Tips to manage salt and toxicity in WvW
EremiteAngel.9765
Member ✭✭✭✭
Although by default, many gamers would be less than desirably matured due to their actual young age and limited exposure in life, things can improve much faster if we are aware of the childishness of our actions and thoughts.
Just by being aware that what we are doing is childish and with a desire to change for the better, we can mature much faster as a player and as a person.
While we can't really control the type of persons we encounter in WvW, we can learn to manage their toxicity and salt better.
Let us list out some of the childish behaviors in game:
- Whispering nasty comments after winning/losing a fight
- Throwing siege or dancing on corpses
- Standing over downed opponents and watching them bleed out
- Knowingly interrupting duels
- Pulling tactivators needlessly
- Wasting supplies on needless siege
- Insulting your commander or server mates
- etc.
I'm pretty sure most WvW old-timers would have experienced 1 or more of the above over the years.
As a frequent troll in game, on the forums and being a popular Necro roaming video creator myself, I've faced my fair share of salt/toxicity.
People have gone from criticizing my game-play to my character to my family to my ancestors.
In the past, I would have traded vile barbs with them while feeling real anger.
This is however not a good way to handle things.
Your mood turns sour, your day turns bad, you lose sleep, over a video game!
So how do we handle these behaviors better?
The most important tip I can share is, be aware that this is only a game, a minute and ultimately unimportant part of your life on earth.
And when you realize this, you'll be able to ignore the salt/toxicity.
And ignoring and not replying, is your best shield against them 
Comments
Salt is the meta endgame of WvW. Without it, this would be a game mode of capping structures over, and over, and over again. How boring would that be?
[VII] Spectre Legacy - Declared Best NA Guild by Grimaldi
Crystal Desert Consul Member and President of Scrubs; declared most toxic server NA by Z E Y
[VII] wants fights! Please bring your pug rangers for UD progress.
Mind you, you'll miss a lot of fights this way, but it IS relatively quiet and peaceful if you are looking for that. I do this sometimes when I just want to roam and "run silent."
How many times we gotta tell you GRIND IS NOT CONTENT there ANet?
Leader of Tyrian Adventure Corp [TACO], member of [RaW][TACO][Owls][HELL] Alliance, Kaineng.
Hypocrisy is also a form of toxicity.
Founder & Retired Leader of Equinox Solstice [TIME], a Singapore-Based International PvX Guild
Henge of Denravi
https://discord.gg/P5dj7fd
I...., That was worded perfectly.
Well Done.
Thank You for the {MEME}
As if wvw isn’t all about ktrain what it’s paper or no effort to xd
Slayers [XD] NSP Guild
Yao Chen Herald/Ventari
Ying Wuxian Renegade/Demon
No effort to...? I try to avoid ktrains. They make me fall asleep.
[VII] Spectre Legacy - Declared Best NA Guild by Grimaldi
Crystal Desert Consul Member and President of Scrubs; declared most toxic server NA by Z E Y
[VII] wants fights! Please bring your pug rangers for UD progress.
Same, unless enemy can respond with a decent fight.
Slayers [XD] NSP Guild
Yao Chen Herald/Ventari
Ying Wuxian Renegade/Demon
Trolls win when you react.
If you ignore them they move on eventually. I don't even bother blocking them.
The tactivator issue might be something ANET could work on but the other stuff on your list is just a part of PvP in general.
@EremiteAngel.9765 , to deal with / prevent salt:
Just to nitpick, especially with the 0 respawn timer and mounts this can be a valid / necessary tactic to prevent enemies from coming back to the fight & prevent a capture even sooner.
This and
(left out the duels since you put "knowingly there :P )
Are pretty much negative examples for my point of "don't assume malicious intent by default".
Happy roaming!
I personally try to initiate more of those civil whispers, it just always come back the same way. But I do think anonymity won't solve the problem of toxicity (there are many ways to be toxic without chat) but it removes the possibility to get to know people from a different angle and the option to clear up misunderstandings. I'd even argue for seeing enemy names. I've had it happen multiple times that I met enemies, and while maybe a bit salty at first after a few duels, a bit of conversation etc. you left "in peace" and occasionally wave each other when meeting again. The strange thing is, sometimes you see them a couple of weeks / months later, they don't remember who you are and behave salty again. And you're like "hey, I know you, with've been through this already".
