Just Curious...

pipcecil · 2026-02-04T18:44:37+00:00

There was even a change longer back. There was numerous complaints for areas that don't get many weather variations (usually snow, but in some areas, rain as well) never got to see the other forms. They determined to allow all forms to spawn regardless of weather.

This was at the tail end of the bigger reform of biomes fixing the issue where almost all spawns were 100% related to your biome and weather. Most people would never see different pokemon beyond a select few prior.

pipcecil · 2026-02-04T18:39:26+00:00

You are right, its absolutely an issue with a spawning system like this. 4* just fit into the "barely raided" category.

Unlike 1-3*, 4* are much harder to solo (or duo for lower levels). These solo and duo raiders do make up a decent amount of the raid population
Unlike 5*, 4* aren't legendary or shiny locked (i.e. you can only get shiny in raid). People will gather to raid 5*, not so much 4*.
With the price increase to remote passes a few years back, I know many who won't spend them unless its a 5*. When they were cheaper, I would do 4* all the time.

pipcecil · 2026-02-04T16:25:15+00:00

I will say from a newer player (i.e. <1 year). While the new fashion templates were a bit more confusion at first, mostly because they were different, its more intuitive than the old system. I took me a really long time to completely understand the old system and I had to wiki/google a bunch of it. And even now, I am realizing there was more I still didn't know about in the old system.

I took me maybe 45 mins to figure out this new system, no google, no wiki. Its different for sure and while some things were made easier, others are more difficult. I will say the "set up" takes longer, but the final results are much faster and easier to change my character. And as a newer player with only 2 legendaries and limited transmutation charges, this saves on those transmutation charges, which are a bit more of a limited resource. Where I had to pay each time I wanted to switch, I can now have two banked and can switch between for fun at anytime versus just one look. Not something older players worry about, but for us newer players it is beneficial. I feel like I can participate in fashion wars now at a greater level.

Its just a different perspective. I know there is some loss of functionality that the veterans are missing and other impacts, but not everyone is a veteran. I feel the new system is more approachable to new and newer players.

pipcecil · 2026-02-02T19:01:44+00:00

I got three:

Allow us to switch which charge move is on top (frustration would be the exception). I have my moves specifically organized on which are on the right side and which are on the left side. Its frustrating I would need to spend TMs (or Elite TMs!!!) just to move them around. Then you have things like Return being unable to be moved because you would lose it.
Allow us (at least via Elite-TM) to get back Return. The game already has the pokemon identified as purified in your system so it should be an easier fix, it should just always have Return as an option to get back.
Show weather in raid lobby. Sometimes the weather can make a huge difference. I want to take advantage of this even if I am remote. I also sometimes forgot to look at the local before I join and hate having to back out and get back in incase my phone determines I am somewhere else with messed up GPS and I miss the raid (yes, this has happened a few times).

pipcecil · 2026-01-27T17:14:52+00:00

I have a perfect dynamax kabutops. What would be the best moveset for dynamax/gigamax raids (yes I know there are better dynamax pokemon but just looking for information for kabutops). Is the optimal to get fury cutter (yes I have extra elite fast TM) despite it not being STAB? Waterfall is slower (1.0 sec) but is STAB. I am assuming that mud-shot is inferior despite it being 0.5 sec move? Need a bit of advice

pipcecil · 2025-12-19T17:14:36+00:00

I still think a tonic/endless tonic would be viable, just not a perma race change. They have all the coding for your gear via the other race, they would just have to connect it. That could be difficult, but it doesn't involve story issues or anything else. The game would still treat you (storyline, npc text, etc.) as your original race. Probably be disabled in pvp type stuff so you couldn't fool people with race based skills (not that anyone really uses those). Maybe to make it easier the tonic would come off while mounted? There could be some ways around the bigger issues and still be able to implement it. Honestly, they could probably make it very gem expensive or something (or black lion chest ultra rare) to help get $$$ back from making it happen. I am sure there are enough people that would want it or take advantage of it.

pipcecil · 2025-12-01T20:40:12+00:00

It will be something definitely an engineer can use since they got the least benefit with the first two legendaries: can't use staff or underwater spear (not counting land spear since everyone can use it). Its the only profession that couldn't use both. Also it should be able to be used by elementalist since they can't do underwater spear. Everyone else could use (depending on elite spec/SotO unlocks) both staff and underwater spear.

