Curse

HawkofStorms · Dec 10, 2008, 11:47 PM // 23:47

Instead of equiping zealous weapons and gimping yourself for no reason...

You could actually just make sure to equip a caster shield instead of an offhand item. The 12 less energy you have will teach you the same principles as carrying around a zealous weapon (ie, be more careful with your energy usage) while actually providing you with a tangible benefit.

snaek · Dec 10, 2008, 11:48 PM // 23:48

not only will this not help u get better
it will for a fact make u a worse player

sowrie, anyone who does these things is delusional

jaximus · Dec 10, 2008, 11:51 PM // 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by the savage nornbear

the monk option is the only good one

i tend to play monk the most, so logically i would have the best idea for that class. as a caster i frequently also use a -5e wep and play at lower energy levels to manage energy better. people say that nothing from pve transfers to pvp, and that is a lie. once you learn proper energy management skills, they stay with you no matter where you are.

for the zealous ideas mesmer has inspiration and eles have the attunements and glyph of lesser. this is true yes, but they are susceptible to interruption.

jaximus · Dec 10, 2008, 11:55 PM // 23:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkofStorms

You could actually just make sure to equip a caster shield instead of an offhand item. The 12 less energy you have will teach you the same principles as carrying around a zealous weapon (ie, be more careful with your energy usage) while actually providing you with a tangible benefit.

btw, i do both, shield + zealous wep. thank you though for pointing that out.

credit · Dec 11, 2008, 12:03 AM // 00:03

instead of using a zealous weapon, just use -5e weapons and weapon swap moar.

moriz · Dec 11, 2008, 12:05 AM // 00:05

gimping yourself won't work. after all, i can do the ultimate gimping by going out there with an empty skill bar and butt naked. can i still do pve? you bet i can. i'll just stand way in the back and flag my heroes/henchies around.

personally, i believe trying to improve my play in general pve no longer works. the game has already evolved to the point where a well-structured hero/hench team will do everything for you, and pve monsters will always do the same things no matter what. instead, the only way to improve is to play pvp. playing against real people will keep you honest, and will force you to not develop bad habits... things that playing pve will never do for you.

Gun Pierson · Dec 11, 2008, 12:52 AM // 00:52

Although the intentions are good I don't think this approach is the best way to learn pvp. It can be a middle step from pve to pvp for beginners, sure. But playing pvp in a real environment is imo the best place to get better. Random teams, Fort Aspenwood,AB,...

If you wanne become a good infuser (to give one example), you have to play pvp and get in there. PvE doesn't require that type of skill. I don't see a lot of people gimping themselves in PvE to be honest.

The ability to switch between weapons makes both the pve and pvp player better imo.

maraxusofk · Dec 11, 2008, 10:16 AM // 10:16

i think his advice mostly applies to pvp cuz pve is a complete joke in this game.

daze · Dec 11, 2008, 11:23 AM // 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celeborn10

Ignore the gimping yourself mentality. Instead as a monk don't use the part window at all *gasp*. That's right, take the leap of faith and press P and learn the holy ways of Prot instead of the moronic red bars go up mentality. You'll actually have to actively watch the field and intelligently place your heals and prots at the right moment. Try this in PvE and when you can do adequately take it into PvP. Do this and thou shalt become a godly monk.

I agree with this post, but to the OP those suggestions just seem silly. there are much more effective ways of getting better at the game other than going out naked.

My favorite is just kick a few henchies or heroes and see how few allies you can bring to help you clear your various areas. That will teach you how to take your time and pull strategically as well as maybe devise a few more potent player builds if you try to make a 4 man team do the job of an 8 man team. It will also improve your flagging/positioning skills.

pumpkin pie · Dec 11, 2008, 11:40 AM // 11:40

:P~ what is gimping?

btw, want to become better, read the skill description kekeke.

Thank you DAZE that was funny

daze · Dec 11, 2008, 11:58 AM // 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin pie

:P~ what is gimping?

Gimping is the same as cutting off your own feet then trying to run 5 kilometers.

oracle.delphi · Dec 11, 2008, 01:17 PM // 13:17

I personally have never "gimped" myself, unless you count completly changing my build and testing it in a 'higher' end mission or area. Personally I find that playing even the small amount of pvp that i have played, the builds i use, as an ele, are TOTALLY different. My regular fire build would have me dead before i finished casting more than 2 skills. I like going into ab with different builds and testing them out.

Also playing the costume brawl made me really wanna play water

I think rather than gimping yourself such as you, just use something comepletly different

Arduin · Dec 11, 2008, 02:19 PM // 14:19

Or....team up with random people. If that doesn't make you a good monk, I don't know what does.

