Update 3rd March - It's here!

Hells Fury

Hells Fury

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2009

W/D

I farmed mahself a green weapon...

Next on list - Urgoz

Gli

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Damn, this is too much awesome in one build. I can't decide whether to go play with 7 heroes or go do today's pre quest.

Kojima

Kojima

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2010

Home

En Caligne Veritas [DARK]

R/Rt

I am so happy that Anet did such updates. Shows that they are not leaving GW1 to its fate at all. Love this game better than any other!

Arieon Ito

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2007

[One]

Rt/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stéphane Lo Presti View Post
I've asked the Live Team and they confirmed that you can create a mercenary hero based on a PvP character. You can also reroll this PvP character and create a new mercenary hero, as long as the new character has a different name.

Hope this helps ^^
This is excellent. I have a mesmer in pre-searing and a PvP mesmer, now I can have a 3 mesmer team without having to wait until I get LDoA on the pre-searing mesmer. Woot!

Can't wait to get home and do some credit-card number typing. But it would be nice if the 8 hero pack was just a tad cheaper. Would be more incentive to grab it.

tasha

tasha

Auctions Mod

Join Date: Jan 2006

UK

Mystic Spiral [MYST]

For those of you not on Guru 2, John Stumme did another interview with Relics of Orr about the update: http://www.relicsoforr.com/?p=1310

Enjoy.

Lasareth

Lasareth

Aquarius

Join Date: Jun 2005

Somewhere between Boardwalk and Park Place

I've probably been one of the most cynical critics of this game recently but I can't find any complaints in this update. It's a helpful boost to an old game with a declining population (sorry fanboys, had to be said). Multiplayer co-ops with humans becomes a source of entertainment rather than necessity in some situations.

Someone mentioned Embark Beach seems to be catering to "newbies" and people who generally have a poor grasp on the game's mechanics. This is exactly what it should be, since even before the update anyone with any bit of sense did most of the missions with h/h, unless they wanted to run it with people for fun (which this update should not change, if so).

Oh, wait. I do have a complaint. That mercenary hero thing is ridiculously overpriced. However, it won't affect my gameplay so I'm not really bothered by it. I just won't buy it. Not really a huge problem, however I'd recommend that if anet wants more money from it they would probably want to lower the prices a bit so that it would appeal to more players.

Arieon Ito

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2007

[One]

Rt/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chasing Squirrels View Post
wow the more i read this update it makes me more sick that i wasted 9568 minutes on drunkard and decide to now change it to points like whats the point of changing titles if you are just gonna keep making them easier if we just wait.
Depends. I've been using the Drunk PvE skills so the 10,000 mins haven't felt like a waste at times. Just that with this new spammable update. Everyone will blow through their alcohol and eventually drunk skills will be 'useless'

Gift3d

Gift3d

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2007

Las Vegas

Enraged Whiny Carebears [oR]

W/E

I'm extremely impressed with this update. As are all of my guild mates, even the skeptical pessimists are impressed. Good job on this one, anet.

They've made drastic changes in order to get things done in a better way for the entire pve aspect of the game. The only thing i'd have to complain about is the lack of options to command each of your 7 heroes individually, but i'm sure that'll come in an update soon. A couple players i know are considering returning to the game as well, overall i think i speak for the majority when i say this update is a huge step in the right direction, and just reminds players what the developers are capable of doing. By all of this i mean the Embark Beach and Dervish update as well.

So, the PvE side of Guild Wars is the best it's ever been as of now. In the coming months if they could take that next, possibly final step and do something extraordinary to fix PvP, well then i think we'd have a lively and truly excellent game again.

Regardless, kudos.

Neo Nugget

Neo Nugget

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

I think I've found my new favorite outpost outside of pre-searing. Embark Beach has soothing music from pre-searing, along with a pretty scenic view from the huge ship docked in the bay.

Good job Anet.