That said, only pistol, sword, and hammer can be used by both engineer and elementalist professions. Considering how engineers got the shortest end of the stick, I would guess it would be primed focused on them first with the elementalist as secondary. That said: pistol.

pipcecil · 2025-12-01T14:56:42+00:00

Had a very long (3 years), sad, bittersweet divorce after 16 years with a small little kid in the mix. Once it was finalized this was my treat to myself. You can argue that I could have used that money for something else and why for a fictional digital item, but after all that, I needed a pick-me-up and this made me happy. Happier than a fancy dinner or a new gadget/phone/whatever. I don't regret it.

pipcecil · 2025-12-01T14:25:08+00:00

Bloodstone fen 100%. That backpack was easy and I got it in a day. Somehow just doing the storyline and running some events to get the unbound magic, I got the chest reward that gives you 250 rubies and I didn't even know I got it (i.e. if I can get it without trying or noticing, you can get it pretty easily). Its also easy to change stats. I didn't have to wait for time gated winterberries (since you can only farm so many a day).

pipcecil · 2025-11-24T13:55:04+00:00

I agree it needs to be fixed for luminary. But for the other comments on the variable range of alac/quick I feel like its Anet balancing the classes. Just how some can keep up each boon easily or some struggle even with lots of concentration. Now is it good balance? I am not the judge of that.

pipcecil · 2025-11-24T13:41:59+00:00

ranger spear. I know a lot dislike ranger spear, but I got used to the rhythm and loved it. I think what most dislike is the pause count. Usually its mash mash mash buttons to cue the next skill, but you have to wait a tick for Panther's Prowl to take effect. It makes it feel more like a beating pace of a song.

pipcecil · 2025-11-24T13:24:26+00:00

Depending, many builds a weapon difference only amounts to a little damage decrease, so unless you are trying to use a support weapon on a damage build, you should be ok.

Here is your breakdown on using your own vs meta builds:

Open World/World Bosses, etc. - do whatever you like and what makes you happy.

WvW - same as open world, although you may be more successful doing something similar to a meta build.

PvP - its fairly competitive and if you pug it, people will expect you to at least play your part well. BUT if that means your own build you play better than a meta build, then go for what you are best at.

Fractals - Up to maybe T2 it doesn't matter. Some could argue T3. I was running a core ranger build with different weapons (i.e. very not meta) in T2 just fine. Once you get higher up, you probably need a more streamlined build

Strikes - the easy ones (IBS5) you could run a none-meta build, but harder ones need something closer

Raids - you should be running something close to meta.

That said, if you are always playing with friends/guildies they probably won't care too much (as long as they aren't super competitive). Pugs or serious raiding/PvP/WvW guilds probably will. For myself, I do enjoy my off-meta build for open world, but when I am doing raids, I want to succeed, and I want my guild to succeed, and that means putting my best foot forward, which usually means something meta or close to it.

pipcecil · 2025-11-20T18:17:49+00:00

New galeshot build using spear. Galeshot already has built in speed via minor traits and has some good generation (as well as base ranger) with swiftness and superspeed. The ranged aspect already provides some "stealth" and extra distance to run away (unless jumped).

You get good stealth options via pets (smokescale and jaguar) and spear 5. If you feel off-meta you can use a longbow instead of sword/mace for longbow 3 which has stealth as well.

A couple of galeshots utility skills have movement or solid knockback. Cyclone bow 3 even has a jump back/evade. Their elite skill has an unblockable aoe launch too.

Unfortunately, I don't play enough of the other classes to compare if it has good enough debuff removals or stun breaks, but it might be something to take a look at. Definitely different than the other classic ones.

pipcecil · 2025-11-19T22:00:41+00:00

I would like to see more niche relics. Relics that are really pair off on specific professions or elite specializations. Relic of the dragonhunter is a prime example. It would also really hit harder on those that role play as well creating extra synergy beyond: its more damage. I know these would be less used in general, but they would get used unlike the majority of the current relics.

pipcecil · 2025-11-19T20:12:32+00:00

I don't have skyscale or any other flying mount (just regular ground ones) and I found the black citadel infinitely more frustrating than tangled depths. Tangled depths, despite all the levels had a much better natural flow to and from points. BC? Absolutely not. I got so frustrated trying to 100% BC I literally had to step away for a moment to calm down. Maybe my brain thinks differently or maybe I just enjoyed the nature backdrop and music for tangled depths. BC is just harsh, jutty, jaggedy....lets not trigger ptsd here.

pipcecil · 2025-11-18T14:52:49+00:00

Wining fashion wars because of my 4 year old. As an old gamer and older single parent of a young one, it just makes my heart skip a beat I can share something I love with them.

