Curse

skimo · Aug 18, 2005, 06:56 PM // 18:56

I'm basically new at the game, and yeah, starting off at post-searing ascalon. I heard theres a random pvp arena and yeah, it seems like an awesome idea to get my feet wet in pvp. but i heard iono ppl with all this elite stuff and great armor crowding those arenas...so is it worth trying it out only to get pwned. lollll

Del12 · Aug 18, 2005, 07:03 PM // 19:03

No, you'd be suprised. There are a lot of fellow newbs that play in those arenas as well. But occasionally, you'll run into a team that clearly knows what they're doing and get owned. Those are few and far between though. Most of the time, if you have any idea what your doing, plus get randomly matched with 3 others that know what they're doing, you'll go far. But odds of that happening aren't too good.

KuTeBaka · Aug 18, 2005, 07:08 PM // 19:08

dont take the arenas too seriously, just go and have fun. I would reccomend the comp arena, it doesnt take long to start and generally people know what they are doing.

NotACommunist · Aug 18, 2005, 07:10 PM // 19:10

It's been a while since I've tried the lower level random arenas, but when I did try them there were a lot of people using more advanced armor and skills than anyone at that level should really have. Basically they've been rushed through certain sections of the game in order to do this, and it makes the lower lvl random arenas pretty unfair. Even still, if you are interested in PvP then the random arenas are a great place to start. In fact, I enjoy the random arenas much more than the team arenas as the people in the team arenas (and especially the Tombs) take the game way too seriously and really know how to complain and whine if they loose or something doesn't go their way.

Also, I should mention that I'm just returning from a 1 month break from the game, so it is possible something has been done about the lower lvl arenas and the advanced armor and skills, though I doubt it.

Bast · Aug 18, 2005, 09:28 PM // 21:28

Random Arena is probably the most frustrating thing in the game. There's no teamwork and it's loaded with griefers and people that have no idea what they're doing. Maybe my luck is just bad, but it seems like about every 30 or so attempts will net a decent (for random) team, who will then proceed to win 10 times and then lose the 11th when they get to Team Arena.

That said, it'd be nice if ArenaNet kept Random separate from Team Arena. Since Random's only real value is in letting someone pvp when no friends are around or as a form of really bad PVP "training," it's pretty futile.

aznhalf · Aug 18, 2005, 09:31 PM // 21:31

its good for testing builds and maybe some practice if you're new. thats about it

Eonwe · Aug 18, 2005, 09:51 PM // 21:51

If you're bored, or drunk, it's a good idea. Other than that, you're better off killing mobs in pve.

Zeru · Aug 18, 2005, 09:58 PM // 21:58

Farming can be more fun than random arena.

You know how sad that is?

White Designs · Aug 18, 2005, 09:59 PM // 21:59

It's fun when you drink some Dwarven Ale beforehand.

Man With No Name · Aug 19, 2005, 12:29 AM // 00:29

I like to give it a shot now and again...

It's a double-edged sword -- sometimes it's an exercise in frustration -- sometimes rather humourous ( W/N with Rend vs IW Mesmer, for example )

On a bad day -- I'll be hexed to bits, fools will blow the lead we've built up on that horrible lava map and the team will be full of W/Mo's that target the fighters first oO, etc

But then other times you'll find that "winning combination"

Today it happened to consist of:

- 1 W/N (me)
- 2 Mesmers ( Mes/Mo and Mes/R -- I think... )
- 1 Monk

The two Mesmers pretty much drained their casters dry and blinded any melee fighters with Sig of Midnight. Leaving me to happily hack through the opposition unhindered =)

We had a good run of wins ( 15 or so ) and there's nothing quite as nice as reaching TA and smashing some guild with a random PUG

If you've got the time TA can be far superior an experience -- if not try the insta-action of random arena

Howling Wind · Aug 19, 2005, 12:37 AM // 00:37

Random is decent for getting some PvP experience...even though most teams look like they don't know what there doing..

Jhyphi · Aug 19, 2005, 12:53 AM // 00:53

Competition Arena is pretty fun.

I do like how it moves to team arena after 10 wins. At first I didn't, but after reaching there many times, I've realized that it creates a good challenge. The groups that get 10 wins usually are cruising through competition with flawless victories and the like so it's good.

The lower level arenas are also pretty fun. My time there was pretty fun even w/o using anything special since it's my 1st character. I guess since I've played some PvP before, I was more used to it and did fairly well even w/o advanced skills/armor. Most ppl I noticed were like me, playing fairly. Once in a while, you run into droknar's armor or some great sword thing. Luckily I had conjure phantasm which ignores armor.

Anyways, I say play arenas, they're fun. You'll learn to be a much better player. I wish more ppl would play PvP even if they only do PvE. That way you learn to press "t" to attack called target and learn more about your skills and what to use when. Too often, I'm in pickup groups for PvE where they lack these requirements and so I give up and end up doing almost everything with henchmen. Alesia is my favorite girl. =) She's consistent with her heals.

Tuna · Aug 19, 2005, 01:35 AM // 01:35

<lvl 20 arena? No. Lvl 20 competition arena? If you feel like killing some time.

TGgold · Aug 19, 2005, 01:48 AM // 01:48

I had so much fun in the Yaks Arena it was crazy. And Ascalon. I played a smiting monk, which wasn't so popular back when, and it confused a decent amount of people.

Warrior/Mo: Why is this monk kicking my @$$!!!!11one!. I was even accused of cheating once : )

thaumaturge · Aug 19, 2005, 02:30 AM // 02:30

I'd say complete frustration, I've done a lot of team arenas. You can get a good build going make sure you have a nice even spread of skills and backup plans relatively quickly even with strangers. Then I've decided to try random arenas, personally I'm not a fan it almost seems like coin toss to see if you win. Sometimes you will get a good group with a healer casters and warrior and you can do very well. Other times your group balance is not right, it's just really frustrating for me because there is no advancement, no real way of saying ok we lost because our monk was dazed our whatever. I have a fairly solid build with my warrior but he's useless in some team builds. It's just all frustration.

The only positive is that
a)it's fairly even, sometimes you get a good team sometimes not, you can't set up with uber team builds
b)new players can do very well because of this

QuixotesGhost · Aug 19, 2005, 02:32 AM // 02:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhyphi

Competition Arena is pretty fun.

I do like how it moves to team arena after 10 wins. At first I didn't, but after reaching there many times, I've realized that it creates a good challenge. The groups that get 10 wins usually are cruising through competition with flawless victories and the like so it's good.

Call me mad, but I've found the best way to put together a Team Arena team is to take a team up from Competition. One of the best screening processes there is.