New Designer, Updates, PvP, XTH, and more! courtesy of Linsey Murdock

Beat me, I couldn't read in OP what the Sealed Deck format actually is about?
Someone enlighten me pls

Sounds good sealed deck is something I always wanted Random is king

Probably the opening they specifically posted for the GW live team, about someone who could do quest design and scripting. Just a guess. >_>

The last update was a "great success" (read: $$$) and so the live team got leave to expand their operations (read: invest $$ to make $$$$$)

I like those ideas. I might do some more pvp if the sealed deck arena appears.
I wonder if having balance updates less often than monthly is the way to go... I think more smaller updates more often would be more interesting than waiting months for something new to come...

Main problem with HB is crossing map and shadowsteps get rid of those two things and most of the problems are gone. Remove tournament support and the ladder and it can be just kept as an area to go when you don't want to spend time looking for teams etc.

I don't get why people have such a big problem with HB, they were never forced to play it. I know most reason is because when you loose you only had yourselves to blame and that just wouldnt be right eh.

Anyways people that enjoyed Hero battles will defend it because they played it and liked it, you attack it why? If you don't like it then noone making you play it. Stuff doesn't have to get removed for new stuff to appear, thats not adding content thats replacing content, what a load of BS. Infact this content update is removing more content than yur gaining why the hell are you all so chirpy apart from an area you were bad at being deleted WTF.

yur gonna be just as disadvantaged at sealed deck. You all think that this is gonna level the playing ground between PvE players PvPing vs PvPers that play all the time IT ISNT!

Thinking getting pvers into pvp is only good for the game? Yes great more PvErs PvPing nothing wrong with that but how long do you think thats gonna last? The novelty will wear off pretty quick. How many people turn up to do Zmissions, lots by GW standards right and how many are there the next day? Similar thing will happen with this new sealed deck, it's great until you've had the experience, got what you came for and then the novelty wears off.

I doubt HA/GvGers are gonna trade GvG/HA for Sealed Deck they will just use it for fun inbetween their other respective formats. According to this, there is hardly any TA/HB players which is the only last targeted group that would take on Sealed Deck. Me and other Hbers don't want HB deleted for this to exist and others and I will be leaving when this change arrives I bet. So this only serves to diminish the PvP community even more in favor of short term happiness to PvErs thinking they got some kind of leg up into PvP. Whatever.

The main reason I will leave is because of the selfishness of this move and the player atitude. The players that are all for the deletion of HB want it so that the players that are pushed out of Hero Battles have to turn to Sealed Deck which bumps up the player support to the new area. Otherwise what difference does it make that an area that exists that they don't like? what other motives? When were people screaming for the removal of dead areas like FA and JQ before they updated the faction gain?

So when do we remove FoW and UW to get more players into DoA?

When do we remove all PvP formats cept GvG so more players GvG?

When do we remove Kaineng Center, LA, and Ascalon so more players spam trade in Kamadan?

.....Actually forget the last one.

oh yeah and just to strengthen:

maybe because HB turned into a broken piece of shit arena (similar to TA in that regard) that (unlike TA) cannot be fixed anymore because the problems are too deeply rooted?
maybe because AI is just shit in comparison to (decent) real players and can only execute a handful of builds correctly?
maybe because what HB received should've been implemented for TA instead?

TA is not harming anyone. It has no ladder, no ranking system, no mATs, no nothing. Why removing it if it's as harmless as that. Why putting EFFORT into removing it, if no effort was ever actually put INTO TA itself.

Moreover, those that want to play SD will do so even if TA will still be around after SD is introduced. Those that are against it and want to continue playing TA only (with occasional runs in SD perhaps) will very likely quit GW altogether if that arena is removed. So if anything, Anet ends up LOSING players and nothing else.

Talk about severely faulted logic in that regard.

I dare Linsey and co come here and tell the real reason behind removing TA and HB.
WTS test grounds for GW2 kekekeke.
My god, don't talk about lack of resources if they have the nerves AND resources to make humongous updates for pve AND pvp, buffing zillion random assassin and dervish skills for no real reason but to "shake up" the stale (degenerated) meta. _COME_ON_.
............

