Social Limitations in Guild Wars
Lewick
I've played for a while now and while I love the game the social interactions in the game seem to really be limited. I've been trying to pinpoint the problem with it and the difficulty in expanding your social friendships for a while. I believe it comes down to a visibility issue.
The only time you interact with players outside your group is in town. Instancing provides a pretty significant wall of separation from everyone else in the game. The difficulty I'm having, which I've discussed with the few people I do play with in-game, is that I don't have any real social interactivity with people in the game because I have no context about them. I can start a group for a mission, for example, but the action is fast paced, and people really don't get to know each other doing the missions. So you run the mission then most of the time people go their own way afterward.
Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions. In games like Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot, etc. the social interactions are dictated by the gameplay. In order to succeed in those games, you need to group. There isn't the concept of adding NPC henchmen to your group, so you have to find people to play with. The gameplay is slow enough that you end up forging friendships with people over time because you get to know their gaming styles, personalities, and skill levels. The social interaction is stemmed from needing to play with other players.
I really enjoy having the henchmen capability in the game, but I'm finding the lack of a good social climate to be stifling because people (including myself) can just take a whole slew of henchmen out and do their thing solo. Without specific "friend" channels, guild alliances with shared chats, and things like that, it makes it really hard to expand your friends base too far out.
My guild has 7 people in it. These are 7 people I've been gaming with for years, and we're all good gamers. However, when my guildmates aren't online, it's frustrating and difficult to forge new friendships and alliances with people. This is a problem I've never had in any other online game I've ever played.
Is anyone else having these issues? Or am I out in left field somewhere?
The only time you interact with players outside your group is in town. Instancing provides a pretty significant wall of separation from everyone else in the game. The difficulty I'm having, which I've discussed with the few people I do play with in-game, is that I don't have any real social interactivity with people in the game because I have no context about them. I can start a group for a mission, for example, but the action is fast paced, and people really don't get to know each other doing the missions. So you run the mission then most of the time people go their own way afterward.
Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions. In games like Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot, etc. the social interactions are dictated by the gameplay. In order to succeed in those games, you need to group. There isn't the concept of adding NPC henchmen to your group, so you have to find people to play with. The gameplay is slow enough that you end up forging friendships with people over time because you get to know their gaming styles, personalities, and skill levels. The social interaction is stemmed from needing to play with other players.
I really enjoy having the henchmen capability in the game, but I'm finding the lack of a good social climate to be stifling because people (including myself) can just take a whole slew of henchmen out and do their thing solo. Without specific "friend" channels, guild alliances with shared chats, and things like that, it makes it really hard to expand your friends base too far out.
My guild has 7 people in it. These are 7 people I've been gaming with for years, and we're all good gamers. However, when my guildmates aren't online, it's frustrating and difficult to forge new friendships and alliances with people. This is a problem I've never had in any other online game I've ever played.
Is anyone else having these issues? Or am I out in left field somewhere?
Talesin Darkbriar
Hiyas Lewick ~
I agree and concur with your opinion. I believe that the creation of a "Looking for Group" switch or icon would be a godsend in bustling towns and areas. This would also kill 98% of all the current spam and allow players to socially communicate with each other as well.
The current text box model needs some looking at as well. It is difficult to read most times, and the filters are too broad to seperate any meaningless banter from intelligent text.
It would be nice if your settings remained persistent from zone to zone as well - not resetting the moment you enter a new area!
Otherwise, I suggest a guild chat channel (already exists) and just get your friends in the habit of using that as a default.
May your skills prevail,
Talesin Darkbriar
I agree and concur with your opinion. I believe that the creation of a "Looking for Group" switch or icon would be a godsend in bustling towns and areas. This would also kill 98% of all the current spam and allow players to socially communicate with each other as well.
The current text box model needs some looking at as well. It is difficult to read most times, and the filters are too broad to seperate any meaningless banter from intelligent text.
It would be nice if your settings remained persistent from zone to zone as well - not resetting the moment you enter a new area!
Otherwise, I suggest a guild chat channel (already exists) and just get your friends in the habit of using that as a default.
May your skills prevail,
Talesin Darkbriar
Nokomis
I haven't played a lot of online games, but I did play Everquest for awhile. I think Guild Wars is a superior game to Everquest, but the social life was better in Everquest. People communicated more and seemed...dare I say...smarter and more creative. Maybe it was because less people were online then. I don't think it is because this game is free because I have played completely free games where people were friendlier and brighter overall than this lot (present company excepted I am sure).
