40 replies to this topic

[Daesu]

I noticed this blog from Izzy:

https://www.guildwar...m_source=client

I still don't find the lower level areas appealing as not all the higher level rewards are there.  For example, the gathering nodes are still lower tier.

Furthermore, I didn't notice any better rewards from there.  Does anyone feel differently?

What do you think?

Edited by Daesu, 01 February 2013 - 10:09 PM.

[Kymeric]

I'd love to get out of Orr and have the freedom to move through other areas, but you're right, you lose out on a major income source if you don't have those high end nodes.

Personally, I wish selling mats wasn't so lucrative compared to doing DEs and getting loot from open world mobs.  It's kinda silly that I get rewarded better for running around between orichalcum nodes than saving the world from rampaging undead.

Perhaps some sort of dynamic resource node would help.  Or an economy where mats were significantly cheaper than the items that can be crafted from them.

[matsif]

gathering aside, I've gotten more yellows from moas in wayfarer foothills than I have in all of CS over the past days since the patch.  overall drops are still worse as the merch crap isn't worth anywhere close to as much as it is in CS, and CS is still overall better for straight cash and karma.  but considering how much of dailies I usually complete in wayfarers cause it's my favorite zone in the game, the drops themselves are noticeably better.

combined with the other perks of CS (karma is better, overall drops are worth more, better gathering), CS is still much more profitable, but the rewards of lower level areas have noticeably improved since the patch.

[kendro1200]

Honestly, if they popped in some really cool, big boss type events in zones (not like the current zone event "bosses" that are essentially cinematic pushovers), that required some coordination and what not, in an attempt to bring a server's guilds together to take it down (Like the original suneater fight, that needed: a group of people actually defending the lasers, another group to use the various turrets, and another group to hold the dragon in check.  Not the zergfest we currently have on live)  I'd love to participate in that, regardless of what zone it was in.  Put pre-reqs of having several chains needing to be completed over the course of a week or so, and yeah...

My quick thoughts on the matter.

[Bloggi]

Yes I certainly would. Sometimes being there is part of the experience. It's also a psychological thing: we might feel more brave to tackle a champ with far fewer people if we believe our toon is better leveled or better equipped. I think it's actually unfortunate to spend time and effort working on our toon, completing the build and making it look badass (for want of a better word) and not actually leave LA or move out of a tiny area in Orr.

Also, the loot tables in some of these lower level areas may have been adjusted or otherwise it's just plain coincidence, but I've had a bit more luck here than in a lot of the dungeon runs I've done of late. Running through it with a level 80 toon, I see more level 80 stuff  dropping compared to stuff normally representative of the level in that area.

[Darkobra]

Quote

2.) We changed the formula for how rewards are calculated when scaled down to make it more rewarding for high-level players to visit lower level areas.

I wonder how much they've changed it. I was doing a jump puzzle in a low level area and got a precursor from a veteran. I always thought you ONLY got them dropped from high-end chests and from champions. So is this a feature of the new update or was this always a possibility?

[Perm Shadow Form]

More DE? No, personally don't want to see more events, they're boring. Renamed Quests.
I want to see new Dungeons and New Instances.

[MisterB]

Quote

I’d like to talk today about some changes we made to our dynamic leveling system, which allows players to enjoy the content on any map at any level.

No, they failed. I swing my greatsword twice, and things fall over dead. Boring. It's good for looting bodies, since you can trigger RNG faster. I like to explore and kill things all over Tyria, so I still wander around doing that despite ANet's attempts to adjust level scaling. The scaling works out better in the mid ranges. It's pretty good actually.

Darkobra, on 01 February 2013 - 11:01 PM, said:

I wonder how much they've changed it. I was doing a jump puzzle in a low level area and got a precursor from a veteran. I always thought you ONLY got them dropped from high-end chests and from champions. So is this a feature of the new update or was this always a possibility?

Quote

It is now possible to receive your own level of loot from any level of enemy.

http://wiki.guildwar...ynamic_Leveling

Prior to this update, drops were scaled based on the level of the zone. They still are, but there is also a chance to obtain drops at or near your current level.

Edited by MisterB, 01 February 2013 - 11:25 PM.

[StormDragonZ]

Does anyone really think a whole mass of people will actually go back to lower level areas?

I seriously doubt even a fifth of those churning out the same dungeons and high level areas would suddenly decide to go elsewhere.... unless, of course, there are much "easier" places to farm.

[Reason on Cooldown]

kendro1200, on 01 February 2013 - 10:41 PM, said:

Honestly, if they popped in some really cool, big boss type events in zones (not like the current zone event "bosses" that are essentially cinematic pushovers), that required some coordination and what not, in an attempt to bring a server's guilds together to take it down (Like the original suneater fight, that needed: a group of people actually defending the lasers, another group to use the various turrets, and another group to hold the dragon in check.  Not the zergfest we currently have on live)  I'd love to participate in that, regardless of what zone it was in.  Put pre-reqs of having several chains needing to be completed over the course of a week or so, and yeah...

