Guild Wars 2

Embrace The Bold.7619:

bob.5680:

Lordhelmos, what you describe sounds more like work than play (as in playing a game). Think I’ll pass.

legendaries aren’t meant for casuals, they were made for those of us who like to grind. There’s still the possibility for casuals to get legendaries mind you, just have to focus on doing certain things. “Work” is just grind that’s you find boring. That’s why you need to find the things that are fun to you and still forward your progress. hell it took me over a year to get one ONE legendary and I am anything but casual. It took me so long because I never directly focus instead I did stuff that was fun to me then got blessed by the mystic toilet.

However this is more than simply grinding (I do my share of that). This is treating GW2 much more like a job and a hobby/pass time/recreation. I already have one of those (jobs) and don’t need to come home to a 2nd job. As for legendaries, I guess having them doesn’t motivate me enough to turn this into work.

Lordhelmos, what you describe sounds more like work than play (as in playing a game). Think I’ll pass.

wolfpaq.7354:

The best feature in this “feature pack” is not new by any stretch of the imagination. It required no new development. It required no new systems. It required no new testing. It has existed in the heart of the mists for as long as this game has been available to the public. It is absurd that you are praising them for copy pasting some code that should have been copy pasted when we first asked for it in April 2012.

The rest of the changes are a wash. Yay no repair costs. Boo champion loot nerf. Yay new traits. Boo worse trait level restrictions. Yay account bound wxp. Boo PvE crit damage nerf. Yay sigil of air got buffed. Boo sigil of bloodlust/perception got wrecked. Yay account bound dyes. Boo unidentified drops will no longer drop. Yay wardrobe system. Boo can no longer mix & match town outfits. Yay account bound legendaries & ascended items. Boo all the poor people who worked so kitten making multiple legendaries & ascended items across their account just had a significant portion of that work invalidated. Yay bug fixes. Boo bugs that have been thoroughly documented and reported for months IF. NOT. YEARS. STILL NEED FIXING – not to mention the regular appearance of new bugs included with prior bug “fixes”.

What we really need are way more reasons to say “yay” and way fewer reasons to say “boo”.

I’ve maintained from the beginning that GW2 is amazing for 3 reasons

1) Level design
2) Music
3) Art – character art, weapon/armor skin art, breathtaking world art.

These strengths seem much more suited toward producing new, expansion type of content than what they’ve done so far.

Imagine if you will – an alternate universe with a living story-less guild wars 2. Instead we are now 3 months away from GW2 xpac 1: The Crystal desert. Fantastic new desert themed environments. Pyramids, dunes, oases, palm trees, tents, ancient tombs. Fantastic new enemies like mauraders, djinn, sand wurms, mummies – forgotten http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Forgotten , Enchanted armor http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Enchanted_armor. New weapon and armor skins. Imagine dressing up your medium armor thief like aladin instead of yet another trenchcoat. Scimitar swords, staves shaped like snakes, wicked curved daggers… New class: Dervish. New weapon: Scythe. New personal story exploring the lore of the desert, where we first learned about ascension in GW1. Glorious new arabian themed music.

HOW COOL would that be? New zones to explore, new class to learn, new weapon, new music …

instead we’re bogged down in this era where 1 good change that the community has been begging for since the beginning of the game along with a series of tradeoffs is suddenly being hailed as amazing.

Sorry I type a lot. I just feel like GW2 had so much potential that has been squandered.

What you are describing is an expansion, not a feature pack.

Are you a software/game developer yourself (I am a software developer, btw)? If not, how is it you can claim there is no development and testing required for these changes? Some may not be huge, but some sound pretty significant to me, and all changes require testing, and testing, and testing. As a developer I can tell you that most of my time is involved in testing any changes that I make.

SpellOfIniquity.1780:

Everyone’s too negative about these changes! Sure there are some glaring issues with the game but what game doesn’t have it’s problems? In an MMO, especially, problems with the game will be abundant. It’s next to impossible to cater to the whims of every players desire. And even in a world where the developers were capable of doing so, you’d have a pretty directionless and chaotic game with no foundation for a story or purpose behind it because everyone is going to want/like something different.

With the new wardrobe, allowing us to indefinitely change the appearances of our characters without changing the armor stats ~
Account-bound WXP, which will pool all of our character ranks in to one ~
Account-bound legendaries and ascended gear, which will mean even after equipped, legendaries and ascended gear will still be tradeable between our characters!~
And free trait resets, from our hero panel, any time we’re not in combat?!

