Guild Wars 2?

Miramon · 2012-10-08T09:25:45.000Z

Timex:

This is another thing to keep in mind.

While you’re running around, you’ll often hear some NPC say, “Hey you, over there! I want to talk to you!” or something along those lines.

If you talk to those folks, who are literally all over the place, they all start new events.

Honestly, I’ve also found that talking to lots of random NPC’s who are just standing around starts up events. It’s a little weird, since except for when they call out to you, there isn’t much indication that there is any point in talking to them. Generally though, if you see someone who has a name, you can talk to them and it’s got a decent chance of starting up a new event.

Yeah, by “click on” above, I really meant “walk near and hit f”.

Swordchucks · 2012-10-08T09:51:31.000Z

I’ve run into the under-leveling issue a couple of times, personally. Usually it’s just a function of bad luck with DEs when you’re going through (and the human starter area seems to be the worst for it). Fortunately (ish), I have a bit of OCD about finishing off zones, so I just flip to another starter zone and finish it out instead.

SlyFrog · 2012-10-08T09:52:01.000Z

What’s the best way to find groups to run dungeons? I’m level 30 now, and am somewhat lost without any form of “dungeon finder” in the game that I can see. I understand that I can do the first dungeon now in “story mode,” but being someone who plays at odd times, etc., I imagine it is going to have to be with a PUG.

How do people advertise (there doesn’t seem to be a worldwide channel), etc.?

Charlatan · 2012-10-08T10:00:44.000Z

SlyFrog:

What’s the best way to find groups to run dungeons? I’m level 30 now, and am somewhat lost without any form of “dungeon finder” in the game that I can see. I understand that I can do the first dungeon now in “story mode,” but being someone who plays at odd times, etc., I imagine it is going to have to be with a PUG.

How do people advertise (there doesn’t seem to be a worldwide channel), etc.?

Seems to me that people either try to organize groups in their guild or they stand in Lion’s Arch and look for groups. Once in a while you’ll see people in the dungeon’s zone advertising for groups, but I would think your odds of success are pretty low doing it that way.

Derbain · 2012-10-08T10:03:18.000Z

SlyFrog:

What’s the best way to find groups to run dungeons? I’m level 30 now, and am somewhat lost without any form of “dungeon finder” in the game that I can see. I understand that I can do the first dungeon now in “story mode,” but being someone who plays at odd times, etc., I imagine it is going to have to be with a PUG.

How do people advertise (there doesn’t seem to be a worldwide channel), etc.?

The few times I’ve run without a full group of guildies, I’ve just gone to where the dungeon’s entrance is and simply used /say. Has worked like a charm every time. Granted, I’ve only used it for AC and CM. There aren’t as many people loitering around some of the later dungeons.

With no set defined roles, putting a group together is generally pretty easy if there are people in the area. No waiting around for a healer or a tank.

MrPerson · 2012-10-08T11:51:42.000Z

Derbain:

With no set defined roles, putting a group together is generally pretty easy if there are people in the area. No waiting around for a healer or a tank.

Although getting a couple guardians does make most dungeons a LOT easier ;) Two or sometimes three guardians can basically negate the mechanics of many fights.

Hanacker · 2012-10-08T18:09:37.000Z

I made it to level 80 (and rolled a few alts) without seeing a single skill quest that didn’t work. Maybe I’m lucky too. DEs, sure, but skill quests all worked fine.

Miramon · 2012-10-08T18:36:31.000Z

Hanacker:

I made it to level 80 (and rolled a few alts) without seeing a single skill quest that didn’t work. Maybe I’m lucky too. DEs, sure, but skill quests all worked fine.

I’ve seen 2 or 3 that were broken at one time or another. All fixed now.

Seneca · 2012-10-08T21:42:54.000Z

One thing that is beyond irritating is the invisible mob situation in WvW. A bunch of us have spent the last few days in the trenches having to mash the Alt key and hoping we see a red triangle target on the screen to indicate the enemy is in the area. Now I know what a fish in a barrel feels like.

Nephrinn · 2012-10-09T05:26:16.000Z

Seneca:

One thing that is beyond irritating is the invisible mob situation in WvW. A bunch of us have spent the last few days in the trenches having to mash the Alt key and hoping we see a red triangle target on the screen to indicate the enemy is in the area. Now I know what a fish in a barrel feels like.

Yeah, this made me quit WvW a few days ago with a siege going on around Stonemist. It was the worst I’ve ever seen it as I had to be right up on enemies before they would appear, making it damned difficult for my ranged elementalist to hit anything.

SlainteMhath · 2012-10-09T06:33:09.000Z

I saw invisible mobs last night in PvE. I had travelled to the human homelands and was fighting bandits at the farm (group event to save the ranchers) and half the bandit groups were invisible until you were literally right on top of them. It wasn’t that big of a deal in PvE, but I can imagine it has to be extremely frustrating in WvW.

LockerK · 2012-10-09T07:05:47.000Z

Retaking Stonemist last night with probably 50 or so on each side, pushed into the main chamber which appeared empty until I realized the arrow carts and ballistas were magically firing themselves. I’ve heard rumors that it’s an engine limitation, which I really hope isn’t the case because it makes large scale sieges extremely unfun. My FPS was also in the single digits which was shocking given my specs (GTX 670, i5-2550k, 16GB ram, 2560x1440 res). Sure, there was AOE everywhere, but this is something that really should have been optimized.

