Auto-Attack. Why GW2 doesn't have one

Rageahol

So there has been a debate brewing, at least on the Gate of Madness server. Some people say that the "auto" mapping feature of the first weapon skill is an auto attack and that the claim of not having an auto attack is false.

 

NOW, here is what I say, and lets see if you all agree with me. Now I do not know if this has been brought up beyond my server but I think if some people think this, others must feel the same way.

Why there is NOT an auto attack in Guild Wars 2 is a simple answer of numbers. The Dmg from the first weapon skill do not persist through the uses of skills.

For example in WoW: your auto attack persists through your instant cast spells and does not go off on the global cooldown. 

In GW2: This does not happen as the game treats the first weapon skill as its own skill.

seridan

You can set any of your skills as an "auto-attack", your character will continue attacking automatically until the target is dead. You need to press CTRL + Right click on the skill you want.

cronius77

i would have to test that myself in game so i cannot really comment on it , but i think you can see it as a auto attack hybred because its the only skill usually without a cooldown on the weapon sets. Technically speaking if it can be automated then it would fall into a catagory of auto attack, so i would call it that.

Comae13

all attacks are autoattacks..

immodium

Not played GW2 but, auto-attack IMO is when you tab-target an enemy and in range, you start the attack and it keeps attacking with no other key presses required. That's untill you have killed the enemy or gone out of range. If GW2 has that then it's auto-attack IMO.

Ethos86

Originally posted by Comae13
all attacks are autoattacks..

 

Almost true.

 

I would say:

"All attacks could be auto-attacks if you choose that attack to be the auto-attack. By default your first skill (or skill chain) on your weapon bar is set as the auto-attack which is probably the most effective since it has no cooldown. Auto-attack behavior could also be completely turned off in the settings menu."

 

Also, as for the definition of an auto-attack. For me it's when you attack a target in range once, and then the attack (or skill chain rotaion) repeats itself automatically without having to keep pressing the attack button for it. It doesn't matter if it's a skill chain or not or if the damge output of it changes sometimes.

Tawn47

Originally posted by needalife214

So there has been a debate brewing, at least on the Gate of Madness server. Some people say that the "auto" mapping feature of the first weapon skill is an auto attack and that the claim of not having an auto attack is false.

 

NOW, here is what I say, and lets see if you all agree with me. Now I do not know if this has been brought up beyond my server but I think if some people think this, others must feel the same way.

Why there is NOT an auto attack in Guild Wars 2 is a simple answer of numbers. The Dmg from the first weapon skill do not persist through the uses of skills.

For example in WoW: your auto attack persists through your instant cast spells and does not go off on the global cooldown. 

In GW2: This does not happen as the game treats the first weapon skill as its own skill.

Err yeah.. ok...  I always thought auto meant 'automatic'..  in other words, it activates without you manually pressing the required button...      ...so, why are you trying so hard to say GW2 doesn't have an auto attack?

Scalpless

The first skill is set to auto-attack, because you don't have to press its button to activate it. So, GW2 has auto-attack that can be disabled.

What I don't understand is why people think having an auto attack is bad. TOR doesn't have it, so you have to spam your first skill. How great is that. TERA doesn't have it, so you hold the LMB, instead. Yeah, that sure requires mad skillz and make that games combat TRUE. ACTION. COMBAT. No, wait, it doesn't. It doesn't change anything. It could make your finger hurt, though.

BeansnBread

It has auto-attack. You can turn it off or switch it to any skill you want, but it has it.

Rageahol

Originally posted by Tawn47

Originally posted by needalife214

So there has been a debate brewing, at least on the Gate of Madness server. Some people say that the "auto" mapping feature of the first weapon skill is an auto attack and that the claim of not having an auto attack is false.

 

NOW, here is what I say, and lets see if you all agree with me. Now I do not know if this has been brought up beyond my server but I think if some people think this, others must feel the same way.

Why there is NOT an auto attack in Guild Wars 2 is a simple answer of numbers. The Dmg from the first weapon skill do not persist through the uses of skills.

For example in WoW: your auto attack persists through your instant cast spells and does not go off on the global cooldown. 

