Hard Mode: Discussion - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

08 Apr 2007 at 15:29 - 1

Hard Mode, if it is what Gaile Gray's Dev Update claims, will be the biggest update to GW since the release of Nightfall (Yes, even bigger than the 4/05 Update) Trust me; when Hard Mode is released, you'll forget about the Soul Reaping nerf.

Here's what we know (or don't know and have speculated) so far:

Hard Mode will be hard; how "hard" is unknown. It might be Realm of Torment "Hard," or Domain of Anguish "Hard." If it's the latter, I imagine intrest in Hard Mode will drop.
Hard Mode will have better drops. It is unknown if the drops either are normal with a higher chance of being max stats, or it's unique skins...
Hard Mode will affect all areas (except pre-Searing). Gaile uses the example of "Flame Temple Corridor." "All" may not be inclusive; it may or may not include a Hard Mode FoW/UW or, heaven forbid, a Hard Mode DoA.
It is unknown whether there will be a requirement to access Hard Mode (because a lv. 6 fighting lv. 20+ Charr after leaving pre-Searing makes sense). If there is, it'll likely require the Protector title of the campaign you attempt to play (since Guardian is Protector Rank 2) or just campaign completion.
It is unknown how to access Hard Mode after you have unlocked it. Some speculate that it will be a simple toggle; I'd imagine that you'd just get access to special "Hard Mode only" districts, because it could get annoying for Normal Mode people to spam for a Hard Mode group in the same district...
Sunspear and Lightbringer ranks will be adjusted. It's likely that you'll get some super-bonus (+20 points per kill or something while in Hard Mode) to accelerate these titles.
New Sunspear only PvE skills. No comment.
Mesmers will supposedly get their "PvE Buff" with the Hard Mode update. The buff will likely include an entire nerfing of the entire Domination attribute.
Normal Mode PvE adjustment. A little was in the 4/05 update (the Afflicted Soul Explosion, as Gaile specifically hinted)

And most importantly...

Hard Mode, according to Gaile, will be released within a month, if not sooner of 3/20. That means that the update will be released this or next week. I'd think it's more likely next week, since the GW team is testing the ATS this week.

Hard Mode will make or break the game until GW:EN. That's a positive.

EDIT: Gaile Gray posted:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Here is some information about Hard Mode:

You must have completed the campaign with at least one character on the account in order to access Hard mode.
Once you have done that, any other character on the account that is Level 20 (ascension is not required) will also be able to access Hard mode.
The best players should be able to take on Hard mode with Heroes and Henchmen. We do not guarantee success, but it is doable.
Henchmen in HM have been buffed to have better armour, items, and their Elites.

Hope this is helpful.

WildmouseX

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

N/R

08 Apr 2007 at 15:41 - 2

if hard mode is much harder then it all is now, i can only see myself curseing the soul reaping nerf more.. not forgetting about it. that one screwed us over good.

Milennin

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2006

Europe

W/

08 Apr 2007 at 15:43 - 3

I think Hard-Mode will be unlocked once you complete all missions, or maybe Protector is needed. I'm sure you'll be able to toggle between hard- and normal-mode, because it make some titles, like Explorer and Skill Hunter, way harder to do.
I hope they let the bosses in Tyria drop some greens and use some of the designs from the 'design-a-weapon contest'.=P

Sk8tborderx

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

PA

Us Are Not [leet]

W/

08 Apr 2007 at 15:57 - 4

When they bring out hard mode, they better make the hench/hero ai run out of aoe, its stupid that they update the enemy ai to kite out of aoe, but not heros/hench.

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

08 Apr 2007 at 15:59 - 5

I'm really crossing my fingers for Hard Mode. I'm much more a PvE oriented guy, and I was disappointed by the way that it works.

It can be too easy. You can just run with the same build, same team, through all of the campaigns. The most vital thing you need to do is to just watch your aggro.

Secondly, it can be just plain frusterating. Enemies kiting? No difficulty, just a grind. (Not to mention the annoying as hell Madness Titans...Not much of a counter to Mirage Cloak.)

