"Today’s game developers could learn a thing or two from World of Warcraft by simply allowing for a multiplicity of starter zones. That one small fact in and of itself gives a strong replayability option to any game as amply evidenced by WoW."

I COMPLETELY agree. There are few things I enjoy about WoW anymore but I do have to say that even on release the replayability of the game was excellent. Several newer games (released in the last 2 years, I won't name names) could have taken a page from their book. Having little variation in where you level makes replayability a boring prospect.

Originally posted by Aerowyn
seems random on SoR.. problem with temples is the karma vender gear doesn't have enough variety in stats imho.. if it was all knight/berserker stats you would see a lot more running them I bet.. personally I'm sitting on half a million karma.. not really looking to get a legendary and the stats for the karma gear in Orr don't go with most my mesmer builds

I'm confused. You say they aren't popular because they don't have enough variety, but then say that if it was "all knight/berserker stats" it would be more popular. If it was all knight/berserker wouldn't there be LESS variety? I actually like the fact that different temples have different pieces from different stat sets...and you can't fully complete a set. I like the variety. I would argue people don't do them because there is TOO much variety, and people just want the easiest way possible, which is purchasing stuff.

Anyway, on the topic. It's hard to compare to other servers because I've only been on JQ but I agree with the other poster. It seems to be active enough. When my alt hit 80 and I wanted karma gear I had everything I wanted within 30 minutes. I think part of it is getting a good guild together, to run the temples when you need them. 

Originally posted by snapfusion

I never understood the adversion to end game charcter progression.  How on earth can someone do the exact same thing over and over and over in a PROGRAMMED game, a game with no real variations do to natural causes and get nothing out of it?

The pat on the back for doing it only goes so far.  Sorry you can play the socialist angle where everyone is equal and you get nothing for your effort, but Im a capitalist, I want real progression and rewards for my efforts.  Not a useless achievement marker in some screen Ill never look at.

What is wrong with rewarding people for their efforts?  Nothing.

 

 

Snap, the reason people call it a "treadmill" is because while it SEEMS like progression, it isn't progression at all.

If you release a new "tier" of gear with +10% stats, and make the new dungeons all have enemies with +10% stats...you are essentailly in the same place you started except with higher numbers floating around. It doesn't change the challenge of the game, it doesn't make the enemies harder. It is just an artificial way to "appear" like you are progressing when really you are just running on a treadmill in the same place. 

Those of us who don't like gear treadmills recognize that as the "easy way" out when it comes to designing endgame, because it is really just repetition over and over again with no real forward movement. We want something else. We want dungeons that are challenging because of NEW enemy mechanics, or NEW skills that the enemy brings to the table that we need to figure out how to counter. We don't just want a gear check where the dungeon says "Oh wait you don't have enough infusion to fight off the agony, you lose sorry try again later". THat isn't a challenge, that is just a gate that requires a key that you need to get via grinding. It is an artificial timesink that MMO developers put into the games to waste our time so we don't go through their content too fast.

"“We want you to have PTSD when you’re finished playing PlanetSide 2. We want to ‘stain your brain’ for years to come!”"

...did he really tell people he WANTS them to have PTSD? Does he even know what that means?

I expect a comment like that from some random poster in a forum...but from someone who actually speaks to the media as part of their job...that is just crazy. 

While some of the things in this preview sound really interesting and exciting, it does sadden me quite a bit when an Elder Scrolls MMO starts talking about what class you picked.

I saw no mention in the preview of whether we can just go at it on our own without classes, so I assume it's not the case (SOrry if that was confirmed long ago, I haven't really been following the game all that closely). Honestly it's just not an Elder Scrolls game if everyone is put into classes. An open skill system (or at least the ability to choose to play that way) is probably the defining feature of The Elder Scrolls.

Originally posted by Toxia

Originally posted by DrWookie

Originally posted by Vannor

i wasn't asking for the games details, I've played it to death. I would like to know the psychology behind it. I mean, why is it more fun finding a cave on your own? Why is that a greater sense of accomplishment? Having to do things to progress though an area, like puzzles, isn't new, WoW does it, EQ2 does it, Rift does it etc. etc. Why is it better here? The puzzles are actually much simpler than in other MMOs. And why isn't exploration considered a carrot on a stick? It's still do this and you might get this... Explore and you might find something, not so different from run dungeon and you might get something.

As I'm writing this I can see it's starting to sound trollish. I'm being serious though, I'm a fan of the game. I'd like to know how people justify this attitude towards GW2 when I honestly think it's been in almost every MMO out there. I was playing EQ2 today.. stumbled upon some rumbler caves in the Thundering Steppes. No quest lead me there, decided to go in. It was a little maze like going through tunnels with a few rewards here and there. There are many more examples out there, that was probably one of the worst ones but it was fresh in my mind. Why is GW2 getting praised for this stuff while others arn't or havn't?

