Daddicus.6128

I would like to see a guild hall in Orr somewhere.

So, it seems the bottom line is that the definitions are all over the map. So, I'll rescind my original reason for starting this thread. Instead of defining the labels, I'll just say Let's make sure we're talking about the same thing when we use a label of any kind. From now on, when I describe myself as casual, I'm going to say what that means to me (relaxed).

In another thread (https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/96377/wp-guild-wars-2s-biggest-problems-as-i-see-them), Astralporing gave one of the best examples of casual vs. hardcore I've yet seen:

I created this thread because there seems to be a common misunderstanding that says casual equals poor skills (or something not quite so demeaning). By the same token, there's another misunderstanding that hardcore means elitist or vicious. Neither is true in Guild Wars 2. This thread is created so we can help each other understand each other. Please keep any discussion civil. For THIS thread, it really doesn't matter which group is more numerous. Just discuss what the terms mean to you, and also your perspective as to what they mean to the rest of the player base. (I envision this thread being something we can point to whenever there's a discussion on other threads about the differences.)

Let's give you an example:We have two people. One is a veteran of the game, that played many years, generally knows how to play, and undestands the game mechanics. He never went out of his way to look for that info, though (and, specifically, practically never uses out-of-game sources), nor did he ever thought about, say, spending several hours at the golem practicing his rotations - everything he knows he picked up naturally, by playing the game. And while he may be aware that some builds/playstyles may be better than others, he picks what he plays by what he finds more fun, not what is most effective (and, as such, he is not above playing, say, a bearbow). He plays the game for story and relaxation, and isn't really interested in stuff like "being challenged" or "proving yourself" - he just wants to have fun. He is also blessed with good perception, hand coordination, timing sense, good reactions and the ability to learn fast.The other person barely started playing, and is still very unskilled - but he intends to change that, fast. He intends to skip the story, and go straight for the challenging content, as he thinks that is what playing the game is all about. He is looking through all the build sites, already planning for his endgame gear, knows what classes and builds will be best and is trying to learn them, and constantly practices his skills. He's just not that skilled yet - he's way too fresh, and frankly learning anything takes him a lot of time and effort (perhaps his real talents lie outside the game, who knows). By your definition, the first player is a hardcore, and the second one is a casual. By my point of view (and probably by the point of view of a lot of people), it's exactly the opposite. It's not your skill at any given moment that makes you a casual or hardcore. It's your playstyle and attitude towards the game that makes the difference. One of the best definitions of casual (GW2 casual) I've ever seen. Kudos!

You are correct that there are far more players "who COMPLAIN about ...". But, there are far FAR more players who are casual and don't complain as much. That's what happened with Heart of Thorns (HoT). The vocal minority was listened to, and much harder content was created. The results of listening to the vocal minority hurt the game severely.

I respectfully suggest you change your definition. "Casual" is a mindset in this game, and I would guess 80% of the player base holds that mindset. No other game I know of has a "casual" that matches GW2's. Casuals play for enjoyment, not to become the best. They are very different from hardcore players. A casual player DOES want to get better, but not at the expense of enjoying the game. Min-maxing isn't valuable to them. Whether their build is good or great is only marginally important to them. You'll almost never see a casual LFG ad that says "BM", "DPS", "alac", or similar code-words for specific builds. I would say the biggest differentiator is that casuals are willing to play with other people, regardless of the other players' skill levels, and will help others without being condescending.

Very little AP is really locked behind skill-based achievements tho. It's mostly about the grind . . . While your statement is partly true, the grind itself is a problem, because I can't keep doing it at the level some folks do. I've played the game averaging a little more than four hours a day since inception. Yet, I'm only a little over 28,000 AP. It's not just skill (i.e. hand-eye coordination) I'm short on. Even at four hours a day, I still don't make anywhere near the amount of progress needed. Fair enough but still, 28k is a lot to most ppl I would think . . .Yeah, you're right. As a third-string player, I do have one thing that helps: persistence. I don't really mind "grinding", as long as it's fun. Most of the time, "grinding" in GW simply means spending time playing the game. I can play wherever I wants and do whatever I want. (As opposed to spending long periods doing the same activity over and over again.) So, there's hope. If the game survives long enough, I'll get to 33k. Because I won't quit playing.

