What's the point of doing instances at low level and at 80 over and over, if gear doesn't matter?
The point of playing games in my opinion is to be challenged. However doing the same instance over and over in PvE becomes less and less challenging and also less and less fun.
So repeating the same dungeon 30 times or more is rather pointless, but it ain´t more fun in games that gives you gear you must have either.
Other players have other goals however and might see things a different way but to me doing the same thing over and over eventually get boring in any game.
Could you provide a source for this ? It seems to contradict every single bit of information released by A-Net or testers, so I would appreciate seeing any facts, and their source, you might have to back it up.
When all has been said and done, more will have been said than done.
So your telling I can take my lvl 1 gear to 80 and not change a thing? How does that make sense? Enlighten me please.
OK, lemme try to clear some things up for you.
1) You can go to any zone or dungeon your level or lower and gain meaningful xp, gold, and loot. That means you can go help a friend roll a new toon, explore zone starter zone you've never been to before, get exploration achievements...and still get something meaningful out of it.
2) While gear doesn't OWN the game like in WoW, starts do still mean something. You won't take the same gear with you from 1-80. But if you find designs you like you CAN transmute them, similar to how wow does it. The main reason to run dungeons, especially at max level, is to obtain these special designed cosmetic armors for transmuting.
3) Even after cap you raise xp. When you would "level" (e.g. when you would in theory hit 81), your bar resets, and you gain a skill point. These can be used to buy skills, or to fund other cool things like help making very very rare pieces of gear (again, mostly cosmetic, not for stats). So even getting xp matters at max level.
Did that help any?
That's pretty cool I actually didn't know about the exp at level cap thing.
What's the point of doing instances at low level and at 80 over and over, if gear doesn't matter?
I believe gears in dungeons have unique looks and you can use some items to transfer stats between gear. Anyways, i don't want repeat a dungeon 100 times to get 100 badges to get 1 piece of endgame gear, i just want a challenge when it comes to dungeons.
It is supposed to be fun. You are supposed to do it as much as you feel like doing it or until you get that sweet looking item to finally drop. God forbid you do dungeons for fun! Honestly, the only reason you do dungeons past the first few runs in other MMOs is for gear. You are not doing it because it is fun.
The dungeons in other games are fun until you get to a point where they are requiring you to do them to progress your character to see otherwise gated content to you. (Due to lack of gear) Those games create these barriers to make content last long enough so that people pay for another month. This game does not require players to invest tons of time doing boring and tedius tasks just so they can progress through the game. It does not have a sub that they are trying to sucker you into paying. GW2 does not have a pathetic carrot on a stick mentality that other MMOs have. The game is fun for you until you get bored of the content. Then you stop playing. Wow, amazing concept right? Then a content patch comes along and makes everything exciting again...which you don't even have to take your credit card out to experience.
GW2 is setup so that as long as you are having fun you can keep playing. Fun is not about progression. Progression as fun is just a delusion that has been created over the last decade or so for MMO players. The guys who were around before WoW came out know better. Sure, those games had some carrot on a stick stuff too (aka EQ), but most of those games focused on experiencing the world and enjoying it; not being escorted through it with gating of content through itemization. Yes EQ had some hardcore carrot on a stick stuff, but if you look back then and really think about it...most of the people did not care so much about gear as killing a new boss.
This is the generation that won't play a great game if it doesn't have trophies/achievements attached.
They will also play a horrible game as long as it can raise their trophy level or add achievement points.
Some people would rather do a mediocre instance if it offers better statistical gear than a fun instance (subjective, ofc) that doesn't offer anything outside of a cosmetic reward.
I think that at some point in the last 4-8 years, we stopped playing games for entertainment.
"As you read these words, a release is seven days or less away or has just happened within the last seven days those are now the only two states youll find the world of Tyria."...Guild Wars 2
lol I see all this hubris about how having fun just for the sake of having fun is above and beyond doing things to get gear. However, I'm forced to ask myself, how does attaining gear limit the individuals with this seemingly misplaced hubris from having fun in games where getting gear is a potential reward? It seems like a load of BS if you ask me.
If it's about having fun to have fun, then shoudln't attaining the gear be completely beneath you? Yet most find the energy and time to complain about "needing" to obtain the gear. Well, what about "needing" to repeat content just for the sake of having fun? Can't you still do that in games with gear treadmills? Again, seems like a load of BS.
I'd rather it simply is fun and something I look forward to doing again because it was a fun challenge instead of doing it because the game forces me to do it as it is the most optimal way of progressing.
