Guild Wars 2

As others suggested, buy orrian boxes.

I usually buy 50-75 at a time, and have received a few lodestones .Even the trash unidentified objects from 50 boxes you can vendor for +1g . The minis are useless, though. I have 3 priests of B sitting in my bank.. The obsidian shards are good if you are working on a legendary.

Sorry, but there is no way to make decent gold through crafting in this game, regardless of the crafting profession.

Often you are better off, gold making wise, selling the individual mats you would use in crafting the item, than selling the item itself.

There are some crafted item with stats that sell better than others, berseker and explorer (kit with MF), to name two. Crafting and selling these won’t loose you gold, but at best you will earn a small profit, at worst break even as long as you have all the required mats on hand. If you need to buy any mats to craft these items, then you will most definitely be loosing gold.

Even before crafting these item for yourself, it is always best to check beforehand the TP prices for all the mats you will use and compare this to the selling price of the item. For somethings you are better off buying the item, then selling the mats you would have used in crafting it …

Sokar Rostau.7316:

bri.2359:

Darth Llama.9217:

There are Legendary items on the TP that would cost more then a mid sized car if bought with cash. I don’t believe for a second that anyone is spending that much money on Video Game items. That’s pure insanity.

And buying a mid-size car is not insanity??
Dive it off the lot and see it’s value plummet by 33% …

Someone buys some desirable pixels in a video game where the return value only increases …

Now, who is the insane one??

Equip that Legendary and watch the value drop 100% until, and unless, you decide to sell your account, and I don’t even know if that’s possible.

True, but are you going to leave your new car sitting on the lot? Presumably one buys a mid-size car to use.

This is not necessarily the case with a legendary, Sure, some buy a legendary to use otherwise there would not be a market for them. Given the increasing number on the TP, seems the legendary ’investors’’ are becoming more and more common.

Darth Llama.9217:

There are Legendary items on the TP that would cost more then a mid sized car if bought with cash. I don’t believe for a second that anyone is spending that much money on Video Game items. That’s pure insanity.

And buying a mid-size car is not insanity??
Dive it off the lot and see it’s value plummet by 33% … Then buy the insurance, registration, road tax, petrol, maintenance …

Someone buys some desirable pixels in a video game where the return value only increases …

Now, who is the insane one??

When the Temple of Melandru is clear on your server, earth ele’s spawn in Malchor’s Leap at Rayhan Bayt near Pegga’s Waypoint. These drop onyx lodestones.

This guide will help you find what you are looking for:
http://dulfy.net/2012/10/03/gw2-endgame-gearing-guide/

As mercury said, there are two separate exploration achievements.

The one you did was related to doing all hearts, skill points, finding poi’s, wp’s etc

The other is related to the Bluestone achievement, discovering all the white labeled areas on each map. This requires you poking your nose into every nook, cranny, and cave …

You need to check the Bluestone completion against what you have discovered to know which map bits you are missing.

Ascalon Catacombs also has solider stat kit …

Earn 60g more for the gold hoarder achievement …

Try this guide to get your weaponsmithing up to where you can craft masterworks.
http://www.gw2wiz.com/

After that, it is very easy:
20 dowels + 10 inscriptions (any kind) + 10 items = 40 and you are done.

Wow, thanks for all the responses here and those who whispered me in game last evening!

Sorry I couldn’t keep up with it all the whispers, some of you were pretty chatty …

It is good know there are a lot good guild choices in this game, but it makes for difficult decisions …

Obviously, my preference is to avoid a 1800 gem transfer fee to a very high pop server, so will give another guild on Gunnar’s Hold a try out for a few days to see how it goes.

I have kept all the contact info, so I know where to go if I this doesn’t work out and I decide transferring servers is a better option.

Cheers!

If you plan on salvaging a lot of rares for ectos, then yes, BL kits do make a noticeable difference. You salvage ectos at a consistently higher rate with these kits than you do with a master kit.

It is up to you to decide if this is worth it or not …

4 of us started this last evening on Gunnar’s Hold. We cleared the 3 keys, then a few other random players joined in on priestess part and we cleared it.

You do not need a great big zerg to clear this temple, it is pretty easy to do with 5-10 players.

You will not see the new PoA wp on your map until you are in the actual area, then it will appear on your mini-map.

Go to Guardpoint Decimus Waypoint, then start heading south. There is a narrow opening to pass through, some mobs to deal with and the new wp is at the end of the passage.

I agree with the OP!

All the mob-tagging leechers are gone, so the mobs don’t disappear in an instant anymore. Now there are usually 5+ good players at these events who can down all the trash, vets, and the odd champ without anyone going down. The events are actually fun to do now, everyone works together, no culling and the loot rate is better.