Sealed Deck Will be more similar to TA than HB and HB still has a larger player base than anet thinks. Since your TA balanced pro, you should have no worries. Most Hbers HB for the fact no hassles making teams etc.

About HB being broken. Mostly broken because of shadowsteps and crossing like I said. Crossing exposes Hero bugs because of the map design, they can simply delete this and remove shadowsteps from the format.

Remove the Ladder/Tournaments/obby mode so it becomes as serious as Random Arenas and then who cares if its broken at least the players that were enjoying it can still do so.

And how would you go about implementing a ranking system into TA when you can play with a different 3 pugs each time, nominate a team leader or limit it to guild teams? HB was probably an easier option for them since it required only one player, whereas tracking 4 players would be harder unless perhaps its limited to guildies but even then players would be hard to track I guess.

The logic behind removing TA is the same as removing HB, to push the player base into Sealed Deck so it has a greater player support. For abnoxious PvE players this is a great idea, the rest of us just have to reluctantly move with the majority.

the only thing similar between TA and SD would be the amount of players on each side and some of the maps.

as for TA ladder - not worth answering anymore (or at all). For obvious reasons. But it definitely would not be hard to come up with rating given after a set number of wins and/or depending on the rating of people you beat. Adding in glad rank into the calculation then and constructing a ladder out of that would definitely be doable.
But firstly, they would HAVE to split TA from RA then. And that is something they have NEVER wanted to do.
Move with the majority, eh... Pity that majority is (with all due respect) a flock of ignorant sheep with Anet playing the shepherd.

SD isnt really a game mode, but a method of skill selection. it could have been added to any of the other modes in addition to manually selected skills.

I wonder what kind of stipulations will be added, for example can the skill pool be customized to exclude certain campaigns?

Skills need to be divided between the team and both teams of course need to be ready for the match to begin. its not going to result in swift start game play.

On the subject of stipulations would players welcome the option to play for example gvg matches only using prophecy skills (manually selected, not random)?

This only boils down to a final kick in the teeth to the players that supported these two formats and had any interest in their redemption.

So they want to test things for the next game that's going to be making the money they need. Is there a problem with that?

They won't make any money if they lose the faith of their dwindling player base. Lots of people only play the game still because they played for a long time. So many others have become so fed up with the games neglect and won't touch GW2 because of what happened to GW. After all whats to say they don't start neglecting GW2 when they start making GW3 ZzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzz

I have a new test. Lets test balancing the game and fixing the formats that are broken before making new areas that will become broken and neglected just like the ones we got now.

Yes, if they claim the reason for removing the format is something completely different. WTB honesty AT LEAST.

bold text=fact, when it comes to TA. sorry, but it is.

Anet is business, it's to be expected. It ain't right, but it's expected. It's not something worth getting too bummed about.

And you can support this? There are other reasons for leaving a game; aging, natural boredom, other things to do. I never said Anet don't make mistakes, nor that those mistakes were not the reason people leave.

However, these mistakes will not stop people on a whole buying GW2. What you seem to forget is that, mistakes aside, GW is successful. It sold well and has lasted longer than most online games do. It's outlived some of the games that were predicted to kill it (Fury, Hellgate London for example). It's successful whether you like it or not.

Look at WoW; people who play that game complain all the time, just as much as people do here. But that does not mean it wasn't a success.

And know you know another; me. Contradictory much? Certainly not. GW has no monthly fee, so it was inevitable. GW is just like any other game; I played it, then discarded it when I was bored of it. I may start playing again, or may not. It's not that I don't like it, but it's only a game, dear.

Since when did I state I was doing different? I'm merely having some fun with you. Don't actually think I care about an opinion that has been barked over and over for the past... well since the game was a wee young'un. What you're saying there is a clear attempt to look above me, just like this last comment from me.