I have a job thank you, I don't need to come home for more.
I don't fucking get the thing with these boards and the constant need to find something to complain about in GW2. Are you playing the devils advocate here? Because that would make sense.
So what's the point of you complaining about a feature you like not making it into the game? You obviously dislike Anets design philosophy, that should be enough for you to look the other way and go play something else.
I'd rather it simply is fun and something I look forward to doing again because it was a fun challenge instead of doing it because the game forces me to do it as it is the most optimal way of progressing.
I have a job thank you, I don't need to come home for more.
I don't fucking get the thing with these boards and the constant need to find something to complain about in GW2. Are you playing the devils advocate here? Because that would make sense.
So what's the point of you complaining about a feature you like not making it into the game? You obviously dislike Anets design philosophy, that should be enough for you to look the other way and go play something else.
Isn't the game still forcing you to do it as a means to have fun in the game? Sure, you don't have the "forced progression". But you still have the forced repetition in order to maintain some level of enjoyment in the game.
All you did was take out the carrot, but you still have the treadmill... Can you honestly pretend like that's better?
I never got rewarded for finding Princess Peach, but it sure was nicer than being told she was in another castle.
My guess is repetition is up to the player.
I know I don't plan to see any instance more than twice if I can help it after token grinding in WoW to the point where I miss random drops from epic monsters in EQ1.
I never got rewarded for finding Princess Peach, but it sure was nicer than being told she was in another castle.
My guess is repetition is up to the player.
I know I don't plan to see any instance more than twice if I can help it after token grinding in WoW to the point where I miss random drops from epic monsters in EQ1.
lol wow cool comparison there. What about Contra and the awesome weapons you would get by getting further into the game. What about how much easier levels were when you had said weapon upgrades and you hadn't died in a few levels.
Out of place comparisons make for a strong arguement.....
I'd rather it simply is fun and something I look forward to doing again because it was a fun challenge instead of doing it because the game forces me to do it as it is the most optimal way of progressing.
I have a job thank you, I don't need to come home for more.
I don't fucking get the thing with these boards and the constant need to find something to complain about in GW2. Are you playing the devils advocate here? Because that would make sense.
So what's the point of you complaining about a feature you like not making it into the game? You obviously dislike Anets design philosophy, that should be enough for you to look the other way and go play something else.
Isn't the game still forcing you to do it as a means to have fun in the game? Sure, you don't have the "forced progression". But you still have the forced repetition in order to maintain some level of enjoyment in the game.
All you did was take out the carrot, but you still have the treadmill... Can you honestly pretend like that's better?
You still get great gear from Dungeons in GW2, but they aren't the only places to get gear of the same quality. The "skins" will differentiate them from other similar gear, but for people who like to run instances, it also provides a clear way of obtaining top notch gear. Also, Arenanet has said that Dungeon gear may offer some stat distributions not found on other gear, though the over all power level will be the same as similar quality gear obtained from Karma Vendors, crafting, personal story, etc...
What is different about GW2 is that once you do obtain the best level 80 stat gear, there will be no stat inflation beyond that point for level 80 gear. Once you have ontained all the max stat gear you need for various builds, the incentives to doing further Dungeons will be fun, a sense of achievment and new armor/weapon skins.
I never got rewarded for finding Princess Peach, but it sure was nicer than being told she was in another castle.
My guess is repetition is up to the player.
I know I don't plan to see any instance more than twice if I can help it after token grinding in WoW to the point where I miss random drops from epic monsters in EQ1.
lol wow cool comparison there. What about Contra and the awesome weapons you would get by getting further into the game. What about how much easier levels were when you had said weapon upgrades and you hadn't died in a few levels.
Out of place comparisons make for a strong arguement.....
You know I never cared for the upgrades in Contra. I liked the rapid fire version of the main gun but I found the game was actually easier by learning how to dodge things and taking advantage of the level design than relying on gear alone.
You'd think MMORPG devs would learn something from that.
for the experiance lol im guessing you don't play games unless you are feeling like you are the best ? in an mmo id like to feel i can go back and do things and they will have changed, and along with it play with my friends, i don't care much for grinding the same dungeon over and over and over and over, for a week, stacking up so many hours and most probably years off my life, just so i can be that tiny bit better than everyone. the whole world should be a challenge
I never got rewarded for finding Princess Peach, but it sure was nicer than being told she was in another castle.
My guess is repetition is up to the player.
