Celeste and Allona recap ALL the Feature Patch updates announced as of Wednesday, (fake) fight over home instance gathering nodes, and glory in the adventures Keyroy Farmkins and Steak n’ Potatoes Man!

Audio Version

What We Did This Week

Allona

• 
  
• A BUNCH of fungeons! Well, a bunch for me … maybe six or seven?
  
• A fair bit of alting and kitting out a couple of my 80s.
  
• Slowly working on getting to 500 on my artificer … sloooooooowwwwlyyyyyy
  
• Marathoned getting a guildie their JPs for the monthly at the zero hour (hint: not Celeste).
  

Celeste

• 
  
• Didn’t follow my own advice, forgot to finish my monthly achievements
  
• Did a few keyfarms
  

 

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Report from Lion’s Arch

 

Feature patch news

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/releases/feature-packs/

• 
  
• Global Guilds (still separated by NA/EU, but yaaaaaay)
  
  • 
    
  • “The guild vault from the world that had the highest number of slots will become your global guild vault. If your guild had the same number of slots on multiple worlds, it’ll pick the one with the most items. However, the items from other worlds’ banks will not be lost—instead, their contents will be put into extra slots, which will only be available to withdraw from and will disappear once empty.â€
    
  
  
  
• Guild Mission Improvements (making it easier to organize)
  
  • 
    
  • “The megaserver system will be extended with a reservation system that is automatically enabled whenever a guild member joins a map to do a guild mission, which will prioritize adding guild members to that map. This system, however, is limited in the number of spaces that get reserved on the map instance, so it’ll work best for small- and medium-sized guilds.â€
    
  
  
  
• Finding Allies in Different Map Copies (if a map can be closed due to lower population you can volunteer to move to another map and will gain temporary bonuses to karma, experience, and movement for 10 minutes)
  
  • 
    
  • “Volunteer’s Blessing, which increases movement speed by 15%, karma gain by 5%, and experience from kills by 10% for 10 minutes. This effect persists if you move to another map, but the movement speed bonus is applied only in PvE.â€
    
  
  
  
• Language in Europe (making head roads into solving some the language issues on the EU servers)
  
  • 
    
  • “Thanks to player feedback, we’ve decided to disable the chat filtering option by default. We had to deploy this system as a shield against harassment, but it was also impairing normal communication. As always, if you feel harassed, please use the in-game reporting tool.“
    
  • They’re very reluctant to split people into megaserver instances based solely on language because they’d have to deal with the possibility of having a very empty map.
    
  
  
  
• Dungeon Instance Owner (removing the concept of ‘owner’! Wonderful!)
  
  • 
    
  • “If everyone leaves an instance, it will close, but you don’t have to worry about one person leaving your party and having to restart your dungeon!â€
    
  
  
  
• Crafting UI (open recipes and subcomponent recipes at the same time. This allows you to craft the parts required for a recipe and allows for faster navigation around the crafting interface.)
  
  • 
    
  • “You can now open recipes and subcomponent recipes at the same time. This allows you to craft the parts required for a recipe and allows for faster navigation around the crafting interface.â€
    
  
  
  
• Performance Updates
  
  • 
    
  • “We’ve changed the way many of the underlying systems work, making them more cost-effective, which will reduce how often players will be seeing issues caused by performance. This is most notable in large combat situations like WvW and at the PvE world boss events. These improvements affect both the server and client performance, so in these situations, you should see increased frame rates as well!â€
    
  
  
  
• New Levelling Items (gear meant to specifically help you level your character. a bit confused about how these work, but they sound cool!)
  
  • 
    
  • “For example, if you’re lucky enough to come across the Cannon Law, you’ll be able to choose between two stat combinations and receive a level 36 rare rifle with the Krytan Rifle skin and stats that are a little more potent than most rifles of its level.â€
    
  • They go on to say that, “The recipes for these items are meant for advanced crafters, but we’ve also added versions of the weapons to monster hauls across Tyria that come with a few stat combos intended for characters who are still leveling.†So now it’s something you have to craft? I’m REALLY confused.
    
