Obfuscate.6430

I have also remade my sylvari thinner in an attempt to mitigate some of the weird armor sizing especially boots for some odd reason? And Sylvari are by no means alone in this where the boot becomes massive even though the foot and calf size aren't technically that much bigger even when you've given your character max muscle. Shoulder armor scaling is also very strange too.

It was really fun! I love Ballad of Soulkeeper the best and the giant animatronic effect going off the rails in typical asuran fashion and throwing everyone around. I wish we could have spent more time getting to know the band. I hope they make a reappearance later in the story.

Since exploring is my favorite I can't say I want to see one over the other ; as long as it's new it makes me happy. But I will include what specifically makes me enjoy the maps more: 1) views that take the breath away, that you don't need to activate a Vista to appreciate. Examples: The canyons of Drytop, the lush layered forests of Heart of Thorns (if you can find a safe spot to perch!), the mountain peaks of Lornar's Pass. 2) things which increase the feeling if discovery, the feeling that I have stumbled upon a piece of old lore, or a secret that are not in the direct path of any quest chains or metas. Example: ruins big enough to explore but without too many enemies to destroy the ability to inspect everything with objects that hint to old or obscure knowledge. 3) jumping puzzles that include great views and mild challenge. One of my favorite JP is Retrospective Runaround in Silverwastes because it encompases that sense of discovery and exploration and offers fantastic views, and Scavenger's Chasm in Melchior's Leap is fun to me for the puzzle aspect. JP do-nots: things with slippery little mushrooms or platforms where you have to make precious tiny carefully controlled jumps. 4) Introduce something that makes using mounts less efficient than using old masteries - make earning those masteries mean something while also including places where mounts will definitely be an asset. I actually currently hate water combat but exploring under water gives me mild anxiety because it's so well done. I find I am partially holding my breath and too scared to venture too far from safe zones. The change to the skimmer has helped. If they can improve aspects of water combat and give a nice variety of lighter areas to make up for the oppressive claustrophobic "I cant breathe" feel of the dark areas it would be perfect. HOWEVER: if I were to ADD something entirely new but still on brand: A steampunk/magitech "underground" city with vertical exploration but spread out enough to give a dazzling view of shop roof tops and maze like alleyways. Think the Gladium section of Black Citadel but with more magitech and influences from other cultures and habitation. Think: Bladerunner: Tyria lol

I don't know how much of a gamer I am. I can list the games I've played in my adulthood on one hand and not take up all the fingers despite being in my 40s! I am invested in this game and have not played anything else for longer than a couple of weeks before being annoyed they weren't as fun as this game. That being said, I have not touched raids; I've dabbled in fractals and strikes and pvp but largely I play for exploring at a casual pace and for fun achievements although I am currently working on my third legendary. (I love how some of the precursor crafting has you go back to old content!) I play because this is a pleasant way to unwind for me after work so I am not after any kind of stressful encounter these days. Still - I have not been having fun in Guild Wars 2 lately. I think my enjoyment began to flag shortly after the death of a certain fairly newly introduced npc, and then I stopped having fun almost altogether with the introduction of Bjora Marches and the story thereafter I understand that the pandemic has affected how the studio operates and I am profoundly impressed by what they have been able to do despite this. But the spirit of the game is different than it was at launch; it's been gutted. Lately I've been considering trying other things.

I agree that there needs to be better rewards but also improving the feel of the grind. To say Guild Wars 2 didn't used to have grind is false. Grind existed but was better disguised. The problem we have now is two-fold: the grind is too obvious or the content not interesting enough to disguise it. The rewards don't necessarily seem subjectively worth the cost in time and currency because they are reskins. Many veterans already have stockpiles of weapons and skins which represent countless hours of work but the only way to display them is on the character. Currently there is a finite amount of alts you can have per account and not everyone wants to buy the character slots to reach that cap just to display the fruits of their labor. Solution? Perhaps introduce something we can earn for the home instance to display our accomplishments. Make an interesting list of things we must do that brings us back to older content to breathe new life in to things most of us have left in the dust. Add to it tiers that we can earn so we can start off being able to only display 1 set of our favorite weapons, to being able to display 2-3-10 etc.. I would not encourage monetizing this but perhaps once unlocked they could add monetized aspects: like an npc to look like they are cleaning the pieces, or an npc to model them. A butler to display the things you ask for, or randomly. LOL. ANyway those are just ideas . Make the carrot great again. idk.