I understand that some of these things should have been in the game from the start, but it’s not what they should have done that’s important, it’s that they’re doing it. So give some positive feedback for once! Thank you, ANet! I’m incredibly happy with all of the upcoming changes.

Now buff my Necromancer while no one’s looking >:3, gogogogogo!

I agree. I like the changes. As for “they should have been done at launch”, well in my experience MMOs are never complete. They can’t afford to be. If you wait till you have everything anyone might want you’ll never get done. Also, they have to change and add things as time goes by to keep the players interested. They won’t be complete/done till they are dead.

SaltyDave.7346:

Sirendor.1394:

The “big” changes are fixes to things most people see as bugs and problems. The feature patch does not introduce anything new or especially good, it just fixes what needed fixing.

Then don’t call it a feature patch.

Not in the software development world I’ve known for the past 45 years. These changes are features as they are changing documented behavior. Bug fixes are things to make the code work the way it was documented to work. Just because one doesn’t like the way something works doesn’t make it a bug. Generally nothing more than a misfeature at best.

Flytrap.8075:

Becka Williams.4978:

Perhaps, if anet doesn’t want people to speculate about upcoming blog posts, they shouldn’t give them promising titles, then wait 2 weeks to post all of them? What do you think was the point of all that? To get people speculating. Anet has only themselves to blame if their posts don’t live up to people’s hype.

This.

They could have told us five months ago what their plans were instead of dangling the carrot to keep players from jumping ship early.

Smart companies are very careful about pre-announcing plans that may change. How would you feel if they said that they were going to do something and then had to drop it from the plan (happens more often than you might realize)?

Arnath.2319:

Account bound legendaries is something people have been wanting SINCE FOREVER.

No, people have been wanting it forever because it was something that should have been that way since since that feature was first introduced, ascended items should have always been account bound.

It is cheap and lazy of ANet to try and claim this as a feature when it is really more of a “bug fix”.

Well, I wouldn’t call it that. As a software developer in the OS development/maintenance business, we are very careful to separate bug fixes (something doesn’t work as described) from features (new stuff added or changes to how it is expected to work). This stuff certainly looks like features to me.

HHR LostProphet.4801:

Well, they can’t just say here are some changes, deal with it. They have to promote their game. Ofcourse, you oughtn’t get deldued by their diction. But in relation to the proir changes, this update will probably be pretty huge.

I suspect that some people read more into what is said than Anet intended. They allow their wish list of stuff color their interpretations. Some of what’s been listed here as what this change should have included sounds more like an expansion to me. Why would a Feature Pack update be expected to include that?

Kaiyanwan.8521:

Too little too late, I fear.

QoL mainly, and adjustments, that will only target new players?

The stuff we have seen so far is as game changing as the introduction of pets not all being moved to the bank with the ressources. Sort of nice, sort of totally forgetable.

And removing the cost from repairs? A feature? Did anyone ever complain about that fee ever? It was so tiny, that I always thought the WP fee was the penalty for death.

True, I always considered the cost of repairs a nuisance fee. But I’m glad it’s going away…one less unnecessary thing to bother with. BTW, does damaged gear reduce its effectiveness? I was never sure on that.

Also, I’ve been playing since the Beta, have 18 chars (15 of them lvl 80) and am looking forward to the QoL changes!

Flytrap.8075:

CureForLiving.5360:

Did ANet really hype it up?
Sorry I don’t go out much so maybe I missed something, but all they did was release a teaser and then slowly release more and more info regarding the patch. I don’t remember ANet specifically going out of there way to hype anything. Of course like I said, don’t get out much so meh.

They’ve constantly answered player complaints in numerous sub-forums since November by pointing to their feature patch that we’re still waiting for.

Based on how they handled their public relations, I was expecting some rather large changes: new skills, new weapon sets for each class, new armor and weapon skins, some new zones, guild halls, etc.

I didn’t get that at all. Based simply on the name “Feature Pack” I never expected those things. That would be more of an Expansion to me. Your list of expectations sounds more like a wish list to me.

Wow. Why are people always so negative? It hasn’t even arrived yet (the actual changes) and people are already whining about it. Why do people play a game that they find such faults with? I sure wouldn’t. I’d go play a game that I enjoyed and forget about the one I didn’t (I’ve done that with several of them).

Nor have I. I think this ‘cure’ may be worse than the disease.

Folks, stop feeding the troll!

Please don’t allow dueling in PVE. It’s what chased me away from playing SWTOR. Really annoying having people try to duel with you all the time and then annoying you about it when you won’t.