Still the problem with champs dropping blues, though. This really must be changed, and soon.

This is on Gunnar’s Hold.

GummiBear.2756:

bri.2359:

I build my own desktops, and the rule-of-thumb I follow is AMD/ATI or Intel/Nvida.

I run intel core I5 2500 with ATI radeon HD6950 with no problems

This is good to know …
In the past, this was more of an issue, so glad to see compatibility issues have been resolved.

That is if you are in a guild that actually tells you where/who the bounty targets are …

First time my guild ran this, the organisation was so crap my tracking party in Brisbane were not told anything, so the event was over before we knew it started and we received zero credit/rewards ..

I build my own desktops, and the rule-of-thumb I follow is AMD/ATI or Intel/Nvida.

Perhaps things have changed so this is not so important anymore, but figure it is better to minimise any potential conflicts. So, my advice is to stay with ATI for your GPU.

Your GPU does make a difference in all games, including GW2. It depends on how you want to experience the game. If you are happy with graphic settings you have been using, then buy for this.

You are much better off buying a good mid-level GPU that performs well than paying more for a so-so higher-end card that doesn’t give you the graphics quality jump you expect.

EDIT: Just to add another rule-of-thumb. Go to any website that lists a hierarchy of GPU’s. Look for your current card, then note the cards 3 levels (or more) above your card. These are the cards that will give you a noticeable improvement. Anything in between these cards and yours will not be worth the up-grade costs.

Hi Neksis,

Thanks for your response.
Since I live in Europe (GMT+1) it makes more sense for me to be on a server in this region.

Cheers!

locoman.1974:

Just posting again to post my mesmer’s current dye job..

Armor is the light heritage set from HoM and harlequin mask (starter mesmer gear). Dyes are Blurple (main coat color), Midnight violet (pants, boots), Shy lylac (coat and boot hightlights), violet ice (shirt) and matte and red for the mask.

Oh my ……
I am at a loss for words …………..

Hello Esya,

Thanks for your response, and I will check out your website when I get home.
Cheers!

I might be old, but still have some chops ..

GW2 is my first MMO, and been playing since game launch, mostly casual PvE and dungeons. I log in every day, do my dailies, but I don’t do PvP and was in WvW only for map completion. I have two lvl 80’s, and about to create another alt. So, I can bring in guild influence though leveling, running PS and the like.

What I am looking for is a mid-sized guild with casual, with friendly helpful players with mature attitudes.

First guild I was part of (one of the founders) was an ad-hoc, cross-server thing back last autumn that didn’t work out. It had poor leadership with scattered members over too many servers with too few on my server with only about 3 or 4 representing regularly.

My next and current guild is a huge one from GW1 days, almost 500 in my chapter, with 100 more in a sister guild on the same server, and another chapter on a NA server. This one is not working out either, as anyone not a member for 5 years and part of the original GW1 are just making up the numbers. Guild leadership never asks for input on running events (they are the elite pros after all ..), and when the event become a disorganised mess, you are expected to toe-the-line and not voice an opinion how things are run.

So, if either of the 2 above paragraphs describe your guild – small and disorganised, or huge and elitist, I am not interested …

I am currently on Gunnar’s Hold, and willing to transfer.

Cheers!

Oh my!

I have been thinking about creating a mesmer alt for a bit, and this is my first time in this sub-forum to get some ideas about the class, and I read this guide/thread!

Kai, thank you for this! Brilliant guide and humorous …
Makes me more convince to try a mes despite the fear of winding up like poor SadieDeAtreia …

I think you just found Anet a new daily achievement option – guest crashing servers …

Guest crash 3 in one day and you get an extra laurel ..

Here is another suggestion (heavy armour) on my norn guardian.

Left image: crafted with Invaders/karma leggings from Derdgehaunt (both use same skin)
Dye: Black / Burnished Steel / Heirloom

Right image: karma temple armour
Dye: Black / Burnished Steel / Heirloom / Patina

mglgagrg.2561:

bri.2359:

Here are 2 suggestions

Left image: crafted (medium)
Dye: Sapphire / Walnut with Lemon trim, Silver leggings

Right image: AC (medium)
Dye: Burgundy / Antique Bronze, Silver / Sand leggings

That looks quite good actually

Thanks! See, you don’t need Abyss to look good …
All it takes is some understanding of colour and how the various dyes works with the various materials.

In fact, I have Abyss on this toon (it dropped for me around 2-weeks after game launch, and activated it not knowing what it was …), and never use it cos it looks crap on leather, and everyone uses it …

Same goes for Celeste/White ..