MithranArkanere

MithranArkanere

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Nov 2006

wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigo

Heraldos de la Llama Oscura [HLO]

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Neo Nugget View Post
I think I've found my new favorite outpost outside of pre-searing. Embark Beach has soothing music from pre-searing, along with a pretty scenic view from the huge ship docked in the bay.

Good job Anet.
Yeah. All that's left if some stools and a barman, and we got ourselves a nice place to hang out.

Star_Jewel

Star_Jewel

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2010

Denizen of Tyria since Feb. 2009

Seeing all the Incorrigible Ale-Hound and GWAMM announcements, and the ease with which other titles will be achieved, I'm wondering.... Once the minutes of favor we accumulate during this spike atrophy, will there be a severe lack of favor in the near future preventing us from getting into UW/FoW? I'm curious how the devs will address this potential problem. If there will be a problem at all. Am I worrying unnecessarily?

EDIT: Nevermind, I'm dumb -- passage scrolls don't require favor.

Arieon Ito

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2007

[One]

Rt/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Star_Jewel View Post
Seeing all the Incorrigible Ale-Hound and GWAMM announcements, and the ease with which other titles will be achieved, I'm wondering.... Once the minutes of favor we accumulate during this spike atrophy, will there be a severe lack of favor in the near future preventing us from getting into UW/FoW? I'm curious how the devs will address this potential problem. If there will be a problem at all. Am I worrying unnecessarily?
Weren't the Passage scrolls created to handled that? You can use them without favor right? (Haven't used any since I don't UW/FoW much, yet)

jazilla

jazilla

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2006

Guernsey Milking Coalition[MiLk]

E/Me

I can be very critical at times of Anet. But for now I would like to be super effusive in my praise of the staff: You guys rock! This is one of the best updates I have ever seen. Ready button is so great. Ordered heroes, minion tab...every single part is so great. I am finished with GW1 so I will not be buying the mercs pack. If this had happened 2 years ago though, my wallet would be $45 lighter than it is now. If WoC is good enough I may still be getting it.

Mr. Stumme, you have exceeded my expectations for what this build would be. Kudos to you and your peeps for a top notch update. Thank you for giving me a few weeks of 7 hero build crafting for fun at the very least. Cheers!

angela faye

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2007

R/

7 heroes updates are awesome, but wait, there are still only 3 flags, so how do I flag my other heroes? I hope Anet will fix this soon.

Moiax

Moiax

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2006

Pink Animal Clan

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by angela faye View Post
7 heroes updates are awesome, but wait, there are still only 3 flags, so how do I flag my other heroes? I hope Anet will fix this soon.
It was mentioned that it's going to stay that way. You can still alter their builds and equipment and whatnot, but you can't flag or micromanage them. The team felt that it would be a little bit too powerful to allow that.

A11Eur0

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2005

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Star_Jewel View Post
Seeing all the Incorrigible Ale-Hound and GWAMM announcements, and the ease with which other titles will be achieved, I'm wondering.... Once the minutes of favor we accumulate during this spike atrophy, will there be a severe lack of favor in the near future preventing us from getting into UW/FoW? I'm curious how the devs will address this potential problem. If there will be a problem at all. Am I worrying unnecessarily?
It's no different than any other massive title spike. Plenty of other characters out there with titles to max to contribute to favor. Scrolls are a dime a dozen anyway.

joea64

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2008

Northern VA, USA

Above and Beyond Duty (Duty)

Rt/Mo

Excellent update so far from what I've seen. I haven't really tried 7-hero parties yet though I've experimented with loading them up on a couple of characters, but I maxed Drunkard tonight (it'd have taken me another 100 hours or so the old way :P) and I've paid a visit to Embark Beach. The new Z-Vanquishes provide a powerful incentive for my title character (mesmer) to finally get on with getting those vanquish titles!

UnChosen

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

10+ districts, zero groups forming for anything. Trade spam already started to fill this list.

GG. WTB GW Offline Edition

Star_Jewel

Star_Jewel

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2010

Denizen of Tyria since Feb. 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arieon Ito View Post
Weren't the Passage scrolls created to handled that? You can use them without favor right? (Haven't used any since I don't UW/FoW much, yet)
Huh. That's the new thing I learned today. I always thought you had to have favor to use them...
In my defense, the official wiki says nothing to that effect -- unofficial wiki saves the day.

