Cool update but isn't balanced

FrogDevourer

FrogDevourer

on a GW break until C4

Join Date: Feb 2005

In your shadow

Servants of Fortuna

Although I like this update, it won't do much for me. As a casual player, I'm not an elite PvPer, and my guild is more about fun than winning long streaks of GvG. I can do an occasional Tomb or GvG, but not much more.

However what I like in GW is to play with a lot of varied builds, to change my profession, and my role in he group. For this, the update won't help me. It will be a hundred times faster to unlock what I need in PvE. Basically I'll use the faction reward only for a few components/superiors I still need, as those are randomly unlocked in PvE.

Personally I have no grudge against a system which is mostly aimed at top competitive players but I regret that skill faction price is so high. One of the coolest feature in this game is the variety of builds you can make. Having access to more skills ensures variety. So unlocking skills should be made *really* easier. This update doesn't help you unlock skills faster. Superiors and components are unlocked faster due the random PvE drops, but assuredly not skills.

It's a LOT faster to be powerleveled/rushed through missions & outposts. But even playing PvE normally, in less than 24h, you'll unlock all the skills you need in 2 professions, including elites, and you'll have spare points for experimental skills.

gabby2600

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by PieXags
Yeah I know. Just agitated is all. 5:15am now. Can't sleep.

And yeah, I'd call it balanced. PvE players who attend high-end PvP will have gone through just as many hours learning and preparing their PvE characters, except they'll actually be playing both portions of the game then. Not only half.

But...if you're still arguing that it's not skill, it's time played...well I fail to see how that has anything to do with this argument. The more skill you have, the faster you'll get faction points typically. And afterall, if you're that skilled, wouldn't you be able to do really good with the premade characters available to you...?

If winning PvP is THAT dependant on having all the skills and runes, then skill has absolutely nothing to do with PvP at all. You either have the skill set or you don't. If it's not all dependant on the skill set and some skill DOES matter, then why does unlocking all the skills so quickly matter?

From what I can tell, people don't want to work for things---they want it NOW. And some how, having everything really quickly will make it more skill-based...? Sorry, not if it's that dependant on having the skills in the first place.
Amen

I have had PvPer say skills and unlocks arn't important, then if thats they case why do the they need them all so fast. And I just have to go to the HoH and shout, 'LFG: I have no skills, runes or upgrades unlocked, but I'm a very skilled Gamer.' You would be laughed of the server.

Their is a contradiction here in what the PvPers say and what they want, and sadly it's pushing the game away from being skill based to beign unlock based.

PieXags

PieXags

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

The Infinite Representation Of Pie And Its Many Brilliances

I know what you mean Frog.

And I honestly think that's the main reason behind all the complaining.

People KNOW they don't need all the skills and what not to do good, they know they don't need that superior rune. But they want them all quickly anyways. Why? Because it's convinient. It's nice to be able to fiddle faddle around with your attributes and skill sets at will.

But the devs never said anything about being able to have all the skills and attributes right off the bat. No, they said you'd be able to compete using skill, not hours played.

And in this new system of PvP, it's your skill that unlocks things for you. So if your skill and strategy is good enough to unlock things, then the game's doing it's job IMO.

Ollj

Ollj

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

o m g.
All those stupid "its unballanced" whiners are so funny

tastegw

tastegw

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2005

SoCal

E/

all i know is, i love it.

rankor's forge has the elite skill preist, it has ever elite skill in the game for 3000 faction points each.

i was pvping last night for about 2 hours and got 600 points in tombs. this is alot better then farming fissure of woe just to get some exp to buy a sig of capture and then use that capture to go farm your elite. im sayin this cause fissure can get boring if you have done it many times as myself.

no pvp match is the same, so its allways fun. atleast to me.

im liking this system.

PieXags

PieXags

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

The Infinite Representation Of Pie And Its Many Brilliances

Now I'm not going to call them stupid or anything.

But simply by giving out examples here, and reading examples from others.