In GW2: This does not happen as the game treats the first weapon skill as its own skill.

Err yeah.. ok...  I always thought auto meant 'automatic'..  in other words, it activates without you manually pressing the required button...      ...so, why are you trying so hard to say GW2 doesn't have an auto attack?

I was wondering opinions that is all. its not bad or good. it simply is...

DKLond

Who cares? Yes, it has an auto-attack - but it functions somewhat differently - because you can manually choose which attack is automated.

fiontar

Originally posted by dekou

The first skill is set to auto-attack, because you don't have to press its button to activate it. So, GW2 has auto-attack that can be disabled.

What I don't understand is why people think having an auto attack is bad. TOR doesn't have it, so you have to spam your first skill. How great is that. TERA doesn't have it, so you hold the LMB, instead. Yeah, that sure requires mad skillz and make that games combat TRUE. ACTION. COMBAT. No, wait, it doesn't. It doesn't change anything. It could make your finger hurt, though.

^^This.

You can set any skill to auto-repeat. If you set skill one, which has no cool down, it feels a lot like an auto-attack. You won't automatically start attacking a hostile by tapping it, but if you use any skill on a mob, your auto-repeat skill will be added to the skill queue. Manual skill use takes precedence over a skill set to auto repeat, but the skill needs to actually fire off to do damage, where as most games with a "gray damage auto attack" do steady auto-attack DPS, no matter what other skills you are using.

I wouldn't say that calling it an Auto-attack is wrong, but using the term with out clarification implies certain things, based on auto-attacks in other MMOS, that just are not true in GW2.

I'd also point out that for many of the #1 melee skills that offer a chain attack, leaving the #1 skill off of auto-repeat is probably a good idea. Proper timing of chain skills is often superior to just continually spamming the chain.

The feature is a convenience, but not always an appropriate convenience, depending on the professio you are playing. The #1 skill does indeed tend to offer solid, sustained DPS, which is one reason why skill spamming isn't very efficient for most professions/weapons. Your #1 gives you your starting point for any given weapon, but knowing when to best use your other skills, most of which are situational to one degree or another, is a big partof learning to play any profession with a degree of adeptness.

There is no mana equivalent in GW2, (though Thieves do have a quick filling Initiative pool to fascilitate and limit burst damage skills), so in addition to a cooldown timer/casting time, part of the "cost" of using any skill is that by using that skill at that moment, you are not using another skill that may or may not be more efficient or appropriate to your situation. This applies to the #1 skill and some players, as they become more masterful at playing their profession, may benefit from turning auto-repeat off entirely, in order to have absolute control over the flow of skills in their combat queue. Some of the "ability lag" that some people occassionally complain about experiencing may be the result of an auto repeat attack triggering a split second before the manual activation of a skill. People who want to have full control of their character's skill use will likely trun the auto-repeat feature off.

TheDarkrayne

I'd say...

It doesn't have 'an' autoattack but you can auto attack with any one weapon skill.

 

There's a difference:

An autoattack is a noun.. because it's a thing; autoattack is it's name e.g. 'I used autoattack on the bear' '

To auto attack is a verb and an adverb.. it's an action; to auto attack. e.g. 'I auto attacked the bear'.

 

But.. someone might personally name the weapon skill they auto attack with their autoattack.

There is no clear answer other than saying 'In GW2 you can auto attack'.

Derros

Does it really matter if there is an auto attack or not?  Either a game is based around fewer, bigger hits where you button mash the default attack while pressing other buttons as cooldowns/resources permit, or it has an auto attack where there is a steady stream of damage while you mash other buttons as resources/cooldowns permit.  The stratagy element of gw2 is determining which weapon (and thereby which auto attack) is best suited for the particular situation.

 

I dont see what the big deal is.  It honestly feels like more a question of semantics than anything else.

Gaia_Hunter

If this game was an FPS the #1 skill would be the left mouse button.

The number #1 skill does't work like other games auto-attacks, it works like a regular skill.

The only difference is that since it has no cooldown (other than weapon recharge) and you can make a skill auto-cast, it feels like an auto attack.