--Nokomis
--Nokomis
Talesin Darkbriar
lol~!
Sad but true Nokomis...of all the games I've played online, GW unfortunately seems to have the lowest common denominator. The NPCs truly are better players than most of the server...
Fear not however, I suspect in a few weeks this current crop of "tardlings" will simply migrate to the next release of whatever.
Sad but true Nokomis...of all the games I've played online, GW unfortunately seems to have the lowest common denominator. The NPCs truly are better players than most of the server...
Fear not however, I suspect in a few weeks this current crop of "tardlings" will simply migrate to the next release of whatever.
Ytrill
I completely agree with this post. I have no social interaction whatsoever in this game outside of my guild. In pickup groups, most people are idiots who I really don't want to talk to, or the group is too good to have time to talk. Something needs to be done, soon. Maybe have a trade/lounge sort of area like the bazaar was in everquest. Where you can go into /trader mode and people can browse your items (like a merchant.) This eliminates trade spam problem. And maybe a toolbar so where you press key X and a tool comes up that allows you to search for an item by category/class/type etc. LFG icon is a must. This turns thiry LFG spams into one and a /lfg tag. The social interaction...I have no idea how to fix this if areanet has a single group map for everyone in the game...Personally I think it's unbelievably stupid not to have open zones outside of missions. Where you can find a group, killing for exp. is probably the only way I made friends in other RPGs.
Rieselle
I agree with the OP in that its rare to have any social interaction in this game, and it's hard to find like-minded people to talk to etc.
First of all I'd like to see normal chat severly restricted in range. You can only hear people who are in a very small radius around you. (almost adjacent). What I want to see in towns are little groups of people standing and sitting around in circles and stuff, kind of like a Real Life beach or park I think the slight feeling of "privacy" would encourage more people to chat in the game. And if they start wanting proper privacy, they can group or use whispers. It'd be cool to wander around town and see what people are talking about and stuff too
The All channel can then be left in as a "Shout" channel - which most people can turn off :P So you can have conversations without exposing yourself to spam. This might lead to griefers who chase people around harassing them or eavesdropping on them, so maybe more features for Ignore would be necessary as well.
I think the best course ANet has is to take advantage of the stark dichotomy of their game - Instanced fighting vs. Towns as meeting places.
They should look some of the game related timesinks outside the game and try to add one or two of them into the towns - for example, some people undoubtedly spend some time looking at Trading forums like RPGTraders to buy stuff. Adding an auction system or trading post system, that people can browse whilst in town. Make the interface such that you can easily browse through the items, whilst talking to people at the same time.
Also, since the game is so heavily reliant on team strategy, we need more options to help us discuss it in game. A "show my character's build to this player" command, that lets them see what gear, atts, and skills you have equipped, for instance.
A "party play book", where you can place labels for the different members of the party and draw diagrams and stuff (like the wonderful minimap now . The "party play book" should also allow people who have seen a map to show it to others and draw on it. (this includes maps for the pvp areas). So before a mission or a pvp/gvg fight you can take a look at the map, and discuss where you are going to go, who does what and when, etc. All with cute diagrams and annotations
The "party play book" should also allow people to post their stats and skills on it, so you can take an overview of what everyone's abilities are etc. (you can choose not to post your stats if for some reason you dont want people to see.)
First of all I'd like to see normal chat severly restricted in range. You can only hear people who are in a very small radius around you. (almost adjacent). What I want to see in towns are little groups of people standing and sitting around in circles and stuff, kind of like a Real Life beach or park I think the slight feeling of "privacy" would encourage more people to chat in the game. And if they start wanting proper privacy, they can group or use whispers. It'd be cool to wander around town and see what people are talking about and stuff too
The All channel can then be left in as a "Shout" channel - which most people can turn off :P So you can have conversations without exposing yourself to spam. This might lead to griefers who chase people around harassing them or eavesdropping on them, so maybe more features for Ignore would be necessary as well.
I think the best course ANet has is to take advantage of the stark dichotomy of their game - Instanced fighting vs. Towns as meeting places.
They should look some of the game related timesinks outside the game and try to add one or two of them into the towns - for example, some people undoubtedly spend some time looking at Trading forums like RPGTraders to buy stuff. Adding an auction system or trading post system, that people can browse whilst in town. Make the interface such that you can easily browse through the items, whilst talking to people at the same time.
Also, since the game is so heavily reliant on team strategy, we need more options to help us discuss it in game. A "show my character's build to this player" command, that lets them see what gear, atts, and skills you have equipped, for instance.