It's obvious that the math of "7-8 hours for one skill" and similar numbers are TERRIBLY flawed. As I said, no amount of the "math" you can do here will accurately give you the real numbers you'll receive. And I'd have to say that based on what I'm hearing from others...including some guild mates, yeah, nowhere near 7-8 hours for a skill. Most have said doing well in the tombs will get you a skill or two in two to three hours depending on your success.

Have to say it again.

Try it out, and then see what there is to complain about.

Schorny

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elythor
I wouldn't see this as an abuse/exploit. Since they are that good anyway, they deserve to have faction points to unlock stuff. Besides, the 2 week cool down rule means you can't just create guilds on the fly and benefit immediately from it.
I have no problem with other people gaining faction points en masse, but if the top guilds did this, the newer or lower guilds get bashed. How can a new guild stand against these top guys in a GvG?

One could also don't create a new guild but lose a few times, so the enemies are getting easier.

200 points for an easy win are better than 500 for a tough fight.

But I'm sure anet thought about that and there is a way they will counter this (if this is really going to happen, which I don't know, I just consider it a possibility).

I don't want to make this update bad: it is great. This point is the only thing I'm a bit worried about. But if the top guilds are just start to fight each other more and stronger it will be great (don't forget: some time we'll get a replay feature to see these fights )


The faction points are great. Of course we can discuss all night long about if one kill shall give 4 or 2 points and such stuff - but people: open your eyes: you wanted this, and here it is. Consider: You played PvP all the time and now you can do it still and get a reward for it. You won't unlock all skills with one HoH win or whatever you expect, but you just do all the stuff you did before and unlock runes and skills faster. Stop whining and think about it first. You get faction points for free, because you do what you have done all day long: PvP. So faction points are a gift to you, you don't need to do anything to get them.

Just tell me: how can this be bad.

Ashleigh McMahon

Ashleigh McMahon

Site Contributor

Join Date: Apr 2005

North East England

WoTU[Warlords of the Underworld]

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ellestar
Please join a guild and get more faction points per hour by playing GvG... I mean, come on, should i tell it to every whiner on these forums? IMHO it's obvious.
Infact I do have a guild.

Were just one of the unfortunate ones not yet to have a guild hall :P.

I'm not whining, i'm just letting my opinion loose.

Regards, Ashleigh.

spikydude

spikydude

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Ottawa, ON

The new rewards system is so you can get something for doing PvP. Anet gives you this option, you should be happy that it exists and try it out for a week or two before complaining about its flaws. Sheesh give them a break, they're trying to make you happy.

As far as unlocking regular skills are concerned, I think it's better if you do it through PvE. But as far as weapons upgrades and runes are concerned, I would use the new system to unlock them for my pvp characters.

Mormegil

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schorny
I have no problem with other people gaining faction points en masse, but if the top guilds did this, the newer or lower guilds get bashed. How can a new guild stand against these top guys in a GvG?
By playing effective builds, by doing some clever teamplay, by gaining skill and experience through several GvG to reduce the ability gap.

Oh, and btw...1000 faction points calculated in 7-8 hours? Are you guys nuts or what? I got 2500+ faction points in 2 hours last night, playing some casual GvG. If your Guild isn't even decent, Anet can't do nothing about it. If you don't even have the time to play together effectively, well, that happens (real life exists for everyone), no one will blame you, but please, stop whining like crybabies.

Weezer_Blue

Weezer_Blue

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Just a Box in a Cage

Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]

3000/40 = 75

75 conscecutive wins in the Tombs to get a single elite skill or superior rune.
On an average, each match in the tombs lasts around 10 minutes to 40 minutes (you know you've dealt with stand offs at burial mounds. Don't deny it). I'm pretty sure I could go to the underworld, get a skill point, buy a SoC, go up to granite citadel from Droknar's Forge (laughing at priest of balthazar on the way), go out into mineral springs, and capture Shield of Judgement, all within the time it would take to earn it through PvP... Tack on a 0 after the Faction rewards for each match, and it will be balanced, but still annoying, as we shouldn't have to earn anything at all.

