Curse

nightwatchman · Dec 15, 2006, 12:01 AM // 00:01

It seems in recent days that we've been getting more and more "No opposing party joined. Restarting countdown timer" messages when trying to start ABs.

I don't know if this is because Luxons are becoming rarer, or if there are just less battles being run at any one time (maybe the servers are now running Nightfall).

What I would like to see is some sort of reward for standing there for 10 mins with the mission counter clicking by. After all, I'm doing my bit for the Kurzicks, its the Luxon's that haven't turned up

Traditionally when there was a battle, if one army didn't turn up it was generally considered a "win" for the other side.

So maybe we should get the 250 faction winning bonus?

Wretchman Drake · Dec 15, 2006, 12:35 AM // 00:35

I'm Luxon and we think the same about Kurzicks how they don't show up either. There just aren't enough people in general so stop making quick judgements about your opposers.

AB is just dying out there's not much time left for it. Look at Jade Quarry. That's gonna happen all over again soon I'm afraid at this rate.

Nobody wants to AB anymore becuase they have moved on to Nightfall and don't need Kurzick or Luxon faction for their Factions armor. If they would increase the amount of balthazar faction gained during an alliance battle match then perhaps it would revive it again but atm it's pretty dead. At least when I went to give it a whirl lately.

For the pure sport of it I just do Fort Aspenwood. Personally I enjoy Fort Aspenwood ALOT more than AB because you can just join randomly.

Azadaleou · Dec 15, 2006, 03:04 AM // 03:04

Anet needs to work on AB for sure, make it more attractive. Because its becoming obsolete. Perhaps if there were more rewards for faction other than trading it for amber or perhaps if the objectives for abing changed then more people would do it.

Strider77 · Dec 15, 2006, 03:10 AM // 03:10

towards watchman- they already upped the amount of balthazar faction once already so they need some more drastic changes

Kool Pajamas · Dec 15, 2006, 05:56 AM // 05:56

Maybe if we had the option to trade luxon/kurz faction for balthazar faction it would attract more pvpers. Doesnt have to be a 1:1 transfer (that might be too unbalanced) but enough to get more people there.

Azadaleou · Dec 15, 2006, 06:15 AM // 06:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kool Pajamas

Maybe if we had the option to trade luxon/kurz faction for balthazar faction it would attract more pvpers. Doesnt have to be a 1:1 transfer (that might be too unbalanced) but enough to get more people there.

Nah, to many rewards in Guild Wars are just shallow rehashes of previous ones. I think a good start would be to add more types of AB, kind of like Fort Aspenwood. Second they really need some sort of stats for your character i.e kills, assists, heals, interrupts, energy drained etc. Third, maybe the higher stats you get and faction you donate to your alliance the more potential rewards open up. I'm talking about good rewards, not salvage kits or exp scrolls. Thats getting lame.

Because the game is really really shallow. In the end everything boils down to Guild Wars system of balance, where everything is completely skill based. This really limits the type of things you can add because it will throw the balance off. You can't add epic items, you can't add epic armor drops, you can't add epic magic resistant jewels etc. I think its really hard for Anet to add anything substantial besides more of the same in different variations.

Curse You · Dec 15, 2006, 07:39 AM // 07:39

Factions is officially an old chapter. That means they will NOT be doing any major updates to it.

Kool Pajamas · Dec 15, 2006, 08:30 AM // 08:30

Well it is an old chapter but I think AB is a big enough part of the game that updates to it arent really out of the question. Unless they decide to make a new 12vs12 area in the next chapter.

freekedoutfish · Dec 15, 2006, 08:48 AM // 08:48

I wouldnt go with the 250 faction just for standing there for 10 minutes without a battle starting.

You can get more faction by doing the repeat quests.

We could just have the challenge be populated with henches if there isnt enough. But I cant see that being a popular idea. Plus you couldnt randomise what proffessiosn youd be fighting.

Effendi Westland · Dec 15, 2006, 10:42 AM // 10:42

Depending on the map it has always been bad. I played some ABs yesterday on the kurzick home map and as I recall it there have been major wait times there always (for kurzicks). Same is true the other way round. People just don't like playing with a disadvantage.

Azadaleou · Dec 15, 2006, 11:31 AM // 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curse You

Factions is officially an old chapter. That means they will NOT be doing any major updates to it.

This is why the game will suffer in the long run, if Anet philosophy is to only keep update the newer chapters and not support the old ones then the game as a whole will suffer since all the chapters are connected. No point in buying a campaign if it becomes obsolete within six months.

shardfenix · Dec 15, 2006, 12:13 PM // 12:13

Go to international.

