Curse

The Herbalizer · Mar 05, 2006, 09:35 PM // 21:35

I recently acquired a Gold Tall Shield (Req 8 Tactics) Health +45 (while Hexed) and -3 Dmg (while Hexed). Before the update it was perfect and I spend a considerable amount of gold purchasing it, 100k + 3 Ectos to be precise.

Upon hearing of the recent update and how the health bonus on the while hexed shields had rose to +60 Health I logged in to see if my shield had its “old” stats updated to +60 -3.

I hovered over the stats to see that they had not changed and was horrified at how my shield had gone from perfect to no where near perfect. I contacted Anet who told me I should post my problem on a fansite for the Guild Wars community to discuss.

The problem I have with this is how they failed to take into consideration those who spent vast sums of gold acquiring the original +45 ones. I thought that they would update the old ones to have the new equivalent. I am sure if it happened to any more popular item there would be outrage. If axes maximum damage was increased to 29 as Anet viewed them as too weak and did not update the old ones many people who bought perfect ones would be furious at what happened.

In my opinion they did not bother to update the old while hexed shields as they did not think anyone would care. If a more popular item was altered they would be falling head over heals to ensure no one is angered.

I did not purchase the shield thinking it could be changed or removed for being too overpowered. I just thought it is a “normal” item which would make a “safe” purchase. I have been after such a shield for months and was really happy with finally obtaining one. The update has annoyed me greatly as my shield is worthless and no longer perfect.

I am now genuinely worried about making any more “high-end” purchases as they too could be altered and made worthless in future updates.

Anet, could this happen again and why have you ignored my shield? Is it not popular enough to change? Did you think no one would care about the maximum health being changed? All I ask is for them to be updated to be the new equivalent. And to know whether this could happen with other items?

For the Moderators: Anet stated in an email to post my query on a fansite so I am doing it here if that is alright.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Strangelove

Should they have improved every shield with a hexed bonus? Or just the perfect ones that people spent loads of money on?.

I believe that all of them including inperfect ones should be updated.

Quote:

Maybe they didn't bother because *gasp* this game isn't about having "perfect" items.

I know it is not entirely about perfect items but those who collect only perfect items should not be left out and put at a disadvantage. The person who could only afford an inperfect shield would also be affected as their's is far from perfect and effectively worthless.

Quote:

Boo. Hoo.

I am sure if you spent days on end raising funds for your armor/new build/favourite weapon for it to be unfairly altered making it worthless/useless you would be annoyed.

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Am wondering why they didn't update existing ones...

I am too and have yet to find an answer from anyone including anet. It is not like how people lost gold on the Scavengers of Ascalon Axe when they were abusing a glitch. All I had was a normal, average item.

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you obviously have gold to burn simply get a new perfect shield

Other than mine was the only Tall Shield skinned one in the game as far as I know...

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what the hell would you have done if they had introduced another shield instead of upgrading the new ones?

had a fit because they didnt give you the new perfect model to replace your old perfect model?

Its kind of hard to understand what you are saying

AeroLion · Mar 05, 2006, 09:42 PM // 21:42

Them's the breaks.

Retribution X · Mar 05, 2006, 09:44 PM // 21:44

AMEN! i know what you mean.

Dr Strangelove · Mar 05, 2006, 09:45 PM // 21:45

Maybe they didn't bother because *gasp* this game isn't about having "perfect" items. Should they have improved every shield with a hexed bonus? Or just the perfect ones that people spent loads of money on? Yes, your shield is no longer perfect, but it's still just as good as before. And if you're worried about it losing value, well, that could happen with anything due to increased farming or a decrease in popularity of a build.

