How valuable is the party window?

Darcy

Darcy

Never Too Old

Join Date: Jul 2006

Rhode Island where there are no GW contests

Order of First

W/R

In another thread, an off-topic discussion kept reviving on the value of the party window. So let's hear it from all of you.

1. Do you shut it down?

2. What build are you running if you shut it down?

3. Why do you shut it down?

4. If you never shut it down, why? Other than for healers, tell us why you find it valuable.
-----------

For example, when I run my R/Me I shut down the party window to increase my field of view. I use the radar to watch the back door and cannot heal anyone, so for this character the party window is more of a nuisance than a help.

On the other hand, if I am the party leader, prof makes no difference, I ALWAYS have the party window open.

The Pointless

The Pointless

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2006

Stuck in the UK

Rage International [RAGE]

W/Me

1) Nope, meaning I can skip straight to...
4) If a party's healer dies, it's imperative that we can see that as soon as, so that somebody with a Res (Which, personally, should be all members, Sig or Spell) can get her back and keep up going.

Gun Pierson

Gun Pierson

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Belgium

PIMP

Mo/

Other than the obvious reason The Pointless above gives, it's important to know the whole party situation from a strategic point of view. You can always resize the window as small as possible and put it somewhere it bothers you the least.

Trvth Jvstice

Trvth Jvstice

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

HALE

W/

1. no

2. n/a

3. n/a

4. The party window lets you know whats going on in a battle. If you are concentrating on an enemy, your whole team could be dying around you without you knowing it without the party window. It let's you know when it's time to run or rez.

On a scale of one to ten, one=worthless and 10=absolutely vital. I'd rate it a 9

Hephaestus Ram

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

None

W/E

I never shut it down, I want to know the status of the other team
members, as it effects what I'm doing. If one member is taking a
of damage and I see for that he's surrounded, if I have a knock-
down ( i usually do ), maybe I can help him break away.

If I see that the whole team is losing health fast I can indicate on
the radar that I intend to break off and fall back, and which way
I'm going to go.

I certainly would want to know if the monk or tank were about to
die.

I rarely even look at the main screen. I usually select my target
by the radar screen and am too occupied with my skill bar, the
party screen, what skills or spells my target is using, and monitoring
what enchantments and hexes are on me to even have time to
bother with the main screen.

Shigernafy

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

Temple of the Ages

R/

1. I only get rid of it when Im soloing or running, in a party situation its only big enough for me to see my whole first name, and then the rest of the party.
2. Solo/Running build...
3. I shut it down because all the information I could possible get from it I can get more easily from the rest of the screen.
4. In a party situation, I keep it up to see how everyones doing, not that I can usually do much about conditions, hexes, and damage on others, its still good to know whats going on.

Zui

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

The Benecia Renovatio [RenO]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darcy
1. Do you shut it down?

2. What build are you running if you shut it down?

3. Why do you shut it down?

4. If you never shut it down, why? Other than for healers, tell us why you find it valuable.
1) No.

2) None.

3) I don't.

4) I play Monk, alot. When I'm not playing Monk, it's still very important to be able to target other players. Such as being able to target one of your Warriors who is Blind, or being able to use a Resurrection Signet on a dead teammate. It's also a good idea to have it open so you can judge how much damage your party is taking, and if you need to perhaps work on mitigating the other teams offense a bit more(Although feedback from your Monks here is even better).

Basicly, the party menu is a very good source of information about what is happening in the game as it relates to your team. It'd be like turning the radar off. You'd just loose valuable information, for no good reason at all.

Even turning it off in PvE is stupid. It gives you information on the game, and it doesn't hurt anything at all by having it on.



The only time I can see ever shutting it down is when Monking for a non-serious team so you can improve your battlefield awareness, and stop being a noob monk who watches red bars go down, then back up when you heal the person and is oblivious to everything else that's happening in the game.

fatmouse

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2006

I guess the people who close it are the same ones that spam
I'm dead!
I'm dead!
I'm dead!
I'm dead!
As if we didn't already know...

