Sientir's Blog

This week, I finally finish the Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project by discussing lessons learned over the course of making it. I talk a lot about aspects related to making a game (or series of games) that have ideas similar to how Guild Wars 1 works. I continue working on Astral Collision in the second video, where I finish the first draft of the world map. Some stuff I know I'll need to tweak, and other stuff I may tweak (as playtesting reveals the need to do so), but I at least figure out where everything is gonna go and which world map regions originate from which hero's world. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Lessons Learned - https://youtu.be/E8WoY30Vtcc Making Astral Collision (An RPG Maker MV Project) Part 4 - https://youtu.be/NcwAKVseEKg

For the Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project this week, I cover the last of the actual skills! That's right, I talk about all of the Common Skills, which are skills that can be used by any profession. Next week, I plan to make a summary of lessons learned from this whole endeavor, then it'll be off to new territory! I also continue working on Astral Collision. I imagine I will be doing that for quite some time...anyway, this episode involves a lot of math, as I work on figuring out power formulas for a couple of the weapons. Of course, I talk a lot about what I'm wanting those formulas to do and why! Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Common Skills - https://youtu.be/j_UFmoIQskc Making Astral Collision (An RPG Maker MV Project) Part 3 - https://youtu.be/7_pzJEHFLY4

This week I reviewed the Paragon profession's skills for my Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project. I talked about the design of the Paragon a lot in the introduction part. I also continued working on Astral Collision, and probably will for a while yet. I experimented around with some new (for me) editing techniques for this video, with a couple of sped-up sections! I also don't have a great idea for how to name individual episodes, so I think I'm going to use the very generic name scheme I've got going here. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Paragon—Introduction - https://youtu.be/dvBayjLs46I Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Paragon—Command - https://youtu.be/WmaW1lz6HjI Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Paragon—Leadership - https://youtu.be/IQGiGZwrf0o Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Paragon—Motivation - https://youtu.be/RRQk2KtuZkQ Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Paragon—Spear Mastery - https://youtu.be/JtU-OHmM8dU Guild Wars 1—...

This week I reviewed the Dervish skills for the Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project. That means next week is the Paragon, and the week after are the PvE-Only skills not associated with a profession (and also Resurrection Signet). I'm thinking I might do those all in one video... And this Sunday, I've started a new series where I make a game. I introduce it, and the game I've started making (Astral Collision) in this episode. Hopefully it's interesting to people! While this game is in RPG Maker MV, I'm planning on using Unity for future installments. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Dervish—Introduction - https://youtu.be/vwNZC8ISWfg Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Dervish—Earth Prayers, PvE-Only, & No Attribute - https://youtu.be/vJ3HKWw3CPA Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Dervish—Mysticism - https://youtu.be/OBqcUEyTh-I Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Dervish—Scythe Mastery - https://youtu.be/pqrpt6HMWoE Guild Wars 1—Ski...

This week saw me complete the Ritualist portion of the Skill Review Project. So that's what Saturday was all about. On Sunday, I decided to take a break from the Prebuild challenge that I was doing to talk about how to make a team build in Guild Wars 1. This is something I have somehow neglected to do thus far, a fact that was brought to my attention by a friend of mine. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ritualist—Introduction - https://youtu.be/ztDlMESchZg Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ritualist—Channeling Magic - https://youtu.be/Nh-BPqMOh24 Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ritualist—Communing - https://youtu.be/jmCEOklkgrE Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ritualist—Restoration Magic - https://youtu.be/CVv8fkIqf_w Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ritualist—Spawning power, PvE-Only, & No Attribute - https://youtu.be/Fsb00ne5Iyc How to Make a Guild Wars 1 Team Build - https://youtu.be/AnRi8_9paW8

This week I covered the Assassin profession in my Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project. I've been both enjoying and getting a lot out of this project, but I'm also looking forward to the conclusion—it takes up a lot of time! Just three professions left to go... I also continued my PvP Prebuilds only challenge run, this time making it over the Shiverpeaks and through the Gates of Kryta! Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Assassin—Introduction - https://youtu.be/JAeXLfFd9cU Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Assassin—Critical Strikes - https://youtu.be/mQT0xOsM79w Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Assassin—Dagger Mastery - https://youtu.be/ehfsPdbgKW0 Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Assassin—Deadly Arts - https://youtu.be/jv3Q3NW5X0I Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Assassin—Shadow Arts - https://youtu.be/iV9fVlOqQJg Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Assassin—PvE-Only & No Attribute - https://youtu.be/B-ewW6s6sgY Guild Wars 1—Challenge ...

