with how this game has been shaping up, the very limited grind should be overcome in masses soon where tons of people are walking around with the best weapons and armor, all the skills unlocked and what not. So now what? We're supposed to live happily ever after playing PvP all day? Not only do i think that this in itself will get worn out quite soon, the added factors once PvP tactics mature where every team is running some wierd combo like 5 monks and 3 mesmers in boring 20 minute snooze matches will multiply the rate of lost of interest.
I hate to say it because I was one of the biggest supporters of the whole "skill over grind" theme but im realizing that games like this needs to keep the carrot over player's heads with a more long lasting fullfiling, and ever evolving journey to reach it. Simply giving us that carrot will leave us little motivation to keep with the game.
I wont go into the whole "unlock the lvl 20" argument but something needs to be innovated soon to satisfy those who wont be happy with PvP alone and compensate for eternal grind other games have to keep people sucked in.
prolly unfair to start something like this without no propositions so here's my sorry attempt:
-add some kind of side element that doesnt have to be anywhere connected to the main flow of the game and is interesting in itself.
oStolen from FF but something like a minigame to play with other players where people can find/trade better game pieces to play it better. Allow it to be played with more than 2 players. Along with this something else needs to be done to spice up the towns from being boring portals where ppl are just standing around outside.
oThe lvl20 cap is quite efficient in limiting grind, no use completely killing it by giving away the best weapons via easily obtainable collectors. Leave some more holy grails out there to give ppl the motive to try and get those weapons.
oModify the PvP to keep it fun and fast paced. With all the talk of skill most of the gameplay boils down to point and click. So there's even a greater challenge than online fps games to keep people wanting more.
getting tired so ill stop for now, i hope i got my point across
a

). Only thing I can pinpoint is the rise in power of grief builds (the old stacking fertile season spam for example or ranger spirit spam as of now). I don't think that will be a problem, simply because it's boring as hell to play those builds as it is to fight them. Boring matches that take forever may be fun just for the sake of winning for a little while but that wears out very fast.