This week on Guildwars 2 Junkies Podcast, we finally have our new name! The show is now called “Guildcenter” as we bring you all the news and notes from around the world focusing on PVP! This week we showcase a new fan made video, discuss the news and notes of the week, including the upcoming Halloween update!
Our guest this week is Soulstitch, formally of Team Legacy, who has now moved on to his own new server (JQ) and guild, Calculated. He gives us the dirt on the demise of Ascension Alliance and Team Legacy, how Freelancer failed at staying competitive as the number one alliance in the game.
We discuss coverage and all the techniques used by the best. We even get some news on RUIN and the great move they recently made.
Click the break to watch the full episode and download the audio.
Contacts:
Draegan – [email protected]
Clementine – [email protected]
Soulstitch – @soulstitchMMO
Guild Website: www.calculatedguild.com (not yet launched)
We all have things we love about Guild Wars 2, places that make us cheer out and say “yes, this is my ultra-mega place!” We all have classes, abilities, and features we’re passionate about, either negatively or positively. This is a place to share all that. Once a week I’ll be raising a Guild Wars 2 question to the community– hopefully an interesting one– and we’ll share our opinions. I’ll start off with my opinion just to get the ball rolling, but these questions will not have any right or wrong answers, so feel free to argue with me to your heart’s content!
So, organized group content. Raiders sometimes receive a lot of flack because of how raid-centric and loot treadmill-like many MMORPGs have become. Want the shiniest gear? Better get your raid group together, clear three nights a week off your schedule, and get ready to stand in–er, avoid fires. Despite the negativity that some gamers feel towards raiding, however, there’s no denying the fact that a challenging raid or 5-man dungeon run with friends can be an extremely fun way to spend an evening. Challenging group content– when made well and completed with the right group– promotes teamwork, communication, leadership skills, and it makes us want to become better players.
On the other hand, there’s a very fine line between that first challenging, adrenaline-punched raid night and that night, you know, five weeks later, when the group is facerolling the same six bosses, complaining about the same pieces of healer loot, and spamming DPS meters while half-hardheartedly punching keys and watching TV. This second scenario is why raiders receive so much flack, in my opinion. Challenging group content is awesome. Repeating that same content for days on end for no reason other than to collect the shiniest item or X amount of currency is, well, a loot treadmill.
Now, a lot of gamers enjoy the treadmill affect. The more power to them, I say. Where does Guild Wars 2 fit in? Here’s where it gets interesting. We knew right off the bat that the game wouldn’t have raid content. It does, however, have challenging 5-man content that rewards currency that can be farmed in order to make your gear extra shiny. Stats eventually cap out, of course, but the pretty gear treadmill keeps on rolling. It’s a slight departure from the norm. But is it enough? Isn’t running dungeon after dungeon for currency the same thing, effectively, as running the same raid instance weeks on end?
And what about the whole ‘holy trinity’ thing? Sure, we don’t have taunts and spam-able heals, but we definitely have professions with more control abilities than others, more healing abilities than others, and different types of armor. Some Explorable dungeons benefit from certain group compositions more than others, and doesn’t that fact kind of… imply the same concept as the ‘holy trinity’ philosophy? Make a smart group and win. And be sure to roll around a bit, remember those support abilities, and stand in– er, avoid fire.
I guess what I’m saying is– despite ArenaNet’s hopes, some players are finding themselves disappointed in Guild Wars 2′s dungeon system. Personally, I do understand the viewpoint. The first time I did a dungeon, my cloth-wearing friends exclaimed excitedly how much easier AC was with my Guardian there to generally hold the attention of the bad guys. No, I wasn’t “tanking” exactly, but the effect was oftentimes the same. I distracted things. My friends killed stuff, and sometimes had to run around when mobs decided that asura were tastier.
