Official Suggestions Thread -- February BWE

[Bobangry]

-Allow for even larger text sizes than the current largest (on 1600x1200 it still seems rather small to me compared to previous BWE's)

EDIT: Sweet, thanks IceD'Bear. I've played since E3 but I'm still learning new things every event!

-Allow text colors to be changed (the whisper color seems a little too close to party chat to me)

-More customization for characters, ie eye color changes, maybe a huge wart on necro's etc (could be used as an addon money sink)

-Allow moving skills around during a match (only the 8 you have with you of course) and just add a button that "locks" them into place when you don't want to accidentally move them.

/now back to Guild Wars...

[Devil's Dictionary]

Originally Posted by Bobangry

-Have a way to turn the entire UI off so I can really look at those pretty waterfalls without just taking a picture and hopeing for the best.

If I am not mistaken, you can press Shift+Print Scrn

EDIT: Ice'DBear is right. Shift+Print Scrn makes a screenshot without the interface whereas CTRL+Shift+H removes all the interface untill you press the sequence again.

Originally Posted by Bobangry

-More customization for characters, ie eye color changes, maybe a huge wart on necro's etc (could be used as an addon money sink)

You know, I don't think anyone would notice the eyecolour of your character in the game. I guess that's what the dyes are for: to make your character different.

Uthar:
I agree with you mentioning the lack of women. However, speaking of Dwarven women, in some fantasy novels (notably by Terry Pratchett), dwarven women look no different from Dwarven men: they grow beards too, so you may think half of the dwarven men you see aren't men at all .

I truly enjoy the system of bags and pouches and I don't understand what's wrong with it. I had only one problem with the kits: when I click on an item that cannot be salvaged or identified, the kit still decreases by one use. Also, doesn't clicking on bags use the kit too? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Anyhow, some retrospective on the kits would be very helpful from ArenaNet.

[IceD'Bear]

Originally Posted by Bobangry

-Have a way to turn the entire UI off so I can really look at those pretty waterfalls without just taking a picture and hopeing for the best.

ctrl+shift+h

[Dragonne]

A few things:

1) Please allow the guild and friends windows to have hotkeys we can set in the control setup.

2) Please decrease the cost of inventory bags, and allow us to have more of them by putting bags on the belt pouch as well or something. In particular for new level 1 characters 1000gp is a heck of a lot of gold to buy a few bags regardless of value of the extra storage capacity, it's still just a bag.

*** EDIT: 100g, much better. ***

3) Once again to underscore/bold/italic the point, EXTERNAL STORAGE!!! An individual character stash is a necessity. Also an account-wide stash or at least some way to trade between the characters on your account without needing another player. Also where's the guild stash? These things aren't optional, they MUST be in before April 27th, especially with the additional bags being so difficult to acquire.

4) Better explanation on some quests of where to go and sometimes what to do. A few quests like Scavengers in Old Ascalon are pretty broad in description. Even so, you can kill every creature you can find in the entire Old Ascalon area (yes, not just the ruins area, the whole thing) and the quest never tells you to go back to someone for your reward.

5) The inventory system is ok, we just need to be able to have ALL 4 item storage containers openable at one time. It's cleaner than it was, but at least with the previous floating windows all of the containers could be viewed at once.

6) Add a benefit to not taking a second profession. Something minor, but enough to make it a viable option (since it is not only possible now, but even happens by accident one many occasions). If you focus in a profession, you should see some benefit to that. Specialist doctors get paid more, why can't specialist characters do the same (or something similar)??

Oh and IceD'Bear and Bobangry, SHIFT+PrintScreen takes screenshots without the UI.

[Lamaros]

Friends/Guild Alerts when people come online and offline.

1v1 duel place. For FUN!

Guild storage space/bank account/etc.

lots more stuff but I'll write that when I dont have to get up in 4 hours. Damn you winning streak!

[Bobangry]

Originally Posted by DEATH AT THE DOOR
You know, I don't think anyone would notice the eyecolour of your character in the game. I guess that's what the dyes are for: to make your character different.

I would! One of my characters names is Bloody Eyes...so you see, red eyes would be pretty cool. (named after a creepy looking avatar in Warlords Battlecry 2)

I wouldn't notice in PvP of course but in towns I sure would. Anyway that was just an example, little touches like that go a long way towards customizaton though.

'Second' on the D2 style "Stash" too, mules is just not the way to go.

Ctrl+Shift+H = Sweet, thanks IceD'Bear. I've played since E3 but I'm still learning new things every event!

[Devil's Dictionary]

I just though: what about offering Elementalists a small familiar? It wouldn't be as powerful as the ranger's and it should be summoned, but it would add a little originality to the class.
It would be a bold implementation, but since this is a suggestion thread, I thought I'd post that.