Yes, I realize my two complaints’ solutions are probably in opposition of each other. If I had to choose I’d prefer them to fix the invisible mob issue – I can deal with slightly lower settings as long as I know what I’m firing at.

SlainteMhath · 2012-10-09T07:40:29.000Z

SO CRAFTING : UGH.

I reached 20th last night and had been dilligently collecting copper ore and other crafting materials including the components for sigils since level 1. I figured at 20 it was probably time to level Armorsmithing to 75 so I could see what sort of stuff I could make for myself or at the very least start in on some iron now that I’m in areas where I can collect those resources.

Problem is, I have more than enough copper, but Jute Scraps are killing me. To level to 75 in armorsmithing you need 150 Jute Scraps for components along the way. Being a Norn, not much in my starter area dropped cloth armor, so Jute Scraps were tougher to come by, usually only showing up as a byproduct of the tiny loot bags dropped by mobs. I’m a good 75 scraps short.

So off I went to the human starting area to farm bandits for cloth armor and loot bags full of Jute Scraps, or so I thought. After killing hordes of bandits for around 90 minutes my total take in Jute Scraps was maybe 25. I think half a dozen pieces of salvageable armor and rags dropped in that time period, most of the scraps came from the loot bags. At this rate I’ll have invested about 4 hours just to farm Jute Scraps. On the advice of guild chat I looked at the TP for cloth armor to buy and salvage, but the cheapest cloth pieces were 40cp+, likely because other players had already snatched up anything under 20cp. Jute Scraps themeselves were selling for 29cp each, hardly a workable price for a level 20 character to purchase 50+.

So once again we have an MMORPG where crafting is just a tacked on time and money sink. It would appear that the optimum route to Armorsmithing (and perhaps all crafting) is to simply harvest as much as possible from levels 1-80, then go back at 80 and use your amassed fortune to blow through crafting when dropping 50 silver on a stack of needed materials is a drop in the bucket for you. Alternatively, if you actually want to USE crafting for yourself as a character, get ready for a long tedious grind to find the proper materials and components to get to the level where you can make yourself something worth using for a level or three.

Stridergg · 2012-10-09T07:59:35.000Z

First of all you need only 92 Jute Scraps to level up Armorsmithing to 75: http://www.guildwars2-crafting.com/armorsmith.html

Second, unless you are in a hurry, don’t buy stuff on TP at the seller’s price. Place your buying offer and, if it’s on top of the list, it will get filled within 10 minutes for sure.

So you need like 20 jute scraps and can buy them for 25 copper per (even less). This comes down to 5 silver, hardly a big deal.

SlainteMhath · 2012-10-09T08:18:42.000Z

Hmmm…interesting. I was going by this guide which states 144 Jute Scraps and 44 of each “tiny fine” item for Insignias.

I’ll give your linked guide a shot and see where I get. 5 silver would be a heck of a lot less of a dent in my savings than the 15 silver I was looking at. Thanks!

Stridergg · 2012-10-09T08:31:59.000Z

Slainte Mhath:

Hmmm…interesting. I was going by this guide which states 144 Jute Scraps and 44 of each “tiny fine” item for Insignias.

I’ll give your linked guide a shot and see where I get. 5 silver would be a heck of a lot less of a dent in my savings than the 15 silver I was looking at. Thanks!

Yeah your guide seems to be pretty inaccurate, there are some complaints about it on page 2.

I didn’t really follow any guides when I was leveling up my crafting, so I don’t have any first hand experience but the one I linked was updated and refined like gazillion times, so I think it’s pretty up to date.

Ender · 2012-10-09T09:02:07.000Z

For crafting, I rely on my stable of alts to provide mats.
I’m behind in green wood, so I jump on my lvl 10 Engineer and run around doing quests and harvesting. Boom I’m 12 and I have the mats I need to push through.

MrPerson · 2012-10-09T11:27:22.000Z

I’m glad this game doesn’t try to force crafting on players. Lotro for example was tedious with the gating of the best weapon relics on not only crafting, but crafting guild rep. WoW is similar with the profession bonuses, but it was at least trivial to buy your way through and finish it in about an hour.

Here, I can craft if I want to craft, or if I want to turn gold in xp (I don’t). But I don’t have to in order to optimize my character’s stats.

Kyle700 · 2012-10-09T11:39:44.000Z

I had some problems getting low level jewels when I was leveling up jeweling, but it is all fine now. It wasn’t vital, to be honest. All crafting does at lower levels is give you more exp, and eventully if you keep up on it, you can use things that are at your level.
Also, for the jute scraps, I think that must be what those long trains of naked bear rangers are farming. I would just go on the trading post for that. Just wait until you are blocked from crafting because of ectoplasam >.<.

Miramon · 2012-10-09T12:07:42.000Z

Kyle700:

I would just go on the trading post for that. Just wait until you are blocked from crafting because of ectoplasam >.<.

Actually, the ectoplasm isn’t that bad, if you’re using it to get over the hump from 375 to 400 in something. It’s not hard to get yellow level 70+ stuff here and there, and it can yield 3 ectoplasm at a time to the master salvage kit. I think I needed a total of 6 – 2 yellow items worth – to get to 400 jewelry.

The thing that’s silly is spending 200 skill points for the legendary item component. I actually blew around 50-75 skill points on random junk skills because it seemed like it would be fun to get them all – fortunately I doubt I stay with the game long enough to grind for all the other things you need for a legendary weapon anyway.