A "party play book", where you can place labels for the different members of the party and draw diagrams and stuff (like the wonderful minimap now . The "party play book" should also allow people who have seen a map to show it to others and draw on it. (this includes maps for the pvp areas). So before a mission or a pvp/gvg fight you can take a look at the map, and discuss where you are going to go, who does what and when, etc. All with cute diagrams and annotations
The "party play book" should also allow people to post their stats and skills on it, so you can take an overview of what everyone's abilities are etc. (you can choose not to post your stats if for some reason you dont want people to see.)
BrandonIT
I've lamented the chat bubble system in GW before, so I'll just say I support a better chat bubble.
An ability to show others your setup, or possibly even skill and attribute list would be quite helpful. At the moment, I'd settle for something as simple as an "examine" window on others.
Here's hoping this could be implemented at some point without a lot of trouble.
An ability to show others your setup, or possibly even skill and attribute list would be quite helpful. At the moment, I'd settle for something as simple as an "examine" window on others.
Here's hoping this could be implemented at some point without a lot of trouble.
Jab
I agree completely here, City of heroes beats guilds wars into the ground with better lfg features, and that game isn't about GvG or competitive gaming. They really need to allow teams to stay together cross district, hell maybe even cross town or some are in mission and some are still in town.
Night Daftshadow
I hope ANet implements a feature to see everyones current profession as well as level in towns that DO NOT have missions, only quests. You can see professions and levels at towns with mission but not vice-versa. What's up with that?
Shadow_Avenger
I agree with the lack of social interaction, but i also beleive it is unfair to compare it toother MMORPG's, simply put GW is nothing like the freeroaming MMORPG with monthly fee's. i.e. you dont wander of explore bump into someone and go hey this bits tricky we'd better join forces and there is nobody else here unless we trek back for 30-30-45min.
GW has single stop chat rooms to formparties, alas, this ends up like a overcrowded pub, with many players shouting, it is often hard to make out what people are actually saying, and even harder to have a conversation. The only way to do this is like in a pub, you chat to those you are with (party talk) or you whisper people, alas whispering doesn't always work as it can be drowned out with all the other chat going on.
Most MMORPG's have the option to filter and have multiple chat windows. This option may make it easier in the long run.
GW has single stop chat rooms to formparties, alas, this ends up like a overcrowded pub, with many players shouting, it is often hard to make out what people are actually saying, and even harder to have a conversation. The only way to do this is like in a pub, you chat to those you are with (party talk) or you whisper people, alas whispering doesn't always work as it can be drowned out with all the other chat going on.
Most MMORPG's have the option to filter and have multiple chat windows. This option may make it easier in the long run.
Galatea
A LFG option would really, really help cut back on spam, and would make things much easier for party-builders to actually form parties.
I do like how, in mission cities & tombs, you can see the profession & level of a character -- however, maybe there should be a toggle?
Rather than implement a separate "I'M LFG" option, maybe just have it so that people whose professions/levels showing ARE seeking, and those who don't have it shown are NOT seeking. Sometimes, I am just standing around in a mission city, perhaps doing the bonus missions by myself, getting ready to do an old quest, whatever.. I will be level 20 in a low-level area with TONS of level 4 characters sending me invites, or sending me /whispers with "WE NEED AN ELEMENTALIST. JOIN US." I'm an ascended level 20 who has beat the last mission - I don't belong in their groups.
To be able to just toggle my E/Me 20 from showing, that should maybe get the message straight that I am NOT searching for a group.
-----
But, if they do add options.. perhaps, have a drop-down menu to include options like "Looking for Group" and "Unavailable". Then, include next to the drop-down menu, a small text-box (with a character limit) to include details..
So, if I select "Looking for Group", I may want to type what KIND of elementalist I am, or what I am looking for a in group.. example, "Fire Ele, need grp with 2 monks for bonus only."
Or, if I select "Unavailable", then I could type "Please no invites, I'm afk.", "AFK - Eating lunch.", "Please no invites, I am not doing the mission.", etc.. and upon sending an invite to a person with this Unavailable option, instead this message would be returned to them.
I do like how, in mission cities & tombs, you can see the profession & level of a character -- however, maybe there should be a toggle?