Dungeon running in GW2 feels kind of familiar at times, yet not so much that I feel the need to farm dungeon after dungeon for the prettiest gear. I enjoy the lack of a non-cosmetic, currency-driven gear treadmill, yet at the same time, I often find myself wishing the loot off bosses wasn’t quite as random, and for the most part, useless. I like bosses that have a chance to drop certain special items because it gives us another reason to look forward to killing a boss. Yes, boss fights can be fun, but rewards at the end of a fun fight are twice as good! To be fair, that might be the old school raider in me speaking.
When it really comes down to it, I enjoy the challenges most Explorable modes present, but I don’t see myself wanting to run them day after day. When a dungeon opportunity strikes, I take it excitedly, but GW2′s system lends itself to be one more casual in nature, in my opinion, and honestly, after years of running the more hardcore-natured dungeon and raid treadmill– I’m good with that.
What are your thoughts about Guild Wars 2′s dungeon design and reward system? Like it? Hate it? Sound off in the comments section below!
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If you’re rolling with one of the least popular classes in the game (Engineer tied closely with Mesmer) you might need some help figuring out how to build an Engineer to be competitive in WvW. Well, thanks to MeEBgaming, he’s given us a fantastic example of how to build your Engineer so that you can down those noobs in the battlegrounds.
Continue reading to find out how this guy kicks some major ass.
The gist of the build is based off using your Rifle and your Tool Belt. This build works extremely well out in the open where you can use your extended Rifle and Grenade range to your benefit. The burst of this build comes from utilizing Power, Precision and Critical Damage stats. Ever usage of your Tool Belt sets off a Static Discharge which, fully geared, hits for 1,800 damage. Using Rifle Turrent’s “Surprise Shot”, Tool Kit’s Wrench and Grenades you can get a pretty high amount of burst.
If you’re not yet 80, or just recently leveled, don’t be discourage about the numbers just yet. You’ll need to properly get the stats needed for this to work.
The Build: 30 Exsplosives, 20 Firearms, 20 Tools
One of the biggest complaints with Grenades is that it’s incredibly difficult to actually hit a player due to their slow travel rate. Using the Rifle’s Net Shot, you’ll see the author of the video using the Net Shot in conjunction with grenades with some devastating results.
If you are curious about the build, gear and the basic strategy, you can list to the author in this video. If you have any tips or tricks for the Engineer, leave them in the comment section below.
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We all have things we love about Guild Wars 2, places that make us cheer out and say “yes, this is my ultra-mega place!” We all have classes, abilities, and features we’re passionate about, either negatively or positively. This is a place to share all that. A couple times a week I’ll be raising a Guild Wars 2 question to the community– hopefully an interesting one– and we’ll share our opinions. I’ll start off with my opinion just to get the ball rolling, but these questions will not have any right or wrong answers, so feel free to argue with me to your heart’s content!
Guild Wars 2 is filled with some very gorgeous maps and locations, and not just locations situated plain in sight, open to the air. Even hidden caves and light-filled crevices can be quite beautiful, which kind of adds to the whole exploration theme the game has going on. Another place of beauty is underwater. The oceans and inlets around Lion’s Arch are some of the most beautiful underwater spots in the game, full of tropical life, plants, and just about everything you’d expect in a real ocean. Props to the environment team! The ice-covered lakes out in the middle of the snowdrift-covered areas are also particularly enchanting, in my opinion.
Despite the beauty of GW2′s underwater areas, many players aren’t as enthusiastic about the actual combat underwater. Most of the underwater weapons make logical sense (it’d be pretty difficult to spin to win with a greatsword underwater, I’d imagine… though Garen might still be able to pull it off!), but some of the mechanics themselves are a little clunky to work with, especially given the 3D environment.
Some of the underwater weapons also seem fairly underpowered compared to others, which surprised me initially. It’s also interesting that ArenaNet chose to put in an underwater PvP environment (Raid on the Capricorn), which just seems to make any clunky mechanics and/or weapon balance differences stand out even more so.