You may mean "reason" or "excuse". ?

Very little AP is really locked behind skill-based achievements tho. It's mostly about the grind . . . While your statement is partly true, the grind itself is a problem, because I can't keep doing it at the level some folks do. I've played the game averaging a little more than four hours a day since inception. Yet, I'm only a little over 28,000 AP. It's not just skill (i.e. hand-eye coordination) I'm short on. Even at four hours a day, I still don't make anywhere near the amount of progress needed.

Non-existent, since the claim is clearly false. Just recall the disaster called Heart of Thorns.

Thank you! That worked!!!

This highest person EVER has hit just over 41,000. To do that, s/he had to be playing the whole time the game has been out, and had to be doing so at the top level of gamesmanship. All modes, top of the line, everything. I have little chance. I've played since the beginning, but I'm simply too old to play at that kind of level of play. I really wanted all of the radiant armor skins, but facts are facts: if the best player in the history of the game just got to it last year, I have no chance. But, I am close to 30,000, so getting the basic six radiant armor skins (i.e. minus the back piece) might be do-able. If the game survives for three or four more years. Crossing my fingers ...

I think the only thing I agree with him on is the lack of communication from ANet and the layoffs killing the game. Most of his other points really only apply to a small number of both active players and potential players. His incorrectness stems from looking at the game from the high-end down. But, this game is a game for normal people to play, not min-maxers or extreme gamers.

That's for crafting the ascended stuff. I want to stat-change, which requires an exotic insignia.

I know you can't craft funerary armor, but is there a recipe for insignias available? (That could be used to stat-change other ascended armor to grieving armor.)

Of course. The question was about converting MAP currencies, not karma. Name me an LS3 or 4 map currency that can be converted without requiring another currency. All six from each of seasons 3 & 4. You just double-click them. Didn't you read the opening post?

I was doing this, but then I discovered you only get two little envelopes when you finish the last round. Not worth the time any more.

Of course. The question was about converting MAP currencies, not karma.

I think it's more for completionists and people who would like the achievement armour/chests. That would be my guess. I wanted radiant armor skins.

You can vendor eternal ice shards AND karma for LS4 currency. That's not the same. You’ll earn more than enough karma in the process of obtaining the currency. Umm, no. I don't get any karma because I don't go to the map any more. I only get the shards because I stupidly bought the home instance node, assuming it would have value.

The game is dying, but has a lot of inertia before it goes completely. They insured the game would die when they let Gaile go; no game can survive without a community liason. It's just a matter of when. But, even if they hadn't, they shaft veterans so often that it's hard to stick around. Caps on achievements instead of diminishing returns, for example. For me, though, the biggest thing is the absurdly low amount of achievement points available. The first player to get the top reward did so less than a year ago. How can "achievements" be so sparsely distributed that the very best of the best took over six years to reach the top? What hope do I have of EVER attaining that goal? Zero. I still love the game, but it's hard to dive into anything really interesting. I suspect there are a lot of players like me: frustrated at the absurdly low achievement point distribution.

You can vendor eternal ice shards AND karma for LS4 currency. That's not the same.

I think I'm a pretty good GW player. But, I just don't have the speed or fine-motor skills to be one of the elite players. The fact that the very first player (the most elite of all) didn't get to 36k until late 2018 means I'll never attain it unless something changes. I'm close to 30k, but the higher you are, the harder they get to attain.

First is more achievements available for less-than-perfect gamers. It is impossible for anyone without top skills to get radiant (or hellfire) skins for all pieces. The vast majority of achievements that I don't already have are unattainable by me; I'm just not good enough to complete them. Second, make a better mini-map (i.e. show three dimensions/layers on maps that need it, like Tangled Depths or Draconis Mons). Third, more shared inventory slots. As I've said numerous times, I buy all I can, immediately upon release, and with real money (not in-game gold). I'll even pay a higher price for more slots. Other than that, the game is very good.