I know I don't plan to see any instance more than twice if I can help it after token grinding in WoW to the point where I miss random drops from epic monsters in EQ1.
lol wow cool comparison there. What about Contra and the awesome weapons you would get by getting further into the game. What about how much easier levels were when you had said weapon upgrades and you hadn't died in a few levels.
Out of place comparisons make for a strong arguement.....
You know I never cared for the upgrades in Contra. I liked the rapid fire version of the main gun but I found the game was actually easier by learning how to dodge things and taking advantage of the level design than relying on gear alone.
You'd think MMORPG devs would learn something from that.
Meh. Moral of the post - That Mario comparison was a whole load of bs.
I never got rewarded for finding Princess Peach, but it sure was nicer than being told she was in another castle.
My guess is repetition is up to the player.
I know I don't plan to see any instance more than twice if I can help it after token grinding in WoW to the point where I miss random drops from epic monsters in EQ1.
lol wow cool comparison there. What about Contra and the awesome weapons you would get by getting further into the game. What about how much easier levels were when you had said weapon upgrades and you hadn't died in a few levels.
Out of place comparisons make for a strong arguement.....
You know I never cared for the upgrades in Contra. I liked the rapid fire version of the main gun but I found the game was actually easier by learning how to dodge things and taking advantage of the level design than relying on gear alone.
You'd think MMORPG devs would learn something from that.
Meh. Moral of the post - That Mario comparison was a whole load of bs.
To me it means I can log in and not feel like it's a second job like I felt in WoW, with dailies/raiding. I can finally sit down at the end of an evening and just have fun playing, knowing I don't have to do the gear grind ever in GW2. I can actually have fun again like I use to with DAOC, AC1 and UO.
Agreed.
Though the gear grind was fun for a while (got old real quick) in WOW, it did feel like a second job and I was always behind the curve anytime I was away from WOW for 1-2 weeks. With GW2, that won't be the case, I can log on for 1-2 hrs after a long day at work and just enjoy (not grinding for gear) the game with my friends. Being able to log in and out at the individual's pace I think will be something which will win many thousands (if not millions) of players; just my two cents.
lol I see all this hubris about how having fun just for the sake of having fun is above and beyond doing things to get gear. However, I'm forced to ask myself, how does attaining gear limit the individuals with this seemingly misplaced hubris from having fun in games where getting gear is a potential reward? It seems like a load of BS if you ask me.
If it's about having fun to have fun, then shoudln't attaining the gear be completely beneath you? Yet most find the energy and time to complain about "needing" to obtain the gear. Well, what about "needing" to repeat content just for the sake of having fun? Can't you still do that in games with gear treadmills? Again, seems like a load of BS.
I believe you are mistaken in believing that it has to be one or the other; either there's no gear progression (just for fun) or you're just grinding for gear (never ending treadmill). In the case of GW2, I believe there are trying to find a happy middle between the two (prob more on the side of not grinding for gear).
People enjoy different aspects of games. Some enjoy spending hours without end grinding for gear while others, not caring much for (or not having the time for) "gear grinding" are looking more to spend one to two hours with their friends simply having fun running around in an mmo killing stuff (or other players in wvw) or accomplishing quests/hearts/goals. In short, hard-core players vs casual players.
By a large margin, the vast majority of mmo players are not hard-core players (though they be the most vocal) but the casual players. Not only is gear grinding not a philosophy espoused by Anet, but I believe they purposefully were/are trying to create a game where most people (both hard-core and casuals) can play together while both having fun. Obviously Anet has to make a profit so appealing to the elite few (hard-core gamers) is not economically wise.
Just because people say they want to have fun for the sake of having fun does not mean they do not care about gear stats, it just means they prob don't care to spend tons of hours repeating the same dungeon looking for the 0.5% elite drop. For those that do care about gear stats, I believe they can still have plenty of fun in GW2; they'll just have to get used to not constantly be having to run on the treadmill... who knows, maybe they'll like it! :-)
Cheers ya'll... see ya'll on BWE3 and on August 25th!! :-)
I'd rather it simply is fun and something I look forward to doing again because it was a fun challenge instead of doing it because the game forces me to do it as it is the most optimal way of progressing.
I have a job thank you, I don't need to come home for more.
I don't fucking get the thing with these boards and the constant need to find something to complain about in GW2. Are you playing the devils advocate here? Because that would make sense.
So what's the point of you complaining about a feature you like not making it into the game? You obviously dislike Anets design philosophy, that should be enough for you to look the other way and go play something else.
