Guild Wars 2

Zeefa.3915:

For me the story in it is alright, and I like how you are taken out across different maps, for all the tasks. I even get that it is you who has to do tasks that could very well have been done internally, as it is a means to prove that you are worthy of their attention.

Here’s the problem I have with that. I’m going to use the charr as an example. The release of the Ascalonian ghosts is no small thing. They’re not going to entrust that to just anyone (particularly non-charr). So my character obviously has some renown, otherwise the charr wouldn’t have told them about the crown. But if my character already has that level of trust, why does he need to prove himself to them before they’ll agree to somethings as simple as a conference? If I have the clout to be entrusted to retrieve such an important artifact for them, then how do I not have the clout to get them to attend a summit?

Kurrilino.2706:

The chat box click through makes the dialog uninteresting ????
The nice parts are when the characters actually talking.

It’s like watching Lord of the rings without actors talking and you have to click throgh
text boxes…… this is destroying the mood and dedication to the characters

It’s especially disjointing when two NPCs are talking in voiced dialogue, when the conversation shifts to include you and all of a sudden the character who was just speaking has no voice. This is compounded when that same character then starts speaking in voiced dialogue again.

To be honest, I felt every single step of this installment of the Living Story was badly written. On every level it felt like a failure to make what was supposedly going on match what was actually going on.

The tasks we had to fulfill to get the leaders to attend the summit felt like contrivances. They could have been completed by anyone. Take the crown (a very important item that we’ve never heard of until just now), for example. It could have been retrieved by any of the warbands stationed in the Black Citadel. But we’re supposed to believe it’s such a monumental undertaking that only we can handle it. The fragments were literally lying in piles of rubble. Rytlock could have easily retrieved these items. Hell, the custodian that cleans his office could have retrieved them.

Then, as you said, the character relationships felt like cop outs. Braham goes from “I don’t want anything to do with my mother” to “my mom is the COOLEST!” after one fight. Whitebeard goes from “we can’t help you because we have to an Elder Dragon to contend with” to “we’ll help you with your problems because you killed a handful of Elder Dragon minions for us” after we do what any notable norn could have handled.

The process of swaying these leaders to attend the summit, if they didn’t want to, should have had entire installments dedicated to them. Convincing Whitebeard to get on board should have been an it’s own release. By cramming them all into one release, all of them felt flat. There was no organic growth with any of the characters involved. Things went from “no” to “yes” with the flip of a switch. That’s not good writing.

JayMack.8295:

The reason our characters don’t talk in the open world cutscenes (other than with triggers like skills) is a technical problem rather than a budgetary one at the moment, so when they get the tech to allow our characters to talk in these cutscenes, it will be much better.

How is the problem is technological? How is the technology used to record Taimi, Rox, and Kasmeer’s voice actors not advanced enough to record Nolan North or Jennifer Hale? How is the technology used to record Nolan North and Jennifer Hale for the Personal Story not advanced enough to record them for the Living Story? You’re going to have to explain that one to me, but I’m not seeing it…like, at all.

This is simply a case of quantity over quality. The quantity of the Living Story releases doesn’t allow the developers the time to bring the ten voice actors who voiced our characters in the Personal Story, whereas a single expansion would. I’m sure budgetary concerns play into it as well; the developers aren’t going to want to spend a bunch of money to bring in top-tier VA talent like Hale to voice content that they’re giving away for free.

usernameisapain.7163:

I see all these great threads about ideas of changes to current skills, or new skills/class ideas. But I think we need to keep focus on the fact that we have barely gotten any, and those two heal skills barely count. For that sole reason, I think this thread should stay alive a bit more, to keep the awareness there

They’re aware that we want new skills, they just don’t care. They feel it’s in their best interest to pour the bulk of their resources into the Living Story and the cash shop, and that leaves those of us wanting (begging for) new skills out of luck.

Belzebu.3912:

Then create a new character, if that is so important, tomes of knowledge and EotM trains makes hitting lvl 80 really fast and ascended gear are acc bound, exotics are really easy to get anyway, and skins are also acc bound, so you lose virtually nothing recreating a new toon.

World completion, soulbound equipment, trait and skill unlocks, and leveled crafting disciplines are “virtually nothing”?

darkace.8925:

“It’s free, so stop expecting it to work.”