Kook~NBK~

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2005

A little chalet outside Drok's

Natural Born Killaz

1. Yes
2. When I'm running around solo farming.
3. To enjoy the view.
4. I leave it on when in a party so I can easily keep track of how my teammates are doing. Doesn't matter which proffession you're playing, I think it's an important tool for everyone to use to adjust to the situation they're in - is the party in over its head and needs to retreat and regroup? Does the team need a minute to heal up after a tough battle? The party window is a great way to quickly & easily see if there's trouble.

Smile Like Umean It

Smile Like Umean It

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

E/Rt

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trvth Jvstice
1. no

2. n/a

3. n/a

4. The party window lets you know whats going on in a battle. If you are concentrating on an enemy, your whole team could be dying around you without you knowing it without the party window. It let's you know when it's time to run or rez.

On a scale of one to ten, one=worthless and 10=absolutely vital. I'd rate it a 9
My answers too.

KamikazeChicken

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Mo/

How am I supposed to heal everyone, if the party window isn't on my screen?

Rera

Rera

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2006

I assume he's asking those who don't play monk.

The reason you keep the party window open is to get a better idea of the situation. It's immediately obvious when anyone dies, or is about to die. It also gives you an idea of the kind of damage your team is facing, where that damage is going, and how well your team is handling it. This should affect your playing even if you aren't a monk that can directly "do anything about it".

Tarkin

Tarkin

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

W/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by fatmouse
I guess the people who close it are the same ones that spam
I'm dead!
I'm dead!
I'm dead!
I'm dead!
As if we didn't already know...
Nice one! lol
Why close party window? Only if you is a greedy loser that dont mather with the other party members...

unholy guardian

unholy guardian

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2006

Lost Haven

A/Mo

It is vital to know how people are doing during battle

LifeInfusion

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

Uh:
-Support builds
-Enchantments
-Condition/hex removal
-MM's that are saccing
-Healing builds not monk

Crystal Alice

Crystal Alice

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2006

VILE

Mo/

1. i never shut it down when im with a group(at least 3 people), when im alone with my characters it really doesn't matter(it's become a habit so i don't really notice it anymore if the window is up).
2. none
3. i shut the window down only when i have 1 other person with me who i know will not be likely to die or if i have to see something behind the window.
4. well for one thing, i have a healing monk and the other thing is that i would like to see how many people are still alive and if there is anyone who needs to be resurrected. if i ever need to remove an enchantment or use mend condition i can see who needs it.

Petrus

Petrus

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

norway

W/

i never shut it down.
as everyone staed above is important whatever class you play.
what i do instead, since i play att 1280*1024 i set the interface to small when not monking, and large when im monking...

Thallandor

Thallandor

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Singapore

Seers of Serpents [SoS]

R/

1. Not when i am playing with others players

2. Running builds, solo

3. no need for it when solo or running self/others to increase view range

4. In a party for quest/mission, its advantageous to know the status of your allies and party mates to either rez/or to make tactical retreats when neccessary.

arcanemacabre

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

Party window only comes off when I solo, that's it.

lightblade

lightblade

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

The Etereal Guard

Me/Mo

Never closes it. It's important to know how your party is doing. And very often I see warriors hack and slash monsters without realizing his whole party have retreated already.

Spader

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2006

W/Mo

mines always.
About half the screen when I play monk or rit right below the compass. On ny other char i normally have it about the with of the compass and as far right as I can. And whin i solo anything it's down to a msaly thing like the size of gum under the compass. As for why i find the thing usful when playing somehting like a War/Necro is if i know the area to some extent i know what the monsters arn't doing to me and is being annoying to the other members. Example: Thurnderhead Keep the first mob is a few frost gaints, a few ax whileding stone summit, a stomper, and a mesmer i think. Knowing what has been cast by the enimy would have me changing what i'd hit next either frenzy or healing sig.

