Guild Wars 2

You can do this with a variety of classes.
A thief can start on a buff, shadow step port away then port back to finish it.

Also haste increases the rate at which u take the buff, making timewarp teamfight on a buff super powerful. Also, timewarp+mistform etc=uninteruptable cap.

The harasment condition spec has the advantage of being easy to play, and holds up ok if ur solo Quing in frees. so might not be a bad way for a super brand new player to get into pvp and not be utterally useless.
HOWEVER. its true that its less viable.

Meta is plural . Its the best understood ways to play the game.
Viable in the meta means a top team could run this and win there fair share against equally skilled opposition.
Every comp has its disadvantages and trade offs. You cant cover every base.
But that isnt the same as saying its all willy nilly and doesn’t matter what you run.

Both exlixir s and exlir r, and bomb kit. Takes a huge hit in dps though :/. I’m not sure, this is theorycraft. But if he can make em waste time trying to down him, then his lack of dps is compensated for.
Flamethrower, i dont think its worth it, burning just doesnt seem to be a great condition-its easily removed, and doesnt stack like bleeds for intensity.

I feel that the rangers Cd on traps should start when the traps are triggerd. so they cant immediately trap again after there traps are triggered.

However, it would allow them to move traps instantly as they could recast it anytime long as not triggered. So would be a trade off, but overall would make them a little more reasonable in 1on1.

Build yourself a ranger turret on the underwater base ! downed state ranger being healed by pet=awesomeness.

Additinally this map would just not be popular, too many people would hate the underwater combat. So , even if it was balanced, it would be too annoying.

Whats with people claiming match making has been implimented?. I havnt seen or heard an official source on this. SEems to be speculation.
Getting the same team over and over ,seems to be what its based on. But ive gotten the same team over and over even when 15 ranks different.
I think its either because your done at same time, Q at same time. OR some sort of bug that causes one to get same team over and over.

Maybe im missing something, i didnt do paids today, so maybe it changed.
Or maybe someone has an official source. Still be nice to know how they are working out that a matchmaking system is being tested.

I felt that it was odd his engy wasnt running some defensive skills. Given the cirumstances id have subed flamethrow out for toolkit for block, or even elixir S ( i think its s, the immunity one).
Just because they would have tried to truck him, so being somewhat survivable would waste some of the opposition dps. So, i was surpised when he didnt make that adaptation.
But yes, engy has limits in viability.
@ Condiments ive seen team curse lose to teams not even running a thief. Thief burst is super powerful but so is warrior burst.

No, wasnt looking for game play analysis per se. just recordings of paid tournies w the vent sound on. So i can hear there target calls and reasoning. Mostly want to show new guildies how incredibly vocal the paid teams tend to be.

Narcarsis.5739:

zone.1073:

http://www.twitch.tv/gasmaskftw/b/363009410 (3h 22min in)

You can see my team DTC fighting Gasmask’s team in paids at 3 hours, 22 minutes into that video. It’s in Gasmask’s perspective. DTC is running a warrior, thief, and ele as damage roamers that match.

Not to discredit your win but that’s a pug with some people I never play with… not sure that’s the best example – If it was from your PoV it would be a different story since you guys are on a team (http://www.twitch.tv/Vinhungry).

There are others, such as Teldo, Powerr, Helseth, Magz that would all be better since they have videos of their team playing.

I was hoping for something saved. not a live stream. And recent, i found alot of paid tournies from months ago on youtube, but nothing current pretty much.

Thats good to hear jonathan. Thats why i let people know about guesting on other HOTM. Helps em out in the short term.

zone.1073:

JonathanSharp.7094:

Yes, the lobbies are merged for game matching. Also, a lot of the lobbies I’m in seem dead now because a lot more people are playing paid tournaments. So they’re not waiting around in lobby for tournaments to start, they’re in game, so the lobby feels more empty.

The lobbies are not merged. Each server has a separate/unique Heart of the Mists.

PvP match queues are merged.

Umm i think a distinction needs to be drawn. The ‘matchs’ be it hotjoin/free/paid are drawn from people of all servers. who you can get matched against.
the actual heart of the mists area is server specific. BUT, with guesting you can simply go to anvil rock which has a solid populatuion.

Nope. It isnt.

Yes it should be.
On the + side, now because of guesting you can move to different heart of the mists.

