Is the new maps really that empty? - IGN thinks so

JohnP0100

The review from IGN has 'increasingly empty maps' as a negative.
Didn't the expansion launch like 2-3 weeks ago?
Is the player base really that bad?

I don't agree with a lot of IGN's opinion but they don't usually get factual things wrong so want to know how bad the situation is.

If it is true than that's hilarious as I recall the reddit/r/GW2 going mental because most progression couldn't be done solo.

Alders

There are multiple instances of every map with each one player run to entertain certain aspects such as farming and meta events.

Join the ones that are full and you won't go two feet without running into lots of players.

JohnP0100

Just did a google on 'GW2 HoTs empty maps' and it seems like other gaming sites agree with IGN.
e.g. MassivelyOP, DenofGeek
Official forums also share the same sentiment although some time zones are worse than others.
Apparently, if you are from AUZ than you should expect 'empty'.

/shrug

GeezerGamer

Aww now you did it. You called the baby ugly.

Thomas2006

All I can say is that I have zero issues with empty maps in the new areas..  *Shrug* so I have no idea what they are talking about unless they are just getting unlucky and getting stuck on maps that are just spinning up or spinning down after the zone event is over.

Rayzer235

JohnP0100 said:

Just did a google on 'GW2 HoTs empty maps' and it seems like other gaming sites agree with IGN.
e.g. MassivelyOP, DenofGeek
Official forums also share the same sentiment although some time zones are worse than others.
Apparently, if you are from AUZ than you should expect 'empty'.

/shrug

Yes and Anet acknowledged this and they found that the Megaserver wasn't working correctly and fixed it and if the IGN guy was on low pop instance it would have prompted him to go higher pop instance of the map with a buff. The maps also spread people out a lot for the meta event and always keeps them on the move rarely do you ever find a rest area in the HoT maps add in that the maps quite large and with the added vertically and that people tend to leave the maps once the meta is over and use the LFG to find a new map with with an active meta event.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/heads-up-iteration-incoming/

Finally, we’ve discovered a setting that was creating some lower populations in maps in the Heart of Maguuma than we’d ideally been looking for with our megaserver system. We’re really happy with the difficulty of Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns—our players have asked for more meaningful challenge from Guild Wars 2, and we believe Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is bringing that—but having lots of players to play with makes that much more fun, so we’ll make sure you’re always in maps with numerous friends (and soon-to-be friends) to play with.

Alders

There is a problem with the auto map selection of the mega server. Players seem to be put on low player count maps as priority. It's easily remedied with a little player effort using the group finder tool. The meta event maps are always full and there are always players to taxi other players in.

JohnP0100

I'm guessing the empty megaserver fix hasn't been applied yet?  That post is 2 weels old.

Thupli

I think they rolled out the beta 64 bit to help with the issue.

Gaia_Hunter

Personally I didn't have problems. On the other hand I have a commander tag if needs be.
I'm not sure how on the IGN review the reviewer writes

"Still worse, there’s no indication that you need certain masteries to advance into particular story missions. You're free to focus on leveling any single one you choose, yes, but at least twice I discovered I would have been able to jump into the next story mission by unlocking a mastery that I already would have completed with the XP I was pumping into another one. After that, the only option is to grind more daily events."

The game adds a star to the the mastery you should learn to progress the story and I'm pretty sure that in UI it says stuff like "learn how to glide" or "learn more about the exalted".

JohnP0100

Adding a star without indicating what a star does is essentially meaningless.
Then again Anet is always terrible in their UI.

I haven't logged in a long time but is the auction UI usable now?  Man, that used to be “crime against user” bad.

I'll be interested if Anet further adjust the hero points. I can't imagine the maps to be full of activities as time goes on and you have a playerbase that can't progress.

Gaia_Hunter

JohnP0100 said:

Adding a star without indicating what a star does is essentially meaningless.
Then again Anet is always terrible in their UI.

I haven't logged in a long time but is the auction UI usable now?  Man, that used to be “crime against user” bad.

I'll be interested if Anet further adjust the hero points. I can't imagine the maps to be full of activities as time goes on and you have a playerbase that can't progress.

It is already adjusted to 250 hero points down from 400.
That means you need to do 7 hero challenges (assuming you did everything else in the world)

Verdant brink alone has 7 hero challenges that are soloable.
Auric Basin has another 4 soloable and 1 that if you can complete the meta will also be done (champion inside the reward area).
Tangled Depths has 5 soloable.
The last map has 7 that depend on the meta status.

So 16 easy give 160 hero points. You need 90 from other sources. Less if you get any of the non HoT soloable or from the Dragon's Stand map.