[daemonk]

I've only played two beta weekends. First weekend, I did not play extensively. This beta weekend I played a mes/ele extensively. Here are some minor grievances I have with the game. Just want to make this clear, these are small annoyances I have with the game, I would still play the game if they were not changed.

Battle UI
-DMG Display
Bigger DMG numbers. Different font maybe? Make it an option in the UI?
-Enemy Display
Enemies are hard to see/select when clumped together. I think the main visibility issue is with the big red name lables for the enemies. Maybe remove the red lables and replace with an enemy list box? A box that list all the enemies that are aggroed currently. It can show who is casting and who has hex/enchantments on. Basically like the ally box, except for enemies.
-Mouse Click
I am probably too used to other MMOs but when I click on an enemy, I rather have it select it than automatically attack it. Maybe make it an option?
-Deselect
Dunno if this is already implemented. And, yes, I know its very nitpicky. I want to be able to press esc to deselect something.
-AE Indication
Area effect are AREA effect because they effect a location. Spells like firestorm shouldn't rely on targeting a mob. It should change your mouse icon to an indication field circle and let you click on the location where the AE will work on. Of course with spells like Pheonix where a targeted enemy is needed, this doesn't apply.

Bag/Inventory/Item UI
-Item Linking
I really really really (3 reallys) like the WoW item linking system. I would not crucify you guys for stealing it. I actually think it should be made standard in all MMOs. To clarify, I am talking about the system where a player can shift-click an item in the chat text box and it will show up in chat dialogue as a link which other players can also shift-click and see what item it is. It will make selling weapons/armors with 5-6 attributes a lot easier. Oh, and it makes showing off your gear easier
-ID/Salvage
Currently when I use ID/Salvage, the mouse icon changes to a hammer. When I mouseover the item I want to ID/Salvage with the hammer icon, no description of the item is shown. I want to be able to see the description of the item when I ID/Salvage something.
-Warning Boxes
Warning before you salvage or throw away rare items?
-Storage Space
A storage bank or something in a city. Make us pay rent, anything. We need some sort of external space.
-Mailing system
Again...I would not mind you guys stealing from WoW. Need some sort of mailing system with C.O.D.
-Exotic Charm Seller
heh..I feel like an idiot. But a warning before the exotic charm seller takes your 50gold?

Misc Suggestions
-Emotes
Emotes that works on the selected thing? So /slap while selecting another player, would say "<Your Name> Slaps <Target>.
-Armor/Weapons
I want weird ass no functional use armors/weapons sets. A tuxedo suit/little black dress for mesmers, pirate costume for warriors, circuis lion tamer for rangers, Shaolin robes for monks, wedding dress for necros, clown suit for elementalists.
-New Emotes
buy/learn new emotes? dances?

--End Note--
I want to congratulate you guys for making an awesom game. Top notch graphics and balanced gameplay. Finally a mmo with no cookie cutter builds.

Again, the problems I listed are minor grievances that wouldn't stop me from playing the game. But I do think how hard a game company work to refine their game reflects their commitment to the player base. Especially with a game like this where no monthhly fee is charged, I would be more suspicious of commitment.

Most of the problems I've listed should probably be made option in the UI menu. I like a game that adapts to the player, rather than having the player adapt to the game.

[Dragonne]

Tone down the fire imps in North Kryta. 4 Level 11 fire imps with constant immolation? Come on... Maybe if the players are level 16-20. Most people are level 10-12 when they first get there.

[Uthar]

On the emote note: I know one of my guildies wants a /spank emote, too. She wants to smite us all.

[Bobangry]

For the Guild Vs Guild System--Game ending prematurely:

I don't know for sure but I believe that both teams have no change to their guild rateing. We just totally destroyed another guild in about 10 minutes (they had 8 players) but they left before we got inside to kill their guild lord and it said it ended premature. While it's a good step towards fighting GvG exploits I think that the team that leaves prematurely should lose rateing, even if it doesn't give positive points it to the team still in the game. Otherwise it just encourages the losing team to leave early.

Thread I started on it last night:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267

[Galatea]

I just pre-ordered, so the February BETA was my first. Not super-new to MMORPGs (I played FFXI for a good amount of time, and I participated in the WOW beta).. anyway, I'm pretty impressed with the game (and glad there is free monthly subscription! yay!), but just some things I'd like to suggest, and not sure if these have already been covered elsewhere:

1. Town Maps
Yes, there is a map of the overall area (and the smaller windowed map); and yes, there is a mini-map in the corner.. But it would be nice to be able to zoom in on the large map, or perhaps be able to click a button to access an individual town map (these could be requested for from some sort of official npc, or we could already have the map once we visit the area). This way, we can see the layout of an area in full.

