Welcome to the Guild Wars 2 Thread! (
Wherein is discussed Arenanet's upcoming font of gold plated awesome, their sequel to their original MMO hit, Guild Wars).
For PA GW2 Teamspeak 3 server info and FAQ, as well as Launch Server and PA Guilds Info, please scroll down to posts 3 and 4. Launch server is (ostentatiously) Fort Aspenwood.
As you might remember, Guild Wars was an interesting hybrid multiplayer RPG game with MMO elements released during the early years of WoW's dominance in the MMO market, a stylish, robust offering most notable for being free to play without any restrictions or item shops with the purchase of the retail box. It featured six core classes, PvE content containing 25 storyline missions of epic scale and scope, and a PvP component, the fondly remembered Guild vs Guild and World vs World style combat. With the level cap at only 20, players could reach it rapidly or even start new characters for PvP at the level cap and fully trained. Since 2005, it's gotten 3 expansions and countless patch updates. It's still going strong on it's own and is one of NCSoft's most successful forays into the MMO market.
And now, ArenaNet, the developers behind the game under NCSoft ownership, are back with a new beginning for this great franchise, the highly anticipated and 6 years+ in the making...
Important Videos:
Those videos sure are great, but how about a bit more detail on what makes GW2 different and awesome? Here's the straight poop you need to know, and if you want more details, read on!
- No monthly fees. GW2 requires only the box purchase to play, and has a microtransaction store in game that sells optional consumables and cosmetic stuff; no pay to win items.
-
Dynamic Events, or, imagine actually looking forward to running into other players in an MMO world. The dynamic event system replaces traditional questing with a system of events, some independent, some tied together, that play out in the world independent of player action. You automatically enter and leave them at will, and do not need to ask a quest giver for them or return to one after it's completion. All you need to do is participate, and everyone involved is rewarded based on how much they participate.
-
A Truly Personal Storyline. Be a hero, make choices, learn about the overarching situation in the land of Tyria, Save the World, etc. Your character can experience a tailored, GW campaign style story in addition to the dynamic event system that you shape with your choices.
-
Epic-scale PvP. Love sieges, keeps, chaos? Want blood for the Blood God? WvWvW, lovingly nicknamed wuvwuv, is three servers pitted against each other in vicious combat to dominate an inter-dimensional battlefield known as the Mists for glory and for the benefits victory brings to one's server. Think DAOC Borderlands skirmishes and sieges, but with no factions. Servers are unified against other servers.
- We also have
Small-scale E-sport PvP. Think WoW battlegrounds/arenas, but more finely tuned and balanced.
-
Sidekicking allows you to always be able to play with your friends, no matter what level you are.
-
No Holy Trinity means you will always be able to play with
anyone and not need to spam chat looking for tanks and heals for hours. Players need to be more skillful, self-sufficient and work as a team to succeed at challenging content.
- No grind. Thanks to the variable level sidekick system and dynamic event systems, the devs have little reason to drag out the leveling process. It follows a linear progression of about 1.5 hours per level up to a max level of 80.
- No gear treadmill. As in GW1, max-stat gear will be readily available as soon as you reach the max level. The challenge of dungeons, PvP and other high-end content will provide your character more awesome
looking equipment and give marginal upgrades to stats and some unique abilities, but you can’t out-gear your problems in GW2.
- Beautiful graphics, smart user interface, extensive
Armor-Dye System, and more! Such as:
-
Useful and convenient Crafting system,
-
Multiplayer Skill Combos,
-
Complex Trait System for Character Skill Customization,
- A
Fully Featured Auction House known as the Marketplace, with buy orders and other economical trend reports (like EvE) and,
- For quick fixes of fun and bar brawls,
Fun Mini Activities. Think carnival games and tests of skill.
If any of this has piqued your interest, continue reading, watching and checking out the many links and articles.
Playable Races Section:
The Humans:
The resiliency of the noble human race has been tested many times. They have paid a dear cost for their security and liberty, yet their spirit remains unshaken. Only through courage, will, and unity can the humans retain their storied culture and reach once more to rise above. The characters you played in the original Guild Wars won't be able to follow you here, but the human race still struggles on in their name to find a place among the new scheme of things, and this time they will need your help. They have also gotten a lot of upgrades in the last 2 centuries, which will be interesting to see when compared to the original game.
The Charr:
Ascalon's conquerors, the charr are ferocious, warmongering creatures--the intractable foes of humanity. Now, as greater dangers threaten their conquests, charr legions and their war machines prepare for battle. Think steampunk meets bipedal sabertooth cats. With guns! These guys are no joke, and guaranteed to be the most rolled MMO race since the blood elves.