If I see I"M DEAD in chat that will just make me go and dance on the person.

saphir

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

doa

Mo/

never.

it's rather like removing your rear and side view mirrors while driving a car. You can still drive but it's probably not a good idea.

Carth`

Carth`

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

I can't believe you can play with other people without it. Providing you're not soloing, this is a team game, not an "8 people soloing together" game. I find it invaluable to know my party's status even when not playing the monk.

I simply can't believe this thread, but I think I now understand some of the people who seem to have no idea what's going on when playing. It's like they have the party window turned off, team chat turned off, and don't look at what anyone else is doing.

WLlama

Caged Mongrel

Join Date: Jul 2006

Cage in a Dungeon

Flaming Turtles

N/

It stays open all the time. Even when I'm soloing I somtimes find it easier to look at than the skillbar health meter. I suppose I could swap things around but every time I do that I go do something that works much better with motor memory and switch it back.

arcanemacabre

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carth`
I simply can't believe this thread, but I think I now understand some of the people who seem to have no idea what's going on when playing. It's like they have the party window turned off, team chat turned off, and don't look at what anyone else is doing.
QFT - This is why I never PuG. Heroes are a godsend and will only replace guildies when they're not around.

Wacky

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

Trans Tasman Alliance [TTA]

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carth`
I simply can't believe this thread, but I think I now understand some of the people who seem to have no idea what's going on when playing. It's like they have the party window turned off, team chat turned off, and don't look at what anyone else is doing.
Well, pretty much everyone other than the OP keeps it up all the time except maybe when soloing, so that problem isn't as bad as you say.

However, it's easy to forget to look at the party window even though it's there, if you're playing a warrior or dervish.

So sometimes it's good to ping "I'm Dead!" to make sure they know. Because they often don't.

Maria The Princess

Maria The Princess

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

Aequitas Deis

i shut it down when i solo...... thats it

fenix

fenix

Major-General Awesome

Join Date: Aug 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Event Organiser and IRC Tiger

Ex Talionis [Law], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] ????????????????&#

W/

In PvP I never turn off the Party Window, it's just silly if you do. You need to have it open at ALL TIMES, because if it's not there, you can miss alot of what is going on, such as monk pressure, degen etc etc. It's pretty difficult to see how much pressure your team is under, if you can't see their HP

BlueNovember

BlueNovember

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

WTS GW2 items for Zkey

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by KamikazeChicken
How am I supposed to heal everyone, if the party window isn't on my screen?
By clicking on them with your mouse.

Learning to monk without the party window is the difference between being a good monk and a great monk. You should place prots before some takes hits, look where target auras are facing, and be constantly mindful of the battlefield.

Healing by using soley the party window will restrict your development as a monk. I don't condone turning it off completely, but you should not be reliant on it.

In PVE, w/e, use it by itself. :P

master_of_puppets

master_of_puppets

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

I dont like guilds...

Mo/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueNovember
By clicking on them with your mouse.

Learning to monk without the party window is the difference between being a good monk and a great monk. You should place prots before some takes hits, look where target auras are facing, and be constantly mindful of the battlefield.

Healing by using soley the party window will restrict your development as a monk. I don't condone turning it off completely, but you should not be reliant on it.

In PVE, w/e, use it by itself. :P
I'm sorry thats just dumb. Are you saying the "great monks" play with their party window off? Thats not the difference between a good monk and a great one..... Thats the difference between a normal person and a moron lol. Anyone with at least an ounce of intelligence woul be playing with it on. Especially if you're a monk. Doesnt matter how great at monking you are, you turn off the party window, you're gonna fail miserably. Wtf do you mean "not rely on it" ... What are you gonna rely on? Someone calling their health, status and where they are too "hey, I'm in front of you and a little to left can you plz heal me and do something about these 8 conditions and hexes"

remmeh

remmeh

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

Apathy Inc [AI]

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by KamikazeChicken
How am I supposed to heal everyone, if the party window isn't on my screen?
heal party... dur

seriously though, I never disable the party window unless i'm soloing.

