Talk:Mad King's Clock Tower

So I was doing some research on this jumping puzzle, because they're one of my favorite things to do in the game, and... well, there's nothing on this page. Is this because nobody has found it, or because it's not currently implemented? I know it makes sense if it's not in yet, because there are 3 other acts to the Halloween celebration, so it's completely understandable if it's a future update sort of thing. 76.27.73.198 03:45, 24 October 2012 (UTC)

i am wondering the same thing. why is there no location on the page, is it because it hasnt been implemented yet or has it not been found? 192.168.104.82 04:03, 24 October 2012 (UTC)

It's probably within the Mad Realm (see Special Event achievement "It's a Mad King's World"), which we won't gain access to until a later chapter of the festival. —Dr Ishmael 04:25, 24 October 2012 (UTC)

Time limit

You'll have about 90 seconds to complete this puzzle, according to this: http://soundcloud.com/maclaine/mad-king-clocktower

Should we add it on the page? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Lindorie (talk • contribs).

IMHO no. The version maclaine had played was probably a development version and is thus subject to change. Since the information isn't even useful until the puzzle has been found & confirmed by the wiki community, I doubt it's worth the honking disclaimer templates required to accompany unconfirmed external information. Tub 20:37, 24 October 2012 (UTC)

Then again, it IS called clock tower, so dont doubt the time limit. 68.194.176.215

The timelimit are 90 seconds. I have just completed it.--84.168.164.219

Walkthrough

I have postet a short Walkthrough the help players solve the tower. But my english isn't good, maybe someon should rewrite it. --84.168.164.219

where abouts is the window? i can get upto a bit with some stairs and a 2 planks coming off it, but can't see where to go from there :/ 188.220.249.212 13:45, 26 October 2012 (PDT)

You must jump to the gor with a chest on it below the 2 planks and start climbing. --84.168.164.219

Yep, just found that, might be worth adding to the walkthrough 188.220.249.212 13:54, 26 October 2012 (PDT)

It is under point 2. Maybe a screen would help to find the way --84.168.164.219

I guess i didn't really read properly and took that to be the part where the side of the tower blows out creating a path 188.220.249.212 14:11, 26 October 2012 (PDT)

Horrible

The main "challenge" here is not the jumping itself, but the fact that you're forced to do this with other people, who are constantly blocking the view of your character and the gaps/ledges that you have to traverse. The best chance you have at completing the tower is to stay at the front of the pack so that your view is clear. Competitive jumping... 76.253.0.17 00:36, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

Well, Anet always said they were going to add more PvP types eventually. Vili 点 00:41, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

All we need now is bodyblocking among players... 79.113.196.211 03:32, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

All I can say that frustration is not fun, and having issues out of your control preventing you from doing something is only frustrating. MithTalk 05:53, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

this took me forever to beat, but I had fun. I think i would have preferred the instance to be solo, but maybe that would have taken all the challenge out of it. The Alice 10:50, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

Yeah, I'm not having fun with some of the Halloween stuff, this especially. Bad jumping mechanics are not jumping "puzzles." They're just annoying. Is getting kicked in the groin a comfort puzzle? Firethorne 17:27, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

Considering most jumping puzzles are a joke, I found a challenging puzzle to be fun. Charr are also hilarious here.--Relyk 17:36, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

While this isn't so much a jumping "puzzle" it is a jumping challenge and, IMO, a greatly addicting one. I really loved this and hope we get more like it (but then again, I've always loved jumping races in platformer games). Konig/talk 18:31, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

This game is sooooooo blooooooooody terrible, I'm having zero fun

Then, uh, don't do the clock tower? Not like you need it for anything other than that one insignificant soon-to-disappear achievement. It doesn't even count for the Emissary of the Mad King title. Konig/talk 02:54, 28 October 2012 (PDT)

There's also the fact that when you die, you have to wait for the bar to fill back up, the cutscene to play, and for the beginning section with the exploding wall to resolve. All that time you're sitting around doing nothing instead of mastering the puzzle, and accounts for maybe half of your time there. 96.39.113.84 17:06, 28 October 2012 (PDT)

Joshua Foreman built this map, he estimated "maybe 5% of people would make it to the top."