The Norn:
The norn are towering brawlers from the frigid northern lands who can shape-shift into mighty bestial forms. Driven from their homeland by a force beyond reckoning, the norn have regrouped among the dwarven ruins of the Shiverpeaks. The Vikings have nothing on these guys. If you ever wanted to become a polar bear and tear your opponents limb from limb, this is the race for you.
The Asura:
The asura, who once ruled the caverns and tunnels below Tyria, are an advanced race of small size and great intellect. Now that they have risen from below, the asura aim to rule the surface world with their powerful golems and ingenious plans. This aesthetic feels similar to many a small yet smart race from other lore (Gibberlings in Allods, Gnomes in WoW and elsewhere, Halflings from LoTR and D&D, etc), but what these big eyed fellows lack for in originality they more then make up for in technology and and having enough differences in viewing the world around them to make them unique among those who love being small and mischievous.
The Sylvari:
Not much is known of the sylvari, save that they are a race of sentient plant-beings, newly blossomed into the world. The sylvari are the youngest of the races, bound together by a common dream and awesome power. They are a race that was created at the end of a long quest in the original Guild Wars involving a peace loving centaur who planted his dream of a better world in the form of a tree which is now a forest from which this race has been born. I think this was a great idea for a new player race and i'll definitely be interested to see where their story goes.
Professions Section: All classes are now revealed. We all agree they are all awesome and alt worthy; the big question is, which one will you play first? Klyka has a helpful chart to get you started:
3 Scholar Professions:
Elementalist. The Mage/Shaman-esque caster class who calls upon the four traditional elemental powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water to do everything from nuke things to healing allies, buffing their abilities, modifying their attacks and generally making things explode. They use an Attunement system to focus the elemental powers to the element most suited to their needs in any given situation.
GW2 Site link: http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/professions/elementalist/.
Necromancer. Anyone who knows anything about time honoured fantasy IPs, like D&D and Everquest, know that Necromancers are feared, dark magic using spellcasters, who create vile diseases with their evil spells and summon up terrifying undead minions from the very earth to smite their enemies. In Guild Wars 2, they are very much akin to this ideal, and can be seen as a WoW warlock turned up to 11 with more AoEs and, in this game's case, a monopoly on fear mechanic skills, as well as many deadly attacks that hurt opponents while healing allies and giving the Necromancer an exclusive energy type known as life force, with which they can fuel their most potent skills. Another fine, and certainly scary, addition to the profession list. (
Now officially confirmed after the Gamescon reveal.)
GW2 Site link: http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/professions/necromancer/
Mesmer. Do you like being
FABULOUS? How about shooting laser beams? Teleporting around the battlefield and fucking with your enemies? Then mesmers are for you. These masters of illusion and charm can change the flow of a battle and distract and fool enemies with a wide variety of cool abilities, including splitting into mirror images that shatter and damage close foes, AOE invisibility and mantras, abilities which can be charged up prior to an engagement and then used in conjunction with other skills at any time for powerful combos. They are among the more complex classes in GW2, but are sure to delight anyone interested in a unique magic profession that can do some pretty incredible fakeouts and tricks. And look great while doing it! (
Officially confirmed after a short pre-reveal by some European game journalists who linked the skill trailer (in French) to Youtube two days early, thus spoiling Arenanet's humorous "Minstrel" class reveal stunt, which still went ahead and was still full of fun and bad vocals. The first of many Mesmer tricks to be sure).
GW2 Site link: http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/professions/mesmer/3 Adventurer Professions:
Ranger. The bow and arrows trailblazer, a survivalist of the wild who is the master of the lonely places of the world and nature, calling forth a loyal animal companion and the spirits of the elements to aid them and their party in any situation. Versatile and awesome, think WoW's hunter with less retarded pets and more interesting skillsets. This profession was a fan favourite of the original and promises to be all that and more in GW2.
GW2 Site Link: http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/professions/ranger/
Thief. This is the trademark rogue style class, a sneaky and stealthy assassin who sticks daggers in mans and dances around the battlefield picking enemies off at will. This incarnation of the rogue style class structure comes with some marked differences over a WoW style rogue, among the biggest being the limited, tactical nature of stealth, the use of small firearms as active weapons, and the ability to steal generic objects from a target (and not their inventory) which creates new, powerful skillsets on a whim to be used against the target with devastating results. Thieves are all about being subtle, graceful, ambushing from the darkness and keeping an enemy preoccupied, as well as setting traps, and will fit in nicely with support groups in need of a backup plan.