Wish Swiftdeath · Dec 11, 2008, 02:58 PM // 14:58

Monking without party bar is very helpful, just make sure if you're just starting to turn the chat off as well

Weaponswapping every cast is good practice too
Memorise your skillbar so you don't need to look at it and can focus on the battle
using tab, shift+tab and C are very useful tools - allows you to swap quickly between targets
watch the skill animations/try to learn the noises - the sooner you recognise the spell, the more time you have to react whether that be laying down a prot or getting off an interrupt.
ask guildies or alliance members that look like they know what they're doing for constructive criticism (harsh - helps in the long run)

Thats just some stuff i've thought up, pretty sure there's alot more

elk · Dec 11, 2008, 07:38 PM // 19:38

I'd think these suggestions would be more useful in PvP than PvE but here goes:

Add to the monk aspect suggested above about removing the party window (and don’t limit it to just a monk mind you) but cntrl + shft + H and get rid of all the HUD. You'll have to actively watch the field for team and enemy positioning, makes you learn your skill bar (skill use/skill positions, "feel" for activation times, "feel" for recharges etc. I recognize your bar can change based on builds but if you play a profession enough, certain skills and certain functions are common and end up in similar positions. That and you want to focus on proper skill use and timing versus botting your build) and use keystrokes to activate skills/ team select/ enemy select (yes I guess you could mouse select too), makes you watch cast and skill animations as well as use sound effects.

You want these sorts of things (like HUD info) to be habit so they are passively interpreted instead of actively interpreted. By that I mean we all take in game information but it's what you’re focusing on and what you should be focusing on. You don't want to focus on particular background info (your skill bar for example or the party window) - you take in and react to it/ use it but you want to be focusing on other aspects like your team position (there’s a bunch of “team” stuff to suggest but I believe this is after individual play?)

Go the opposite direction and use just your mini map. Use the F11 layout and make the mini map your whole screen (well most of it anyway). Use your keyboard to target (you can go as far as party select too) and work on positioning and map use. I’m sure some things will still show (you can squeak your party window in or skill bar etc) but the idea is to focus on your team mates and foes (again, can use this for team play by creating positioning opportunities both offensively and defensively etc but still good for the individual)

I’m sure I’ve seen it mentioned many times before but there’s no harm in mentioning it yet again. Turn off your “sound” with the exception of the back ground noise (I think that’s what it is). Don’t need any additional distractions and should help you focus on skill activation/ recognition.

F11 re-organization. Back to the passive information, it needs to be easy to take in. Re-arrange your HUD to make the info you need to use (but not pay attention directly to) easier to do so. The game “pivots” around your character so you can move the relative information (or resize the relative information) based on that (you don’t want to take your eyes off the ball now do you?).

I hope some of this is useful?

elk

snaek · Dec 11, 2008, 10:26 PM // 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by elk

Add to the monk aspect suggested above about removing the party window (and don’t limit it to just a monk mind you) but cntrl + shft + H and get rid of all the HUD. You'll have to actively watch the field for team and enemy positioning, makes you learn your skill bar (skill use/skill positions, "feel" for activation times, "feel" for recharges etc. I recognize your bar can change based on builds but if you play a profession enough, certain skills and certain functions are common and end up in similar positions. That and you want to focus on proper skill use and timing versus botting your build) and use keystrokes to activate skills/ team select/ enemy select (yes I guess you could mouse select too), makes you watch cast and skill animations as well as use sound effects.

tru pros play gw blindfolded
and also with no sound

u have to feel the enemies presence and smell his fear to truly pwn him

oh and of course...using hands really is no challenge
so if u want to truly master gw
play wit ur hands tied behind ur back

elk · Dec 12, 2008, 02:17 PM // 14:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaek

tru pros play gw blindfolded
and also with no sound

u have to feel the enemies presence and smell his fear to truly pwn him

oh and of course...using hands really is no challenge
so if u want to truly master gw
play wit ur hands tied behind ur back

Smash keyboard with face - got it.

elk

DarkGanni · Dec 12, 2008, 02:51 PM // 14:51

How to be a better player eh....

Stop playing gimmick builds.

Anime Divine · Dec 12, 2008, 03:11 PM // 15:11

LOL this gave me a good laugh :P since i dont play PVP
my Pro advise(s) is not "gimping yourself" you want to have the best skills. highest energy than any person can have. so you can spam your skills right.
nothing better than a war with 50+energy

also coolest looking armor +weapon gets respect
and ow yeah titles. Get GWAM and you are truly a god noone will question your skills.
ofcourse how to achieve this is for you to have some common sense and blast everything with H/H