Paradox.1380:

Uhm…. Just wait till the bugs are fixed? Its not going anywhere. You logged in and got it for free… forever.

Well, that didn’t take long.

Paradox.1380:

The only Caveat at all is that after the two weeks are up you must purchase the episode to access it if you failed to log in during the release period.

That’s not the only caveat, that’s just the only caveat you’re choosing to acknowledge. Here’s one you apparently missed. While the content may be available forever, since this particular section of the LS is tied to group events (multiple champions) it’s going to be harder to complete once the zerg moves on.

Here’s another one you’ve missed, and this one is important. If ArenaNet continues to release a stream of content updates that feature game-breaking bugs, people may eventually get tired of feeling like they’re being used as free QA and move on to other games.

Paradox.1380:

Bugs happen and they are working VERY hard to fix it.

Working hard =/= working smart.

Paradox.1380:

You can QA all you want and still have trouble on live.

Sure, bugs happen. But game-breaking bugs? That happens in one of two scenarios. Either ArenaNet is lazy or they’re overloaded. The latter usually happens because of budgets are too small to afford good QA testers, release schedules don’t afford enough time to do quality QA testing, or both. I have no idea why you find any of these possibilities acceptable.

Paradox.1380:

I’ve never played and online game that didn’t have some kind of major bug when new content was released. You cannot possibly test all the outcomes because there is no way to simulate live status.

You can catch a hell of a lot more bugs when you’ve got more than two weeks to actually test the content being released.

Duke Nukem.6783:

because “equality” is another word for “everything is the same and boring”

its perfectly enjoyable that they are all different and have their own advantages and disavantages

They can (and should) all be different without one being more advantageous than another.

And to think I was happy when ArenaNet said “no more meta achievements.”

“Great!” I thought, “no more grinding backpieces.”

“Oh no,” ArenaNet said, “you’re still going to grind for backpieces, we’re just not going to give you Achievement Points for doing so.”

runeblade.7514:

darkace.8925:

runeblade.7514:

Transmute a rifle onto the Predator.

Problem solved. That skin is a Legendary now.

The stats are Legendary, the skin is not.

And…?

Really? Listen, that’s as clear as it’s going to get. I can’t possibly break it down for you any simpler than I already have. If you haven’t got it yet, you’re not going to.

Lord Kuru.3685:

lordkrall.7241:

If you behave exactly like a bot (which based on my observation from farming trees) which about 99% of the farmers do, is it really that weird that you get handled like a bot?

So it’s the player’s fault. Of course!

If you’ll check his history, you’ll find that he believes it’s 1. always the players’ fault, or 2. never ArenaNet’s fault.

Sorann Peace.9056:

I have not seen these “legitimate complaints” that you speak of.

Then you’re not looking very hard. How about you log into Frostgorge Sound and read the map chat the next time a wave a players are unable to progress the Living Story because a game-breaking bug that slipped past QA.

Sorann Peace.9056:

I don’t seem to see these problems.

You don’t see these as problems, but your “compiled list of complaints” conveniently omitted the most egregious problems that have plagued this game since the Living Story was launched. There are legitimate complaints to be leveled against the Living Story, and you’re trying to gloss over them by highlighted the subjective or nitpicking complaints. You claim not to be a fanboy, but that kind of intellectual dishonesty doesn’t typically come from someone being objective.

Nice attempt to dismiss legitimate concerns, but if you’ve been paying attention you’ll notice several recurring problems that still persist to this day.

From a storytelling standpoint it’s a contrivance. From a gameplay standpoint it’s busywork. Aside from serving as filler, I don’t understand why they felt it was necessary.

“It’s free, so stop expecting it to work.”

Day 3 and I still can’t complete the Living Story because of game-breaking bugs. “When it’s ready” is dead. Long live “when it’s due”!

runeblade.7514:

Transmute a rifle onto the Predator.

Problem solved. That skin is a Legendary now.

The stats are Legendary, the skin is not.

Beldin.5498:

Vayne.8563:

At least no one can say it’s pay to win. lol

I wouldn’t be too surprised if someone finds out also a reason for that

Race Change incoming.