The only time I don't like other people sharing the same space with me in-game is when they spew hateful, disgusting rhetoric in say and map chat (Ie: racism, sexism and overly sexual "jokes" ) People who break the TOS with their offensive verbal abuse, guild/pet and character names and then take it out on people who ask them to take it down a notch. Like - I get this is the internet but it is also a game with rules which was agreed to by making an account and playing. There are people playing with their families (like trying to introduce their moms or dads or grandparents to the game for example). No one should have to disable all mode of chat except guild and party. Often we need to listen to a commander or mentor and rely on map chat to communicate a need for help in the area. So yeah other than that, I love how the game is. Running across people, helping out - makes me feel like a hero sometimes, and other times makes me feel people care or need me enough to get me off the ground to help finish an enemy. It's awesome.

Unfortunately OP your experience isn't an isolated one. My therapist once said many troubled people find solace in video games; a place they can express their frustrations with impunity. Someone who is tired of feeling like a loser in life may take that out on a random person online - in a game - anywhere they are relatively anonymous. People are saying it's likely a 12 year old, but it can just as likely be someone in their 30's - or older - someone perhaps experiencing some failing in life. I am disappointed that this was your experience rather than something more pleasant, like being the recipient of a random act of kindness or compliment : that was the kind of thing the Guild Wars 2 community is usually known for.

A cool way to look like a rotisserie chicken while displaying your goods. If it plays a small music box tune: bonus. While I wouldn't get it personally, I think I wouldn't mind seeing it, if it wasn't too big. I like looking at people's armor choices

> @"Cyninja.2954" said: > If this is just about appearance, what exactly is the reason that what we already have: aka permanent transformation tonics, is not sufficient? > > You are not going to get a new race this way. > You are not going to get a new story-line this way. > > All I see are detriments to the current permanent tonics and even worse: at a severe development resource cost for near no use. I feel like somewhat what I wrote was not read, or is maybe hard to understand? . I am sorry it is confusing. Let me try to summarize. The ELITE makeover kit changes your character's skin only - that is the artwork used to cover the frame used to animate your character. The ELITE makeover kit's options are based on, or inspired by things ALREADY in the story. (Awakened, Branded, Scars, Tattoos) The ELITE makeover kit permanently changes your characters appearance. Tonics DO NOT permanently change your character's appearance and prevent you from using your mount and you can not customize it. Infusions must be fused with your trinkets, can have stats you don't like, can not be previewed and sometimes does not work with all hair, requires RNG to acquire or are bound to achievements, can be expensive and have disappointing results. The ELITE makeover kit DOES NOT REPLACE tonics or infusions but provides a unique total body makeover without any of the above draw backs. The end result is more revenue for Arenanet and more options for players.