Then it can be to the point where the difficulty has to be exploited via the cookie-cutter "Holy Trinity" builds. The area with this amount of difficulty makes it near unplayable for the newer professions. Very dumb.

I'm really hoping that Hard Mode makes it as fun as we hope it for. But given how my expectations have been met in the pass, I'm starting to lose a little hope.

Obey The Cat

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2007

FFS

Rt/N

08 Apr 2007 at 16:10 - 6

I hope it's not torment like......... level 28 mobs are no fun.

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

08 Apr 2007 at 16:49 - 7

I'm hoping it isn't much harder at all.... or at the very least that if it IS obscenely hard, that there aren't specially skinned unique items for it... because they will forever be beyond the reach of anyone without a perfect team of perfect players (or 100k + a squillion ectos to pay)...

Mr. G

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

S. Wales

Mo/Me

08 Apr 2007 at 16:56 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinger314

Hard Mode will be hard

I lol'd

But seriouslt im looking forward to this, It looks like a good excuse to go out and have some fun with your friends/guildies other than the usual grind, help someone do this or that, trade this or that. An excuse to just pick a random area and charge head first to you deaths (DoA anyone?)

Also you might want to add lockpicks to your list, aparently there comming with hard mode but its unknown if there only for hard mode. In case any of you dont know, Lockpicks are keys that can (aparently) be use don any chest and have a chance to be recused based on your Treasure hunter or Lucky title.

Obey The Cat

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2007

FFS

Rt/N

08 Apr 2007 at 17:00 - 9

I would prefer fire islands difficulty.... should be possible with heroes and npc.

JGaff

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2006

The Lotus Eaters

Me/

08 Apr 2007 at 17:05 - 10

It should be doable, but require some tact and slow progress. That's more "satisfying" than getting raped by 3 mobs because you didn't pull far enough...

Helcaraxe

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

On top of a mountain

A Bad Moon Rising [Moon]

Me/Mo

08 Apr 2007 at 17:07 - 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinger314

Hard Mode
[*]Mesmers will supposedly get their "PvE Buff" with the Hard Mode update. The buff will likely include an entire nerfing of the entire Domination attribute.

WOOT! ANOTHER MESMER NERF! And another area where mesmers, ritualists, assassins, and paragons will be denied the opputintiy to play because of the elite cookie cutter builds!

Alleji

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

08 Apr 2007 at 17:13 - 12

I'd prefer RoT (or a bit harder) difficulty to DoA. I like RoT because it's still henchable, especially if you bring a counterbuild to each area.

What I'd hate to see is protector requirement to activate hard mode. I don't want to waste hours doing retarded bonuses for Nolani Academy, Ice Caves, or Riverside Province (which I don't even have on the map)... I'd also want to play hard mode with more than one character and other than my necro and ele, none are even close to having any prot titles.

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

08 Apr 2007 at 17:20 - 13

Wasn't it said by Gaile that they were testing missions like Vizunah to make sure you could still get masters with a full human and a full AI team.
Which is fine... but what happens when are you keep getting a single person with a useless set of heros/hench making you fail constantly. Vizunah is bound to just piss alot of people off.

At a wild guess you'll have to have completed the campaign to unlock Hard Mode. Presumably you won't be able to enter it with people who don't have it unlocked. Which is all fair imo if thats how it'll work. Just aslong as completed means 'done the final mission'. Doing all the pre missions and jungle missions on all chars just to unlock hard mode would suck.

Anyway... how much are people willing to bet that this Hard Mode update will be a) Late b) Bugged c) Cause lots of problems elsewhere in the game d) Laggy or e) All of the above.
Laggy is understandable, lots of people downloading the update, but for once can you not screw everything else up in the game after making us wait longer than you said!

kumarshah

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2007

W/Mo

08 Apr 2007 at 17:27 - 14

It will be interesting to see which will be the toughest mission after hard mode comes into play.

But is Hard Mode going to be just for missions?

Inari

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2005

Israel

08 Apr 2007 at 17:33 - 15

Sounds similar to diablo's difficulty levels. How similar? Thats the question that bothers me.

For example: I dont think we'll be seeing higher dmg swords...

