Guild Wars 2

ParagonPaladin.7516:

No. How about you leave tomes in as elites, and give us more tomes as part of specialization stuff later? Renewed Focus is useful but oh so boring. I appear to be in the minority here since I usually swap between both tomes depending on whether I think the party is gonna die or needs a hand with aoe cc/quickness.

Super disappointing that you’re thinking of replacing them :\

Yep agreed, in fact I had the thought why not make the elite spec abilities all tomes, similar to the engi kits. Traps are not even ground targeted and in all probability not many will use them as a result.

So you want to get rid of 2 of the more unique aspects of guardians because they don’t fit in with your new world view about all abilities having to belong to a group of like abilities. Don’t approve of it at all.

How about you look to improve the tomes rather than replace them making the class less interesting? Tome of courage is used in WvW, tome of wrath needs work.

However that shout does look good, OP even.

coglin.1867:

morrolan.9608:

Forestgreen.7981:

I don’t understand why people keep raving about how good it is when its clearly not. If it hits a warrior that’s properly geared for hammer trains in WvW it’ll stop him moving for a like 0.2 seconds and completely waste the thief’s venom share.

If its not OP why have EU guilds banned it from GvGs?

They don’t

According to those on the wvw forum they have.

BlackBeard.2873:

morrolan.9608:

Zelyhn Lekovitch.2867:

morrolan.9608:

It must be said though that with HOT from what I understand the base health of all classes will be standardised to the same value so Ele’s will get some value from that.

Where do you get that from?

The original livestream 2 weeks ago on the changes to existing traits. And I’ve had it confirmed by someone in the know. They stated that base stats will be standardised across all classes.

You are mis-interpreting what was said. What they are doing is increasing all the base stats by a few points to partially counteract the loss of stats from traitlines. The rest of those stats are going on gear/amulets. They have never insinuated that all classes were going to be getting the same health pools.

Nope no misinterpretation, they said all base stats were going to be standardised.

Forestgreen.7981:

I don’t understand why people keep raving about how good it is when its clearly not. If it hits a warrior that’s properly geared for hammer trains in WvW it’ll stop him moving for a like 0.2 seconds and completely waste the thief’s venom share.

If its not OP why have EU guilds banned it from GvGs?

Akikaze.1307:

The name would be more fitting to Warriors. Despite that, I’m still pumped for it.

Heh this is exactly what I said. The community suggestions were much better. The changes to virtues sound good but the new abilities being all traps is just so unimaginative just like the mesmers being all wells was. Surely they could have mined more abilities from GW1.

Zelyhn Lekovitch.2867:

morrolan.9608:

It must be said though that with HOT from what I understand the base health of all classes will be standardised to the same value so Ele’s will get some value from that.

Where do you get that from?

The original livestream 2 weeks ago on the changes to existing traits. And I’ve had it confirmed by someone in the know. They stated that base stats will be standardised across all classes.

Windsagio.1340:

seems like they only enhance your class traits instead of changing them, and the increase in power is pretty meaningful.

Trying to think of a case of why not to use one so far.

(I checked to see if there was a thread on this, surprisingly I can’t find one!)

Of course because they want people to buy the xpac. Having said that the new abilities revealed as far are extremely unimaginative, all wells for mesmer, all traps for guardians.

Its a poor name for a guardian, would fit a warrior more. The community suggestions like Paragon are far better.

Mork vom Ork.2598:

The 1500 range on Grenades is the only weapon engineers have when attacking/defendig towers/keeps in WvW.
Unless Mortar attack speed and damage is buffed by at least 100% and the cooldown on #1 removed it will be useless as a replacement.

But mortar is being buffed, they haven’t given the details but it seems clear that it will be far more viable in HOT.

Kaleban.9834:

When the guy/team responsible for balancing professions says that CORE functionality of said profession needs to be a choice, then goes on to handout OP traits as baseline mechanics for nearly every other profession but yours, exactly what is the conclusion that can be drawn?

Unfortunately Elementalist appears to have the worst designer in charge of it in contrast to say Engineer and Mesmer the designers of which I’m far more impressed with.

BlackBeard.2873:

Here is the true problem: by giving eles the lowest health and armor, they have to give some very powerful active capabilities to deal with both power damage and conditions (as they are very susceptible to both).

It must be said though that with HOT from what I understand the base health of all classes will be standardised to the same value so Ele’s will get some value from that.