Rather than implement a separate "I'M LFG" option, maybe just have it so that people whose professions/levels showing ARE seeking, and those who don't have it shown are NOT seeking. Sometimes, I am just standing around in a mission city, perhaps doing the bonus missions by myself, getting ready to do an old quest, whatever.. I will be level 20 in a low-level area with TONS of level 4 characters sending me invites, or sending me /whispers with "WE NEED AN ELEMENTALIST. JOIN US." I'm an ascended level 20 who has beat the last mission - I don't belong in their groups.
To be able to just toggle my E/Me 20 from showing, that should maybe get the message straight that I am NOT searching for a group.
-----
But, if they do add options.. perhaps, have a drop-down menu to include options like "Looking for Group" and "Unavailable". Then, include next to the drop-down menu, a small text-box (with a character limit) to include details..
So, if I select "Looking for Group", I may want to type what KIND of elementalist I am, or what I am looking for a in group.. example, "Fire Ele, need grp with 2 monks for bonus only."
Or, if I select "Unavailable", then I could type "Please no invites, I'm afk.", "AFK - Eating lunch.", "Please no invites, I am not doing the mission.", etc.. and upon sending an invite to a person with this Unavailable option, instead this message would be returned to them.
Inziladun
Yeah, I agree. In many Online RPGs (SWG, WoW, EQ ect.), i've just walked up to a group of people sitting around talking and said 'Hey, what are you guys talking about?' without even knowing them. In Guild Wars, I havn't even seen a bunch of people sitting around talking. I think there's a few problems that causes this, one being that there's no 'local' chat, where only people next to you can hear you. And also, the Towns arn't very 'gather friendly'. You can't walk into buildings and sit down, you can't gather around in a 'private' area. In fact, I can only think of two town areas that can be considered 'private', the Lighthouse at Lion's Arch and the Beacon at Beacon's Perch. Of course there's more reasons, but I can't think of them at the moment, and I have to go soon anyways :P
ElevenBravo
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inziladun
In Guild Wars, I havn't even seen a bunch of people sitting around talking.
|
I dont think their needs to be a LFG feature because there already is one. Your party window tells you when someone wants you to join their group. If you want to start a group just start inviting people. If you want to join a group find a group leader and invite yourself.
Lewick
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElevenBravo
Thats because they are busy playing. Personally if I wanted to talk I would get on IRC. Guild Wars is too fast action to be chatting it up in local chat or whatever. I believe, like in my guild for instance, most talking is going on in voice programs like Ventrilo or Teamspeak. I very very rarely look at my chat window unless its a whisper or someone is talking in guild chat. Even when I am in a town. In mission towns I try to avoid people, non-guildmates, like the plague. I find that henchmen teams are way more efficent then dealing with players who dont know what they are doing. And my play time is vaulable so I dont have alot of time to be shooting the breeze with just anybody.
I dont think their needs to be a LFG feature because there already is one. Your party window tells you when someone wants you to join their group. If you want to start a group just start inviting people. If you want to join a group find a group leader and invite yourself. |
Also, you'd be amazed by the skill of SOME of the people there are out playing the game. Unfortunately they're hard to find because there's no real social infrastructure in which to connect those people together.
As far as your LFG comments are concerned, you can randomly select people and invite them to join your group. But if they're AFK or not interested in grouping, it'll either get rejected or just stay hanging out there as an invite forever. The LFG option would be someone actively requesting to join a group. I think it's a really good idea too, and one I didn't think about. It allows people to see who's ready and willing to play and get them in the game with humans. It would also greatly decrease the overall LFG spam in mission zones and would allow people like me, who turns off local chat when I enter mission zones due to the large amount of spam that occurs, to turn it back on and have a listen.
I agree with you about henchmen. Henchmen will follow every order you give (except Alesia, whom you sometimes yell at to heal you while she's meleeing and rarely listens.) I've been both unfortunate and fortunate with pickup groups. I've had really bad ones (it's hard to beat Thunderhead Keep with 6 rangers, especially when your leader quits in the first 15 seconds of the mission) and I've had good ones. I'll say this though: I prefer playing with humans. It makes the game much more enjoyable for me.
Rieselle
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewick
I'll say this though: I prefer playing with humans. It makes the game much more enjoyable for me.
|
Mr. Dawg
maybe less focus on npc given missions and quests, and more on exploration would sort out the social limitations a bit. there's too much "anyone want to do quest x" and not enough "let's see what we can find". i dunno how that change could happen though, if it would be beneficial
DrSLUGFly
This is a great thread! Fully supported by both Grenth and me (I speak on his behalf... but if perchance you meet him best not mention my name, I beat him at poker last Saturday and he's pretty pissed at me).