It would also be nice for it to show markers (green markers, for example) for where party members are. I was in a party with a friend, and we had split up. When trying to regroup, I had no idea where he was. I could hear the "ping" noise on my mini-map, but we had strayed too far from each other, so I could not see the ping until running around aimlessly.

If it is also possible, there could be a different color (maybe orange or something) for a "shared marker" that party members could move around. This way party members could designate a meeting point if they split up, or are all trying to go somewhere.

This individual map could also have a numbered/lettered grid, so that instead of telling other party members "I'm somewhere in the Southwest.", they could say, "I'm standing in/around B7." and members could find other members more easily.

This would be especially useful in the common areas/towns, where there are a lot of people, and sometimes I can not find the individual I am looking for.

2. Area Switching Confirmation/Notification
When in a party, it is a bit annoying when one member will walk into a new area, and I am not yet ready to leave. There have been instances where I was about to pick up an item, or finish a fight, and I would be teleported into the next area because another party member strayed off and explored further.

I suggest that there could be, perhaps, a notification message when one person enters a new area that could pop up. It could maybe say, "A team member is now entering a new area. Are you ready to enter?" and then perhaps a countdown of, maybe 20 seconds -- as well as a "YES" button which would instantly teleport you into the new area. If the other members did not hit yes, then they would be able to continue what they were doing for whatever remaining time.

3. Targetting
When I target onto something (by using the TAB button or similar), such as a person in a town - it would be nice if you could double-click the name of the target (that appears at the top, centered on the screen, in red) and have your character run to the target. This is mainly for in common areas/towns where crowds of people are gathered, and I am trying to find a certain person.

4. Personalized emotes
When having a person targeted, typing an emote such as "/clap" would then print the text, "[My_Name] claps for [Targetted_Name]" or similar. Same with other emotes such as /cheer, /jump, etc. Maybe also include the super-personalized "/emote [text_here]" which would allow characters to type any text emote they want. So "/emote is sleepy." would print "Galatea Nereid is sleepy."

Other emote suggestions: /rest (lay down or lounge) /hug (this could be a text-only), /smile, /cry, /angry, /poke, etc.

5. An auction house / trading post
Some sort of trading post or auction house where players can place items up for sale (and others to bid/purchase/barter for/etc) would be nice. Or a separate zone area just for trading, so that all the "LOOKING FOR THIS, SELLING THAT" spam won't clog up the regular town talk. Or a separate chat box for trading (as there are for whispers, guilds, parties).

6. Clearer Explanations in the Tutorial Area
As Lamaros mentioned -- more detailed info about Salvaging, Identifying, etc. Maybe have someone in the town who can act as a guide to where certain NPCS are (crafters/outfitters/etc).

7. Collectors' Requests
Maybe also add the requests of Collectors into the quest area, or somewhere. I would always forget which collector wanted which item, and what town they were nearby.

8. Non-portable Storage Area
Since we've got bags and sometimes quest items that you don't need at the moment, extra tools, etc.. there should be a place to store them in (like a locker type thing) that can house objects that you don't need at the moment. These would only be accessible from towns, and maybe random outposts.


Hmmmm. Yeah.
Oh, another thing which may be more of a bug really - but my character has gotten 'stuck' quite a number of times in random little corners and invisible walls in the tutorial area because Gwen would be standing there ever so innocently, blocking my path. I'd have to wait for her to eventually be silly and skip around before I could walk out, and sometimes she wouldn't do so for a few minutes.

Anyway, most importantly, I'm hoping for a storage area, town maps, more emotes, and a trading post.
That's my two cents.

[Cicciro]

Fix this bug:

If a guild leader deletes his character, his account is removed from the guild. Then, future invites to him do not show up, so now he cannot lead his guild.

[Pharalon]

Originally Posted by Cicciro

Fix this bug:

If a guild leader deletes his character, his account is removed from the guild. Then, future invites to him do not show up, so now he cannot lead his guild.

I actually asked the devs to implement it like that Cicc, just so I could depose you and rule the guild with an iron fist :P

[Cicciro]

You ungrateful bastard! All I did for you, you just... took it. I set up my empire and you just slipped it out of my hands. I knew one of you was corrupt! I KNEW IT! Ah well, I will crush you with my new empire, give me a few months to set it up...

[Lamaros]

Some of the posts above this are not suggestions! How dare they deface the thread!

I second the suggestions put forward by daemonk and Galatea. (Casting Fire Storm on an area just to have the target move away from the bunch just before I finish the cast is very annoying!)

As for the storyline. It's already been said already about the tutorial, but the 'oomphlessness' of it extends throughout all the missions. So someone got the Scepter of Orr, who cares? Oh, it's meant to be some awesome thing shrouded in mystery? Sounds kinda epic, comes accross fairly weak. The conforntation between Rurik and the King is more funny than impressive, the Undead rise! and attack, surely a disaster, but it feels rather ho-hum too. (this is not to say is dislike the storyline itself, I dont, I just feel it's not being communicated in a manner that draws you in)

Many of the text desplays are too small. As has been said combat damage and healing etc is way too small, make it bigger, make it bold, make it fade out slower.