> @"BunjiKugashira.9754" said: > > @"Obfuscate.6430" said: > > > @"BunjiKugashira.9754" said: > > > Some of these points sound like they'd be expensive to implement and/or break in combination with other game mechanics. > > > > > > There are areas in the game where it's not possible to use a combat transformation tonic. What would happen in these instances? > > > Some features like a choice of Charr tails and coat markings should better be added to the existing total makeover kits. > > > Earrings and other accessories would be expensive to make because the devs would need to make a version for every existing pair of ears in the game. > > > > > > So far I don't see how the higher per-item-cost could possibly offset the development cost. > > > > This is not a tonic. It's a permanent change to your character's skin texture map. Just like changing your character's hair style or using an infusion wouldn't change those game instances, this idea also wouldn't. > > While my idea could be added to a standard makeover kit, expanding the options ten fold , the cost as you pointed out would be expensive to make. That is why I'm calling this an ELITE makeover kit, and it is separate from the default one. It would cost about $20-25 each. It would be the ultimate customization exclusive with no reliance on RNG, with no weird glitchy drawbacks, and you would be able to ride your mounts, and look as cool as you want in any story instance and through any game mechanic. > > Your first suggestion was looking like one of Palawa Joko's awakened. That's more than just a skin texture map, that's a completely different skeleton and model. Or do you mean more like the special awakened like Koss? In that case the effect could be achieved with an infusion. And since I saw you mention Tengu: Those too would require a different skeleton and model. It's either a potion-like effect that also changes your armor (because most armor doesn't have a model for Tengu) or we're back to the reason why a new race is highly unlikely. > > About the cost of $20-25 each: making something expensive does not automatically make it pay for itself. Even if you call it "Elite" or something. The gist is that fewer people are willing to pay a higher price and more purchases are made at a lower price. > There is a market equilibrium at which both increasing and decreasing the price result in less money earned. I doubt the $20-25 is anywhere near the market equilibrium and for the associated cost with increasing the standard makeover kit's options tenfold I doubt that it would pay off even at market equilibrium. I feel like what I am writing is not being read. Maybe I am saying too much? Let me try again. 1) I am suggesting that the ELITE makeover kit includes a skin TEXTURE change. This will NOT change the shape or animation of your character at all. 2) The ELITE makeover kit will NOT include new races. It will NOT change your character's shape. Why have ELITE makeover kits when you can use tonics or infusions ? 1) The ELITE makeover kit would provide permanent changes that allow you to use your mount, and will not rely on RNG, achievements and will not have to be socketed in to gear to use. 2) The cost is simply a reflection of the difficult nature of the product both in production and implementation. It is not intended to balance the market, it is about adding an option while maintaining an exclusive feel and giving back something to the game and developers.

The LFG tool is already profoundly bloated and requires a re-work But it they did, perhaps the solution to OP's problem would be to first create an LFG tab for new/inexperienced and one for experienced so that people joining know what they are getting in to and manage their expectations accordingly. "But then no one would join the inexperienced" - that might be the biggest drawback. I ran in to a similar issue trying to do the challenge modes for dragon champions. I don't have a guild due to my chaotic work schedule so I couldn't ask guildies. I tried LFG and asking on map chat, no one would join me. I ended up soloing them on my holosmith. (it's possible. It sucked and took me double the time but I did it.) That is how the game is now. It's...not what it used to be. It's not fun if you don't have a group of people you know to play with or the time to learn a meta (and get meta gear) The only time you can PUG certain content is just after it's released but give it a week and no one wants to do it. The real solution would be to re-introduce elements that don't encourage speed clearing. (Ie: don't make exhausting grinds as an achievement; give difficulty tiers to raid. Yes there will always be meta but for pve content don't make it necessary. )

> @"KidRoleplay.3615" said: > Oh, nono. The Palawa Joko quote was just a little jab at how a lot of people choose to look, not that I didn't know the purpose of a Makeover Kit. I'm just saying that, if all that's going to be done is change the appearance, either mildly or extreme, no matter what it looks like; nothing map-related, story, or lorewise would have to be adjusted, as deep down beneath all of the changes, you're still "Commander" to the rest of the game. And that alone would increase the possibility of such a kit. Oh! Well I mentioned that because one of the arguments about adding "Tengu" was that you would have to change the story because it wouldn't make sense for them to fight Zhaitan or something. And while the ELITE makeover kit would not be adding things that would alter your character's race necessarily, there are some people who hate infusion and even some things out of the basic makeover kit because it is immersion breaking. (neon hair for example.) So I had to also include that my idea ties in with the story too a little bit without relying on the usual tonic or infusion gimmick but also helping to generate revenue for the game. Do I think it will be as wildly popular, no - due to the cost. I think it would sit around the same place exclusive single mount licenses sit. Though : imagine if they stuck an ELITE makeover kit in Black Lion Chests! Dude, imagine being able to have a human with scars on their body? Not just their face? Or even a charr. Charr branding tatts, and asura with tattoos. There's so many possibilities.