Morgoth the dark

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

[CDEX]

R/

08 Apr 2007 at 17:34 - 16

Hard Mode DOA - gg.

onerabbit

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Thanks to all the guru [mods]

08 Apr 2007 at 17:38 - 17

I'm looking forward to hard mode, really excited

pick locks are going to be so ftw xD

just hope it isnt..2 hard..
"Making 4 man Ascalon Team, TS/Vent required" -.-

LoKi Foxfire

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

Florida

One Corgi Army {OCA}

R/Rt

08 Apr 2007 at 18:12 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by onerabbit

I'm looking forward to hard mode, really excited

pick locks are going to be so ftw xD

just hope it isnt..2 hard..
"Making 4 man Ascalon Team, TS/Vent required" -.-

You're better off using your heroes in those areas honestly.

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

08 Apr 2007 at 18:14 - 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by kumarshah

It will be interesting to see which will be the toughest mission after hard mode comes into play.

But is Hard Mode going to be just for missions?

Nope, it's going to be all areas in the game.

Or most, anyways. Why would you want a hard-mode DoA?

Puebert

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2005

Mo/

08 Apr 2007 at 18:31 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryant Again

Nope, it's going to be all areas in the game.

Or most, anyways. Why would you want a hard-mode DoA?

For fun.

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

08 Apr 2007 at 18:42 - 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puebert

For fun.

Mmm hmm, 'cus suicide is fun!

zwei2stein

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Europe

The German Order [GER]

N/

08 Apr 2007 at 18:48 - 22

I can imagine that hard mode which is DoA (Death on Arrival) would not produce tons of positive feedback.

Ofc, devs can always pleasantly suprise, but fact that well get wil get pve-only skills .. (what for? to offset enemy brute force?) is not really assuring ... sigh.

oh well, we will see. Maybe stuff like Enraged will not be included and we will get interesting mobs with secondary profession to fight againt.

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

08 Apr 2007 at 18:51 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by zwei2stein

oh well, we will see. Maybe stuff like Enraged will not be included and we will get interesting mobs with secondary profession to fight againt.

Getting rid of that skill alone would make it MUCH more fun and actually playable. I hope they do that for normal mode...

And has anyone noticed that the mob monsters have more skills than the bosses?

VanDamselx

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2006

Buffalo, NY

[TTBH]

08 Apr 2007 at 18:51 - 24

I love doing things in between releases so I can't wait for this. I love working on titles and new things. This makes me love A-Net more than ever

anshin

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2006

R/

08 Apr 2007 at 19:04 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by booooYA

I love doing things in between releases so I can't wait for this. I love working on titles and new things. This makes me love A-Net more than ever

it's so beautiful to know someone else thinks like us

Kcp

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2005

OBF

N/

08 Apr 2007 at 19:14 - 26

Hopefully they make a hard mode DoA/FoW/UW/Deep/Urgoz.

And if they do make a hard mode for DoA/FoW they should change the weapon skins on the tormented weapons ( Titan weapons anyone?) An Elite version of FoW armor for all classes ( give us the attribute head gear for other classes that have been left out since day one, Whats the hold up?)

Of course if they implement the above for the DoA/FoW they would have to require "new" hard mode versions of ecto's/shards/gemsets.

Lydz

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2006

Cape Town, South Africa

The Crazy Dragons [TCD]

E/Mo

08 Apr 2007 at 19:30 - 27

I'm looking forward to it. I just hope that it isn't SO hard you find yourself getting angry/frustrated and rage-quitting

xshadowwolfx

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

California | Ascalon

Mo/

08 Apr 2007 at 19:37 - 28

Anyone know what the Vanquisher title is for?

Renegade26

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

R/

08 Apr 2007 at 20:48 - 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by xshadowwolfx

Anyone know what the Vanquisher title is for?

Assumption here is that its a title to show how many Hard Enemies you have vanquished.

Onarik Amrak

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2007

Astral Revenants

P/W

08 Apr 2007 at 21:08 - 30

That'd be a cool title to have. I was thinking of a kill counter title last week.

But I also figured that's essentially what Sunspear and Lightbringer are...

Personette

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2007

08 Apr 2007 at 21:14 - 31

Also: will hard mode be scaled? i.e., will Hard Ascalon be easier than Hard Fire Islands?