I like the chat bubble idea, if it's what I think it is. When we chat we can see a speech bubble over our heads. I'd like to see this be bigger for people closer to you, sort of like audio distance.
one side of Ascalon to the other = "I like..."
Ascalon Xunlai to the bottom of the hill = "I like the chat bubble idea, if..."
a few meters apart = "I like...<-->...be bigger for people closer to you..."
it would make it feel more like chatting with your partner. I'd also like to see interactive emotes.
/hug
Dr Slugfly offers you a hug
/hugback
Mr. Dawg hugs Dr Slugfly
as well as /poke, /leapfrog, and other things... and perhaps some emotes that would be more useful in the feild as well.
I like the chat bubble idea, if it's what I think it is. When we chat we can see a speech bubble over our heads. I'd like to see this be bigger for people closer to you, sort of like audio distance.
one side of Ascalon to the other = "I like..."
Ascalon Xunlai to the bottom of the hill = "I like the chat bubble idea, if..."
a few meters apart = "I like...<-->...be bigger for people closer to you..."
it would make it feel more like chatting with your partner. I'd also like to see interactive emotes.
/hug
Dr Slugfly offers you a hug
/hugback
Mr. Dawg hugs Dr Slugfly
as well as /poke, /leapfrog, and other things... and perhaps some emotes that would be more useful in the feild as well.
Galatea
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Dawg
maybe less focus on npc given missions and quests, and more on exploration would sort out the social limitations a bit. there's too much "anyone want to do quest x" and not enough "let's see what we can find". i dunno how that change could happen though, if it would be beneficial
|
Perhaps, to introduce more exploring, place more Quest-Giving NPC's in explorable areas, or mini-towns where the NPCs have some story-telling to do (sort of like the mini-town of the Ascalon Settlement).
Something I kind of miss from other games is seeing other parties in explorable areas. It gets kind of lonely, being in large enemy-infested spaces by yourself. Even with your party members, it feels empty. It's strange when going solo, seeing many people run out of a zone, and then running after them to find nobody.
The downside of this is that it might produce too much lag - for everybody. However, having shared explorable areas definitely kept the social aspect of the game up. Example, in FFXI, while resting HP/MP in-between fights, I would quickly run over to another party and just sort of mingle, maybe /wave (or /panic -- I had a Taru, and no one could resist the /panic lol). Or (and please don't shoot me for mentioning this game, as I know it can be a touchy subject), I played the WoW final beta with my younger sister (I didn't like it enough to buy it and spend a monthly fee). Whenever I saw her fighting (not in a party, because I wanted her to gain as much xp as possible), I would randomly run over to her and /cheer her on.
I don't want to throw out what the game already has. I love having my personal fighting area most of the time. Everything loads quickly, I don't have to worry about some ass trying to go after the same kill as me, etc..
But maybe, they could introduce one or two explorable areas that allow a n amount of people in. And set districts, so once District 1 of 15 people is full, then District 2 would open, etc. Maybe these areas could have quest-giving NPC's in the explorable areas, with quests to be finished within the area .. kind of like Fissue of Woe. Maybe even, there could be a fee to enter these areas, or they could be accessed through one of the statues.
Mr. Dawg
Quote:
Perhaps, to introduce more exploring, place more Quest-Giving NPC's in explorable areas, or mini-towns where the NPCs have some story-telling to do (sort of like the mini-town of the Ascalon Settlement). |
multiple party fighting areas would be good and bad. good, as it would be more sociable, and helpful. but bad as it would be laggy, probably result in camping, and the party size may not be big enough for the possiblity of merged parties. districted fighting areas... nice idea..
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrSLUGFly
it would make it feel more like chatting with your partner. I'd also like to see interactive emotes.
/hug Dr Slugfly offers you a hug /hugback Mr. Dawg hugs Dr Slugfly as well as /poke, /leapfrog, and other things... and perhaps some emotes that would be more useful in the feild as well. |
Galatea
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Dawg
yeah, NPCs not in 'safe' areas would help. also, NPCs who don't necessarily give a quest, but give information which can follow, or just ignore. following it may lead to a great reward, but there's no mini-map arrow, you just gotta explore.
multiple party fighting areas would be good and bad. good, as it would be more sociable, and helpful. but bad as it would be laggy, probably result in camping, and the party size may not be big enough for the possiblity of merged parties. districted fighting areas... nice idea.. and emotes with sounds.... so when you say "/laugh" you can hear Mr. Dawg and Dr Slugfly laugh heartily. characters could have soundsets, chosen at creation, to add a little bit more.... character, to them |
I like the idea of sounds of /laughs on characters. Maybe also include a toggle for emote sounds, so people who continuously /laugh won't annoy other people.
burai
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inziladun
In Guild Wars, I havn't even seen a bunch of people sitting around talking.
|
"kill, kill, kill. Don't people ---- anymore?"