Awesome, designed to waste 95% of players' time. Is this seriously the kind of thing we should look forward to during holiday events? 65.87.26.122 18:19, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

More players than designers will expect will find their content easier than their predictions. I expect that it is more like 40% of players, minimum, will beat it. Besides, there's no true reward outside the auto-matically soulbound and non-salvagable exotic that uses a basic skin. Konig/talk 18:22, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

Last time someone linked a Halloween piece, it was soulbound on use, or am I just imagining things? Anyway, this is more fun and exciting than going AFK in the lucky rings for hours while I do something else actually fun. Vili 点 18:24, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

Those obtained from chests are soulbound on use. The slippers from the jumping puzzle is soulbound on squire. Konig/talk 19:18, 29 October 2012 (UTC)

As someone who likes to be able to do anything, I'm a bit disappointed that this will likely stop me from completing the Halloween special event achievement. I'm not so concerned about the reward, but miffed about the fact that the Tower is the last thing, and that it will likely prevent me from completing the achievement. And additionally, I'm real thrilled with waiting so long for the start and then the whole cinematic. Option to skip, please! Adeira Tasharo 00:12, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

If the achievement you refer to is the Emissary of the Mad King, the tower does not count towards it. Nor does pumpkin carving. Konig/talk 00:28, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

No if he is like me, he is talking about the WHOLE list, i done evrything except "CT" and "AtP", of course AtP is not available yet..so having a slow internet and insta re-starting before i can jump is just CRAP, im on the lowest server i could find, i have issues, so i need this, BAD, and it's freaking annoying when your compulsive like i am with titles/achievements/bragging right's, i spent money on 3 character slots and spooky mini pet trio(x2) so i could have all 3 minis+forge chainsaw mini and so i could do hints achievements--121.223.113.234 12:49, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

I'm an obsessive completionist, but when something is completely impossibly beyond my reach, I give up on it and admit that it's unattainable. World of Warcraft had plenty of Feats of Strength which I knew were all but impossible to get, and I wasn't bothered by that. Diablo 3 had a number of hopelessly grindy achievements which I just didn't feel like investing time in, like getting two of the same class to max level; I'm not mad about that. As for Guild Wars 2, there's an achievement for equipping legendary weapons, and it's not maxed out at just 1 weapon. Considering how much time and/or money you need to dump into those, THAT is the kind of achievement I'd be more worried about completing, not some silly jumping puzzle that only exists for a few days.

I don't bitch about Anet or Blizzard or whatever trampling on my rights as a player to have everything ever available to me because I'm entitled to it. If I haven't earned it, I shouldn't get those bragging rights. Not that you can even really brag in GW2; no one can see your achievements except you, you can't link them in chat yet, and since there are unlimited achievement points available the total count is pretty meaningless. Clocktower doesn't even count towards any title you can display. The only way to "prove" you've done Clocktower is if you can show off a pair of Mad King's Slippers, and if you managed to be that lucky, you deserve to crow a bit.

Besides that, why would you ever spend IRL money on character slots? You start with five, and by the time you get those to level 80 you have more than enough spare gold lying around to convert to the 2400 gems you'd need, and also some bank expansions if you're a packrat. There is almost no benefit to unlocking those character slots before you're actually going to play them. I guess if you were dead-set on reserving 8 names at once, that's an issue, but names reserved from GW1 should still work and there are plenty enough creative ways to rebrand a favorite character. Vili 点 01:56, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

did i say they forced me to buy the slot's NO, i just using it as a point how obsessive i am with stuff like this, and by your response you cant even come close to be considered a "obsessive completionist", k thanx bye--120.146.86.45 03:27, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Right, you forced yourself and made a bad decision, and so it's your problem to deal with the outcomes of that. Meanwhile I'll get back to doing 100% world completion on eight alts, while you do...whatever completionist things you do. Vili 点 04:30, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Right, I wasn't even complaining about buying them character slot's, then again your to busy blinded by trolling for argument's, instead of REALISING "I WAS using it as a point of how obsessive i am with stuff like this", enjoy 8 ALT's, and you say i wasted money, LMAO, fail troll fail's, im done with you, your just a troll inciting an argument, NUFF SAID!!--120.146.86.45 07:51, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Video Solution

Time for some QQ: I added a video solution, but it got replaced by another, which uses a fixed speed buff. Normally you can't jump so far. But I think the real problem is, that some editors didn't like mine. Thought it would be thanked or so... •d03n3rfr1tz3•ị•talk• 04:06, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

I was probably the one who removed it (I did remove one youtube link) - I didn't even bother to look at either video. One was using the proper format and was older, the other wasn't. So I just removed the raw link in favor of the youtube template link. Konig/talk 11:34, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

I removed it because the video wasn't even processed yet.--Relyk 14:29, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

Puzzle

Nerf now pls, kthnxbai. PalkiaX50 13:45, 27 October 2012 (PDT)

