tricks and ways to make you a better player

jaximus

jaximus

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2008

wisc

hopefully this is where this thread would go, if not, dont be afraid to close it or move it.

ive been playing for quite a while across every profession. i feel comfortable in each classes role within a team and can play at a competitive level. so i got to thinking, how can i make myself even better? then i thought about the little things i do to help me increase my skills but still play in a situation where if the thing im testing wont cost the team.

ive tried the remove a piece of armor or dont wear a vigor and stuff like that, but prot spirit kinda makes that void. trying with no elite or leave out a couple skills and stuff is alright, but then i noticed myself picking up habbits that would hurt me when i had a full bar.

so heres what ive come up with over the playing time to help make you a better player...

monk: use a zealous wep so you have to manage your energy more closely so you learn not to 'spam' or 'over heal' and it makes you more comfortable with wep set swapping.

mez: same deal with zealous wep and tab around a bit, looking for key skills. sometimes ill bring power return so i have a quick recharging interrupt so i can try and int those faster casting skills in hard mode and not waste a p-drain or important int.

ele: again zealous so you manage energy more intently, and cancel your casts randomly. try and keep the situation a bit out of ideal so you learn to play on your feet.

warrior: sometimes take off the shield so feel the damage a bit more, or use burst of aggression to kill your adrenaline randomly. it helps you learn a bit about unloading spikes and ways to efficiently regain that adrenaline.

ranger: sav shot has been one of my favorite skills since i started playing. therefore its always on my bar, as with many rangers. that 10e isnt bad when you have high expertise, so to help me get better at ranger, i sometimes take points out of expertise so i feel that 10e a bit more. this keeps you from spamming on recharge and makes you try for those key skills.

necros: same kind of deal as rangers, take a bit out of soul reaping so you dont have that infinite energy supply. and dont stack anti melee hexes that dont synergize. i see necros cast spiteful spirit -> insidious parasite -> and then faintheartedness....

sins: umm, not really anything neat for here, i guess for pve dont bring teleports cuz they usually just lead to death.

rits: pretty much the same as eles, zealous wep, cancel a spirit or two so you learn to play without its effects and take the energy hit from casting it.

dervs: personally i believe they are OP'd so i dont play mine much, but i guess dont get too dependent on your avatar cuz they are easy to interrupt, dunno really for dervs...

paras: keep in mind that youre party support with a bit of damage too. dont get too keen on the big yellow numbers.

these are my thoughts, please add any tricks you guys have come across or anything youd change in what i said, ty!

Lyynyyrd

Lyynyyrd

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2008

Aussie Trolling Crew - Spah!

So basically you feel that gimping yourself is a good idea?

..



Wanna get better at Guild Wars? Get stronger heroes.

Abedeus

Abedeus

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jan 2007

Niflheim

R/

Gimping yourself doesn't make you a better player in PvE.

Using "awesome" builds seriously (like R/W axe mastery frenzy pwner) does.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

1. Load a RaO Axe.
2. Get into some team then press "Enter Battle".
3a. Headbutt your keyboard over and over until blood starts to pour out, until the game has ended with you standing victorious.
3b. In the case of loss, you rip the keyboard out of the circuit and assault the monitor with it.
4. ????
5. Profit!

jaximus

jaximus

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2008

wisc

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyynyyrd View Post
So basically you feel that gimping yourself is a good idea?
basically yes, you can do this in a situation where you can change this at anytime if you so chose, pve. you learn to play in conditions that are sub optimal, you become comfortable with them, so when in pvp and characters have builds to do very similar things to you, you know what to do since youve done it already. the ways ive mentioned give pve players ways in pve to practice the skills that are highly useful in pvp. this hopefully will help some players bridge that gap so that there isnt a big rift in player skills.

perhaps helpful posts with positive thoughts would be nice here too

X Cytherea X

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

A/Mo

sin: use superior runes on a melee sin so you learn to watch your health


....


:?

The Meth

The Meth

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2007

R/

Solo the entire game as a W/Mo healing with only mending and using a wand for damage. That makes you pro.

TrippieHippie89

TrippieHippie89

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2008

Saegertown, PA

High by Nine [Bong]

Me/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by jaximus View Post
basically yes, you can do this in a situation where you can change this at anytime if you so chose, pve. you learn to play in conditions that are sub optimal, you become comfortable with them, so when in pvp and characters have builds to do very similar things to you, you know what to do since youve done it already. the ways ive mentioned give pve players ways in pve to practice the skills that are highly useful in pvp. this hopefully will help some players bridge that gap so that there isnt a big rift in player skills.

perhaps helpful posts with positive thoughts would be nice here too
pve is pve no matter how you "gimp" yourself.....ive Barrage/Pet'ed my way through a few missions on my mesmer just cause i really wanted to use barrage for some reason and didnt want to make a ranger

also...pve all you like it will in no way prepare you for pvp

Celeborn10

Celeborn10

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2006

In my lair...

