Curse

Voodoo Rage · Nov 24, 2009, 10:36 PM // 22:36

Anet is going to reduce the the length of all enchantments by 20% and then sell a 40% enchanting mod in the in-game store for $15 per character.

Barrage · Nov 24, 2009, 10:50 PM // 22:50

This may seem over the top but I want to send a message :

If you are going to nerf farming builds, then make titles not cost 1mill + for some, OR RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE OFF.

fenix · Nov 24, 2009, 11:07 PM // 23:07

So you think there'll be a massive exodus of players if they nerf farming? Then I shall post this pre-emptively;

And nothing of value was lost.

MisterB · Nov 24, 2009, 11:09 PM // 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoo Rage

Anet is going to reduce the the length of all enchantments by 20% and then sell a 40% enchanting mod in the in-game store for $15 per character.

You do realize that works out to only a 12% net gain in enchantment duration, right?

tre_peter · Nov 24, 2009, 11:30 PM // 23:30

Yes, I'd agree with most who said this is wildly speculating. It is a bit premature and a bit 'over the top conspiracy theory'. I tried to make it clear I was only making assumptions, sorry if this wasn't the case. I also sensationalised it to provoke a response, and I'm encouraged by most of them.

Back on topic though - it almost a given, that being a business, they wont run this game if it isn't cost effective (if it reaches that point).

So I gladly accept that they aren't trying to flush the player base right now, but I believe in the possibility of it happening. I could well be wrong, I fully accept that. Interpreting what action they've taken and seemingly plan to take, it could be the start of it (considering how they are aware that numbers of players enjoy this style, and what result it might have).

I'd also like to note (although it doesn't really matter) that I've never made an assassin in PvE thus never used Shadow Form.

Axeman002 · Nov 24, 2009, 11:48 PM // 23:48

the games coming up 5 year old...how many times u expecting people to play the same thing over and over again....i like farming aswell as title hunting but titles can get as dull as farming, so i switch every now and then...take one of those away and i will have to find summit else to change i.e a new game till GW2 is released..

why do u guys have such a pain in the ass single minded view on people who farm and enjoy it?...its a game let me/them play it how i/they want, u only got to put up with it for another 12-18 months then the game will be deserted and all our farmed stuff is worthless.....

(2 months after farm nerf) but wait we have no one to bitch at...tell you what lets stop these PvP rollers as there too good so they need handicapped to make if fair for us blah blah blah blah.

please hurry GW2 so we get new guru arguments plzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Lishy · Nov 25, 2009, 12:01 AM // 00:01

GW conspiracy theories are almost as stupid and ignorant as ones about our politics.

I`ll leave it at that since the message is clear. You`re silly.

tre_peter · Nov 25, 2009, 12:10 AM // 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR

Do you really think enough people would leave the game based on a farming nerf to merit ArenaNet cutting back on server/maintenance enough to save a significant amount of money? That's pretty ridiculous.

What about all the people who came back to try the new UW content? What about the increased activity in UW because of the update? Do you honestly think activity will actually decrease because of the update?

Perhaps ArenaNet "nerfed solo farming" because most people prefer actually being able to find PuGs? Perhaps they simply want people to play the game as it was intended, and enjoy the new content rather than mindlessly farming it. Perhaps they did it to benefit the economy? I could think of a dozen more good reasons for ArenaNet to take this course, though sadly you are probably unwilling to accept any that aren't deeply negative, thus giving you cause to step up on your podium.

I enjoyed (and agree with) your post except the last bit. It kinda tainted what was otherwise a well intended argument.

Your post generally highlights the train of thought I'd go with, but in the sake of playing devil's advocate I made the original post from one side of the argument (of 'benefit the players' vs. 'benefit the business'). I'm just someone who doesn't like to rule out possibilities (though the way I originally sensationalised it does make it seem absurd).

Braxton619 · Nov 25, 2009, 12:28 AM // 00:28

You know the reason why ArenaNet is slow about nerfing farming skills? They are afraid of ragequits. If perma sin gets nerfed, probably 50% of the player base will leave. This will lose ArenaNet a lot of money. This includes loss of Micro Transactions and GW2.

Fay Vert · Nov 25, 2009, 12:31 AM // 00:31

If all a player has left in the game is permasin farming, they are not going to be around for GW2. The only hope ANet has to keep an interested and populous player base is to keep the game something of value.

Martin Alvito · Nov 25, 2009, 12:58 AM // 00:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tramp

If my theory is correct, that overbuffing skills causes an INCREASE in revenue for them, then Ursan was great and caused many more EOTN sales. Then SF caused a jump in Factions. So if I look into the crystal ball I will make this prediction: They will nerf SF and buff another skill on some other profession and make that the new overpowered farming meta. This will cause sales to pop again.

"Your theory?" People have been saying that on this board since Ursan got out of control. Won't work now, in any event. You had to buy everything to use SF. Factions for SF, Nightfall for Paradox, Prophecies to get a decent group. People already had EotN due to Ursan. The hardcore farming crowd already owns everything.

I'm not convinced that they plan these things. (Well, OK, maybe Ursan and consumables.) I am willing to bet that marketing tells them to cease and desist when they suggest fixing issues that sell games.

I doubt that they can squeeze any more blood from this stone by decreasing activity. Dumb business move in any event. Your cost to server maintenance as a player between now and GW2's release is far lower than your prospective revenue stream if they retain you as a paying customer. Worth the investment, really.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some people walk over this nerf. The larger issue is that while this has desperately needed doing for a very long time, it's unlikely to attract back the players that walked away from GW easy mode.