If your Na you’ll want to guest into heart of the mists On Anvil rock. Its by far the most populated heart of the mists area.

Suzu.4193:

lol matchmaking

u getting the same ppl queing everytime

lmao

and well no duh you get the same people think about it….

one team lost one team won and what happens when you pop out? you que again and what do you know you fight the same team….because why? That’s right class they just qued the same time you did! omg!

Try to think guys not hard

This is what im saying. getting the same team over and over is hardly indicative of match making. A large sample size of observations from alot of people though might be able to decode whether or not this is true.

Anyone have youtube or twitch tv links to (recent 1 month) paid tournies from top teams.

Streams that include voice chat not the music highlight videos.
It would be nice to study some of these games and see the though process of more experienced teams so i can pick up strategys.

Mrbig.8019:

Schwahrheit.4203:

Lack of carry-ability is a trade-off for being a strong duelist. You might be able to set-up kills for a ranger, but it won’t be as good as Venom Stab, HB, or wells.

That’s the point.

A thief can have very strong 1vs1 builds, but currently they all round around stealth, making them totally ineffective in high end PvP.

the ranger is one of the few classes able to be tourney viable while being strong duelists.

Thiefs are hardly ineffective in high end pvp. They are very useful. Team curse runs one, formally team pardigm Na.
They have some limitations, but are not by any means weak or useless.
Nor as they as OP as half the forum (hotjoin ppl) think

What i have noticed, is that teams tend to face the same team over and over. I was doing some tournies and we ended up getting people much lower than us 4 times in a row.
If indeed this is matchmaking, its in need of some work.

IamDuddits.1692:

daydream.2938:

Bad experience both ways.
First off these pugs, if they run into decent premades will get stomped.
Secondly, if these premades run into pugs it will be boring match where they wont learn anything.

without a matchmaking system , at least require paids to have a team.

Just to clarify, Paid also has no match making system? It’s just a complete RNG? If that’s the case, I think this is a good idea once that gets released. But to be frank, if it’s a match making problem then a 5-stack could get just as screwed over in that scenario as a group of solos.

This week excepted, the teams that tended to Q for paids where , on average, competent teams. But yes, matching making would be nice even in paids.

possante.8310:

if you are a mesmer point defender you are a joke for any trap ranger. you dont have anything usefull to remove conditions and a trap ranger have insane burn damage. you as mesmer point defender need help of someone quick or you will loose your point.

before i leave this game, rangers point atacker/defender was in lot of teams, why? to counter the meta where almost every team was using a mesmer point defender.

This, alot.

Really? im surpised i see more of them than i did in weeks past.

Maybe Na/eu is different.

dimentox.6019:

I actually think that there’s some meta / combos we have missed… Just waiting to be the next omfg rotfolstomping

Almost certainly. I only object to theoretical ideas ppl throw around on the forum. The official meta isnt easy to counter, thats why the top teams run something close to it. But, meta is always vunerable to clever counter play.

dimentox.6019:

Yup exactly, the point of the roles is being able to match up your class with the roles that mix together with a build and thats what that builds for…

When i first started i was like wtf is a bunker…
so i thought this would help

The essentials for a team seem to be a bunker, and a power dps. (usually mesme, thief, warrior). AFter that u can fool around.

some of the good paid tourny teams run.
Ele/ele, guardian, mesmer, ranger.
Ele, guardian, thief, mesmer, ranger.
Ele, ele, ele, guaridan thief (origin online sometimes does this-though eu meta is a little different).
ele,guardian, mes, mes , engy.
ele, guardian, mes , thief , warrior.

An older standard set up might have looked like.
Ele, gaurdian, mesmer, necro, thief.

Youll notice the common denominator is ele and guardian. Eles can roam super fast, are strong 1on1, decent in team fights and hold side nodes well. Guardians are pretty much the best main bunkers.
Mesmers are probably the third most popular due to timewarp and portal.

But the core youll find is a roamer who can hold a point (almost always ele) a power dps, and a guardian bunker. The rest caters to choice/match up.

Check out teldoo on twitch tv. If anybody is getting more people to play engy its that guy.
He even does well in paid tournies on one.

dreztina.4820:

Really? Can spvpers get legendaries and I’ve just missed that somehow?

