Originally Posted by
Tiyuri
So you've killed countless Charr, but never another player:
Then HA is not for you, yet. The first thing you want to do is wet your feet in the random arenas. Here you can run any build you want to. Play long enough and you'll begin to learn what does and doesn't work. You'll begin to see which builds stand out as efficient, you'll gain some faction and you'll begin to see how different a PVP environment is to a PVE environment. The most important lesson to be learnt here, is that you're effectively playing a completely different game and being good at one does not make you good at the other.
So you're an RA Champion! Busting out the glad points like nobodies business:
Then you're ready to TA. Where as RA rewards players with the ability to pick out efficient skills with some synergy, TA rewards a synergy and communication between characters. It's your first step into organised PVP, good teams will tell YOU which skills to take. It's the team leaders choice now, not yours. This is because your build needs to work with the rest of the builds on the team. You'll need to start learning the popular character builds, why they're popular, how to play them and what skills you're required to unlock.
TA is where PVP as a whole begins to get competitive, and thus rewards those players who put in the time and effort to learn the metagame, learn the popular builds, learn their counters. etc.
If you really want to get into the PVP side of things, I suggest you begin leading your own teams. Don't stick to one build that works for you, learn how to play all professions, mix things up. If you're going to be a team leader you're going to need to know how everyone's build works, not just your own. It's those players with the ability to lead who really go places.
So you're a Rank 3 gladiator! Why won't those tools let me play HA!
Because HA is a whole new ball game.
The first thing to do when starting out in HA, is to realise that it has its own mechanics. It's not TA, it's certainly not RA and so your experience in those areas - whilst obviously a good thing in terms of learning the basics of PVP - means jack. It's time to set aside your pride, your rank 3 gladiator title, your protector of Tyria title. You need to get into the mindset to learn. You aren't going to achieve a shiny emote straight away. It requires some dedication.
The new HA player has 3 options.
Join unranked groups.
Attempt to Join ranked groups.
Or form their own groups.
The first thing I suggest you do is forget option 1. We all know unranked groups are a train wreck waiting to happen, let's not pretend otherwise. Sure there are SOME good players out there without a rank, but those are a minority. Being good at GVG/TA/RA as we discussed, does not make you good at HA and thus those are not the people you want to learn from. So how do we go about attempting options 2 and 3?
Joining Ranked Groups
* Talk the Talk - First of all, you want to sound intelligent and well spoken. A lot of ranked groups don't actually care about a players rank, they limit themselves to ranked players in an attempt to avoid idiots. So Don't sound like one. Learn to spell, learn some grammar and some manners.
* Don't Lie - If a team asks what rank you are, tell them the truth. If you lie and make stupid mistakes, you'll be booted and certainly won't be added to any friends lists. Whilst a lot of teams are very unforgiving towards the unranked player there are also a lot of understanding teams out there. If you're intelligent and respectful they'll help you out and tell you what you need to improve on.
* Learn how to advertise yourself correctly - First of all, ranked groups are used to playing with players who are capable of playing any role, they have most skills unlocked and will spec to any role in the team if they have to. Thus advertising yourself as "A shock warrior LFG" makes you sound inexperienced off the bat. Advertise yourself as a player or a profession, not a specific build. Second, ranked groups assume you have vent/TS/etc, don't advertise yourself as having them, it absolutely stinks of desperation. Keep it short and elegant. "Experienced Monk looking to gain experience with a ranked team" or similar.
* Don't be afraid to ask for help - Responding to an add with "I'm not rank 6 but I have a great deal of experience as an X" and asking if they could help you learn the maps isn't a bad idea. There are some real tools out there who'll tell you to f-off you unranked noob. But those aren't the players you want to play with anyway and if anything those players are probably the people who IWAYed their rank 6. You need thick skin, but keep trying.
* Spend a lot of time in observer - You need to know what builds are popular right now, and you need the skills unlocked to play them. You need the variations of those builds unlocked also, and you shouldn't expect to stay in a ranked team if you don't have a skill they require.
* Do not spam players who ignore you - Some people who advertise for rank 6+ people or r9+ people want just that, no exceptions. Sometimes when asking for r6+ players team leaders are whispered by 10~ unranked players asking for a shot. Expecting them to respond to every single person is a bit much.
Starting your own Groups
This has to be the best way around the rank requirements of HA, no one asks the group leaders rank, so as long as you are competent enough you can pretty much pick up players of any rank. However ranked players have enough experienced to spot a leader who doesn't know what he's doing from a mile away. Good teams are lead, they aren't a giant democracy, and if you're going to go down this route you need to do that leading.
You need to know the build you propose to run inside out, you need to know the skills on every characters bar, you need to know what you plan to do on every map. Make sure you check out articles on Guildwiki and similar on the objectives of each map, observe them, observe other people playing the build you are going to use, see how they attempt to play it.
Whilst playing a gimmick build will aid you in finding players FASTER, the quality of those players will probably be lower. A lot of Rank 9+ players are no longer concerned about rank or gaining fame and are instead looking for builds that are innovative or fun to play. Not only that but you might actually learn something if you're not spamming searing flames or "Fear me!".
Whilst leading a team be prepared to Speak non stop on vent, there's no hiding in the back here, occasionally calling out "blind on 3", it's your job to direct the team now. Tell it where and how to move, where to throw up wards, where to throw its damage, and so on. You've got to be confident to do this but its potentially the fastest way to a rank and the fastest way of getting some really good players on your friendlist.
Going Further:
So you've got into some nice groups, taken halls a few times, maybe earned rank 3 and a shiny dear emote. But you want to go further, you want to aim higher, you want a big shiny tiger.
You need to either find an HA guild or build up a good friends list of players you're impressed with. If you're a strong leader you could lead your own HA guild and that allows you to be selective about the talent you bring along.
I would suggest against using names like "Holy knight of Tyria" or some other ridiculous PVE name. You want to make a name for yourself and so people need to know what to call you. Not to mention the fact that you don't want to sound like an instant PVE nub when attempting to join a ranked team.
Be social, don't hide in the corner of every vent server you join, be vocal and friendly. You want people to enjoy playing with you and invite you over other people. Contribute to the team, suggest strat and so on. Making good friends makes good fame.
Do not go to HA if:
You don't have a good amount of skills unlocked.
You're an idiot.
Your spelling is atrocious.
You are unable to use ventrilo
You take rude comments to heart
You plan to post retarded threads on the forums regarding how some guy didn't accept you into their group and rank means nothing.
Peace
Keep it up, try to join groups, unlock the most common skills used, work hard and before you know it you will have rank 3 and can show that deer. Those first 180 fame are the hardest (except for the 820 more that you need to get a wolf. and the 3665 more than that which you need for a tiger. and so on...)
