Guild Wars 2

If you mean buffs the pet casts, pet’s don’t get their stats based on the Ranger’s stats. They have their own stats, some of which can be improved through Beastmastery points, and traits such as Expertise Training (+350 to pets’ condi damage).

I have not heard of a way to increase the duration of buffs cast by pets, though Fortifying Bond can increase duration/number of stacks on pets when both the Ranger and the pet receive the initial cast of the boon. For example, if you have Fortifying Bond and both the Ranger and the pet get 5 stacks of Might at the same time, the pet will actually end up with 10 stacks. 5 from the initial cast, and 5 from the Ranger via Fortifying Bond. I’m pretty sure boons that only stack duration, such as Swiftness and Regen, will add the duration of the original cast to the amount provided by FB. So, if an ally casts a 10-second Regen that hits both the Ranger and the pet, the Ranger will get 10 seconds of Regen, and the pet will get 15. If only the Ranger is in range of the cast, he will get 10 and the pet will get 5, since FB only gives 5 seconds of Regen to the pet.

Sicarius.4639:

Ranger pets taking too much damage – “Meh”

Ranger pets doing too much damage – “We’ll fix this right now!”

Oh how the truth hurts!

I think it’s always been that way. Pets have their own stats. Some vary depending on which pet you choose, and some can be changed by traits such as Compassion Training (Healing Power) and expertise training (Condition Damage).

I believe as long as your target doesn’t have 25 stacks of bleeding, you still get benefit from your bird bleeds; they’re just not as effective as the bleeds you apply yourself. In other words, you can have 2 stacks from you for 250, plus 2 stacks from the birds for 168 for a total of 418.

Supposedly there was a bug where wolves were hitting for 5-12K after patch, but that has been reported as fixed. So, if the OP is being serious, maybe the bug effected bears as well, or the Ranger switched to a canine, which does open with a leaping knockdown. I can assure you Anet would not intentionally give bears that kind of damage. Also, there’s a way Norn Rangers (and probably other classes) can go into bear from, and do a huge knockback with massive damage.

“Poison Master: When swapping pets, your pet’s first attack will inflict poison. Poison you apply deals 50% extra damage.”

Sigil of Doom doesn’t provide 50% extra damage to poison. I’m not saying I’m going to drop EB for PM, but 50% extra damage is nothing to sneeze at. I wonder if that actually also applies to poison inflicted by the pet; probably not, but that would make it even more interesting.

I’m going back to trying the SB again in WvW because of it’s rate of fire, combined with on-hit sigils. What’s the Ranger braintrust’s opinion of Sigil of Frailty now? Using both Frailty and Sigil of Peril, plus a feline pet, it seems pretty easy to keep 4-7 stacks of vulnerability on a target with the SB.

I have not yet tested, but Hunter’s Call (War Horn) could also provide about 8 stacks of vuln quickly, and of course LB Rapid fire should be able to really pile it up, and Barrage should provide about 6 stacks of AOE vuln.

I’ve never really given much thought to vulnerability, but it seems like a potentially powerful condition because (as I understand it) unlike other conditions, it’s impact isn’t dependant on condition damage stats, and it scales with the number of attackers and the damage of the attacks. Every bit of damage, from every source, becomes more effective.

Thoughts?

Season 2 so far is going great for us on SBI. Lots of cooperation and hard fighting being put forth. This week has been the most fun I’ve had in WvW in a while, and I almost always have fun in WvW. So many epic fights with FA and IOJ both open field and for keeps and towers.

SBI and T3 is a great place to be, if you’re looking for a solid community in a tier that doesn’t suffer the queue and blob issues that T1 and T2 do, but still offers plenty of action and plenty of people with amazing dedication and resillency.

Defending is viable, if you have enough people willing to do it, and players willing and ready to switch maps when the call for help goes out. IMO the biggest problem is just that gates go down too quickly, and that servers tend to not provide enough support/relief to the people willing to scout, build siege, refresh and such.

(Thread drift alert)

Out of curiosity, do people ever see the Outnumbered buff on high-tier servers?

On SBI (T3) we often saw Outnumbered before the tournament on the BL maps, including our own, especially during non-NA prime. Usually when we’d get it on our BL would be when we owned most of the map and it was quiet, then an enemy server would bring in a zerg to try and take what they could. If we could get forces to come in from another map to defend, it would go away. Outnumbered was commonplace on enemy BLs unless you went there as part of a zerg.

Since the season has started, I don’t recall seeing it much, if at all, other than when going to an enemy BL where we have little to no presence. I suspect during non-NA hours it’s still an issue even on our own BL at times.