Hmm i suppose this is something that could be purchased with QP. That would be a great way to compensate the people who farmed QP when they introduce a ladder.
IF they phase out Qp they can think of some other way to earn it.

I guess i dont really care about legendary appearance items, but its a fair point.

There already is appearence gear in spvp.
But, if you mean be able to levle up with experience (outside spvp land ) etc, then i agree with you. They should impliment a better rewards system.

But, most of us dont want gear variability in spvp itself.

Vyndetta.9415:

daydream.2938:

There will always be a bit of rock/paper/scissors in 1on1.
But , in terms of tourny meta viability. Rangers seem to do very well 1on1.

Out of curosity what class/spec does give rangers the most trouble?
I mean, i could think of ways to beat a ranger 1on1, but im not sure those specs would be viable in tourny play which is whats relevant here.

necro vs ranger?
Maybe thats the one, its a match up i dont see very often.

Necro vs ranger is Rng/luck on both sides. whoever gets the mass condi on the target for the longest period of time usually wins (it’s hard to do since they both have condi removal and necro condi transfer)

But , all the same what are the classes/specs that give rangers trouble.
If any of them are tourny viable specs in particular id be curious.

Because , if we had gear, players who played longer would build up an artifical advantage.

Look at league of legends-every play starts every match equal footing. Yes it has items, but its not an mmo where they last, everyone starts on an EVEN footing. Nothing is earned over the long run , yet millions of people play league.

The same is true of tournies. People start on an even footing (minus class balance and skill). Gear should not be a variable in pvp.

Divinity.8041:

These have been really good responses!!! I love where this thread has gone, as I am also new to the ranger.

So other than the trap build power posted, is there another spec that I should be worried about dominating me? Is it safe to say that the trap build is the most used ranger spec in pvp at the moment?

Discuss.

The higher the level of play you go, the more similarity (if not outright conformity) of specs you see. Not that things dont get tried out in paids of course.

Now , atm paids are a bit wild because of the 1teamvs 1 team situation, so normal rules dont apply. I dont know if trap rangers are the most common you will see in SPVP. But they certainly will be the most common kind of ranger you see in paids.

There will always be a bit of rock/paper/scissors in 1on1.
But , in terms of tourny meta viability. Rangers seem to do very well 1on1.

Out of curosity what class/spec does give rangers the most trouble?
I mean, i could think of ways to beat a ranger 1on1, but im not sure those specs would be viable in tourny play which is whats relevant here.

necro vs ranger?
Maybe thats the one, its a match up i dont see very often.

Its true that alot of classes probably have specs that are good for 1on1 specifically but not useful in team conquest games.

I think what most people mean by 1on1 viability is related to tourny play.
Rangers, have a spec that is viable in tourny play , that makes them contenders for the strongest 1on1 TOURNY speced class.

You probably wont be able to solo a bunker as a burst dps. And certainly you cant solo a bunker quickly.

A condition damage dealre can wear them down. Maybe a mesmer because of boon strip can do it.
But if the bunkers good, neither will do it quickly.
The solution? Generally dont fight a bunker 1on1, unless your hitting them to start burning cooldowns because you have support coming to help finish em off.

Go assault a different node, look to steal svanir, go kill enemy lord. Go use a treb on the bunker.
Bunkers unfortunately aren’t going anywhere.

Yes, i think D/p is a higher skillcap by a little than D/D but ultimately better.

And yes. D/p is so useful, smoke cloud on stomps is just incredible.

Alot of the Na teams run with 1 bunker, and 4 dps (3 power 1 cond) usually.
Condition dps are sometimes called ‘debunkers’ as they are useful for helping with quick taking down guardians.

Also, warriors will typically defensively roam because they dont have good disengage. They usually dont push the far point.
Whereas a thief, might be BOTH a defensive roamer and far point pusher.
(this isnt to say warrior never pushes far node its just alot more risky).

NevirSayDie.6235:

daydream.2938:

bunker engies do indeed, the F(#) key that parrellels exlir s can grant stability for stomps. The reason i said some somewhat is that its RNG and can proc other effects. It should basically alawys be stability.

