Yea, in many ways the game is a lot less informative (about what happens in it, in its website, and about maintenance) than STO for example (where the patch notes can be checked at the website with a single click, maintenance is announced on website and launcher, and server status is shown on website and launcher). One thing that really bothers me is that there doesn't appear to be a way to add
username to come after the character in chat.
Another example of bad information is the lack of differentiation between Heal Over Time and single Heals. This is especially bad because it means some abilities are a lot less useful than they seemed. Another good example of wattheshit level of vagueness in ability descriptions is Renewed Focus, which is a Guardian elite skill where the description gives you the impression that it gives you temporary invulnerability and recharges your Virtues... When in actuality you are only invulnerable while you charge the skill (can't do anything else during this time), after which you are just like before but your Virtues have been recharges. In short, turns out it's an utter shit skill without any use, since only one of the Virtues is ever worth activating, and even then it's a stretch as it's just an Aegis (the other two just have shit actives, with Justice providing a weak Burning attack when it passively provides a Burn condition on every fifth attack, and Resolve provides valuable passive regeneration or a shit-heal). In general, it seems Elite skills are just plain shit compared to regular skills. The only half-usable one I've tried out so far is Tome of Wrath, and that's only because it's 20 seconds of Retaliation. Bear form is like my regular greatsword wth slightly better attack and lots of health, but none of the heals (which means it's fairly useless due to how fucktardedly high damage usually is, and no genius thought about putting in inherent damage mitigation on such a transformation).
Anyway, I'm currently running a Norn shoutmonkey and reached level 35 (and on my way to Hoelbrak the server connection was fucked). Seems to me that Shouts are practically mandatory for Guardian tanking (seeing how Shield of the Avenger only affects projectiles and Sanctuary's cd is too long to be useful) due to having a ridiculously powerful array of effects, shortest cooldowns and healing effects. I'm currently running Save Yourselves, Hold the Line and Stand Your Ground (turns out it's great for PvE as well, seeing how dangerous knockdowns and stuns can be, and how powerful Retaliation is) with Signet of Resolve (seeing how Shelter is far too weak to be useful and Healing Breeze is weaker than Signet even without Signet's passive bonus) and Tome of Wrath (Bear Form and Renewed Focus tried out), with Greatsword as main weapon and Mace/Shield secondary. Currently have three traits put to 10 for 10% extra damage against Burning enemies (Zeal), 20% faster Shout recharge (Honor) and 5 in Virtue for passive boon boost. Will aim towards trying out how Zealous Blade fares (Zeal Grandmaster trait, makes each Greatsword attack self-heal) + Greatsword Power for +5% damage with it. Otherwise my plan is to raise Valor to 10 for 5% of Toughness added to Precision, Virtue to 10 for 25% extra Retaliation time, and raising Honor to 20 (trait effect would be 20% faster two-handed skill recharge, or the additional Heal effect to Symbols).
You can check the build here:
http://www.gw2builds.org/view/78400....2-3.8.10.12.3-30.0.10.20.10-3.5.12.10.7.8.12
Signet of Judgment is there as a placeholder for Save Yourselves.
