I would care if it was well written and characters were more interesting. Now it’s just “Go on.” for me.
You should pay more attention to News instead of just hating.
And in case you don’t know, the LS platform for content delivery and teh LW concept are very unique things, and with great potential, and these things need TIME to GROW. Stop hating, and wait, watch it become better, these things can take YEARS to improve, and tbh, personally(as well as many that I know), I can see that ANet has improvement so much in the past year, and it’ll only improve from here on. LS will NEVER be a type of finished product with everything perfect, boxed, and set for delivery. If you play it expecting that, you’ll be dissapointed. It’s about watching the world change and being a part of something bigger. The kind of thing where in 2 years you can tell a new player about stuff he may not have lived, but you did, and show him the consequences of such things.
Scarlet may not be the best villain, but it is a great character to EXPERIMENT on and make sure they IMPROVE such a concept and make things better.Note: I felt the need to capitalize certain words and make them bold due to the fact that for the past year many have done nothing more than whine and hate without even paying attention to the bigger picture, when ANet are tackling something NEW and UNIQUE, and need our constructive feedback as well as support, instead of hating without anything to base an argument on, and no Scarlet isn’t a good enough argument taking into account she, and the whole Season 1 of the LS are a mere experience.
Imagine a game, that changes every 2 weeks, just like the real world changes, with new quality content and little details that totally set it apart from any other game. That’s what ANet is trying to do. If you want to be a part of such a journey, great, if not, don’t play and WAIT until they get there.
I’ve said my piece about Scarlet already, but I’d just want to comment that this “experiment” has taken over a year when it ends in March. After that, there’s only a few months time to the game’s 2 year birthday. I’m pretty kitten worried about the lack of permanent, meaningful content they have managed to put out in 2 years time unless they’re gonna surprise me a lot in the coming 6 months.
But even still I will reserve my judgment after the current “arc” is over. They promise something exciting and world-changing, they better deliver.
That’s an issue PvE players have, you are all too used to getting things done by yourselves. Getting ganged up on? Gather some friends, guildies, look for a commander, or simply ask for help in the zone! I saw PvE players complain about getting killed last night all night, and not one of them, not one, asked for help.
And yet over the last update PvE players had no troubles joining forces in beating the Marionette encounter (well, your mileage may vary). But this here isn’t an epic encounter, people just want the part and get out.
For me, it’s Obsidian sanctum all over again. I just want to do this Jump puzzle and people attack me. Let me be. I can’t always get a guild group protecting my kitten to do a JP. I don’t blame the opponents, I blame ANet for putting a PvE objective in a WvW environment.
Again, that’s the problem with PvErs, now think:
Marionette: You fight as a whole against NPCs.
EotM: You fight as a whole against Players.Now, do you see the difference? The problem in here is that PvErs are afraid of someone else breaking your armor. For example someone said before that this isn’t the best way to introduce players to WvW, then which one is the best way?
Create a map with towers and castles with a bunch of NPCs that stay idle and wait until you attack them? I’m pretty sure that the first time one of them sets foot on the real maps they’ll get slaughtered.
The problem in here is not about PvE objectives in WvW, the problem in here is that everyone is so spoiled that they expect to get everything handed to them with minimum effort.
Back in GW1 I used to do Alliance Battles and Ft. Aspenwood / Jade Quarry all the time. PvPvE was the perfect combo. Something similar would be a perfect way to entice PvE’rs to PvP – matches didn’t last long and even the losers would get something. (which lead to leeching and AFK’ing, but it’s another ballgame.)
Someone like me has the potential to PvP, but I can’t get into WvW at all. For this kind of update where all you need to do in a PvP zone is run a bit and get one item, I don’t think it’s feasible to expect people wanting to strategize, team up or think of strategies. If there would be a whole living world update where we would fight Scarlet’s minions in a WvW setting and the outcome actually mattered, I’m sure people would spend more time to think things out. As things are now, only incentive for many is to get that golem part and get out.
As much as I give the devs a hard time about cringe-worthy dialogue (cough Mar and Kas cough) that “Are you paying the waypoint fees?” – quote almost made up for the entire “girls’ special time” – storyline.
I’m still hoping for Ellen Kiel heel-turn. I mean, during the story instance Marjory was talking about how Scarlet wanted to plant her puppet in the council I was going, “Yes, and she succeeded!” but alas, my character in-game couldn’t say it to her.
Tybalt & Player.
But honestly, do you guys feel that leveling LA would be a “world-changing” event they keep promising? If GW2 had Searing of Ascalon – type of event, that I would accept, but just a makeover for one town doesn’t cut it after all this hype.