Sorry, I wasn’t very clear. Bunker engineers don’t take elixir S because its main function gives up control of the point—they’ll always take another knockback or elixir R for a stunbreaker. Elixir S gives stability on a 50/50 chance for four seconds (the other proc is stealth) and is commonly used in burst engineer builds. It’s an even 50/50 proc, there is no greater chance for stability. Most burst players would actually rather have the stealth anyway.

That’s why I said engineers aren’t really bunkers (no stability, low invulnerability) but do pretty well at keeping opponents off a point.

It’s a very minor detail, but the forum in general seems to not have a very clear idea of how engies actually work, so I like to clarify things

Hmm good point. You rarely see bunker engies -bugged traits etc, not as good as guardian at same job.
But i would still think the invulerabiilt is only for 3 seconds that wont even let a point neut( takes 4). Still, i can see them choosing the stun break that self resses over that indeed.

Ayestes.1273:

I’ve always been of the opinion that Trap Rangers are actually terrible duelists. Other Ranger builds though, that’s a different story entirely. You have a Fear, Immobilize, and Entangle to worry about. Beyond that just dodge roll out of the traps and you have mitigated the vast majority of the damage.

Your opinions need to get readjusted. Try dueling some of the trap rangers that run in paids.
-_-

showatt.9413:

Warrior needs more viable playstle than just 100b rush.

Imo We can start by reducing the damage they do with 100b ( or longer cd ) and buff the survivability of gs/som builds. (give debuff removers)

This way we get less cheese warrior and more people willing to try other builds. And then we can buff other warrior builds from there so people actually have a choice with warriors.

Your solution to what is probably the worst (debatable warrior vs engy) class in the game is to nerf it?

Other builds need a buff, the only concern is that in buffing other weapons/builds they dont somehow allow for a combo w the existing 100b spec to become OP.

It’d be cool to see another warrior viable build get found.
-_- i might look at this. But, im skeptical that it holds up vs good paid teams.

You’d think thiefs would be the strongest class based on how much the forums whine about them. But in the top level of play you don’t see that many thiefs at all. Its so important to pick the right time for your burst and not just do it.
Of the three builds youve listed, ive found backstab to be probably the highest skill cap to play, but the most effective.

Alot of the top EU thiefs seem to go D/D. I know it has higher initial burst. IT does more damage in 3 seconds, but less in 6 or more. Also d/p has more escape.

I find build three ‘node assault’ does very well in free tournies. But seems to fade from usefulness in paids.

NevirSayDie.6235:

daydream.2938:

Bunkers are always.
1. Highly durable. With good healing.
2. Tend to do low damage ( ele bunkers are sort of the exception here. ).

Bunkers usually are.
1. Responsible for stomping in team fights, as they have high durability.
2. STability buffs, important as heck on guaridan, to lesser extent on engy.

The main purpose of a bunker is to be able to hold a point 1vs2 for a meaningful length of time for help to come. Or to keep a point neutral in a team fight over a point.
Ideally bunkers should be able to last nearly indefinately in a 1vs1. making trying to solo a bunker, essentially a waste of time.

Good description. Just for the record, bunker engineers don’t have stability. 100nades engies have it on a 50/50 proc for 4 seconds…I only say this because someone lost to an engi once and started a rumor that they are OP.

bunker engies do indeed, the F(#) key that parrellels exlir s can grant stability for stomps. The reason i said some somewhat is that its RNG and can proc other effects. It should basically alawys be stability.

If your beating a trap ranger 1on1 with a mesmer, odds are it isnt a very good trap ranger.
Yes rangers, and ele’s are probalby the strongest 1on1 class in the game.

Valkyriez.6578:

I say give it a go. The balance argument is weak, the game is just as unbalanced out of water then in so who cares. Who gives a flying if rangers are good underwater? Better then being Insta gibbed by thieves everywhere else.

Are yiou crazy? do you have any idea how OP ranger down state underwater is?

Follidus.8027:

To be honest no matter what you do you’re going to see “cookie cutter” builds because people will always copy what top players are playing.

Not unjustifiably though. The top players put alot of time into there specs, for a more casual player who maybe doesnt understand everything and have the time to figure it out, copying is a good strategy.

Also, some ppl will copy a top player spec, but then make modifications over time to suite there own needs/playstyle.

Bunkers are always.
1. Highly durable. With good healing.
2. Tend to do low damage ( ele bunkers are sort of the exception here. ).

