Droknar rushers in early arenas

Seriously, it pisses me off and takes the whole fun in being a low level in pvp.
Doesn't matter how good you and your team are, it's pretty impossible to get a victory against a team with a rusher.
And don't come talking that you've finished the game 400 times and etc, why not playing fair and square? ANet should implement a way to avoid these people to go into the earlier arenas.
And by early arenas I mean Yak's Bend and Ascalon arenas.

*Flame shield on* What are your thoughts about it?

I was under the impression that they had fixed this problem. If not, I really believe they should. Anyone have a definitive answer on it?

I don't think it's fixed, I was in the Grotto and saw a level 1 Warrior wearing 15k gladiator's just a few days ago...

A.Net made the way down there a lot harder... but that doesn't apply for runners. People who dodge one Frost Wurm, are able to dodge two of them... so what? Doesn't work at all.
And yes it is really annoying back in those arenas as those people with Droknar Armor are getting more common with each day of nothing fixed about this (if it is broken, no one knows what arena.net wants... they just ain't telling us...). It became an epidemic problem.

Warrior A got seriously owned by Shield of Judgement and Balthazars Aura. He was dead before he knew what happened. So what does Warrior A do?

10 % Chance: Live up to it and endure the mockery following it (ahahaha noobs0r, me ownzorized u)
90 % Chance: Screw it *Switch to Trade Channel* Looking for Droknar Runner

In fact, i can't blame anyone for getting Droknar Armor for those Arenas. It is not unfair... not anymore. It's just evening the grounds.

I don't know that this has been fixed or not. I have heard from some that you can't go into the low level arenas with that armor, but others say that this is till going on. However, outside of the PVP arenas, you can still wear the Draknor armor.

I agree

Its nothing more than an Exploit to be run to Drokners so they can then earn good faction in the low level arenas. Where they can now also level up at the same time. If it was a PVE bot exploit they would have put out a quick fix update to kill it off.

Simple solution is to make the armours level specific. Drokners armour should be lvl 15+. Or level it by price. If the games played properly a lvl1 shouldnt have the money to pay for it or pay a runner to get them there.

It is still going on.

I posted about it last week.

The more serious problem is people brining elite skills down when they are sub-10. I faced poison arrow in the Ascalon Arena... there are not enough ways to deal with getting rid of that before a whole team is dead.

Amazing isn't it?
WEEKS ago I was posting about how this was an exploit and destroying game balance. Of course the there was outrage - by both the rushers and there hero for hire runners.
You have no one to blame but yourselves.
Oh, and I told you so...enjoy it.

Jeez...

Tal

Don't make it level specific... just strip them of elite skills and armors gotten past Lions Arch. I actually got a level 8 to Lion's Arch so it is not impossible, but there is no way a person would get a level 8 to Droknar without a runner... and those people with teenage guilds of uber l33t d00ds would ofcourse run him through some captures too.

I remember your post... I thought I posted support for it.

well I can understand how pwning people in ascalon arena is SOOOOO gamebreaking... but I don't think they'll be cutting off the run...

the only reason I am in favor of letting runners stay:

Have you been through the game 4 times? is it tedious as heck by the second, by the 4th is just plain annoying... being primarily pvp I just want to unlock everything without ages of grinding... the beacons to draks run made my monk powerful enough to complete the game in about 20 hours, and that I greatly enjoyed.

by the time you get to real levle 20 vs 20 combat who got run to draks is meaningless, it really only affects Ascalon and Yak's Arenas... actually first time players run to draks , actually makes them worse at pvp since they had everything handed to them with no effort.

If its such a drain on the existance of everyone, simple solution, you get an error message pop up that says you can't enter those arenas with your currently equipped armor, or you cannot enter the mission with an elite spell equiped.

though I don't know how hard that will be to code....

seriously people who get elites and draks armor just to own in ascalon arenas just need to re-evaulate why they are wasting their time, perhaps its a problem with selfesteem or inadequecy (forgive my spelling please =P )

Having to face elite skills and high-level armor in the lower level arenas undermines the game. It will eventually chase off newbies, which will eventually kill the game. If A-Net doesn't address this problem, don't expect GW to have a long life.

