[SUGGESTION] [RANT] FIX your in-game maps Anet!; PLEASE?!

[Uzunari.1964]

What is wrong with the world map & mini-map?

Over the years of GW2 being online we never got real add-on/plugin support from Anet and I always thought that this might change one day. Or, perhaps, that Anet will eventually implement certain QoL improvements into game themselves instead of allowing 3rd party involvement. This never happened, so I have this desperation plead to make to Anet. Please introduce something more uselful than current world map + minimap scheme.

My point, world map is utterly useless piece of crap that has no real usage other than checking world completation and teleporting. Now you might be asking "what the hell do you want from world map?" I am not against the world map remaining in its current state but I would also like to see some mid-stage between current options (small ingame map, huge clunky world map). Like current area only, detailed map.

Also teleporting becomes extremely excrutiating as map got huge over the time and sometimes it takes forever to locate waypoint where you would like to port. Perhaps some HUBs would be less restrictive at this point.

Way too often, when running around I check for gathering nodes, PoI, etc. I have no other option than to look at ingame minimap (because world map is a mess and doesn't really display anything usefull). But the minimap has some weird scaling implemented. For example - when the nodes disappear from the map seems to be hugely map-based other than locked at certain value. Also way too often (especially with mounts) I would like to see further on minimap but zooming out results into mishmash of unspecified smudges instead of actual drawing and renders the map useless.

Not to mention after all those years and continuous map expansions I would like to make my own notes into map. Having one bloody waypoint marker for whole map is goddamn useless. Like hell, do you expect me to remember all the entrances to mini-dungeons and jumping puzzles that I managed to finish over the years and need to complete for this collection or that daily? Also, when I find rich gathering node, I would like to mark that as well. Why do I have to keep looking for everything every time I need to 'use it'/'get there' again. Not to mention I would like to mark some areas for my own purpose (goddamn).

Whenever I get prompt from collection/quest that "displays" me some location and says something similar to "search somewhere around here" I get goddamn seizure. I have a map, why do I need to look around? I am not here to pixelhunt npcs/objectives and crawl around map in order to get something completed or notice some tiny little detail. Do you think I consider searching part of the experience? Well, no. I hate constant searching for stuff. Most people do. I want map to become that helpful tool it is supposed to be.

What about quest implementation? It should be there no matter what and currently it is still shamefully not included in any sensible way. Even when there is collection marker it's mostly invisible unless scoured with an eye of the predator looking for it's prey. is the "second monitor with guide" approach still the most valid and desired one?

Recently I was looking for PoI on certain map (Jahai bluffs, Fortress Courtyard). I knew I was missing one and tried to find it via blinking of the unfinished PoI on the world map. I was unable to locate it because it was in smudget part ot he map I haven't explored yet. I had to check wiki and count all PoI's manually to eventually notice it. From map there wasn't clear at all that there should be more explorable parts of the map and with invisible PoI it didn't really occur to me at all. The worst part is that I was already there with other characters several times before, but I just couldn't remeber. Leaves me wondering how much more useless current map could be.

What about community or guild maps? That could be awesome addition to the game as well.

If you want first time players not to have access to such "advanced features" make it collection or profession -> cartographer obtainable after world completation, whatever.

Ending my rant..

[Inculpatus cedo.9234]

That's what the player-designed API apps are for. If, of course, the Wiki is too much trouble.

[Turkeyspit.3965]

@Uzunari.1964 said:Recently I was looking for PoI on certain map (Jahai bluffs, Fortress Courtyard). I knew I was missing one and tried to find it via blinking of the unfinished PoI on the world map. I was unable to locate it because it was in smudget part ot he map I haven't explored yet. I had to check wiki and count all PoI's manually to eventually notice it. From map there wasn't clear at all that there should be more explorable parts of the map and with invisible PoI it didn't really occur to me at all. The worst part is that I was already there with other characters several times before, but I just couldn't remeber. Leaves me wondering how much more useless current map could be.

I can relate to this all too well lol.

I've just accepted the fact that I play with my phone on my desk (I'm not pro enough to have 2 monitors) for quick access of the wiki or Dulfy whenever I'm doing a collection.

[Etria.3642]

I was hoping this was a rant about the new map hitting the meta and instantly saying not enough players.

[Ototo.3214]

Just /wiki whatever it is if you can't remember where exactly in that area is happens to be. I honestly love the world map and mini map in this game. Easier to navigate than crap like FFXIV. Only thing I wish they'd add is some way to like..."favorite" certain waypoints.

[Ototo.3214]

@Turkeyspit.3965 said:

@Uzunari.1964 said:Recently I was looking for PoI on certain map (Jahai bluffs, Fortress Courtyard). I knew I was missing one and tried to find it via blinking of the unfinished PoI on the world map. I was unable to locate it because it was in smudget part ot he map I haven't explored yet. I had to check wiki and count all PoI's manually to eventually notice it. From map there wasn't clear at all that there should be more explorable parts of the map and with invisible PoI it didn't really occur to me at all. The worst part is that I was already there with other characters several times before, but I just couldn't remeber. Leaves me wondering how much more useless current map could be.