I originally found underwater combat a little frustrating, but now that I’ve been playing the game a while, I’m actually enjoying it more. I’m a simple person, and I’ll be the first to admit that the immersive nature and exploration-encouraging qualities of underwater combat are my primary reasons for enjoying the plunge. Those are some mighty fine kelp beds and corals. Okay– sold! Now, how do I go about buying some oceanfront property?
And how about you guys? Are you a fan of underwater combat in its present state, or does it need some heavy adjusting before it might be considered fun?
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This week we explore the tears and breakups as we explore how Titan Alliance broke up and the other tears of Tier 1 match play. Our guest this week is Obs of Lords of Death as we explore SBI and how they seemingly gave up last week and next week, as they win T2, will match up with HoD and JQ.
If you’re fond of Legendaries, we talk some PVE while you can listen to Draegan babble on about Engineers.
Remember we also have a contest for the name of our show. No one has won yet. If you have a suggestion for our show, email it to [email protected].
Keep reading for the full video show!
Contacts:
Draegan – [email protected]
Clementine – [email protected]
Next up in our series of Guild Wars 2 area completion guides is Gendarran Fields, the area directly north of Lion’s Arch, intended for players between levels 25-35. The area’s home of some pretty windmills, bloodthirsty pirates, and even more bloodthirsty centaur. Gendarran Fields is where the Vigil Headquarters is located, and in the same area, an asura portal to the high level Straits of Devastation map. There is one jumping puzzle in Gendarran Fields that isn’t required for the completion achievement.
These completion guides are intended to help players achieve the completion series achievements. We’ll just be covering the more difficult-to-find Points of Interest, all of the Vista Points, all of the Skill Challenges, and the area’s jumping puzzles. Also included is a humungous map, with every major Point of Interest (PoI) and Waypoint (WP) labeled. Points of Interest have black-bordered text, Waypoints dark blue. Renown (heart) quests are also labeled with their suggested level. This should help you decide on a path of adventure, if you so choose.
I’ve also labeled nearby portals to other maps as well as the entrance to the map’s secret jumping puzzle, Swashbuckler’s Cove. Gendarran Fields’ puzzle starts in a cave accessible from the riverbank shown on the large map below. For puzzle tips, please see here.
Many other maps can be accessed from Gendarran Fields, including:
Lion’s Arch (both southern portals)
Snowden Drifts (top eastern portal)
Lornar’s Pass (bottom eastern portal)
Harathi Hinterlands (both northern portals)
Kessex Hills (bottom western portal)
Queensdale (top western portal)
Gendarran Fields 100% Completion and Cheatsheet map (click to show full size version):
Cornucopian Fields Vista:
Start back where the giant pipe begins, at the mill south of the Vista. Hop on the stone ledge, shown on the screenshot to the right as the first X, then hop on the pipe, the second X. If you hug the wall, you’ll be able to move across it then follow the pipe all the way to the Vista. Once below the Vista, you’ll need to jump on either of the small wooden planks to hop to the very top.
Klakka the Brain Skill Point:
This one’s in Lake Gendarr, north of Applenook Hamlet Waypoint. Climb the wrecked ship from the eastern side, then speak to the asura pirate. If you choose to fight him, he’s not too difficult. His “yarr…” is adorable.
Lake Gendarr Skill Point (West side):
South of Mellaggan Shrine, north of Oogooth Waypoint (which is underwater). Talk to the little quaggan and defeat him.
Almuten Mansion Vista:
Go inside the house (approaching from the dockside might be the more direct patch), then up every flight of stairs you see. Eventually you’ll run into the Vista.
Overlook Caverns Vista:
A cave leads to this one. The starting point is the cave just south of Junction Haven Wapoint, the one full of Ice Trolls. Make your way through. Eventually the trolls will turn into spiders, and you’ll find your way to the outside, where the Vista is. There may be a couple Veteran spiders along the way.
Janusian Caves Skill Point:
North of Icegate Gorge, south of Junction Haven. Go through the cave. At the very end is a Veteran Ettin and a Skill Point to commune with.