Quoting kalaris,

"Have you been through the game 4 times? is it tedious as heck by the second, by the 4th is just plain annoying... being primarily pvp I just want to unlock everything without ages of grinding... "

I don't mind the RUSHING, just don't bring the damned Elite skills and Armors to the arena.

Actually, I agree. Running is totally fine if you don't want to go through the grind, again.

Just ban elite skills and armor from the lower arenas. Even more extreme, you shouldn't have anything in a low level arena you couldn't have gotten through normal game progression.

Man. Rarely have I seen a post so full of itself. ;-)

Seriously, it's not like you were the lone voice against the world. Weeks ago is nice, but not exciting. Rushing has been happening since May.

Anyway, I'd like to see something done, even if it's just that armor is treated as if it's the level that's sold at that Arena -- so Ascalon is capped at 30 for most classes, but higher at Yak's, etc.

Of course, this is a movement in the direction of UAS... ;-)

(OK, I'm being a firestarter

I just had a level 8 try to join my Snakes Dance skill cap group so she could "own in ascalon arena." It's the first time I've ever told another player in any online game to go **** themself.

That's ANets fault. They took one account and made everything cross characters, like unlocking of skills/upgrade (for obvious reasons) and being in a Guild (I hate that my Ranger's guild cross's to my other characters, my two characters are completely different people) and the money available in your storage box.

I usually work my character pre til 5th-8th depending on the charr hunting I am able to do and then post. Once post I can't stand having to go through the crap missions and actually have a chance to die, so I run as far as I can by myself (actually ran my 8th warrior with henchies to beacon's) and then pay for the rest of the trip to Droknars. I am guilty of going into PVP in Ascalon a few times, and I will tell you with a crappy team I die quite frequently, but it is definitely an uneven fight, with all 4 characters focusing on me. I have never brought an elite skill into the arena, but thats' not for lack of trying. I don't do PVP much though, just sometimes to get away from the droll stuff.

Just mine thoughts (don't have many so have to write them down as they come)

Lae

Droknars should just be restricted to ascended players only and armor level restrictions put on Ascalon and Yaks Bend Arena's. 55 armor or less for Ascalon and 65 armor or less for Yaks Bend. The rest you can wear anywhere you want, I don't have a problem with what they do in the PVE battle portion of the game, but, the arena battles are really unfair, unequal and unbalanced by allowing low levels easy runs to High level Armor and Skills areas. Restrict them and that will take care of that.

I've been saying this is an exploit for ages, atleast the getting zoned through part.... yet sadly I see (from todays post) it still goes on. Yea I think it's quite ironic about what the previous posted said- if it were bots, everyone would be up in arms.

A few days ago I was getting a warrior rushed to Droknars and while we were laying around dead someone in our group said something like: "i cant wait to get my droknar armor to pwn those noobs in ascalon".

That's just sad...

You should've offered the runner extra cash to go back and kick him.

There are six classes.

You take 2 of them each time.

There is no reason to go through the PvE 4 times unless you want to. Once you have 3 PvE characters you are entirely capable of unlocking every skill and leaving the 4th slot open for a PvP character.

And yes, I'm on my 3rd time through. You know what i hate most about going through the game a third time? The fact that I can't PvP with this character until I've finished the PvE.

Well even with 4 chars i still am missing two classes lol... because i dont play them as much and havent really put them in. Its more fun for the other ones i would get them to unlock the elite skillls but then i would have no pvp char which is what i like to do ;-(

I think that's the best solution..

Regarding the skills though.. I'd say putting 2 'special' NPC's at the entrance of Icedome and Ice Caves of Sorrow that say something along the lines of "We have orders to not let anyone but the Chosen pass." or something similar that means: Go get ascended.

That would then weed out quite a few elites and the skills from Marhan's and Copperhammer, and the completely clueless people in those later missions.

Or how about make it so that having the "true sight" means something. If you're unascended, then you can't see or even target any mursaat bad guys but they can attack you.

Now that'd be something. Why the hell are they "Unseen Gods" if anyone and their grandmothers can see them plain as day?

Making armor level-dependant is the best thing, since every class has different armor. Making the breakpoint 55AL for ascalon means that any caster from presearing to denravi can get in, though warriors and rangers may be at a disadvantage. Then again, who takes much stock in "pwning" in the Ascalon and Yak's arenas? It's just practice for the real thing anyways.

i think all of you who waste your time in <10 ascalon arena deserve to be beat by these uber leet noobs
let's start levelling and playing big boy pvp ok?