My quick thoughts on the matter.

Yes I'm a bit disappointed in the Tequatl engagement.  I saw videos from the media weekends that pegged it as a coordinated battle.  Using/defending turrets, and defending the megalaser so you can stun him and run in and beat on him.  But there is no reason to do anything but zerg him.  I think that's why I like Claw Jormag the best as it offers a bit more variety in activity, some mobs to kill.  Although not huge amounts of strategy.

[Shiren]

Their new formula feels very off. I feel a lot weaker and squishier in low level zones than I do in Orr. In Orr, with my full stats, I can withstand a lot, tanking packs of 10 or 12 and killing them on my own while taking a beating in the process (on my guardia). I actually had to run away from a veteran drake from a DE in Gendarren Fields on the same character with the same set up. I think their down scaling is a little too extreme.

[Rukioish]

i went back even before the change. I didn't need the new adjsutment to experience the epicness of all the zones

[Tregarde]

I've BEEN going back over lower level content since the beginning. I'm not rushing through the game, so there's still areas I haven't seen yet. And I do want to get 100% Explorer... on all my characters. Plus I like to help out friends and guildies, regardless of what level their character is.

[Fizzypop]

I already spend time in lower level zones. A girl can only kill so much undead before you just need a change of scenery.

[Featherman]

They'll need to adjust enemy encounters and the challenge of DEs before they get me back in those zones, and possibly add in some unmarked explorable areas.

Edited by Featherman, 02 February 2013 - 01:38 AM.

[beadnbutter32]

The new formula is still a joke in terms of running a level 80 exotic geared toon through any of the level 1 to level 45 zones..  A level 80 in Queensdale or Wayfarer Foothills can easily one or two shot mobs.

I don't think you should get level 80 gear for that.

I think the formula seems to work the best in the mid-level zones of 50-60.  You can still get your rear handed to you on a platter there with a level 80 if you don't pay attention.

Anet said they were going to spruce up the lower areas, but in reality they started with the end game zones first.  All three Orr zones now have a bunch of new and improved mobs. Some of them have new attack sequences and other combat surprises.

The Champions have been beefed up.  Lots of graphic effects have been added to all kinds of stuff.  The Dynamic Events appear to have been tweaked to scale better at the extreme ends, i.e. with just one person or with a huge zerg.  I think there are a few new mini-dynamic events which I don't remember seeing previously.

If Anet does that level of re-furbishing to the 1-70 level zones, it won't be such a boring chore to run new alts through them.

It's way too early to tell how this 'living story' deal will play out, but I found the start a rather grindy, boring and unimaginative experience.

Edited by beadnbutter32, 02 February 2013 - 01:25 AM.

[Verelia]

Eh...the problem is that most people have run the low level zones to death by now. With my first character I literally just chained all the lv 1-15 areas before moving onto the 15-25 ones (not nearly as much fun as you'd expect >.>) and so on. As such its not like the idea of running back isn't fun, but you don't get much of an incentive to do it. It's also the case of knowing an area like the back of your hand if you've made a few characters already, even if you were casual or zerging it.

It would be something if they could make it so you could do say Orr at level one and get beefed up (lol...) but even someone like me is aware this is beyond an idiotic idea. It's more for the case that Orr still seems in large part vacant compared to how it used to be and probably the place I've spent the least time in.

To be blunt, I sort of feel it's bad they're already talking about re-vamping the 1-70 zones but what can you do, really?

[kendro1200]

As I said earlier, they don't need to "revamp" the zones, they just need to add content in it that's worth while.  As Verelia also mentioned.  There is a bit of grinding to do for some levels and zones, and I think Anet made sure that zones didn't get you a full easy push through levels to encourage you to explore and see other places.  What that does unfortunately encourage you to do in some cases is grind just to finish off a zone, which lowers the "fun value" in replaying the content.  No amount of difficulty tuning is going to be able to fix that initial loss in enjoyability.

[jthamind]

kendro1200, on 02 February 2013 - 04:00 AM, said:

As I said earlier, they don't need to "revamp" the zones, they just need to add content in it that's worth while.

this is definitely it for me. especially since i have 100% world completion on my main character. they need to give me a real reason or objective that will make me want to visit low level zones other than jump puzzles.

[Waar Kijk Je Naar]

Drops are still nowhere near as good as in Cursed Shore, so still not worth going there.

