So, uh. (Elite Missions)

the difference is, if a small group wanted to get into UW/FoW and their region didn't have favor, they could conceivably win HoH and obtain access to UW/FoW...in Factions, a small group has little or no power over whether they have access to endgame content...they have to rely on others if they want access...

thus, numbers + grind > skill + small, close groups

the whole "you just don't wanna work for it" argument is crap...it's not that we don't want to work, it's that we were PROMISED that we would not have to grind in order to fully experience the game...

Let us say this again, its not how good you are, or how much you work, but how big your alliance is.

Actually, it's more about Europe and America having SO MANY players. 100000's of players levels up the playing, and you have more chance to have a HoH holder in your continent...

Yes but a good HoH team is 8 players, I could take and hold halls, not entirely likely but I could, with my small guild. 8 people vs 1000.

what i mean is, a group of 8 players with a hypothetical skill level of 100 is capable of hold HoH vs. 10000 players with skill levels of 50...thus, a small group can control their own destiny...

in Factions, the 8 person group has little or no chance because the big alliances have 10,000 less skilled players farming faction...thus numbers/grind > skill...

Turns out the alliance that holds the key towns can take ANYONE into the restricted areas of Cavalon or House Zu Heltzer to access the Elite missions they want. Just ask one of them to take you past the guard (it takes about 5 seconds) and you're free to play the Elite Mission for your side to your hearts content. The Alliances that have held House Zu Heltzer so far have been really cool about letting people in who simply ask.

I'm sure this will start some crazy thread about how everyone now has to bow down and kiss the feet of the holding Alliance to get into the Elite missions and how horrible that is....But in the grand scheme of things we all can get in basically any time we want, which is really what's important! I'll re-iterate I've run into very few guilds who are mean about not allowing in those who ask, kudos to the really cool Alliances so far who have made the Elite missions fun for everyone.

All hail the burgers (and onion rings).

I don't want to.

Errr... nice turnaround. ANet is actually the force responsible for the limited enjoyment of these small guilds.

I don't want to. I have no intention to build an virtual private life. I shouldn't have to. In Prophecies, I didn't have to.

Top marks for projecting your own personal hopes and desires on people you don't know the first thing about.

It should be the opposite of that. It's like medieval battles where commanders threw their soldiers at the opposing army with large numbers, hoping to overwhelm them rather than beat them using skill.

Elite Missions should not be restricted to those who can throw the most Faction around.

Read 2 posts up, it's not.

Yes, And that was the exact point of it, they wanted to get more people engaged in PvE. I think this is great, we could use more people doing PvE missions and quests. Maybe they will come out better farming concepts and such...

Modern English has lost the meaning of competition. There is plenty of reason to have the game on line and be competitive in PvE/P. They need not be competitive in the same way.

op·po·si·tion (plural op·po·si·tions) noun,
2. sports opponent: the person or team that you or another player or team have to play against. (PvP)

Opposition has always held this meaning to the original Latin language.

com·pe·ti·tion (plural com·pe·ti·tions) noun,
1. process of trying to beat others: the process of trying to win or do better than others

Competition has not always held this meaning. Com - petere means to walk together, and implies remaining distinct from one another. It is not being unified, but being companioned. I have used this example elsewhere - Legolas and Gimli are competitors, not opponents. They try to see which can out kill or out drink the other. The title system gives opportunity for competition.

PvP players are attracted tot he spirit of opposition and proving superiority over another, currently. They have no requirement or even opportunity to act ina chivalrouos manner. PvE players are playing competitively. They work with each other with the intent of trying to become better, with each other. They do not oppose fellow players.

If you consider this, you will see there is plenty of room for exploring mature competition, without demanding opposition to one another by region, team, or party. Nor do the results of competition need to be denigrating of fellow players or deny them the opportunity to play the game they paid for as their entertainment.

Fitz

And I would completely agree with such a thread.

Fitz

Do you have to just have them with you to pass through the gates, or do you actually have to have one of them go into the mission with you?

So in other words, yes, it sucks that only a certain group can access the mission on their own, but it looks like they can open the door for you and send you on your merry way.

It's probably going to end up being an inconvienience comparable to favor (for the big geographical areas, anyway). Yes, you can't jump in right away, but with a little patience and a few whispers, you'll get your shot. Or so it seems.

I made no comments about that at all...

But previously the only wat you could get in to HoH was through your "region" taking and keeping the HoH (PvP) play. It is possible now to earn faction and earn the right to the elite missions through PvE play... that I like.

If this continues to be the trend (holding alliances allow others in) then it will be fine. Many people here, including myself, feel that eventually, the holding alliance will see this as a money making opportunity, and start charging admission prices.

Honestly, I really don't care if my guild/alliance ever holds one of the key towns. I just want a way to play the missions. Have them charge me 5K in Faction (not money) to play them, and reward the alliances that do hold the key towns (rare skin perfect weapons maybe?), but don't lock out everyone who is NOT a member of a faction-farming UBER Alliance.

Do you bow down and worship members of the top PvP guilds when they show up in a city you are in?

So you like the elitism of PvP HoH controlling the fate of all others getting in to FoW/UW vs. the ability of a large PvE guild with little or no skill in PvP getting access to elite missions?

Wow.

Sorry I think it is balanced... large alliances now can overcome the "elite" few.

well, to be completely pedantic, you're *competing* for survival against the environment.

the problem is, of course, that that competition isn't particularly difficult, in practical terms. the crappy AI is an example of this. like most games, AI suffers, and the developers turn towards forcing the players against each other since they're not able to offer the players significant challenges in any other way.


eudas

This is balance? So you assume that everyone in the game is now either in a small PVP elite guild or in a super-alliance that has the full 1000 players? I think this "balance" ignores at least 50% of the gaming community.