[Emily Litella] Nevermind... [/Emily Litella]

Linksys

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

Content deleted

Ewon

Ewon

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2007

Canada

Graduates of Pre Searing [GPS]

Less than 2 hours and my war is now Leg Survivor, 5 years after creation.

I kinda like the new leg. Survivor title as it gives you the chance to challenge yourself. I got the title on my war farming raptors in less than 2 hours. I think I'll try getting it from DoA on my paragon. Not having to restart your character is great for challenging yourself a bit more with the title. I love it.

Time to check out the rest of the update!

cosyfiep

cosyfiep

are we there yet?

Join Date: Dec 2005

in a land far far away

guild? I am supposed to have a guild?

Rt/

minion panel AAA+++!!!

new order for heroes...A- I had finally gotten used to the other way, and now they change it.

pre searing quests--nice, but now I have to GET to level 10 first, oh well.
cant wait for them to implement costumes in pre--that would be sweet.


now can we get them to change the character screen to a different one????

Arieon Ito

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2007

[One]

Rt/

Quote:
Originally Posted by cosyfiep View Post
minion panel AAA+++!!!

new order for heroes...A- I had finally gotten used to the other way, and now they change it.

pre searing quests--nice, but now I have to GET to level 10 first, oh well.
cant wait for them to implement costumes in pre--that would be sweet.


now can we get them to change the character screen to a different one????
The only thing about having costumes in pre would be the entire lore behind it.

If you never left experienced Post-Searing, you wouldn't have met the White Mantle/Shining Blade, ascended to be worthy of the gods (The 4 god costumes), faced the Lich, met the Mad King or see Gwen grown up and attended her wedding.

Let me know if I've missed any other costumes. LOL

Imaginos

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Skyy High View Post
Minimum price for it to be worthwhile for a credit card transaction. Other cash shops get around this by making you buy points that you can spend on items worth less than $10.

DC-ing like crazy too.
This is a line fed to you by ncsoft. If it were true they would never have 50% sales where you can, if you want, only buy 1 of any said item for less then 10 bucks. CC charges online are not that costly, nor does paypal, an option to pay for stuff, cost any online merchant fees like that from what I remember. They sell the costumes for 7 bucks and make a profit on them so the whole 10 bucks thing is pure bullcrap.

ChrisCo

ChrisCo

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2006

[ToR]

W/

Just did fow with 7 heros, was great fun.

Good job anet, best update in a looooong time =D

dawnmist

dawnmist

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2007

Melbourne, Australia

Serpents Maw Esoteric Echelon

R/

So, uh...I checked the wiki and found the listing for today's presearing quest, but it doesn't seem to list what today's vanquish quest is yet.

I'm stuck at work, and heading out tonight, so it'll probably be 10-12 hours before I can check whether it's a quest I want to grab to do over the weekend. Suspense = killing me.

Del

Del

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2009

In a van, down by the river.

RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO if I know, ask Lynette.

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by dawnmist View Post
So, uh...I checked the wiki and found the listing for today's presearing quest, but it doesn't seem to list what today's vanquish quest is yet.

I'm stuck at work, and heading out tonight, so it'll probably be 10-12 hours before I can check whether it's a quest I want to grab to do over the weekend. Suspense = killing me.
Jaya bluffs.

Arieon Ito

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2007

[One]

Rt/

Can't wait for the wiki experts to get up detailed explanations on all the new features with the Feature Build.

Verene

Verene

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2009

[SOTA]

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Del View Post
Jaya bluffs.
Which I found to be a great start since Cantha's what I'm working on at the moment and I haven't done any of Shing Jea yet.

I love this update. I did shell out for the Mercenary Hero 3-pack, so I have my monk, mesmer, and necromancer running around with me. All-girl party = win.