Bunkers usually are.
1. Responsible for stomping in team fights, as they have high durability.
2. STability buffs, important as heck on guaridan, to lesser extent on engy.

The main purpose of a bunker is to be able to hold a point 1vs2 for a meaningful length of time for help to come. Or to keep a point neutral in a team fight over a point.
Ideally bunkers should be able to last nearly indefinately in a 1vs1. making trying to solo a bunker, essentially a waste of time.

Absolutely. Allow us to save and switch builds PLEASE.
A tab in the pvp locker, that saves gear/spec. You just click and all your traits and gear are switched over.
Would be fantastic.

You could even monotize it, selling extra spec slots for gems. (though please not too expensive!).
But , while i disagree with the poster above (produde) that this is a trivial matter. (its a common complaint amonst casuals and high ranking pvpers ). its not a major priority either, hes right about that.

Imo they should reward people with xp and some small amount of money.
Obviously not for ‘spvp land’ itself. But for the overworld. Its annoying to spvp mainly and be unable to keep up with your teammates in wvww bc they are geared to the teeth and your level 10 with (obviously) no exotics.

More importantly, A TON of players who pve/wvw dont do spvp because they cant progress in it, and therefore feel its a waste of time. So allowing progression , especially experience progression (leveling up) through spvp would draw such a huge crowd.
The difficutly of course would be in how to allow that while at the same time keeping spvp free of gear and experience variables.

felivear.1536:

daydream.2938:

felivear.1536:

daydream.2938:

Free tournies won grant tickets.
Right now its a barrier to entry for sure. and a problem.
But i have over a100 paid tickets and i havnt spent a cent.

they need to reduce the cost of paids to 3. Also , if you place high in paids you earn gems (not this week w the 1vs1 tourny). and gems can buy tickets, so consistantly winning allows you to consistantly Q.

I don’t think a barrier for entry is a problem as long as it is very small. It encourages teams to group up with good players and coordinate. 1 ticket, I think, is a perfect system. I’m OK with no tickets for wins, but OK if they give 1 for a win too.

Now, having said that, I think free tournament needs to be a solo/duo only now, where players can earn their tickets back against other players that are also solo/duo queueing.

I disagree, new teams need a consequence free way to pratice.

1 ticket is a tiny tiny cost though. I do see where you are coming from; however, I don’t think 1 ticket is a large consequence. It just assures that people don’t constantly throw themselves into paids without having a small thought going into it.

A team isn’t ready to go into paids if they don’t even have 30+ tickets built up from winning frees.

the problem here is that you want free tournies to be solo/duo only. Its easy enough to get good enough to win frees consistantly with a team. Not by solo or duo quing. Additionaly that means they cant pratice with 5 until paids. Also what about casual teams, like wvw, or pve mainly guilds that want to do some tournies. Ive seen them alot this week with ppl doing the paids. They are getting farmed by pugs, should they simply be unable to group up and play together till they all can farm some ticketS? Would take them quite a while. And what of new teams, who after getting there tickets join a PAID tourny for there very first 5 man group EVER. And get stomped by paid teams that are so far ahead of them in every aspect of teamwork. The first time you ever make a 5 man can’t be in paids only, say goodbye to every new team that ever might be.

You cant make frees solo Q only. DO i think pugs running into premades is a problem? sure, thats y they need matchmaking. Pugs can be competitive vs low ranked new players even if premade. While more experienced premades, worst case at least would be going against good pugs.
But more often premades.

I think if they introduced crapicorn 50% of the pvp community would quit.

The paid free division never needed to happen, had they simply introduced 1on1, with a ranking at the start. The pvp in the game would have been so much more popular by now.
Sigh. But at least things are looking up.

But. If they do keep 1on1’s going, they shoudl at least make sure to rotate what map its on

stayed alive the most? idk ull see some tools kiting aroudn to avoid fights to pick that one up. Holding a point, thats not bad.

Virgil Kemp.7056:

firebreathz.7692:

can i ask when you state “the game is not intended to be balanced for 1v1” is there any arenanet post that says this or just from the player base?

They’ve said about a thousand times that the game is balanced for 5v5 conquest.

It’s also, incredibly obvious. Ive dueled 100’s of times in empty hotjoins, and certain class matchs-ups are blatantly 1 sided.
I’d like dueling, but not an official ranked 1vs1.