Thoughts?

• BlackCat9 wrote on 2012-07-23 11:55
  I like what they've done with optimization.. I was running higher settings than I did in the previous BWE. It really seems as though anyone can run this game, which is great!
  
  I'm definitely set on rolling a Sylvari, I love their lore and how different they are compared to human which is always my first choice. As for professions.. still not sure which frustrates me, they are all so awesome and I could see myself using any one of them however thief is still at the top of the list (read a lot of info saying they are extremely lacking when it comes to PvP.. which upsets me).
  
  One thing I noticed while being in the higher level areas (25+) is that the dynamic events were far slower and less exciting. It's pretty obvious that this is due to the fact that there are less players around but I'm worried that this will be the case quite often when it comes to release. What happens when people are either just starting out or end game, the mid level areas will be a huge grind as there will be no-one else around. I'm sure Anet will come up with something.. still has me worried though. I don't know about you but those DE kept me motivated to keep moving and finishing the hearts, pulling grubs out of a farm can get pretty damn boring.
  
  What about you guys, what are your thoughts/opinions of the game?
  
  EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention was transmutation stones. I absolutely LOVE this idea, appearance is a big factor to me and being able to transfer stats to other pieces of gear is just.. amazing!
• TLCBonaparte wrote on 2012-07-23 15:39
  If we get a big enough guild rolling, we can do later level dynamic events like a guild event so I am not too worried.
  
  For me, best race ever: Asura. They are not much to look at but their technologies are amazing. Plus I think they look like characters from sonic the hedgehog if you select the first face. And Asura gate is a stargate, I don't care what they say, it's a stargate and any race that uses stargate as a mean of transportation is ok in my book.
  
  Favorite profession. I have tried every profession. I am leaning toward Elementalist, they are squish as hell but they fill out rolls like no other, you can change from great AoE nuker, to great healer to great support. to ok tank. Elementalist not only do so many rolls they also do them all quite well. So far, dagger main-hand or staff seem to be the best for me.
  
  Second favorite profession for me would be guardian. I didn't care much for it until someone told me he's pretty fun and man was he right, this guy is a paladin type character, a tanky healer, and since I play a lot of stuffs alone (I don't like to keep up with party, rather explore at my own pace), healing comes very handy in outnumbered situations.
• Rin wrote on 2012-07-23 17:42
  There are lots of things I would like for ArenaNet to improve on or even redesign altogether (that I have to re-suggest... again), but overall, a package of this quality and care for $60 makes it highly valuable to me.
  
  The norn looks pretty fun. I spent several hours in Shiverpeaks with a guildie, and it was a lot more exciting than I thought it'd be. The Frozen Maw event chain was especially epic, and one of the best dynamic events I've ever seen. [s]Not to brag, but I insta-revived 4-5 players with "I Will Avenge You!" with only 2 seconds left by landing the killing blow on the shaman. Best feeling I've felt that moment.[/s]
  
  I'm still dead-set on making the asura and charr as my choices for my 2 main characters.
  
  For this beta, I tested warrior with a bit of guardian. As always, the warrior profession is a very solid, easy-to-play choice, and I love the variety with the weapons. And now I feel like making a support warrior, as the banner/shout support have that impact kind of feel.
  
  I thought guardian would be fun to play (from what I've seen from a friend's stream), but it was underwhelming for me. Their support theme doesn't have the same "oomph" as the warrior's support theme.
  
  

  Quote from BlackCat9;915900:

  I like what they've done with optimization.. I was running higher settings than I did in the previous BWE. It really seems as though anyone can run this game, which is great!
  
  I'm definitely set on rolling a Sylvari, I love their lore and how different they are compared to human which is always my first choice. As for professions.. still not sure which frustrates me, they are all so awesome and I could see myself using any one of them however thief is still at the top of the list (read a lot of info saying they are extremely lacking when it comes to PvP.. which upsets me).
  
  One thing I noticed while being in the higher level areas (25+) is that the dynamic events were far slower and less exciting. It's pretty obvious that this is due to the fact that there are less players around but I'm worried that this will be the case quite often when it comes to release. What happens when people are either just starting out or end game, the mid level areas will be a huge grind as there will be no-one else around. I'm sure Anet will come up with something.. still has me worried though. I don't know about you but those DE kept me motivated to keep moving and finishing the hearts, pulling grubs out of a farm can get pretty damn boring.
  
