I’ve played both variations; WvW and EOTM.
This topic, not this particular forum thread, but mostly teeming with hate towards EOTM in it’s entirety was sprouted long ago and like a river; relentlessly spewing it’s unwavering contents wherever it pleases to this day.
I try to stay neutral but accepting of the facts.
Yes, EOTM is originally a testing ground. We’ve established that, much alike the concrete broken promises & definite disappointments ANet perfectly delivers wave after wave for us – “improving WvW”. I don’t remember which exact highlighted topic that was, there were many. Go look back through the years. You’re bound to find something related to “we’re working on it”.
This should come to no surprise to any reasonable folk tackling the concept of EOTM and it’s intended purpose – a supposed place to test content, of which I don’t ever recall anything significant undergoing “testing” in there before release in “real WvW”.
Long ago when WvW was brimming with active, swarming players full fledged queues on all borderlands was a common, real thing. The only option at those particular times if you wished to jump into anything remotely WvW related? EOTM. Confirmed this game mode served as an overflow, the concept of stated “waiting room” for players wanting instant access to said WvW related game play.
That alone was healthy as an alternative; I am not one to be fond of being stuck waiting in LA for my turn to enter real WvW achieving nothing in the meantime.
So. Similar game game modes and rewards. The only thing that differs is the game play itself and what players alone choose to make use of this game mode for themselves. As OP indicates; it’s a very strange presence to experience initially, primarily being teamed with other servers representing the entirety of a third of the current server positions/ranks, e.g; all green teams for the week will be on the green side in EOTM.
I don’t think it’s a negative aspect, but one to be challenged. Knowing someone as an ally one week and having them switch to face you as the opposition next week gives opportunity for yourself to path improvements; how successful can a 4 hour match go being teamed with primarily random individuals? Teamwork. Opposed to home servers and logging in to the same people each time on the borderlands this EOTM provides oppotunities to branch out and communicate with others, different players. Varying people. Understanding I am of the presence of “two-faced” players. Allies one week and enemies the next – it is awkward and may not deem acceptable by some but to others it’s a refreshing experience.
Moving on to the next category; use and rewards. There is no doubt when it comes to the human mind most people will try to take the easiest, least labor-intensive path for whatever ungodly reason to get what they desire. I think we can all agree most players whom venture into EOTM are greeted with the easy doorway to rewards. Sure, you make it what you want in there, but most players are happy to reap in whatever benefits they can via doing the bare minimum – board the train, mash #1 and collect your rewards.
I can’t quite grasp how much of the player base has collectively and acceptingly molded EOTM into just that – evident by the sea of “hatred” towards the game mode; it is what players make of it and so it’s commonly branded as the place where lazy, mindless players go to rake in their loot.
For whatever reason certain players out there relentlessly pursue the idea that the game mode itself has no purpose, and that score doesn’t matter. I think these players are confused with what they are given. An un-solved puzzle with infinite, varying results. They can’t be reasoned with however – it’s a game mode that is served with the opportunity to do what you want in whilst supposedly waiting. The overall score doesn’t have to matter. You make the purpose. Are you in there to roll over other players? Defend a tower? Board the so commonly termed “K-train”?
I think these kind of individuals do not like change, or perhaps their ability to give constructive feedback is lacking.. Non-existant is an alternative consideration.
So there is one similarity between the modes – purpose. Or none. It’s up to you. I’m not sure about others out there but WvW as a whole… Post-mega servers and the swath of unimaginable horrendous changes unleashed upon us leaves me in agreement that our red-headed stepchild of the game modes (“real WvW”) has little actual purpose in terms of final outcome. Someone always wins at the end of the week. But what? Not much. Long gone are tournaments.
It has been noticed the increase in player activity in EOTM regarding more fights. With what we were served on the dining table in terms of catastrophic balance updates, changes to WvW and most recently – HoT and yet another soak in the tub of broken promises I don’t find it surprising players are rather dipping their toes in EOTM as opposed to “real” WvW.
EOTM is arguably the closest thing to an old recollection of an aged WvW game mode, mechanically speaking. It is now I believe, considered an old school place. Players and guilds would rather fight and play in a game mode near-free and almost rid of the unspeakable horrors that were included in HoT regarding WvW.
I’m scared of change, admittedly. But I do have the heart and patience to try things out.
Right now, “real WvW” is not as fun as it used to be with these changes in place. Pirate ship isn’t fun. Hammer train frontline days – it’s been too long, I miss you, stability.
I don’t think EOTM has “stolen” players from “real WvW”, but that it is an optional similar game mode for people to play. It’s just a shame players choose to milk it for it’s “rewards”, even with the nerf it was struck with.
I think things are out of whack regarding WvW as a whole. Who’s fault is it, if any at all?
At the end of the day people will always nit-pick and cruelly judge things however they please but just remember, it’s okay to play the game mode(s) that you enjoy. I don’t think it should hurt or affect anyone negatively… But for whatever reason somewhere out there.. Someone always takes offense, hatefully so.
We don’t get exp anymore BUT now we get one tome for every WvW rank! In other words, people who used to level alts in EotM can grind levels for them on their mains. I only played for about an hour but I got 8 Tomes total including the ones from daily keep and reward track. Today’s patch was a great improvement for EotM, actually. Mains grinding tomes for alts means less uplevels in EotM.