GW2 Site Link: http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/professions/thief/
Engineer. Engineers are a sexy departure from regular MMO class conventions. They throw down turrets like Team Fortress 2's beloved practical problem solver, concoct grenades and alchemical healing potions among other things to aid in battle and help allies, and generally control the tactical situation of the battlefield with mines, traps and a good old fashioned firearm at their side. This class, the much hypothesized gun class of GW2, as well possesses tool kits and other useful skills to further customize their role in the field, making Engineers that much more expert at what they do. These guys are no joke, and are sure to be the bane of many a foolhardy player in PvP.
GW2 Site Link: http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/professions/engineer/2 Soldier Professions:
Warrior. The typical damage sponge plate wearing melee fighter. Warriors have a variety of skill and damage options related to the variety of weapons they can use in game. They use an adrenaline system, similar to WoW warrior's rage, to build up the energy nessecary for performing a variety of cool abilities, including burst abilities for quick attacks. They also use a variety of buffing abilities related to Shout commands and the use of banners to target enemies and buff allies on the fly in combat. (
Now officially confirmed, this class was in the previous Guild Wars and has been mentioned in various Guild Wars 2 Combat and Gameplay articles released so far, side by side with the released Elementalist. It's safe to say Warriors will be returning to GW2, and their combat videos attest to not only their awesomeness, but to the fluid appearance and natural flow of combat gameplay in GW2).
GW2 Site Link: http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/professions/warrior/
Guardian. The penultimate paladin-esc class described aptly by Ravious of Kill Ten Rats as "a warrior steak with a side of monk potatoes and a small helping of ritualist carrots all covered in paragon gravy". Guardians excel at battle control, defence and support of their allies without the need to make red health bars go up or hold aggro on big scary monsters, preferring instead to think more like a tactician and leader. They can put up wards and shields, buff themselves and allies, and put the hurt on enemies as good as any other. Roll this profession if you want to play Guild Wars 2 as a more support minded character, minus the strict role settings of the Trinity design. (
Confirmed by ArenaNet, this class is the second Solider plate wearing class in GW2 as well as the noteworthy first major game reveal of 2011. Grab your popcorn! It's only going to get better as the months pass).
GW2 Site Link: http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/professions/guardian/
Dungeon Section:
In a bold move, Guild Wars 2 features dungeons. How about that.
Dungeons are entered for the first time in a setting known as
Story Mode, where your characters interact with one or more members of the adventuring group known as Destiny's Edge. These characters will guide a group through their personal story and connect it to the overarching plot as well as what's going on story wise in the instance, and aid the player in combat.
Explorable Mode unlocks afterwards for when you return each time to the instance once you've beaten it in Story Mode. Explorable mode is a random generation dungeon type where the actions you took with your group in Story Mode have consequences to what enemies will spawn and what events will occur within the instance. This is intended as being a replay friendly mechanic, so that dungeons remain vibrant and fun after the first few runs.
Both modes will have loot, including sets for each profession, and grouping is reported to be very easy, in lieu of as of yet unreleased game systems for grouping. NPC heroes like those from GW1 will not be returning, so expect to group like in other MMOs with players for GW2, which is arguably better anyways.
Dungeon Name Story Mode Level (Explorable Mode Level)Ascalonian Catacombs 30 (35)Caudecus's Manor 40 (45)Twilight Arbor 50 (55)Sorrow's Embrace 60 (65)Citadel of Flame 70 (75)Honor of the Waves 76 (80)Crucible of Eternity 78 (80)Arah 80 (80)
Posts
PvP Section:
I considered writing something thoughtful and provocative here, but really, all you need to know about how amazing this game's Player versus Player components are can be found in the below image:
The WvWvW map. 3 server territories and one neutral area in the bottom middle. Takes about a half hour to walk from one end to the other, for size scale, though you probably will never need to do that as there is plenty of fast travel waypoints between key areas available.
And some videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxeffOuV_5o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk06sCaB0l4&feature=plcp&context=C4d2cf69VDvjVQa1PpcFMc28lyYkGpjV3hVRvtVv7h-QgyH5q85hA=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0ay5np0078
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygFJ1n7f1eo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHzuwBOzH6w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnZmnY6J3k0&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvHV7HB2BDc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXc1JwHGNik
You got World versus World versus World, which is three servers fighting over an inter-dimensional battlefield filled with castles and stuff to capture, and you have more structured PvP formats like the Battle of Kyhlo, where the focus is smaller and more traditional and very skill based. All of this is separated from the PvE experience to prevent griefing and factional server splits. ArenaNet is committed to creating a PvP experience that is both accessible to the wider playerbase found in PvE and making it exciting and engaging for them to try from time to time, while also making the system balanced and deep enough so as to support competitive E-sports style PvP on both a large and small scale.