  What about you guys, what are your thoughts/opinions of the game?

  
  
  Was getting 60+ framerates on a low-spec laptop, with only high model tickbox on.
  
  I would take that info with a grain of salt. There are parties on both sides saying Thief is underpowered and overpowered in PvP (which speaks for its balance). For me, all the Thieves I've encountered in structured PvP were competent and took a lot of effort to take down.
  
  I believe some words from the developer tell me they didn't implement all the dynamic events for the new maps, but I might have read that wrong.
• BlackCat9 wrote on 2012-07-23 18:13

  Quote from Rin;916006:

  I would take that info with a grain of salt. There are parties on both sides saying Thief is underpowered and overpowered in PvP (which speaks for its balance). For me, all the Thieves I've encountered in structured PvP were competent and took a lot of effort to take down.

  
  
  As I posted that I had only moments earlier been reading negative posts towards the thief, didn't just stop to think there's always different opinions with all classes. Unfortunately I didn't get around to doing any PvP but I'm glad to hear they were a force not to be taken lightly :>
• Rin wrote on 2012-07-23 18:58

  Quote from BlackCat9;916024:

  As I posted that I had only moments earlier been reading negative posts towards the thief, didn't just stop to think there's always different opinions with all classes. Unfortunately I didn't get around to doing any PvP but I'm glad to hear they were a force not to be taken lightly :>

  
  
  Thief is actually going to be my main class for WvW, just because stealth + group chaos = easy HVT assassinations (usually Elementalist because they're so squishy). Easiest class to escape danger too.
  
  They're okay at 1v1 or something similar in structured PvP. Stealth makes landing one high dmg move really easy, alongside skills and traits related to dodging, but initiative makes maintaining damage or control difficult if the opponent is still left standing in a non-deadly state.
• Joker wrote on 2012-07-23 19:24
  as far as grinding their development blog was keen on saying leveling should take the same amount of time to lvl to lvl 4 as it takes to lvl to lvl 50.
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-07-23 20:01
  I'm debating on weither to go with Sylvari or Asura. I liked the little Asura and being little genius' with their Golemancy and Alchemy.
  
  I also love the transumation stones as well. I actually used it a couple times on some of the more flashier staves.
  
  Debating on weither to main as an Elementalist or Necromancer. Gave both a try last beta and definately did a bit more necromancy than the previous beta's where I focused primarily on being an elementalist.
• Kueh wrote on 2012-07-23 21:15
  Pretty much one of the most captivating games I've played in a long long time. There was never a moment where I was doing something and felt bored, even though I was constantly being brought into the low leveled areas again.
  
  Playing the guardian made me have to seriously contemplate whether I wanted to change my main from Necromancer to Guardian. Everything about them is so fantastic.
  
  Some of my favorite guardian moments was hearing, "Kueh, help me!" in the call, turning around and seeing my party mate with low low health and being chased by a mob, me knocking them back, immobilizing them where they land, and then jumping to that location.
  
  

  Quote from TLCBonaparte;915937:

  I didn't care much for it until someone told me he's pretty fun and man was he right

  
  
  Was it me?
• TLCBonaparte wrote on 2012-07-23 21:23

  Quote from Kueh;916181:

  Pretty much one of the most captivating games I've played in a long long time. There was never a moment where I was doing something and felt bored, even though I was constantly being brought into the low leveled areas again.
  
  Playing the guardian made me have to seriously contemplate whether I wanted to change my main from Necromancer to Guardian. Everything about them is so fantastic.
  
  Some of my favorite guardian moments was hearing, "Kueh, help me!" in the call, turning around and seeing my party mate with low low health and being chased by a mob, me knocking them back, immobilizing them where they land, and then jumping to that location.
  
  
  
  Was it me?

  
  
  Probably, I don't remember it that clearly.
• Rin wrote on 2012-07-23 23:52
  One of the things I'm mostly glad about is the change of heart for the asura from the average player.
  
