What is truly sad to me is how many gamers are under the impression, thanks to *garbage* like WoW, Rift, SWTOR and other games, that MMO gaming should consist of 'easy button' faceroll solo gameplay. I honestly don't know how anyone can have fun in an MMO when they can walk around in God Mode with impunity mowing down groups of mobs by themselves.  Unfortunately, this is how most MMO games are dsesigned today.

As much as I am looking forward to playing some GW2, I suspect it's going to be just as easy to play as all the others.

Having said that, TSW is different than your average themepark.  The reason for Decks is because different builds produce different results.  You aren't going to be able to stick to one build and solo your way through the whole game without some difficulty along the way. This game is very much about collecting AP and having options in your builds. 

If you do want to stick to one build and it's not working for you in a certain area, then learn about the little feature that made MMORPG games exist in the first place.  SOCIAL GAMEPLAY.  Group up, meet some people, and have a great time.

This is how I see the wheel.

In life, you set goals to achieve and work towards. In order to achieve those goals you need to learn the skills necesary. Those that learn achieve their goals.

Originally posted by ShakyMo
Once you get blue mountain you encounter mobs that are immune to certain states. You have to swap your build around in case the given mobs are immune to say weaken.

Also as you progress grouping more is encouraged, its supposed to get harder.

its not only in blue mountains you ahve this kind of mobs, also I say if you are having problem to kill things you are doing something wrong so its better you start to you your damn head, and not only to copy the biber haircut,

really kids this days are ignorants.....

Originally posted by asdar

There's eight thousand games out there that don't offer any challenge. Please don't wish the best part of this game away. I pray for death in most games, they're way too easy. This one is just right at the low levels. I hope they keep making it harder as we move up.

If it's too difficult just partner up.

2nd this! Tired of games being on Ez mode. Its much more enjoyable (for me) when a game actually gives you a challange these days. it seems ever since early 2000 games just keep getting TO easy.  Going to the store today to buy it,lol just because poeple and a friend of mine are mentioning how challanging the game can get.

Originally posted by Elikal

I also used My gear is QL5. I use sword and assault rifle.

Yes, that't no official built. I didn't think it was so important to stick to these premades. :(

I also used blades/AR for most of the first 2 zones but I found the DPS underwhelming...not all that surprising with tamk/heal weapons.

I've gone back and started training Ele/Blood which I like much better and feel I can actually hold my own DPSing in Polaris/Inferno... but I'll probably change my mind again... I've already unlocked 5 inner wheels (shotgun too)... at least I have a lot of coats to choose from :)

Originally posted by tokini

 my idea of freedom is that anything, played optimally, will succeed. what is the point of choice if i cant use a certain build because, even if played optimally, it just wont work?  gw2 is no different - there will be gimped builds, worhtless builds, and strongest 'must use' builds.  ive grown weary of games that say you have 3 talent trees, or 8 'souls' to mix and match, or skill wheel, or decks, out the wazoo but only 1 or a few are truly worthwhile, so maybe its just me

Any 2 weapon combination - if played optimally WILL succeed in terms of allowing you to solo general content as well as fulfill at least one of the key group roles.  Keep in mind that "played optimally" also includes the right selection of Actives and Passives for the particular situation - that strategy is part of gameplay and cannot be separated.

On the other hand "Any build should succeed" is a terrible philosophy for a classless game.  It would require the game to require no strategy or thinking whatsoever.   Again, this was my main problem with GW2 - when i showed up for the big event fights, it made absolutely no difference what build i had, what i did in combat, whether i was dead the entire time, afk, or whatever - the event would still be defeated, i would still get the same reward and life would go on.  There is a certain kind of fun of having zero responsibility and not worrying about being good, but it's not my kind of fun.

I mean, TSW allows me to take skills from weapons I don't even use.  How stupid would it be if i had no abilities for my weapon to use (world's worst build) but I was still able to defeat all the content (because you know - ANY build can succeed)?  What point would there be in me ever improving either my play or my build?