You better believe a lot of us here on the forums will live and breathe GW2 PvP. Commander Corehealer is looking for a few good men to take that keep up on the hill...
If you haven't got the patience to play EvE's PvP scene or you missed out on DAoC's borderlands skirmishes and keep sieges, or you are simply bored of WoW's stale format and want something different, here is where your server pride will be resurrected in a crucible of fire. Get ready to kill some mans.
OCD Guide to GW2's economy and resource system:
Gems = Currency bought with real money which can be traded within the in game economy for gold and services. Gems are used to purchase in game store vanity items.
Gold = In game currency, acquired through various means, such as selling in game goods and services, PvP and PvE dynamic events. It is used for the majority of in game item and service purchases, much like in other games.
Karma = A resource procured along with gold and experience from dynamic events and completing personal story objectives, among other things. It is used to purchase the PvE versions of gear upgrades for every 5 levels, up to the max of 80.
Glory = The PvP version of Karma acquired in WvW and battleground PvP. Used to purchase the PvP versions of gear upgrades for every 5 levels up to a max of 80.
(Note: All gear acquired in PvP and PvE, regardless of how, is useable in both PvP and PvE without any serious handicaps, and both can be upgraded using crafting skills as well).
Supply = A WvW exclusive resource acquired from various control points and resource nodes found across the WvW maps. After they are captured for your server, players and caravans must transport limited amounts of supply from them in waves to keeps and other strong points to build up the defensive structures and traps of said areas, as well as hire NPC guards to defend them. They must also transport supply as well as a schematic (acquired at any large keep from a quartermaster for gold) for the specific type of siege weapon they wish to build at the site of a keep siege as an attacking force. Siege weapons include battering rams, catapults, trebuchets and Asuran siege golems. Supply cannot be used outside of WvW.
Another resource, Renown, exists for guilds, but we do not presently know what it's function is in relation to guild advancement and the rest of the game economy.
Press/Media Section:
Video Compilation Section: See previous OPs for video of 2010 video releases, primarily PAX Prime 2010 and Gamescon 2010 videos). Also check Google and Youtube.
PAX East 2010 Guild Wars 2 Designing Dynamic Events Panel Playlist!: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...69292ECAAB7B5E
PAX East 2011 Demo Videos (For 2010 PAX Prime Demo videos, see Youtube and the previous thread OP, linked at the top of this one; this Demo focuses on the norn, the guardian, the thief, and various gameplay systems such as crafting and has an improved gear stat system in place over last year's Demo):
Guild Wars 2 PAX East Panel, Parts 1- 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lctnKVlj-Zs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMFqmxXP71c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSfuEqtHse8
Alienware Booth Presentation of the Thief Class in the Demo at PAX East (Long video from a streamed original, the good parts start at 14 min in and end at 45 min in, good quality): http://www.justin.tv/alienwarearena/b/281335903
Gamescom 2011 Video Compilation: (Featuring Cynical Brit Totalbiscuit, PvP first looks and Playable, Redesigned Sylvari and Asura)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x83sQfGJBmg
Totalbiscuit's interview with Izzy Cartwright on GW2 PvP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvHV7HB2BDc
ArenaNet faces off in 5v5 Battlefield PvP with a Pro e-sports German team on the demo feature map, the Battle of Kyhlo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXc1JwHGNik
Tequatl the Sunless, presumed Dragon liutenenant of ethier Zhaitan or the unnamed sea based dragon, battles a demo raid group:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1JfSbKjHHI
Totalbiscuit's WTF is Guild Wars 2 Parts 1 and 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ttfOuxB6Gc&feature=BFa&list=WLFB28825DDA3768FC&index=19
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnVGEYGE8hs&feature=BFa&list=WLFB28825DDA3768FC&index=20
Work in Progress Revealed and Detailed Character Customization Compilation Video (Shows all Race appearence customizations for both genders currently available):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhPMysnqFwc
ArenaNet showcase of the Tequatl fight and related mechanics and scaling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNtwF6UjkR0
Asura Character customization (In German, no sound):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtN3ncmDIjk
Asura Guardian Gameplay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cobq3Z4KOmo
GW2Live's Youtube Demo Videos in HD (good quality and played by people who played the first game extensively and know what they are doing, shows off skills and other gameplay features in some videos):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW4sGjWJK_0
Charr Ranger with Pet Action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofUCav0GTww
Dye System Demonstration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sBvWMF44JA
Elementalist and Thief General Gameplay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDEwfWHiXis
GameSpot Norn Interview/Customization Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFTSv4CSTAI&feature=related
10 Minute General Combat Montage Video:
GameSpot 10 Min Combat Video
A Q&A Video from June 2011's Fanday chalk full of interesting tidbits:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Los-MliDhY
GW2 Fan Trailer Contest:Winners got to go with a friend to ArenaNet's new Seattle Development Studio and play the game with the developers.