Black Forsaken

Black Forsaken

Academy Page

Join Date: Jun 2005

SL

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Weezer_Blue
Need to recruit some people for our guild so we can get back to GvGing. Unfortunatly, our faction per win will probably be on the low end, since in our days of inactivity, it has declined very quickly.
LOL Joe maybe y'all shouldn't have booted me......Guardian has defected also... HAHA the evil plan is working all we need now is Darker...cept hes never on

I thought the officers of the DA were away playing Gunz at least thats what Joh told me

Mormegil

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Weezer_Blue
3000/40 = 75

75 conscecutive wins in the Tombs to get a single elite skill or superior rune.
On an average, each match in the tombs lasts around 10 minutes to 40 minutes (you know you've dealt with stand offs at burial mounds. Don't deny it). I'm pretty sure I could go to the underworld, get a skill point, buy a SoC, go up to granite citadel from Droknar's Forge (laughing at priest of balthazar on the way), go out into mineral springs, and capture Shield of Judgement, all within the time it would take to earn it through PvP... Tack on a 0 after the Faction rewards for each match, and it will be balanced, but still annoying, as we shouldn't have to earn anything at all.

Stop talking about Tombs. You could get 2000+ faction points with a decent Guild in 2-3 hours of GvG. Yesterday night we were just six and played with two henchies. Hilarious.

Anarkii

Anarkii

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

-None-

R/Me

yes, as someone pointed out...this will make GvG much more common than it is right now. They needed something to live upto the name "Guild Wars" and this update will do it.

We already have favor of the gods and sigils tied up with HoH..so factions with GvG balances that out.

I think this update is very balanced.

Weezer_Blue

Weezer_Blue

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Just a Box in a Cage

Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mormegil
Stop talking about Tombs. You could get 2000+ faction points with a decent Guild in 2-3 hours of GvG. Yesterday night we were just six and played with two henchies. Hilarious.
With the recent shittiness of Guild Wars, I can't seem to find a point where 8 players in my guild are on at the same time. Hell... I can't gather 4 so that with henchmen, we can atleast have a full team. As winning the Hall of Heroes is a lot harder than winning Guild vs Guild, then it's obviously not balanced much. Yes... I know the game's called "Guild Wars". But if it was really centered on "Guild Wars", then we wouldn't even have to unlock stuff...

Bu7ch

Bu7ch

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

Cincinnati

Governors of Destruction [GOD]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Weezer_Blue
With the recent shittiness of Guild Wars, I can't seem to find a point where 8 players in my guild are on at the same time. Hell... I can't gather 4 so that with henchmen, we can atleast have a full team. As winning the Hall of Heroes is a lot harder than winning Guild vs Guild, then it's obviously not balanced much. Yes... I know the game's called "Guild Wars". But if it was really centered on "Guild Wars", then we wouldn't even have to unlock stuff...
Remind us all why you still hang out here then? Honestly, I've never seen anyone bitch and moan about a game yet still post religiously on the forums for said game.

Schorny

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bu7ch
Remind us all why you still hang out here then? Honestly, I've never seen anyone bitch and moan about a game yet still post religiously on the forums for said game.
Some people play soccer, some play online games, some whine.

It is just a hobby. Something you do, when you are bored. Can't take such guys serious.

Snowman

Snowman

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Wales, UK

Devils Scorpions

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Weezer_Blue
With the recent shittiness of Guild Wars, I can't seem to find a point where 8 players in my guild are on at the same time. Hell... I can't gather 4 so that with henchmen, we can atleast have a full team. As winning the Hall of Heroes is a lot harder than winning Guild vs Guild, then it's obviously not balanced much. Yes... I know the game's called "Guild Wars". But if it was really centered on "Guild Wars", then we wouldn't even have to unlock stuff...
Is this "guild" yours?.. if so then you should give up leadership to someone who knows how to run a guild.