Dont bother to try with slow internet=insta kicked back to waiting...thanx very much Anet, the fact it was stated, only 5% of players would make, showed you guys take the fun out of a holiday.--121.223.113.234 08:22, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

It wasn't anets fault, it's the dumbass who designed it. although, they probably should have said, ok, now lets remove that stupid green water swirling effect.173.88.250.197 08:24, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

Oh but they could of atleast tested it with a touch pad, after getting CT dead enough i got some lag free starts, using a touch pad is to slow and not a option, for all those that were gonna respond "get a mouse", STFU i shouldnt need to buy a mouse for a Halloween event that is meant to be able to be done by the worst of player's/be FUN, like GW1 halloween=nothing a newbie couldnt do, but to add this for a "kill joy" achievement in the Halloween section is beyond bull flop, atleast could of put it with other jumping puzzles with in bracket's ("available at halloween only"), as stated by many player's, they spent countless hours getting to the top, how in the name of Dwayna is that even classed as Halloween fun, anet should have "we suck black d!@k" embroided on there european/yankee loving forehead's--120.146.86.45 23:24, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

So you're willing to devote hours and hours of wasted time to clocktower playing with awful hardware and then complain you can't do it, when a cheap mouse costs like a dollar or something? Most modern games aren't designed to be played with a touchpad in the first place, and Anet shouldn't have to handicap everything by designing for super low specs across the board. Hell, it's a miracle that this game will run on Windows XP. Speaking of which, it says right there under System Requirements: "Keyboard and mouse". You have no right to complain when the game won't work as intended if you aren't even meeting the minimum system specs. Vili 点 01:56, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Where on the box does it say recommend/must have mouse?..no where, and as for a mouse this is the only time in GW2 where it would be handy, and not every where has mouses that cheap on hand, not every one has a spare $10+ between payday's, so every1 saying go out and buy, try not being "average/above" with income, some of us do it in the trenches, not once have i in "normal" play needed a mouse, but a "FUN" event comes along, AND BAM i need a mouse, all's i think is o.k 90 seconds=good reward, but slower players still complete get achievement but crappy to none reward, the fact people have STATED they grinded 20+ hours on an event, should tell ANet something, BTW touch pad=inbuilt on all laptops modern/old so nothing about outdated spec's, cus a touch pad is very much still in date,also internet connection speed was not taken into account, for very start, if i can avoid the start lag/green water=slower then normal to start swirling i catch up/pass NP's, then a shitty camera angle IS FORCED upon you, leaving little time for correction, we have names for people like you AK--120.146.86.45 03:23, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

I just spent 60 seconds and found a dozen reputable places that would sell me a mouse for under $5 online, including shipping. I'll grant you that if you live outside the contiguous 48 states, that might cost like a dollar extra, but seriously. If you can't spare $10 between paychecks then why are you spending money on MMOs instead of, like, food? I'm not even employed, for Christ's sake, and still have to deal with rent and stuff somehow - if you have a job for paychecks, you can afford the price of a large order of fries from McDonald's to upgrade your gaming hardware.

No one seriously games using a laptop touchpad because it's awful and impairs performace in so many ways. You may not "need" it for the rest of GW2? Who cares about that argument, the game is so damn easy that I wouldn't be surprised if someone beat it with no keyboard. That doesn't change the fact that the game was designed to be played with certain basic requirements. If your internet isn't fast broadband, then again you're not meeting the minimum specs for the game. Speaking of minimum specs, I don't know where you bought Guild Wars 2, but those specs are listed everywhere I've looked to buy it - including RIGHT ON THE BACK OF THE PHYSICAL BOX, and likely in the manual too. So either you're blind or too lazy to read, that's the only conclusion I can make. I have a name for people like you, too, but I don't think it's appropriate to type on a public wiki. Vili 点 04:30, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

SHIPPING+++ONLINE, yeah im gonna get that fast aint I?..NO!!, did i mention food?, NO!!, Did i buy the MMMO? NO!!, it was a early christmas present from family, also i dont buy mcdonalds, i cant afford it, so please counter with something relevant, did i say i had a job? NO!!, i live off Disability Funds ATM, personal reasons,, also in Australia(yes country's live outside the U.S) im on fast broadband, but everything is being updated ATM so EVERY1 in my state has been slowed(shit happens),, the only way a touch ad has "impaired me" is for "CT", as for box(had no manaul, just codes/UI instructions) and as for the box, i QUOTE "Windows XP Service pack 2 or better- Intel core 2 duo 2.0GHZ/Core i3/ AMD Athlon 64 x2 or better- 2GB Ram-Nvidia Geforce 7800/ATI X1800, Intel HD 3000 or better(256mb of video ram or shader model 3.0 or bettwe)-25GB available HDD Space, Broadband Internet Connection-Keyboard" Australian Bought from E.B games..says nothing about a requiring a mouse, my other family gave me the credit card to buy Gems knowing i'll pay back when im on my feet again,K, TY, go troll someone else BYE. -- --120.146.86.45 07:43, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Input of keyboard and mouse, now quit your bitching and try actually doing something to fix your problems. -- Armond Warblade 01:07, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