Winning Entries (First one is better then second but they are both good and informative):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wm9NMZDN-A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtAREKLnyzI
Art Section: (Some of the most beautiful fantasy artwork I've ever seen, watch in HD.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORRilzOugyc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61H5yzj0jyQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0PWUBOdzmI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxIhTZEEWL8
Relevant Site Links Section:
http://www.guildwars2.com/en/ The Official Game Site.
http://www.arena.net/blog/ Official ArenaNet Blog
http://twitter.com/#!/guildwars2 Official Guild Wars 2 Twitter Feed (Best place for updates and FAQ clarification).
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/473/Guild-Wars-2.html MMORPG.com's GW2 Page, (With frequent updates on the game.)
http://www.guildwars2guru.com/ MMOGuru's Guild Wars 2 Community Site.
http://www.massively.com/category/guild-wars-2 Massively.com's Guild Wars 2 News and Updates Page.
Be sure to check the thread as links with new info come in all the time as well!
And to tie up the end of the link roundup, a really weirdly awesome comic shared with us courtesy of reVerse, creator unknown:
To conserve OP space, and because the FAQ has changed somewhat in the years this thread has been following the game, I'm providing a link to it rather then a wall of text from now on. Read the official site's Frequently Asked Questions here: http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/game-faq/
Also (as a outsider opinion piece attachment to the somewhat old FAQ page), a really good article you should read which eloquently details various innovative design systems and functions which will be in the game, why they are innovative and awesome, why they will most likely be pulled off, and why you might not like them now, but might learn to love them later:
If you have any suggestions for the OP/info that should be in it, let me know here and i'll get it updated.
A big thanks to reVerse, Sidhaethe, Loki, Enig, zZulu, Arthil and everyone else who has contributed to the OP and the thread, and our resident ArenaNet insider, World as Myth, for providing us with art assets, up to date info and kind words. Let the LAUNCH DAY dissection commence!
Because it's just as much about the people you're with as it is about crushing skulls and storytime.
The Venerable Wall of Erections (now located here to conserve OP space. Bask in it's swagger!):
We aim to please.
This post is reserved for guild(s) information/how to get in/PA community stuff.
LAUNCH/POST LAUNCH STUFF:
Official PA Server is FORT ASPENWOOD. Overflow server is KAINENG. Please go to Fort Aspenwood if you wish to play with the main PA peeps guild, and contact Draygo if your unable to get on Aspenwood due to overpopulation and wish to play with PAers on Kaineng. Our guilds are all cross server and account/character wide anyway, so once you join, you'll be able to chat with people regardless of server. Server transfers are available now, but it will take some time to certify transfers and you will be locked into one server at any given time for PvP WvW purposes.
Guide for switching Servers:
In character select, right after login. In the Bottom left corner of the screen.
Select "World Selection" > Select "Transfer World" > Select "Server you want".
OFFICIAL PA GUILD(S):
- What A Nice Guild [NICE] (GM: Corehealer/Sarah Corehealer/Trajan Corehealer, various officers including Geod, Kakos, Draygo, Enig, Vivixienne, etx.)
- Chaps Wot Guild (EU Guild on Gandara. GM: Thorrhel, Officers are Kafka87 (Dedryr) and Fantasyrogue (Mellan). Website: www.tpreview.co.uk/cwg)
- The Merch [MRHI] (Fort Aspenwood PA Guild, small EvE Corp based guild. GM: TheKoolEagle (Gorhir/Mr Fuzzywhiskers), Officers are Anehii (Anehii) and Fiatil(Fiatil).
- I Require Frozen Treats' [IRFT] (On Fort Aspenwood, Just Bri's Guild of Fun times and Frozen goodies. GM: Narawen Blake).
- The Candymancers (Basically the continuation of the WAR guild, our official overflow guild on Fort Aspenwood, ask myself or Entaru Phenyhelm here on the forums or on TS3 about it/more info to come).
- Your guild name here [Your tag here] (GM: Your name here)
This list is subject to change in release, but will serve for now as a list of guilds we create now or later for more specific purposes in PvP and PvE. The GW2 Guild system allows players to be in multiple guilds simultaneously, so we will be using a prime guild (NICE) for networking between smaller, specialized guilds that will be focused on specific aspects of the game. More on all that later as we get closer to release. If you have suggestions for this list, names, or are creating a guild for EU/AU or a subset of one of the main guilds, please contact me or one of the officers in NICE.