I see people stating that the game is CPU bound/limited all the time and this somewhat mystifies me. My system is running an Intel 3770K (not overclocked), 32 GB of memory, and an Nvidia Titan graphics card. I have a 30" display running at 2560×1600 resolution. I also run max settings on everything. Yet when I run the task manager in performance mode (on a 2nd display) it doesn’t indicate anywhere neer 100% cpu utilization. Indeed, it’s more like 30% on four of its logical cpus (threads).

When in Lion’s Arch I usually get in the neighborhood of 30 fps. Not great, but acceptable.

Shpongle.6025:

Yargesh.4965:

Probably mostly because it costs money to hire people to regulate and maintain several languages.

what is there to maintain ? all they have to do is put the numerics in so that the game accepts them(doesn’t show up blank in-game), they’re basically blocking the alphabets because they can’t handle people saying things that they can’t understand

Well, what would it cost (time & resources) to implement a system that could understand the other languages? I don’t know, but it does sound costly to me.

Volrath.1473:

I hope all 3 of you ppl that liked this patch have fun with each other.
the rest of us will be playing something else.

Why waste your time posting here…you should be playing something else it seems?

Skan.5301:

CHIPS.6018:

Those people who recently (past 2,3 weeks) transferred to those now free (or cost lowered) servers should demand a gem refund. How is this fair to them?

You, sir, made me lol pretty hard. Just ask the question to yourself while you pretend to be ANet and you will have the answer pretty quick.

In case you didn’t, I’ll answer it for you: It’s not fair, but, it makes us more money.

By this logic, companies/stores would never want to put stuff on sale. Some do retroactively give refunds for a short time for stuff that they put on sale, but it’s not the norm in my experience.

HiddenNick.7206:

Teege.4623:

Jabberwock.9014:

Good. Seriously don’t any of you see how horrible it would be to have good looking ascended armor? You would never be able to transmute over it since it is so costly to get the skins back if you change your mind (either un-transmute stone x6 or make a new ascended set).

In my opinion Anet went the right way by making them vanilla and not nullifying all the other awesome skins in this game.

Ugly armor + ca$h $hop stones = profit.

= Free to play

Well, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Anet needs to make money and to pay for continued maintenance and development somehow. At least we have a choice. We don’t have to buy the more attractive skins in order to play the game.

I feel I’m definitely a casual player, in that I don’t really care about any of the achievements or the elite stuff. I’m just there playing because it beats watching brain damaging junk on TV. I like the dailies as it gives me some rather easier activities to do for the hour or so I feel like playing that day. Miss a day, a week, a month…no problem.

Ah, I didn’t try that. I was representing the guild that I always represent but didn’t try changing it.

I’m no longer able to see any guild chat and when I try to post something to guild chat it tells me that I’m not in a guild. Well I am, and this just started when I logged in yesterday. I play on the Sorrow’s Furnace server.

Are others seeing this behavior?

I’m guessing that the necessary server is down or lost connectivity. Wonder if anyone is working on this, and if so, do we have an ETA?

Pringles.6542:

bob.5680:

Welcome to the Internet, where you invite the crooks into your home.

I don’t know. He said he did regular update and use anti-virus program.
Security looks easy but hard to control. too much mines.

Oh, I agree. This is why I limit what I do on a Windows system to as little as possible. Not only has Windows proven to be more vulnerable than most systems out there, it is also the biggest target. Even with regular anti-virus checks you’re still susceptible to zero-day vulnerabilities. It’s a very dangerous place as I see it.

Welcome to the Internet, where you invite the crooks into your home.

Don’t know how bad it will be for me (I’m not at home so can’t try), but the worst game for me for loading times has always been SWTOR. I have all of my games on an SSD so the disk accesses are pretty quick though.

Vaugh.7193:

ProxyDamage.9826:

I think I’m laughing harder at the idea of someone that has been spending 2g every single time they wanted to retrait because they were too lazy to read.

Actually, you cant reset your traits with buying the same manual again, nothing happens when you click on it. And the manual can be sold on TP. So the net loss is just a few silvers for not reading the dialog. (talking from personal experience)

Im sorry if I killed your happy mood there buddy.

So, does this mean that if I double click on the grandmaster manual when I already have grandmaster traits available all it does is reset my traits and leave me with the manual? Just thought I’d confirm this prior to risking 2g in an experiment.

Still, lots of more important and better things for them to work on than improving the animation on pet swapping. In my opinion, this is simply a nit.

Deamhan.9538:

Never gave it much thought. I think a kind of teleport animation would work just fine. They are already in game. Although I would think more along the lines of a thief rather than a mesmer.