In the case of HB, neglect is exactly the word to describe it. For more then a year players in the HB community have been asking for changes and fixes. But in the end, there was little to none updates. Now Anet is removing HB when they have did little to fix it? That seems quite unreasonable.

ALL PvP is getting a 'make-over' With the hero change. Not JUST HB
No heroes, no hero battles.
Something has (is being) done.
All players ask for buffs/nerfs to their favorite skills, that's natural.
What it comes down to is what the Devs want.
Think positive, now you have something new to experiment with (PvP wise) for another year or two.

anyway you slice it, discarding loyal players is a silly business model.

why not keep hb + ta, spread the balances/revamps to each out over the next couple of updates (which youre starting to do anyways with your extended update schedule), and continue to add new content slowly. win/win situation.

oh shit, need new funds for more "resources"?

no prob. release "elf ears", a /lineage emote, for 15$ cause everyone knows elves pwn. or "captain america" form, a /cityofheroes emote, for 20$ you can show euros who's really boss, or MY favorite, "i'mafckinrobotbro", a /exteel emote, for 50$ summon a giant ass robot that does nothing but looks cool as shit cause its a robot.

To some players, the HB and Ta format is irreplaceable, and it is the only format they play on GW. Sure having new content is great, but why remove the old ones? If you cannot support them with further updates/changes, then these players will accept what they have now, like they always have in the last couple of years. In regards to something new, I believe that as a costumer who spent money and bought the game, nobody else but myself should dictate over what I play in the game. I mean, I will play SD if it is good too, but that doesnot mean I shouldnot play HB simply because other people say so.

Yes doesn't matter what players want, since they're the ones playing the game? And since with every update the devs make PvP worse and worse gg

GW only stands up to WoW on 3 factors .. almost forget graphics..eye candy is guddd

1) The PvP is better
2) No subscription.
3) Graphics

Now considering PvP is a joke and WoW is apparently going subscription free with the release of their next expansion I don't see whats left to hold players to GW to this game. My best friend is a hardcore WoW player and we would often debate which is the better game. I realise now I would be kidding myself to try this anymore.

Nobody said that Anet should give all, but if they cannot give, why should they take HB or TA away?

Because they are dead weights now. Yes, they had the chance to make them better (well... TA at least), but they did not. So now, dead weights.

me. i never wanted it in the first place. when i first bought NF and realized that the "new exciting pvp format" was HB, i just shake my head. to this day, i've never set foot there. i wouldn't miss it in the least.

HB was probably the stupidest idea with tournament support that Anet has ever come up with. that's really saying something, considering that they've come up with some truly idiotic things. it should never be here in the first place.

The truth is, Talania really cares about HB, and, like the other players in the HB community, does not want to see it removed. If you say that you do not care, or do not like HB, that is perfectly fine. No body is forcing you to play it. But if you claim that you do not care in the first place, then why would you care to want it removed? Even if you hate the format, it doesnot hurt to simply stay away from it. We are all different players in the game, but we all want to play something fun, that is the point of buying the game. If you do not find it fun, then why bother trying to deprive of others what they think is fun, too?

Yes, it is announced that they will remove heros and HB, but that is why me, Talania, and several people are here. We do not find it fair that being neglected in most updates, despite many suggestions and feedbacks from the HB community to change/update HB, Anet is further abandoning the HB community by removing the format.

No one on this forum is depriving anything from you.
ANet has made it's decision.
Many players have begged for their favorite areas to be spared..griffons, spiders, ect.
We all lost a 'favorite' thing to do...but we balled up, and found something else to learn to enjoy.

You didnt spend over a thousand hours and 12 straight months on a certain farm. This is all we do and have done for a long time. Its not comparable to removing a farm its comparable to removing PvE itself and you see why we are acting the way we are. Their is no alternative to what we do.

Er, farms are one thing - losing an entire format is totally different and you can't use this as a comparison really. At least with farm nerfs you can move onto something else to kill etc. The removal of HB, while okay for some, will indeed hurt the players that have been playing this and enjoying it too...