If you must choose a new server, choose wisely. ;-)

Correct Kaos, but chances are good that a lot times somebody knows, or can easily deduce, when some form of cheating is going on. Those who do know what’s going on need to tell those who don’t by using /say and /map. I’m sure it’s harder to know when there aren’t many people on the map, but on crowded maps, most of the time there are a number of people on the offending server who know what’s going on, and they need to speak up.

Pyroathiest.4168:

..Flying Mesmer portals are one thing…

Turns out the same server did this, too, in a separate incident. At least one of their guild groups had the decency to leave the keep rather than stay and continue the assault, which I commend. This is the only thing we can do. Those of us who care about WvW need to plan ahead of time to abandon an assault when hacks/exploits are used by people on our side, and the people who use those methods need to be reported and shunned.

It wasn’t a case of hacking a gate. It was a pretty well known, illegitimate method to remove all defensive siege from the gate area, essentially regardless of its placement.

If you see someone doing something in game that’s clearly not acceptable to Anet (even if they do nothing to correct the problem) and the WvW community in general, please don’t capitalize on it.

You don’t have to take your guild/zerg through the gate just because it’s open. If it was opened thanks to illegitimate means (I’m 100% certain I just witnessed this happen to a previously well-sieged, T3 Garrison – we have screen shots). Be a leader and stand up for the good of the game. Refuse to continue the attack. Back off and call out the person on your server who committed the act instead of rushing in a like a looter during a natural disaster. If you’re a commander, lead your group the other way. If you’re not a commander, don’t follow one in. Go the other way, and use /say to tell others why you’re doing it. I know we have our bad apples, but I think there are more good ones than bad, and we need to stand up to people who do this crap, and leave them twisting in the wind.

Don’t count out SBI for second place (assuming FA doesn’t implode if they get stuck in silver). In a server meeting the night before reset it was discussed that a lot of our players needed a break from the WvW grind after 3 weeks of DB-SBI-SOR and several tough weeks prior to that as well. So, I don’t think we’re bringing our full force and effort to the battlefield this matchup. I’m not saying we’re a lock for 2nd or even 3rd, but this week’s performance may not be a true reflection of the effort we can put forth when we feel there’s something on the line. I’m hoping for/expecting “clear eyes and full hearts” on SBI, once the season starts.

Jeknar.6184:

Like escorting dolyaks wasn’t hard enough with sniping thieves… Now we’ll have to watch out for people of our own servers stealing supplies from dolyaks.

No thank you.

…and there won’t be anything you can do about when they do take supplies. Last night I watched our garrison supply go from 900 to 400 due to people too uneducated or too lazy to go to a nearby camp or even the supply drop in citadel we’d just gotten from EOTM, despite multiple pleas and admonitions by me and others in /map. Yaks are too essential to getting structures upgraded to leave their cargo’s security to the whims of the Great Unwashed.

Thanks Truearrow. The SBI regulars are supposed to be resting up this week and focusing on fun, since the season starts Friday and the DB-SBI-SOR matchup had gotten quite stale, but some of our people are having a hard time with the concept of “rest and relaxation.” Lotta hard working folks on SBI who feel a real sense of dedication and responsibility to the server.

Not speaking as a commander but as a defensive player, I suggest you figure out who the true siege masters on your server are, especially the ones who know how to place defensive siege, and utilize their knowledge and skill when you are defending an asset. A lot of times they’ll know the precise spot to place counter siege, whereas a commander might have a rough idea, or the wrong idea entirely, since they’re main focus is normally to be on offense. A good commander doesn’t have to know everything, but they’re wise to rely on trusted individuals who might have more expertise in certain areas than they do.

I’m not on FoW, so I can’t provide any advice on particular guilds. Also, I can’t find an official website for FoW, though one may be out there. You might find this FoW guild listing helpful:

http://gw2.guildex.org/guilds/eu/fissure-of-woe

Welcome to WvW, and best of luck!

hyjaxxx.1584:

im excited to make some new friends and some new wet spots on the borderlands grass.hehe

Bringing DB up to T2 would mean SOS would drop to T3 and face SBI, and IOJ. Wouldn’t be a fair matchup, but that’s nothing new in T3, so I don’t have a problem with this suggestion. (I’m on SBI)

It would be nice to see a playoff week like this where the servers on the bubble know everything is on the line and there will be a certain, tangible reward/punishment based on how well they do.

SBI would be a good fit, and if you’re interested we could easily help you host a Ranger training class. Also, I believe Xsorus is still on SBI. If that’s the case, we’d have (at least) two of the top Rangers in the game. I know a lot would be saying “big deal!” to that, but we do have people who play Ranger a lot, so there’s no reason to not inspire/help them get the most of out their profession.

