tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8171316701044436647.post721567954626767964..comments2023-03-25T02:43:18.591-07:00Comments on Divinity's Reach: A Guide to Guild Wars 2: Early Second BWE ImpressionsEntombedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01844589959064626132noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8171316701044436647.post-3078444579595334022012-06-09T18:32:14.503-07:002012-06-09T18:32:14.503-07:00I think the first tier is fine, but I do think the...I think the first tier is fine, but I do think the second tier can be reduced. On the other hand, is it the tiers that are the problem or the skills? Obviously they can't all appeal to all players but they should be desirable enough that players want to buy and experiment with most of them. I actually found a lot of tier 1 skills more appealing than most tier 2 and many tier 3 skills, at least for general PvE purposes.<br /><br />That said, the game itself isn't a grind so I see it more as pacing the coolness. That's why I don't get why it would discourage alts. It's already such a different playing experience when you switch characters, and again, if anything is an issue, it's the skills. Some skills are generally very useful for any kind of build or content (if not very exciting), and fall in the first and second tier, a lot of showier but more situational skills are in the second or third...and then there's some skills that have widely been regarded as duds in the second and third tier, at least for mesmers. I haven't looked as closely as the other professions. I know my elementalist's canttrips are tier 2 and 3, and it seems strange that mesmers get access to their more frequent teleport than elementalists do theirs...but maybe mesmers need to be a little more slippery sooner.<br /><br />I think the system is fine in theory but definitely needs some fine tuning, and maybe even helps draw attention to some skills that need improvement. It's easier to blow them off when you don't have to get them.Alyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03668870244441154071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8171316701044436647.post-48701039015065767172012-06-09T13:47:31.649-07:002012-06-09T13:47:31.649-07:00I understand that it can be extremely hard to bala...I understand that it can be extremely hard to balance any MMO, particularly aspects of PvP. I do agree that many traits fall into the niche category, but I really liked the freedom of the old system. Like I said, the change traits is close to understandable, and debatable at most. I just happen to be on the other side of the argument.<br /><br />As for skills, I don't think anyone can argue how ridiculous it is to have to buy 5 tier one skills, 5 tier two skills, before you can even buy a tier 3. I understand that it adds to progression, but they need to at a very minimum, tone down the amount you need to buy before progressing. My friend thought about leveling a new character, and then when he noticed he how long it would take to unlock tier 2 and 3 skills, he decided against it. I thought Guild Wars 2 was supposed to get rid of things in MMOs we do not like, namely the grinding aspect of the game. Getting 10 skills before I can get the one I actually want, sounds like grinding to me. The system, partially designed and implemented to help new players, may actually be inhibiting them. I disagree strongly with the change, but I still trust the future of the game and ArenaNet.Entombedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844589959064626132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8171316701044436647.post-11888973287124097722012-06-09T09:59:34.524-07:002012-06-09T09:59:34.524-07:00It's not just balancing the 12 traits with eac...It's not just balancing the 12 traits with each other but with every possible combination, and against every profession. The more builds you have to balance, the longer it takes to balance and at a certain point that number becomes unmanageable.<br /><br />Incidentally, some of my new builds include more than one tier 1 or 2 trait. They aren't useless, and a lot of them fall into that "niche" category.Alyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03668870244441154071noreply@blogger.com