MidoriMarch.8067:

I’ve heard Sea of Sorrow has most OCE players is it still valid?

I would say the T1 servers probably have the most ocx players.

Ralanost.8913:

And it won’t. If you took a few minutes to read the blog you would know that wasn’t the case. This whole thread is people being lazy and paranoid and blowing things out of proportion.

Not really anet have been ambiguous otherwise we wouldn’t have this thread, anet should make a categoric statement. If it is as ppl are now saying in this thread that we will get hero points for every ability and trait already unlocked thats fine.

Roe.3679:

I think the idea is to rework traits so that every line is good, and then what you’re giving up is a trait line from the core profession. I’d assume the specialization trait line will be necessary for the Specializations to not be bad. Plus mesmers get shields, but it doesn’t seem it has clone or phantasm generation? So there is give and take there.

It still seems you’re right. But it’s not quite that bad.

But we know how the trait lines will be revamped now to a large extent and chronomancer still looks like being absolutely necessary, far better than any other single line.

Sizer.5632:

So people who dont want to play in ranked arenas will basically have to suck it up and deal with this map permanently in the rotation? (not trying to whine, but seriously wondering if thats the case)

Don’t vote for it then. I like the map and think there should be more DM maps in rotation.

Heck i don’t like skyhammer, spirit watch or foefire but suck it up if they’re voted for.

phys.7689:

• the second trait system pushed back unlocks to higher levels
  so if you were say 60, and had all your grandmasters, you got reset back until you reached 80

Yeah but lvl 80s didn’t have their progress reset. So it should be the same here. And Mike O’Brien specifically said it about HOT.

spoj.9672:

I know its annoying. But i dont really see a way round it. Blame anet for introducing an abundance of skillpoints to the game. I think you are just going to have to suck it up. The system afterwards will be better anyway. People are just too used to getting everything unlocked through scrolls.

Of course there’s a way around it anyone at level 80 has all traits and abilities unlocked apart from the new elite spec.

As I noted previous Mike O’Brien PROMISED that no-ones progress would be reset.

I agree solo version should be baseline especially when you consider what has been made baseline for other classes.

They haven’t provided any further details. My guess is that it will become a stackable condition which is the way they seem to be going with all conditions.

MandJ.8965:

So, just to be sure: The character I played in PvE since Release to 80, then only did WvW with him, has only 400 points and I need to unlock the rest of the skills I already have right now?? If this is true, I’m definetly out.

We don’t know because anet haven’t commented. Given how it was handled in the NPE I would guess that all 80s will be given access to all traits and abilities apart from the elite but I don’t trust them not to kitten it up.

Eurhetemec.9052:

Better than SWTOR, though, talk about “nickle and dimed”!

The in game reward systems in swtor are in actual fact less grindy than GW2. Yes swtor has a lot available in its gem store but you can buy them with gold as well and its easier earning gold via a variety of methods in swtor than it is in GW2.

I think they need to implement option 1 for ascended items like they did for magic find. They have the capability so just do it. This way they get rid of any possible complaints about invalidating choices made under an old system.

I need the k train to level toons so …………..

Hyper Cutter.9376:

If you don’t want to do map completion, that’s not Anet’s fault.

Sure it would be when we have legitimately earned unlocks under the system in place.

Plus there’s a quote from Mike O’Brien floating somewhere around about anet promising never to invalidate what players have done in the past to earn skills/items/abilities in future changes. If abilities and traits are re-locked this would make a lie of that statement.

Healix.5819:

A small minority of people chose to grind/craft/tomes to level and as a result, has 0 skill challenges completed. Now they’re upset that they’re required to complete 65 skill challenges to unlock all core skills and traits, even though the base 400 points is enough to unlock everything they plan on using. They feel that since they have already unlocked these core traits/skills, they should be automatically unlocked in the new system.

I think you’re understating the numbers, the majority of WvW and PvP players with alts would in all probability have unlocked traits and abilities via scrolls and gold. We have legitimately earned the right to unlock those traits under the system in place therefore we certainly will be extremely upset if what we have done to earn those unlocks is swept aside.

