Toxic_Hemlock wrote: »

@ZOS_Kevin

I Tried it multiple times over the last week, I was able to complete it 5 times total now, on over 40 attempts with different classes skills, so you can't say I didn't give it an honest attempt; although those runs took far too MANY hours.
At this rate I might get the sets within 4 more years.

Usually I die to (albeit edited) trial bosses or the DLC bosses, often one shotting me before I can block/dodge.
If I get lucky enough to get to the final boss it depends on the visions/verses I get at to if I can beat it, as my tank companion is dead within ten seconds. I defeated it once to the ring of fire and another to an auto taunt synergy, but usually it is a crap shoot, and very unfun. I am at the end of my patience with it now and as new content it has zero appeal. If they make the first arc more manageable for the daily I might try it again, but if not as with most content now I will just ignore it .

I am also one of the players that was VERY excited when I heard it was being announced as I thought it would start easier and ramp up much slower, thus making it endless. I can handle most base game dungeons solo/w companion just fine, but EA has just turned out to be another arena with edited trial bosses and a final boss that one shots you in an area the size of a small closet.

Oh well, back to overland and crafting writs till my sub runs out I guess.

Edit to add: I too would like to eat my words here as EA has potential to be fun, but as it sits it isn't.

Try to play more defensivly if you encounter a boss you're still unfamiliar with and concentrate on seeing it's mechanics (try to block earlier and anticipate the next attack of the boss). I'd also advise a ranged build for the beginning. After you got the hang of it you may once again speed up.

You could also try to switch to another companion (healer or ranged dd maybe?) if your tank isn't sufficient at Tho'at. Kite the boss by moving backwards along the border of the arena.

Toxic_Hemlock wrote: »

@ZOS_Kevin

I Tried it multiple times over the last week, I was able to complete it 5 times total now, on over 40 attempts with different classes skills, so you can't say I didn't give it an honest attempt; although those runs took far too MANY hours.
At this rate I might get the sets within 4 more years.

Usually I die to (albeit edited) trial bosses or the DLC bosses, often one shotting me before I can block/dodge.
If I get lucky enough to get to the final boss it depends on the visions/verses I get at to if I can beat it, as my tank companion is dead within ten seconds. I defeated it once to the ring of fire and another to an auto taunt synergy, but usually it is a crap shoot, and very unfun. I am at the end of my patience with it now and as new content it has zero appeal. If they make the first arc more manageable for the daily I might try it again, but if not as with most content now I will just ignore it .

I am also one of the players that was VERY excited when I heard it was being announced as I thought it would start easier and ramp up much slower, thus making it endless. I can handle most base game dungeons solo/w companion just fine, but EA has just turned out to be another arena with edited trial bosses and a final boss that one shots you in an area the size of a small closet.

Oh well, back to overland and crafting writs till my sub runs out I guess.

Edit to add: I too would like to eat my words here as EA has potential to be fun, but as it sits it isn't.

If you are after a specific set, the weekly leaderboard has been rewarding everyone that does a run in each category with at least one piece.

So, if you've got spare character slots/multiple of a class you can kill the first boss then leave and close out the run and get a piece at the end of the week per run type if it continues to work the same way and get multiple pieces per week for your class.

They aren't curated so you won't get the whole thing in a timely manner but you'll get enough that you can probably get to use them.

To answer many of the comments here, I have tried multiple builds from the super tanky (took 2.5 hours to get to the final boss and I still died when I didn't block fast enough), to the best dps I got (once my companion died so did I VERY quickly afterwards). I tried bringing in a healer, but as I am then the default tank, healing don't work on a corpse. Ranged would work, but my tank is a moron and stands in the red continually.

I have adjusted CPs and even tried using a more defensive setup and sets, and all it accomplished was to make the runs MUCH longer. Better bet would be to make the companions less useless.

As for the sets, it have seen dual set pieces in the my mail once already (bug usually 1 piece I know) , so it does seem the 4 years comment may be an exaggeration, as there is only 52 weeks in a year and a set will still take a year and a half to do one set.

My eyesight is not great (cataracts) and my nerves are bad due to hard labor, but I actually think I do well for what I can do; I was expecting a more relaxed experience TBH. My blocking and dodging are also sub-par, but as the general populous was never told the target demographic I am now sure it was not me.

I admit I rely on my companion to a large extent, but why did I buy the DLCs if they are NOW no better than cannon fodder?

Like I said I gave it more than a fair shake, but is definitely not for me, even though I SOOO WANTED it to be.

Edit: 1 hour making and spellchecking this post and I still have to edit mistakes.

Last night I did an EA run solo. Got to the start of arc 4 in around 2 hours. I ended the run there because movie and pizza night.

It's now Saturday morning here I when I got up I thought maybe i'd do an EA run before getting the laundry done etc and realised I didn't have 2 hours plus for it so I decided against it.

