[Dev Update]: Domain of Anguish

We appreciate the feedback that we've been receiving from players about their experiences in the Domain of Anguish. We definitely intend that the rewards for exceptional accomplishments, such as those in the DoA, should be suitable. Based on feedback and our own assessments, the design team has decided to make the following changes to the DoA:

• Double the rate of drops of gemstones throughout all four regions of the Domain of Anguish. This is beyond the upcoming special weekend drop rate increase. The rate of gemstone drop will double on a permanent basis.
• Improve the quantity of some of the items obtained from the Coffer of Whispers. Now, it's important to note that the Coffer of Whispers is a bit of a game of chance, much like the locked chests throughout the game world. Therefore, there will be a wide variance in the items that you receive. Sometimes you'll feel like you've hit the jackpot; other times you'll find you have gotten a good item, but not a great one. We want to assure that you receive those occasional "jackpots" and that you get decent quantities of the good items in other occasions, so that you are properly rewarded for your interactions with the CoW. (Gotta love the new acronyms: I thought DoA was good, but CoW? Tasty! )
• Adjust the cost of the Armbrace of Truth to be more reasonable. Instead of 25 gems of each type, the cost will be 15 gems of each type.

It's important to note that these areas are repeatable, which answers a question that has been asked a few times. The objective is that players who brave the DoA and succeed will be sure to get valuable items and goods. If players are able to succeed multiple times, their rewards will naturally increase. The improved system will assure that there is a system of "just rewards." The designers hope to have the changes tested and rolled into the game in the near future. Please don't hold me to this -- testing continues -- but this could be in the game by tomorrow, and is sure to be in the game within the week.

We are going to continue to monitor the Domain of Anguish. We want this to be the high-end are of the game, of course, and to retain its specialness and its challenge. It's an Elite area, obviously, and in truth we cannot say that it's intended even for the majority of players. But we certainly intend for it, while challenging, to also be a lot of fun! Please continue to share your thoughts and we'll be reading!

still no henchies

Ingrate. How about saying "thanks" first?

Anyway, thanks Gaile and ANet.

this is going to be sweet, whenever i get past ruins or morah >.<

edit: i have to say, since doa opend ive been trying to get to the end, and subsquintly ive wanted to break my computer many times from failing what ive been told are easy missions, multiple times

o, and THHANNKK YOOUUU gaile for telling us, on behalf of like probalby everyonoe who reads this

How am i ungrateful? I simply said I was disappointed that there is no henchies. Personally I havent bothered going into DoA because most people are too ignorant and force me to not want to party with them anymore. Then more ignorant people come on forums saying im ignorant for not saying thanks right away? I never said I didnt like the update, I just really could care less for the updates so far.

Great, more gem drops. Now I'll probably have to dish out a bit less cash to get Raza.

thanks for the info gaile and for hearing everyone out!

While I approve in principle of the changes so far, the only part of it that affects me practically is what Gli mentioned -

- gems' prices dropping on the secondary market.

THANKS ANET FOR NOT NERFING IT.

Yeah! Completely awesome XD Thanks A-net!

Anyways, henchies wouldn't live past the first mob in there, so its pointless to even add them.

Not enough. Not even close enough.

I think you misinterpret how much the DoA Gemstones actually cost, Gaile. I'm assuming you know that some gemstones are expensive, even about 100k each. Therefore at 15 of each stone, an Armbrace of Truth would still cost 2+ Million! That's twice as much as FoW armor for a subpar-skinned weapon! (on a related note, why even design Torment Focus!? Who in their right mind would spend 2 million on a Focus?!) Is that the designers' wish?

I suggest that you adjust the price for an Armbrace of Truth all the way down to 5 of each Gemstone. That way, more than one person will actually be able to afford one...

And no, the double gem drops will not dramatically neuter the prices to a reasonable level. Keep in mind that very few people are even doing the mission, therefore the double drops have a significantly less impact!

Thank you!

Also, Gaile, you are at the Anet offices in Bellevue right? Just in case a florist had a delivery to make...

Very cool changes, though I'd really like to see a way for the "average" gamer to attain Razah other than paying a gem farmer tons of platinum or waiting and spamming for hours just to find a pick-up group that will accept me with my build.

Thank you... I guess.
Instead of duplicating this stuff, I guess I'll point to another thread.
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10089519

[Didnt realize like 8ppl would post b4 i finished this, but i made this after reading first 3 posts]
I agree with dome, i mean cmon why no henchies just give a reason. Guaranteed if i didnt say it right now someone would come on here and say how in the hell would you ever do the DoA with henchies. Well ive henched the entire game twice...the entire game for some ppl who i know are going to comment means EVERY SINGLE MISSION AND QUEST. Believe me, given the time to develop strategy i think i can hench the DoA.

Hey getting killed a dozen times with henchies beats sitting around in a town waiting for the "honor" to "grace" a group with you class. Cmon who really likes sitting around waiting waiting waiting knowing int he back of your head no one wants your warrior or your dervish or your paragon. They already have thier set groups, nothings gonna change that. Heres the set 8 person group give or take 2 ppl since what maybe prophecies. 2 monks 1 tank 2 ele 1 necro 1 ranger and either another tank/necro. SOMETIMES a ritualist but ive yet to see a group spamming i mean spamming like they do for monks for a rit, sin, derv, or paragon. this opens another question i guess, why are these new classes like novelty classes and why cant they be intergrated into the game.
i know im gonna get flamed but ...i really dont care b/c unless i get a screen shot of NEED 1 DERV,SIN,RIT,PARAGON for mission like you see NEED NUKER AND MONK FOR MISSION.

Thanks for listening to our comments and implementing the adjustments.

I look forward to the future updates for DoA. Its good to know that the view of the community is valued just as most of us appreciate the interactions and participation for the game.

This reason alone makes playing and supporting guildwars all the more worthwhile.

__________________________
In case anyone starts getting teary in the eye, NO i am no Fanboi

No, you can't.

Also, forgot to mention about Razah. Remove the Gem Requirement, make Heart of Abaddon more difficult.

So... no henchmen?

Just better rewards? That's it? Who gives a damn about better rewards when some of us aren't even allowed to attempt the challenge to begin with?

ArenaNet put them in Hero's Ascent, but they leave them banned them from parts of PvE? I don't even know what to say about it any more...

So....repeatedly beating the area INCREASES your rewards, rather than killing it o.O;

So is it a permanent character increase? Or will it drop down if you dont play that area o.o; Thats kind of the reverse of farming....

Pwnt...

Anyway, I'd like to complain, but I'm busy just quitting guild wars PVE now since RoT is pretty gay. Henchmen ball up and get by AoE easily, and I don't want to play with noobs or I can't find people to do what I want to do. How many people on the last mission want to go out and cap an assassin or ritualist elite? Not too many. Somehow I managed to get jagged bones after multiple res shrine meetings. Whoo.