Hard Mode - Thumbs Up/Down? (First Impressions and more)
Bryant Again
So, after an hour or so of testing it so far, what do you guys think of hard mode? Too hard, too easy, annoying, fun? List your thoughts!
Esprit
Great Northern Wall is a lot different with level 20's before the run to the wall. So far I think it's pretty good. AI kite, focus fire, and have decent skills (though the Grawl monks use Healing Hands).
Thumbs Up.
edit: The inherent speed boost seems a little cheesy, especially how much of a speed boost it was, seems to be at least 50%. If I saw an army of char moving twice as fast as me, a 9th skill would materialize; "Oh Snap, Run As Fast As Hell." ^_^
Thumbs Up.
edit: The inherent speed boost seems a little cheesy, especially how much of a speed boost it was, seems to be at least 50%. If I saw an army of char moving twice as fast as me, a 9th skill would materialize; "Oh Snap, Run As Fast As Hell." ^_^
artay
Definite Thumbs Up, it adds a new dimension to the games missions.
In fact, all higher missions should be in hard mode permanently
In fact, all higher missions should be in hard mode permanently
lyra_song
im kinda neutral....
the chance for getting rare and full damage versions of "low level" weapons is a real draw for me.
and harder versions of the missions is really cool.
but some of the drop changes is kinda...meh.
the chance for getting rare and full damage versions of "low level" weapons is a real draw for me.
and harder versions of the missions is really cool.
but some of the drop changes is kinda...meh.
GodofAcid
Alot of fun. DoA in hard mode was good for a laugh. Some of the early missions in hard mode will be fun but I see alot of people pulling their hair out toward the end. It looks like 1 mistake = wipe. It's actually challenging in a strategic way and not a "put 20 mobs side by side and make you tediously pull each one" way. Thumbs up.
Edit: And I agree with above, the first thing i said to my guild is "Early game max weapons that are worth alot are gonna plummet". That will be THE draw at first until it happens.
Edit: And I agree with above, the first thing i said to my guild is "Early game max weapons that are worth alot are gonna plummet". That will be THE draw at first until it happens.
Ninna
Thumbs up
the Healing Hands Grawl in North Wall mission was amusing
the Healing Hands Grawl in North Wall mission was amusing
lightblade
Hard mode feature:
Doubled monster cast rate
Doubled monster attack rate
Doubled monster move speed
Doubled monster cast rate
Doubled monster attack rate
Doubled monster move speed
Bryant Again
Well I guess I'll share my thoughts since I started it.
The early areas are fun. But the areas later in the game - especially Perdition Rock - feel just like pre-update DoA.
The early areas are fun. But the areas later in the game - especially Perdition Rock - feel just like pre-update DoA.
disarm76
Thumbs down
Hard Mode = DoA everywhere, that's not fun, it's grinding.
Hard Mode = DoA everywhere, that's not fun, it's grinding.
fripple
I had wondered if I was the only one noticing how fast everything was moving and how fast hexes were triggering. Domination/Curses ftw. I was seeing empathy averaging upwards of 500 damage on meelee opponents.
Mobs still don't use full skillbars, though; from what I've seen so far (which is by no means exhaustive), they just added an elite to whatever they had before. Which often means more than one elite. Areas that you could do before without any trouble are only mild trouble now because the only real threat comes if you are unprepared for what you're facing.
Opinion: Thumbs ehhhh. It's okay. For something that was supposed to be zomg amazing, it's pretty meh. Doesn't really address some of the problems that already existed, potentially creates a couple new ones, update doesn't appear to do everything claimed. It might be better in a few days, but as it is, I'm left feeling kind of 'is that it?' They did exactly what everyone told them not to do: give the monsters cheat abilities, raise their levels, and call it a day.
Mobs still don't use full skillbars, though; from what I've seen so far (which is by no means exhaustive), they just added an elite to whatever they had before. Which often means more than one elite. Areas that you could do before without any trouble are only mild trouble now because the only real threat comes if you are unprepared for what you're facing.
Opinion: Thumbs ehhhh. It's okay. For something that was supposed to be zomg amazing, it's pretty meh. Doesn't really address some of the problems that already existed, potentially creates a couple new ones, update doesn't appear to do everything claimed. It might be better in a few days, but as it is, I'm left feeling kind of 'is that it?' They did exactly what everyone told them not to do: give the monsters cheat abilities, raise their levels, and call it a day.
Kijik Oni Hanryuu
I just rocked consulate docks with a pug, full human, two monks, one prot one heal, we had an MM, nuker, HB Tank, my Derv tank, and a barrager, it went really well, and actually was a bit of a challenge, my derv tank actually dropped below half health O.O
Wilhelm
Still nothing hard...it's at least fun. Thunderhead keep was surprisingly easy, but the bonus didn't trigger for some reason.
Not so sure about smart skill choices for monster.......I've seen Skull Crack, Thunderclap........those arn't the best choices.
