Hey folks,
Now that the HOT is out of the bag, we’re able to update this thread with more details. With the introduction of the new account based mastery system for end-game progression and growth in PvE, we’ll also be re-evaluating our other systems of character progression to ensure they match our over-all pillars and goals for Gw2.
In doing so: we’re going to be removing the current trait unlocking system currently on live and replacing it with a more simplified system that supports where skills-traits-specializations are going in the future. We’ll go into more details between now and the release of HOT on how skills, traits, and specializations will work in the new Gw2 world.
Thank you for all your passionate feedback on this topic – it not only helped our dev team lead to this decision, but has played a large role in helping us define how to build our exciting new account based mastery system for end-game progression in PvE as well.
I’m happy the system is to be completely revamped, and happy there is a proper confirmation of this.
That said, I’ll pass on handing you the traditional cookie of good service – 9+ months of this fiasco has simply made me feel that, despite this result and your protestations, that feedback is not all that valued. Mainly from this thread, but other notable ones, and I hate to bang on about it, but Anet seeming only to move into gear on a certain other issue when the gaming sites got involved, further fuelled by us learning your statement, and intention to change from them a clear hour before we got it from you. To me, the huge delay, and silence here are not made up by this statement, and likely not by its implementation. Thats not to say it is lost forever. But this thread and it’s direction, and Anet’s mostly lack of any response has made me not only respect and trust Anet less, but has made me less hyped for wat else is in development, for fear of another kitten-up like this.
I’d also like to share some level of interest as to the timeframe. Are you saying that Gaile’s purposefully and correctly vague timescale is out the window as well? I’m not of the midn that HoT will be released in that timescale,a nd would be madness to think that. Your post suggests that the trait revamp will come at a similar time to HoT’s release. Considering we’ve been out in the cold, and many are disillusioned after over 9 months of this mess entirely of Anet’s making, do you think it is right now to ask us to wait what could be another 6 months or so of this? Usually I understand timescales can change and it is perhaps dangerous to suggest one prematurely, but here, after so long, but here, it has already been over 9 months. You want us to hang on here on the promise of a much better change, but to paraphrase that great sage of our time, Mr Sirius Black, We did out waiting. 9 months of it. In this silent purgatory. On a personal level I’m entirely disillusioned with the game at the moment. I log in to collect my rewards and thats it. I frankly couldn’t give a rat’s behind about anything about the game at the moment. And a huge part of that is i feel punished for making a lot of alts with this system. I’m just hanging on til hoT, and will give it a go, but not as excited as I otherwise would have been. I haven’t bought gems for quite a while, and I will continue to refuse to support this game while this system remains, despite your seemingly sincere words.
As for our passionate feedback, well, I’m sure we appreciate the words. But it has been this passionate for 9 solid months, and a lot of the feedback on this issue was all stated in the first weeks. We’ve been parroting the issues since. If it’s taken you 9 months of the same arguments to realise a change is needed, i worry for the continued future of the game.
Just to summarize and reassert, Your words are heartening in the detail of a revamp, but even more disconcerting as you suggest a far longer timescale than what we got recently. Ultimately, the change will be welcome, if done right, but it does not by any stretch solve the issues of being devalued as a player and customer that I feel, nor does it ultimately restore my enjoyment of the game, or trust in ANet. In time, that may return, and I will try to give that chance. I still love the game. But at the current moment, I have no sense of happiness or elation here. I don’t feel suddenly valued or that Anet have finally seen the light. 9 months is long enough, and while details are coming, i think one of the first must be how many more months we have to continue to wait.