Update - Thursday, July 05, 2007 - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Terra Xin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Mar 2006

New Zealand

Me/R

06 Jul 2007 at 02:28 - 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuildWarsWiki

Dragon Festival 2007

Attention fellow citizens of Cantha,

On behalf of Emperor Kisu, it is my pleasure to announce this year's Dragon Festival, a three-day celebration of games, dance, drink, and revelry, where we commemorate the dawning of the Age of the Dragon and all those who helped to rebuild our great lands after the Jade Wind. This year, our benevolent emperor has decreed that the festival shall henceforth also celebrate our great victory over Abaddon and his demon forces.

Throughout the duration of the festival, citizens of our great empire can convene at Shing Jea Monastery to socialize with others, partake in carnival activities, and amass Victory Tokens to be redeemed for special prizes. Fans of sport can flex their muscles in the Dragon Arena, where battle prowess and longevity are recognized and rewarded.

There will be no shortage of engaging entertainment, so we hope you make the journey to our lush island and join us in revelry.

Alliance Battles

To better reward players for participating in Alliance Battles even when in enemy territory, we have introduced a new "Underdog Bonus."

* In the Luxon defense map, Kaanai Canyon, Kurzick players will receive Kurzick faction points equal to twice their score.
* In the Luxon defense map, Etnaran Keys, Kurzick players will receive Kurzick faction points equal to their score.
* In the middle map, Saltspray Beach, neither Kurzick nor Luxon players will receive a bonus.
* In the Kurzick defense map, Grenz Frontier, Luxon players will receive Luxon faction points equal to their score.
* In the Kurzick defense map, The Ancestral Lands, Luxon players will receive Luxon faction points equal to twice their score.

Bug Fixes

* Fixed a stacking bug in the Assassin skill Hidden Caltrops.
* Fixed a bug that prevented Alliance Battles from beginning if a party failed to load.

Miscellaneous

* Deaths in the Dragon Arena no longer affect the Survivor title track.
* Added Xunlai Storage and faction reward NPCs to Alliance Battle outposts.

I don't play much Ab, but this seems like a good counter against leechers. What do you guys think?

EDIT. Oh no nevermind. I was thinking that players would recieve twice the amount of faction if they were in a particular area of the map... sorry :P

Omniclasm

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guild Hall

A/

06 Jul 2007 at 02:30 - 2

Has nothing to do with leechers, it makes it somewhat beneficial to play when you are at a disadvantage. Without the bonus it wasn't worth playing for 20 minutes to get 100 faction.

I'm not sure what it means though, if you lose at Saltspray do you get nothing? or do you just get your normal faction?

korcan

noobalicious

Join Date: Jun 2006

06 Jul 2007 at 02:40 - 3

the ab updates indicates to me that anet can do absolutely nothing about the problem of leechers.

so the winners are... the leechers! no repercussions what so ever for leechers to continue on leeching.

lyra_song

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Oct 2005

R/Mo

06 Jul 2007 at 02:43 - 4

The AB update is a small thing, but its better for players too.

thelessa

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

Texas

Purple Puzycats

R/Mo

06 Jul 2007 at 02:44 - 5

Still no merchant in Tombs of the Primeval Kings, seems that he has gone missing now for about 3 weeks now.

The Great Al

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

ALOA

E/Me

06 Jul 2007 at 02:50 - 6

has the dragon festival started?

Curse You

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

South Pole

The Magus Order

N/Mo

06 Jul 2007 at 02:50 - 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelessa

Still no merchant in Tombs of the Primeval Kings, seems that he has gone missing now for about 3 weeks now.

The henchmen in Great Temple of Balthazar are also missing.

Bane of Worlds

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

Meadow

Rt/

06 Jul 2007 at 02:51 - 8

Looks like we would be having shorter waiting times now
I'm assuming that you get normal amount at Saltspray and 2x at Etnaran or Grenz and 3x for the deep enemy territory.
/thumbs up Anet

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

06 Jul 2007 at 02:58 - 9

The update notes are so vague... what the hell does it even mean. Does it mean that a Kurzick loss while on Ancestral Lands means you recieve 0 faction, or does it mean you recieve the already existant 0-499 faction?

If its the former, Anet are morons.

korcan got it right imo, the leechers win. The update basically says 'please leech only on maps that are balanced against you as you recieve more faction'. And of course they'll leech on maps in there favour, but the opponents will also have leechers, and since the map is balanced for you, you win, so you get the win bonus.