If the animation wasn’t too obnoxious and didn’t delay the swap that would be fine; but in my opinion there are alot more useful/interesting things for the anet folks to be working on.

pullnointer.1476:

bob.5680:

pullnointer.1476:

PetricaKerempuh.7958:

pullnointer.1476:

PetricaKerempuh.7958:

i agree with OP. it should be 15 sec cast time with one pet running away to horizon and other coming immediately when 1st one can not be seen anymore.

troll?

is trolling a troll bad?

did you even understand my post or are you just acting on your compulsion to talk kitten?

You may not be trolling, but I must admit that since you don’t play a ranger why does no animation for pet swapping bother you? I wouldn’t expect you to care.

i use my ranger as a mule and last time I got on it i swapped my pet and I noticed this and it felt very cheap, it’d annoy me to hell if I actually played the class.

Well, as a primary ranger player, no thanks! It would annoy me if there was an animation. Absolutely no reason to delay the swap as far as I can see.

pullnointer.1476:

PetricaKerempuh.7958:

pullnointer.1476:

PetricaKerempuh.7958:

i agree with OP. it should be 15 sec cast time with one pet running away to horizon and other coming immediately when 1st one can not be seen anymore.

troll?

is trolling a troll bad?

did you even understand my post or are you just acting on your compulsion to talk kitten?

You may not be trolling, but I must admit that since you don’t play a ranger why does no animation for pet swapping bother you? I wouldn’t expect you to care.

pullnointer.1476:

bob.5680:

pullnointer.1476:

bob.5680:

Where would you prefer that the pet spawn? I do play a ranger (my primary char) and never considered this a probem.

next to me is fine. just not out of thin aether maybe. spells have gfx, I think pet swaps should too.

I’d consider that just more unnecessary stuff unrelated to the activity at hand. When I’m switching pets it’s usually because my current pet has been killed and all I really care about is getting his replacement up and going as quickly as possible.

and this prevents you doing that in what way? necros have minion summon animations. why don’t rangers have pet swap animations?

Well, I also play a necromancer and really have no interest/use for the minion animation. Actually, I view it as a waste of time and distraction. Swapping pets doesn’t cost my character any time lost and that is better in my opinion.

pullnointer.1476:

bob.5680:

Where would you prefer that the pet spawn? I do play a ranger (my primary char) and never considered this a probem.

next to me is fine. just not out of thin aether maybe. spells have gfx, I think pet swaps should too.

I’d consider that just more unnecessary stuff unrelated to the activity at hand. When I’m switching pets it’s usually because my current pet has been killed and all I really care about is getting his replacement up and going as quickly as possible.

Where would you prefer that the pet spawn? I do play a ranger (my primary char) and never considered this a probem.

Khal Drogo.9631:

Every adult loves gore in their video games. The more realistic the more entertaining. Nevermind the actual gameplay thats for old people….

Every adult?? Speak for yourself, please. This adult has no desire to see blood. It would add nothing to the game for me (and detract much).

This takes me back MANY years to when my mom would tell me “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”. I think the OP is doing just that!

I’m not in favor of public test servers either (and PTR seems like a stupid acronymn…so many other possible interpretations). SWTOR uses them and they still wind up with serious bugs on release. I suspect that it actually encourages the development organization to do less testing themselves, relying instead on input from the masses (something of a Microsoft mis-behavior).

ASB.4295:

When GW2 wasn’t out yet, they answered the question multiple times. No, they don’t want you to be be an antagonist, and no, they don’t want to bring open world PvP into the PvE world. However, they have changed a lot of their philosophies in the past ten months, so I would say there’s a reasonable chance for what you are asking to become reality if NCSoft/Nexon are convinced that they can profit off of it. Keep those suggestions coming and you might get what you wish for!

Well, for me if they allow PvP into the PvE world it will be my cue to quit playing. I quit Aion and am all but done with SWTOR due to the developers forcing PvP on me when in a PvE world. If I choose to do PvP, I will go to an environment where that is the objective. Don’t force it on me in PvE…it just encourages griefers.

Ethics.4519:

JohnLShannonhouse.1820:

When teaching people to present their work professionally….

This is a game, not a thesis paper.

True, but why bother to type anything if your audience doesn’t understand what you are trying to communicate. Unfortunately there those of us that don’t already know many of the ‘common’ abbreviations and, if they are like me, would rather not spend the time trying to dig them up (esp when in a combat situation).

Well, LOTRO’s downloader goes by number of files as well. Also, often its count is wrong, esp. when there’s thousands of them.