For hell's sake, what's the problem with Ascalon Arena? People who are just starting want to get a taste of PvP, and I don't think that having an unfair fight actually encourages them to keep playing.

EDIT: Besides, I think your "big boy pvp" is more annoying than Ascalon and Yak's Bend arenas. I don't remember bein' called a "noob" when I was in the early arenas.

EDIT2: And FFS, I just saw a mesmer with Panic in Ascalon. -.-

After just reading this thread I decided to go to the Ascolon Arena with my level 6 straight outta pre-searing E/Mo. Lone behold, I see a level 10 R/Mo with Posion Arrow and 15k Druids all dyed black (-.-)

Personally I believe that doing the Lornar's run, defeats the entire aspect of the game. I mean why buy the game if you are going to skip half of it?

*Readys anti flame sheild*

sure, beats the hell out of my idea.

I would think part of the reason for having lower level arenas is to learn the PvP aspect of the game, gradually. Done right, by the time noobs hit the level 20 arenas they would have learned a lot and become pretty proficient at PvP combat.

Unfortunately, getting pwned by characters who have max armor and elite skills isn't going to teach you much... Except maybe that PvP is no fun. If players lose interest in PvP, they'll miss a crucial part of the game and maybe quit after they do the PvE. That's bad for the game, because those players who do only PvE are likely to lose interest in the game, which is bad for all of us who enjoy the game.

It may be one of the reasons I was turned off PVP play. I remember my first times in the Arenas being owned totally.

Trying to finish off and Warrior who stood there a took all I gave then Finished me off in a few hits. I thought jeeeze im crap at this part of the game and never really tried again. How many others have been affected this way.

Amen I agree 100%, just close off Lornar's to lower levels 15 and below, that'll fix it. But, high level skills have to be nerfed as well and given level requirements. Cause then people can still get runs to high level skill areas, so NO ELITES allowed in Ascalon/Yaks either. And what else, No skills past Yaks bend allowed in Ascalon or Yaks Bend Arenas Yes yes these are great ideas. Hurry up A-Net/Devs do your stuff

It should be noted that the Droknar runners ruin PvE gameplay too. It's increasingly harder to get a team together in town to run quests. In Shiverpeak it darn near impossible. All you hear are runners and runnees calling out to each other. And playing with people with unbalancing equirpment is hardly any fun.

Personally, I would like to see Anet fix the fundamental imbalance with armors. Right now, there is no trade-off with better armors. A 60 armor is better than a 30 armor, period. In my opinion, there should be some kind of penalty with wearing good armors, much like the use of runes. If you want better protection, than you have to give up health, energy regen, or attack speed. And the same should be true of elite skills--the recharge time should be longer. The idea here is that elite equirpment/skills while making you more powerful, yet at the same time makes mistakes more costly. People who know what they're doing would still benefit from having them. Those who do not would find them more a liability.

Basically from the posts/threads I am reading the whole game is turning into CHAOS from the PVE game to the PVP game. There is much that is unbalanced, unfair, unequal on a per level scale throughout the whole game now.

The game world has turned into a "rush & runners" PVE game and the PVP game has turned into Poison & Smite & Spirits and Spike. lol

The variety is getting thinner and thinner for strategy and tactics all the way around.

Armor definetly needs a restriction just like weapons to help curb the one sidedness of lower level arenas. And too high level skills would need to be curbed as well, imagine a lowbie with "shield of judgement" in a newbie arena. Some skills just shouldn't be allowed at certain stages of the game.

The game needs checks and balances from point A to point Z, to actually keep people playing together in groups of like kind, instead of some overpowered player who has been run to every major spot in the game to become some elite super powered level 10. lol

In beta the armor did have level requirements for a short time.

I didnt mind it at all , most online games of this type use it for balance reasons. Other games use a system where armor and items (GW has this for items now) gets a nerf until you meet the requirements.
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THE FIX

Which is the best way...I can go buy my Droknars Knights Armor and use it but until I reach level 20 it only has [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] point is it looks great and is usable but does not give me an advantage, in fact the armor at vendors of my level is better for my level and offers better protection.
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This is the best way to handle the armor problem.

