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This is how ANet makes a Guild Wars 2 PvP map
ArenaNet's latest Guild Wars 2 livestream may prove interesting for fans of the fantasy title's PvP. Environment artist Darrin Claypool and game designer Jon Peters are your hosts for the 45-minute chat that shines a light on PvP map creation. The duo talks everything from initial conception to design meetings to art passes, and you can see all that and more after the cut!
ArenaNet asks for your feedback on Guild Wars 2 balance changes
If you've got ideas regarding Guild Wars 2's upcoming trait and skill balance changes, ArenaNet wants to hear about them. Provided you can communicate them in constructive fashion, of course. Game design lead Jon Peters has crafted a forum thread highlighting the proposed December 10th balance changes, and in it he solicits fan feedback on everything from PvE to WvW. There's a lot to digest in Peters' thread, and that's before you get to the 23 pages of responses. See for yourself by clicking through the links below. [Thanks Siphaed!]
Guild Wars 2 will add the Edge of the Mists to World vs. World
If you're a fan of Guild Wars 2's large-scale PvP gameplay mode, World vs. World, there's some good news coming your way: ArenaNet is developing a new map called Edge of the Mists, and it's designed to add spice to WvW gameplay and help alleviate some of the ongoing difficulties with queue times. We were invited to a conference call with Game Design Lead Jon Peters, where he let us in on some of the details and philosophy behind this new content. Guilds can apply to be part of an upcoming beta test and help shape the development of this new addition as well. Following on the heels of recent WvW additions such as Borderlands Bloodlust and World Experience Points, ArenaNet plans for Edge of the Mists to be the gateway to even more improvements.
PAX Prime 2013: Guild Wars 2's Jon Peters on the state of PvP
At this year's PAX Prime, we attended a party hosted by ArenaNet at which the studio demoed the second world of Super Adventure Box. There was a raffle, plenty of drinks, and a lot of ANet people. In fact, I mentioned to ArenaNet's reps that I was really into competitive play, PvP, and e-sports. Not five minutes later, I was introduced to Jon Peters, lead gameplay designer for Guild Wars 2. I was a bit intimidated; I mean, this was the guy who singlehandedly created over 70% of the skills in GW2! But he was surprisingly down-to-earth with our conversation.
Guild Wars 2 devs talk balance with the GW2Guru community
The folks at Guild Wars 2 Guru collected some questions from their community for the Guild Wars 2 team last month and the results are back. Jonathan Sharp and Jon Peters of ArenaNet stepped in to answer the barrage of questions. The interview is meaty, but as the GW2G admin says in the comments, not all original questions were answered. But we do get some info on weapon skills staying the same for now, a focus on trait revisions, and the inevitable pigeon-holing of classes, despite ArenaNet's attempts at squashing the "holy trinity" of class distribution. If you're interested in learning more about how the company looks to keep the game balanced and still growing in the future, check out the full interview.
ArenaNet offers explanation for Guild Wars 2's diminishing returns mechanics
ArenaNet game designer Jon Peters has explained the reasoning behind the diminishing returns karma mechanics that many Guild Wars 2 players have complained about in recent weeks. "These systems are put in place to protect the economy from botters and exploiters. We will close exploits as quickly as we can. These thresholds help create a safety net to keep the economy safe when we aren't there to deal with the offender," Peters says in a post on the GW2 forums. Peters also says that the devs need to work out a few kinks, and that ArenaNet does not intend to put an end to legitimate farming gameplay. "We believe some of the threshold systems are just too harsh empirically and we'll be adjusting those systems within the next few weeks to ensure that fewer legitimate players are being impacted," he wrote. [Thanks to Divalicious Diva for the tip!]
ArenaNet addresses balance in Guild Wars 2
It's a rule of any skill system that once you put it in the hands of millions of players for a lengthy period of time, they will absolutely break it in ways you never imagined. Even if they don't manage to create terrifyingly imbalanced builds, they'll find things that need patching up and tweaking. So, in keeping with time-honored tradition, ArenaNet has been putting out patches to fix bugs in the game and rectify balance flaws. The most recent game update notes hold not major changes but minor adjustments to functionality. ArenaNet is taking a "wait and see" approach to balancing, which Jon Peters explained a bit in a recent forum post. In the past we made balance updates fairly frequently. While we will continue to be responsive to serious issues, we also want to make sure that we let the basic meta-game stabilize before making too many changes. If you see something that is really strong please try and find counters to it before assuming it is overpowered. We have put a lot of hours into the game already and there are still many things we are learning about the depth of the combat and the balance. There are also finally enough players consistently playing that we can actually gather metrics on skills and make some more informed decisions about what is too weak/strong. Please don't hesitate to point out builds that look like they could use some balance work. We are constantly striving to make Guild Wars 2 the most balanced game it can be and appreciate all of your feedback. Peters proceeded to tell players that the devs are striving for quick turnaround on real issues, but that they would prefer to thoroughly test fixes for the long-term health of the game.