OrangHebat

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by master_of_puppets
I'm sorry thats just dumb. Are you saying the "great monks" play with their party window off? Thats not the difference between a good monk and a great one..... Thats the difference between a normal person and a moron lol. Anyone with at least an ounce of intelligence woul be playing with it on. Especially if you're a monk. Doesnt matter how great at monking you are, you turn off the party window, you're gonna fail miserably. Wtf do you mean "not rely on it" ... What are you gonna rely on? Someone calling their health, status and where they are too "hey, I'm in front of you and a little to left can you plz heal me and do something about these 8 conditions and hexes"
I think what he meant with it is if all you did was staring at your party window, you'll missed out on chance to detect spike attempt on your teammates. Also I'm pretty sure he doesnt mean to totally turn off the party window, only not to be that focus on party window and try to get some information from the battle. In a battle with team with good spike i.e. all spike landed within 0.5 second or less, it's near to impossible to stop that spike. At best all you can do is prevent it, and I doubt you can do that by staring at the party window. By the time you got to him, most likely he's dead already.

LifeInfusion

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

HP HP Blah blah blah.
Stop thinking about HP. leave HP to monks and the characters being beaten on to kite.

If you know people have disease, daze, deep wound, hexes, degen it is a forewarning of a place they are stepping on might be dangerous.

People keep forgetting that the conditions/hexes are also shown. That's probably important to people with hex/condition removals.

Two April Mornings

Two April Mornings

No Luck No Time No Money

Join Date: Nov 2005

Amherst College, MA

Scars Meadows [SMS]

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by arcanemacabre
Party window only comes off when I solo, that's it.
QFT.

Uber-important.

baz777

baz777

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

South East England

Leader: Lady Hairy Armpits S[mell]

E/

It's always on!

Mostly play monk so vital but even if I am another class it's just as vital to know what's happening in the group, (run like mad and use rebirth when all around are dead!)

silv3rr

silv3rr

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueNovember
By clicking on them with your mouse.

Learning to monk without the party window is the difference between being a good monk and a great monk. You should place prots before some takes hits, look where target auras are facing, and be constantly mindful of the battlefield.

Healing by using soley the party window will restrict your development as a monk. I don't condone turning it off completely, but you should not be reliant on it.

In PVE, w/e, use it by itself. :P
I agree -- Also some people really need to pay attention to the radar and chat...

Countless times have I played with people that don't have chat opened (or they just don't notice the text scrolling on their screen) or even glance at the radar when we're in a battle... What usually happens is that we get swarmed by patrols and some idiot (usually the one that doesn't pay attention even though they didn't Leeroy) would scream "WHO THE F AGGRO'D??"

On-topic: I never turn it off other than solo/running (like everyone else ). It's so important no matter what class you're playing to be aware of everyone's status at all times; whether it be your casters are being pounded or the melees are suffering from hexes/conditions. That way you'll know what to expect; no nuking by the Eles because they have some hex on them or if others are crippled. Whenever I play my mesmer (I stack a couple of hex removal skills sometimes) I'm always hoping to see the W/Mo's HP bars turn pink, so that way I can Shatter Hex and do some damage to whatever's around them

Alleji

Alleji

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

I don't shut it down unless I'm solo farming.

Carl Butanananowski

Carl Butanananowski

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

Arizona

We Have Big [Meat]

I always keep it on. Important to me to know whats happening to everyone else. Just by habit, I also look there for my own health as well. ><

Gun Pierson

Gun Pierson

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Belgium

PIMP

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueNovember
By clicking on them with your mouse.
I use this method to keep the dwarfs alive that come with the king in the Thunderhead keep mission for example or to heal other npc that don't show in the party window. Can even heal minions this way if the situation allows it. But it stops there.

Legendary Shiz

Legendary Shiz

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

[email protected] who close party menu

Sorry, that's just funny though.