399 replies to this topic

[Shayne Hawke]

A new blog post from Linsey Murdock describes some of the new "Ascended" gear coming to Guild Wars 2 in the upcoming November update and why it's being introduced. This has become an incredibly hot topic the moment it came out of the oven. Players have stated concerns about future gear progression as well as the role the new infusion slots will have in the game.

You can read this blog post on the Guild Wars 2 official website here, but here's a quick summary for those looking for some answers.

• There will be a new monster condition called "Agony", which is where the new infusion slots come into play.
  
• Players must "infuse" to protect against this deadly new ailment.
  
• Infusion slots come in Offensive, Defensive, and Omni protective varieties.
  
• In terms of rarity, Ascended items fall between Exotic and Legendary.
  
• Currently, Ascended items only come in the form of rings and back slots, but there's room to expand in the future.

Quote

As we watch Guild Wars 2 mature in its Live environment, we have found that our most dedicated players were achieving their set of Exotic gear and hitting “the Legendary wall.” We designed the process of getting Legendary gear to be a long term goal, but players were ready to start on that path much sooner than we expected and were becoming frustrated with a lack of personal progression. Our desire is to create a game that is more inclusive for hardcore and casual players alike, but we don’t want to overlook the basic need for players to feel like they are progressing and growing even after hitting max level. Adding item progression is a delicate process normally undertaken in an expansion, but we feel it’s important to strive to satisfy the basic needs of our players sooner rather than later.

How do you feel about the introduction of a new tier of gear to the game?  What about the new Fractal dungeons or Agony?  Tell us what you think below!

[Zedabi]

Can't say I'm not a little disappointed. I won't quit because of it though. It won't stop me enjoying the game.

[Var]

Can I convert the equivalent dungeon gear back into tokens now, please? Because the gear that was supposed to be the best around... suddenly isn't.

[NuclearDonut]

Var, on 13 November 2012 - 04:34 AM, said:

Can I convert the equivalent dungeon gear back into tokens now, please? Because the gear that was supposed to be the best around... suddenly isn't.

Your dungeon sets are still the best around. Ascended items are only backslot items and accessories. Actual armor won't be implemented for a long time, so start preparing for those.

[Arewn]

So from my understanding, they're adding one more step before legendary so that the jump isn't so big, this final step of gear can also be 'infused'. This new step will only be for a few gear slots, filling more slots with future patches/content.

And the infusion itself is a dungeon specific gear tier that allows you to progress deeper into that dungeon through a stat only needed in that dungeon.


Assuming my interpretation is right, I like it. There's very little power creep since it's only one or two item slots that are getting better, and the main upgrade for those slots is a dungeon specific stat that doesn't make you over all more powerful.

Edited by Arewn, 13 November 2012 - 04:44 AM.

[Azure Skye]

Var, on 13 November 2012 - 04:34 AM, said:

Can I convert the equivalent dungeon gear back into tokens now, please? Because the gear that was supposed to be the best around... suddenly isn't.

Did you have fun getting them? Isn't Agnoy like Spectral Agony in GW1?

[dtRush]

Var, on 13 November 2012 - 04:34 AM, said:

Can I convert the equivalent dungeon gear back into tokens now, please? Because the gear that was supposed to be the best around... suddenly isn't.

lol, only took 2 responses before this. How are you seriously going to complain about a ton of new free content? Because you might have to upgrade a few pieces of gear to fully complete it? Jesus christ

[Chava Blue]

Shayne Hawke, on 13 November 2012 - 04:26 AM, said:

How do you feel about the introduction of a new tier of gear to the game?

Initially I was surprised (not in a good way,) but the more I've thought rationally, the more I realize it makes sense, for exactly the reasons Linsey said. This is a need/want their playerbase is definitely expressing. It's not something I was personally hoping for, but I'm willing to accept it.

I haven't yet decided if I'll get it for myself - depends on the stats difference and what's involved in acquiring it - but I think that having it available will make things more fun for a lot of players, and ANet is doing the right thing by being responsive to feedback.

[Xephyr]

This sounds pretty interesting. Im glad they wont introduce all ascended gear at once, as Ive just finished my gear stat-wise.

Also.. About the ascended back slot items... please please please tell me theres a cape

[AngryTom]

That pink ring was insane.
Did you see those stats?!

Xephyr, on 13 November 2012 - 04:45 AM, said:

This sounds pretty interesting. Im glad they wont introduce all ascended gear at once, as Ive just finished my gear stat-wise.

Also.. About the ascended back slot items... please please please tell me theres a cape

I too hope we get sweet clippy capes that look all messed up on Charr bodies.

[IsThisNameTaken]

The power creep begins...

[Zedabi]

Azure Skye, on 13 November 2012 - 04:43 AM, said:

Did you have fun getting them? Isn't Agnoy like Spectral Agony in GW1?

Yup. Although, personally, I don't know why they couldn't have kept stats at Exotic level with max gems, and then just have the Infusion progression, as opposed to stat progression as well.

That being said, I got a feeling they only brought out back and ring slots to gauge reaction. Given a negative reaction, I think they (hopefully) might keep stats as Exotic, and have specific progression for Agony.

[Valkaire]

So... I'm guessing the dungeon is going to be based around the Mursaat with the whole agony and infusion thing...

[Azure Skye]

Is it only for accessory only, not armor?

[Zedabi]

Azure Skye, on 13 November 2012 - 04:52 AM, said:

Is it only for accessory only, not armor?