ArenaNet's Jon Peters talks Guild Wars 2 competitive PvP
Gaming can be a great way to wind down and relax, but as any real gamer knows, relaxation is for sissies. Competition is where the real action's at! Don't worry, Guild Wars 2 designer Jon Peters knows all about competition, and he even took some time out of his certainly busy day to sit down and talk a bit about Guild Wars 2's competitive PvP. Anyone who played the original Guild Wars knows the heavy focus the game put on balanced, competitive PvP. Well, ArenaNet is taking that to the next level in Guild Wars 2. Peters even goes on to state that the devs "consider it to be one of the primary goals of Guild Wars 2 competitive PvP to make it into an eSport." Peters goes on to discuss how the team is focusing on bringing players a balanced-but-exciting PvP experience. For the full details, just click on through the link below to the full interview at ZAM.
Flameseeker Chronicles: How do trinities work?
People have had varying reactions to Jon Peters' post on ArenaNet's blog last week, which explained the newest system of traits and attributes for Guild Wars 2. There've been all sorts of thoughts about it: that it's awesome, that it's unnecessary, that it's a whole lot of words to keep track of (I'm saying that, in fact, and I'm firmly in the camp of folks who think it's all pretty great). Specifically, the inclusion of the compassion attribute, which improves a character's healing output, has raised a glaring red flag for some players who are afraid this is the first step toward holy trinities and dedicated healers. I respectfully disagree.
Guild Wars 2 dev blog talks achievements, Thief tweaks
It's been a trying year for impatient Guild Wars 2 fans, but 2011 is closing on something of a high note due to recent beta rumblings as well as an increase in the ArenaNet information trickle. The latest blurb is a year-end development update courtesy of Eric Flannum and Jon Peters, and Flannum kicks things off with a fairly detailed look at the game's achievement system. As it turns out, GW2's achievements come in three flavors, and they comprise long-term goals, dailies, and monthly tasks that "encourage a variety of play and reward you with gold and experience." Peters details recent changes to Thief class gameplay, and he pays particular attention to the steal and backstab abilities. He also spends a bit of time talking about improvements to combat timing and animations. "Making these improvements has been really interesting and fun because it has shown us how our game can feel appropriately action-oriented without taking away the familiarity of the MMO genre," Peters explains.
Guild Wars 2 devs fielding your questions this Wednesday
How is ArenaNet countering the massive Star Wars-related hype bomb that's detonating across the MMO industry this week? Hopefully by ignoring it and continuing to work on Guild Wars 2. That said, the company is trotting out Jon Peters and Johnathan Sharp to field fan questions during a live IRC chat later in the week. The shindig goes down on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. EST, and if you're not familiar with the IRC platform, Guild Wars 2 Guru has a helpful web client that will speed you on your way. You'll need to submit your questions for moderator approval (translation: don't expect an answer to beta or release date queries), so head to GW2 Guru to read all the rules.
More pets, more combos, more burning: ArenaNet brings big changes to Guild Wars 2
If you're anything like us here at the Massively offices, you've been feeling a bit starved for Guild Wars 2 news. ArenaNet's been extremely quiet for weeks now, and just as fans were beginning to despair of hearing anything, the information gates swing wide. The ArenaNet blog has a shiny new update courtesy of designer Jon Peters this morning, and it's a doozy. It brings all sorts of new details on pet improvements, the Engineer's big upgrade, and the ever-fascinating cross-profession combos. Follow along after the break for all the news!
Guild Wars 2 designers deliver more Asura goodies: Inquest and Golems
Other games have Dwarves or Gnomes for their token cutesy miniature race, but filling this role for Guild Wars 2 are the Asura. Last week, ArenaNet devoted a whole week to these spunky munchkins, expounding on everything from their history to architectural influences. Today, Designers Jon Peters, Jeff Grubb, and Ree Soesbee delivered an extra dose of Asura by giving us the lowdown on the Inquest and battle suit Golems. First, Grubb and Soesbee told PC Gamer that the Inquest wanted to be the culture that invented the device that would take down the elder dragons, and its members are willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top. Grubb explained, "Most Asuras will not experiment on sentients. That's one of those things that's just not a good thing. The Inquest don't have that limitation. They are more willing to not just manipulate, but to harm others because they've made the judgment that they're superior and therefore have the right to do what they will without worrying about you." Jon Peters was a little less verbose regarding the Asura's battle suit skills, mostly because these abilities are still in development. However, we learned that although the battle suit is designed for a single operator, when a battle suit is called, any race can pilot it. And when asked if these mechs could be used in PvP, Peters replied, "In World vs World vs World PvP, absolutely yes! In competitive PvP the battle suit will get banned from tournaments." We hope you caught all of ArenaNet's Asura-related activities last week. If not, we have everything you need to know right here, including a wrap-up in today's Flameseeker Chronicles.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Information overload
Early last week I had a fail-proof strategy in place for handling Gamescom. I'd diligently watch the Guild Wars 2 news coming from the event, and at the end of the week, do a nice neat wrap-up for all of you. It's OK, you can laugh -- I am. Talk about trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon! There is one thing I can wrap up for you: Last week there were ArenaNet blog posts and site updates, over a dozen interviews and articles written, nine photo galleries (one from ArenaNet), 17 video interviews, and over 100 game footage videos. So how do you even begin to process all of that, especially when you consider that there's another wave coming in just a few days? Follow along after the jump and let's take a look!