Someone may have already mentioned this but,

Most of the "puzzles" people are talking about in this thread have NOTHING to do with progression in the zones. You can get 100% zone completion and never seen any of these. There are other "caves" and "dungeons" and even some jumping puzzles that lead to vistas/POIs etc... that are all part of completion. While those are fun, they are different.

The jumping puzzles, to me, represent a great change because they are fully realized, beautiful areas (honestly the prettiest places I"ve seen in this game has been these jumping puzzles) that are 100% outside of the main pathway of the game. Not even a side quest...just a completely unnecessary sidestep that you can do whenever. Yes they hold "treasure" but really you rarely get anything that useful out of the treasure that you can't get elsewhere. They are really made just to stumble upon and enjoy. I don't remember finding areas in other MMO's like that...when I did find a cool area I would end up getting a quest later on that would lead me there and I would realize that the area exists for a quest, for a purpose. These areas don't have renown hearts, or POIs, or skill points, or vistas (though some lead to the best "vistas"), they are just there for fun (and a measly 10 achievement points each).

 

EDIT: Okay I just read one of your later posts. I was not aware that Rift had similar areas. I've never played the game so I can't really comment on them. Regardless of whether this concept is new or unique to GW2, it is still a blast and like I said above the areas you go to are some of the prettiest and most creative in the game (THere is a volcano/research station, some crazy floating cube research station, several large pirate-themed puzzles, an awesome cave full of lava etc...)

Completely agree, but that's probably because im usually right there with you drooling over everything.

The best places ive been to or seen in this game have been the little areas nestled off to themselves, it really shows how much love the artists/dev's put into the game.

Now, back to the game Wookie, ain't got time to be up in here typing books.

~Taaz

I know I know, but I'm not home yet. Won't get home till late. Don't explore too much without me!  Iheard there are some cool puzzles in the high level zones.

Originally posted by Vannor

i wasn't asking for the games details, I've played it to death. I would like to know the psychology behind it. I mean, why is it more fun finding a cave on your own? Why is that a greater sense of accomplishment? Having to do things to progress though an area, like puzzles, isn't new, WoW does it, EQ2 does it, Rift does it etc. etc. Why is it better here? The puzzles are actually much simpler than in other MMOs. And why isn't exploration considered a carrot on a stick? It's still do this and you might get this... Explore and you might find something, not so different from run dungeon and you might get something.

As I'm writing this I can see it's starting to sound trollish. I'm being serious though, I'm a fan of the game. I'd like to know how people justify this attitude towards GW2 when I honestly think it's been in almost every MMO out there. I was playing EQ2 today.. stumbled upon some rumbler caves in the Thundering Steppes. No quest lead me there, decided to go in. It was a little maze like going through tunnels with a few rewards here and there. There are many more examples out there, that was probably one of the worst ones but it was fresh in my mind. Why is GW2 getting praised for this stuff while others arn't or havn't?

Someone may have already mentioned this but,

Most of the "puzzles" people are talking about in this thread have NOTHING to do with progression in the zones. You can get 100% zone completion and never seen any of these. There are other "caves" and "dungeons" and even some jumping puzzles that lead to vistas/POIs etc... that are all part of completion. While those are fun, they are different.

The jumping puzzles, to me, represent a great change because they are fully realized, beautiful areas (honestly the prettiest places I"ve seen in this game has been these jumping puzzles) that are 100% outside of the main pathway of the game. Not even a side quest...just a completely unnecessary sidestep that you can do whenever. Yes they hold "treasure" but really you rarely get anything that useful out of the treasure that you can't get elsewhere. They are really made just to stumble upon and enjoy. I don't remember finding areas in other MMO's like that...when I did find a cool area I would end up getting a quest later on that would lead me there and I would realize that the area exists for a quest, for a purpose. These areas don't have renown hearts, or POIs, or skill points, or vistas (though some lead to the best "vistas"), they are just there for fun (and a measly 10 achievement points each).

EDIT: Okay I just read one of your later posts. I was not aware that Rift had similar areas. I've never played the game so I can't really comment on them. Regardless of whether this concept is new or unique to GW2, it is still a blast and like I said above the areas you go to are some of the prettiest and most creative in the game (THere is a volcano/research station, some crazy floating cube research station, several large pirate-themed puzzles, an awesome cave full of lava etc...)

Originally posted by Tayah

Originally posted by Woopin

Originally posted by Ziayd
I voted for WvW groups but I also think map exploration groups could be fun and help guild members solve some of the harder jumping puzzles.

I have done quite a good number of them if anyone ever wants help doing jumping puzzles.

My favorite so far has been the Goonies underground cave with ship puzzle, that was awesome :)

How you seen the underground volcano/research station in (I believe) Metrica Province? It's pretty awesome.

As is the "griffon roost" place in Lornar's Pass, though the chest in that one is currently bugged.

I guess I"m decently efficient.

Level 76 (almost 77). Played 83 hours (almost 84 hours). 56% world completion.