Not so sure about smart skill choices for monster.......I've seen Skull Crack, Thunderclap........those arn't the best choices.
explodemyheart
It's not what I was expecting. So far it's been nothing terribly impressive and I guess my hard mode must be broken or something because I've had absolutely 0 problem with kiting foes.
ChyldeOfTheLotus
I like it. I like it a lot.
Thumbs up.
Thumbs up.
Arkantos
Thumps Up for sure. Just beat THK with guildies, and it was quite fun. Really enjoying it.
Mr. Fahrenheit
Has anyone gotten any Hard Mode drops?
I've been soloing some areas to see it will drop and haven't received any yet.
I've been soloing some areas to see it will drop and haven't received any yet.
placebo overdose
at first i hate but then more and more i love it and what sealed the deal was this
"Once you win a campaign with any character on your account, every level 20 character on that same account will have access to Hard mode for that campaign."
that made me so happy
note: one thing alot complained b4 DOA to hard now HM to easy im sorry i think A-net did a great job with this and made it not SO hard but at least fun and accesable
"Once you win a campaign with any character on your account, every level 20 character on that same account will have access to Hard mode for that campaign."
that made me so happy
note: one thing alot complained b4 DOA to hard now HM to easy im sorry i think A-net did a great job with this and made it not SO hard but at least fun and accesable
Ritualistic Spankin
I like it a lot, however it seems to me that the groups forming are rediculously anal about whom they let in. I stood in Great Northern Wall for 20 minutes advertising my Rit and every build I could play, nothing. Finally I got into a group on the condition that I was the lone healer.
Otherwise I love this, now I am heading to Maguuma Jungle for Vanquisher + The Falls.
Otherwise I love this, now I am heading to Maguuma Jungle for Vanquisher + The Falls.
ensoriki
God, theres this 1 map....where I cant even kill a single enemy T_T
Saoshing trail or whatever beside Seitung harbor, the Mantid swoop down in a killer mob of doom and can heal each other Very well.
Saoshing trail or whatever beside Seitung harbor, the Mantid swoop down in a killer mob of doom and can heal each other Very well.
Samurai-JM
Got a Lockpick, used it on one of the new Hard Mode chests and got a gold set of boots with Sup Earth Magic rune on it. I like HM so far, got masters on a few easier missions in Elona. And I can STILL take Shiro in cantha 
Not masters though xD
Not masters though xD
Orbberius
Thumbs way up, definitely! Love it.
Racthoh
Enemies have 20 specs in attributes.
Enemies stand in AoEs.
-230~ lightning orb.
*shrug* something to do I guess.
Enemies stand in AoEs.
-230~ lightning orb.
*shrug* something to do I guess.
Sirus Dibley
love hard mode , hate the new anti farming nerf drops down to 20% of what they were.....solo farming now pointless. Stand by for the uproar.....
bam23
[skill]"Brace Yourself!"[/skill]
mystwillow
I like it for the way that the enemies' skillsets now complement each other and that they do play a little smarter. Also, I was encouraged at first that the Charr Chaots are sooo powerful and annoying (played in Flame Temple Corridor), because I thought this was a step in the right direction as far as mesmers getting some recognition as to what they can actually do. Then I came up on a group with some Charr Shamans, and what do you know...they aren't interruptable. It's bad enough that a lot of what makes the monsters "hard" is just that they have cheat abilities like casting 50% faster. But even when I KNEW I'd hit a skill, it wouldn't get interrupted. If the goal is to make mesmers more viable in PvE, they can't just remove one of the few abilities mesmers are boxed into. If monsters have unlimited energy (which they seem to) so that e-denial is useless, and they move faster, and they have tons of health, and they CAN'T BE INTERRUPTED, what's a mesmer for? Seriously, you can't just make the game harder by making our skills not work. You can't just do that.
The Ernada
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Sirus Dibley
love hard mode , hate the new anti farming nerf drops down to 20% of what they were.....solo farming now pointless. Stand by for the uproar.....
|
red13xx
The economy is run by communist now. Soloing is worthless now. Gold is worth 5x the amount and materials are harder to get besides that hard mode is peachie.
Bryant Again
Wow. I just made a challenge:
Leave Riverside Province from the North. Return pics of killed mob near entrance, and win.
EDIT: Nevermind, this is easy.
Leave Riverside Province from the North. Return pics of killed mob near entrance, and win.
EDIT: Nevermind, this is easy.
XvArchonvX
From what I see so far, thumbs way up for hard mode. Enemies are now hard because they are smart, not just in huge mobs. Mesmer shutdown and assasin ganking is now useful in PvE!
I am however, tentative to see how the farming changes go and how the economy adapts. On one hand it looks like it might finally put a decent hurt on gold farmers, but on the other, it looks to be hard on the average player when they want to farm for some extra cash. If doing missions is the best way to gain wealth, the financial distribution between players may be very akward and cause an undesired imbalance in the GW economy. I guess we'll see how this turns out in the long run.