The November update will bring out rings (obtainable in the dungeon) and a back piece (obtainable through a Mystic Forge recipe).

Then, eventually, they'll bring out armour and weapon sets.

[Dystoria]

Azure Skye, on 13 November 2012 - 04:52 AM, said:

Is it only for accessory only, not armor?

Yes, right now they're only adding ascended rings and back pieces. No armor or weapons yet.

[NuclearDonut]

Azure Skye, on 13 November 2012 - 04:52 AM, said:

Is it only for accessory only, not armor?

It's only accessory/back slot for now, but they said they're eventually gonna implement entire armor sets in the future.

[Arewn]

IsThisNameTaken, on 13 November 2012 - 04:47 AM, said:

The power creep begins...

The thing is, the power creep is barely there. Three gear slots are getting 13 extra attribute points per slot, Total of an extra 39 points, it's not even a 1% increase in stats(per slot). The main reason the new gear is desirable is because it counters agony, which is worthless so far as character power goes, but allows you to progress deeper in the dungeon.

Edited by Arewn, 13 November 2012 - 04:57 AM.

[ogrejd]

Joy. Gear treadmill. Just what they promised GW2 wouldn't have.

[Grimrist]

all of this just to appease the people this game wasn't even marketed to? ok.

[Var]

Azure Skye, on 13 November 2012 - 04:43 AM, said:

Did you have fun getting them? Isn't Agnoy like Spectral Agony in GW1?

Did I have fun spending hours in WvW to get my gear with tokens for WvW? Yes.
Am I going to enjoy being forced to keep up with a power curve by grinding a PvE dungeon with gated content to keep an even playing field in WvW when my time is already limited? No.
Do I care all to particularly about the dungeon token gear? No.
Do I care that they are slipping down the slope of a power creep which murdered every aspect of GW1 from its PvP to its PvE? Yes.
Do I care that they gated their content with a nonsensical mechanic that I will have to keep updating to do more content? Yes. (So much for skill > gear. So much for everything GW1 stood for...)

Next up, they add gear progression to PvP because "thats what everyone wants".

I'd have seriously taken a dungeon full of Kohler as trash, boss, and mega boss mobs rather than some gated garbage. What is the point of gating? To add an artificial delay on the progression of your content. This has been WoW dance for as long as I can remember, locking people out of raids for a whole week after a single run. Why? To pad out the progression. And in there case it made sense, you were paying them monthly. In this case it makes *-all sense.

And there isn't a single reason provided for why the gear couldn't be exotic stats + best in slot gem + infusion slot. None.

Edited by Var, 13 November 2012 - 04:59 AM.

[Valkaire]

ogrejd, on 13 November 2012 - 04:55 AM, said:

Joy. Gear treadmill. Just what they promised GW2 wouldn't have.

Not so much. You only need these items if you want to get really deep into the new dungeon which will happen after multiple run-throughs. People who want to experience it casually can and don't need ascended gear to get access to the new dungeon. At the same time, people who like the tiered progression/gear treadmill system can get it if they want to.

I'm actually okay with this now. They're giving people a choice in it, much like the rest of the game.

[Vejuz]

Oh wow. 2 to 3 whole stat points per stat. This was totally worth all the panic you guys.

[ThiaTheMuse]

Wait...Agony, Infusion...this isn't new at all, this actually sounds really old. Like, 250 years ago old.

[anudaw]

people crying because they dont feel any superiority with gears. now that that anet added something like this, you can still hear cries everywhere.

[DEDENX]

Here's hoping somewhere in the midst of all these crazy item additions, someone adds some decent aquatic helms...

[Azure Skye]

Vejuz, on 13 November 2012 - 04:58 AM, said:

Oh wow. 2 to 3 whole stat points per stat. This was totally worth all the panic you guys.

Yea, that what i noticed, not much really of a big leap then what we already have.

[Aizea]

Sounds good to me.

Honestly anyone who quits over this was just looking for a excuse to quit.

Edited by Aizea, 13 November 2012 - 05:03 AM.

[IsThisNameTaken]

Arewn, on 13 November 2012 - 04:55 AM, said:

The thing is, the power creep is barely there. Three gear slots are getting 13 extra attribute points per slot, Total of an extra 39 points, it's not even a 1% increase in stats(per slot). The main reason the new gear is desirable is because it counters agony, which is worthless so far as character power goes, but allows you to progress deeper in the dungeon.

That's why it's called creep--it starts off as "barely there". Plus this new agony condition is a horrible idea simply due to this: "LFM new dungeon, MUST have X agony resistant gear". Basically, access to the dungeon is limited to gear. Yes, dungeons aren't as difficult as they once seemed. But added a silly mechanic such is agony is hardly a solution to delivering harder content.

[Azure Skye]

IsThisNameTaken, on 13 November 2012 - 05:04 AM, said:

That's why it's called creep--it starts off as "barely there". Plus this new agony condition is a horrible idea simply due to this: "LFM new dungeon, MUST have X agony resistant gear". Basically, access to the dungeon is limited to gear. Yes, dungeons aren't as difficult as they once seemed. But added a silly mechanic such is agony is hardly a solution to delivering harder content.

What just like infusion in GW1,if you don't have it for the area. You will die alot or getted killed easily for not having it at all. People will need to get it or they will be a noob for not having it for the area.  http://wiki.guildwar...m/wiki/Infusion