On Saturday, I reviewed the Monk skills for my Guild Wars 1 skill review project. On Sunday, I started a challenge run series, where I play through the missions of Guild Wars: Prophecies while only allowing myself to use some old PvP prebuilds (many of which are terrible, and some of which don't even work correctly anymore). Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Monk—Introduction - https://youtu.be/CJpgsoDwVJQ Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Monk—Divine Favor - https://youtu.be/sHKTX4LoeZo Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Monk—Healing Prayers - https://youtu.be/004FVjWQt5I Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Monk—Protection Prayers - https://youtu.be/gUwoMf5dWBM Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Monk—Smiting Prayers - https://youtu.be/z6gdnm7Fhok Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Monk—PvE-Only & No Attribute - https://youtu.be/RY8qobZGaxA Guild Wars 1—Challenge Run: Old PvP Prebuilds Only—Ascalon - https://youtu.be/Xmk6-aYaifQ

This week, I reviewed the Necromancer for the Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project. I also decided to play the Wayfarer's Reverie quests. All in one go. This...ended up longer than I was expecting. But, hey, I did it with four different characters! So you do get to see different playstyles across the course of the video. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Necromancer—Introduction - https://youtu.be/cv1OESEr11Q Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Necromancer—Blood Magic - https://youtu.be/WNRzQWFukXA Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Necromancer—Curses - https://youtu.be/6KoTamPXiIo Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Necromancer—Death Magic - https://youtu.be/lnc-5RXKszQ Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Necromancer—Soul Reaping, PvE-Only, & No Attribute - https://youtu.be/M13uXUXP4VY Guild Wars 1—Wayfarer's Reverie Across 4 Characters - https://youtu.be/DalnjYst4Iw

This week, I did the Skill Review for the Ranger. I've again made it six parts, as that hopefully makes it more approachable! I also learned last time that my female Dervish, Elandra, hadn't yet been to Ascalon, so the last video from this week is the journey from the port city of Lion's Arch to the ruined capital of Ascalon City. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ranger—Introduction - https://youtu.be/WQ_kPkhkPnk Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ranger—Beast Mastery - https://youtu.be/O1rYUO6aJPE Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ranger—Expertise - https://youtu.be/2Lku1C-DdJ8 Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ranger—Marksmanship - https://youtu.be/g-CMP_rE1ZQ Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ranger—Wilderness Survival - https://youtu.be/ymKXmfcfz5A Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Ranger—PvE-Only & No Attribute - https://youtu.be/xn-5IbL43eg Guild Wars 1: Journeying from Lion's Arch to Ascalon City - https://youtu.be/N...

This weekend saw a ton of videos drop on Saturday, as I split the Skill Review for the Mesmer up into sections (six, to be exact), so as to hopefully make it more approachable, as I felt the 3+ hour long videos I had made previously to be intimidatingly long. I also beat Eye of the North on Elandra Yggdrasill, my female Dervish! Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Mesmer—Introduction - https://youtu.be/iGpS0fHK5Dw Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Mesmer—Domination Magic - https://youtu.be/O9LQTIq5wfQ Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Mesmer—Fast Casting - https://youtu.be/v7TjY1vIosM Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Mesmer—Illusion Magic - https://youtu.be/tPGL28Twz30 Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Mesmer—Inspiration Magic - https://youtu.be/_j_5JFZbBXg Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Mesmer—PvE-Only & No Attribute - https://youtu.be/_6rPAfdQ1dk Guild Wars 1: Elandra Yggdrasill Completes the Eye of the North! - https://youtu.be/OknF_0...

The first episode this weekend was the very long Elementalist part of my Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project. Part of what made this episode so much longer than the previous one was wanting to go into more game design detail, which I think makes the content better, at the cost of making it longer. I intend to respond to this outcome by breaking up the next part into multiple videos. They'll all still come out the same day (according to current plans, anyway), but it should be more palatable! The second video continues Elandra's journey through the Eye of the North content. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Elementalist - https://youtu.be/g0RafcFdS6o Guild Wars 1: Tweaking a Build & Orozar Highstone's Quests - https://youtu.be/6DVPthnOW2s

The first (extremely long) video is the first of my profession-specific Guild Wars 1 skill review videos. In it, as you'd expect given the name, I review the Warrior's skills. In the second video, I play more Guild Wars 1, completing the A Gate Too Far mission, which almost completely closes out the third leg of the first part of the Eye of the North story. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Warrior - https://youtu.be/bcjntXxPJ-U Guild Wars 1: A Gate Too Far - https://youtu.be/5yTGXj47nZs

