Heroes, and the long-term effect on new players

MirageMaster

MirageMaster

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2007

EU

Really dont care about so called community or pugs.Tell me again why should i care about some noobs? The less ppl i see in game the better.

gloria vander belt

Banned

Join Date: Jul 2007

Dragons Lair

United Farmers Of Europe[FOE]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by dan-the-noob
It's usually the fact that noobs just don't want to learn, and argue that their shitty build, is valid. It takes going on here or wiki, getting a build, and learning from mistakes to become a better player. It doesn't take skilled players to hold their hands. Hell, there's even a walkthrough for EVERY mission and EVERY quest on guildwiki. It's not hard to find out these sites.

Imo the majority of these bad players lack common sense and the ability to learn / listen, which is why i refuse to join PUGS.
yeah the nail has been hit right on the head, agreed 100%

Belonah15

Belonah15

Academy Page

Join Date: Sep 2007

These threads come up regularly ... IMO heroes is a good thing. They teach people how to play, how to build a synergistic team. to understand skills and the effects on team mates.

They also promote anti-social gameplay. But that is the way I prefer it. I want to be able to afk during a quest or mission. I want to be able to set up my team the way I want it to be. I do not want to deal with attitudes, idiots, etc.

After all the discussions on PUGs on these forums the issue remains that people are unwilling to learn or listen. They believe their builds are uber, and not subject to change, they believe the way they do things is only way and the best way.

What it boils down to is that PUGs is its own biggest problem, not the heroes and henches. H&H is just a solution to a problem, so that some of us do not have to deal with PUGs. If you want to address the problem, the solution is not removing H&H. I can think of a few solutions to fix PUGs, but then again its all foot-shooters anyway - each one has its benefits and drawbacks, and in any case lots of people will be unhappy.

free_fall

free_fall

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2005

When I'm actively working on a (new) char then, yes, I H&H it, as I'm also working on Survivor with them and will not chance that to PUGs.

When I'm farming, I usually H&H it, though occasionally I'll take 1 other person, a buddy or someone I've recently met while PUGing.

The rest of the time, I'm PUGing it - to, as the OP says, "show by example". Mostly on missions but sometimes a "can someone help me with a quest" request. My aim is simply to be helpful, rather than proclaiming how helpful I'm being.

I just enjoy playing this game, and, most of the the time, it really doesn't matter what it is I'm doing. After all, my gold reserve and XP increase with whatever I'm doing so what difference does it make?

Sure, some PUGs are incredibly lame, but some are awesome; most are fairly decent, in my experience.

One downside I sometimes encounter is that some people will "latch" onto you - constantly asking "can you help me with this quest/mission", as if they expect you play the whole rest of the campaign with/for them. My own fault, I guess, for making everything look so easy.

Chieftain Heavyhand

Chieftain Heavyhand

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2006

wpg

The problem I'm having with unskilled New players is that there is no excuse to not be semi informed. If they want to learn the game there is nothing stopping them. Everyone knows how google works. The Guild Wars web site has links to fan sites that have great guides and there are 2 GW wiki sites. Developing skill takes time, but it also takes desire to want to become better.

I don't think PUGs are a good place to learn. Playing with hero skill bars and synergizing their builds to your own is something that helped me improve my abilities. The next step is to take that knowledge and use it when questing with Guild mates, then for the ultimate challenge PUGs.

I can see how skilled players refusing to PUG might hurt new players, but most new players learn best through trial and error. People in general don't take advice well most of the time they perceive it as being told what to do. As new players develop they begin to ask questions. As veterans we should provide answers to these questions, not take it upon our selves to be drill sergeants who bark orders and tell everyone how they should play the game.

Star Gazer

Star Gazer

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

Zerohour Enterprises [ZHE]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chieftain Heavyhand
*snip*

but most new players learn best through trial and error. People in general don't take advice well most of the time they perceive it as being told what to do. As new players develop they begin to ask questions. As veterans we should provide answers to these questions, not take it upon our selves to be drill sergeants who bark orders and tell everyone how they should play the game.
agreed. I learned (not by pugs, been using hench snice day 1) through trial and error. first char i had was a (dont laugh) w/e. i REPEATEDLY used firestorm, meteor (before it added exhaustion) and meteor shower. I thought it was the best combo EVAR!!...but, i got to a spot that it didnt work anymore. damn, i thought, what the hell could i be doing wrong?..I started looking at some war primary skills and swapped out for that.

i learned VERY quick that certain skills just do not work. if you want to be successful at this game, you have to LEARN. those that say that this game is too easy, that you can steamroll it with heros and hechies...maybe for you. the new player will get stuck on missions, and those that refuse to learn, or unwilling to remove that meteor shower/firestorm/meteor combo from their warrior, are the ones that are going to fail. the ones that WANT help, will succeed, even more than some of the veterans now.

Lagg

Lagg

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

W/

New players have missed the boat by, say, two years.

There's no way they're ever going to catch up.

Of course, some people are naturally gifted players, but no amount of talent in the world can be a substitute for experience.



Also, nearly all guilds were originally made through PUGs; at least in the (g)olden days.

Don't deny your roots.

New guilds nowadays are usually regroupings of old guilds, with people who have known each other for a long time making new guilds since their old ones are falling into ruin.



Last but not least, Superhenchies (aka Heroes) are the number 1 reason why PvE Geedub is becoming more and more of a single player game, at least for casual (and new) players.

I don't think anyone is still contesting that.



Bottom line is: Anet has learned a tremendous lot over the years.

Guild Wars, nice try.

Guild Wars 2, the Guild Wars we've all been dreaming of (to return to).