And a bit of rivalry, salty or friendly (as long as it's not downright toxic), is what spices up WvW fights. I've played some games that block any player interaction other then a selection of emojis and it's just bland. It's impersonal, if the game blocks any interaction that goes beyond its defined mechanics I could as just well play vs AI.
SD Engi / Holo roaming videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/algeyr
This does not belong on the list. WvW is a server vs server gamemode. If I see someone from an enemy server and want to attack them then that is just part of the gamemode.
If the duel takes place in "duel specific areas" like obsidian sanctum and the arena in EoTM then sure but not in arbitary dueling spots made up by players.
Thanks Morpheus, you've really pulled the wool off my eyes.
All is vain.
The salt does not get responded to. Rather, it gets displayed in the trophy case.
they throw siege? I dont care
they jump/dance? I dont care
The whisper insults? I lol and dont bother to answer
Turned off teamchat
wvw can be so nice.
Drivning force of wvw is emotion. Nid emotions to log in.
Honestly, I feel like this is kind of meh.
I used to be trying to be always nice and stuff to other anon players, even the trolls and corpse jumpers/gankers (2+ players ganking 1 at a time). But I realized it was a waste of effort to be nice and kind to the .. mean/childish players.
Perhaps I should start my own thread discussing this, but I don't see salt/toxicity as a problem that can be fixed. WvW, or any open world pvp setting is bound to have toxicity and all you can do is limit it a little bit with things like the option to block people.
People aren't mad/toxic at the game, they are mad at other people/players. So while yes it's just a game, we are playing with and against other people. Why do you think road rage exist? You can't just say "it's just a road!" And pretend it's a good reason not to get frustrated at the other terrible drivers on the road who are making it worse for everybody.
The general consensus is that you let them win by paying attention, or letting it get to you, annoy you etc. But honestly, most of the time we are kidding ourselves when we try to pretend we aren't affected at all, ever.
I personally don't treat others badly. I roam solo 90% of the time so I've had my fair share of salt and toxicity. But if i see someone repeatedly griefing me with multiple people etc, yea it's annoying and frustrating. Especially when I already know I could beat them in a 1v1 or 2v2. If they grief me and act toxic, jump on my corpse etc, I will do the same to them. Usually I get the last laugh anyway as the players that act like that are usually mediocre and decent at best. I'm not gonna pretend I can be a White Knight and act nice to them despite what that did and suddenly they will change their behavior for good.
UNLESS they salt whisper you but are willing to listen. Sometimes you can even make friends with them if you are nice to them.
What's next? Telling roleplayers to stop their fantasy acts in PvE? Who are you to dictate how people should play? If crashing into a dueling spot and sucking the fun out of everyone isn't a toxic behavior, I don't know what it is.
If it's red, it's dead.
There should be WvW daily for:
-receiving salty whisps
-getting siege thrown
-getting corpse jumped
Dont mind me, I just randomly spam 35 skill-buttons
25.02.2020 edit - Nevermind, now I spam only 29 skill-buttons
none of these things bother me especially the dancing/jumping on my corpse it actually makes me feel good
.
cus i irritated them enough for him or her to get annoyed by me that hes happy to kill me
for me its just a feel good moment ;D
I miss the old Mag team chat. Best fights anywhere in the game were happening right in that channel.
REDUCE NA TO 3 TIERS
Asking people not to PVE in a PVE zone is a bit different than being in a mass PVP area using it for an entirely different purpose than what the designers intended. I dont typically roll over known duelers with a blob, but they have to understand its gonna happen from time to time in a mass PVP mode map.
What's next? Telling people in a mass PvP gamemode to not attack the enemies they want to attack?
The roleplayers can roleplay in PvE if they want to, duelers can duel in a mass PvP gamemode if they want to. Just don't expect everyone to to play along with the roleplay/duel
ANet:
How to handle salt or toxicity? Just ignore it. Or reply with “cool story bro” and then ignore them.