I feel like a lot of us have been assuming that Hard Mode will be the great equalizer, the whole GW world alike in difficulty, but that's not necessarily the case.

Maybe the starter areas will be like the end-game areas and then it'll progress on from there...

Hikan Trilear

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2007

08 Apr 2007 at 21:36 - 32

What I hope they do is make it essentially the same, except all level 24+ enemies with intelligent skillbars. I actually think this might be why mesmers would be more wanted. If there are genuinely good monks what are you going to bring to shut them down? The obvious answer is a mesmer.

I also hope that the PvE-only skills are things like sunspear rebirth signet.

One thing that I think would be cool would be profession specific skills, like the celestial skills (but not as powerful). For instance there could be a warrior stance that's duration is longer for each rank of LB or sunspear nothing like LB gaze that's only effective if you have rank 4 or so.

Well anyway, I'm hoping hard mode is a great addition and not just another source of frustration.

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

08 Apr 2007 at 21:43 - 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hikan Trilear

What I hope they do is make it essentially the same, except all level 24+ enemies with intelligent skillbars. I actually think this might be why mesmers would be more wanted. If there are genuinely good monks what are you going to bring to shut them down?

Uh...focus fire?

Team skill and coordination? In Hard Mode? This is blasphemy! This is madness!

(i.e. I seriously doubt ArenaNet will buff Mesmers to that level)

Shadis

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2006

08 Apr 2007 at 21:58 - 34

I'm crossing my fingers that this Hard Mode isn't just "Hey, let's beef up the enemies and put MORE of them!"

Tide to Go

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2006

I War Torn I [Torn]

N/Me

08 Apr 2007 at 22:17 - 35

It all stays the same..........but every monster you see in (ex.ascalon) will turn into a lvl 24

im hoping we can switch it on and off, easy way for the legendary defender of ascalon :O :O :O :O!!!!!!

Theus

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

W/Mo

08 Apr 2007 at 22:24 - 36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadis

I'm crossing my fingers that this Hard Mode isn't just "Hey, let's beef up the enemies and put MORE of them!"

I hoped for that for a thing called Domain of Anguish.

Dark-NighT

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2006

Stygian Veil

Shoop Da Woop [Lolz]

N/Mo

08 Apr 2007 at 22:26 - 37

It would be kind of cool to have your attribute points raised by 2 in some of the elite missions, afterall 8 players can only do so much.

For the moment i really await Hard mode but i cannot forget about the SR nerf, and since it still takes 25 energy to make a bone fiend it's a killer. Bone fiends aren't really strong, die quick and how the hell can we reach 10 minions if those hard enemy's knock them down so easely, even a Golem woudn't last long, and since i really like bone fiends because of their ranged attacks and quick responce time its a real bummer equipping bone horrors and vampirics.

MrSlayer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

United Kingdom

Quit Whining And [PLAY]

Mo/

08 Apr 2007 at 22:28 - 38

In my opinion, Hard Mode could (as you said) "make or break GW"

It might be a great new opportunity to get new items, mods and perhaps even see Inscribable Weapons making an enterance into other campaigns? It could also bring people back together and help people relive Prophecies/Factions missions as they again battle through the storyline on "hard mode".

However, it could make things way way way too hard and slow, and split people between the "pros" coming back for more, and the newbies struggling to get a group for "easy mode".

Either way, it's nice to see a huge PvE change that could get people back into storyline play

.

Master Ketsu

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2006

middle of nowhere

Krazy Guild With Krazy People [KrZy]

R/

08 Apr 2007 at 22:39 - 39

Im hoping hard mode is actually hard. Current mode is easy as hell, which is why PvE sucks so much. It gets repetitive killing creatures that fall for the same tactic over and over again.

Thats why I PvP.

Obey The Cat

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2007

FFS

Rt/N

08 Apr 2007 at 22:51 - 40

Quote:

It all stays the same..........but every monster you see in (ex.ascalon) will turn into a lvl 24

Why 24??? Level 20 is enough! A group of 8 doppelganger like mobs (8 full used skills) = interesting battle.