I can relate to this all too well lol.

I've just accepted the fact that I play with my phone on my desk (I'm not pro enough to have 2 monitors) for quick access of the wiki or Dulfy whenever I'm doing a collection.

Actually yeah, I can relate to this particular issue since things like POIs can be hard to locate even with the wiki.

[Uzunari.1964]

@"Ototo.3214" said:Just /wiki whatever it is if you can't remember where exactly in that area is happens to be. I honestly love the world map and mini map in this game. Easier to navigate than kitten like FFXIV. Only thing I wish they'd add is some way to like..."favorite" certain waypoints.

Does it make sense though? Does it really make sense, that I have to open wiki an search there instead of having it in game and making it more natural to feel/play?

[Ototo.3214]

@Uzunari.1964 said:

@"Ototo.3214" said:Just /wiki whatever it is if you can't remember where exactly in that area is happens to be. I honestly love the world map and mini map in this game. Easier to navigate than kitten like FFXIV. Only thing I wish they'd add is some way to like..."favorite" certain waypoints.

Does it make sense though? Does it really make sense, that I have to open wiki an search there instead of having it in game and making it more natural to feel/play?To find the entrance to a hidden jumping puzzle? Yes. I don't want to have giant neon signs everywhere telling me where to go. But if I've looked and still can't find it? Can just wiki it.

[Uzunari.1964]

@Ototo.3214 said:

@Uzunari.1964 said:

@Ototo.3214 said:Just /wiki whatever it is if you can't remember where exactly in that area is happens to be. I honestly love the world map and mini map in this game. Easier to navigate than kitten like FFXIV. Only thing I wish they'd add is some way to like..."favorite" certain waypoints.

Does it make sense though? Does it really make sense, that I have to open wiki an search there instead of having it in game and making it more natural to feel/play?To find the entrance to a hidden jumping puzzle? Yes. I don't want to have giant neon signs everywhere telling me where to go. But if I've looked and still can't find it? Can just wiki it.

Clearly it would on the map only and only if you did find it before. So, no neon signs

[Zaklex.6308]

Sorry, but I'm not sure how everyone else was able to respond...I couldn't make neither heads nor tails of what you wanted...I didn't realize anyone had trouble navigating the game...but of course after playing for 4 - 5 of the years it's been out(took off the entire time that LWS1 was going on and a little after that) I guess I just know where most everything is that's relevant to what I need to do(which granted isn't everything, if it's something I don't care about I don't worry about it).

I do have a page open in my browser to all of the Node Farm areas and I Alt-Tab back and forth a few times, but I also just look for ones in a general area and hit them all at the same time so I don't have to keep going back and forth across the maps.

Also never had problems finding a way point I needed on the World Map, seeing as they usually give you the general area in which you're going to, so just go to that map, zoom in a little until I find what I need, or just slide the mouse pointer over each Way Point until the one I want shows up.

[Knighthonor.4061]

MMOs are the only gaming community that seem to get large clap backs at improvements. I would love for the maps to be improved. More details

[Trise.2865]

It's called a "notebook". It's this bound stack of paper that you can write in and take notes so you remember stuff. I assume I don't have to explain "pencil" to you, you seem smart.

[Uzunari.1964]

@"Trise.2865" said:It's called a "notebook". It's this bound stack of paper that you can write in and take notes so you remember stuff. I assume I don't have to explain "pencil" to you, you seem smart.

Sure, why not. Why bother having electricity, water toilets (LOL). Why do you desire so much to stop QoL improvements? Do you have such stand against any possible technological improvement as well?

[Trise.2865]

@Uzunari.1964 said:

@"Trise.2865" said:It's called a "notebook". It's this bound stack of paper that you can write in and take notes so you remember stuff. I assume I don't have to explain "pencil" to you, you seem smart.

Sure, why not. Why bother having electricity, water toilets (LOL). Why do you desire so much to stop QoL improvements? Do you have such stand against any possible technological improvement as well?

Only ones that don't solve new problems or old problems in better ways. That's not improvement, that's time-wasting. Like this thread, for example.

[Uzunari.1964]

@Trise.2865 said:

@Uzunari.1964 said:

@Trise.2865 said:It's called a "notebook". It's this bound stack of paper that you can write in and take notes so you remember stuff. I assume I don't have to explain "pencil" to you, you seem smart.

Sure, why not. Why bother having electricity, water toilets (LOL). Why do you desire so much to stop QoL improvements? Do you have such stand against any possible technological improvement as well?

Only ones that don't solve new problems or old problems in better ways. That's not improvement, that's time-wasting. Like this thread, for example.

Well, clearly we have different definition of "time wasting".

[Eloc Freidon.5692]

Two major problems I have with maps. Not all waypoints are visible on all layers when you are in certain instances. Ogre Camp is one of the first that come to mind when I'm in the Mistlock Sanctuary.

The second is that when you use the Achievement UI in the Mistlock Sanctuary to show the location of a thing, it doesn't work. The default layer is a map of Mistlock which is pretty worthless considering how small it is.