R/Mo

Ignore the gimping yourself mentality. Instead as a monk don't use the part window at all *gasp*. That's right, take the leap of faith and press P and learn the holy ways of Prot instead of the moronic red bars go up mentality. You'll actually have to actively watch the field and intelligently place your heals and prots at the right moment. Try this in PvE and when you can do adequately take it into PvP. Do this and thou shalt become a godly monk.

kostolomac

kostolomac

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2008

Serbia

Me/

How to get better at GW - stop sucking at GW.

Darcy

Darcy

Never Too Old

Join Date: Jul 2006

Rhode Island where there are no GW contests

Order of First

W/R

I understand what you are demonstrating and agree that playing with a handicap makes you pay attention instead of doing an auto-buttonpush.

Regretfully, most players don't believe they need improvement; it's always everyone else who should practice more.

Unreal Havoc

Guest

Join Date: Dec 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Celeborn10 View Post
Ignore the gimping yourself mentality. Instead as a monk don't use the part window at all *gasp*. That's right, take the leap of faith and press P and learn the holy ways of Prot instead of the moronic red bars go up mentality. You'll actually have to actively watch the field and intelligently place your heals and prots at the right moment. Try this in PvE and when you can do adequately take it into PvP. Do this and thou shalt become a godly monk.
I read about this elsewhere and tried it in Urgoz Warren for lolz.

Breakfast Mc Rit

Breakfast Mc Rit

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2008

[Sin]

Me/

Watching your energy more closely doesn't make you a better player. You can go through PvE with the worst of skills and it still wont make you a better player.

However, you will eventually learn to stop failing like the rest of the PUGers out there.

RazmO-

RazmO-

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2008

N/

You actually do things to make yourself "miserable" in game...boy you are pretty messed up.
And you are trying to make us.. and you a better players but doing things that would harm us in game..
Seriously just play with what you got, dont remove it to make it...harder ? lol why not to spam skills and get energy back with soul reaping if the games give it to you.. ? why should we use zealous weapon so we wont spam skills when.. we can ?

jaximus

jaximus

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2008

wisc

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darcy View Post
I understand what you are demonstrating and agree that playing with a handicap makes you pay attention instead of doing an auto-buttonpush.

Regretfully, most players don't believe they need improvement; it's always everyone else who should practice more.
you are one of the few people that understand what i was trying to accomplish with this thread, thank you.

the attitude of the gw community is a problem. this thread was meant to help players learn things that can make them better at the game. instead though, there are negative comments detracting from the goal, and then these same individuals will complain about how everyone is bad at the game. clearly theres an attitude where people dont want people to get better, its quite sad.

to celeborn10, ive heard that before, thanks for the insightful and helpful post.

i guess the common sense logic failed in my original post. the zealous weapon example is a mean of reducing the energy regen of a caster. this makes one think smarter about using skills and reduces the 'spam,spam,spam' thinking. obviously you wouldnt use this in a highly competitive environment where you need every bit of benefit you can, but when you are doing quests/missions/random tinkering, try it out.

this whole argument about 'gimping' or 'miserable' is foolish. if youre happy with being mediocre, dont read the thread, dont post garbage things.

if you cant operate with a few handicaps and it makes you that miserable, youve prolly reached your gaming potential. people get stuck in their ways and cant fathom a change, oh noes!

Martin Firestorm

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2005

Louisiana

E/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by jaximus View Post
the attitude of the gw community is a problem. this thread was meant to help players learn things that can make them better at the game. instead though, there are negative comments detracting from the goal
No kidding, you didn't know that? You have fun doing what you want in game, but if you've hung out at guru at all you should've had a pretty good idea where this thread was going.

Trylo

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2006

[Here] | CKOD

E/R

zealous weapon on a monk helps because you see how to manage energy with holy veil on. However, this is really useless because in HA youll just be channel tanking anyways, and i cant really say for GvG because i havent done that in a while.

playing prot without your party window can be interesting. i like watching observer mode and turning off the UI and watching the prot monk cast spells, thats helped me a bit.

Antares Ascending

Antares Ascending

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2008

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darcy View Post
I understand what you are demonstrating and agree that playing with a handicap makes you pay attention instead of doing an auto-buttonpush.

Regretfully, most players don't believe they need improvement; it's always everyone else who should practice more.