As to knowingly interrupting duels, though I don’t do it myself, it is a free for all pvp zone. If someone is allowed to do it they probably will. There are many who believe “if it’s red, it’s dead”. Killing enemies is one of the reasons people do WvW.
And dancing on corpses... have you not played any pvp games before in any genre? This stuff happens in all games. That fact that people get upset about it just makes the purpertraters want to do it more as they can see it gets under people’s skin.
Some people are a holes, both in games and in real life. If you can’t learn to deal with them here...
No, Mesmer is better cheeser. No one whisper me when I play SLB.
Wishlist:
Improve GW2 performance. Add genuine DX12 support.
Lmao right!
All I know is real life gives much more of an adrenaline rush from extreme sports like skateboarding, than I ever got from years of dopamine addiction to these Random Number Generated Skinner boxes people call competitive gaming. QUIT THE GAMES.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=xzpndHtdl9A
we learned not to give a kitten about snowflakes.
Not Even Coverage is the Only broken thing in WVW.
I accepted a team members salt tonight...whoever you are, you really upset that guy
The problem IMO isn't people who get triggered and msg you insults. They are solved by a simple block which takes 2 seconds. The problem are those people whining about some game mechanic they are disgruntled about in /shout while standing around in safe zone and bait up drama with other people. They don't contribute at all and take up a map slot so people who want to play wvw are locked out because the map is full.
block a handful of ppl and usually 95% of salt is gone.
&
you should never try pvp because its worse
Get back to us when you're in your 40's and every injury comes back to visit permanently like a broke relative.
[HUNT] the predatory instinct
I wear knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and a helmet. Also I stretch before I skateboard and eat healthy and sleep well. Problem?
https://youtube.com/watch?v=xzpndHtdl9A
No problem at all. It just means I’ll be employed longer.
Thank You for the {MEME}
+1
Great post
Toxicity with Corrupt Power Is Destruction and Dearh
Toxic Balancing and Toxic Designs Empowers
Toxicity and promotes Saltininess
(managing-reducing-removal Toxicity is the way to a healthy gaming exprience)
My question to Anet: what steps are they taking in addresing Toxicity?
'Situations that are present are there because you allow and tolerate them to continue'
I love getting those salty/toxic whispers. If fighting me causes someone that much annoyance, it means I must have done something right!
Nah no problem, enjoy it while you can!
But I speak from first hand experience, your joints remember the impacts.
[HUNT] the predatory instinct
Today's snowflakes couldn't handle that
you can always look for a team who's focus is a safe space.
snowflake love
Not Even Coverage is the Only broken thing in WVW.
Why is this Anet's problem? You think a perfectly balanced game will change people acting out in a video game? You're new here?
Not sure why you +1 the thread ... it's about how YOU can manage these things, not a challenge to Anet to fix them.
If you're on a highway and roadrunner goes "beep beep"
Just step aside or you might end up in a heap
https://kotaku.com/riot-blizzard-and-twitch-are-teaming-up-to-fight-toxi-1823941488
Toxicity is bad for business
'Even if your members seem to tolerate (or even moderate) toxic behavior, don’t be fooled - it’s bad for business. One reason Riot Games decided to really tackle the issue is because it had a negative effect on gamer recruitment and retention.'
'It makes sense - you can’t expect members to voice their discomfort if they’re not invested in the community. And if toxic behavior drives people away, then they’ll never become invested.'
'Situations that are present are there because you allow and tolerate them to continue'
Devs put the entire game mode on block 5 years ago. Now they have stickys full of salt collections. And you guys thought you were farmers..
Anet has provided players reporting tools and employs human mods/CS to address issues with players and the game. There isn’t much else they need to do.
https://help.guildwars2.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010187753-Reporting-a-Player-or-Guild
https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/62658/alliance-design-that-stops-the-qq
https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/62555/putting-fun-back-into-designs-and-balancing
https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/9804/idea-wvw-only-movement-skills
Players can do what they want as long as it’s within the rules.