What the hell is going on?

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

06 Jul 2007 at 03:05 - 10

It specifically says "bonus."

So I presume if Kurzicks won in Kaanai Canyon, then:

500 (points) + 1000 (win) + 1000 (2x points)

For a total of 2500.

Whereas if Luxons won....

500 (points) + 1000 (win)

For a normal 1500 points.

Whoever loses...leechers win. The update encourages losing while being an underdog.

AW Lore

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2006

Ancient Warriors Gaming Clan

W/Mo

06 Jul 2007 at 03:05 - 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

The update notes are so vague... what the hell does it even mean. Does it mean that a Kurzick loss while on Ancestral Lands means you recieve 0 faction, or does it mean you recieve the already existant 0-499 faction?

If its the former, Anet are morons.

korcan got it right imo, the leechers win. The update basically says 'please leech only on maps that are balanced against you as you recieve more faction'. And of course they'll leech on maps in there favour, but the opponents will also have leechers, and since the map is balanced for you, you win, so you get the win bonus.

What the hell is going on?

i want to believe that what the update about the ab means is that:
if luxons lose when fighting in kurzick deep territory (Wich i think is ancestral lands) like for a score of 300-500, the luxons, they would receive the normal faction for losing + 600 faction due to they score.

if losing on the greenz frontier, it would be the normal losing faction +300.

and when losing in etnaran keys (wich i think is the neutral one?) they would only get the normal faction.

and the same thing is applied to kurzicks when fighting in luxons maps.

yishin

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2007

Isle of Meditation

N/

06 Jul 2007 at 03:07 - 12

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Great Al

has the dragon festival started?

I think it has, but the first mission starts according to this site http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Dragon_Festival_2007

at 04:00 AM - 4:29 AM PDT (GMT-7).
I think its 1100 AM in UK, 1300 in Amsterdam, Berlin, Madrid and Paris.

EDIT:
I just logged in to check. There are definitely decorations in Shing Jea, but no access to the AFK games as of yet.

undeadgun

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2006

US

Its Rainning Fame Hallelujah[伞回伞], also as guild leader

N/

06 Jul 2007 at 03:07 - 13

meh, better than nothing :P

Taurucis

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

The edge of reason

I don't play any more.

W/E

06 Jul 2007 at 03:09 - 14

So let me get this straight, ABs just got nerfed again? We now get no points if we lose?

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

06 Jul 2007 at 03:10 - 15

Zinger, why do you spend so much time on these forums if you quote 'are much happier with WoW now'? You can't be that happy if you keep coming back.

They have at least taken a step towards encouraging people into playing on maps balanced against them. Now they just have to get rid of the frigging leechers and the ridiculously long waiting times and i might actually play AB again.

Stormcloud

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2006

Oregon, USA

06 Jul 2007 at 03:12 - 16

The bonus is for winning in enemy territory. Not for losing.

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

06 Jul 2007 at 03:14 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taurucis

So let me get this straight, ABs just got nerfed again? We now get no points if we lose?

If my math is correct, you actually get double faction as a small underdog, and triple faction as a big underdog.

If small underdog; then you get loss points + underdog bonus equal to loss points. 2x

If big underdog; then you get loss points + underdog bonus equal to double loss points. 3x

So, as I said, hello, leechers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

Zinger, why do you spend so much time on these forums if you quote 'are much happier with WoW now'? You can't be that happy if you keep coming back.

Unless you are my mother, I don't see why you care so much...

Shendaar

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

P4n드4k트 F0rm4710n

W/

06 Jul 2007 at 03:14 - 18

There is barely any leechers to begin with in AB. If you can't make a party and make sure that everyone is present, you deserve to have a leecher. The factions reward change is exactly what AB needed, though I'm not sure if it will be enough.

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

06 Jul 2007 at 03:16 - 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shendaar

There is barely any leechers to begin with in AB. If you can't make a party and make sure that everyone is present, you deserve to have a leecher.

So, you control 4 people. What about the other 8 people on your team?

garethporlest18

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

[HiDe]

W/

06 Jul 2007 at 03:19 - 20

Could care less about AB, I want my dragon arena.

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

06 Jul 2007 at 03:19 - 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinger314

Unless you are my mother, I don't see why you care so much...