Guilds are also trans-server and account wide; as long as you select to represent a specific guild on a specific character, you will be able to chat with and see the status of anyone on any server in that guild. You will not lose membership in your other guilds, you will simply not be actively representing all but one of them on a given character.
You can find PA people using GW2 UI's social networking style Contacts tab, shown in a few of the press beta videos, to search for familiar faces and the above guild. When I am in the beta, I will do my best to manage the guild and get the PA peeps in each event networked, so PM Trajan/Sarah Corehealer in game to get in touch with me (all my characters have the last name Corehealer). If nothing else, try asking in general chat for any PA people, specifically in starting areas or cities.
VC INFO:
For VOIP communication we will be using the following Teamspeak 3 server provided by Draygo (seriously, look at how much effort he put into this thing):
Server IP: 66.135.59.185:9999
Password: pa
Admins: Corehealer, Entaru, Draygo, Enig, Geod
The below spoiler contains the Penny Arcade Guild Wars 2 Teamspeak FAQ, written by Draygo for everyone's convenience. Please refer to it for any queries regarding the GW2 PA TS3 setup. Server seats 100+ people and everything you want to know about it can be found below or by asking Draygo, as he put it together and has been hosting these servers for years.
Download teamspeak here: http://www.teamspeak.com/?page=downloads
You can get teamspeak for windows, mac, and linux. As well as your Ithing and your android, if you so prefer.
Q) Cool, I installed it, now what?
Now you must connect to our totally awesome server. In order to do that you must first run teamspeak. Then hit Connections at the top. Select Connect.
Now you must enter the server details:
Server Address: 66.135.59.185:9999
Nickname: Your forum or In Game Name
Password: pa
Q) What does the banner in the top right do?
The community thread banner when clicked on will open the most recent guild wars 2 thread on penny arcade.
Q) How do I add a class or race icon next to my name?
You do this by right clicking yourself, put your mouse over server group, then left click any of the categories named with the race or class you want to choose. You can uncheck them at any time to remove the icon.
Q) Who are the server admins?
They are Draygo, Corehealer, Entaru, Geod, and Enig.
Q) So is there a skin/theme for this?
Yes and you can download it from our lobby. Right click the lobby, and select open file browser. You will see the installer file at the top. Download and run that file to skin your client.
In order to activate the theme/skin you need to go to settings->options, and click design on the left.
Then select Theme and change it to PA Guild Wars 2.
Q) Who made the theme?
Draygo did.
Q) How do I change my name?
Right click yourself and select change nickname. You can do this at any time. Do not change your name to impersonate an admin.
Q) What rules can I expect?
Don't be a dick. No personal attacks except 'silly goose', forum rules apply. If it is not appropriate on the forums, it is also not appropriate in teamspeak.
Q) Someone is breaking the rules, or is being disruptive, but no server admins are online. How do I complain.
First, I hope you can all be gentlemen and resolve disputes by yourselves. If someone is being a dick, you can fill out a complaint. Right click someone and click make a complaint. Do not abuse this feature. If 5 people complain about one person in a short amount time, that person will be temp banned from the server. Do not abuse this. Admins will see the complaints that lead to the temp banning and will be unhappy to fix it.
Q) Can I make my own channels?
Yes!
Teamspeak is setup that you can make your own channels in any of the major channels (Except Admin HQ, Lobby, and Afk, for obvious reasons) First enter the channel you want to make the sub-channel in. Right click the parent channel and select, create sub channel. You can enter a name, even a password, as well as set any description you want. After you create the channel, make sure the Audio Codec selected is high enough audio quality.
Right click the channel you created and click edit channel. Click the audio tab and increase the Quality slider. Also decrease the latency slider to reduce lag time. Quality 7, latency 1 are the recommended settings.
These channels are temp only, when the last person leaves them they are automatically cleaned up.
The person who created the channel is the op of the channel and can kick people from the channel (not server). So if you created your own channel and want to remove someone, you can password protect it and remove the troublesome individual.
Q) Is there an overlay plugin?
Yes. There is a built in overlay plugin. To enable it, select settings then plugins. Check the teamspeak overlay plugin and then click settings on the bottom to configure it. Here you can configure any color of each of the elements, as well as transparency settings. I recommend you change the input settings to enable mouse polling, and change the initialization mode to minimal. Minimal mode only displays the one person who is talking, the other mode displays everyone in your channel even those that are talking.
Q) Does teamspeak work with my G15 keyboard.
Yes. There is a plugin for that. Pretty easy to configure again settings->plugins, and enable the G15 keyboard.
