standardFoe.2983

I can only speak for myself. It's not that game development takes time (seems like a given), it is the avoidance of responsibility by the balance team, however many there are. I know there is a comment about how they will balance differently in the future, but as an eight-year player, that's not good enough. Because that is the problem with communication from Anet about GW2 it is always 'in the future'. It's always 'we intend to do better' and then they release some nothingburger tidbit and the players who are still optimistic, eat it up. While the rest wonder if the effort of committing to an MMO is worth it, since the devs don't seem committed to actually producing work that more than a small number of players are interested in.

Everything Anet's been up to lately makes me think that whoever is behind the curtain wants to turn GW2 into more generic and easier game to monetize. It might be a good strategy in the long term because younger gamers grew up in a very different gaming landscape than me and others over forty. Loot boxes, subscriptions, powercreep, cosmetics, RPGs were a lot less complicated in 2003. It's not only GW2. ESO is also on its way to receive an extremely unpopular update and last year Warhammer40k competitive had some really controversial balancing.

@Daddy.8125 Wow you use a lot of words to say 'everyone will suffer and be okay with it'. Just because you think everything is biased doesn't mean it is or has to be. GW2 is a product and a service and it's more than acceptable for customers to demand standards be upheld. Do I expect the powers that be to actually change anything? No, of course not but that doesn't invalidate the criticism.

Why, because Anet will punish them somehow? That's just a toxic work environment if affiliates don't feel safe giving criticism. If true it's as wrong as devs balancing combat for all of us around their preferred builds.

Yup I lost a lot of respect for the streamers in this situation. This narrative being pushed that game population is either rabidly obtuse and willing to threaten the devs for a 'misunderstanding' or so stupid and lazy that every profession needs to be dumbed down to auto-attack is making me really not interested in supporting the game anymore.

Not entirely true. He has completely ignored, as has every streamer and anet (AFAIK), the fact that two devs said in a chat to paying customers that they designed builds in the past to suit their preferred elite specs. That revelation is my personal hill in this situation.

Seriously the idea that 'most players' in GW2 are so brain-dead and incapable of basic research into a decade old game is quite offensive to me. I only run open world content on mesmer, thief, ranger, and ele, not always with brilliant success but even in budget gear surviving is not difficult. The idea that in an MMO it would be okay to have no gear or skill level and just be able to solo all open world content is awful, go play a single-player on god-mode if that's what you want. Most of us in the GW2 community like that a player has to actually engage in content to get rewards. Anyone that has experience with MMO's should be aware that knowing which gear to wear and which keys activate which skills is essential to success. Even if a new player doesn't somehow realize that a 10 year old game will probably have a lot of player made resources just one internet search on 'game+mode+build' will yield several results. If people cannot handle basic searches for whatever reason then maybe a this game is not a good fit, because it only gets more complicated. And I reiterate drastically nerfing open world for a minority of players is terrible game/business design.

There are so many LI builds already. I am disabled and find many builds have rotations that are beyond me, but I still have multiple classes for open world. Both Metabattle and Guildjen have tried and tested builds for every class, spec and game mode. There are almost always difficulty ratings for the build as well as rotations examples and alternative gear options. Also Hardstuck guild just had a competition for LI builds, there are two vids on mightyteapot's youtube available that are all about pressing as few keys as possible while offering good DPS. Anet could do much better job with tool tips in-game but the devs don't need to go out of their way to make cheesy content since a minority of players can't research builds on their own and find one that works for them.

All over this thread is the idea that the game evolving means getting unnecessary but nice QoL perks for free. I don't think there is any incentive in it for Anet to offer a free mount if new players see something they like, then support the devs and pay for it. This isn't some exercise in survival of the fittest in player longevity, if the influx of new players from steam are only interested in easy achievements they will be significantly disappointed in the rest of GW2 and probably wouldn't stick around anyways. Seriously do the Blizzard forums get inundated with whinging posts about WoW getting with the times and changing programming to fit in better with new MMO's? Unlike the doomers ITT I don't think the steam release is going to kill the game without significant changes but only time will tell.

Before GW2 I only played healer roles, turns out in GW2 that mostly means druid in raids but I dislike raids so it was either learn some other builds or find another game. Now I main a condi-damage Mirage or Virtuoso in open world and have a lot of fun. But its always nice to have alts fully spec'd out because sometimes you feel like flinging daggers and sometimes you feel like beating mobs up with a staff Daredevil or with a minionmancer Necro. Although I do have a Druid and take her into open world it's not as fulfilling as melting through mobs myself. So like everyone else ITT my suggestion is to get another character slot or two and try out some other classes.