If i was your mother i wouldn't care. Unless your mother posts on here too. I'm just wondering why you spend so much time on here, and apparently GWO too, when you've supposadly quit GW for WoW and are much happier there. If you were happier there you'd stop coming back to these forums just to complain if you had no intention of ever playing the game again...

Many pugs don't even pause when it comes to ABs. Just like some missions. The moment you join the team they enter, regardless or whether you are there or not and ready or not. A guild team once did that, we entered unluckily 2 seconds after pressing enter before i could say stop. Instead of entering as a Cripshotter, i entered with the stats of a trapper using a 1 second Crippling Shot and Concussion Shot (not even sure why that was there)...

David Lionmaster

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

above the floor and below the celing

Fortunes Favored

06 Jul 2007 at 03:24 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

Zinger, why do you spend so much time on these forums if you quote 'are much happier with WoW now'? You can't be that happy if you keep coming back.

They have at least taken a step towards encouraging people into playing on maps balanced against them. Now they just have to get rid of the frigging leechers and the ridiculously long waiting times and i might actually play AB again.

Wait, Zinger was happy about something? Wow, I've never seen Zinger happy about anything, I just see Zinger complaining all the time.

I really don't care about leechers, I actually don't find too many of them when I play ab. I like this new way better, I'll actually have an incentive to play when I'm on a map with a disadvantage, along with the ones where its equal and when I'm at an advantage. I think this incentive with cut down on the wait times drastically.

Shendaar

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

P4n드4k트 F0rm4710n

W/

06 Jul 2007 at 03:35 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinger314

So, you control 4 people. What about the other 8 people on your team?

I AB all the time and I get maybe 1 leecher every 10 games and thats pushing it. You guys make it sound much worse than it really is.

VitisVinifera

Banned

Join Date: Nov 2005

Northern California

HoTR

N/Me

06 Jul 2007 at 03:49 - 24

ah very good to see a reason to play in underdog maps, I just wish it was a bit easier playing for the other side, some way other than getting an invite that lasts 8 hrs

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

06 Jul 2007 at 03:53 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

...why do you spend so much time on these forums if you quote 'are much happier with WoW now'? You can't be that happy if you keep coming back.

Some people just feel comforted in spreading their angst. Misery, after all, loves company.

As for the update, I don't really think it's that bad of an idea. Leechers in AB are much less frequent than in FA and even less frequent than they used to be when amber/jade was actually worth something. This update at least encourages people to still AB, even if they aren't on home territory. Before, people would never even try to AB unless they had a distinct advantage and as a result, it would take eons to get in an AB if you were on home territory. Hopefully Kurz/Lux ratios will be more balanced with this new update as is intended.

pies of doom

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2006

W/

06 Jul 2007 at 03:54 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Lionmaster

Wait, Zinger was happy about something? Wow, I've never seen Zinger happy about anything, I just see Zinger complaining all the time.

Im afraid ive got to agree with that.

Anyway back on topic. I wanna get back in that dragon arena!!!

Xyzzy

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2007

06 Jul 2007 at 04:00 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by korcan

the ab updates indicates to me that anet can do absolutely nothing about the problem of leechers.

so the winners are... the leechers! no repercussions what so ever for leechers to continue on leeching.

Leechers are like sex with Coby Bryant, you can kick and scream all you want, but it going to happen.

scrinner

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

06 Jul 2007 at 04:05 - 28

Quote:

Originally Posted by pies of doom

Im afraid ive got to agree with that.

Second that.

Besides that, Finally a reason to play in Luxon/Kurzick Deep maps! The faction for losing was horrible beyond belief. Any word on the Demon mask being dyable?

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

06 Jul 2007 at 04:13 - 29

I'm not seeing much of a change in the wait times so far... but considering its currently 5am and early days for the update things will probably change.

Nuclear Eclipse

Banned

Join Date: May 2007

06 Jul 2007 at 04:19 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

Leechers are like sex with Coby Bryant, you can kick and scream all you want, but it going to happen.

Haha. I've been doing AB and I barely see any leechers anyways. How can you even leech when you have to join a party to get in? Unless you have some fairly advanced script, you'd have to constantly go back to the game to keep finding new parties... so I don't believe leeching exists on such a scale as people claim.

lyra_song

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Oct 2005

R/Mo

06 Jul 2007 at 04:29 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

If i was your mother i wouldn't care. Unless your mother posts on here too. I'm just wondering why you spend so much time on here, and apparently GWO too, when you've supposadly quit GW for WoW and are much happier there. If you were happier there you'd stop coming back to these forums just to complain if you had no intention of ever playing the game again...