If you are part of this "guild".. then its a shitty guild and you should look for another one.

Your problem has nothing to do with the game mechanics but with your inability to be part of a guild that is decent enough to arrange guild battles.. or is decent enough to recruit more people.., in fact.. the chances are, if you are having difficulties with this, then you are probably just a n00b anyway. well, scrub the probably.. you must be! if you have never played a guild battle with all your members (and not henchmen)

So if your not playing guild battles.. why the hell do you care about unlocking PVP stuff?.. your obviously still learning.

The Snowman

Mormegil

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schorny
Some people play soccer, some play online games, some whine.

It is just a hobby. Something you do, when you are bored. Can't take such guys serious.
Come on. How can you take Be Dac, StandardAI (an ex-botter who was even banned by Arenanet) and Weezer_Blue seriously?

It is a hobby, of course. They're in an undercover guild tagged IHL.

I
Hate
Life.

Moskel

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

San Antonio, TX

Xen of Onslaught [XoO] - www.xoohq.com

W/E

I played for just around an hour last night and have over 1000 faction. We do a lot of GvG and rather than agonizing for 2 hours trying to setup the perfect team we just let our members build a character they play well and we go in and work as a team.

Sure we might not win every match but we do pretty well and playing a close match and losing is a lot more fun than sitting in the guild hall debating what the 2nd ranger on the team is going to take for their 8th skill to create the best combo with the 5th skill on the 1st warrior.

On the time it takes you can't compare time spent to get a skill while levelling up a character, you have to consider time spent after you are L20 and out of skill points in PvE. Sure you can earn 20k XP in 1-2 hours in FoW or UW if you have a group that completes the quests without dying (just like in 1-2 hours of GvG or HoH you can get 1000 faction with a group that wins).

Skills are one thing though, the weapon upgrades/runes are the key thing, how long in PvE do you think you could play before you find a +30 fortitude hilt for an axe, sword, hammer, and staff? I have over 500 hours and I don't have one for any (my highest is +27 for a staff). My hours include TONS of early Flesh Golem farming too where it would drop probably 3-5 purple/gold a run and maybe another 3-5 blues. I've also identified probably 50, maybe 100 gold armors and I still have a significant number of Superior Runes left to unlock, now I can play for a fixed amount of time and guarentee I won't unlock Superier Wilderness Survival for the 11th time.

Acan Vishnu

Acan Vishnu

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Mo/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Weezer_Blue
3000/40 = 75

75 conscecutive wins in the Tombs to get a single elite skill or superior rune.
So... What? Your not planning on killing anyone while your there?

Pitdragon

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

What I think a lot of you "lol u dum pvpers waant everyting on a sliver plater!" people don't get is that GW was advertised as the casual gamers mmorpg. If you read the FAQ on the official website, it says that you don't need to play through hours of boring stuff to get to the good stuff.

Would someone like to explain to me how this patch has made it so we don't? Sure, the PvP rewards are great, if you can spend a ton of time getting a decent guild and playing PvP. However, many people either can't or don't want to spend hours upon hours playing, and I'd guess that many people got this game because they saw it as a CASUAL GAME, not a grind-fest like every other mmorpg on the market.

This system is definately a good first step, but leaving in it's current state will do nothing to alleviate the grind that is frustrating players and causing them to leave. Many people don't want to spend an hour earning 1 or 2 new skills, considering that they have to unlock hundreds in order to experience everything the game has to offer. Sure, they have the option of playing premade characters, but a lot of people like playing this game because they can create their own builds and play with them, not simply because they can kill the other players. Why should it be that only the people who spend their days grinding away will be able to experience all that GW has to offer in any reasonable amount of time?

Ellestar

Ellestar

Munchking

Join Date: Mar 2005

Russian Federation, Moscow

Ladder to Hell (ATM playing with Rus Corp)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowman
Is this "guild" yours?.. if so then you should give up leadership to someone who knows how to run a guild.

