ArenaNet Heralds the End of Mass Dolyak Escorts in Guild Wars 2

I'm not one to point and laugh -- well, not often -- so I will refrain from doing so on this occasion.

ArenaNet has put an end to the confusing popularity of dolyak herding in Guild Wars 2.

Imagine jumping into a world under siege; across a war torn map hundreds of combatants move swiftly, attacking important strategic points with unyielding ferocity.

You leap into action, using any ability you can to race towards the battle on the horizon where a keep is being contested in a vicious fight.

Running at a blistering speed you round the corner, trying desperately to enter the fray while the tide can still be turned.

At which point you find yourself confused by the 25 comrades-in-arms who are plodding around a dolyak in the middle of uncontested territory as it winds its way with only a stiff breeze to impede it.

Again.

And Again.

Dolyak running is the bane of many people in WvW. At launch, it appears the amount of XP you could get from using speed buffs to accelerate the beasts of burden was so good it proved irresistible to those only interested in grinding levels.

Even after an apparent nerf, crowds would still continue to take part in one of the most tedious activities I can imagine: watching a large dolyak's backside slowly make its way back and forth to the same point.

One might ask why I would be perturbed by those players who want to spend their time walking along a path repeatedly for mediocre xp. The reason it is a problem is that with the current popularity and queues for WvW, every person who has absolutely no interest in the actual objectives of the map is keeping out a player who does want to join in the mass fight.

It's particularly confusing when not only is safe dolyak herding boring -- the crowds don't gather around dolyaks who are heading into dangerous territory where things might actually happen -- there are much better ways to form a gang to get xp -- like doing large scale dynamic events.

Obviously the problem had become prevalent as ArenaNet announced in the most recent game update that the incentive for such behavior is being removed:

"Event rewards for Dolyak caravan escort events in World v. World will be disabled until further notice."

As is obvious from my little diatribe, I'm delighted this was done.

Do you have an alternative perspective? Or are you also pleased that this step has been taken?

Let us know below.

                                                                  Scott "Jarimor" Hawkes, Editor in Chief