Horace Slughorn

Horace Slughorn

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2008

Experientia Docet [OHX], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA], We Gat Dis [HRUU]

W/

Pretty good update all in all. I won't get much use out of it because I pretty much just log in to doa with my guild, but I think a large part of the player base will find it useful. All of the updates were designed to make the game a bit more enjoyable, convenient, interactive and less frustrating

Basically considering I spent so little money on this game, I'm amazed and grateful for any content update, especially one of this calibre.

X Dr Pepper X

X Dr Pepper X

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2008

The Mirror of Reason [SNOW]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by cosyfiep View Post
now can we get them to change the character screen to a different one????
And music on character screen as well. I nostalgia hard for NF.


I have only one qualm with this update:

If I am correct, mercs basically allow you to add a hero into your party expanding say 3 Necros available to 4 or more.

I think this is utter shit. GW was never meant to be about paying to get an advantage in gameplay. That stuff belongs in other MMOs, but not GW. Keep it cosmetic and harmless. Now I have to run around knowing my playstyle is inferior because I didn't shell money out for another Necro or Rit hero.

If I am wrong, disregard this.

Arieon Ito

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2007

[One]

Rt/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Linksys View Post
It must be trippy at first seeing one or more of your actual characters running around on the screen off center.

I like the check mark feature on the party list. I can still imagine people going afk, intentionally or neglectfully, with the check mark still on. But I still like it and I hope the game benefits from it a lot.
I wonder if anyone's had sudden tunnel vision with their merc and scream 'Why am I not healing my heroes when I'm supposed to?!' when the toon they're actually on is something else, lol.

Plus we've all screamed profanities at our heroes for mucking up. With mercs, it's even more apparent all you're doing now is screaming at yourself. Sneaky Anet.

Quote:
I have only one qualm with this update:

If I am correct, mercs basically allow you to add a hero into your party expanding say 3 Necros available to 4 or more.

I think this is utter shit. GW was never meant to be about paying to get an advantage in gameplay. That stuff belongs in other MMOs, but not GW. Keep it cosmetic and harmless. Now I have to run around knowing my playstyle is inferior because I didn't shell money out for another Necro or Rit hero.

If I am wrong, disregard this.
It's probably one of those things where if it didn't hurt you before, it won't hurt you now. Unless you specifically roam the pvx wiki to find builds. And your playstyle isn't inferior because it's your playstyle. Unless again all you're doing is following cookie cutter builds.

Plus if you party with someone, excluding Deep and Urgoz, the max heroes you should and will probably bring is still 3. Unless your friend is insistent that you have 3 Rits or 3 Mes or 3 Sins, I think you're still ok to go.

X Dr Pepper X

X Dr Pepper X

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2008

The Mirror of Reason [SNOW]

R/

I don't take issue with the game being easier or whatever with mercs.

I take issue with it being exclusive to an audience of people who pay for the content. Kinda like the BMP.

Its just a slap in the face to me if the only available way to get another hero is to buy one with real currency. The release of new heroes could have been managed in a fairer way like the MOX and Thackeray releases.

dawnmist

dawnmist

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2007

Melbourne, Australia

Serpents Maw Esoteric Echelon

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by X Dr Pepper X View Post
If I am correct, mercs basically allow you to add a hero into your party expanding say 3 Necros available to 4 or more.
Yes, you can...but people were already running 6 necro heroes if they wanted by either running a second account, or pairing up with one other person. 6 Necro hero parties have been available since Eye of the North was released. A second account is actually cheaper, and gives extra storage/etc...but needs a little more co-ordination.

People have also been using heroes + hench...which means for a lot of classes, even soloing, they've had the ability to have 4-5 of a particular class - just that the last one or two chars had fixed skill bars.

Given that...it's not really all that much of a change. It allows people to run similar parties to the H/H setups or 2-man+hero setups they've already been running, without having to use the second account for the additional heroes or having locked skill bars due to using henchies. And they get to customise the appearance of the additional chars - so they can enjoy that cool elite armor they've bought for their HoM even when not directly playing the character that bought it.

cosyfiep

cosyfiep

are we there yet?