PookieDaWombat.6209:

GreyWraith.8394:

This issue has been raised in several threads; as I said there:

All 8 of my characters were created shortly after launch (pre-NPE) but about half were leveled almost exclusively in WvW (or EoTM more recently, a couple languished at low levels for years). Their skills were unlocked by additional levels of XP beyond 80 and skill point scrolls.
Due to a lack of PvE/world exploration on those characters, when the new system comes out they will not have enough ‘hero points’ to unlock all of the 5 trait lines + all skills which I have unlocked right now.
Anet needs to provide some extra hero points for grandfathered characters so that players who have earned their unlocks through non-PvE methods aren’t screwed. Make the boost proportional to the % of traits & skills unlocked at expansion release.

While i agree they need to, I’m not 100% convinced they will.

:(

If they dont they will face a backlash on the order of Nov 2012

Ark Bladesteele.2943:

morrolan.9608:

GreyWraith.8394:

gennyt.3428:

You’ve become Henge of Dragonbrand. Enjoy!

LOL.

True though. But most DB WvW guilds went to TC, Mag, FA or YB. Only a couple guilds went to HoD.

15min+ queues on reset night are not unusual

I’ve just learned that a TC guild went to HOD.

Would that be [STUN]? I saw one of them on our BL reset night and asked if they were coming here and was told they were scouting multiple servers. Are you sure?

No Hel.

Nikkinella.8254:

As someone who mains ele, i’m gonna tell you that you couldn’t be more wrong. Ele’s survival and damage is going in the crapper. Engi absolutely will replace ele, theres no doubt about that. A few will remain that don’t mind being mindless field generating bots. But on a competitive level, ele will be a liability to have with you like it was before cele was introduced. With just zerging, it probably wont make much of a difference, but as far as gvg or anything like that goes, engi will be the far better choice.

The thread is specifically about WvW raiding, I also main a staff ele in WvW and my role won’t change that much from what I can see.

GreyWraith.8394:

gennyt.3428:

You’ve become Henge of Dragonbrand. Enjoy!

LOL.

True though. But most DB WvW guilds went to TC, Mag, FA or YB. Only a couple guilds went to HoD.

15min+ queues on reset night are not unusual

I’ve just learned that a TC guild went to HOD.

coglin.1867:

morrolan.9608:

Sind Bowdragon.8374:

With summer fast approaching I’m curios to know, are we not having any WvW seasons this year? I’ve seen lots of stuff for TPvP tournaments but nothing for WvW.

Cause every season results in more players leaving the game due to it bringing out the worst in the wvw community.

My experience suggest it is rather the opposite.

+

It brings pve players in not new players and in every season wvw was left with a smaller population when they ended.

This is an emerging question that must be answered, especially for condi builds.

Zephyra.4709:

Ithilwen.1529:

By the Six, I hope not. Where’s the strategy in a mini version of WvW zerg fighting?

You hope not? In PvP? You mean, player versus player? No TDM?

Yep, never mind the fact that its nothing like wvw zerg fighting.

I hope they come out with more maps like it but not a separate queue unless we can queue for both at the same time. I like alternating the conquest with DM.

Pockets.3201:

The whole point is to waste your time and draw it all out to keep you playing to work on it. That is how MMOs tend to work, sadly.

Well yeah but the ascended gear grind is worse than most.

Sind Bowdragon.8374:

With summer fast approaching I’m curios to know, are we not having any WvW seasons this year? I’ve seen lots of stuff for TPvP tournaments but nothing for WvW.

Cause every season results in more players leaving the game due to it bringing out the worst in the wvw community.

mrstealth.6701:

FrizzFreston.5290:

Also alot of people invested by buying specific armor and gear for their build in the form of ascended weaponary and such and after all that fine tuning they pull out the rug from under us because they want a new rug which will be better able for future additions. (Which could be explained as a necessary evil or something that’s not worth it) Plus who’s not to say they won’t do this later on when they change their minds again.

I’m very surprised this hasn’t come up more often. Of course, any change to skills and traits comes with the chance of nerfing builds and causing gear to need replaced. But these are some sweeping changes across more than just the traits themselves that are going to affect a larger number of players.

I know I’m most likely going to need to replace some lost vitality from the 4th traitline. Having the stats on gear increased doesn’t compensate for that when we’re using little/no vitality gear. The base stat is only going up by around 75, so someone with 6 points into their 4th/vit traitline and no vit gear will lose 2250 HP.

The hardest hit stats will be condition damage and healing power, unless they raise their (currently 0) base stat by a significant amount. I have at least one build where the 300 condi damage from a traitline is a huge portion of the build’s overall condi damage stat. Somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2. I doubt that the condi damage stat on my gear will be boosted enough to make up for that loss.