Molenheide Point of Interest:
Second level of the main Dredge complex. Barely entering the cave will trigger it.
Bonus Area: Provernic Crypt:
Fun little optional area with some fires to dodge, enemies to kill, and a miniature puzzle. Slip behind the wall in the room with the spiders and step on both pressure plates (they sparkle when you’ve successfully stepped on them) to open the heavy door in the room with the Champion spider. In this room is a treasure chest and a stone that lets you exit the crypt.
Ascalon Settlement Vista:
Travel to the very north end of the city, where you have to climb a sloped path that’s edged by moss-covered stone. Keep climbing the path as it edges around, running toward the vista. You’ll finally see the vista on top of a building, and it can be reached by merely hopping on the roof from this side.
Skill Point Challenge west of Traveler’s Dale:
Same location as the Melamdru’s Cenote Point of Interest. Enter the cave that’s directly east from First Haven, continue to the second level, and make your way to the very end, where both can be grabbed.
Nebo Terrace Vista:
Run up the platform where the trebuchet is, and hop across to the rooftop to grab the Vista.
Skill Point Challenge north of Hezran Outcrops:
Enter the cave (either side will do) and fight your way to the little golem who gives you an item in your inventory to use. There are a couple Veteran mobs in this cave.
Vista north of Witherflank River and west of Provernic Crypt:
Hop up the rocks on the southern side. Easy grab.
Vigilant Hills Vista:
Easiest Vista ever. Run up the hill!
Vigil Keep Skill Point Challenge:
Defeat Warmaster Yulia.
Brigantine Isles Vista:
Easily reached from the top of the hill, which can be climbed up from the northeastern shore.
NOTICE: We had some technical difficulties and towards the end, the audio becomes out of sync with the video.
This week get all up in the Tier of Tears as we talk with Marstar of Elite and Ritsuko of Synapse; two big guilds of the Titan Alliance. These two guys give us the low down of what happens in the middle of the night when North America is sleeping.
All throughout the week, every forum was buzzing about night capping. The first weekend of last week’s T1 matchup (HoD vs. SBI vs. ET) was killer for HoD but as the week progressed, the server pulled out a win on Tuesday. Find out all about their strategies and the differences between night and day!
Continue reading to watch the show.
Contacts:
Draegan: [email protected] – @jdodge80
Clementine: [email protected]
Bios:
Marstar – GM of Elite
Website: http://www.elite-pvpers.net/home
Check out Marstar’s opinion on 2v1 on Guru and his thoughts on night capping on the official forums.
Ritsuko – GM of Synapse
Special shoutout to the HoD militia that has been a pleasure to workwith in EB, and some of the Asian guilds whom we maintain close relations with eg. Crusade [CRS],Dreadnoughst [DNS] and Nine Dragon [ND].
Website: http://www.synapse-guild.enjin.com/
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We all have things we love about Guild Wars 2, places that make us cheer out and say “yes, this is my ultra-mega place!” We all have classes, abilities, and features we’re passionate about, either negatively or positively. This is a place to share all that. A couple times a week I’ll be raising a Guild Wars 2 question to the community– hopefully an interesting one– and we’ll share our opinions. I’ll start off with my opinion just to get the ball rolling, but these questions will not have any right or wrong answers, so feel free to argue with me to your heart’s content!
Early on during headstart, I noticed quite a few players questioning their order choice (you know, that whole Vigil, Durmand Priory, or Order of Whispers choice). The decision comes fairly early in the personal story quest line, and interestingly enough, affects a large portion of the nature of the story quests that follow the decision.
Durmand Priory characters, for example, are given some quests that require the player to make use of gadgets while continuing the storyline. Vigil characters, naturally, are given quests that follow the whole “shoot first– ask questions later” philosophy. Order of Whispers characters follow a more sneaky route, but still get the job done. The three orders also gain access to different armor sets.