That’s an issue PvE players have, you are all too used to getting things done by yourselves. Getting ganged up on? Gather some friends, guildies, look for a commander, or simply ask for help in the zone! I saw PvE players complain about getting killed last night all night, and not one of them, not one, asked for help.
And yet over the last update PvE players had no troubles joining forces in beating the Marionette encounter (well, your mileage may vary). But this here isn’t an epic encounter, people just want the part and get out.
For me, it’s Obsidian sanctum all over again. I just want to do this Jump puzzle and people attack me. Let me be. I can’t always get a guild group protecting my kitten to do a JP. I don’t blame the opponents, I blame ANet for putting a PvE objective in a WvW environment.
Totally forgot about Canach, he’s gotten so little play since South Sun. Destiny’s Edge needs a Sylvari to be properly set up, so I could see him getting a chance to make up for his “misdeeds” to help save the world. Especially when Scarlet attacks Lion’s Arc, where he’s being held.
If you check out his dialogue in LA, you’ll agree that they’re already setting him up for some kind of redemption as an anti-hero of sorts. Incidentally, he’s probably the only Living World NPC I have some interest in.
Well, of course the PvP players will love it, since the PvE’ers who are there just to progress their storyline will provide free loot. I didn’t even fight back as a protest to the whole thing. But ultimately if they want people to try out WvW, this is surely not the way it’s gonna work. If anything it’s gonna make them shun it even more.
I can’t get to the golem part without people ganging up on me and killing me. Great update. Really makes me want to play more.
I just realized I have to sit through Marjory, Rox and Kasmeer talking before I can continue on with the quest. Who cares when they met? The storyline has become click-through boxes for me and it saddens me. I had more interest in friggin’ Personal story and Trahearne, for crying out loud.
The idea that Josh Foreman and ANet had here that the event would be difficult enough to teach people game mechanics – or make them WANT to learn game mechanics – is a noble one. But unfortunately it’s unrealistic. Most people don’t want to learn or have a capacity to learn. They will press buttons and go on their way, not caring either way.
I hope they at least try to explain why the Aetherblades work for her or where they come from. It’s implied so far she’s so powerful she can threaten hundreds and hundreds of henchmen into working for her.
Ah, they’re in love. Give ’em a break.
It still doesn’t justify the Harlequin novel / Twilight – level of writing of their whole relationship (not just in this scene, but especially there). The cheesiness and syrup is off the charts here, people! Any more and we drown in it!
I don’t understand what’s the negative side for a new player that there’s a boss farm going on. There’s more players to play with. They can always get help killing champions. Even Bandit champ gets killed sometimes. “Toxic” environment? Sure, someone may pop a lid if another group kills a champ before it’s time, but so what? It’ll spawn again soon and the train is on its rails again.
I mean, how does it affect their lives compared to there was not a boss farm going on? If anything, people are more active on QD. I’ve been leveling my new character lately and there’s always something happening. No nastiness or namecalling whatsoever.
Again, I have no issues with Wurm being meant as a hardcore challenge, but if the good world boss event is only permanent and all we’re left with is “hardcore only” Wurm (and if all future encounters are like that) it’s not a good thing. Put encounters for all type of players to enjoy in the game PERMANENTLY.
I’m telling you, she saw Lazarus and he warped her mind (or even occupies it currently). Dragon corruption is too easy answer since all signs point to it.
I also like the marionette a lot. It’s perfectly balanced, not too hard or easy and requires some tactics. It’s ironic that such a good encounter is just temporary content and much more annoying one is permanent, but I guess that’s Living World for you.
The wurm pre-event bores me already with mobs nothing more than fodder that don’t even drop loot. On the marionette it’s at least a bit different since we’re defending and they are trying to get to the portal, but killing all those other fodder mobs who are just there to fight is tedious as ever.
So no I don’t enjoy zerging. Scarlet invasions were the most mindless, dull, boring and still well rewarding experience in a long time.
The question is what is she going to drill? Is there some huge pressure point underneath the surface she wants to puncture? Is this a planet-wide acupuncture schematic?
I almost have more of those than 3 of the others (toxic, molten, aetherblade). It’s all in what enemies you kill. Toxic has chance to drop toxic, etc. get on siege and be sure to pick up the goodies every now and then and you’ll get 10 per event.
But that’s the problem, there are no specific mob that drops the lockbox fragments. They randomly drop from all mobs and quite rarely, it seems. But if you get 10 of them per event you are pretty lucky and should make a lottery for this week.
I’m curious, how would you have structured the living story to prevent this feeling of being a sell-sword?