“Let us list out some of the childish behaviors in game:
Whispering nasty comments after winning/losing a fight”... Players can do that if they want. It’s the receiver who should report if necessary and/or block and move on.
“Throwing siege or dancing on corpses”... It happens, nobody cares. It doesn’t break the rules.
“Standing over downed opponents and watching them bleed out”... It happens, nobody cares. It doesn’t break the rules.
“Knowingly interrupting duels”... That’s a risk players take by dueling in wvw. If anyone gets killed while dueling then find other places to duel. It doesn’t break the rules.
“Pulling tactivators needlessly”... Report and move on.
“Wasting supplies on needless siege”... Report and move on.
“Insulting your commander or server mates”... Players can do that if they want. It’s the receiver who should report if necessary and/or block and move on.
...You’re not going to change behaviors with this post. Anet has systems and rules in place to handle “toxic” players so use them. And It’s much better than you trying to “educate” anonymous people on a video game forum.
https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/62658/alliance-design-that-stops-the-qq
https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/62555/putting-fun-back-into-designs-and-balancing
https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/9804/idea-wvw-only-movement-skills
A week ago I had a commander throwing 3 Superior Flame Ram blueprints at a wall. We accidentally built the 4th Superior Flame Ram. People make mistakes, apparently even commanders do. You would seriously report such a person? Have not had so much fun in weeks. WvW is already boring enough, why report the funny kitten moments?
embrace the salt
keep precursors in your inventory, link them whenever you kill someone and whisper them thank you for loot
also keep a collage of salty whispers for your collection
It is ... but it doesn't make sense to put the fix on Anet. Again, even if the game was perfectly balanced, you think bad behaviour would go away? I think you don't understand the nature of competitive environments, especially when people are more or less anonymous.
That's why they thread is about how PLAYERS can deal with toxicity. Anet has done what they can with the reporting system.
If you're on a highway and roadrunner goes "beep beep"
Just step aside or you might end up in a heap
Ultimately the best way to manage interpersonal interactions is to grow a thicker skin. Being upset about stuff is a choice. You can choose to be upset and salty, or you can choose to shrug and move on. It's not the place of game developers and publishers to create snowflake-friendly environments that stifle freedom of expression and competitive behavior.
REDUCE NA TO 3 TIERS
Of course they can' Eliminate or Minimize Toxic balancing and Toxic mechanic design. Yes, Anet is fully responsible for keeping balancing and game design healthy--Not the players.
It is fully a company Responsibility to maintain positive healthy competitive learning environment by the product they offer.
And it is the customer Responsibility to address Toxicity of the product to the company to be resolved.
NOT TO CONTINUOUSLY IGNORE THEIR CUSTOMER CONCERNS INSTEAD OF PROMOTING TO THEIR OWN SELF INTERESTS
(By the way; what has tools has done in dealing with Toxicity? How about providing social media tools? Absolutely, None)
--Reality Check and you already know it Swagger- the ones who reports Toxicity are treated as the Toxic player--
(lastly)
How about Anet providing us with healthy competitive skill-learning tools which will minimize or to eliminate Toxicity instead?
Why isn't anyone talking about that??
Lead Than Follow
Anet must take serious actions against Toxicity in their balance patches including in their game designs first, than we will follow through from their actions
(Afterall, it is Anet who is the Leader; not us)
'Situations that are present are there because you allow and tolerate them to continue'
Not gonna lie there have been times in my younger years when i would fly off at a loss in pvp. But i think you have to expect some so called toxicity in an aspect of gaming that deals with rofolstomping another player. Nobody likes to lose to another player, it where emotions run highest. Its the gaming equivalent of a beatdown. But i have learned to have fun with it and laugh at it. But i think people have to realize this is an aspect of gaming that calls for you to kill another player in game, thats not really friendly content you know lol, so expect some salt its normal. I think i get madder at bosses when i wipe than i do in pvp now. I just think there was this pride when i was younger that couldnt stand it if i lost to someone, too much pride is a bad thing. Coupled with the fact its another player not an AI hurts our pride, let it go just laugh and have fun.
Coo! Quaggan Love's You! ♥♥♥