 

TheDarkrayne

Originally posted by Derros

Does it really matter if there is an auto attack or not?  Either a game is based around fewer, bigger hits where you button mash, or it has an auto attack where there is a steady stream of damage while you mash other buttons as resources/cooldowns permit.

 

I dont see what the big deal is. 

I agree, it doesn't matter. Most enjoy the combat so that's all there is to it.

This debate is a problem with peoples understanding of English Language though, not speaking English but English Language and how it is formed. It's all about grammer.

Torgrim

This is really the dumbest thread of the decade, of course GW 2 has auto attack.

Ramanadjinn

so common in the MMO world.

an ill-defined slang term is used outside of its common realm of useage and it sparks a debate.

 

white damage attacks from WOW are auto attacks.  guild wars 2 doesn't have that same thing.

guild wars 2 has attacks, some of them can be set to automatically fire while in combat. so they automatically attack. that is what they are and that is what they do and there really isn't anything special, wondrous, or interesting about that imo.  it just is what it is.

its perfectly fair to call them auto attacks...they're attacks that happen automatically.. i don't though because some misguided individuals might think i'm equating the game to WOW and get upset about it...

dzoni87

  This reminds me on a debate whether D&D 4e should have a basic attack for casters or dont. Wizards can surely use "STR vs AC" attack, but to be honest i would rather use an "Arcane Bolt", especially when it is stronger, spammable and there is not mana system. The similar goes for GW2. I doubt that anyone would use basic attack over the provided skill, especially when nothing is restricting its use. 

Atlan99

Originally posted by needalife214

So there has been a debate brewing, at least on the Gate of Madness server. Some people say that the "auto" mapping feature of the first weapon skill is an auto attack and that the claim of not having an auto attack is false.

 

NOW, here is what I say, and lets see if you all agree with me. Now I do not know if this has been brought up beyond my server but I think if some people think this, others must feel the same way.

Why there is NOT an auto attack in Guild Wars 2 is a simple answer of numbers. The Dmg from the first weapon skill do not persist through the uses of skills.

For example in WoW: your auto attack persists through your instant cast spells and does not go off on the global cooldown. 

In GW2: This does not happen as the game treats the first weapon skill as its own skill.

It has an attack you can set to automatically fire, therefore it has an autoattack.

Caldrin

GW2 has an auto attack... simple as that.. it makes sense to have one in a tab target game really..

Unknown

This is why I refer to it as "auto fire" instead of "auto attack".  Not because it isn't an automatic attack but because the term "auto attack" infers attacks that happen in the background that you don't control (i.e. white damage).  GW2 doesn't have that.  Instead it has a mechanism for automatically using one of your skills that you choose (skill #1 by default).

So to the OP, when someone tells you that GW2 does have auto attack, just tell them this: "not if I turn it off".

Jimmydean

I can turn auto attack off in other games too, it doesn't mean it's not there. This thread should be titled "Perspective, why GW2 fans have none". 

Unknown

Originally posted by Jimmydean
I can turn auto attack off in other games too, it doesn't mean it's not there. This thread should be titled "Perspective, why GW2 fans have none". 

Again, even though that is an auto attack, it's not the same kind of auto attack that games like WoW and Rift have where there are attacks going on outside of your control.  You can't turn those off.  That's why I distinguish GW2's "auto fire" from other game's "auto attack".  It's a matter of semantics.

And we can do without the attacks on people who like GW2.  Seriously.

Kniknax

An auto attack is when I press 1 button and can walk away and allow my character to continue "automatically attacking" the mob.

This is what GW2 does. Regardless of whether you can change the AA spell or not, it still does it when I press the button.

Having NO auto-attack is when I have to manually keep pressing the button in order to attack. Which I dont.

Fairly open and shut case really

Unknown

Originally posted by Kniknax

An auto attack is when I press 1 button and can walk away and allow my character to continue "automatically attacking" the mob.

This is what GW2 does. Regardless of whether you can change the AA spell or not, it still does it when I press the button.

Having NO auto-attack is when I have to manually keep pressing the button in order to attack. Which I dont.

Fairly open and shut case really

That's your definition of auto attack.  Mine is: "white damage" attacks that automatically happen in the background outside of your control.