Join Date: Dec 2005

in a land far far away

guild? I am supposed to have a guild?

Rt/

and hey if you just happen to have multiple characters of say necro or rit...you can make a full necro party (or dwg group).....yes I can see peeps making multiples of one prof, merc-ing it, deleting it--make another with a new name, merc it repeat until you have full slots of mercs...then use the heroes of that prof to fill out the remainder....oh yeah, I can see it already (and am not the first to think of it today)

Verene

Verene

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2009

[SOTA]

D/

I think a lot of people who buy the Mercenary Heroes will do so only for the cosmetic differences, also. I didn't buy it so I can have three Mesmers or four Necros or whatever; I did because I'd rather use and see my Mesmer, my Monk, my Necromancer, instead of Dunkoro or Norgu or Olias.

I would really argue that more than three Necros in a group is something of a waste, anyway, and that the other spots would be better used by other professions. Sab/Discord aren't the end-all-be-all, after all.

Kind of irritated that I just got disconnected halfway through Stygian Veil (just to see if I could do it with just heroes), though. Grrrar.

Improvavel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by X Dr Pepper X View Post
I don't take issue with the game being easier or whatever with mercs.

I take issue with it being exclusive to an audience of people who pay for the content. Kinda like the BMP.

Its just a slap in the face to me if the only available way to get another hero is to buy one with real currency. The release of new heroes could have been managed in a fairer way like the MOX and Thackeray releases.
Actually you can have 7 of each profession it seems - you roll a PvP toon add it to the rooster of merc heroes, delete it, create a new one with different name and add it to the rooster of merc heroes, etc.

I recommend people to try 7 paragon parties - they are quite fun.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Verene View Post

I would really argue that more than three Necros in a group is something of a waste, anyway, and that the other spots would be better used by other professions. Sab/Discord aren't the end-all-be-all, after all.
This is very true.

Triple necro is good when your other 4 dudes are crappy henchmen (and even then with the recent updates and pve/pvp skill splits they weren't the best all the time), otherwise you have other options that can be as fast or faster depending on the situation.

Arieon Ito

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2007

[One]

Rt/

Quote:
Originally Posted by cosyfiep View Post
and hey if you just happen to have multiple characters of say necro or rit...you can make a full necro party (or dwg group).....yes I can see peeps making multiples of one prof, merc-ing it, deleting it--make another with a new name, merc it repeat until you have full slots of mercs...then use the heroes of that prof to fill out the remainder....oh yeah, I can see it already (and am not the first to think of it today)
Which apparently is perfectly viable since you can Merc PvP chars. Which might entice me to buy a new character slot since I'm lacking a ranger and I don't want to delete my current PvP char because she's already 2+ years old. And after that, I'll just use the slot to make a ranger in Pre-searing, get LDoA and Legendary Survivor and breakdance all night in Ascalon City, lol.

Elnino

Elnino

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2008

In a house

Proof Of A Nets Laziness[HB]

A/W

Great Update! Thanks Anet.

Now . . . Why does my mission map[u] keep going back to it's default position and size whenever I close and re-open guild wars????

AngelWJedi

AngelWJedi

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2008

orlando,florida

Society of Souls [Argh]

Rt/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Dagon View Post
yea the prices for those mercs are insane, for $45 i could buy a new game... or 2. Really i would buy it if it was like 8 for like $5~$10... but $45? i mean really thats insane. i relaly feel if they droped the price people like me would buy more b/c they arent that insanly high price.

ah well i guess at the current state i wont be getting any merc hero :/
i so agree. im sorry but even if i could afford this i wouldnt buy it. for this price i could buy more char slots or another game or 3. or buy lots of costumes. and since you cant use hero skills then its kind alike a hero. so its something i wont do. but otherwise the rest is wicked! if could bring myself to play my derv i would get her survivor. rofl@ people buy kath hammers for 1ecto ecto. ello people play the game or heck box both are cheaper. xD and wow 120-300g per booze point now. >< makes me wish i havent merched a lot last month.