@ZOS_Kevin Please pass on to the required people that we like the content but it's basically unplayable because of the time factor involved. I can do vMA in under 40 minutes. Similar sort of times for vVH. However I would often pass on vDSA runs because it takes more like an hour.

If something isn't changed liking the content won't be enough, I basically won't be running it becuase it's too much of a commitment all at once.

If it could be broken up into 30m chunks so I get take a break to get life stuff done then it's doable, but right now it's all in and I can rarely commit to that.

EdjeSwift wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with a quick dip in to run Act 1 and/or 2 and then calling it IMO. In all honesty, outside of achivements the drops in the early acts are fair and nothing is locked behind Act 3.

Act 1 drops armour pieces, and it's once a run from Tho'at. Act 2 is weapons/jewelry only from Maruader and Tho'at. That's 21 runs of Act 1 for one set of armour and max 15 completions of Act 2, possibly 7.5 for weapons. As for leads, they all drop from Act 1 and 2 too.

You have to kill the Arc 2 final boss or a marauder for weapons and jewelry? Bleh! 😤

Well, you can get them from the lootboxes in the EA, 2k for an uncurated box, 15k for a curated box, sure it seems like a lot but you get around 1.2k per run of Act 1 not including the portals to the unknown.

Toxic_Hemlock wrote: »

To answer many of the comments here, I have tried multiple builds from the super tanky (took 2.5 hours to get to the final boss and I still died when I didn't block fast enough), to the best dps I got (once my companion died so did I VERY quickly afterwards). I tried bringing in a healer, but as I am then the default tank, healing don't work on a corpse. Ranged would work, but my tank is a moron and stands in the red continually.

I have adjusted CPs and even tried using a more defensive setup and sets, and all it accomplished was to make the runs MUCH longer. Better bet would be to make the companions less useless.

As for the sets, it have seen dual set pieces in the my mail once already (bug usually 1 piece I know) , so it does seem the 4 years comment may be an exaggeration, as there is only 52 weeks in a year and a set will still take a year and a half to do one set.

My eyesight is not great (cataracts) and my nerves are bad due to hard labor, but I actually think I do well for what I can do; I was expecting a more relaxed experience TBH. My blocking and dodging are also sub-par, but as the general populous was never told the target demographic I am now sure it was not me.

I admit I rely on my companion to a large extent, but why did I buy the DLCs if they are NOW no better than cannon fodder?

Like I said I gave it more than a fair shake, but is definitely not for me, even though I SOOO WANTED it to be.

Edit: 1 hour making and spellchecking this post and I still have to edit mistakes.

I didn't talk primarily about builds tho, when I advised to play more defensively.

Look, as there aren't any dps-checks in Arc 1, there is no thing like "blocked not fast enough". It's always blocked too late. That's a difference. You aren't failed by your reflexes but because you most probably pay attention to the wrong things infight.

Really, for starters try to completely concentrate on the mechanics of the fight, while playing entirely defensive. Even permablock is possible (watch your resources tho, as I don't know your build). Quite quickly you will see yourself already waiting for the blockable attack. Then it's time to start dpsing the boss, while reducing the time spent defensive posture.

Braffin wrote: »

Toxic_Hemlock wrote: »

To answer many of the comments here, I have tried multiple builds from the super tanky (took 2.5 hours to get to the final boss and I still died when I didn't block fast enough), to the best dps I got (once my companion died so did I VERY quickly afterwards). I tried bringing in a healer, but as I am then the default tank, healing don't work on a corpse. Ranged would work, but my tank is a moron and stands in the red continually.

I have adjusted CPs and even tried using a more defensive setup and sets, and all it accomplished was to make the runs MUCH longer. Better bet would be to make the companions less useless.

As for the sets, it have seen dual set pieces in the my mail once already (bug usually 1 piece I know) , so it does seem the 4 years comment may be an exaggeration, as there is only 52 weeks in a year and a set will still take a year and a half to do one set.

My eyesight is not great (cataracts) and my nerves are bad due to hard labor, but I actually think I do well for what I can do; I was expecting a more relaxed experience TBH. My blocking and dodging are also sub-par, but as the general populous was never told the target demographic I am now sure it was not me.

I admit I rely on my companion to a large extent, but why did I buy the DLCs if they are NOW no better than cannon fodder?

Like I said I gave it more than a fair shake, but is definitely not for me, even though I SOOO WANTED it to be.

Edit: 1 hour making and spellchecking this post and I still have to edit mistakes.

I didn't talk primarily about builds tho, when I advised to play more defensively.

Look, as there aren't any dps-checks in Arc 1, there is no thing like "blocked not fast enough". It's always blocked too late. That's a difference. You aren't failed by your reflexes but because you most probably pay attention to the wrong things infight.

Really, for starters try to completely concentrate on the mechanics of the fight, while playing entirely defensive. Even permablock is possible (watch your resources tho, as I don't know your build). Quite quickly you will see yourself already waiting for the blockable attack. Then it's time to start dpsing the boss, while reducing the time spent defensive posture.