II Lucky Charm II · Nov 25, 2009, 01:29 AM // 01:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by tre_peter

TL/DR version - ArenaNet nerf farming to purposely reduce player numbers to benefit from reduced server costs etc. Good business on their side.

Anet has already started this long ago. They purposely ban many accounts and blamed an unidentified hacker for it. Hence, during that "hacked" period, we were able to play with less lag since less people were able to access the server due to this "hack." Since many of the old guild wars players have already quit the game, this ban deemed to be the most efficient way to reduce the numbers of players (Not so many of those old players bother to check their guild wars accounts because they have moved onto better games). Hence, they were able to reduce the up-keep cost for the server. Check out these threads for more info. on this hack event:

Reduced lag: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10389173
Hack: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10388313

Zahr Dalsk · Nov 25, 2009, 01:39 AM // 01:39

Even if farmers leave, I think most title grinders will stay. And that includes a lot of the farmers.

EDIT: If ArenaNet was clever, they might actually decide to make the next farm build really good... but require something from the ingame store. Not explicitly so, but enough that people realize, "Hey, this store feature, it opens up a really powerful farming build possibility."

For example, a new BMP but with special PvE-only weapons that have unique effects. And these effects carefully tailored so that, with the appropriate build, make for really strong farming. Then ArenaNet could just leak the build out.

Ugh · Nov 25, 2009, 01:51 AM // 01:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zahr Dalsk

For example, a new BMP but with special PvE-only weapons that have unique effects. And these effects carefully tailored so that, with the appropriate build, make for really strong farming. Then ArenaNet could just leak the build out.

Anet wouldn't do that unless they wanted to lose the respect of every single player in their dedicated fanbase.

LunchboxOctober · Nov 25, 2009, 02:14 AM // 02:14

Changing SF won't have such a dramatic effect, humans are the most adaptive creature on this planet and they will find a way around whatever changes are made.

What would be nice is to fix tactics stances with PvE versions so Warriors can go back to tanking.

pumpkin pie · Nov 25, 2009, 03:20 AM // 03:20

you are assuming that everyone who plays guild wars uses SF and is a farmer ...

This is a good example of why ArenaNet has a wonderful business model. Buy to play without subscription fees.

First of all lots of GW players don't hang in the game 24/7, they come back whenever there's a celebration. Just wait till Christmas, you'll see.

Now my schedule is play Saturdays and Sundays, but only if the weekend rewards is what I wanted. Vanquish one area once in a while, when GW2 is out I'd have done everything there is to do, except getting destroyer weapons, which i think will take up too much of my time, since everything I once saved up were lost. But no biggie.

Cuilan · Nov 25, 2009, 04:12 AM // 04:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by tre_peter

TL/DR version - ArenaNet nerf farming to purposely reduce player numbers to benefit from reduced server costs etc. Good business on their side.

That has to be the most retarded troll post I've read here in quite a while. Nerf won't make people who enjoy the game quit.

Not everyone spends the day farming.

Personally, I'm very glad Anet is doing something finally about speed clears, etc. Nerfing farming builds and over powered skills is nothing new.

Tramp · Nov 25, 2009, 04:27 AM // 04:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugh

Anet wouldn't do that unless they wanted to lose the respect of every single player in their dedicated fanbase.

P/R ratio (price to respect ratio) or P/E ratio (price to earnings ratio), I wonder which one is ultimately more important? LoL. Of course they would and should sell an add on or bonus wep pack or something like that to buff some farming ability. Everyone and their mother would buy it and they would make tons of money. Look at it this way, people are not quitting because someone else is using SF or some other overpowered skill. However, the people who are likely to quit are those who enjoy farming with overpowered skills and have their enjoyment taken away. If they sold a new skill or weapons pack, the R would go down and the E would go up, and the fanbase would keep on playing through.

Silmar Alech · Nov 25, 2009, 02:09 PM // 14:09

We players don't have the big picture. We don't know the size of the player base. We don't even know how many farming builds will be hit. Will it be SF, will it be 600hp, will it be all farming? We don't know how many players are actually using SF as main farming or playing skill (I know none of them, but other guilds consist 95% of them) or how many are solely doing solo-farming.

Anything mentioned here is pure speculation. Thinking about the economical impact of a nerf to Anet - again, we don't have the big picture, so anything is only a wild guess and most likely an invalid one, because we don't have the information Anet has.

In my opinion, you are wasting time if you put any thought into this topic. Most of you are clearly afraid of a farm nerf, but why don't you state this directly instead of rambling about how bad the financial impact to Anet it could be?

There is a reason for nerfs. Until now it was to keep the game balanced. Not more. A balanced game is a healthy game that has the best possible perspective for the future. I don't see a change in this concept.

zwei2stein · Nov 25, 2009, 03:04 PM // 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR

Perhaps ArenaNet "nerfed solo farming" because most people prefer actually being able to find PuGs? Perhaps they simply want people to play the game as it was intended, and enjoy the new content rather than mindlessly farming it. Perhaps they did it to benefit the economy? I could think of a dozen more good reasons for ArenaNet to take this course, though sadly you are probably unwilling to accept any that aren't deeply negative, thus giving you cause to step up on your podium.

I think we were over this in prophecies era when people wanted to pug for THK and did not have enough monks to fill party.

55hp became obvious scrapegoat: General idea was that if farming was nerfed, 55ers would in turn flood THK district, lfg as healers and everyone will happily pug for mission.

That was, of course, ridiculously naive.

Economy benefits by nerfing Farming.
PuG benefits by mostly only one thing: Content that everyone wants to do.

Anet did smart thing and did both in last update: Nerf farming and introduce new content.