Aegeroth · Dec 15, 2006, 12:17 PM // 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curse You

Factions is officially an old chapter. That means they will NOT be doing any major updates to it.

But i know most of us wish they would, i personally would love ANet for a major Prophecies update or even a Factions one.

Also, making AB prettier wouldnt work, they need a more permanent solution to the lack of AB players.

Eg.

Donut (AB) + Me = Fun.
Tomorrow + Pervious sum = No Fun.
Donut + SPRINKLES! + Tomorrow = Fun!
Day after + previous sum = No Fun

And thus we repeat until the Donut is no longer a Donut but a monstrosity.

Permanent Solution ftw.

silence.renegade · Dec 15, 2006, 12:40 PM // 12:40

A permanent solution... let's think now...

A. We could have a luxon/kurzick + Sunspear lord in every guild hall and they provide new services in exchange for faction e.g
For luxons- Jade armour crafter ( a sort of 15k armour that has really cool skin and takes less damage from elemental attacks)
For Kurzicks- Stone Armour (15k armour that takes less damage from phisycal attacks and looks really cool)
Sunspear Lord- In exchange for Balthazar and luxon/kurzick faction individual players can buy like their own little rooms or more storage upgrades or access to an arena where everyone is equalled out and you earn gold or sunspear points or something else for wins AND losses.

B. I would absolutely adore them if ANet would bring out major updates for old chapters which would bring more people back to Tyria and Cantha (especially Tyria) The tome axe was cool but we could do with more renovation.

Franco Power · Dec 15, 2006, 01:08 PM // 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azadaleou

Anet needs to work on AB for sure, make it more attractive. Because its becoming obsolete. Perhaps if there were more rewards for faction other than trading it for amber or perhaps if the objectives for abing changed then more people would do it.

yeah.... give the players some skill for starters.

Jade and Amber is already a great reward. 100 Amber used to be what ? 350k ?

Sure it is not worth much anymore but what is these days ?

Cass · Dec 15, 2006, 01:31 PM // 13:31

Less is more. They should close off these pointless arenas when nobody goes there anymore. They did it in Tyria, they can do it again.

There's simply too many different things/locations to go to, and as a result, the butter is spread too thin everywhere.

Sniper Corps · Dec 15, 2006, 02:47 PM // 14:47

I got bored of Ava so quickly it was amazing. The fact that all your hard work could degen away in a week ticked me off. Now i do FA once aan awhile and instead of cashing it in for the guild i trade it for Jadeite. I dont even have Luxon armor cause im lazy, i sell the jadeite for cash and call it good. In fact i get more Balthazar off FA then RA and have more fun with it.

Carth` · Dec 15, 2006, 04:59 PM // 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightwatchman

It seems in recent days that we've been getting more and more "No opposing party joined. Restarting countdown timer" messages when trying to start ABs.

Wow, more than before? Back when ABs were very popular, there could sometimes be a 30-40 minute wait, which led to the rumour that it wasn't lack of opponent, but that there could only be 5 ABs running at once. I thought that was a lie because there is no such server restriction on any other form of PvP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretchman Drake

I'm Luxon and we think the same about Kurzicks how they don't show up either. There just aren't enough people in general so stop making quick judgements about your opposers.

I've played ABs as Kurzick and as Luxon, and in general the Kurzick side has a longer wait because there are more of them. The map does affect it too though, because nobody likes to fight on the map where it is harder to win.

Wretchman Drake · Dec 15, 2006, 11:57 PM // 23:57

All they need to do to attract more to AB is simply add more Balthazar Faction gained each kill. Not kidding. How else will an innovation bring more people? Or make it more easily accessable by letting people who aren't in guilds or guilds with no alliance/access to AB play in AB by simply picking a side much like Fort Aspenwood or Jade Quarry and then they would get dumbed down Alliance Faction compared to those devoted to their alliances.

Anet can simply attract more by doing the following:

1.) Increase amount of Balthazar Faction gained during a match to match that of after an equal amount of RA matches that match the time put into an AB.
2.) Let people AB from Great Temple of Balthazar much like FA and JQ no matter if they are in an allied guild or not, or even no guild at all.
3.) Let Alliance Faction rate stay, dumb it down for those who aren't in a guild or an allied guild.

Carth` · Dec 16, 2006, 12:21 AM // 00:21

#1 - I could be wrong, but I don't think people who play ABs really care about Balth faction. Most of them are PvE players.
#2 - I like this idea. Right now the only reason I am staying in my guild is that when you aren't in a guild it is impossible to AB.