Personally, I was really happy when I found out that the story quests can vary due to our chosen order. I haven’t RP’ed in Guild Wars 2 yet, but I always kind of attach personalities to my characters regardless, and I instantly looked forward to creating alts to play the part of all three orders. My main, a gruff-yet-protective charr Guardian, went, of course, with the Vigil.
There was really no other alternative for her, and I’m quite happy with the story quests I’ve received as a result. The Vigil heavy armor set isn’t bad, either. As for my alts, I’m thinking my Engineer and Thief will have to be Order of Whispers, and my little Necromancer may do well under Durmand Priory. I still haven’t quite figured out how my adorable asura Necromancer with a bow in her hair manages to summon demons, but hey– it’s still magic, man! Just cool magic! Something like that, anyway.
How do you stand on your order choice? How did you decide, and are you still happy with that decision? Do you love or hate the armor sets? Sound off in the comments section below!
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UPDATE: Audio of this podcast is now up after the break.
Watch this week’s episode as Clementine and Draegan go over the news, notes and WvW action of the week of 9/14. We also have an interview with Archaos of Ruin Gaming as he gives us a run down of his opinions of WvW.
As always, if you have any crazy, fun or interesting videos, send them to [email protected]. If you have an entry for the “Name Our Show” contest please send an email to the same address with “GW2 Junkies Podcast Naming Contest” in the subject line.
If you have any tips, news, or anything we are missing on the show as well as any feedback, leave a comment or send an email to either Draegan or Clementine.
Contact:
Draegan: [email protected]
Clementine: [email protected]
Click to continue reading to watch the whole episode.
Audio Version:
GW2J S01E02 Audio
We all have things we love about Guild Wars 2, places that make us cheer out and say “yes, this is my ultra-mega place!” We all have classes, abilities, and features we’re passionate about, either negatively or positively. This is a place to share all that. A couple times a week I’ll be raising a Guild Wars 2 question to the community– hopefully an interesting one– and we’ll share our opinions. I’ll start off with my opinion just to get the ball rolling, but these questions will not have any right or wrong answers, so feel free to argue with me to your heart’s content!
So, this past week I’ve been doing quite a bit of crafting on my main. I’m rounding my way to level 40 now as a weaponsmith/jeweler, and still finding myself needing iron and silver (along with, of course, fine materials (fangs, vials of blood, etc.)). I’ve managed to keep my crafting fairly current with my level, but it does take some extra ore farming occasionally. I don’t mind this. In fact, I find it somewhat refreshing that crafting takes a bit of work sometimes. Having goals is a good excuse– er, reason– to explore if you ask me, and it keeps me wandering eagerly.
I enjoy also the item discovery system immensely. The first time I tried discovering a cooking recipe during beta, I instantly fell in love. At first glance the system appears complicated, but it also makes sense. Cooking uses real ingredient combinations, and axes don’t just need ore– they need wood, too, for the handles. The collection tab and the fact that we can now craft from it and our bank adds to my enjoyment of crafting overall. The game’s salvaging system is also solid, in my opinion, since it gives players a few options when it comes to obtaining needed materials.
That said, I’ve heard quite a few complaints about Guild Wars 2′s crafting system lately, especially on the official forums. Some crafting disciplines naturally need more fine materials than others, which I imagine could be frustrating (this may be true for cloth/leather disciplines as well). There’s also the fact that down-leveling and playing crafting catch up isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. Also, it’s a little difficult to play the Trading Post smartly at the moment, thanks to the market’s general saturation of certain goods, which is something that will ideally shift in time.
As a result, I’ve kind of formed the opinion that crafting in Guild Wars 2 is something that isn’t going to satisfy all types of players, but those who enjoy it seem to thoroughly enjoy it. Why, yes, I’m gleefully gathering onions and carrots for when I plan on leveling my charr’s inner chef. On second thought, I may have an MMO addition to collecting onions. I RPed in LotRO as a goofy, onion-farming Guardian. Dang, my secret’s out…
How about you? What’s your take on the crafting system? Is it fun and worthwhile, or is it lacking in one regard or another?
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