Heart Collector

To start with, this is not a suggestion thread - hence it is not in the Primordus visions section. It's just meant as a sort of place to share our ideas about the games combat system. I am not considering game balance, obviously such ideas would require a redesign. It's just a brainstorming (brainfarting? ) thread for us to throw in our ideas.

Now, I like the combat in GW2 as it is fast, action-packed and fun. I like the way we can only have so many skills at one time as it makes it more manageable and fun on terms of hotkey allocation and it's more hassle free. However the rather drab auto attack paired with the few skills we can use at any given time makes the whole thing feel a bit too simplistic.

What I would have liked is something along these lines:

• I would have implemented something similar to the combat mod - thus removing the need to hold R-click to turn the camera, and freeing up the mouse buttons for a more involving "bread and butter" attack. This would include a targeting reticule, which could be toggled on and off of course.
  
• The usual #1 "autoattack" would be replaced by a dual function skill depending on the weapon and the profession. Typically, L-click would be the usual basic attack, and R-click would be a more special function. The general lines would be that R-click is a defensive utility for melee, and a sort of "aimed shot" utility for ranged - they could be more static and deliberate.

For example:

   - Holding R-click when wielding a shield/melee two-hander/melee off-hand typically blocks incoming melee attacks at a cost of stamina. Powerful attacks (and certain player attacks of course) like the Ettin's hammer slam thingy are unblockable and need to be dodged. Shields could also block projectiles, GS could block physical AoE, axes could add retaliation etc.

   - Holding R-click when wielding a focus/staff could be better for blocking magical abilities at a cost of stamina. A staff could also block magic AoE, a focus could reflect magical attacks, and a torch could maybe create an AoE burn around the player and/or purge conditions.

   - Holding R-click when wielding a ranged weapon would not block anything but put us in a first person or maybe an "over the shoulder" aiming mode, where we aim at key points on our enemy (think of the crosshairs on massive bosses). Depending on where we shoot we get a different effect, e.g. shooting the head does more damage, shooting the legs criples etc. And the more we aim, the more damage we do, to a maximum of, say, 3 seconds.

• I would have added more weapon specific skills and the ability to choose between them - or maybe I'd add a "skill rune" type of system in the style of Diablo 3.

• I would consider utility bar swapping to go with the weapon swap. It happens with underwater weapons anyway!

Again, these are not suggestions and I'm not expecting you to post your opinions on these ideas (though feel free to do so if you like), they're just things I may have enjoyed more - and I wanted to see what my fellow Guru-ers would have done to change the combat more to their liking!

Hi all,

After reading a lot about how people find GW2 to be very easy in PvE - and to an extent I agree - I thought that this could be a fun idea for a smaller, niche group of people.

Basically this would be a new server - one where you are not defeated if you don't recover from downed state, you are killed and need to start over. A permadeath server in other words.

It could be completely separate from other servers, with only one character allowed at any given time. People would not be able to transfer characters to this server. They wouldn't lose their other characters of course, all they'd need to do is switch to this specific server whenever they want to play and go back at any time. It would work a bit like the hardcore versions in Diablo, Torchlight and the like. So you'd have all  of your regular characters on Piken Square, Gandarra or wherever, and an additional one on the hardcore server.

In addition, some cash shop boosts - maybe all - could be disabled for this server, leading to a more even playing ground without RL cash being spent even for convenience - or there could be a separate achievement for progressing without using any cash shop boost.

Though the gear rewards etc gained on these servers would be exclusive to them, there could be a set of account wide titles and achievements, maybe culminating in a unique gear skin reward for, say, killing Zhaitan or something. It would work like the cash shop skin, but with unlimited charges and useable for any and all characters on the account as a form of "bragging rights".

I think I would actually play for a time on one of these

Here's the link

The site is in Greek but you don't need to read anything, just click on the vids and numbered tags You may have seen a lot of them but in any case it's a nice compilation.

Enjoy!

Hey all, I'm fresh from a topic about mounts and the like that got my creative juices flowing, so I'd like to share my ideas with you here. Kindly don't blindly jump down my throat with comments like "no mounts this isnt WoW", I am no more fond of WoW's mounts than you are.