If you are part of this "guild".. then its a shitty guild and you should look for another one.

Your problem has nothing to do with the game mechanics but with your inability to be part of a guild that is decent enough to arrange guild battles.. or is decent enough to recruit more people.., in fact.. the chances are, if you are having difficulties with this, then you are probably just a n00b anyway. well, scrub the probably.. you must be! if you have never played a guild battle with all your members (and not henchmen)

So if your not playing guild battles.. why the hell do you care about unlocking PVP stuff?.. your obviously still learning.

The Snowman
Haha nice
Weezer_Blue was OWNED on forums
He whined some more in another threads after this post, but it seems that he have nothing to respond to that so he didn't said anything here

Talesin Darkbriar

Talesin Darkbriar

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

California - irrigated desert...

The Myrmidon

E/N

Well, as the self proclaimed authority on everything, (just ask me) I state,
"The patch is a step in the right direction."

True, they did not implement mandatory worhip of my person - yet.
True, I have to grind out 100,000,000 PvP missions in order to make the same points I can make by simply "zoning" in PvE. (Thank gawd I play PvE)
and true, this is a completely unbalanced, unfair, and impossibly screwy patch because I am still only the "diet coke" of Uberleetness:

Just 1 calorie - not uberleet enough.

I'll be back shortly - I have to go pitch a hissy fit, and then eat some cheetos.


Talesin

PieXags

PieXags

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

The Infinite Representation Of Pie And Its Many Brilliances

Well based on what I've read, the patch is in no way inbalanced, and it doesn't take nearly as long as you people and your numbers seemed to think. Looks like on average an hour and a half will get you a skill. Maybe two.

So now that we've tried it out, and see that it works just fine...there's not a problem.

And for those of you who still say it'll take forever, and that it's unbalanced, kinda like Weezer.

Well, you guys DID say you wanted this game to be more about skill than hours played right? Obivously you peoples don't have the skill it takes to get the proper amount of faction points.

Wiredzero

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

Overland Park, Kansas

The Black Chamber [BC]

N/E

(Impersonation of average PvP player) "Oh bew hew, they didn't add an unlock everything button yet...I guess I'll have to go publicly cry some more."

Give it a rest already.

Seriously people. If you think about it, it's not unbalanced at all. PvP is about skill, use of skills available, proper timing and application of those skills. For the dedicated PvP player, you're still gaining something by doing it...knowledge on how to play your character.

Example: Let's say you lose in a battle...instead of whining about what skills you DON'T have, why not try to figure out how to use the ones you DO? There's a perfectly good listing of skills here on this very site. Go. Read. Formulate a build, and refine as you win and can unlock a skill.

Why have they put the priests in PvE? Simple. For all the work they've done in the game...why shouldn't they encourage someone to play it through at least once? Who knows...maybe in the process, you'll get a wild idea for a build that might be USEFUL. Either way, they've given you a nice oppourtunity. To get something out of doing something extra while you're doing a thing you want to do.

Here's an idea: Maybe...JUST MAYBE...the UAS would be a bad thing. Why? Because if you had everything unlocked, what would you work for? A better build than the next guy? That'd get old kinda fast, and you'd eventually get burned out on it rather quickly. But...with the system in place 'as is'...when you unlock something...it's because you EARNED it. (just like everyone else has to.) Which will deliver the gratification of a job well done, possibly a better refinement of your build, and spur you on to getting your next unlockable.

Either way. PvPers really need to quit crying about the UAS...it's getting old.

Divinitys Creature

Divinitys Creature

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

Somewhere between the Real World and Tyria ;P

The Gothic Embrace [Goth]

PieXags

Half the thread is just you, pretty much repeating yourself with slight variation.

Let me refute your problems with the math. You were using your personal experience, and others also have stated their personal GvG experience, etc.