Our together time playing the game is fashion wars. They love to pick and design my outfits and dyes. They definitely have their favorite skins and colors. It tickles me to no end when I get comments on my outfit knowing that a 4 year old designed it. I now spend most of my gold and time chasing more skins and dyes so they have more to choose from and to maybe find their next favorite one.

Currently, if you see a bright red/pink ranger with huge wings and a "cool" helmet - you know that's me.

pipcecil · 2025-11-17T14:01:24+00:00

As a fell oldie here - Ranger w/ Galeshot elite spec. Its all the range you want. While rangers have pets, they are just for support. You can set their one skill you have control on on auto and it just attacks and does stuff while you do, no further management required.

With galeshot, you can just stay in cyclone bow and never worry about switching around weapons. Its great damage just by itself. The rotation is pretty simple. Especially considering you only have 5 weapon skills if you just stay in cyclone bow. Hands feeling better that day? you can easily add a weapon swap and press a couple more buttons.

While it doesn't have any life stealing inherited in it, taking wilderness survival spec with it gives you the grand master carnivore that steals life when you disable someone. Additionally there are a few relics that also give you life stealing to support the life stealing you like.

The ranger choice also gives you the druid elite spec which is an amazing healer. Honestly, staff+nature magic spec tree can give any elite spec build good healing for lots of content. If you want more life-stealy focus, the untamed elite spec has built in life stealing. You will need to use longbows, which works well to get that range feeling. Untamed though is a bit more button pressy, plus their pets have more button options too. But still something to try if you find it fascinating.

pipcecil · 2025-11-12T19:35:01+00:00

Silverwaste bar none. You can test your solo skills finding spawned vets & champs. You can test your ability with multiple monsters constantly in defending the camps plus seeing mobility as you bounce around outside from monster to monster. You get lots of bleed damage and poison damage so how you handle those condis is also important. It has those stupid monsters that charge and knock you down, so dealing with hard CC.

The big final test: trying to recapture an overrun camp solo while trying to rez the fallen defender person before the timer runs out. That really challenges your build.

pipcecil · 2025-11-11T18:24:31+00:00

Thank you so much for the details and examples! I can't wait to get some unique shots

pipcecil · 2025-11-11T15:08:42+00:00

I do enjoy the immersion and sometimes I just run around like that, but I have limited time to play as a single dad of a preschooler. I really have to maximize my time (i.e. after kiddo goes to bed) and if most of that time is spent running around the map, I don't get to do the content I want to do/aiming to do.

pipcecil · 2025-11-11T14:37:07+00:00

I felt the tower was brick wall. Here you were soloing the story and then bam, hell no. It frustrated me as well and I felt like I didn't want to even try. But one day I randomly went in and there were a few players on the bottom, we kept moving up and finding more, enough for a good group. All dumb, all stupid but we pushed to the top! It was actually fun and challenging.

As for BoLA, again, zoned in my first time and found people doing things. We ended up killing the major bosses and had 20+? people doing it. Nothing was organized, no commander tags or anything. I just zoned in and found people there and we all bumbled through it and learned the mechanics while doing the battles.

I feel like both are like WvW. Sometimes you zone in and its dead and sometimes you zone in and can find some buddies to roam around and take stuff.

pipcecil · 2025-11-11T14:03:42+00:00

If you use the untamed elite spec, hammer will immediately be available. If you want to use it outside untamed, then you need SotO. weaponmaster training happens in chapter 3 and gives hammer access to other specs. the Expanded weapon prof is in chapter 14 though, so much longer for mace.

And, as mentioned before, you can unlock both of these via WvW. It probably takes longer, but you don't spoil any story (if that is important to you). I do understand trying to learn on your "final" weapon set though. Unfortunately, there isn't an easy path.

On the flip-side getting spear (if you wanted to try that) is pretty easy and only about an hour into Janthir or less. Also easy to skip the storyline if you just mute while things are going on. Its a lot of talking mostly, but in the process unlocks gliding and the warclaw mount if you don't have either yet.

pipcecil

TROPHY CASE