Isn't the game still forcing you to do it as a means to have fun in the game? Sure, you don't have the "forced progression". But you still have the forced repetition in order to maintain some level of enjoyment in the game.
All you did was take out the carrot, but you still have the treadmill... Can you honestly pretend like that's better?
I don't understand what you're saying. It seems to me you're twisting things to have it your way.
For most MMOs, gear is important in order to progress (i.e. enter the next tier dungeon). I am the type of gamer who wants to see and explore places. During WoW TBC I wanted to see all endgame raids, but I can't go straight to Black Temple without gearing up for it first. If I happen to find a group of people who are already geared for it, or are already in T6 and are willing to run it just for that legendary blade, then lucky me. If not, I would have to repeatedly run Tempest Keep so I can complete T5, or something close to that to qualify me for BT. In my case, GEAR was never my source of fun. It was exploration, but in most endgame cases, this is hindered by GEAR. I had no choice but to join in on the threadmill until I finally said to myself "I'm tired of this, goodbye."
Guild Wars 2 works well for me because not only I need a smaller number of people to group with, we also don't have to wait for a tank or a healer. I just gather 4 friends and we're good to go. Nothing else hinders my desire for exploration, certainly not GEAR. It's true that in this essence, I still am chasing a "carrot". My carrot is exploration. As long as there are places to go and I have friends whom I can venture those places with, I will play. If I feel satisfied running a particular dungeon, I can move on to the next. I am not forced to play a dungeon any more than I am willing to. I can move on when I want to.
Also GW2 isn't forcing players to "do dungeons" as a means to have fun in the game. People who have grown accustomed to gear threadmill will surely have a hard time figuring GW2 out. These people need to understand that not ALL MMOs have to feed people with gear in order for them to enjoy. There simply are people who are tired of that. You DON'T have to do dungeons if running dungeons isn't a source of fun for you.
A "carrot" always exists in every game. It's the thing each player strive for. In MMOs, this is most usually gear, and best gears are usually obtained through PVE raids and PVP. GW2 removed the gear "carrot" by making gear stats almost insignificant. Now only people who are not really looking for powerup dresses will really enjoy this game.
Whats the point of me playing Skyrim as a stealth character trying to go through dungeons without ever being spotted and getting all stealth kills? Doesnt change what loot I get and I can easily get skill ups else where. The point, is its fun. The moment you're doing something for gear but you're not having fun, then honestly you've lost sight on the point of the game.
To any that argue that ANET is breaking the mold for the sake of fun I believe is a straight misfire of the truth. ANET decided for a game based upon micro payments over the gear grind subscription model is all and in the end for this type of game to work as a business it has to generate cash. Unless I am not seeing something it seems the game will still have a type of grind just a horse of a different color.
Comments
The point of playing games in my opinion is to be challenged. However doing the same instance over and over in PvE becomes less and less challenging and also less and less fun.
So repeating the same dungeon 30 times or more is rather pointless, but it ain´t more fun in games that gives you gear you must have either.
Other players have other goals however and might see things a different way but to me doing the same thing over and over eventually get boring in any game.
There needs to be a balance, to have fun, but at the same time for it to be so casual that you get bored with it.
This is why the MMO genre is dieing, people don't want to enjoy themselves, they just want to grind to see bigger numbers.
Stick to farmville for that please.
Could you provide a source for this ? It seems to contradict every single bit of information released by A-Net or testers, so I would appreciate seeing any facts, and their source, you might have to back it up.
When all has been said and done, more will have been said than done.
That's pretty cool I actually didn't know about the exp at level cap thing.
Yes, except that isn't the case in this game.
I wouldn't call PvP to get gear "casual" at all.
I believe gears in dungeons have unique looks and you can use some items to transfer stats between gear. Anyways, i don't want repeat a dungeon 100 times to get 100 badges to get 1 piece of endgame gear, i just want a challenge when it comes to dungeons.
It is supposed to be fun. You are supposed to do it as much as you feel like doing it or until you get that sweet looking item to finally drop. God forbid you do dungeons for fun! Honestly, the only reason you do dungeons past the first few runs in other MMOs is for gear. You are not doing it because it is fun.