Admittedly I am no good at the RP in RPG!

I don't understand all these posts about players newly lvl 80 stepping into the expansions surprised that the maps are full of deadly enemies and difficult challenges. Did you not pay attention to the story at all while unlocking VB? The entire world is corrupted and at war, yes the jungle is alive and hostile at every turn, that's the point. Seriously though, the maps in HoT are big learning curve coming from core Tyria and they take getting used to. Although there is one classic complaint missing from this post. Have you not been downed and eaten by a pack of pocket raptors yet?

Most complaints ITT are that core Tyria is slow and boring for newbies. Well as another said core Tyria is an introduction to the rest of the world in GW2 and we have all been there. I've played since before PoF and was f2p for over a year before buying HoT and still managed to get multiple builds to lvl 80. Basically you just follow the hearts and story it's not rocket science. So, seriously if anyone has trouble leveling get searching there a lot of really great guides out there. I agree that Anet could include more information on how builds work in game, but that complaint is just screaming into the void, asfter 12 years it ain't coming. Get online and search, are you incapable of reading wikis or watching twitch or youtube, there are some seriously great player made content guides. Gw2 is a complex game, in a great way because it teaches players to pay attention to builds and mechanics and the environment, but it can be overwhelming. I take a lot of breaks because of my disability and also tend to be really bad at mechanics so I die quite often. Sometimes all we need is to be patient both with ourselves and with whatever we are trying to accomplish in-game. Maybe there aren't enough fancy, arbitrary perks to keep you around but the rest of us actually enjoy the game, i.e. build crafting, comabt, events, stories and fashion wars of course! It's not perfect but the devs have created an amazing world and if you don't enjoy playing without a perk attainable through effort (and yes some money because Anet has bills too) then maybe find another way to spend your gaming hours. edit. Well if it annoys everyone so much to get ganked in group events, go buy the expansions earn the mounts yourself and then be the ganker not the gangkee. Why should the devs rework content to make things easier for a small minority of people who get frustrated by having to make an effort.

At this point events in core Tyria only get filled when the map is part of the daily achievements, so check that and go to those zones.

Sounds like your build isn't an open world farm tagging build. Players with all the expansions will be op in core Tyria so it is important to have the right weapons and specs.

These posts are hilarious, too grindy? Guess you never tried Path of Exile of Warframe talk about an endless grind. I am super casual and disabled, it took me literally years to get griffon and skyscale. But it was fun as well as frustrating and rewarding since I usually enjoy the story and open world. Sometimes achievements are easy others are long and complicated by design because farming the materials takes you into the story, world and events. It keeps open world maps dynamic and populated. As others stated the skyscale is an optional endgame mount that enhances game play but does not define it. If the optional perks are the only aspect of the game you enjoy then of course you are disappointed and rage quitting.

I get distracted easily so multiple alts and OW is best (depending on the map), always running into events, farms, lore and other players it is very engaging. Sometimes I will find an achievement that looks interesting to complete or just want to explore every nook and cranny of a map. Also crafting in any RPG is something I enjoying focusing on and it's fun to farm metas for materials. I don't enjoy pvp as a game mode, talk about repetitive. I had some fun in WvW but it was so long a go I don't even have the mount. Raids/strikes are too much of a hassle to get into with DPS checks and the boon meta stagnating class diversity.

I literally hate this topic. Mounts in MMO's were only ever supposed to enhance experience not be the end all and of course to get people to spend money on skins. Seriously if walking on foot while leveling up is going to make new players rage-quit then how are they going to react to grinding for griffon or skyscale or raiding to complete legendaries? If players want an easy game that hands out perks for free they can......oh wait no MMO's do that otherwise the companies that own them wouldn't be able to pay their employees. Core Tyria is absurdly easy to get a round in on foot no gliding or mounts necessary and did I miss something or did leveling all of sudden become impossible without them? That is literally how those maps were designed since mounts didn't happen until PoF. Plus there are many resources to help with players get around, both TacO and Reactif have trail markers for on foot exploration for pre-PoF maps or look up one of many guides online. And if players feel like Anet is forcing them to buy an expansion to get access to a few perks how would everyone feel about paying a monthly sub for access? Because if players don't have incentive to buy the expansions GW2 will die.

Dude loot boxes are literally gambling there is no guarantee. Anyone that gambles hoping for a single outcome will usually be disappointed. Besides it is not in Anet's best interest to make loot boxes too rewarding, there is no subscription to play so Anet needs players to buy gems so they can, you know, pay their employees.