The audio and visual elements of the storyline are really quite easy to miss, with the exception of the cut scenes, and even they suffer from some weak sounds. Making them more noticable would be good.

The Whole chatting to some lorekeeper before a mission is cool, but the text is too small and rather side-questy looking for the main storyline. Bump it up, put it more in the players faces literaly. Maybe even add some random speech to them ("listen carefuly, the task you have before you will be tough" "thankyou for your help, but there is still much to do" etc etc).

Currently they look like little pop up notes, they dont grab the attention enough. They need to be bigger without me having to supersize my ui (cuz i dont want to do that).

Enemies need to have clearly visible health bars that you can see even when you havn't selected them. Dont make dead enemies show up here. It sucks when i'm trying to select an enemy from a distance and there dead bars are confusing the area around those I want to select.

Once again, the game is great fun!

[BlackArrow]

One thing I would like changed is the warrior's helmets. I love the look of the Ascalon, Knight's and Wyvern but to get the +1 to swordsmanship I want, I need to wear the standard captains helm. I'd like to see an option when a warrior creates a helmet to put a +1 modifier to a warrior attribute on it. Right now the warriors have to choose between style or function, I want both.

[Exception]

Most of my gripes have been addressed: external storage, fixing the inventory system that didn't need fixing, *spam filters*.

the only unique suggestion i have is that ascalon city should have all the NPCs that lion's arch has, such as the crafting material trader, dye trader, skill charm crafter etc. because it's rather depressing how lower lvl chars can get cheated by some high lvl chars selling stuff for atrociously inflated prices, or buying from them at rock bottom prices.

[Lamaros]

Originally Posted by BlackArrow

One thing I would like changed is the warrior's helmets. I love the look of the Ascalon, Knight's and Wyvern but to get the +1 to swordsmanship I want, I need to wear the standard captains helm. I'd like to see an option when a warrior creates a helmet to put a +1 modifier to a warrior attribute on it. Right now the warriors have to choose between style or function, I want both.

This is the same for any piece of equipment. I suppose a solution would be to allow someone ot make a piece of equipment in stages, first the base design, then choose from the modifiers. To make it reasonable you'd have to make it noticably more expensive than the standard 'pre-set' sets. I'd go for that though.

I guess you could have a unarorned piece of armor/clothing which costs a set amout of gold, then you choose the modifier which costs the same as a full pre-set piece of armor with the same stats, +10%.

[Cruel Skeksis]

**Some snow wolves have very stuttery legs when they run
**Dolyak riders keel falling over and over
**The spade shaped skirt that you see on elementalists and some of 'The Chosen' often breaks at the center seam, or along the bend from center to hip
**Stone Summit Howlers walk to their targets

**During movies gameplay needs a pause of some sort so people don't die during the scene cuts
--at the scene cut during De'Alassio seaboard you can still see the villagers dying during the awards ceremony

**Henchies are often in party after zoning but do not update to reflect this
**The group window defaults as others have pointed out
**After levelling the group or target windows do not update to reflect this

**The initial Necro tutorial at Eden Ascalon states, "...and kill a skale so I animated a horror from it."
**There are sometimes 2 broken flutes and sometimes one, and it can confuse users


suggestions:
**Suggest tutorial explanation on ability to 'quest' for bags instead of buying them - many did not understand because the information was not immediatley available
**Suggest tutorial explanation on 'how to quest', at initial character loadup for those whos first game this will be
**Suggest questing tutorial for 'how to salvage', 'how to buy gear', and 'how to customize' (this may be obvious to many, but to a brand new gamer it is confusing)

**Suggest on secondary class selection confirmation that a 2nd dummy pop up confirmation window be put in place. It should actually 'Pop Up' to confirm selection of 2nd class for very basic users who are very new to games and do not understand it will be a final decision. Extra dummy pop up to lend importance to the choice here, as I twice witnessed brand new casual gamers make this mistake and both became very upset. Needs to be more obvious.

**Suggest mouse buttons be added to bindable keys in order that "Free Camera" may be bound to the left mouse key
**GW is very Dvorak keyboard friendly and I could find no significant bugs, but "Press T to assist me" is not rebindable. On a Dvorak board T is where K is on other boards, and this is a very inconvenient placement. Suggest making "Assist with T" bindable
**Suggest more interface customizability in transparancy and skinning

**Most asked question "Where can I find the skill trainers" seems to have been addressed in EdenAscalon, yet still suggest similar quest set in Catacylsm Ascalon

**Suggest more access to GW so I can find more bugs and suggestions =) (Cruel Skeksis)