  
  
  
• Crafter’s Backpacks (backpacks that change as you level in crafting. a bit confused about how these work, but they sound cool!)
  
  • 
    
  • You’ll need old materials to upgrade and craft it up to the level you’re currently at. Lv 450 tailor? You’ll need jute again to get yourself started on these. “ they’ll guide players up from novice to adept crafting in each discipline, bring in new looks to your Wardrobe, and come with a bit more combat flexibility than many players might have seen.†So you’ll end up making a usable backpiece with stats. Will they be selectable like a legendary or will we see light armored classes clamoring to get their Tailoring up to 500 for the stats?
    
  • C: sounds like they’re working on making sure EU/NA have the same thing as China, this is just a little upscaled version of what is already in that client, but with more flair. Especially since the ascended backpieces aren’t really that great for PvE players. Is this the effort to make PvErs go after something prestigious?
    
  
  
  
• Profession Loot (more often than not you will get loot that is pertinent to your profession!)
  
  • 
    
  • “We’d rather that leveling players found things that felt like an immediate and useful upgrade or gave them a look at a new weapon and a chance to expand their skill set, and this seems like a good way of doing that.â€
    
  • C: This also helps new players by guiding them towards the type of gear they’ll need to start focusing on. This leads to less confusion, more player retention, yadda yadda, pr jargon, technical terms, and (ultimately) money.
    
  
  
  
• A Clear Sense of Direction
  
  • 
    
  • “ This system simplifies the UI in the top-right side of the game window, providing one clear suggested location (and an arrow providing general direction) to guide players to exciting content. This system will also help guide players to content areas of appropriate level difficulty, even to the next map so they have a better idea of where to go when advancing their character.â€
    
  • There’s a setting in the options menu to change the functionality of this indicator. Turn it off or set it to “world complete†mode.
    
  
  
  
• Levelling as a Reward
  
  • 
    
  • Level-up notification changes, bouncy badge next to your bouncy chests
    
  • “When you reach a specific level, any system tied to that level will be presented in the form of a reward. The game will also offer to teach you how to use the new system and will show you what you’ll get the next time you level up.â€
    
  • They’ll be hiding some portions of the UI for new players, though once the messages have been unlocked on one character, they’ll be visible to all. Example: PvP & WvW panel icons
    
  • “We’ve moved the downed state to unlock at level five so players have time to learn the basics of combat before they experience this system. We also made the downed state give you additional health early on to help make it easier to learn.“
    
    • 
      
    • A: I guess I can see how this is a good thing. I often forget that I was an AVID consumer of all the GW2 news prior to release and knew what the downed state was, so it wasn’t a surprise to me.
      
    
    
    
  • “We’ve also taken some of the systems that felt needlessly complicated or obtuse and simplified them to make them consistent, so leveling is the big way you gain new abilities.“
    
  • “Now, new skill slots for weapons will be unlocked for all weapons simultaneously as you level up. This means that if you pick up a new weapon for the first time after already unlocking multiple weapon skill slots, you’ll automatically learn the skills for that weapon, rather than having to learn each weapon’s skills individually.â€
    
    • 
      
    • A: I’m actually kind of bummed about this change. It’s not a huge deal or anything, but I always liked unlocking the weapons and learning what they do over time. I never felt like it took a lot of time to do. Ah well.
      
    
    
    
  
  
  
• Stat Gains
  
  • 
    
  • “When you gain a level, you’ll know you’re progressing in a way that immediately benefits your character. You’ll be able to experience a clear power difference in your character when you reach these milestones rather than having tiny, hard-to-notice increments with each level.“
    
    • 
      
    • A: I think this is a good move. Even if it’s nothing you can customize, you at least get a flashy notification of how your character’s stats have improved. Right now levelling feels ‘meh’ unless it’s a level that gives you a trait unlock.
      
    
    
    
  
  
  
• Rewards
  
  • 
    
  • gain rewards for levelling
    
  • “We won’t be able to retroactively give these rewards to existing level 80 characters, but all characters under 80 will use this system for their remaining levels between their current level and level 80.â€
    
  
  
  
• Personal Story
  
  • 
    
  • Big changes here! P.S. instances unlock in chapter chunks so the story flows better rather than the broken disconnect you can get when you do one part of the story 6months ago and then try to pick up where you left off tomorrow.
    