@Ashen.2907 It is not in my head, I don't even follow GW2 on any social media yet it that stupid word 'woke' keeps coming up getting pulled in from youtube, twitter, reddit ect.. Sure there could be other gay relationships included over time but once again Jory and Kas were the original same-sex couple for GW2 and at the time (and to some extent still) lesbian relationships were more easily accepted by the general public than men in same-sex couples. But a discussion on the influence of toxic masculinity on gamer culture is a whole other topic. What about asexual-loner representation? I have never seen a character that represents me in GW2 or any MMO really, because my personal preference is not the only demographic or even a significant one. Anet is a company existing in capitalism interested in making money from as many players as possible. This means the writers have to find a general middle ground that allows a diverse player base to be engaged and they don't get it right all the time. But the fact they are interested in trying is good and hopefully the devs are taking the idea that more inclusivity is what the players want seriously.

@Ravenmoon.5318 I have been watching this thread grow over several days and I can't figure out why you even want to play GW2, you don't seem to enjoy much of the game. Mounts, and other end-game content is complementary to the game but not necessary to success in core Tyria, and a lot of end game shinies are designed to get people to buy stuff in the gem store. I've always enjoyed the OW leveling experience it forces you to explore and listen to NPC's and all of it ties into the greater story in other maps. Not to mention combat progression through the story and OW is good at teaching weapon skills and fight mechanics as long as a player pays attention and is willing to learn. Yes I do agree that the core Tyria maps could use an update and the personal story boss fights (they were designed a decade ago for crying out loud) are annoying so what do you want the developers spending money on? They can focus on making new content that keeps veterans coming back or they can go rework old content so newbies feel indulged, but I seriously doubt anet has the funds or staff to accomplish both.

I'm an open world casual with 6 full ascended builds (no leggy) accomplished through researching and asking questions and lots of farming/crafting. It's not the easiest system but it's possible to learn so much about how armor stats work with builds and thus combat that it can really improve one's understanding of GW2 game-play. If players have common sense in any MMO they should know that the internet is full of web pages dedicated to players helping players with all aspects of the game. Seriously if a player doesn't know that max level in any MMO means a more intense type of game-play then they aren't paying attention. https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Ascended_armor https://guildjen.com/new-players-guide-leveling-to-80-and-getting-your-gear/ https://metabattle.com/wiki/Guide:How_to_Gear_a_Character I'm not so concerned about Steam being full of idiots that do not understand how MMO's work that the GW2 population will suffer. Actually there seems to be a misconception the GW2 is super easy, (omg please don't lecture me I'm disabled and struggle with mechanics in this game), but it takes a lot more concentration and skill than something like ESO (which I love as well, don't hate me). So I'm looking forward to influx of players in all modes, yeah they will need help but so what? GW2 players love talking about how helpful they are, time to prove it.

These maps felt empty on the week of release , I haven't been back to play through anything since week two. Beautiful maps with a lot of dead space and wasted potential. I get that people want to defend Anet but the amount of people saying that it's completely normal for brand new maps to be empty of players are delusional. Despite new strikes, metas and festivals HoT, S3, PoF, S4 and S5 maps still have lots of open world population activity and reliable event completion. The problem is that EoD is a sub-par release and this is reflected in the fact that so many continue to manufacture controversy over criticizing a game. GW2 is a great MMO, it's not perfect but past releases have offered so much more (instances, events, skins, achievements, adventures, mounts, ect.) and that is just a fact.

No. So much of EoD is designed to milk money from the gem store since GW2 is dependent on player donations to survive financially. This release is such a let down on instances/events, specializations, skins, achievements, adventures and all the other parts of earlier releases that actually add to player engagement. My personal wish is that development go back to focusing on combat and achievements and leave superficial things like decorating to other games.

@Vayne.8563 You do not get it and I really do not appreciate the patronizing tone. I've been MMO-ing since 2003 and am pretty good figuring out to how to have fun in games. I'm in a couple of guilds that I can do instanced content with I just do not want to, I ENJOY the random casualness of open world. Great so you helped someone I help people all the time just not on EoD crap like a mount that mostly exists to sell skins in the gem store. @Blood Red Arachnid.2493 I have a comm tag and use it a lot to pull randoms together for brief open world events and then I move on, b/c I am disabled and cannot keep up with players that have a lot more energy than me. @Linken.6345 You are not actually contributing to this discussion so.....go back to your T4's and Cm's. Open world is not a walk in the park. Learning how metas evolve and farming routes through large maps is not for people who want easy mode constantly. Although I do self-describe as a casual since I don't want to be associated with players that think gaming is only fun when it's punishing.