Steel Courage.1250:

Zackie.8923:

do your world bosses everyday for gold

So are you suggesting i farm the gold?

ArenaNet would prefer you simply buy gems to convert to gold.

I’ve got a set of armor with some valuable runes I’m no longer using. I can’t salvage the armor, I can’t vendor it, and I can’t throw it in the MF. Is this a case of Extractor (not going to happen) or trash?

Blix.8021:

darkace.8925:

Vlad Morbius.1759:

This is what happens when your QA department is off site and third party.

It’s also an issue of the QA having only two weeks to find and report bugs and the programmers having even less time to fix them.

You think they make this stuff two weeks at a time? They made all this stuff months ago

You might want to reassess what’s actually going on here. The developers started working on this stuff months ago, but they sure as hell didn’t finish the entire season. They’re finishing each installment of the Living Story as they go. However much time it takes them to finish one installment and start the next is the time the QA team has to find and report bugs. It may not be two weeks, but the two weeks release schedule certainly sets a hard deadline for the QA team to finish it’s work, whether it’s finished or not.

In before “I spent $X on keys and didn’t get a contract!” posts start rolling in.

Brother Grimm.5176:

OP does realize the ONLY weapon with multiple Legendary Skins is the Greatsword….right? And that is only because the 3rd is made by combining the other 2 (and GS is the most used weapon by class type).

There are plenty of Rifle Skins that can be applied to an Ascended Rifle that pretty closely IMMEDIATELY addresses the OPs request……(sans being able to swap weapon stats at will).

No it doesn’t. OP is asking for a new Legendary. You’re suggesting his/her desire for a new Legendary can be fulfilled by using something that isn’t a Legendary. How is that a solution to OP’s problem?

Vlad Morbius.1759:

This is what happens when your QA department is off site and third party.

It’s also an issue of the QA having only two weeks to find and report bugs and the programmers having even less time to fix them.

That two week release schedule.

WereDragon.6083:

It feels like the start to their claim of play owned housing. We’re seeing more stuff for the home instance and I think their gauging community want on how much we buy into these things.

For $11.25, I’m hoping not much.

Bran.7425:

They could add fish meat to the loot table of the fish and/or have thundershrimp/crabs be shellfish meat. and add recipes accordingly. But that would require someone to remember that underwater interaction exist in the game.

Easily. Crab meat is already in the game (junk dropped by Karka), and plenty of fish mobs exist that could drop fish meat. I’d rather a fishing system be implemented, but I’d settle for something as simple as this. There are plenty of food bonuses we don’t currently have (Precision/Condition Duration comes to mind), so Fish/Crab Meat + Lemon + Pepper + Butter = win.

FallinDevast.5364:

Wiz hat uses the Violet Tint dye, so I just colored my armor as such.

Wait just a minute, here. Why aren’t your toes clipping horribly with your boots as mine do on my asura? I call foul. Seriously though, thanks for the reply. The color looks good on your character, but I’m wanting to use another palette for mine.

Vesuvius.9874:

No it won’t be available. They have stated this very clearly. Stop asking.

And the developers are forbidden from changing their minds, right?

Scryeless.1924:

Bring up your character panel and select wardrobe. Select your weapon and then select the skin you want. If you don’t have a skin you want then go unlock some more. If you have all skins unlocked then you are going to have to wait until more skins get released.

That’s all well and good, but that doesn’t address OP’s issue…like, at all.

The inequity between ore and lumber extends beyond the rich ore veins. There are ore veins underwater and in caves, both places sapplings are never found. And as Diba alludes to, things get way worse when you look at leather and especially cloth.

The Elder Dragons are supposed to be incredibly powerful being (obviously). They’re described to be the size of mountains, they have the power to corrupt life in all its forms, they have the power to literally reshape the face of the world. For such a supposedly powerful being to be poked to death by swords…well, that’s just silly. That would make complete jokes of this game’s antagonists. For that reason, I really hope we never actually fight them directly. The alternatives, super spells, airship batteries, etc. aren’t exactly great writing, but they’re league better than a band of adventurers shopping down a dragon the size of a castle with Hundred Blades.

Anmida.4058:

I know, I know… But a man can hope. As feeble as these hopes may be.

“Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane. " Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding, The Shawshank Redemption

Anmida.4058:

*New weapons
*New weapons, for god’s sake.
*Spread current weapons to more classes, as it was promised.
*I swear to god if I get another healing skill as their “super new promised release of skills!!!!”…

I wouldn’t hold your breath. If the teased Ranger and Engineer changes are any indication, it looks like it’s just going to be more tweaking of existing weapon skills for a long time to come.

Ayakaru.6583:

So, in your opinion it’s still too much?
Personally I find it the quite the right amount in balance, but that’s subject to change, I guess.

The polish for this season has been much improved over that of last, but Season 2 is in its infancy. If they’re able to maintain this level of quality throughout, some (but by no means all) of my problems with the Living Story will have been addressed. But if they lapse into the bug-ridden, filler-filled releases we got last year, then I’ll go right back to railing against the Living Story.

You and I are on two very different wavelengths. I’ve oft complained the Living Story focused entirely too much on quantity and nearly enough on quality.

Without spending a dime on Transmutation Charges I currently have 184. The vast majority of those come from map completion. So unless you guys are really compulsive about changing your characters’ appearances or you’re forgoing map completion, I’m having a tough time understanding where the problem is.

Vayne.8563:

You’re making a lot of assumptions in your post that I don’t feel are warranted Darkace. You say we’re not treated as valued customers.

I said no such thing. I said if someone doesn’t feel a company is treating them as valued customers they should stop supporting that company. I named ArenaNet specifically, but the principle applies to every company in the world. From lawn care companies to restaurants to video game developers, if you don’t think a company is doing enough to earn your repeated business you should take your business elsewhere. There’s nothing unfair about that.

Vayne.8563:

Your assumption that they’re not treating us like customers because they’re not doing what a percentage of people want, is ignoring that fact that they’re doing what other customers want.

On what world is that fair?

Again, I never said that. And even if I did want to single ArenaNet out, rather than making the general statement I made, I wouldn’t do it on the grounds that they’re not giving me what, individually, I want. I’m not so conceited to pretend my personal wants outweigh those of anyone else.

tolunart.2095:

darkace.8925:

That works both ways. We don’t owe ArenaNet diddly, either. They, as a company, would be wise to treat us as valued customers, and nothing less. We, as customers, should continue to support them as long as we feel they’re working in good faith to earn that support, and not a second longer.

What’s stopping you? Anet recently made a lot of changes to the game based on customer feedback like the wardrobe, trait restructuring, repeatable LS chapters, these things have been in development in some cases for over a year. And people are complaining that they have other priorities than holding players’ hands while they moan about how bad the updates are. And that they haven’t completely changed everything an individual poster doesn’t like about the updates in a mere two months.

You’re acting like spoiled children. You bought the game and your access to new content is free and perpetual, no monthly fees or paid expansions. Buying gems with real money is an option but you can also get them for free. And you have the nerve to threaten to withhold support for the game? How much do you spend a month on gems? How many millions does Anet make from this game every month?

Frankly, if you feel this strongly about the game, you should stop giving them money – assuming you do so in the first place. Go pay $15 a month to play ESO or Wildstar instead. I’m sure you’ll get your money’s worth, and Anet won’t even notice you’re gone.

Have I offended your sensibilities somehow? Is the notion that customers should without support from companies they feel don’t value their patronage an indecent one? How about you take a deep breath, re-read what I posted, then tell me what in that post warrants such indignation.

Nerelith.7360:

We need to get over ourselves. Anet doesn’t owe us diddly…. Anet doesn’t owe us progress reports. Anet doesn’t owe us a seat at the table, when it comes to putting things into the game. Anet doesn’t owe us veto power, anet’s doesn’t owe us a darned thing. What they owe us is access to the servers. And we have that… everything after that is gravy.

That works both ways. We don’t owe ArenaNet diddly, either. They, as a company, would be wise to treat us as valued customers, and nothing less. We, as customers, should continue to support them as long as we feel they’re working in good faith to earn that support, and not a second longer.

Dusty Moon.4382:

darkace.8925:

Dusty Moon.4382:

Negative criticisms should be ignored and thrown out. They have no place in any civil society.

Hopefully, for the good of the humanity, there aren’t many who share this sentiment.