Speaking in terms of the state of SBI, we seem stable and solid with the guilds and players we have now, at least for the most part. Our atmosphere is mostly relaxed and drama free. We continue to generate interest and occasional transfers in. Would love to have you join us.

If you’re looking for a fun and friendly guild either to partner your guild with, or to become a part of, SBI offers some excellent choices. Check us out, yo!

Gravy.7589:

Great militia on our server, that shows up consistently. SBI guilds are getting more involved in the GvG scene and will have a ton guilds to compete against in our tier, whether we get DB or FA. One of the best pvx communities. Join up!

Yep, our militia has been growing, our regulars showing up as always, and our training events bringing out big numbers, despite us being in week three of a wildly imbalanced matchup. Just last night someone from one of our mostly PVE guilds, [MxR] think it was, was asking me about what training classes we offered because they were going to be doing more WvW.

Be sure and check this guild out if you are interested in WvW with quality people, without being constantly in the kitten blobfest.

Bump for SBI’s new partners in OCX.

You might want to talk to the people in [IRE]: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/wuv/recruitment/Eternal-Conflict-IRE-OCX-guild-SBI

They’re OCX and recently transferred to SBI from T1. I think they did so to get away from the blobs.

I’m not going to blow smoke and say SBI has really good OCX coverage, but we have some, and are looking to add to it.

As a siege builder, I’ve really enjoyed some of the fights for our Garrison lately against massive Dragonbrand numbers. We do a great job of bending, but not breaking, when faced with seemingly hopeless odds.

As far as events go, it sounds like a we might be doing a tonic-herd stampede in the near future. Should be fun!

Despite ridiculously unbalanced matchup three weeks in a row, the SBI regulars are still out there, fighting the good fight. Our server has found a new commitment to map hopping, providing either help or pressure when and where it’s needed. Many thanks to the commanders and players who’ve stepped up and filled that need.

Sorry to hear it’s official. Those who are still playing, we’d love to have you back on SBI if you’re looking for a familiar, friendly place to call home again. We have several guilds who are recruiting, and we’re always eager to welcome back good players with good attitudes.

These guys are are already making a difference on SBI. OCXer’s, check them out.

Sorry to see you go Stim and I hope you find what you are looking for, but I strongly disagree with your assessment of SBI. We’re far from dead, in fact we just received a small-guild transfer from top-tier server, and I was contacted by a large guild last night from another server who’s considering a transfer to SBI.

For the third week in a row we’ve been in a very uneven matchup with DB way above us in coverage and SOR way below. There are plenty of us out there working our kittens off every day/night and winning battles nonetheless. Were we in a matchup with two servers closer to us in numbers – a true 3-way battle – it would be a different experience.

Anyway, sorry for somewhat contributing to the derailment of your thread, but SBI is a good server in a bad matchup. That’s all.

Best of luck in your search.

SBI welcomes all guilds and players who want to be part of a fun, friendly community. Whether you’re into high-level WvW, or PvX, if you’ve got a positive attitude, know how to avoid drama, and have the tenacity of a bulldog, SBI is the place for you.

SBI is still seeking quality guilds and individuals to join our friendly yet tenacious WvW community.

ShinsVortex.3175:

maybe SBI and SoR are doing it on purpose to drop in rank to get cheaper transfers? shrug just a hunch

I’m on SBI and I can assure we’re not intentionally tanking. In fact, we’re fighting very hard and a lot of people are putting in some seriously long hours, but we just don’t have the coverage to compete with DB. There are 7 stacked servers right now and a big gulf between them and the servers below them.

SOR is still in free fall from their mass exodus. When another server moves into T3 to take SOR’s place, maybe the matchup won’t be quite so lopsided. Right now it’s effectively DB v. SBI, since SOR poses no real threat to DB or SBI.

I hope they do not. Gates are too easily breached. When it comes to defense, probably 5-10% of the people on a server do 90-95% of the work. Please ANet, don’t make our jobs harder, and further tilt the game in favor of the zerg.

If you possess and value a positive, winning attitude, you should come to SBI.

If you treat those in your community with respect, you should come to SBI.

If you don’t mind working while you play, you should come to SBI.

If you are hungry to learn, or happy to teach, you should come to SBI

If you are willing to lead, or eager to follow good leadership, you should come to SBI.