RTSFirebat
Quote:
Originally Posted by burai
I agree. I don't see why GW has to be fast-paced all the time. It's a virtual world, so why not have places (buildings you can enter would be nice) to sit and chat for a while. It may even promote some community spirit, which is sadly lacking with many GWers.
"kill, kill, kill. Don't people ---- anymore?" |
PC Zone Mag has resently given Guild Wars a 90+% rating. They said it could be the WoW killer we're been waiting for.
However they did motion that GW is far too much combat obsessed... which is why the addition of anything non-combat related we welcome in my eyes.
Rhunex
I've seen groups of people talking before...they were talking about getting everyone in the town to dance at the same time(will never happen unless you plant the people in a district) and then a guy came in and started telling them it was a dumb idea...and then some words were exhanged...a threat was said...and then it ended by the initial dancing group spamming the message "EVERYONE DANCE" like filling the miniscule chat screen with it would make everyone do it, and make the second guy go away from insulting them.
Overall, I got a few laughs out of it...and a fun dancing experience...while eating dinner. So it was all good for me...
I'm not so sure if buildings would be possible, the way GW is built and all, but it would be nice if people started chatting more often when they got to town instead of thinking "Need to see Mr./Mrs. XXXX for 500 XP, then go to XX for quest X, then need to go do quests ABC in map L"
I like algebra...deal with it :P
Overall, I got a few laughs out of it...and a fun dancing experience...while eating dinner. So it was all good for me...
I'm not so sure if buildings would be possible, the way GW is built and all, but it would be nice if people started chatting more often when they got to town instead of thinking "Need to see Mr./Mrs. XXXX for 500 XP, then go to XX for quest X, then need to go do quests ABC in map L"
I like algebra...deal with it :P
RTSFirebat
Building can be done... we can already walk up to them the doors... all they need to do is remove them doors and make the insides have stuff inside them.
Would be nice it we clicked on a chair inside and was able /sit down on it.
Would be nice it we clicked on a chair inside and was able /sit down on it.
Gortz
Yep 100% agree with original post
This is a mmorpg after all.
I go for days without speaking to anyone if at all.
The theme for the game is to rush through the RP side ascend and then think "oh ok what now" - all of this done by not even bothering to speak or make future contacts along the way.
And to tbh i think the game dictates this playstyle.
Also even when u pick up a grp - the team chat is non exsistant also, all direction is pinged on map or a big willy depending on ur maturity. So picking up other players doesnt solve this, as the guy states above there is no social places its just one big mad rush to ascend.
I read a review that described the game a bit too well " GW is a good game and the grahpics are outstanding but its a lonely game whislt its fun having your own personal world to play in, it lacks the X factor of human input (good and bad) when adventuring and clearly its misses the social side of other more established games."
Not an exact qoute but something similar.
One of the selling points is the instanced zones and no camping and so on.
But being quite brutal i miss it now.
To stop camping all u do is instance the scenario or quest, ie elite boss in tower or item quest is for cave or just put a portal for the place he is standing so soon as get to a distance to him, u zone in ur own instanced grassy plain with the boss.
My playing has got less and less at mo and last night i just couldnt face playing a whole night on a "single player Game" mmorpg and turned to DC for instant gratification of shooting people in the head. 100 times more talk in that even if is "ahh u killed me" "roger that" and so on.
My 2 cents
This is a mmorpg after all.
I go for days without speaking to anyone if at all.
The theme for the game is to rush through the RP side ascend and then think "oh ok what now" - all of this done by not even bothering to speak or make future contacts along the way.
And to tbh i think the game dictates this playstyle.
Also even when u pick up a grp - the team chat is non exsistant also, all direction is pinged on map or a big willy depending on ur maturity. So picking up other players doesnt solve this, as the guy states above there is no social places its just one big mad rush to ascend.
I read a review that described the game a bit too well " GW is a good game and the grahpics are outstanding but its a lonely game whislt its fun having your own personal world to play in, it lacks the X factor of human input (good and bad) when adventuring and clearly its misses the social side of other more established games."
Not an exact qoute but something similar.