JohnP0100

If the megaserver fix doesn't do enough (number of players just isn't there) i can see anet reducing the 250 or make solo ones give more points or change group ones to be soloable etc.
Hopefully there won't be a need for that and it is just a technical glitch.

HighestHand

Two different locations at around the same time. Enough said. 

JohnP0100

You must be lucky i guess?  
Anet is saying things aren't working how they want it to so I'm assuming they aren't lying.

saurus123

no problems here also

TheDarkrayne

Time Limited Halloween update launched at the same time as HoT.. when the reviewers were reviewing HoT most other players were working on the seasonal achievements in other areas of the game before they got removed. Plus, there was a bug that limited how many players could be in one HoT map at a time, it has now been fixed as far as I know.

So.. they should have beta tested properly and probably shouldn't have launched an event at the same time as the expansion.

My point.. the zones aren't empty.

GeezerGamer

Those screenshots prove it!
At least several dozen people still play GW2!

flizzer

I was loving Hot but running in to empty maps left a sour taste. I left DS because I couldnt find a map with a group to do the meta event.  I'm sure people are doing it but when I need to search for groups on a full map it just is not fun.  Probably will be back but I do worry about months ahead when many players have gained full mastery.   Where will you find groups then?   I expect a major nerf to these areas once going forward. 

danefahler

I can't throw a rock without hitting 100 people.  My rig actually gets into low teens on some these events. Even starting new alts in the low areas events get swarmed.  I have no idea what you guys are talking about. 

Magnetia

It's hit or miss which is why you have differing opinions. 

Chances are the bigger the guild you are in (social as well) the more you will find populated maps, you get informed of events and get a 'taxi' in. However if you're soloing and the map isn't ready to do the meta it can feel very empty. Time of day has a lot to do with this. 

Dragon's stand is a culprit of this because it needs 15 people, 5 at 3 locations to kick off the event. Verdant Brink and Auric Basin seem more lively because their events cycle regardless of progress. Tangled Depths is tough to navigate and people are going to need a lot more time to get used to the area.

Populated maps get more populated and empty maps get more empty. The population ebbs and flows around a lot. Some nights I can't find populated maps so I do story or get materials. It's pretty easy to run into commanders and get a map started as long as you do it early.

Honestly though it's tough / tiring to run those metas all the time. I do enjoy quiet time on maps.

simplius

GeezerGamer said:

Those screenshots prove it!
At least several dozen people still play GW2!

yep

sadly, this is the only mmo, that had a real chance against that fat panda

they started as a huge success, too bad they didnt continue, to build on that

everything comes to an end, and 3 years of entertainment isnt bad for that price

havent played for a week now, and i still miss it sometimes

GeezerGamer

simplius said:

GeezerGamer said:

Those screenshots prove it!
At least several dozen people still play GW2!

yep

sadly, this is the only mmo, that had a real chance against that fat panda

they started as a huge success, too bad they didnt continue, to build on that

everything comes to an end, and 3 years of entertainment isnt bad for that price

havent played for a week now, and i still miss it sometimes

My comment isn't about the game itself as much as it is about the people who take a snapshot in time of one location during an event as "proof" that a game is heavily populated. If I was diligent enough, i could go into one of my old games like Anarchy with it's dying population  (By dying, I mean an active player base measured in the hundreds) I can get into one of the raid channels during a tower War and take a screenshot and say, "Nope!, looks good to me"

StarS0ft

Population is very big on new maps. Point.

simplius

GeezerGamer said:

simplius said:

GeezerGamer said:

Those screenshots prove it!
At least several dozen people still play GW2!

yep

sadly, this is the only mmo, that had a real chance against that fat panda

they started as a huge success, too bad they didnt continue, to build on that

everything comes to an end, and 3 years of entertainment isnt bad for that price

havent played for a week now, and i still miss it sometimes

My comment isn't about the game itself as much as it is about the people who take a snapshot in time of one location during an event as "proof" that a game is heavily populated. If I was diligent enough, i could go into one of my old games like Anarchy with it's dying population  (By dying, I mean an active player base measured in the hundreds) I can get into one of the raid channels during a tower War and take a screenshot and say, "Nope!, looks good to me"

i know, its a mistake some players make

they see their guild roster full= the game is doing fine

GW 2 has been bleeding players , if it was FINE, they wouldnt have changed to F2P

this expansion could have turned it, if they had made one to bring back the herd

it will just scare us further away

Maurgrim

It's the new WvW maps aka desert map that is emty, most people hate them, far as I've seen new PVE zone are pretty packed.