The dungeons in other games are fun until you get to a point where they are requiring you to do them to progress your character to see otherwise gated content to you. (Due to lack of gear) Those games create these barriers to make content last long enough so that people pay for another month. This game does not require players to invest tons of time doing boring and tedius tasks just so they can progress through the game. It does not have a sub that they are trying to sucker you into paying. GW2 does not have a pathetic carrot on a stick mentality that other MMOs have. The game is fun for you until you get bored of the content. Then you stop playing. Wow, amazing concept right? Then a content patch comes along and makes everything exciting again...which you don't even have to take your credit card out to experience.
GW2 is setup so that as long as you are having fun you can keep playing. Fun is not about progression. Progression as fun is just a delusion that has been created over the last decade or so for MMO players. The guys who were around before WoW came out know better. Sure, those games had some carrot on a stick stuff too (aka EQ), but most of those games focused on experiencing the world and enjoying it; not being escorted through it with gating of content through itemization. Yes EQ had some hardcore carrot on a stick stuff, but if you look back then and really think about it...most of the people did not care so much about gear as killing a new boss.
This is the generation that won't play a great game if it doesn't have trophies/achievements attached.
They will also play a horrible game as long as it can raise their trophy level or add achievement points.
Some people would rather do a mediocre instance if it offers better statistical gear than a fun instance (subjective, ofc) that doesn't offer anything outside of a cosmetic reward.
I think that at some point in the last 4-8 years, we stopped playing games for entertainment.
"As you read these words, a release is seven days or less away or has just happened within the last seven days those are now the only two states youll find the world of Tyria."...Guild Wars 2
lol I see all this hubris about how having fun just for the sake of having fun is above and beyond doing things to get gear. However, I'm forced to ask myself, how does attaining gear limit the individuals with this seemingly misplaced hubris from having fun in games where getting gear is a potential reward? It seems like a load of BS if you ask me.
If it's about having fun to have fun, then shoudln't attaining the gear be completely beneath you? Yet most find the energy and time to complain about "needing" to obtain the gear. Well, what about "needing" to repeat content just for the sake of having fun? Can't you still do that in games with gear treadmills? Again, seems like a load of BS.
I'd rather it simply is fun and something I look forward to doing again because it was a fun challenge instead of doing it because the game forces me to do it as it is the most optimal way of progressing.
I have a job thank you, I don't need to come home for more.
I don't fucking get the thing with these boards and the constant need to find something to complain about in GW2. Are you playing the devils advocate here? Because that would make sense.
So what's the point of you complaining about a feature you like not making it into the game? You obviously dislike Anets design philosophy, that should be enough for you to look the other way and go play something else.
Isn't the game still forcing you to do it as a means to have fun in the game? Sure, you don't have the "forced progression". But you still have the forced repetition in order to maintain some level of enjoyment in the game.
All you did was take out the carrot, but you still have the treadmill... Can you honestly pretend like that's better?
I never got rewarded for finding Princess Peach, but it sure was nicer than being told she was in another castle.
My guess is repetition is up to the player.
I know I don't plan to see any instance more than twice if I can help it after token grinding in WoW to the point where I miss random drops from epic monsters in EQ1.
a yo ho ho
lol wow cool comparison there. What about Contra and the awesome weapons you would get by getting further into the game. What about how much easier levels were when you had said weapon upgrades and you hadn't died in a few levels.
Out of place comparisons make for a strong arguement.....
But it is still a carrot for some people.
My theme song.
You still get great gear from Dungeons in GW2, but they aren't the only places to get gear of the same quality. The "skins" will differentiate them from other similar gear, but for people who like to run instances, it also provides a clear way of obtaining top notch gear. Also, Arenanet has said that Dungeon gear may offer some stat distributions not found on other gear, though the over all power level will be the same as similar quality gear obtained from Karma Vendors, crafting, personal story, etc...
What is different about GW2 is that once you do obtain the best level 80 stat gear, there will be no stat inflation beyond that point for level 80 gear. Once you have ontained all the max stat gear you need for various builds, the incentives to doing further Dungeons will be fun, a sense of achievment and new armor/weapon skins.
Want to know more about GW2 and why there is so much buzz? Start here: Guild Wars 2 Mass Info for the Uninitiated
You know I never cared for the upgrades in Contra. I liked the rapid fire version of the main gun but I found the game was actually easier by learning how to dodge things and taking advantage of the level design than relying on gear alone.
You'd think MMORPG devs would learn something from that.
a yo ho ho
for the experiance lol im guessing you don't play games unless you are feeling like you are the best ? in an mmo id like to feel i can go back and do things and they will have changed, and along with it play with my friends, i don't care much for grinding the same dungeon over and over and over and over, for a week, stacking up so many hours and most probably years off my life, just so i can be that tiny bit better than everyone. the whole world should be a challenge
Meh. Moral of the post - That Mario comparison was a whole load of bs.