One of the selling points is the instanced zones and no camping and so on.
But being quite brutal i miss it now.
To stop camping all u do is instance the scenario or quest, ie elite boss in tower or item quest is for cave or just put a portal for the place he is standing so soon as get to a distance to him, u zone in ur own instanced grassy plain with the boss.
My playing has got less and less at mo and last night i just couldnt face playing a whole night on a "single player Game" mmorpg and turned to DC for instant gratification of shooting people in the head. 100 times more talk in that even if is "ahh u killed me" "roger that" and so on.
My 2 cents
Mr. Dawg
Quote:
To stop camping all u do is instance the scenario or quest, ie elite boss in tower or item quest is for cave or just put a portal for the place he is standing so soon as get to a distance to him, u zone in ur own instanced grassy plain with the boss. |
goind inside buildings would be nice, ive spent all my time in GW outside, i miss doors
DrSLUGFly
on the topic of explorable areas/quests, I'd like to see a bunch of hidden quests... like for example a chap in yak's bend is talking about this magnificent jewel he had given his brother who went missing in Lornar's Pass, but it doesn't show up on your quest log. If you're paying attention and remember that he told you this (I know, this game already has a lot to follow) then when you're in Lornar's pass and smite the wee worms (he he) a jewel drops. If you remember then you can return to him and he'd be all like "holy bananas!! you found my jewel, here take this experience I've got lying around, and you can have my cell phone too" followed by "quest completed: you received 500 exp. and a cell phone"
EDIT:
And on buildings: I know this has been talked about, and I know it would be an endless amount of work given how many buildings there are, but perhaps they could start with the crucial ones, like in Lion's Arch or other big areas and just open a few at a time. I'd also like to climb ladders and perhaps have a limited cliff/tree climbing skill as well.
EDIT:
And on buildings: I know this has been talked about, and I know it would be an endless amount of work given how many buildings there are, but perhaps they could start with the crucial ones, like in Lion's Arch or other big areas and just open a few at a time. I'd also like to climb ladders and perhaps have a limited cliff/tree climbing skill as well.
Galatea
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gortz
I read a review that described the game a bit too well " GW is a good game and the grahpics are outstanding but its a lonely game whislt its fun having your own personal world to play in, it lacks the X factor of human input (good and bad) when adventuring and clearly its misses the social side of other more established games."
Not an exact qoute but something similar. One of the selling points is the instanced zones and no camping and so on. But being quite brutal i miss it now. |
But I miss the social aspects of other MMORPGS. Being able to witness, not only our party's moment of glory, but other parties rejoicing too over their success (then /cheer and /em throws confetti, to celebrate).
I'd really love to see buildings implemented in the game. Open-door buildings, so we could just walk in. Maybe include a bar-like building (but don't call it a bar, because of the kiddies lol), and instead of selling Dwarven Ale (and hopefully other refreshments) at a merchant, they can implement a bartender-like NPC to stand behind the counter, selling Dwarven Ale. To make it seem even more realistic, the NPC could cycle through a number of phrases every n amount of minutes in that speech-bubble, maybe talk about some of the GW Lore, maybe mutter things like, "That's exactly what Devona ordered.."
I'd like to see more minor quests too, that aren't about KILL KILL KILL, but maybe sidequests that reward gold, not experience (or a tiny amount of experience), and are for delivering things from NPC to NPC, or teaming up with a buddy to do something in town.
It's sad that the quests that do involve people don't really feel 'social'. Pre-seared Ascalon, for example, there is the Res Signet quest which tells you to team up with an ally. This usually results in "NEED SOMEONE TO DO RES SIG QUEST!" party up, walk out, leave party - done in 5 seconds, and no interaction between the two.
Galatea
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrSLUGFly
on the topic of explorable areas/quests, I'd like to see a bunch of hidden quests... like for example a chap in yak's bend is talking about this magnificent jewel he had given his brother who went missing in Lornar's Pass, but it doesn't show up on your quest log. If you're paying attention and remember that he told you this (I know, this game already has a lot to follow) then when you're in Lornar's pass and smite the wee worms (he he) a jewel drops. If you remember then you can return to him and he'd be all like "holy bananas!! you found my jewel, here take this experience I've got lying around, and you can have my cell phone too" followed by "quest completed: you received 500 exp. and a cell phone"
EDIT: And on buildings: I know this has been talked about, and I know it would be an endless amount of work given how many buildings there are, but perhaps they could start with the crucial ones, like in Lion's Arch or other big areas and just open a few at a time. I'd also like to climb ladders and perhaps have a limited cliff/tree climbing skill as well. |
lol - cell phone.