Also:
This is most likely a permanent setup for the BWEs and future events/release now because Draygo has put a lot of work into this solution and has swayed myself and Entaru with it's beauty, icons, functionality and abuse of admin power. It also holds 100+ seats up to a maximum of about 300, more then we really need but excellent nonetheless.
It is very unlikely that we will need help funding any server upkeep at this time. If we do we will put it up here.
Livestream: (ON HIATUS AGAIN WHILE I GET IT SET UP AND PLANNED OUT BETTER FOR POSTLAUNCH. WILL DO SOME TESTING POSTLAUNCH. HELP APPRECIATED).
Also, I have a livestream that I'm currently playing around with and tweaking in preparation for GW2, with it being the main focus of my channel. Expect to see it and assorted other games there with live commentary by yours truly with some guest commentary via our GW2 Ventrilo/Skype. Link is here and in my signature. http://www.twitch.tv/corehealer
Guild Wars 2: Tyreh, asura Warrior
i like turtles
Path of Exile: snowcrash7
MTG Arena: Snow_Crash#34179
Battle.net: Snowcrash#1873
As a fellow guardian, I found that almost none of that stuff worked on actual bosses. The lovers, for example, appeared immune to every single knockback I had. People ran through my ring ward over and over again.
No one is denying we have the tools to control monsters: I feel that as a guardian I have tons of monster control. Most if just doesn't seem to work in dungeons.
People are pointing out that if you have no aggro mechanics *and* the bosses are immune to all your normal control abilities, you can have problems.
Not that I think hamfisted 'aggro' mechanics are the best way to go. I much prefer abilities that act upon your allies to help them - like the daoc guard and intercept.
PSN: Vorpallion Twitch: Vorpallion
XBL:Phenyhelm - 3DS:Phenyhelm
Shhh too busy playing.
I'm not really keeping up with the thread anymore, just maintaining it. Please message me in game or on Steam, which I use while playing. Also TS3. I'm very approachable.
On the other hand, I think there are definitely some people complaining about balance when they are really just not playing properly (or with a proper group).
Steam (Ansatz) || GW2 officer (Ansatz.6498)
Yolo
XBL:Phenyhelm - 3DS:Phenyhelm
The reason the lovers got immune is because your group spammed too much cc. Have everyone pick up a boulder before the fight. Toss them in sequence to move the guy away, and profit. If you cc him too often he'll briefly become immune to CC, it usually drops off after a few seconds though. The boulders are really the easiest way to deal with moving him.
As Josh mentioned there is a lot more depth to the combat than people understand yet. People need to break out of the MMO mold they are in and really examine what tools they have, how they interact, and what they can chain together or create.
Most people are trying to brute force these encounters which is making them infinitely harder than they need to be. There is much more finesse involved.
Official PA Forums FFXIV:ARR Free Company <GHOST> gitl.enjin.com Join us on Sargatanas!
Steam (Ansatz) || GW2 officer (Ansatz.6498)
You keep saying IMMUNE. They have counters. You have to work around that. They are not immune.
CM's Golem boss at the start is a bit hellish but I still enjoyed him.
Just Finished: Borderlands (waste of $7)/Mario Brothers U/The Last Story/Tropico 4
Currently Playing: NS2/ZombiU/PlanetSide 2/Ys/Dota2/Xenoblade Chronicles
On Hold: Prince of Persia: Warrior Within/GW2/Scribblenauts
Coming Next: Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones/X-Com Classic
This isn't true! He is surrounded by a poison cloud with a 400 yard radius. Also, his attacks get stronger the closer you get. Best to take him out from range.
I am assuming this is because of server load or whatever...but I want to give you money ArenaNet...TAKES MA MONIES.
I'm really liking dungeons in this game. I was initially put off by the difficulty ramp up, but I think the fights aren't too gimmicky and require legitimate skill and coordination. My only exception to this was the 2nd golem in the 2nd to last fight Sorrow's Embrace. It has about 3x too much HP and is hard as shit to kill. F that boss.
My Digital Pin Lanyard || PAX East '13, '14, '15, '19 | PAX South '15
No tell or windup for their crazy AoE attack.
Use my pistol daze ability multiple times to try and keep them from using it.
Multiple times it says INTERRUPT in big fucking letters on them.
Every single time it does so, they do the attack and laugh at your pathetic attempts at stopping them.
Yeah, ok.
Edit: The same thing happens with a TON of mobs in this game. It is quite sad.
The dungeons seem to drag on and on. And I don't have the willpower to say no to something I haven't seen before. It's always "Well, maybe this dungeon will be different?" And it never is. It never is. Just a long slog through a dungeon.