The funny thing is that 3 years ago I was arguing against having stats in trait lines. It would have been a great idea to uncouple them at that time. But now, it’s too late for changes like that. Coupled stats and traitlines do somewhat push us down certain paths, but we have already embraced the idea, integrated it into our builds, and built our gear around it.

Good points especially when ascended gear is such a grind. There is a definite risk that current armor will be invalidated. And the point on condition damage and healing also needs to be borne in mind by anet especially for those running condition builds.

Marcus Greythorne.6843:

Imho earned things shouldn’t be taken away from players, this only creates anger and frustration, especially when looking at alts and the repetitive process of unlocking it the same way as before over and over.

Spot on I’m in a similar boat to the OP if they take away the traits and abilities that I already have earned via gold and scrolls I will not be happy. You do not take away what the players already have under a previous system just because you change systems going forward.

To me its easy, if a toon is level 80 it gets allocated 465 hero points on the changeover (or whatever the full amount required is).

Watching mesmer section now and they allude to confusion working differently.

ETA I’m surprised there’s not more discussion on the removal of the trait that gave enemies confusion with glamours.

So this whole exercise was a waste of time, with no actual AMA, good going anet.

IMHO the engi changes look probably the best of all classes providing buffs to underutilised skills and enabling build variety and whats more apart from the moa they are generally logical. If Matt Lotharius is primarily responsible then kudos to him.

Nikkinella.8254:

I’m most looking forward to what that f5 on mortar can do. Looks like it would be easy to avoid in a small fight but in a large scale fight it could be devastating. I’m pretty sure engi will replace ele considering the massive nerfs to core ele skills.

Engy will maybe move alongside eles as support but the core ele wvw skills arent really changing,

Glenstorm.4059:

I don’t understand how the devs can make Illusionary Persona and Illusionary Elasticity baseline for mesmers, but force us to choose between the EAs.

PLEASE, PLEASE make a self-only version of Elemental Attunement a baseline functionality for us, and convert the GM version to extend the effect to allies.

This is actually a pretty good idea.

coglin.1867:

morrolan.9608:

coglin.1867:

Orochimaru.4730:

Not read the above links, but come on already, since when has there been an update or patch which improved WvW?!

There have been a great very many. Removing the orb aspect in EB for one.

That wasn’t a positive change.

Really? With hundreds of post, and thread upon thread, demanding its change, It seemed pretty unanimously desired to me.

We wanted the hacking to be fixed, when the orbs were removed the game definitely lost something.

Brother Grimm.5176:

I’m still convinced that those players that complain about GW2’s “gear grind” have NO idea what that term means if you seriously think GW2 has it.

The fact that the grind is differentl from other mmos doesn’t mean it isn’t a grind.

Well unless I’ve completely misinterpreted what is going to happen with HOT this will not be a problem after HoT.

Shaogin.2679:

With a 6/2/0/4/2 P/P Condi build, will I be able to get Hair Trigger still?

Doubt it unless hair trigger is merged into the ability. OTOH we will be able to go 6/0/0/6/6.

The obvious question is for those who only WvW (or PvP for that matter) how will we obtain hero points to unlock the skills and traits?

ronpierce.2760:

I’ll gladly take a little less pseudo choice for a better way to balance.

This is what they said would happen in swtor and balance actually skewed worse with their discipline change.

Andred.1087:

Could you guys please for once stop pretending you know more about this than the kittening devs do… They’re doing an AMA tomorrow to clarify questions, for kitten’s sake!

Actually it is crystal clear that we will lose diversity in the way the OP describes, the medi guardian build will be impossible, yes builds will be adapted but there will be inherently less build diversity and less choice.

coglin.1867:

Orochimaru.4730:

Not read the above links, but come on already, since when has there been an update or patch which improved WvW?!

There have been a great very many. Removing the orb aspect in EB for one.

That wasn’t a positive change.

BrooksP.4318:

Test.8734:

It’s as if ArenaNet were trying to make people stop playing GW2.

Or they noticed people where already stopping playing, which caused this change. Cosmetic only grinds can only hold for so long, this isn’t surprising nor all that bad.

Um the cosmetic grind in GW2 is poor since it completely lacks the variety of cosmetics required. So it hasn’t failed.