Fact is, if you want to Tank dungeons and you have 14 healing abilities in your deck and all DPS gear on, you will not be able to tank.   It is not a limitation of your freedom.  After all, it was your freedom that allowed you to choose those abilities in the first place.  If TSW limited all players to 5 choices of 14 ability sets - all of which worked - then you would not consider the game as having freedom.  It would be a regualr game with regular classes.

"Anything played optimally should succeed" is a good philosophy for games with preset classes.  If the game has only 5 classes, then all classes should be viable to play.  TSW has no classes and the philosophy simply does not work with "pick any 14 abilities at random and you will succeed".  

I had laboured for hours and hours to come up with the build i would work towards once the game went live.   When i got into the game, i started getting all the key abilities for the build.  One of those abilities was an outer ring, branch 6 ability that required more APs than almost all my other stuff combined.  When i finally got the ability, it turned out to not work well at all with what I had in mind.   I don't consider that a limitation.   I made a choice - a choice enabled by the freedom of choices.  The choice was poor and now i'm working on making a different choice in order to succeed.   I'm 100% sure that the ability in question is fantastic for a different build, but it doesn't work for me.  To me, figuring this stuff out is one of the most fun parts of the game and a great testament to the freddom it provides.   I am free to do stupid shit and learn from it.

Originally posted by arieste

Originally posted by tokini

 my idea of freedom is that anything, played optimally, will succeed. what is the point of choice if i cant use a certain build because, even if played optimally, it just wont work?  gw2 is no different - there will be gimped builds, worhtless builds, and strongest 'must use' builds.  ive grown weary of games that say you have 3 talent trees, or 8 'souls' to mix and match, or skill wheel, or decks, out the wazoo but only 1 or a few are truly worthwhile, so maybe its just me

**snip**

 

Fact is, if you want to Tank dungeons and you have 14 healing abilities in your deck and all DPS gear on, you will not be able to tank.   It is not a limitation of your freedom.  After all, it was your freedom that allowed you to choose those abilities in the first place.  If TSW limited all players to 5 choices of 14 ability sets - all of which worked - then you would not consider the game as having freedom.  It would be a regualr game with regular classes.

 

"Anything played optimally should succeed" is a good philosophy for games with preset classes.  If the game has only 5 classes, then all classes should be viable to play.  TSW has no classes and the philosophy simply does not work with "pick any 14 abilities at random and you will succeed".  

 

I had laboured for hours and hours to come up with the build i would work towards once the game went live.   When i got into the game, i started getting all the key abilities for the build.  One of those abilities was an outer ring, branch 6 ability that required more APs than almost all my other stuff combined.  When i finally got the ability, it turned out to not work well at all with what I had in mind.   I don't consider that a limitation.   I made a choice - a choice enabled by the freedom of choices.  The choice was poor and now i'm working on making a different choice in order to succeed.   I'm 100% sure that the ability in question is fantastic for a different build, but it doesn't work for me.  To me, figuring this stuff out is one of the most fun parts of the game and a great testament to the freddom it provides.   I am free to do stupid shit and learn from it.

 

very well said:)

awesome post by arieste

Overall i agree with the idea that its about freedom to choose and there are builds are arent optimal.

Generally speaking I also agree its up to you to have the skill to choose - but at the same time I also know that the game is probably only 50% properly balanced at this point and to not give any blame or expectations to the developers to continue to fix the issues is pure stupidity.

They will nerf/buff abilities ad naseum like every other game - and there will always be a group of people who proclaim everything is perfect and that its your own fault for being stupid in your ability. Things will change - there ARE OP builds and most assuredlly builds that suck balls - part will be because if player choice, some will be because of shoddy broken/bugged abilities and other will be because the devs havent properly balanced things. Thats the way of games with a multitude of choices.