I'm starting to think you never made it to 8-3.
a yo ho ho
Agreed.
Though the gear grind was fun for a while (got old real quick) in WOW, it did feel like a second job and I was always behind the curve anytime I was away from WOW for 1-2 weeks. With GW2, that won't be the case, I can log on for 1-2 hrs after a long day at work and just enjoy (not grinding for gear) the game with my friends. Being able to log in and out at the individual's pace I think will be something which will win many thousands (if not millions) of players; just my two cents.
I believe you are mistaken in believing that it has to be one or the other; either there's no gear progression (just for fun) or you're just grinding for gear (never ending treadmill). In the case of GW2, I believe there are trying to find a happy middle between the two (prob more on the side of not grinding for gear).
People enjoy different aspects of games. Some enjoy spending hours without end grinding for gear while others, not caring much for (or not having the time for) "gear grinding" are looking more to spend one to two hours with their friends simply having fun running around in an mmo killing stuff (or other players in wvw) or accomplishing quests/hearts/goals. In short, hard-core players vs casual players.
By a large margin, the vast majority of mmo players are not hard-core players (though they be the most vocal) but the casual players. Not only is gear grinding not a philosophy espoused by Anet, but I believe they purposefully were/are trying to create a game where most people (both hard-core and casuals) can play together while both having fun. Obviously Anet has to make a profit so appealing to the elite few (hard-core gamers) is not economically wise.
Just because people say they want to have fun for the sake of having fun does not mean they do not care about gear stats, it just means they prob don't care to spend tons of hours repeating the same dungeon looking for the 0.5% elite drop. For those that do care about gear stats, I believe they can still have plenty of fun in GW2; they'll just have to get used to not constantly be having to run on the treadmill... who knows, maybe they'll like it! :-)
Cheers ya'll... see ya'll on BWE3 and on August 25th!! :-)
I don't understand what you're saying. It seems to me you're twisting things to have it your way.
For most MMOs, gear is important in order to progress (i.e. enter the next tier dungeon). I am the type of gamer who wants to see and explore places. During WoW TBC I wanted to see all endgame raids, but I can't go straight to Black Temple without gearing up for it first. If I happen to find a group of people who are already geared for it, or are already in T6 and are willing to run it just for that legendary blade, then lucky me. If not, I would have to repeatedly run Tempest Keep so I can complete T5, or something close to that to qualify me for BT. In my case, GEAR was never my source of fun. It was exploration, but in most endgame cases, this is hindered by GEAR. I had no choice but to join in on the threadmill until I finally said to myself "I'm tired of this, goodbye."
Guild Wars 2 works well for me because not only I need a smaller number of people to group with, we also don't have to wait for a tank or a healer. I just gather 4 friends and we're good to go. Nothing else hinders my desire for exploration, certainly not GEAR. It's true that in this essence, I still am chasing a "carrot". My carrot is exploration. As long as there are places to go and I have friends whom I can venture those places with, I will play. If I feel satisfied running a particular dungeon, I can move on to the next. I am not forced to play a dungeon any more than I am willing to. I can move on when I want to.
Also GW2 isn't forcing players to "do dungeons" as a means to have fun in the game. People who have grown accustomed to gear threadmill will surely have a hard time figuring GW2 out. These people need to understand that not ALL MMOs have to feed people with gear in order for them to enjoy. There simply are people who are tired of that. You DON'T have to do dungeons if running dungeons isn't a source of fun for you.
A "carrot" always exists in every game. It's the thing each player strive for. In MMOs, this is most usually gear, and best gears are usually obtained through PVE raids and PVP. GW2 removed the gear "carrot" by making gear stats almost insignificant. Now only people who are not really looking for powerup dresses will really enjoy this game.
Whats the point of me playing Skyrim as a stealth character trying to go through dungeons without ever being spotted and getting all stealth kills? Doesnt change what loot I get and I can easily get skill ups else where. The point, is its fun. The moment you're doing something for gear but you're not having fun, then honestly you've lost sight on the point of the game.
To any that argue that ANET is breaking the mold for the sake of fun I believe is a straight misfire of the truth. ANET decided for a game based upon micro payments over the gear grind subscription model is all and in the end for this type of game to work as a business it has to generate cash. Unless I am not seeing something it seems the game will still have a type of grind just a horse of a different color.