  • Better rewards for completing story chapters as they’ve reevaluated the rewards that were given previously as well
    
    • 
      
    • Related: We can pretty well assume that the keyfarming with humans is done as you’ll have to be a certain level to unlock the chapters’ playability
      
    • A: If a key is even still included as a reward.
      
    
    
    
  
  
  
• Improvements to the Wardrobe
  
  • 
    
  • Search capable! Outfits separate and you can see the ones you don’t have with a preview option! Outfits also show if they’re for sale, on sale, or currently locked in the gem store!
    
  
  
  
• Finishers Now in the Wardrobe
  
  • 
    
  • Preview a finisher and look at all the ones you might not have. You can look at them, rotate and compare them as many times as you like.
    
  
  
  
• Miniatures in the Wardrobe
  
  • 
    
  • “The new mini section in the Wardrobe allows you to convert any mini in your inventory to an account unlock.â€
    
    • 
      
    • A: As I suspected, prices for minis have skyrocketed. I had a few lingering in the TP that sold before I was able to get home to pull them. And now they sell for double or more what I had them listed for. I haz a sad.
      
    
    
    
  • Miniatures are now through your hero panel instead of your bank
    
  • “Lastly, a full list of available locked minis you might want to preview can be found below your account list. There are a few minis that remain hidden until unlocked, so we’ve still kept a bit of mystery in the world.â€
    
  • “Clicking on any mini, locked or unlocked, shows it next to your character on the right-hand side. You can rotate and preview the mini, seeing detail and size easier than ever before. Best of all, any mini can now be previewed from the Trading Post, inventory, and chat links!â€
    
  
  
  
• Collections Achievement Category
  
  • 
    
  • Collections hidden throughout the world
    
  • Tons of new rewards for completing collections
    
    • 
      
    • C: This really feeds into my addiction to shinies in Rift.
      
    • A: The first thing I though of.
      
    
    
    
  • Ways to obtain collections: Automatic, discovered and unlocked
    
    • 
      
    • Automatic – basic set, beginner level unlocks
      
    • Discovered – Will be visible once you collect something from the set
      
    • Unlocked – Creatures, Chests, Renown vendors. Example: spoon box in LA
      
    
    
    
  • 3 ways to collect – character or account bound, using, or unlocked skin through wardrobe. Collections may contain any/all of these methods to be completed.
    
  • Slightly retroactive – eating a steak last month won’t count, but if you’ve got an exotic bow equipped it will.
    
  
  
  
• A Bit of Cleanup
  
  • 
    
  • “For example, the “Deposit All Collectibles†option in your inventory will now read “Deposit All Materials.†Henceforth, any use of the terms Collections and Collectibles will refer to Item Collections.â€
    
  
  
  
• Achievements
  
  • 
    
  • Cleaned up achievement panel
    
  • WvW, PvP, and Activities are now under Competitive
    
  • Region, Boss and Dungeons are now under General
    
    • 
      
    • C: WAIT A MINUTE?! There’s a chest in the Human home instance… what the heck is this sorcery?!
      
    • A: What?!
      
    
    
    
  
  
  

 

Skill Bars Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c86ECLpcamo

• 
  
• C: This is sooooooo much easier to understand and I may have actually stuck both hands in the air as he explained the ranger changes. I’M SO MUCH MORE EXCITED NOW.
  
• A: I’ve been watching these as they appeared on the Ready Ups. The Skill Bar is pretty great at illustrating and explaining balance updates!
  

 

New CDI topic on the official forums – Guilds!

https://forum-en.guildwars2.com/forum/game/gw2/The-CDI-is-coming-back-Topics/page/5#post4340619

https://forum-en.guildwars2.com/forum/game/gw2/Communicating-with-you/page/22#post4362706

• 
  
• “It will be broken down into time boxed discussion sections such as Guild vs. Guild, Guild Activities, Managing Guilds, Guild Content etc.â€
  
• Should be started up by the end of this week, so be sure to keep an eye on the forums so you can share your calm, well-spoken, and logically defended suggestions in the discussion
  

 

Ask An Asura

 

Is there a way to get exotics to drop in game? Or is it only RNG?