In the end - my point is quit blaming this one dude for not being smart enough or lacking a life enough to spend hours (days?) reading forums trying to figure out the game because the devs failed to properly find an effective way to explain the game and how it works to the average player.

Originally posted by kristov

Overall i agree with the idea that its about freedom to choose and there are builds are arent optimal.

 

Generally speaking I also agree its up to you to have the skill to choose - but at the same time I also know that the game is probably only 50% properly balanced at this point and to not give any blame or expectations to the developers to continue to fix the issues is pure stupidity.

 

They will nerf/buff abilities ad naseum like every other game - and there will always be a group of people who proclaim everything is perfect and that its your own fault for being stupid in your ability. Things will change - there ARE OP builds and most assuredlly builds that suck balls - part will be because if player choice, some will be because of shoddy broken/bugged abilities and other will be because the devs havent properly balanced things. Thats the way of games with a multitude of choices.

 

In the end - my point is quit blaming this one dude for not being smart enough or lacking a life enough to spend hours (days?) reading forums trying to figure out the game because the devs failed to properly find an effective way to explain the game and how it works to the average player.

 

long story short - this game isn't balanced, and there are going to be alot of FOTM builds

Originally posted by eyelolled

 

long story short - this game isn't balanced, and there are going to be alot of FOTM builds

Define "balance"?  

Does "balance" mean that any 14 abilities chosen are equally powerful to any other 14 abilities chosen?  .

Originally posted by arieste

Originally posted by eyelolled

 

long story short - this game isn't balanced, and there are going to be alot of FOTM builds

Define "balance"?  

 

Does "balance" mean that any 14 abilities chosen are equally powerful to any other 14 abilities chosen?  .

why not? 

in a game with no levels, shouldnt player ability matter more than the 'right build'?

Originally posted by tokini

Originally posted by arieste

Originally posted by eyelolled

 

long story short - this game isn't balanced, and there are going to be alot of FOTM builds

Define "balance"?  

 

Does "balance" mean that any 14 abilities chosen are equally powerful to any other 14 abilities chosen?  .

why not? 

in a game with no levels, shouldnt player ability matter more than the 'right build'?

Would you expect to win if you brought a knife to a gun fight? 

Originally posted by eyelolled

Originally posted by kristov

Overall i agree with the idea that its about freedom to choose and there are builds are arent optimal.

 

Generally speaking I also agree its up to you to have the skill to choose - but at the same time I also know that the game is probably only 50% properly balanced at this point and to not give any blame or expectations to the developers to continue to fix the issues is pure stupidity.

 

They will nerf/buff abilities ad naseum like every other game - and there will always be a group of people who proclaim everything is perfect and that its your own fault for being stupid in your ability. Things will change - there ARE OP builds and most assuredlly builds that suck balls - part will be because if player choice, some will be because of shoddy broken/bugged abilities and other will be because the devs havent properly balanced things. Thats the way of games with a multitude of choices.

 

In the end - my point is quit blaming this one dude for not being smart enough or lacking a life enough to spend hours (days?) reading forums trying to figure out the game because the devs failed to properly find an effective way to explain the game and how it works to the average player.

 

long story short - this game isn't balanced, and there are going to be alot of FOTM builds

Long story short balance is a myth...

It was said that players are supoosed to try to "break the game"  but within limits. There are limits to dps,mitigation, and healing output. If a build goes beyond that limit there will be changes.

I don't think we will see any changes until a good portion of the population are in ql10 gear.

Originally posted by tokini

Originally posted by arieste

Originally posted by eyelolled

 

long story short - this game isn't balanced, and there are going to be alot of FOTM builds

Define "balance"?  

 

Does "balance" mean that any 14 abilities chosen are equally powerful to any other 14 abilities chosen?  .

why not? 

in a game with no levels, shouldnt player ability matter more than the 'right build'?