Designer Jon Peters outlines Guild Wars 2 PvP
If you've been waiting for all the details on Guild Wars 2 PvP, today is a big day for you. The PvP side of the game will be unveiled and playable at Gamescom starting today. For those of you playing along at home (or possibly waiting for the doors to open at Gamescom), ArenaNet has a little something to distract you from the fact that you're not enjoying the hands-on right now: a brand-new blog entry from Jon Peters with a full PvP overview. Jon outlines the different types of PvP in GW2, from casual hot join matches to high-stakes tournaments, and offers some tips for better playing. He quite literally covers PvP play from beginning to end, talking about gear, skills, and levels when you start as well as finishing moves to send your opponent off to the great beyond. It's a typically extensive and informative entry, so head to the Guild Wars 2 site to see for yourself! For even more PvP details, check out Jonathan Sharp's new ArenaNet blog post as well.
ArenaNet unveiling Guild Wars 2 changes with Gamescom demo
Hardcore Guild Wars 2 fans who had a nice neat list of what they wanted to check out at Gamescom may be revising their lists pretty extensively. A new ArenaNet blog entry popped up this evening and surprised everyone with details on sweeping changes to major elements of GW2. The list is long and varied, covering a wide range of game elements. For example, energy potions, planned game items that were debated fiercely among the fanbase, have been done away with -- in fact, skills no longer cost energy. In place of the energy potion button you'll find a new, energy-based dodge mechanic. Skill acquisition has completely changed for several reasons. According to developer Jon Peters, the previous method "wasn't helping teach people the game, it didn't fit with how skills actually worked, and it didn't carry over the fun collection element that made the original Guild Wars unique." There are several more changes to hear about. Jon details them -- and gives new details on the demo -- in the full ArenaNet blog post.
Guild Wars 2 is skill-based, says lead designer
Although Guild Wars 2 has had many reveals lately, much of the game is still shrouded in mystery, and ArenaNet has generally remained tight-lipped about specific game information. However, in a recent interview with Guild-Hall.cz, Lead Designer Eric Flannum did let fans in on a few tidbits. A concern for a lot of players is skill vs. level. Flannum revealed that skill will play a significant role in Guild Wars 2 and clarified it by saying, "For really large level spreads of say 10 or more levels, then the gear and raw power of the character is going to be a huge factor. When you are talking about smaller level differences then skill plays a very large role." Given the more action-based combat mechanics of the game, we think this makes a lot of sense. In a related question, Flannum was asked about the quality of dropped gear vs. crafted gear. "It will be possible to craft items that are comparable in power to the best items available through drops and other rewards," he assured readers. For the whole interview with Flannum and designers Jon Peters, Jeff Grubb, Colin Johanson, and Ree Soesbee, hop to Guild-Hall.cz.
Guild Wars 2 designers discuss the last three Guild Wars 2 professions
Are the Mesmer and Assassin returning to Guild Wars 2 or not? Speculation on these two professions has been ongoing and enthusiastic among Guild Wars fans, and designers Eric Flannum and Jon Peters added a hefty dose of fuel to the fire in their interview with Eurogamer today. The two didn't offer a definitive answer on these two classes but hinted that the Mesmer profession might not be returning exactly as we know it. Jon Peters commented that "people who enjoy that playstyle will be happy," but didn't offer further clarification. Eric Flannum did confirm that we have one more light armor class and two more medium armor classes -- what those are remain to be seen, hopefully very soon. Check out the full interview at Eurogamer.
What's your style? Guild Wars 2 game designer elaborates on the combat system
The unusual combat system in Guild Wars 2 has been one of the hallmarks of the game for fans as development progresses. ArenaNet's commitment to breaking away from the holy trinity has been consistent, and now that we know five of the eight professions in Guild Wars 2, game designer Jon Peters is able to build on the information he gave us back in July. The newest ArenaNet blog entry revealed several new details on combat mechanics, including an explanation of boons and how they work as well as the fact that allied targeting will not exist in GW2. There's much more to see -- this blog entry is a great read not only for Guild Wars 2 fans but for any MMO player who is interested in combat mechanics.
ArenaNet team discusses elite skills and PvP in Guild Wars 2
Yesterday's interview with ArenaNet at Kill Ten Rats ended on a promising note: "to be continued." That promise was fulfilled today when Ravious posted part two of the interview. While much of yesterday's discussion revolved around energy usage and potions, today's focused more on skill usage -- particularly elite skills. Elites in Guild Wars 2 will be quite a bit different from what we're used to in Guild Wars. Ravious described them as "ace-up-your-sleeve" skills used to turn the tide of battle when they're most needed. Martin, Regina, Jon, and especially Isaiah had plenty to say about elites and how they work, including a few specific examples. The team also addressed weapon skills and PvP, two subjects of great interest to the community. Head over to Kill Ten Rats to check out the full interview!