I am however, tentative to see how the farming changes go and how the economy adapts. On one hand it looks like it might finally put a decent hurt on gold farmers, but on the other, it looks to be hard on the average player when they want to farm for some extra cash. If doing missions is the best way to gain wealth, the financial distribution between players may be very akward and cause an undesired imbalance in the GW economy. I guess we'll see how this turns out in the long run.
Carboplatin
haha +50% casting speed for all hard mode monster.
way to make the mesmers useful in pve. genius!
they want mesmers to not interrupt at all. now they can just have one skill on their skill bar = conjure phantasm eveyone and call it a day.
they can't interrupt, they can't drain energy effectively, what will they do?
way to make the mesmers useful in pve. genius!
they want mesmers to not interrupt at all. now they can just have one skill on their skill bar = conjure phantasm eveyone and call it a day.
they can't interrupt, they can't drain energy effectively, what will they do?
Hole Sale Traps
i was expecting to go farm some of my spotsin hard mode for the so called high-end loot and ended up geting nothing but 100g after 30 monsters or so Hard mode is the Death of solo farming... Thumbs Down, Also DoA lvl monsters and Newbs dont mix..
Zinger314
Curses Necromancers are way, way too powerful vs. the double attack speed and double spell cast. Spiteful Spirit on any melee spells near-instant death.
Fortunately, SS is my favorite build.
The only true mission I did was Consulate Docks. It was quite interesting...Whirling Defense sucks when it lasts 30 seconds on those Rangers.
Fortunately, SS is my favorite build.
The only true mission I did was Consulate Docks. It was quite interesting...Whirling Defense sucks when it lasts 30 seconds on those Rangers.
Machinae
The really sad thing is that my archer hench in the Great Northern Wall got wanded to death by a grawl in 4 hits. And I was supposed to be monking. I hope it was my shoddy monking at 6am that caused that, otherwise.... :|
Bryant Again
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by XvArchonvX
From what I see so far, thumbs way up for hard mode. Enemies are now hard because they are smart, not just in huge mobs. Mesmer shutdown and assasin ganking is now useful in PvE!
|
RSGashapon
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by mystwillow
I like it for the way that the enemies' skillsets now complement each other and that they do play a little smarter. Also, I was encouraged at first that the Charr Chaots are sooo powerful and annoying (played in Flame Temple Corridor), because I thought this was a step in the right direction as far as mesmers getting some recognition as to what they can actually do. Then I came up on a group with some Charr Shamans, and what do you know...they aren't interruptable. It's bad enough that a lot of what makes the monsters "hard" is just that they have cheat abilities like casting 50% faster. But even when I KNEW I'd hit a skill, it wouldn't get interrupted. If the goal is to make mesmers more viable in PvE, they can't just remove one of the few abilities mesmers are boxed into. If monsters have unlimited energy (which they seem to) so that e-denial is useless, and they move faster, and they have tons of health, and they CAN'T BE INTERRUPTED, what's a mesmer for? Seriously, you can't just make the game harder by making our skills not work. You can't just do that.
|
Oh yeah and, thanks for nerfing solo farming, even in Normal Mode. The rich stay rich, even with all the gold sinks, and the poor can't even make a shilling now. Awesome.
Navaros
Thumbs way up on hard mode.
Thumbs way down on obliterating solo farming. Thank God I got my Fissure armor before that nerf. I have no idea how anyone is gonna ever get Fissure armor in a legitimate way any more; it would take eons trying to get it via 8 person PUGing.
Thumbs way down on obliterating solo farming. Thank God I got my Fissure armor before that nerf. I have no idea how anyone is gonna ever get Fissure armor in a legitimate way any more; it would take eons trying to get it via 8 person PUGing.
Desolation
Hard mode made my day. i got a rq9 elemental sword gold inscription and many gold drops
some guy
Tried it, and loved it. Instant kills and lvl 30 bosses!!!! fun fun fun, <3 prot monks.
HawkofStorms
So far, it seems REALLY well done. Great Northern Wall was awesome.
No "super unfair monster skills" like everybody was freaking out about. Don't complain about it if you haven't tried it yet.
No "super unfair monster skills" like everybody was freaking out about. Don't complain about it if you haven't tried it yet.
ensoriki
Some maps you just Can't seem to enter from 1 side
If I go to Saoshing Trail from Seitung Harbor I get raped
___________
A mesmer is for Backfire and Empathy silly, energy tap and Energy burn sillies, How could you forget you only have 4 skills ( mesmers....there all so silly)
If I go to Saoshing Trail from Seitung Harbor I get raped
___________
A mesmer is for Backfire and Empathy silly, energy tap and Energy burn sillies, How could you forget you only have 4 skills ( mesmers....there all so silly)