Please stop the flaming, sarcasm and veiled insults otherwise this thread will be closed. Please stay on topic and contributing.

Erm... no. Removing HB would be like removing one part of PvE, not removing all of it.

Not at all. If you remove 1 part of PvE their are so many other parts it won't even matter because you can go find another farm/campaighn/build. If you remove HB you are removing a unique format that thier is no alternatives, in fact theirs nothing even close to being similar to it. Besides people don't spend 1000 hours on a farming build? But people do spend that kind of time on PvE.

A lot of HB players only do HB. It is the equivalent unless they built a new different style HB I didn't know about.

hmm... so its all same topics. people who thinks hb should be remove is 2 reasons or more but basically its same.
1. I don't play hb (or I don't care) so I don't want to see people who play hb and get advantage of it that "I can't get".
2. A-net made decision and they're god of this game so whatever they do, they're right!
(we can have new format of pvp instead hb and ta that I don't really play anymore yay!)


ok. that's selfish.

Did I come online and laugh about you loosing your farming spots? or did I scream for them to be nerfed? No I didn't.

And if you or someone else was annoyed by this and protested would you expect everyone to flame and troll you for standing up for it?

Why doesn't anyone respect the fact that Hero battles players want to keep the format they enjoy. Why so much hatred for the players in the format?

It is going to be kinda sad when I look at my titles and see Commander (1). Only started getting into it a bit ago, and now it's being taken away.

Sure, HB is incredibly broken but no one was forced to play it. I don't see why Anet is removing it. They seem to think that the tiny TA and HB communities will go to the new SD arena and play there? SD is only going to be a success if it is done right and everyone finds it fun, not by forcing two other communities to go there in order to continue playing PvP that is an alternative to HA/GvG.

I just find this kind of train of thought odd, and kind of a cop out from actually updating HB. Although I do see how difficult it is to balance an Arena based on exploiting AI, there are small tweaks that could have been done to get it up to scratch.

you forgot 3:

"HB is a terrible format and should've never existed, let alone have tournament support."

as it stands now, AB would probably be better served with tournament support. done properly, and given its current popularity, the format would probably rival that of GvG.

Why is HB a terrible format? Everyone flings that around, but it isn't a terrible format, it just recieved little to no updates or care and slowly but surely degenerated. Same is true with most 4v4 gametypes.

Nevermind, reading ftw. SD is 4v4.

Looks new and fun to me..

personally i don't think heroes are good for the game, so its very hard for me to like hero battles. i have played it enough despite not caring for heroes to recognize that there are a lot of faults with the format. however, there are people that do like it and its a shame for anet to simply let it stay broken for so long and then just remove it. its one thing to not like a game format simply because it is not your cup of tea, but to not like a format because it is severely broken is another. there should have been no harm for gvg and hb to co-exist as competitive formats, except that the many months of neglect on anet's part has lead it on its downward spiral.

i do think sealed deck is a welcomed addition, but i also think its an easy way out. the only reason sd will not have broken problems that will be required to fix is because the skill rotation automatically "fixes" them on every skillset change. people have cried to have mindblast bars nerfed for a long time now... with sealed deck, whenever a broken bar comes along just wait until next week and *poof* broken build is no more. it is obviously a format that cannot be taken seriously for competitive manners and therefore will not interfere with gvg and the likes. if there is a ladder and mats for it, i personally think it will be a joke. sure it will be entertaining to watch, but a joke nonetheless.

Brah you don't even have to play during weekend events to see emote usage just play regularly and watch mATs.

I play regularly and the only time emotes have been used is during HB weekend and the only time its used in the MaTs is to send Anet a msg not because thats how they want to settle the match LOL

ehhh, you probably fail at HB so stop shitting on it.
How would ab rival gvg, its full of pvers farming for outposts. It's popular in the sense that you and the rest of the 90% of guildwars is pvers.
It's pretty much got a tournament implementation of which ever alliance has the most faction control an outpost.

If anything they shoulda removed that instead of ta and hb, if they wanted to make pvp better.

o yea, dont critisize the format without have playing it.