yeah, i like those side-quests that don't show up in quest logs. there's also the one in pre-seared ascalon where you have to gather the hogs, and the farmer rewards you with 25 gold. and gwen, giving her flowers, the cape, and the flute, and being rewarded with that useless tapestry shred lol.
i think the ladders & cliff climbing is pushing it a little bit lol, but who knows, maybe one day if the majority demands it. i do like the building suggestions though -- perhaps not ALL the buildings, but a few select buildings, and then maybe they could put some of the merchants/npcs inside the buildings. like in borlis pass, and the surrounding areas, i feel sorry for the npcs. they must be freezing, standing in the cold all day and all night!
DrSLUGFly
I've mentioned this before on other related threads, but I think that having "shared instances" would be fantastic. when you exit a portal you can choose by popup window (or by a default selection in options) for a "private instance" or a "shared instance"
if it's a private instance then it would be the same as it is now. If it's a shared instance, then you could have up to 4 parties enter it (from whatever portal) and either cooperate (24 people breaking through Lornar's Pass: Hell yeah!!! 32 taking out Galrath!!
-the party that hits a mob for the majority damage gets the assigned drops and the exp. The other party/parties get nothing.
-quests, as always, can be completed by whoever has the quest in their log
-missions not doable in this mode, only portal travel outside of missions
-given the amount of small maps comprising the massive world of Tyria, this would effectively offer like 100 (I never counted them) individual PvP battle terrains... of course there are mobs, but that's an added element of risk... excitement.
-If a party is wiped out 3 times within the same shared instance, they get resurrected on the other side of the instance that they entered and the party who holds the land is acclaimed via a (toggled) server-wide message: "DrSlugfly's team, the InternationalBellyFoots continues to hold Ascalon Foothills having fought off 7 attempts." (the team name would be the team-leaders guild name or just the team leader's name if no guild)
if it's a private instance then it would be the same as it is now. If it's a shared instance, then you could have up to 4 parties enter it (from whatever portal) and either cooperate (24 people breaking through Lornar's Pass: Hell yeah!!! 32 taking out Galrath!!
-the party that hits a mob for the majority damage gets the assigned drops and the exp. The other party/parties get nothing.
-quests, as always, can be completed by whoever has the quest in their log
-missions not doable in this mode, only portal travel outside of missions
-given the amount of small maps comprising the massive world of Tyria, this would effectively offer like 100 (I never counted them) individual PvP battle terrains... of course there are mobs, but that's an added element of risk... excitement.
-If a party is wiped out 3 times within the same shared instance, they get resurrected on the other side of the instance that they entered and the party who holds the land is acclaimed via a (toggled) server-wide message: "DrSlugfly's team, the InternationalBellyFoots continues to hold Ascalon Foothills having fought off 7 attempts." (the team name would be the team-leaders guild name or just the team leader's name if no guild)
Lewick
I'm not sure the multiple party aspect in fighting areas would work out well. Other games have this concept and it turns into a shouting match quite often. I never liked that portion of Everquest, for example. I really have no interest in having public areas be PvP ganking arenas either.
To put it bluntly, we need more chat rooms. Joinable chat rooms. Chat rooms that are game-wide, that allow players to join or unjoin. There should be a set of standard chat rooms that have discussions based on the chat room's title (General, Tyria Exploration, Rangers, Mesmers, Elementalists, Warriors, Monks, Necromancers, etc.) Possibly chat rooms for each of the specific areas (Ascalon, Kryta, Maguuma, Crystal Desert, Northern Shiverbacks, Southern Shiverbacks, Fire Islands.)
Simply beefing up the chat system in the game would help tremendously. It would allow people to intermingle even while they're in a mission, out exploring, etc.
To put it bluntly, we need more chat rooms. Joinable chat rooms. Chat rooms that are game-wide, that allow players to join or unjoin. There should be a set of standard chat rooms that have discussions based on the chat room's title (General, Tyria Exploration, Rangers, Mesmers, Elementalists, Warriors, Monks, Necromancers, etc.) Possibly chat rooms for each of the specific areas (Ascalon, Kryta, Maguuma, Crystal Desert, Northern Shiverbacks, Southern Shiverbacks, Fire Islands.)
Simply beefing up the chat system in the game would help tremendously. It would allow people to intermingle even while they're in a mission, out exploring, etc.