WvW isn’t just about your build, your tactics, and the speed at which you can mash the right buttons. It’s also about heart, teamwork, dedication and determination.
I encourage any guild or player from any timezone who possesses the following characteristics to strongly consider SBI:

• Work well with others
• Treat others with respect, and strive to avoid drama
• Have a positive, winning attitude
• Focus on improving yourself rather than complaining about others

Let SBI be the destination for guilds and players with not only skill and knowledge, or the hunger to grow as a WvW player, but also winning attitudes, determination, maturity and respect.

www.stormbluffisle.com

Very fun night last night on SBI BL We had hoped to have a defensive siege training event, but with 3 waypointed keeps and a ton of Dragonbrand on the map, our priorities shifted to holding onto our stuff, which we did quite nicely, tyvm. We still got in a little siege training as well as open-field-fight training, then eventually moved on to flip DB’s WP’d Garrison. Much later in the night, DB tried to return the favor and spent a between 1 and 2 hours trying to take our Garri, but they only ate arrows and boulders. Good times on SBI.

SBI has WvW, PvE and PvX guilds, some of which have been there since reset or at least very early on, and some who’ve transferred in in the last couple of months.

Our community is back to being great again after a bit of turmoil, and a cleansing. The WvW community is quite experienced and generally mature, and we welcome new players and guilds with positive, team-oriented attitudes who can hold their kitten together, keep fighting, and remain respectful of fellow SBI members, even after weeks of tough matchups.

We have TS, a website with an active forum, very frequent PvE events, WvW training, a “server” guild – Champions of SBI, and more.

There are a number of active SBI threads here in the recruitment section. Here is one of them:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/wuv/recruitment/The-SBI-Recruitment-Thread/first

Let us know if you are interested in learning more about SBI. We welcome the opportunity to show you what we’re all about.

www.stormbluffisle.com

Oil is OK for small-scale attacks, bu try using it when there’s a 40 man zerg at the gate with half a clue of what they are supposed to do.

Please Anet, DO NOT nerf gate cannons and trebs. Defenders “take it in the shorts” over so many issues already. Nerfing cannons/trebs will mean more ACs behind gates, which means more time wasted refreshing. I’m sick to death of refreshing already.

Supply drain is a good balance feature. It should be feasible for a skeleton crew to defend an asset against an organized zerg, if that crew has well-placed siege to use, and supply drain helps make that possible.

Yes, it’s frustrating an illogical to have walls upgrade before gates. Paper gates are just one more reason those who value holding on to assets/defending have to almost constantly babysit important structures.

I guess I was OK with Anet’s past move to eliminate damage to rams by catas inside gates because there’s little cost in time and supply to build a cata for every gate, but I think canons and trebs should remain as is so as not to tip the balance too much in favor of the attackers. Some of the most dedicated WvW players around spend hours and hours sieging up, upgrading, and scouting their holdings, and they’re already burdened enough by having to run hundreds of supplies from camps and refreshing every frigging worthwhile piece of siege on the map (other than cannons and mortars). Anet, please don’t add another slap to their faces by making it even harder to defend. Attackers should have to be at least somewhat skilled and creative to get into upgraded, sieged up structures.

Also, on SBI we are starting to focus heavily on twerking.

Try it. You might like it.

Vystirch.3418:

Is there a list somewhere of all the servers WvW ranks currently?

Yes, here:

http://mos.millenium.org/na/matchups/

Yep, SBI! I think we have what you are looking for, so long as you are happy with not being in the T1 /T2 blob fest.

I don’t do PVE, but I know we have a lot of people who do. They hold weekly PVE events that generate a lot of participation. We are very active in WvW, especially in NA prime, and have a core of experienced, dedicated, hard-working players who are mostly easy to get along with and respectful.

In the interest of full disclosure regarding WvW, we are on the south side of the gulf between the high-pop/bandwagon servers and those with medium WvW populations, so we simply can’t compete in PPT with any server above position 8 right now, due to numbers, but we are having a lot of fun nonetheless. We have a core of people who don’t give up, even when the matchup is incredibly uneven, and we welcome others who are willing to work, even with the going gets tough, and who treat their servermates with respect.

www.stormbluffisle.com

SBI is recruiting guilds and players in all time zones who:

• Love WvW
• Don’t mind hard work
• Will fight where they are most needed, regardless of the map
• Focus on what they can do for the server rather than what the server can do for them
• Treat everyone around them with respect

Love seeing [Deth] on the map, cuz I know they bring the pain!

Bumping for this group of experienced, mature, fun-loving players.

Not sure how high-pop you are looking for, but SBI would certainly appreciate your defensive mindset. We have some defenders, such as myself, and we have gotten much better about map hopping to bring the zerg in when needed. We recently lost a lot of players to T1-2 servers and have stabilized from that, leaving us with a core of very dedicated and reasonably mature players who mostly get along well and welcome like-minded guilds and players. We’ve also continued to receive transfers in, even while others were moving off, in pursuit of T1 glory. We’d like to see SBI grow a bit and even out coverage with the help of more dedicated, even tempered, goal-oriented players to add to our existing core.