If you think gaming is that important, please go outside and breathe some fresh air.

Good of Humanity is important, gaming is not. Which is why I said what I did. If you equate the two, you need help with your priorities in life.

Where in my post did I say anything about gaming? If you truly think criticism has no place in society then you need to get some fresh air. I’ll say it again…I hope, for the good of humanity, your sentiment isn’t one shared by many.

Misleading topic title is very misleading -.-

Smith.1826:

Even though I agree it’s a great improvement – especially since my two mains are a War and Guard – I am still bummed that it all has to be throttled by the cash shop.

Something has to, and I’d rather it be this than skins. The more of this stuff they put in the cash shop, they more weapon and armor skins they can add as in-game rewards (theoretically speaking).

I promise you they wouldn’t have bothered implementing the system if they didn’t think it would help them “squeeze money out of us”. That said, I personally think it’s a huge improvement over the old system and don’t currently have any complaints other than being unable to dye the Wizard’kitten.

Save them. There’s no reason to spend them right now if there’s nothing you really want. Unless you’re really hard up for gold, just sit on them until you see something you’re sure you wont regret buying.

I could understand these exorbitant requirements if there was a glut of Prickly Pears, as in the case of something like Walnut Crumble Topping; but as PPs were just added to the game (as a rare drop, no less) this isn’t the case. So unless this is an error, I just can’t fathom why they’d set the cost where they did.

Vayne.8563:

Soinetwa.5193:

Vayne.8563:

Soinetwa.5193:

Vayne.8563:

So the people that bought multiple account bound gathering tools won’t then be asking for refunds. I mean if you have a shared slot, there’s no point in having multiple tools.

For this reason, I’m not sure this would be implemented.

why refunds?
you can now put your account bound tools in the bank use a bank access thing or go to the bank take it and use it…
other way around not all your chras got the harvesting tools you still would have to equipp it and after u are done you would have to unequip them

it IS much easier to harvest with 2 characters and never having to do just that
in fact id probably put oricalcum tools in my bag to always have the option of these tools and the endless ones (which are account bound) would stay on the character im currently playing the most with

Okay let’s pretend I bought more than one axe. Now I have multiple axes. If I had the bag, I wouldn’t have had to buy multiple axes, I’d just keep one in my bag that any character could use. Totally useless product after that.

Sure I’d want a refund.

you did have to buy multiple axes at all??
theyre acc bound its just a few clicks and you couldve used these axes on all your characters..
i see you at fault making axes account bound an then only using them on one..
and just because the tools are in this 8slot bag does not mean u ckittene them instantly equip them otherwise u need too open inventory put them on with a simple double klick and
after use put it back into the 8slot bag if it lands somewhere else drag it to that bag
because if u forget to unequip it you need to change chra once again just to give that axe to the chra u want to use it with….
it IS not just pressing f at every tree
having multiple axes is still some nice quality of life improvement
it saves a few times walking to the bank without granting full access to the bank thus making it overpowered

8slots are good
10 or more would e okay but 8slots surely ARE okay!

When axes first came out, they were soul bound. So I bought copies for different characters, because I’m lazy.

Then they made them account bound. I only need one. I’ve bought multiples of the same axe. So now what do I do with the other ones which I’ve spent money on? Right now, they’re all on different characters, at least saving me a trip to the bank.

And you know, I don’t care one way or another, because if they do it they do it, but I can guarantee you there’ll be people who bought multiples asking for refunds.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t ArenaNet offer refunds for people who bought multiples the moment they made them Account Bound? Either way, all a such a bag would do is save you the extra step of transferring the tools through your Bank Tab.

I’d personally like to keep my Bank Access, Black Lion Merchant, Instant Revive Orbs, and other such consumables in an Account-Wide bag, but I wouldn’t touch it unless it were 20 slots. The mild OCD in me just wouldn’t abide an 8 slot back wedged between two 20 slot bags.

So it’s that much of a no-brainer?

When Risen are swarming over Arah’s Gate, when hordes of wraiths are pouring into Grenth’s Temple, when a blob of nameless PCs are zerging about your server’s Borderlands map, when you absolutely, positively got to have them loot bags, what’s your go-to weapon for tagging the most mobs possible?