Pevil Lihatuh · Mar 05, 2006, 09:45 PM // 21:45

Ouch. After spending so much I can see why you'd be frustrated. Trouble is, with games that are online (and even offline) you have to be aware this can happen. I remember back in a game I play called Sacred they released a new patch which changed the stats on a lot of the set items people had for the worse. No one was very happy

To be honest, shields, offhands and rods/wands are the only things you should probably be worrying about purchasing in the future. If they change, say, a bow, then it *may* change the +15% to something else, in which case you just have to find/buy a clean bow and get the mods again, or they might only change a mod, in which case you just find/buy the mod. Still be a pain, but at least you can probably replace those with a fraction of the cost.

Am wondering why they didn't update existing ones... maybe it would have caused some weird error where all +45 ones from now on would become +60, therefore making 45 extinct? *shrug* its the only possible reason I can see for it. That, or as the above post says, because perfect items aren't that important in this game (though pvp'ers say they are, I wouldn't know, pve only

)

Falcon213 · Mar 05, 2006, 10:08 PM // 22:08

The shield is just as good as before.. but it wouldn't be such a bad idea to update current shields, such that a +45 would become a +60 and a +15 (the lowest possible) would stay at +15.

KANE OG · Mar 05, 2006, 10:09 PM // 22:09

121 grand for THAT shield? LMAO!

Loviatar · Mar 05, 2006, 10:21 PM // 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Herbalizer

I
Its kind of hard to understand what you are saying

i am saying that you have the same shield with the same stats/skin that you paid for.

you bought that shield *as is with no guarantee*

you did not buy a *perfect* shield you bought the best available *at that time*

what Anet has done in effect is introduce a new improved shield and they are not upgrading the old shield.

you still have the shield you paid for

Anet states things in the game will change and you have seen many items changed or removed

HOD sword/helm ring a bell?

Mercury Angel · Mar 05, 2006, 10:36 PM // 22:36

There's a sort of irony in this. It's basically the polar opposite of removing item sources from the game.

Rather than taking out something [HoD Sword] for example, and inflating the value of an item, they've added in a better version of the same item, devaluing existing items.
A more close approximation would be the HoD Helmet, which was downgraded in function, as opposed to the upgrading the stat potential on the shields. Except it's not a good one, since the HoD helms were changed universally.

All I can say is that this doesn't really worry me. The value of the bulk of the items on the market is mostly based around looks and shows of wealth, than practicality. Some items, like the +15% damage always mods without a drawback really are better, but a lot of sales are simply gold items that can be replicated by Greens or Collector's craftables.

If you bought an item because you liked the way it looked, has it gotten any worse? No, not really. The stats didn't drop. The only thing that changes is your perception of how good it is. It's have-not syndrome. Because someone else out there can get something better, it's no longer as good.
If you bought an item because of its stats, then this is annoying because you 're no longer min-max optimized. However, it's easy to go out and grab a max collector's. [Assuming the Collector with a Crimson Carapace while hexxed shield was updated]
Hybrid buyers are hurt the most by this, which are admittedly probably a larger player base than any other, buying items for both their looks, and optimizing their performance.

In short, I disagree strongly with this statement:

Quote:

I did not purchase the shield thinking it could be changed or removed for being too overpowered. I just thought it is a “normal” item which would make a “safe” purchase. I have been after such a shield for months and was really happy with finally obtaining one. The update has annoyed me greatly as my shield is worthless and no longer perfect.

Your shield was neither changed nor removed. Everything you did with it in the past, you can do just as well in the future.
I'm not saying your shield's resell value hasn't been devalued, that you won't have to go out and get a better one if you want max stats ['perfect'], or that it's a fun thing to make a purchase only to have that happen.
But again, it has not changed in function or performance.

Edit: Bah, Loviator, that's about what I wanted to say.

The Herbalizer · Mar 05, 2006, 10:41 PM // 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercury Angel

However, it's easy to go out and grab a max collector's. [Assuming the Collector with a Crimson Carapace while hexxed shield was updated]

I am making a post to avoid cluttering up my first post. The while hexed collectors shield was not updated

Drevik Crimson Hero · Mar 05, 2006, 10:43 PM // 22:43

Anet does not care about who it screws nor does it care about the scammers in the game. It also denies participation in scams like the reselling of accounts, even though the accounts could not be transferred back without their participation. I was screwed by this new update as well. Anet does not care.