Yup, seems it has been down for at least a few days.
First thought the site was down for maintenance/up-date, but now looks more permanent.

Cheers for the link to the other site

@OP
First, I highly recommend reading this guide: http://dulfy.net/2012/10/03/gw2-endgame-gearing-guide/
This will explain how and where to get what you want.

As for me, my first 80 (ranger) had saved 15g while leveling, so I bought a full set of exotics and 2 exotic weapons off the TP. I took my time, around 230hrs plating to hit 80.

My second 80 (guardian) took much less time, around 80hrs, and had 4 crafts at 400 by this time, so crafted everything I needed.

Here are 2 suggestions

Left image: crafted (medium)
Dye: Sapphire / Walnut with Lemon trim, Silver leggings

Right image: AC (medium)
Dye: Burgundy / Antique Bronze, Silver / Sand leggings

I did the Jormag event on my server (Gunnar’s Hold -medium pop) yesterday afternoon, and I had not experienced lag that bad since the karka event in Nov. It was so bad, I couldn’t swap weapons ..

I did the event again this morning, and no lag … I guess all the idiots guesting yesterday were still in their beds ..

Whatever is going on, needs to stop …

@OP
How long have you been away??

New wp’s were added to SoD and CS also, a few updates ago …

Weekly server maintenance patches are around 50-60Mb
Content updates are around 300-500Mb ,depending on what they are releasing.

The largest one was the Lost Shores back in Nov, that was at least 1Gb, perhaps 1.5 cos it included a new map area.

Try this :
http://www.gw2wiz.com/

MattCoy.3098:

Rozbuska.5263:

Because devs want learn players how to dodge on dailies

Couldn’t say better myself – nice

This made my morning …

The only earth ele’s that have dropped onyx lodestones for me are the ones that spawn in Malchor’s Leap at Rayhan Bayt when the temple of Melandru in the Cursed Shore is uncontested. I had 1 drop during 2 of the last 4 times I have been there.

I think the earth ele’s at the temple, when uncontested, also drop them, but I never tried farming those. I always go to Rayhan Bayt. I never heard of the earth ele’s in SoD dropping lodestones …

I use a p/v/t set from AC when running dungeons on my ranger, with runes of Melandru.
I also have a p/v/t set of temple karma armour, but don’t it much anymore.
For normal PvE, I use a mix (3 pieces each) of knight/valkyrie.

As for vitality vs healing armour stats:
Rangers have lousy condition removals, so AoE attacks are always a concern. You cannot always rely on dodges to get you out of red circles. The only way to deal with condition damage is to have a decent HP pool, otherwise you wont even have time to trigger healing before you are downed.

100% world gives you:
2 gifts of exploration (useless unless working on a legendary)
an achievement
an option for a title (Been there, done that) that places a little gold star beside your character’s name/status bar when other players mouse over you.

That is it …

I am GMT+1, and don’t expect it to go live in Europe until the wee hours of tomorrow morning. I will be surprise if it is before then …

As other have suggested the event chains in the Cursed Shore are steady source of income and rares. Make sure you have a decent salvage/vendor plan. Sell all the T5/6 mats that drop from moldy bags and the mobs.

Another is harvesting nodes in Malchor’s and Cursed Shore an selling the pickings. Omnomberries fetch a very good price on the TP.

While in Orr, keep an eye for cleared temples. When Melandru in Cursed Shore is uncontested, earth ele’s spawn in Rahyan Bayt in Malchor’s Leap that drop onyx lodestones. When Dwayna is uncontested in Malchor’s, sparks spawn near Caer Shadowfain in Cursed Shore that drop charged lodestones. Drop rates are not great, but you can still get rares/exotics and some T5/6 mats off them.

Do you have lots of karma? If so, buy a stack of Orrian boxes from any Orr karma merchant. These can drop various lodestones, cores, unidentified objects all worth quite a bit, and lots of liquid karma. Use a karma booster before drinking so you can buy more boxes.

Personally, I never found dungeons to be that great for gold, but then I don’t speed-run CoF p1 endlessly all day …

First off, this should be in the ranger sub-forum …

Secondly, you didn’t mention what you are doing with your ranger. PvP, WvW, PvE, dungeons? Difficult to give you advice with out knowing this …

Personally, I like longbow/greatsword using a 30/30/10/0/0 build with a mix of knight/valkyrie armour and trinkets and runes of the ranger for PvE.

In dungeons I usually go with longbow/shortbow and p/v/t armour with runes of Melandru

I don’t do PvP or WvW …

If this helps reduce the number of ridiculously small guilds, and medium sized guilds with poor representation, then I am all for it.