> @"BunjiKugashira.9754" said: > Some of these points sound like they'd be expensive to implement and/or break in combination with other game mechanics. > > There are areas in the game where it's not possible to use a combat transformation tonic. What would happen in these instances? > Some features like a choice of Charr tails and coat markings should better be added to the existing total makeover kits. > Earrings and other accessories would be expensive to make because the devs would need to make a version for every existing pair of ears in the game. > > So far I don't see how the higher per-item-cost could possibly offset the development cost. This is not a tonic. It's a permanent change to your character's skin texture map. Just like changing your character's hair style or using an infusion wouldn't change those game instances, this idea also wouldn't. While my idea could be added to a standard makeover kit, expanding the options ten fold , the cost as you pointed out would be expensive to make. That is why I'm calling this an ELITE makeover kit, and it is separate from the default one. It would cost about $20-25 each. It would be the ultimate customization exclusive with no reliance on RNG, with no weird glitchy drawbacks, and you would be able to ride your mounts, and look as cool as you want in any story instance and through any game mechanic.

> @"KidRoleplay.3615" said: > You lost me. What do Makeover Kits have to do with the story or maps? A Makeover Kit is just to make the commander look as non-ideal for a commander as one can imagine-- > > Palawa Joko: _"While we're having this little chat... Who dresses you? I mean, really? You wore THAT for this occasion?"_ > > --but they're still "Commander." I'd love additions to the existing kit, as would many others, though your concerns are by default not a conflict. Makeover kits aren't about what you wear, it's about your character's skin, hair and eyes: their body. My concept is that an Elite Makeover kit provides exclusive full body transformations similar to infusions or potions without any of the drawbacks . My idea is to add options which tie in to factions which appeared in the story. The biggest example being the Awakened: one of the undead created by Joko. Another idea might be cleansed Branded: skin embedded with Aurene's crystals. The "conflict" is that there are a few people who want to see new races but creating new races often involves making new armor, new maps, recording new dialogue. We have battle tonics but you can't customize them, or use your mounts. We have infusions but those sometimes come with stats we don't want, or don't work with certain hair (Example Toy Shell infusion changes your skin , hair and eyes however it does not work with all hair. This can be an expensive disappointment for someone.) They can also be extremely hard to get, depending on luck. Why have a completely separate kit? Because this option would cost more due to the extensive nature of it. It would not make sense to make all makeover kits cost double for this addition. In before "but then it's pointless" - remember we have separate hair kits for similar reasons.

You see a lot of negativity here, not because it represents the overall opinion of the general game community but because this is one of the few official places to voice concerns in the hopes a DEV will address them. I would argue it's a minority and not to take it to heart. You will find more positive outlooks in places like Tumblr and even Reddit and possibly Twitter. ✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.☆.*｡･ﾟ✫*. As other people have said: exploring is my favorite aspect of the game. I've initially rushed through the stories and many achievements but after that, and most of the time I revisit maps I've run through and take a more leisurely approach. Eight years later I am still discovering ambient dialogue I've never seen before, or heart breakingly gorgeous game assets - the other night my BF and I were exploring Vabbi and found some stunning planters not found anywhere else in the game stuffed with succulents, trailing plants and flowers. We are both plant nerds so it was very exciting to see that in some remote backwater outpost no one visits! Mounts increased my fun exponentially because they create better opportunities for exploration; to see sights you might not ordinarily see. You will get screenshots you never thought possible. Finding spots for incredibly aesthetic screenshots is also a small passtime. Trying to make the screenshot look like posters. Sometimes I print them out and put them in a scrapbook. Some older folks in my life don't understand the appeal of online games and by making something physical they can see, they start to understand. It's fun to look back at group screenshots, or pictures of remote locations I've visited in the game. Cosmetics is a big one. Playing dress up. This is like a more involved dress up game really; 500+ dyes, and virtually limitless armor combinations. I know a person who has two accounts with the maximum amount of characters JUST for the joy of making and displaying looks. While I have yet to go so far, I have several characters which were made as clothes horses. Some armors or weapon skins just make me think of new looks and characters and I just have to make them! I used to roleplay, and I know it still exists but that also gave another layer of fun to the game when everything else couldn't. Finding new spots to re-imagine as a story scene, being a part of a small community building upon a shared continuity - that sort of thing was really entertaining. I hope you have a lot of fun on your future adventures!