  Back then, they weren't liked very much. Now is clearly a different story.
• TLCBonaparte wrote on 2012-07-24 00:00
  I loved Asura from the get go, Almost as soon as I know about them I was like "I am gona make me a goblin demolition expert" It didn't end up that way but it's close enough.
• BlackCat9 wrote on 2012-07-24 07:04

  Quote from Joker;916074:

  as far as grinding their development blog was keen on saying leveling should take the same amount of time to lvl to lvl 4 as it takes to lvl to lvl 50.

  
  
  Oh yeah, I've definitely noticed that from the betas. I'm primarily talking about the DE's as without a group of people helping they can either be too hard or just take an extremely long time to complete (thus why I mentioned grinding, probably wasn't the best word to use now that I think about it)
  
  

  Quote from Rin;916287:

  One of the things I'm mostly glad about is the change of heart for the asura from the average player.
  
  Back then, they weren't liked very much. Now is clearly a different story.

  
  
  Practically every game I'm always straight to human but.. this game is different. They have done such a great job with the lore and styles of these normally less played characters I can happily say Sylvari and Asura are my favourite races.
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-07-24 09:27
  Asura are kind of cute in their own little way. I never did try an Elementalist Asura but I'm sure it would be the same as any other elementalist. Although, I do enjoy the summoning of undead minions. Always loved it when my Necromancer Asura said "This one looks kind of cute"
• Episkey wrote on 2012-07-24 17:30
  My thoughts? This game is amazing.
  
  I seriously did not think I would like it, but when I saw the Beta Key giveaway - I decided to give it a shot.
  
  
  I decided to make a Human Elementalist. Born of Nobility, yet never knew his true parents. So, I got my trusty scepter and went on my way.
  
  That first tutorial? Yeah. That was epic - especially when that HUGE elemental came. I helped the NPCs and I LOVED participating in dynamic events. The felt so realistic, I felt like I was really making a difference - which I was. While fighting some monsters, one of them dropped a good Staff - so now we were talking.
  
  I decided I wanted to be a "Healer" of sorts, so I focused solely on Water Attunement. BIG MISTAKE.
  
  It didn't occur to me until later on - about level 9, that I was doing pitiful damage with my Staff. Sure - my survival was really good in hand-to-hand combat. But throw in a mob of enemies or a ranged attacker, and I was screwed. So ... I decided to go switch to my Fire Attunment.
  
  HOLY CRAP. I can kill things before they even reach me now! I was on fire ... literally.
  
  As a side note, I find it really cool how enemies try their best to dodge AOEs. It's annoying when they miss, but in a good way. In any case, I realize that the true potential of an Elementalist is the ability to change their specialty AT WILL - depending on the situation.
  
  
  In my two days of playing Beta I only could reach level 13. Besides quest-lines and fighting, I also delved into the crafting system.
  
  Let me just say ... one of my favorite parts of Guild Wars 2 was just roaming the environment and searching for places to harvest. And salvaging items? SALVAGING. So useful.
  
  I became a Tailor and an Artificer. Tailoring was ... meh. But an Artificer? VERY USEFUL. I made some pretty potent weapons along with some accessories! It really intrigues my creative mind as I try to discover new recipes, of course - without looking at a wiki.
  
  One of my few grievances would be the chat system. It just seems very basic - short of expressing a "Thank you" or a "No problem" ... no one really seems to talk. Maybe I just haven't delved enough into it.
  
  So - in any case, I will most definitively buy this game. Maybe not when it releases - but sometime in the near future. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone.
  
  The game world is just sooooo big. There is a lot of things to do.~
• Rin wrote on 2012-07-24 20:05

  Quote from Episkey;916753:

  One of my few grievances would be the chat system. It just seems very basic - short of expressing a "Thank you" or a "No problem" ... no one really seems to talk. Maybe I just haven't delved enough into it.

  
  
  I've seen this too, and so has many other people. I tried my best to be social while playing with strangers, but I can feel the awkwardness.
  
  The ease of doing things together without having to take the time to party up or plan things out (because events happen regardless of anybody's consent) seems to put less emphasis on communication, as it reduces the necessity of it.
  
  It's similar to an accident on the streets. A group of friends would communicate with each other more to help out at the accident scene, than random strangers around the area doing the same thing.