I’ve got good news, terrific news actually, and bad news for everyone. First off, the good news is that all of the launch times and servers have been announced for the beta. The servers could go live any time within 3 hours of the official midnight start time for head start access, meaning 9:00PM PDT or later August 24, much like the beta.
The bad news is that I have a real life. It’s funny to phrase it that way. Shortly, immediately preceding the launch of Guild Wars 2, I will be moving. Once I move, I will become incredibly busy with a new job and many more responsibilities. Frankly, it will be all the time I have to take care of those and get some playing time in on the game.
I haven’t posted anything for a while. Initially, I was having some problems with my new computer, which I thought was potentially a bad PSU. Since that was fixed, it’s now simply been an issue of time. With finalizing paper work, organizing lists of things I have and things I need, I simply haven’t been able to write things for everyone.
So, with great sorrow, I have to announce today that I will no longer be publishing this blog. I’ll be joining all of my readers as part of the regular joe’s playing the game. I will still continue to write The Structure at GW2 WvW until such a time as that becomes an issue for me. I will also, from time to time, still publish the occasional video, which go up on my Youtube page.
I’m going to miss spending my time writing this blog for everyone, and ignoring a lot of people talking so I can work extra hard and staying up unreasonably late editing videos. I’m going to miss reading your comments on and replies to my writing. It’s been fun for me to write everything, but even more fun knowing that in anyway I helped any of you. I’m just shy of six months with this thing, and I’d really hoped to at least make it that long, but c’est la vie.
Thanks to everyone that read my blog over the last few months. Thanks to everyone that reblogged my better works and helped spread the word when word needed spreading. Thanks to everyone that left me meaningful feedback on everything I’ve done. Thanks to everyone that brought me into their lives by following me and keeping up with all the stuff I’ve been doing.
As I said, I will be a regular joe in the game like everyone else. But, I’ll still need more friends. My main character, via which you may add me to your friends list, will be named “Ayame Yoshimoto”, the name of my original GW character from whom “Yoshi” was derived seven years ago. Send me a message whenever you’re online, and we can chat, run some dungeons, do some PvP, etc.
I may actually use this.
This is really similar to a dev post from BWE2, but here’s Jeff Grub talking about the different stories going on in Guild Wars 2. Countdown to headstart: 32 days.
So, I’m reiterating part of what I said in the video I put out last night right after BWE3 ended, but I’m currently sorting all of my video. I thought I’d post up for you guys what all I’ve got that I’ll be working with.
A lot of screen shots from all of the major cities.
A lot of vistas from the asura and sylvari areas, as well as Lion’s Arch.
The entire 1-20 story for my asura and sylvari characters.
At least seven SPvP matches.
Over an hour of WvW.
Some dynamic event and low level renown heart stuff.
I’ll update this with anything else I find as I’m going through everything.
[video]
GWI Interview with Jonathan Sharp on PvP -
Guild Wars Insider’s interview with Jonathan Sharp: Not much big stuff in here other than an early explanation of how the new SPvP map (Legacy of the Foefire) works for scoring and some tips on it. Oh, and ranger pets are supposedly going to be fixed.
So it’s been brought to my attention that you folks really like it when I talk about builds in The Structure. So, I thought as the BWE3 edition, we’d do some theorycrafting. But first, let’s talk about the beta!
Beta Weekend Event 3
In case you live under a rock, we get to play the asura and sylvari for the first time this beta! We’re also starting completely fresh this time. Everything except your contacts will have been erased. This means none of your previous characters will be there. Combined with the small number of servers, we’re essentially simulating launch day for them on Friday. The match-up algorithm for WvW has been expanded, so there should be better WvW going on over the weekend. But, most importantly for us SPvP folks: we get a new map. This one will be a throw-back to GvG maps from the original Guild Wars. From the mini-map we saw on Reddit a while back, it appears to be similar to the Warrior Isle map from GW if you ever did GvG in that game.
Now, I’ve got a few builds for you guys to take for a spin this beta. Obviously, there will be (potentially significant) changes to the traits and skills of each profession. There will likely be new things added or taken away, so use your best judgement when picking replacements or looking at potential additions to each build. I also (obviously) can’t guarantee that every build will work for every one of you. Pick the one you think suits you best and learn that. If it’s not your style or you just aren’t getting it, then it’s time to REROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL (cue Darnell). Naturally, if anyone asks you about your build, you should tell them about The Structure. Anyway, we’re going to look at an elementalist, ranger, and warrior build this week, in that order.