I don’t really have an answer for this, even though I’ve stated many times I’m very disappointed of this direction where the story gets ran by the NPC’s and I’m more or less an errand boy. Maybe we could call the shots instead of them? “Okay hero, how should we do this?” – “Braham, you go there, Rox goes there, Kasmeer puts some real clothes on instead of an illusion and Logan jumps off a bridge. Go!” would be a good start.
Let me take an example from LoTRO. There you always were in the shadows, following the footsteps of the Fellowship and other big name hitters. And it’s understandable. It had a good storyline where you got to do heroic stuff and help out the Fellowship, like diverting an orc attack so they could escape. I could accept something like that in GW2 if we were playing second fiddle to someone like Rytlock. But instead we have some NPC’s we never heard before promoted to basically running the show and ordering us around. It doesn’t help that IMO all the new NPC’s are like cardboard cutouts and offer nothing interesting to grab on to. I get that they were trying to make us feel symphathetic towards Kasmeer with her little story, but it was just too much, too forced. Subtlety is the key again, here.
(Here’s a few good examples GW2 writing staff has come up with when it comes to interesting NPC’s: Malyck & Tybalt.)
Am I taking it too seriously or just unrealistically? You tell me. I just would like to be the hero in my own story, game limitations withholding.
I also was struggling to get them, but the best way definitely is keep opening those other chests in Scarlet’s lair. They give 4-5 each, so keep racking up enough other fragments so you can open a chest (you can do so multiple times, as long as you have a cypher) and you should get enough lockbox fragments too.
I was there, it was fun. Thanks to all. 4th lane got really down to the wire when there was one guy alive after the last champ and he started rezzing others… everyone was screaming “THE GENERATOR! THE GENERATOR!” thanks to that guy, whoever it was!
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I simply can’t find those lockbox code fragments. Even after opening all other chests, I only have 20. Seems like they never drop from the event and I’ve done plenty. How did you get your 25 / any tips?
I was kinda disappointed. It’s amazing how I have absolutely no interest to “catch up” with Braham, Rox, Marjory or these other storyline NPC’s. I blame the writing staff, they’ve given me nothing to catch on to. All these characters are totally bland and have no personality. I tried talking to them but I found out I’m not even interested, even though I’d want to be. But it’s just so … forgettable.
It’s amazing how I have absolutely no interest to “catch up” with Braham, Rox, Marjory or these other storyline NPC’s. I blame the writing staff, they’ve given me nothing to catch on to. All these characters are totally bland and have no personality. I tried talking to them but I found out I’m not even interested, even though I’d want to be. But it’s just so … forgettable.
Expansion worth of content from the LS you say? Living world gives us the same content as an expansion, you say? Even if we had all the living world updates rolled into one expansion it would be one disappointing expansion (for me at least). Totally not on par with GW1 expansions.
It’s not the first time they have used hyperbole to describe living world events (and ultimately failed to deliver). That’s why many are sceptic. Sure I’ll give it a chance, if just to get rid of Scarlet finally.
8. She’s was replaced by a demon during the The Eternal Alchemy experiment. ( https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/lore/lore/Theorycrafting-on-Scarlet/page/5#post3498414 )
Maybe she was replaced by Lazarus who was hiding his essence in … somewhere? after his body was destroyed.
As if there’s not any homosexual overtones with Logan & Rytlock, I agree that ANet couldn’t get away with showing gay main characters (even if it would just be in the dialogue like Mar & Kas). In a world where gamers consist mostly of young males, a lesbian relationship is not so tough to pull off.
Anyone else got one for the list? Remember, Colin said everyone told the people who guessed it right that they couldn’t possibly be right, so go ahead and say anything ridiculous.
Here’s a one in a million prediction for you.
Kiel is Scarlet in disguise / the mastermind behind her.
I’m hoping for future world bosses something like the revamped Fire elemental fight. Challenging, but not super long (hey Svanir shaman and Shatterer) and doesn’t require 100 players.
It sounds very Monty Pythonesque.
This sentence does get me a little excited. What is going to change? o_O
Kessex Hills will get another make-over.
I think our minority is growing, but I am uncertain if that will matter.
I don’t think it matters. They can always wave it off with “we have metrics that show people enjoy the game” or as forum rabble. I don’t think they would give up their plans even if the majority of the people would stop logging in. All we can do is give constructive feedback and hope that they will eventually change their ways.
I thought it was a well-written article that summarizes a lot of the criticism towards LS on these forums. Emphasis on this quote
The Living Story is a great supplement to the core story of the game, not the main attraction.
We can only hope that something bigger is on the way.