HawkofStorms · Mar 05, 2006, 10:44 PM // 22:44

Sucks, but items are never get updated with new stats when they are nerfed or buffed (rockmolders, etc). Nothing you can do about it.
It really just isn't possible to update that many items. With over 1 million accounts, do you really think A.Net can run through everybody's account and check for this shield and update its stats? It's just not going to happen.

Mercury Angel · Mar 05, 2006, 10:45 PM // 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Herbalizer

I am making a post to avoid cluttering up my first post. The while hexed collectors shield was not updated

Well bah, that's silly of them. I hope it was simply a temporary lack of foresight. =\

Sk23Von · Mar 05, 2006, 10:57 PM // 22:57

Do you play more in vE or PvP? In PvE, that sheild is exactly the same quality, regardless as to whether or not a better one exists. IN PvP, its still the same, but other people might bring a better sheild now. Either way, you suffered from being the owner of an outdated item. Bummer. Its annoying when it happens, but there is nothing you can do about it, nor does ANet owe you anything for this happening.

For a real world example, lets say they release Factions. A few months down the road, demand subsides and they release a box set including both Factions and prophecies. Then Wal Mart puts it on sale for $49.99. Does ANet owe you Factions because you paid the same amount for Prophecies as some people will for both Factions and Prophcies?

The Herbalizer · Mar 05, 2006, 11:10 PM // 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by KANE OG

That too! And once again.... You paid 121K for THAT shield? LMAO!

And what? Do you have any idea of what I intend to use it for? Do you actually know what it WAS worth? Please refrain from attempting to place a value on something which I value alot higher than others. I bidded on the shield and "well respected" members of the gwg community also did showing that it is infact worth what I paid for it and has a use which reflects the amount I bought it for. This is not a price check thread and I have not asked for one so please refrain from poorly price checking my shield.

twicky_kid · Mar 05, 2006, 11:12 PM // 23:12

Don't worry about the new shield. I'd take your's over a 20% -5 anyday.

Why use a 20% at 1 out of every 5 hits will be reduced.

We have -2 stance, enchant, and hex having long durations. So at the 5 hits the -5/20% would have triggered once while the duration -2 would have reduced 10.

Your old sheilds are still better than the new one by a long shot. Just give the market time to figure it out.

unienaule · Mar 05, 2006, 11:16 PM // 23:16

Some facts for those who don't know what's going on:
1) These shields (meaning +60 while hexed) EXIST IN PvP.
2) The old ones were +45 while hexed at maximum.
3) The collectors shield wasn't updated.

The only way to get one in PvE (at the moment I hope) is to have it drop. Post more flames and you'll just get more user notes.

Naxohs Seralna · Mar 05, 2006, 11:19 PM // 23:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Herbalizer

And what? Do you have any idea of what I intend to use it for? Do you actually know what it WAS worth? Please refrain from attempting to place a value on something which I value alot higher than others. I bidded on the shield and "well respected" members of the gwg community also did showing that it is infact worth what I paid for it and has a use which reflects the amount I bought it for. This is not a price check thread and I have not asked for one so please refrain from poorly price checking my shield.

The only words that come to mind are...

...well said!

Kane has no right to put you down because he has a different opinion about an in-game shield.

Retribution X · Mar 05, 2006, 11:22 PM // 23:22

she's talking more about the added health, then the added damage reduction. it would still be perfect if the maximum health while hexed hadn't been raised.

if you think about it though, it was a good upgrade. the health should have been that.

Pandora's box · Mar 05, 2006, 11:26 PM // 23:26

Sigh... I get your feelings but please explain: Why did you pay so much for that shield when you could have gotten a shield with +43 health, -2 dmg for *MUCh* less??? Do you really think it makes that much of a difference in a team game?