Elites is a whole different topic I think, but is somewhat handled in the same way to a lesser degree (I dont have 14-16 points in a skill at level 10).

Lol with armor restrictions it will help start another business... POWER LEVELING and you know what you guys are gonna complain about it too. so how bout we leave it as it is and as for the person says the first time in the arean and he got owned well it was a war... againt a caster well boo hoo god pick yourself up and try again if it was your first time of course your not gonna be that good. Even if he had droks armor and other things. Was it even droks? God.. There is nothing wrong with going to droknars from beacons if u want my reasons go back to my posts. i think i posted them in this thread. my last thing is jsut that you people complain way to much over such a small thing and YES it is SMALL! And so what a superpowered a Elite lvl 10 might help you beat the mission and i know that most people would rather beat a mission with an "unfair" char than fail it with others.

Yea it takes 2 days (if I go quickly) for me to level any class I want without any help to 20.

People used to take low players into fissure /uw to rush them to 20 in about an hour, guess what it got fixed. I hope they fix the armor too and bring back requirements.

The problem here isn't the armour and elites, the problem is the arena. Take away the armour and elite skills and the low level arenas are still going to be completely unbalanced. First problem is that warriors and to some extent rangers have a huge advantage in the early game because they are far less reliant on skills to do damage. An elementalist actually has the highest damage output but getting human players to stay in an AoE even at low levels can be quite difficult, leaving only warriors and marksmanship rangers with decent damage output.

The second problem is that even if you ignore armour, people who have played the game through are going to have better weapons and items than a person just starting out. A crimson carapace shield from the collector outside camp Rankor gives damage reduction of 2 and 45 health in a stance. A big hurdle when you're up against a level 15 warrior in LA armour.

Third problem is that as long as such a massive difference in level is acceptable theres no way the arenas can be considered fair. If you're in a team of level 10-12s in the Shiverpeaks and come up against a team of level 15 warriors you're dead even if you have Droknars armour and elites.

Last problem I have is that having actually tried the Shiverpeaks arena with my monk I had rushed (in order to get a low-life monk build to solo UW and farm) both with and without Droknar armour I can honestly say (as far as monks are concerned anyway) that Droknar armour and skills (Didn't have any elites though) make absolutely no difference. Both with and without armour the one most reliable indicator of win or lose was the relative levels of the teams. Sure with the armour I had one run of 70 consecutive wins* but being that I was the only one rushed in that group and given that we were often up against teams where 2 or even 3 of the players were in if not Droknars armour then at least the oasis armour it came down to skill and coordination on the part of my team not who had the "uber-1337 1t3mz". I also saw a few elites and late game skills in there as well. So complain all you like about the evil Droknar rushers but whether or not A.net closes this loophole the <20 level arenas are going to be unfair.

*I'm sure you'll be happy to know that even with Droknar armour apart from that one long winning streak the teams I were in got annihilated usually by level 15 W/Mos and quite often I was the highest level in my team at level 13. Even with Droknars armour a lone monk can't survive a few warriors and whatever else attacking at the same time.

Some Minor thoughts...

1. Playing in <10 arena with 15k Armor and Elite Skills
I've done that too, just to see what happened. And guess what? First match was Flawless (of course) but second match I had to fight a Wa/Mo and a Ra/Me that also had the 15karmor and Elite Skills. It all evens out, you can't rely on your leet armor and skills to win in that arena. Armor Restrictions will not change much.

2. Running in General
I have made multiple characters: from a lvl 20 E/Me (main) with 650k exp to a lvl 9 Ne/Mo that still kills charrs in PreSear (I know, I'm a freak). I like doing the missions, trying to complete all the bonus-missions too and even do mission over and over because I like the cutscenes (Rurik getting killed is so nice ). But when my guild asks me to play GvG with a certain build that requires a certain spell, I WILL LET SOMEONE RUN ME TO GET THAT SPELL!

Running isn't always bad, just accept that some people don't play this game like you would like them to. That also goes for 15karmor/Elites-users in lowlvl arenas: if they win and shout: PWN!, just laugh at them or say: "omg, haxx0rz! I'm mailing Anet!"