Game has been out for 6 months. If your guild has not researched all the tiers by now, regardless if your guild is PvE only, then stop building all those useless MF banners and enforce rules of representation to get the influence to do research. If that is not to your liking, then stop whinging about being gated from content.

The clue is in the title of the game, people, and seems Anet is looking to consolidate the player base. I say this is about time …

Sauzo.6821:

I’ve grouped with warriors that did less dps than an afk player simply because they spent more time downed than actually fighting….and when got up, they were downed again faster than a fat kid on a seesaw….

This^ …..

As for the boss being done in 1min with warriors vs 3mins with rangers, I see the problem being with OP’ed warriors, not the rangers. And if warriors don’t like that, then make it so both classes do the boss in 2min.

Of course the warriors will need to stay alive for twice as long, so there goes all those glass-cannon, zerker/MF warriors out the window …

There is no reason not to have enough gold to buy what you need off the TP, or buy the mats to craft, by the time you hit 80.

Earning gold is so easy in this game if you have a decent salvage/vendor plan and don’t waste gold buying kit or cosmetic crap while leveling. Just use what drops until lvl 60-70. Then buy only blues, if you need something, until you hit 80.

No need to run dungeons either, unless you want to.

Most merchants (npc’s with floating coin icon over their heads) sell the harvesting tool appropriate for the map you are in. There are grades of harvesting tools that allow you harvest higher level materials when in higher level maps.

Not sure what you mean by ’tracking ’ ore .. The ore node appear on you mini-map as little triangular silver looking things. Harvest trees are logs, and plants are little green leafy icons.

Once you harvest something, it sit in your inventory until you ‘deposit’ it in your main storage bank. You do this selecting the ‘deposit all’ from the little gear icon in your inventory.

Once you arrive at a craft station, you can then access your main storage bank ,and you will see all the materials you have collected in there.

I have leveled 2 characters to 80.

My first one (ranger) took me around 230 playing hours, I took my time, did a lot of map exploration and the like. Never did dungeons until after I hit 80.
Gearing this one up with exotics took no time since I had saved 15g, and bought what I needed off the TP. Of course, things were much cheaper back then (October)

My second one (guardian) took me around 70-80 playing hours. Again, no problem in gearing, because I had around 120 gold and had 4 crafting skills at 400 so I could craft what I wanted.

Ah .. I really like these types of threads because it lets me tell this again, and again …

Best dungeon run I ever had was doing Arah story with 3 rangers, 1 thief and 1 engineer.
My worst dungeon runs are always with at least 1 warrior in the party …

I cringe whenever I see a warrior in the group, cos this is most likely a player in MF kit with a glass cannon build who speed-leveled and never took the time to learn how to play …

Didn’t read all the posts, so sorry if this was already mentioned

Main roll of a ranger in dungeons is ranged DPS and to stay alive. That is it.

Group support is non-existent, apart from healing spring, cos spirits are crap. Providing a steady output of ranged DPS is the best support a ranger can give the group.

Oh my … I really liked my range. For over 4 moths it was my 1 and only toon, Did 100% world, and quite a few dungeon runs.

Last month I needed an alt for more crafting skills and another option for running dungeons so I leveled a guardian to 80 …

I never knew how unbalanced a ranger was until I played another class. Ok, the guardian sucks at range, but has great melee options and loads of versatility.

Now my ranger only farms Frostgorge, does some of daily stuff like underwater kills, dodging and crafting. My guardian does the heavy lifting in Orr and dungeons ..

I took my ranger into CoF p1 the other day for the first time in ages. In the room with the braziers / domes, my ranger greatsword, that I thought was decent before, felt like I was hitting with a wet noodle … Even my ranged attacks, that I thought were so good before, seemed average now …

The ranger needs a complete overhaul and re-design of all the trait lines, utilities and pet mechanics. Unfortunately, this is something Anet will never do. Throwing a couple of ‘fixes’ here and a ‘buff’ there will not do anything to solve the problems with this class.

My ranger was loads of fun to level, and now it is so sad to leave her kicking the snow in Frostgorge…

For land:
Devourers – I swap between two of them (carrion and lakittenail)
They do decent ranged damage, have aoe combo finishers, tough, and have a good AI evade. They require the least micro-management of all the pets.

Underwater:
Jellyfish – the regeneration has saved me so many times, and they do a decent attack
Armor fish – very tough

edit: oh my lakittenail … stupid, stupid filter ….

Ok, fare enough ..

Then the challenge for you is to find other players who need to explore the same maps as you for100% completion. This will not be easy unless you are in a guild…

The alternative is to enter the map you want to explore, and ask in map chat if anyone wants to party up for exploration. Have you tried this?