Well Said !!

the savage nornbear

the savage nornbear

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2008

The Raging Cadavers [rage]

R/

the monk option is the only good one

turbo234

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2006

WI

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by the savage nornbear View Post
the monk option is the only good one
agreed. for the zealous ideas mesmer has inspiration and eles have the attunements and glyph of lesser. they would never feel the loss of one little pip. and im too lazy to go on about the others so blah blah /rant /yougettheidea.

HawkofStorms

HawkofStorms

Hall Hero

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/

Instead of equiping zealous weapons and gimping yourself for no reason...

You could actually just make sure to equip a caster shield instead of an offhand item. The 12 less energy you have will teach you the same principles as carrying around a zealous weapon (ie, be more careful with your energy usage) while actually providing you with a tangible benefit.

snaek

snaek

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

not only will this not help u get better
it will for a fact make u a worse player

sowrie, anyone who does these things is delusional

jaximus

jaximus

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2008

wisc

Quote:
Originally Posted by the savage nornbear View Post
the monk option is the only good one
i tend to play monk the most, so logically i would have the best idea for that class. as a caster i frequently also use a -5e wep and play at lower energy levels to manage energy better. people say that nothing from pve transfers to pvp, and that is a lie. once you learn proper energy management skills, they stay with you no matter where you are.

for the zealous ideas mesmer has inspiration and eles have the attunements and glyph of lesser. this is true yes, but they are susceptible to interruption.

jaximus

jaximus

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2008

wisc

Quote:
Originally Posted by HawkofStorms View Post
You could actually just make sure to equip a caster shield instead of an offhand item. The 12 less energy you have will teach you the same principles as carrying around a zealous weapon (ie, be more careful with your energy usage) while actually providing you with a tangible benefit.
btw, i do both, shield + zealous wep. thank you though for pointing that out.

credit

credit

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Team Apathy [aFk]

W/P

instead of using a zealous weapon, just use -5e weapons and weapon swap moar.

moriz

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

gimping yourself won't work. after all, i can do the ultimate gimping by going out there with an empty skill bar and butt naked. can i still do pve? you bet i can. i'll just stand way in the back and flag my heroes/henchies around.

personally, i believe trying to improve my play in general pve no longer works. the game has already evolved to the point where a well-structured hero/hench team will do everything for you, and pve monsters will always do the same things no matter what. instead, the only way to improve is to play pvp. playing against real people will keep you honest, and will force you to not develop bad habits... things that playing pve will never do for you.

Gun Pierson

Gun Pierson

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Belgium

PIMP

Mo/

Although the intentions are good I don't think this approach is the best way to learn pvp. It can be a middle step from pve to pvp for beginners, sure. But playing pvp in a real environment is imo the best place to get better. Random teams, Fort Aspenwood,AB,...

If you wanne become a good infuser (to give one example), you have to play pvp and get in there. PvE doesn't require that type of skill. I don't see a lot of people gimping themselves in PvE to be honest.

The ability to switch between weapons makes both the pve and pvp player better imo.

maraxusofk

maraxusofk

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

San Francisco, UC Berkeley

International District [id多], In Soviet Russia Altar Caps You [CCCP], LOL at [eF]

W/

i think his advice mostly applies to pvp cuz pve is a complete joke in this game.

daze

daze

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2008

In my own mind

The Dragon Exchange

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Celeborn10 View Post
Ignore the gimping yourself mentality. Instead as a monk don't use the part window at all *gasp*. That's right, take the leap of faith and press P and learn the holy ways of Prot instead of the moronic red bars go up mentality. You'll actually have to actively watch the field and intelligently place your heals and prots at the right moment. Try this in PvE and when you can do adequately take it into PvP. Do this and thou shalt become a godly monk.
I agree with this post, but to the OP those suggestions just seem silly. there are much more effective ways of getting better at the game other than going out naked.

My favorite is just kick a few henchies or heroes and see how few allies you can bring to help you clear your various areas. That will teach you how to take your time and pull strategically as well as maybe devise a few more potent player builds if you try to make a 4 man team do the job of an 8 man team. It will also improve your flagging/positioning skills.

pumpkin pie

pumpkin pie

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2006

behind you

bumble bee

E/

:P~ what is gimping?


btw, want to become better, read the skill description kekeke.






Thank you DAZE that was funny

daze

daze

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2008

In my own mind

The Dragon Exchange

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by pumpkin pie View Post
:P~ what is gimping?
Gimping is the same as cutting off your own feet then trying to run 5 kilometers.

oracle.delphi

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2008

ontario, canada

Steel Beasts

E/

I personally have never "gimped" myself, unless you count completly changing my build and testing it in a 'higher' end mission or area. Personally I find that playing even the small amount of pvp that i have played, the builds i use, as an ele, are TOTALLY different. My regular fire build would have me dead before i finished casting more than 2 skills. I like going into ab with different builds and testing them out.