Yes, and this game does souly depend on a players ability to build the "right build" with the skills offered.  There is much more "thought" involved than quick reaction skill (although you need that too especially in dungeons).   You need to have all the right ingredients to make the perfect dish, but only you can put the work in to finding out what the right ingredients are.

Originally posted by tokini

Originally posted by arieste

Originally posted by eyelolled

 

long story short - this game isn't balanced, and there are going to be alot of FOTM builds

Define "balance"?  

 

Does "balance" mean that any 14 abilities chosen are equally powerful to any other 14 abilities chosen?  .

why not? 

in a game with no levels, shouldnt player ability matter more than the 'right build'?

Player Ability in TSW comes down to 3 things:

1.  Making the right abitliy and gear build from an vast number of possible combinations and then tweaking it for a great array of differering situations - This is Strategic Ability

2.  Choosing the right place to be, the right target and the right ability to use at any given point in combat - This is Tactical Ability

3.  Hitting the right buttons to execute #2 without mistakes - This is Execution or the "twitch factor" if you will.

In a RPG, the focus is usually on #1 and #2 as being the most important and #3 being tertiary.  In other games - FPS games for example - the focus tends to be on #3 first - it's usually referred to as "twitch" gameplay. 

So yes, player ability is very important and in TSW choosing the right build and gear loadout is the first and most critical element of it, since without it, you're going to be in a severe disadvantage.

Im currently levelling as Blood/Blade DPS and have no idea if my combinations are working. I seem to be killing things at a reasonable pace in the Savage Coast. However i actually couldn't care if ive done it totally wrong as im having an insane amount of fun playing my current build.

If it turns out i've totally gimped myself then so be it, at least i had fun doing it! This i why i love TSW i can totally mess up but i dont care its all fixable, yeah it may take a while but the zones are awesome so far and i'd quite like to re-do some of the quests anyway as they were so enjoyable the first time.

Originally posted by Elikal

Playing Kingsmouth and Savage Coast, all was fine and daisy.

But now, since I entered Blue Mountains, I felt like I ran into a goddamn wall. With spikes. And acid. And fire. You get the idea. NOT FUN. See, put all into Assault Rifle and Sword, which worked really well the first 2 zones. But now.... EVERY single mob is a CHORE. Hack, hack, hack, hack hack. Finisher. 50 times before ONE BLASTED mob is down. Then move 3 meters in this super dense mob ridden place and start over.

You know I am so frustrated and angry and sad right now. It's like I always BARELY do any mob with a bit mini health left over and then if some roamer comes I am dead.

This. Is. Not. Fun!

Sorry for the rant. But I felt I cried here if I died just ONE MORE TIME in this horrible place. I tried dozens of new combinations, but to no avail. The only thing that worked was going ALL into Assault Rifle leeches as self heal. But then it takes me even more time to kill these mobs... sigh.

Not happy panda.

Originally posted by Elikal

Playing Kingsmouth and Savage Coast, all was fine and daisy.

But now, since I entered Blue Mountains, I felt like I ran into a goddamn wall. With spikes. And acid. And fire. You get the idea. NOT FUN. See, put all into Assault Rifle and Sword, which worked really well the first 2 zones. But now.... EVERY single mob is a CHORE. Hack, hack, hack, hack hack. Finisher. 50 times before ONE BLASTED mob is down. Then move 3 meters in this super dense mob ridden place and start over.

You know I am so frustrated and angry and sad right now. It's like I always BARELY do any mob with a bit mini health left over and then if some roamer comes I am dead.

This. Is. Not. Fun!

Sorry for the rant. But I felt I cried here if I died just ONE MORE TIME in this horrible place. I tried dozens of new combinations, but to no avail. The only thing that worked was going ALL into Assault Rifle leeches as self heal. But then it takes me even more time to kill these mobs... sigh.

Not happy panda.

You know there is this brand new thing you probably haven't heard about, it's all hush-hush and top secret, it's called grouping. But you haven't gotten that info from me, understood?