The math is based around a comparison between PvE skill point grinding and grinding faction in Tombs, arena and GvG. The math takes in to account that average players playing other average players will only win 50% of the time. From a great deal of experience in Tombs for example, I know the avaerage pug will not get past 3 victories. Actully I know that most of them don't even get past 1 and many don't even do that. Arenas are probably easier than tombs since you don't have to spend ages partying up with people. Since all of my guild has moved to BF2 I have been playing with random pugs to test how well they do and I see that I am on the ball. I have so far been accumulating faction at a rate of 0.8 per minute or 48 per hour, so 20 hours for a skill point, including partying and losses. The 7-8 hour calculation was optimistic and depended a fair amount of winning streaks - just to show faction grinding in a good light so the comparison couldn't be blames for unfairness.

A lot more testing needs to be done. Personally I don't even feel like playing anymore until they fix the numbers, I only played for testing my calculations. The pugs I played with were not bad at all, one had vent and made very good use of it.

Acan Vishnu

Acan Vishnu

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Mo/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Divinitys Creature
Let me refute your problems with the math. You were using your personal experience, and others also have stated their personal GvG experience, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Divinitys Creature
I have so far been accumulating faction at a rate of 0.8 per minute or 48 per hour, so 20 hours for a skill point, including partying and losses.
Your not using math to refute his or anyone elses experience, your using your own experiences, extrapolated out to a certain point. Everyone's experience will vary depending on skill and luck.

You can't put together a mathamatical formula that will show an average time to get X faction points, not without having many, many people inputting their findings. One person's findings will by no means give definitive results.

JasonJLore

Core Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

I'm just wondering where all these "mathematical" formulas are coming from. I jumped on for 2 hours last night - 2 hours. I played in the 4x4 RANDOM arenas, winning about 50% of the time. Along with my kill ratio I ended the evening with over 250 faction. I didnt even win half the time, I was just playing around having fun. I'd suggest that the whiners don't play so I can continue to fuss around and gain my faction - easily.

Forscience

Forscience

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

Supreme Beings of Leisure

W/Mo

Guild Wars is fun. Other Games are not fun. Play Guild Wars!

Learn to play well or learn to play minesweeper. If you are going to cry when A-Net bends over backwards to add amazing content every week then I wouldent miss you when renew your WoW subscription.

This patch wasnt about giving you an easy way to obtain skills (A-net allready did that it is called PvE). It was about providing an alternative to people who want to get runes but didnt want to farm. Mission Accomplished! Excellent work A-Net!

Divinitys Creature

Divinitys Creature

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

Somewhere between the Real World and Tyria ;P

The Gothic Embrace [Goth]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Acan Vishnu
Your not using math to refute his or anyone elses experience, your using your own experiences, extrapolated out to a certain point. Everyone's experience will vary depending on skill and luck.

You can't put together a mathamatical formula that will show an average time to get X faction points, not without having many, many people inputting their findings. One person's findings will by no means give definitive results.
Precisely, we can only do an order of magnitude calculation which is all I was doing. Since you request I could factor in the kills and then I could also factor in the my guildies make 3 skill points an hour in fissure, before they left. I could also factor in that people will not win 25 victories in a row. In tombs they will really only get to a max of 3 victories for most people most of the time. I won't do this tonight because I have been into this enough for today. When I do it will go into my main post I linked at first, I'll re-link it.

I really don't want to play much the way things are, but I feel a need to test faction rewards more rigorously. I will probably only do this casually but I will post my findings. Others may have more time for testing.

The whole point is that "the math" was intended only to be rigorous enough to show the big picture that we are somewhere over 10x wrong on the numbers, an order of magnitude. Probably closer to 10 than a hundred (two orders of magnitude). Thats how orders of magnitude calculations go, I should have labelled it explicitly as such. I would have reserved more accurate calculations and organised testing after Gaile comes and says something like "OK we realise the points are a factor of 10 or thereabouts wrong so help us work out how much the actual number is".

Oh and where you quoted me, "refute problems with the math" meant refuting PieXag's problems of where the 7-8 hour figure was coming from, not refute his problems by using more math.