Also playing the costume brawl made me really wanna play water

I think rather than gimping yourself such as you, just use something comepletly different

Arduin

Arduin

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

The Netherlands

Limburgse Jagers [LJ]

R/

Or....team up with random people. If that doesn't make you a good monk, I don't know what does.

Wish Swiftdeath

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2007

Mo/W

Monking without party bar is very helpful, just make sure if you're just starting to turn the chat off as well
Weaponswapping every cast is good practice too
Memorise your skillbar so you don't need to look at it and can focus on the battle
using tab, shift+tab and C are very useful tools - allows you to swap quickly between targets
watch the skill animations/try to learn the noises - the sooner you recognise the spell, the more time you have to react whether that be laying down a prot or getting off an interrupt.
ask guildies or alliance members that look like they know what they're doing for constructive criticism (harsh - helps in the long run)

Thats just some stuff i've thought up, pretty sure there's alot more

elk

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

I'd think these suggestions would be more useful in PvP than PvE but here goes:

Add to the monk aspect suggested above about removing the party window (and don’t limit it to just a monk mind you) but cntrl + shft + H and get rid of all the HUD. You'll have to actively watch the field for team and enemy positioning, makes you learn your skill bar (skill use/skill positions, "feel" for activation times, "feel" for recharges etc. I recognize your bar can change based on builds but if you play a profession enough, certain skills and certain functions are common and end up in similar positions. That and you want to focus on proper skill use and timing versus botting your build) and use keystrokes to activate skills/ team select/ enemy select (yes I guess you could mouse select too), makes you watch cast and skill animations as well as use sound effects.

You want these sorts of things (like HUD info) to be habit so they are passively interpreted instead of actively interpreted. By that I mean we all take in game information but it's what you’re focusing on and what you should be focusing on. You don't want to focus on particular background info (your skill bar for example or the party window) - you take in and react to it/ use it but you want to be focusing on other aspects like your team position (there’s a bunch of “team” stuff to suggest but I believe this is after individual play?)

Go the opposite direction and use just your mini map. Use the F11 layout and make the mini map your whole screen (well most of it anyway). Use your keyboard to target (you can go as far as party select too) and work on positioning and map use. I’m sure some things will still show (you can squeak your party window in or skill bar etc) but the idea is to focus on your team mates and foes (again, can use this for team play by creating positioning opportunities both offensively and defensively etc but still good for the individual)

I’m sure I’ve seen it mentioned many times before but there’s no harm in mentioning it yet again. Turn off your “sound” with the exception of the back ground noise (I think that’s what it is). Don’t need any additional distractions and should help you focus on skill activation/ recognition.

F11 re-organization. Back to the passive information, it needs to be easy to take in. Re-arrange your HUD to make the info you need to use (but not pay attention directly to) easier to do so. The game “pivots” around your character so you can move the relative information (or resize the relative information) based on that (you don’t want to take your eyes off the ball now do you?).


I hope some of this is useful?


elk

snaek

snaek

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by elk
Add to the monk aspect suggested above about removing the party window (and don’t limit it to just a monk mind you) but cntrl + shft + H and get rid of all the HUD. You'll have to actively watch the field for team and enemy positioning, makes you learn your skill bar (skill use/skill positions, "feel" for activation times, "feel" for recharges etc. I recognize your bar can change based on builds but if you play a profession enough, certain skills and certain functions are common and end up in similar positions. That and you want to focus on proper skill use and timing versus botting your build) and use keystrokes to activate skills/ team select/ enemy select (yes I guess you could mouse select too), makes you watch cast and skill animations as well as use sound effects.
tru pros play gw blindfolded
and also with no sound

u have to feel the enemies presence and smell his fear to truly pwn him

oh and of course...using hands really is no challenge
so if u want to truly master gw
play wit ur hands tied behind ur back

elk

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by snaek View Post
tru pros play gw blindfolded
and also with no sound

u have to feel the enemies presence and smell his fear to truly pwn him

oh and of course...using hands really is no challenge
so if u want to truly master gw
play wit ur hands tied behind ur back

Smash keyboard with face - got it.

elk

DarkGanni

DarkGanni

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

Malta

[CuTe]

E/

How to be a better player eh....

Stop playing gimmick builds.

Anime Divine

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2007

W/

LOL this gave me a good laugh :P since i dont play PVP
my Pro advise(s) is not "gimping yourself" you want to have the best skills. highest energy than any person can have. so you can spam your skills right.
nothing better than a war with 50+energy

also coolest looking armor +weapon gets respect
and ow yeah titles. Get GWAM and you are truly a god noone will question your skills.
ofcourse how to achieve this is for you to have some common sense and blast everything with H/H