Wonsavage

I think you'll be disappointed by any attempts at a "Sword and Board" warrior in PVE in GW2.  The type of gameplay you'd come to expect from those two weapons from other games (and I'm not even talking about MMOs and old tanking methods, but all fantasy games), really doesn't work for this weapon setup on warrior.  For warriors, sword is mostly a gap closer, chaser, lockdown, etc (basically a "stick to your ass and never let go") weapon that specifically shines in PVP.  In PVE, the sword #3 skill isn't really worth using as it's just a cripple.  The #2 skill is either just a gap closer or a method of applying a Leap Finisher.  So most of what you'll be doing is autoattack and your burst skill.  The autoattack is a pretty strong mix of solid damage and bleed procs, and the burst is an immobilize that gets the majority of its damage from the extra bleed stacks it applies.  Building JUST condition damage won't do this weapon justice, as you'd be neglecting the strong autoattack (not to mention the only condition you can apply is bleed).  Rampager's gear is probably your best bet.  The shield is just a channeled block (you can move during it), and a stun.  The block is entirely situational and usually not needed outside of specific encounters, and the stun won't help you all that much in PVE.  All in all, the weapons make a decent combo in PVP (though probably not in the way you would expect a "Sword and Board" warrior to work), but are overall less effective in PVE than pretty much any other weapon choice available to you.

Gilles VI, on 07 May 2013 - 08:43 PM, said:

It's obvious it's a much bigger game all around, his mind is just clouded by his obvious disdain that 2 isn't the same as 1.

I just want magic find removed.  Colin even said it himself: "There isn't really anything fun about it."

It's nice to see more MMOs diverging from typical combat. Hopefully once this becomes the norm, it won't be so much of a selling point so the games can focus on the idea of compelling content (Looking at you, TERA).  This game looks...I dunno relatively interesting?  I'd like to see more along the lines of what I'll ACTUALLY be doing, PVE-wise, in the game (rather than a laundry list of features).  Also I really and truely despise the "human, elf, dwarf" fantasy tropes for races (Giant and hobbit are by no means a divergence from this formula). It's a boring and lazy approach to the design of a fantasy world, filled with races that everyone will know and expect how to act.  I've come to the point where race design can be a make or break point for me, and this game would have to show me something pretty spectacular for me to keep my interest.

Eon Lilu, on 02 May 2013 - 11:23 AM, said:

It's really unfortunate that it's the case, but you're right.  GW2 initially started with a traditional cash shop full of convenience items and item skins that you could specifically choose and purchase.  But they quickly found they could make a ton more money dumping new stuff into the RNG gambling chests, or special "limited time only" purchases.  Obviously, they're just doing what makes them the most money. If ♥♥♥♥ing idiots would stop buying the damn things, Anet would probably move away from the gem gambling and add more reasonable options in the gem store.  And if the gem store itself wasn't making them enough money, maybe they'd actually look into real meaningful expansions.  As of now though, I don't see any reason why Anet would stop doing this monthly content (with limited time gem store products) since it's apparently working for them. As with any business, the way you sway them is with your wallet.  No amount of bitching on the forums is going to make them change something that's proven to make them money.  If you don't like it, don't buy it. Don't keep dumping your money into it hoping it'll be different (and then bitching about it).  It won't be different until it stops making them money.