Thanks, very insightful, but as I have already given it more than a fair shake, so I'll just skip it in the future.

I was sure @ZOS_Kevin, wanted to hear the input, so I offered it.

I, however, do appreciate your input, but I'll just stick with what I am comfortable with from now on. Going outside of my comfort zone is frustrating, and even if I were to "win" in a fight, most times, it doesn't feel I am learning so much as just got lucky.

Elvenheart wrote: »

EdjeSwift wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with a quick dip in to run Act 1 and/or 2 and then calling it IMO. In all honesty, outside of achivements the drops in the early acts are fair and nothing is locked behind Act 3.

Act 1 drops armour pieces, and it's once a run from Tho'at. Act 2 is weapons/jewelry only from Maruader and Tho'at. That's 21 runs of Act 1 for one set of armour and max 15 completions of Act 2, possibly 7.5 for weapons. As for leads, they all drop from Act 1 and 2 too.

You have to kill the Arc 2 final boss or a marauder for weapons and jewelry? Bleh! 😤

To get to arc 2 boss it takes (depending on the vision buffs) 15-25 minutes. And arc 1 and 2 is super simple, especially if you play with an arcanist.
Beam gives you a ~20k shield, put on pale order ring, deadly set and any other set you like, doesnt matter and maybe pen mundus. Thats all you need.
Till arc 3 or 4 I can stay in every aoe as long as i beam, the selfheal from ring is enough to counter any damage.
(except the moving aoes on the endboss, just walk backwards and keep beaming). Even easier and faster than a ha oaken sorc build.

Vynera wrote: »

Elvenheart wrote: »

EdjeSwift wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with a quick dip in to run Act 1 and/or 2 and then calling it IMO. In all honesty, outside of achivements the drops in the early acts are fair and nothing is locked behind Act 3.

Act 1 drops armour pieces, and it's once a run from Tho'at. Act 2 is weapons/jewelry only from Maruader and Tho'at. That's 21 runs of Act 1 for one set of armour and max 15 completions of Act 2, possibly 7.5 for weapons. As for leads, they all drop from Act 1 and 2 too.

You have to kill the Arc 2 final boss or a marauder for weapons and jewelry? Bleh! 😤

To get to arc 2 boss it takes (depending on the vision buffs) 15-25 minutes. And arc 1 and 2 is super simple, especially if you play with an arcanist.
Beam gives you a ~20k shield, put on pale order ring, deadly set and any other set you like, doesnt matter and maybe pen mundus. Thats all you need.
Till arc 3 or 4 I can stay in every aoe as long as i beam, the selfheal from ring is enough to counter any damage.
(except the moving aoes on the endboss, just walk backwards and keep beaming). Even easier and faster than a ha oaken sorc build.

Thank you for the tip about the Ring and the Mundus 🙂

Elvenheart wrote: »

Vynera wrote: »

Elvenheart wrote: »

EdjeSwift wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with a quick dip in to run Act 1 and/or 2 and then calling it IMO. In all honesty, outside of achivements the drops in the early acts are fair and nothing is locked behind Act 3.

Act 1 drops armour pieces, and it's once a run from Tho'at. Act 2 is weapons/jewelry only from Maruader and Tho'at. That's 21 runs of Act 1 for one set of armour and max 15 completions of Act 2, possibly 7.5 for weapons. As for leads, they all drop from Act 1 and 2 too.

You have to kill the Arc 2 final boss or a marauder for weapons and jewelry? Bleh! 😤

To get to arc 2 boss it takes (depending on the vision buffs) 15-25 minutes. And arc 1 and 2 is super simple, especially if you play with an arcanist.
Beam gives you a ~20k shield, put on pale order ring, deadly set and any other set you like, doesnt matter and maybe pen mundus. Thats all you need.
Till arc 3 or 4 I can stay in every aoe as long as i beam, the selfheal from ring is enough to counter any damage.
(except the moving aoes on the endboss, just walk backwards and keep beaming). Even easier and faster than a ha oaken sorc build.

Thank you for the tip about the Ring and the Mundus 🙂

Wouldn't recommend the Lover stone on an Arcanist as everything has only 9100 armor, except for Thoat who has 18200.

Nestor wrote: »

I played enough to get a couple of reward emails for participation. I used to like doing things like grinding a public dungeon or mob spawn for a couple of hours.

However, lately, Grinding is just a Grind. Not sure if I will go back.

I was hoping for more overland story content this update.

Me too. I wanted EA to be a HUGE sprawling public dungeon that had different areas and variety, with randomly generated chests/secret areas and side mini bosses so as to make the "grinding" happen naturally. If done right every experience could be quite different from what another might experience as maps/starting areas would also be randomized. It could offer progressive difficulty, taking from the game world other dungeons and overland areas for inspiration.

As it sits now EA has no WOW factor at all, and to me that is the largest disappointment.