Hit the skills on cooldown? That explains a lot... you have no idea what you're doing. (Yes, that's a "you're doing it wrong" comment. Basically... you're doing it wrong.
I'm going to pick one of my favorite skills as an example. mesmer Focus 4. (Off hand focus, skill slot 4) Anyone vaguely familiar with the skill knows quite obviously that you won't be hitting that skill right off cooldown... what it does is create a "line" on the ground. If you go through the line, you get a speed boost. If an enemy goes through the line they get a cripple applied. So, right there, it's clear it's a tactically used skill, not a CD based one. But... what happens when you cast Focus 4? Look at your skill bar... the skill has now changed. You have the new ability to shatter the line you've created. This has a fun effect... it pulls foes near it to the space where the line was. THIS is where the skill really becomes a tactical joy to deploy! Why... you can cast it between you and a foe and pull your foe towards you. Or... you can cast it behind a foe and use it to pull a foe away from you. Of course... pulling has one other fun-filled effect when you combine that with walls or cliffs... you can use it to yank foes off of structures. I use that in WvW a lot... pulling foes off siege weapons, off walls, over cliffs to their splattered demise... it's a blast.
Yes, that's one specific skill. However, many or most skills have multiple effects that are best used tactically and would be wasted if you were fullish enough to only burn them on CD. It could be something simple, such as mesmer Greatsword 3, which not only damages but also removes a boon when it hits foes in an area. Instead of using it off CD, hold a little and take that regen they applied to themselves away. GS2 dances between foes and allies buffing allies it hits... hold it for a moment and wait until that warrior or thief closes on the foe. They'll appreciate the stacks of might.
Oh... one last note about dodging... as a mesmer I have traited dodging as an offensive boost. I don't "dodge once in a while". I dodge often, to good effect... not to simply avoid damage.
Thats why he is not very good at it. Between different builds/weapons there is plethora of tactical play for every class, if you go in with "just maash teh buttons" youll end up as well as person who you quoted.
Another thing is you dont get 300 useless skills which is good, seems people have problems with using only few as it is.
If you think the game play is shallow, you haven't really played the game. There is a lot of depth to the game and some professions/builds have very high skill caps. There is nothing dumbed down about the game, in fact, there is more of a learning curve for beginners here than any AAA MMO I've played since WoW. I have well over 700 hours played so far and I'm still learning new things almost daily.
I still log in and find there is almost too much to do. I enjoy the world content with out the need for an additional carrot, but I understand why some people need the carrot and also believe that the concept of non-power related carrots is viable with proper follow through.
I'm sorry, but there's nothing complex about hitting the same 4 or 5 skills on cooldown, dodging once in a while, and rolling with a massive zerg of people. Even without the zerg aspect, there's very little meat.
That does not describe my recent game play sessions, so, once again, I have to suggest that you haven't really played the game.
Are there profession/build combinations that allow players to just spam a rotation and survive most fights? Sure there are. There are also a lot of builds that require and reward much more tactical use of skills and the dodge mechanic. My current Mesmer build has a very high skill cap to play well and I'm enjoying the challenge.
That all the professions play so differently and each has access to numerous builds that can dramatically effect the way you play said profession are evidence of the depth of this game. So, really, play the game. If you can't find the depth there, it's you, not the game.
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Thats why he is not very good at it. Between different builds/weapons there is plethora of tactical play for every class, if you go in with "just maash teh buttons" youll end up as well as person who you quoted.
Another thing is you dont get 300 useless skills which is good, seems people have problems with using only few as it is.
That does not describe my recent game play sessions, so, once again, I have to suggest that you haven't really played the game.
Are there profession/build combinations that allow players to just spam a rotation and survive most fights? Sure there are. There are also a lot of builds that require and reward much more tactical use of skills and the dodge mechanic. My current Mesmer build has a very high skill cap to play well and I'm enjoying the challenge.
That all the professions play so differently and each has access to numerous builds that can dramatically effect the way you play said profession are evidence of the depth of this game. So, really, play the game. If you can't find the depth there, it's you, not the game.
Want to know more about GW2 and why there is so much buzz? Start here: Guild Wars 2 Mass Info for the Uninitiated