinion. It’s only going to be RvR with no PvE area. You aren’t going to get the socializing PvE type who takes the edge off a pure PvP community. At least on my server (Tarnished Coast), GW2 WvW has the best PvP community I’ve ever seen for this reason.

People are also saying TESO will eat GW2’s lunch, but I’m doubtful. Faction lock is going to fragment the community. Also their single shard technology is also going prevent WvW server communities growing up like they have in GW2. The only place where TESO will do better is the huge size of its WvW map.

GW2 WvW is still the best there is. And I will say, at least for myself and our guild, it has hit a sweet spot. There are still problems like too much zerging and small maps, but when we all get together to play, it’s pure fun.

appledainty.8127:

Time for another exciting score update with…As the Yak Runs!

Peta kneels before the altar of Bloody Beard for his customary prayer. This daily ritual has always given him a sense of calm, but today he finds his inner peace being continually interrupted by flashbacks to the night before.

Peta’s eyebrow twitches as the sound of his fist smashing into his rival’s stricken face replays in his mind. He remembers the spray of blood from Tryce’s busted lip and the crunch of bones as his rival’s jaw twisted sideways. Despite himself, a crooked little smile crawls across his lips. Through all the innumerable battles that Peta has fought, he’s rarely landed a blow that gave him half as much satisfaction as punching that vain, arrogant kitten in the face.

Peta shakes his head and the feeling passes. His lips return to their usual straight, emotionless line. He stares up once again into the eyes of the doleful Bloody Beard and begins his prayer again in earnest, but instead of beseeching the god of yaks for the safety of his herd, he asks Bloody Beard to send more [LW] to his camps. After all, nothing pleases the great battle yak more than an offering of lootbags.

Whereabouts does one find that ominous yak’s head?