[Feathermoore]

kendro1200, on 02 February 2013 - 04:00 AM, said:

As I said earlier, they don't need to "revamp" the zones, they just need to add content in it that's worth while.  As Verelia also mentioned.  There is a bit of grinding to do for some levels and zones, and I think Anet made sure that zones didn't get you a full easy push through levels to encourage you to explore and see other places.  What that does unfortunately encourage you to do in some cases is grind just to finish off a zone, which lowers the "fun value" in replaying the content.  No amount of difficulty tuning is going to be able to fix that initial loss in enjoyability.

They say in the blog post they their focus is to add more content to all of the maps. Hopefully they add the correct type and quality of content for it to actually be appealing.

[Menehune]

I would, I did and I still do. Only one of my lvl 80s is in Orr. The others are currently in Wayfarer Foothills, Diessa Plateau and Queensdale. They originally went for map completion and decided to extend their visit. My other characters are level 69 - 73 and are in Metrica Province, Mt. Maelstrom,  Blazeridge Steppes, Iron Marches and Frostgorge Sound. I don't need and have never needed any reward incentive to revisit lower level areas.

The dynamic scaling does seem to have improved, but still needs some more tweaking. The under level 5 drakes in Queensdale still atomize with one hit, but there was one level 8 drake, with my character down-leveled to 9ish, that seemed more like a 12+ vet. That damned drake nearly one-shotted me! Also, there was one location in Mt. Maelstrom where my down-leveled level 70 character flipped between levels 60 and 63 (or maybe it was 65? Not so sure now) as I ran around trying to stay alive while under attack from 5 or 6 level 62 risen.

Drops have definitely improved. Most of the drops are still level of the zone, but a fair bit is at or just slightly under character level and a decent part of that is blue or better. I actually got level 80 rare pauldrons in Diessa Plateau night before last along with a double handfull of blues and greens level 70ish+.

As I said, I don't need rewards to play lower level areas, but it's still a nice and welcomed change. There are still a few shortcomings, but it's miles above other games where you often can't redo quests, one-shot everything and get nothing.

[rukh]

I don't understand, did they actually change anything or is this for a future update?  I'm still running around low level zones naked while mowing down enemies...

[DarkGanni]

To me the new level adjustment just made my character weaker and drops still remain like crap, my answer is no. There isn't enough reason to do so. Only reason I go there is to do the boring and uninspiring daily and I do it only for the Laurel otherwise I wouldn't bother.


When ANet learns to reward players properly maybe I will, their so called "theme park game" doesn't offer anything to encourage visiting those areas much.

[JHCinSC]

DarkGanni, on 02 February 2013 - 07:06 PM, said:

Only reason I go there is to do the boring and uninspiring daily and I do it only for the Laurel otherwise I wouldn't bother.


When ANet learns to reward players properly maybe I will, their so called "theme park game" doesn't offer anything to encourage visiting those areas much.

  I agree with this post.  I hate PuGs for dungeons/fractals and PVE is not rewarding therefore I only sign in to do my daily for 30-45 minutes and then I leave to find something FUN to do.  I will keep doing the dailies to collect karma pots and laurels hoping that Anet will be able to save this game and get me back to doing more than my daily.

[BelilaJ]

TBH its was never about the rewards for me. The reason I rarely go back to lower level areas is because theres no purpose to me being there. Upper level rewards are nice but without something like quests I wouldnt actually be there in the first place.
Best suggestion to help repopulate lower level zones was from another poster here who had applied the Zaishen system from GW1 to GW2 in that it gave daily quests with different goals in the lower level zones with appropriate rewards - people would have a reason to go back there. Do a rotating set of quests EG Complete 10 events in Queensdale for X amount of rewards (perhaps new currency with new items?) and get more for completing to silver standard, and more again for getting all gold standard. For about 24hrs Queensdale would be crawling with people until the next zone was picked.
Its only the bare bones idea Ive put here but someone with real creativity could make this into a really good system that encouraged people to replay areas they otherwise just wouldnt bother with.

[Mastruq]

I was already playing in lower level areas when I felt like it, probably around 70% of my outdoor time. So to answer the OP, yes I would and do.

It was far, far, far too easy though, and with the changes it is still far too easy. They need to weaken the higher players more. Increased rewards are a bonus.

[ExplosivePinata]

I used to go to the lower level areas out of boredom and would do some DE there.  People would keep saying things like "Your level 80, why are you here?" so I just stopped bothering.  When the mindset of the playerbase is that at 80 I must do this and be in this place only....le yawn!  Not the fault of the game tbh but pigeonholing players.

Edited by ExplosivePinata, 03 February 2013 - 01:13 PM.

[Sandpit]

I spend a lot of time inthe lower levels, I'd go insame if all there was is bOrr

[Lythuun]

I've already been back to do some left over zone completions, and honestly, until I'd read this blog post, I really didn't notice they'd done anything.

Still isn't hard enough, facerolling content isn't fun. Bring back BWE1 downscaling.