The Daggermentalist
Weapons: Dagger/Dagger
Slot Skills: Glyph of Elemental Harmony, Cleansing Flame, Mist Form, Armor of Earth, Tornado
Traits: 30-0-0-30-10: Spell Slinger, Pyromancer’s Alacrity, Pyromancer’s Puissance, Soothing Disruption, Cantrip Mastery, Stop Drop and Roll, Elemental Attunement
Gear: Smoldering/Chilling Sigils, Elementalist Runes, Rabid Amulet/Jewel
You really have to know all of the attunements for this build, but try to do the following: Start in air or earth attunement so you can Ride the Lightning or Magnetic Grasp for gap closers then go fire for might plus damage and rely on fire a lot for damage. Use water and air a lot for general defense, getting away, or even keeping them closer to you. Use the cantrips when really necessary: Cleansing Fire gets you out of stun, Mist Form makes you completely invulnerable, and Armor of Earth gives you stability. So, use CF when you get stunned, MF when you really need those couple seconds to get away while getting the snot beat out of you, and AoE when you get against something like a hammer warrior/guardian that use a lot of movement physical effects against you.
The Not-So-Ranged Ranger
Weapons: Greatsword and Sword/Warhorn
Slot Skills: Heal As One, Flame Trap, Spike Trap, Frost Trap, Entangle
Traits: 0-30-10-30-0: Trapper’s Knowledge, Trapper’s Expertise, Trap Potency, Master Trapper, Strength of Spirit, Two-Handed Training, Evasive Purity
Gear: Battle and Battle/Energy Sigils, Fighter Runes, Soldier’s Amulet/Jewel
The major weakness of this build is that it only has one gap closer. The major strength of this build is how hard it is to get away from once you’re in range. When you’re just running around the map, use the warhorn to get around faster. If you come up on some enemy players, hope to use Call of the Wild right as you enter the fray so that when you swap, you’ll start the fight with four stacks of might as well as swiftness and fury. Use Flame Trap for unexpected damage while using Spike Trap and Frost Trap to either keep enemies in range or kite enemies you need to get away from. When you’re in over your head, use the sword skills for defense and Call of the Wild as a nice swiftness buff to some good distance between you when you can.
The John Henry Warrior
Weapons: Hammer and Hammer
Slot Skills: Mending, Bull’s Charge, “Shake It Off!”, Balanced Stance, Signet of Rage
Traits: 10-0-30-0-30: Berserker’s Power, Embrace the Pain, Blunt Weapon Master, Merciless Hammer, Warrior’s Sprint, Mobile Strikes, Quick Bursts
Gear: Doom and Doom Sigils, Fighter Runes, Soldier’s Amulet/Jewel
Much like the ranger build, the obvious disadvantage here is having only Bull’s Charge for a gap-closer. This means you’re going to have to be a little more clever in starting a fight, rather than simply running up to the enemy head on and jumping in (so, popping around corners, dropping off of roof tops, etc.). You only need BC at the beginning of the fight, as you’ll be more than capable of staying on top of the enemy in the fight. Swap weapons often, especially right before letting loose Earthshaker, for high damage spikes and adrenaline gain. Use “Shake It Off!” for getting out of stuns, and Balanced Stance for when you come up to someone else that’s focusing on a lot of physical effects.
Field Testing
Take your favorite build and go ROFLstomp some poor, unsuspecting noobs over the weekend! Come back and talk about it on Monday by commenting about it here or talking about your general successes/failures on the GW2 WvW forums! As usual, I will be available throughout the beta for anyone to chat with, ask questions, etc. I’ll be rolling the Darkhaven server with Triple B (Gamebreaker TV community) on my usual Yoshi Gwtwo beta character name. Hope to see you all there!
Very few servers this time around, and better WvW algorithms!
Since we now know everything we’re getting in BWE3, I thought it was time I made some plans and let you guys in on them. For the weekend, I will largely be covering asura and sylvari stuff along with some more SPvP (tournaments!). Unfortunately, since they’re wiping everything going into the weekend, I won’t have a chance to make up for the explorable mode footage frmo last beta that got corrupted into having no sound. Anyway, here are my more specific plans:
1. Create an asura guardian and play through the whole story demo.
2. Create a sylvari thief and play through the whole story demo.
3. Do a minimum of three SPvP tournaments.
4. Simply play with some friends and enjoy the game.
5. Collect some footage for a secret video project I’m not talking about yet.
6. Cry tears of joy over my new computer.
7. Use any extra time to see more asura/sylvari 1-10 lines.
Naturally I’ll record almost everything and use it to make videos for you guys. With the wipe, I’m not 100% sure what server I’ll be on just yet, but you can definitely message me at Yoshi Gwtwo again.
I know it’s a day late, but I was spent all day building this new computer and re-installing the OS and all of my programs and such, so sorry for getting it to you late. Anyway, we get asura, sylvari, the ability to essentially buy gems in advance for launch, a new SPvP map, a new PvE map, and keg brawls!