Cause hes got a comfy seat right here in the forums and its where people know him.

Quote:

Many pugs don't even pause when it comes to ABs. Just like some missions. The moment you join the team they enter, regardless or whether you are there or not and ready or not. A guild team once did that, we entered unluckily 2 seconds after pressing enter before i could say stop. Instead of entering as a Cripshotter, i entered with the stats of a trapper using a 1 second Crippling Shot and Concussion Shot (not even sure why that was there)...

omg thats happened to me so many times...but i didnt realize it...i was wondering why my damage was so low.

seut

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Europa

06 Jul 2007 at 04:38 - 32

does the new AB scoring help against leechers: nope, it might even encourage some people to leech more

does the new AB scoring help against leavers: definitely, it might even cut down "no opposing teams joined" waiting queues

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

06 Jul 2007 at 04:43 - 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyra_song

omg thats happened to me so many times...but i didnt realize it...i was wondering why my damage was so low.

It did actually work out quite well

Was a very caster heavy set of opponents and even a 9 second Concussion Shot is extremely annoying.

I'm really not sure wtf is going on in Grenz Frontier... the Kurzicks are playing shit, the last 2 matches have both been 400+-500 defeats, made a pathetic 956 faction from them, i could've gained that in 5 minutes from the sodding duel quest!

Ok that was a stupid match... the Luxons had no less than 7 Assassins! 5 of them running almost identical A/W builds. They lost miserably.

-Loki-

Forge Runner

Join Date: Oct 2005

06 Jul 2007 at 05:14 - 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

Many pugs don't even pause when it comes to ABs. Just like some missions. The moment you join the team they enter, regardless or whether you are there or not and ready or not. A guild team once did that, we entered unluckily 2 seconds after pressing enter before i could say stop. Instead of entering as a Cripshotter, i entered with the stats of a trapper using a 1 second Crippling Shot and Concussion Shot (not even sure why that was there)...

Templates. At least you'll enter with a full build, even if it's not the one you want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

I'm really not sure wtf is going on in Grenz Frontier... the Kurzicks are playing shit, the last 2 matches have both been 400+-500 defeats, made a pathetic 956 faction from them, i could've gained that in 5 minutes from the sodding duel quest!

yeah, I had one earlier today where we won 500-497. Our team decided to camp the middle instead of cap, and we only pulled through in the last 100 points.

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

06 Jul 2007 at 05:41 - 35

This was before templates...

I'm quite glad luxons are assassin heavy. Assassins really do get on well with Spoil Victor.

Melkorium

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2006

06 Jul 2007 at 06:51 - 36

Yay, I suggested something like this "underdog" bonus last week in Sardelac. So I guess I'll be pleased then

I think the 3 times bonus for Canyon and Ancestral is good too, it almost encourages you to want to push further into enemy territory so you can get a chance for big wins.

Shame that'll some leechers will benefit, but overall it's good and should help waiting times.

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

06 Jul 2007 at 08:09 - 37

I don't see why a Victory for either team on Saltspray should be the same as that for the advantaged side on Eternan/Grenz though.

Sophitia Leafblade

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

Dragon Slayer Guild [DSG]

R/

06 Jul 2007 at 09:30 - 38

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelessa

Still no merchant in Tombs of the Primeval Kings, seems that he has gone missing now for about 3 weeks now.

There was one there eariler in the week while i visted. Just remember some of the NPCS got moved around when they updated the storage/Xunlai etc.

glountz

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

W/Mo

06 Jul 2007 at 09:30 - 39

It's a good move.
LEechers became rarer nowadays in AB, probably because they reached THeir lvl 1 Lux/Kur title. In Fort Aspenwood didn't check.
Now there is less incentive in disavantaged maps to leave or to switch sides.
That might as well reduce waiting times, so I'm okay.

Tactical-Dillusions

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Grimsby, UK

R/

06 Jul 2007 at 10:23 - 40

No fix to "Strike as One"?

It doesn't get re-applied if you activate it while in the process of firing your fifth shot.
That's like monks not getting healing breeze refreshed if they cast it before the first application has expired.

*Hands coffee to Anet but no cookie*