I was thinking that mounts would be a cool addition to the game - if they are a sort of game in itself, and designed very differently to the usual MMO standard. They wouldn't just be speed boosts with different skins. Think more of vehicles in FPS games for a general idea. My basic ideas are:

- Only unlockable at 80 - as something extra to look forward to at level cap!
- Each mount is different - they all have different speeds and even special abilities. And not all mounts can be used by all races of course! I don't think I've seen anything stupider than a huge Tauren Warrior mounted on a pink Blood Elf chicken ><
- Mounted combat - would work in a similar way to underwater combat, with unique weapon sets and the like.
- Minigames - Jousting tourneys, races and the like would be awesome to have!
- They don't trivialize exploration - They could have a significant speed bonus when on roads, but move at the same speed or even slower than unmounted characters elswhere - maybe even flatly refusing to go into certain areas like swamps (imagine your mount rearing up, kicking and snorting in fear if you try to move into an area like that!). In addition, you would not be able to precision jump on a mount, making them unsuitable for vistas and the like.
- They don't clutter - They're not allowed in cities and other settlements
- Different mount categories - Why restrict them? We could have travel mounts (faster, with abilities more tuned towards speed and traveling), war mounts (strudy beasts with warlike abilities), pack animals (slow and useless in combat but offering more inventory and bank space - obviously there would be a cap on how many you could have)... I'm sure there could be other types too.
- PvP implications - This could make or break PvP. there could be some new PvP maps that account for mounted combat, but otherwise they could be unuseable in sPvP, WvWvW or both if necessary.

That's it for now. I may pop in later and edit if I think of something else!

To start with, I won't be chacking this thread again. I'm sure I'll get many "who made you moderator", "I say what I like, shut up" etc. posts and there will be no point in arguing with them. I'm making this thread as a plea to those of you who are for whatever reason dissatisfied, disappointed or just plain hate GW2. Please bear with me and consider my post, even if you don't agree with it.

When I signed onto the forums here a few months ago, I was quite pleased at how calm and welcoming this community was. It was a rather happy forum, one I liked frequenting even though I didn't post much. Since the game's release however, it has deteriorated quite a bit, with arguments breaking out in every second thread (and to be honest I have partaken in some myself).

Obviously I wouldn't expect the forums to be a happy, shiny, rainbow farting unicorn playground 24/7... But I don't want to see them devolve into the horid cesspit that is Battlenet, or the TOR forums (at least they were like that before I quit the game, dunno if they've improved). So I'm making this thread in the hopes that angry players will take it into consideration before pressing their "post" button - as there are quite a few defensive people that will pounce on any negative attitude and criticism, especially if written in a provocative way.

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- Please, remember that even though the GW2 official boards have only just launched and that this is probably the best fansite around, it's still just that: A fansite, full of people who enjoy the game and want to share their experiences.

- Please, be polite and calm when you post and don't pass off your opinion as a fact, try not to be absolute. Remember that you will get your point across much better if you do so, and whilst you may still get some hate from "fanboys", you will also have more chances of reasoning with less defensive people - and if the thread does not devolve into a flame war, someone from ANet may see it and consider your points.

- Please, try to use existing threads that are pertinent to the point you are trying to make (i.e. the "what do you not like about GW2 thread). If you must make your own thread, please put a bit more effort in your post than you normally would as it's much less likely to get lost in the haze.

- Please, don't post your dissatisfaction in every second thread you see. If you see an "I love this game" sort of thread, don't post in it, you will only derail it and look like a troll. Obviously the person who made such a thread wants to share their excitement and does not want to see negativity spoil their mood.

- Please... remember all of the above. Guild Wars 2 has it's issues, and a lot of you have been hit hard by them... It's only natural that you're angry and have absolutely every right to make your voice heard. Just remember... There is a time, a place and a proper way to voice your complaints. Try not to disrupt the experience of others.

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I know what you're saying. "What about the rabid fanbois? You're not saying anything about them!" That's because I'm not talking to them at this time. This is not a thread for them. It's a thread for people who need their complaints to be heard - and a thread that will hopefully help you guys into voicing your opinions in a way that will get as few knee-jerk reactions as possible.

I hope you took the time to read this. I am a fan of this game and want to see it succeed - and this means that proper criticism and suggestions should be encouraged. There is a kernel of truth in just about every negative post, even if it's purely subjective. All you need to do is take the time to make that kernel of truth stand out, and not be buried in unnecessary chaff of your own making.

Have a great day