The first video this weekend is the start of what will (according to current plans) ultimately be a twelve part series analyzing the skills in Guild Wars 1. I'm looking forward to it, as I've been wanting to do this for a while! The second episode continues my journey through Eye of the North on my female Dervish. Direct video links: Guild Wars 1—Skill Review Project: Introduction & Overview - https://youtu.be/-lvxGQkyREM Guild Wars 1: Curse of the Nornbear & Blood Washes Blood - https://youtu.be/s93yU69sKAI

Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project Overview Post - Warrior Overview Post "Fear Me!" is a Tactics Warrior skill that costs 4 Adrenaline and has a 6 second recharge. As a shout, it has no activation time. Its description is as follows: Shout. All nearby foes lose 1...3...4 Energy. For 1...12...15 second[s], your melee attacks gain +5...25...30% chance of a critical hit against stationary foes. Rating: 4/5 This rating might seem oddly high, and to some extent it is. However, "Fear Me!" gets this rating by being a generically useful Tactics skill. In general, if I have a melee attacker using Tactics, this particular skill ends up on their skill bar. So while I rarely go into Tactics for this skill (usually only if I'm trying to make an Energy denial build), if I'm already there, I'll often bring it. This is for a few reasons. The first is that energy pressure like this is very useful. It is easy to underestimate, but in very intense combat situatio...

Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project Overview Post - Warrior Overview Post "Coward!" is a Warrior skill with no associated attribute. It costs 4 Adrenaline to activate and has a 2 second recharge. As it is a shout, it has no activation time. Its description is as follows: Elite Shout. If target foe is moving, that foe is knocked down. Rating: 3/5 This is one of those skills that seems pretty decent on the surface, but turns out to be kind of awkward to use. It's mostly useful for using the knockdown to snare foes you are actively chasing with a melee attack, though I could see it being used to also disrupt someone pursuing one of your casters. All of this means that it's a fine, but not a particularly exciting, skill. You shouldn't bring it expecting to be able to combo with the knockdown, since the fact that the target has to be moving for it to actually knock them down means that it is usually very difficult to capitalize on that knockdown. It definitely...

Guild Wars 1 Skill Review Project Overview Post - Warrior Overview Post "Charge!"  is a Tactics Warrior skill that costs 5 energy to activate and has a 20 second recharge. As a shout, it has no activation time. Its description is as follows: Elite Shout. Allies in earshot lose the Crippled condition. For 5...11...13 seconds, these allies move 33% faster. Rating: 4/5 This rating is somewhat generous. From a pure combat standpoint, it definitely doesn't deserve it. However, I like having "Charge!" available on two members of my party for the purposes of moving more quickly across maps outside of combat. It's purely based on this usefulness that I've given it this rating; otherwise it would probably be a 3/5. It does have competition for this out-of-combat purpose with "Fall Back!" . The fact that the Paragon skill isn't an elite wins it points over "Charge!", but the fact that you need 3 instances (rather than the 2 of ...

This is a profession overview post that's part of my Guild Wars 1 skill review. For a general overview, you can check out this post . All of the currently reviewed Warrior skills can be found under the GW1SRP Warrior tag. About the Warrior Armor Stats: Base 80 armor. Inbuilt +20 additional armor against physical damage. No bonuses to maximum energy or energy regeneration! Armor mods can grant additional armor against elemental damage, increase knockdown duration by 1 second, and reduce physical damage taken by subtract amounts (rather than multiplicative). Weapons associated with attributes: Swords (one-handed) Axes (one-handed) Hammers (two-handed) Shield (off-hand, grants up to 16 additional armor) Warriors are highly durable, especially when using a one-handed weapon and a shield. They are also fairly versatile. However, they have overall poor access to energy given a reduced pool, low energy regeneration rate (only the standard 2 pips), and no inbuilt en...

This post serves as an overview and reference for a rather large project I'm undertaking: Reviewing and rating all player-usable skills in Guild Wars 1. I'm undertaking this project for two major reasons. The first is that I believe there is a lot to learn about game design from this sort of review. The second is that I want to make a program to generate randomized pools of skills, and for that, I need ratings in order to have the program work the way I want. Edit: As this became quite the challenge to actually undertake in post form, I've made it into a YouTube series instead. You can find the playlist here . Rating Rubric Skills will be rated 1 to 5 points, as outlined below. Note that these ratings are based on my subjective experiences, and are focused on the PvE experience! I might bring up PvP every now and then, but it won't factor into the ratings I give. I also will not be reviewing the PvP-only versions of skills. (Some skills have a PvE version and Pv...