I understand the argument that the dungeon sets are just for vanity, and because of that it's okay to require a grind. But, dungeons require a full group of people to do. If I am someone that doesn't give a shit about the dungeon set, or am just not willing to grind out 70 runs of that dungeon, what is my reasoning to help you out other than we are bros? It is my belief that the majority of the player base is not willing to put in the time and effort to acquire these dungeon sets. So what we are left with is people begging friends to do a dungeon with them, or finding a guild that is dedicated to getting people these sets.
So how is this different from WoW Raiding?
Currently Shiashi is doing the following:
PSN: Beltaine-77 | Steam: beltane77 | Battle.net BadHaggis#1433
I've noticed this as well. The interrupt is good for a cooldown or two at most then the mob just does the attack again on the next cooldown.
Also, inflating boss fights by giving them massive health pools is just bad form. If your group has the gimmick down to the point of just going through the motions, there's no point in them doing it for the next 10 minutes.
PSN: Beltaine-77 | Steam: beltane77 | Battle.net BadHaggis#1433
I just hope people get some use out of them. It was a pretty big hurdle to basically throw away how I played other MMO's (I'm a bit of an MMO junkie) but at the same time it's very refreshing to have a whole new playstyle to work with, new things to figure out, new strategies to work together, and generally a lot more to play with than just Tank tanks, healer heals, DPS does damage, and everyone make sure not to stand in bad stuff.
The secret world was a step in the right direction but still had the same holy trinity going on, but with GW2 everyone can tank (or avoid being hit at least), everyone can heal themselves (or others in some cases) and everyone can damage the enemy. So instead of worrying about aggro, people need to worry more out boss patterns, avoiding damage, healing damage, mitigating damage, dealing damage etc. It is much more involved and puts more of the success or failure of the fight on each individual. But at the same time when you die you are merely downed and if your team is decent you can get your teammate back up and running again quickly.
Official PA Forums FFXIV:ARR Free Company <GHOST> gitl.enjin.com Join us on Sargatanas!
DO NOT GO TO METRICA PROVINCE. IT IS THE MOST ANTI-FUN MAP EVER.
Why, you may ask? Two reasons:
1) It has the hardest boss in the game. Now, normally I wouldn't care about difficulty, all it really need is some teamwork and coordination between players. However, since this isn't in an instance, more players go there, die uselessly while the boss just scales upward in difficulty. It would be fine (and probably really fun) if it were an instance boss or something, but its not.
2) The main reason why this is the worst map. That goddamn hidden platforming puzzle. Now, I'm not opposed to platforming. I even liked the ones needed to get to a vista. This one however, is just plain unfun. You're not allowed to make any mistake. In the first part of the platform, if you fall before you reach the end, you die. Fortunately, once you reach the 2nd part, falling will just port you back to the start of the 2nd part, and reaching each checkpoint allows you to teleport instantly there if you fall. However, sometimes the game bugs out and you die BEFORE you're transported back. Which means you lose the attunement (which you need, or else getting to checkpoints just port you back to the start) AND you start back at the very very beginning. Measuring the distance of the jump is also very difficult. I've fallen several times because of overjumping. Seriously, that platforming puzzle. Ugh. (You do get an achievement for finishing it though, and some treasure as well.)
Sorry, just really needed to rant. Those are really the only things in GW2 so far that I've found unfun. Both of those things are optional anyway and aren't necessary for map completion.
PSN: jrrl_absent
You only yolo once.
You underestimate the number of completionists and vanity lovers out there.
People farm ACHIEVEMENTS. In all matter of games. It's basically a currency that cannot be used for anything. And you think if given a prize they can wear about the game world they won't do that?
I don't think anyone really knows, apart from Shiashi.
But we will make it our own.
yolove it
Wow ok, I get that you don't like the map for two completely optional reasons, and while I agree the elemental is over tuned (they really need to tone down the amount of adds), the jumping puzzle is just tricky not especially difficult unless you are under lvl 13 as the monsters will then kick your ass.
That being said the rest of the zone is phenomenal and quite easily the most fun starting area I've played (I've played them all so far) The mix of magic and tech of the Asura is truly beautiful and the quests are interesting with that special Asura flair.
If you want to warn people that there are 2 frustrating parts that's fine, but telling them to avoid the entire zone is silly, it's an amazing zone and everyone should check it out.
Official PA Forums FFXIV:ARR Free Company <GHOST> gitl.enjin.com Join us on Sargatanas!
You missed the next part to that puzzle :twisted:
Yeah you want to talk about a bullshit platforming puzzle the second part of that one is a nightmare
Official PA Forums FFXIV:ARR Free Company <GHOST> gitl.enjin.com Join us on Sargatanas!