They have tried Living story/world out now for a year. Your mileage may vary, I’ve found it mostly lacking content-wise outside AP grind. I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for the second year since they might have learned what’s good and what’s not, but really, a year from now the game has been out for whopping 2 and a half years. I’d say it’s make or break for ANet, in 2 and ½ years there should be major content and updates already. GW1 had loads and loads of new stuff added in that timeframe. So personally I’ll give them the “second season” of LW to show that they’re not just all talk.
I did mine back in the first year when server changing was free. I truly feel bad for anyone trying to do it now and I feel PvE map completion should not require WvW.
I wonder if their prized metrics show which segment is bigger, those who “try out WvW and find out it’s fun” or those who get frustrated because map completion is super difficult and depends on other factors than yourself because of WvW?
I would actually be interested in some kind of data which tells how many people continued playing a LW update after they had their Achievement meta filled. Is that something you can share?
It might be a Champion too. Claw, Shatterer and Tequatl are huge as well.
The event idea is an interesting one, but it doesn’t feel like a “grand journey” so to speak. Do you feel like if we asked you to do 90 different events in a month, and that allowed your ranger to say become a Druid, you’d feel like that was a cool system?
I would feel that would be just a grind. Quantity over quality is the best solution. I’d like it to be something like the hatching of the Black moa chick from GW1, which felt like a real adventure/scavenger hunt.
More World Bosses will get revamp and harder like Teql.
source: http://www.guildwars2hub.com/features/interviews/exclusive-interview-chris-whitside-cdis
Why. As the bosses were, it was a quick and fun way to get some good loot in a game where good drops are scarce. Their “fix” afterwards was to give some bosses a billion HP, which didn’t make the fights harder, only lenghtened it (Maw, Shatterer). Only one they got correct was Fire elemental which actually can be quite hard now but still doesn’t take ages to kill.
I’ve lost all interest in Tequatl when I have to log in the zone for an hour before I can fight him and even then it requires a lot of co-ordination which usually just isn’t there. Update world bosses for extra good loot if you want but keep fun and easy options for loot as well. Otherwise they all will end up as ghost towns. Also the segment they’re (re)designing the world bosses to:
Guilds an players who like banging their head on the wall until they win and the reward for them is the completion and not necessarily the loot. It’s very much designed for a certain type of player and guild.
And yet he adds:
We obviously want to make it as accessible as possible.
To me, these are in odds with each other. How can the fight be as accessible as possible if it requires a high level of co-ordination and communication? Is this the “raid type” content that was promised some time ago? I don’t like the development if they make all future content super hard like Tequatl.
And the rest of the interview: It’s nice he acknowledges that the release was rushed. He also has a very high opinion of the Living world/story, which is understandable, but hyperbole always tends to rub me the wrong way (especially when I don’t relaly agree with the premise). I was kinda hoping for at least some teasers.
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You know who would have been a much better villain? Ellen Kiel.
Not through being a mastermind who secretly and conveniently ties the previous LS events together, but through being a well-intending person who’s already earned our sympathy, sorely out of their depth and trying to react to these various problems, and failing due to inexperience and bad judgement.
It would have been dug in all that much deeper because we voted for her.
That kind of nuance is hard to find in GW2, though.
THIS, so much this. I’ve said the same thing to my guildmates for a long time. But unfortunately as you said, this level of writing, intrigue and nuance is not present in the writing of GW2. Sadly. It would make an awesome plot twist.
When I first logged in the forum it was great, though, lot of people with optimism for the game and generally positive response towards .. well, everything. It’s kinda changed over the time game’s been out.
There’s a bit of confusion that needs to be cleared here. I don’t think many people “hate” Scarlet because she’s such an evil character, like they hate Joffrey in Game of Thrones. I’d say people “hate” Scarlet because she’s kind of a failed plot device. I for one am just bored of her and waiting for her arc to be over with so a good one can start.
I once got a decent drop.
I once got three blues and a green.
Others: Tybalt storyline. Finding all those familiar places from GW1.
The logical problem with your thought process is that you assume the complaints are correct and that listening to them will make the game better. Players aren’t developers and often what they want and ask for would be worse.
The problem is people don’t know the difference between their opinion and objective fact.
So, critique = automatically wrong and praise = correct? If there’s nothing but praise, there’ll be no improvement. I do agree that a lot of people are just venting their anger, but on these forums, there’s a good deal of good feedback and suggestions to improve the game. I’d also claim that most people that are bitter towards the direction GW2 is taking are fans who want it to be better and more to their liking (such as myself).
If anything it’s the “if you don’t like it shut up and stop playing” attitude that stops the game from getting better. There’s always room for constructive criticism and the solution to problems is not shutting your ears and shouting LA LA LA I CANT HEAR YOU THIS GAME IS TEH BEST.