My luck bar is approaching 100 but I find I’m doing explorable maps on alts to get exotics rather than getting on the champ trains. And have yet to try dungeons. Any advice to be appreciated as always.

Artphul

• 
  
• It’s pretty much exclusive to RNG now, aside from map completions. If you’re really wanting exotics (to salvage for materials or something like that) you can do dungeons and spend your tokens to get the lv 80 exotic LIGHT armor gear. Best chance of getting good materials if you use BL salvage kits or the mystic salvage kits.
  

 

Allona’s Tip of the week: Key farm while the getting’s good? I reached out to M to see if she had any tips … here’s what I got “Never cross a Sylvari when violets are on the line and never start a land war in Ascalon.â€

Celeste’s Tip of the week: Once you hit 80, get your master traits taken care of. You’ll want to have access to them as soon as the class balances go into effect with this patch, so if you don’t have them already get it done.

 

Tales of Tyria

 

The Daring-Do Adventures of Herfølge Boldklub – Issue 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRX_Lqca95I

Thanks to Jado Cast for tipping us off to this video! (which was also – deservedly – featured at the end of the last Ready Up)

 

PSA: Save Network Authenticator and VPN’s vulnerable

https://forum-en.guildwars2.com/forum/support/account/PSA-Save-network-and-VPN

 

Wolfineer’s WvW Montage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojh2uTBwIms&feature=youtu.be&a

• 
  
• A: I? I’m crazy impressed. And was actually a bit surprised I was able to follow what was going on … mostly.
  
• C: Wowza.
  

 

Of Legal age to drink ‘fruit juice’? Visteri made some awesome stuff for you!

https://forum-en.guildwars2.com/forum/community/fangen/Race-profession-drink-recipes

• 
  
• Rubi chimed in on the thread to let them know that they were making them at the PAX party this past weekend and they were quite a hit!
  

 

Fond Farewells

We tip our hats and wish a bon voyage to Kate Welch and Martin Kerstein. We’ll miss you both!

http://mkerstein.tumblr.com/post/95577009319/onwards-to-new-adventures

http://shegeekshow.com/post/95565725376/i-gave-my-notice-at-arenanet-this-week-my-last-day

 

[SPOILERS] Humans And Their Puny Problems

http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/2f9wi4/sharing_my_disgust_for_humans_in_gw2_spoilers/

• 
  
• A: Perma-linking THE BEST RECAP EVER! http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/2f9wi4/sharing_my_disgust_for_humans_in_gw2_spoilers/ck7b4h5
  
  • 
    
  • C: Agreed
    
  
  
  

 

PC Gamer’s October Issue

• 
  
• GW2 coming in at #39 out of 100
  
• “These are the games you absolutely need to play today. It’s as simple as thatâ€
  
  • 
    
  • A: I don’t think they would get any argument here. :)
    
  
  
  

 

COOKIE MAILS & PEARS

We got in-game mails from Le Requiem!

“Hi Magical Celeste, As two of the many happy earholes, I just want to say that the podcast is awesome and we enjoyed it quite much! Please take these tokens of appreciation for all the works you and Allona have done. Thanks, Cele-cele-cele-cele-cookie!â€

• 
  
• C: Thanks for the celerity, celebratory steak, celery dye, celestial emblazoned armor, and chocolate mint cookies!
  

“Reporter Pear – Hi Allona, Just wanted to say that your podcast is amazing and I really enjoyed it. Needless to say the earholes enjoyed the treatment as well (HA!). Hope the following pears find you well. PS. Can you believe pear is actually account bound? Outrageous! Tho it prob makes them rare goodies. :Dâ€

• 
  
• A: I loved getting this so much, and was tickled with the treats of ginger pear tart, asparagus, pearl, speargun, and spearmint dye!
  

 

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Visit us on Twitter!

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Allona: @onebigpear

 

Say ‘HI’ to us in-game!

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Celeste: CeleOOKIE.5046

 

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