Keep this after halloween plz

heya everyone, i know this probably will not happen, but i hope they keep clock tower (redesigned ofc) atfer the event. im one of the 5% that make it to the top, i spent like 20+ hours to make it, but after that already made it with all my chars, and is a nice place to farm bags. People says other block theyr view, thats true, but when you get used to it, completing this will be very easy, even if all others are Charrs and you are a Asura (dont blame the others nor Anet) (Max / talk) 13:50, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

20+ hours shouldnt be considered fun mate, nor should you state it to the wank nut employee's, also it is anets fail, they dont seem to test anything AT ALL--120.146.86.45 23:27, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

Testing is done to weed out bugs, and the clocktower doesn't usually bug out, so that's not the problem. The difficulty of the puzzle is stated to be intentionally high, so as far as Anet is concerned it's working as intended. I'm not one of the "5%" that have made it to the top, but considering how easy ~everything else in the game is, it's good to see that once in a while something fairly hard is allowed to get released. Vili 点 01:56, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

He's trolling, vili--Relyk 02:33, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Of course he is, but there's nothing wrong with entertaining an angry IP, is there? Vili 点 04:30, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

I'll get the popcorn.--Relyk 04:34, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Serious, read Vili's responses, it's obvious who's "trolling" and who was just venting complaint(granted it was 3 times), but i'd rather do that here then verbally abuse everyone online at the "CT"(which over 50 odd have done), and since forum post were being closed, this was next best option, also i quote "enjoy ALL the fun", well they planned for 95% of people not enjoying the fun, i also suggested=remove time limit, but if you can beat it in 90 sec's you get the slippers, but if u cant=crappy personalised trick or treat bag's or even no rewatd besides the "achievment itself", all being said, K, THANX, BYE--120.146.86.45 07:57, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

Although the clocktower itself works fine for many people, many others have been unable to complete it not because of problems with the design of the cloktower, but the game engine interacting with the construction of the tower:

• Camera issues making many people look at the floor at certain parts of the clocktower. In my case there where as bad as this. I was able to complete it anyways even looking at the floor most of the time, but that doesn't mean it's fine like that. I'd rather fail because of something I do than win in spite of something the game client does.
• Big models covering completely small models. Many people was able to do it anyways, but for those unable to do so, it's anything but fun when you fall because you could not time the jump properly because a huge charr or norn was covering he screen. Some people move by muscle memory until they can do things with the eyes closed, but many other people need visual cues and react to that. You can't expect everyone to play Super Mario blindfolded.
• Lag. Not everyone has the same connection, and the clock tower is specially unforgiving for those with a little lag. For example, people have o wait in the second cog before the first explosion, but the fog starts right away. They should have, instead, used that wait as a leeway, to give time for people to get out of the cinematic and reach the second cog. They could have sped up the fog to the second cog after that. As it is, waiting in the cog is pointless for those who are sent directly back when the cinematic ends and the fog is up to their knees.
• Bad collisions. In games like Super Mario bros, and with the exception of some fake and invisible blocks, if you see a block, you know there will be collision, and if there is nothing, there won't be collision. In GW2 that doesn't happen, and the clocktower is no exception. You might think you are jumping to something, and you'll go right through it to the fog, and you might think you can safely jump, to hit an invisible collision box that doesn't match anything visual. This is specially excruciating for those who managed to reach the top, jumped clearly straight to the hole, saw how they clearly 'hit' it and fell right to the fog, because the collisions didn't detect it as well as when you fall to one of those holes in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood (my, those are well done holes, they always catch you).

People not encountering these and other problems doesn't mean they do not exist. They do exist, and they do affect people. So when someone that didn't have or didn't mind the problems the clocktower had (or didn't even try the clocktower) comes to gloat, seeking to piss off those who did had and did mind those problems, it's quite understandable that you won't get a quiet and positive response to that. The more people are suffering from an issue that doesn't affect everyone in a game forum, the more likely is that you'll get one of those painfully obvious "Make it worse, it won't affect me" trolls. MithTalk 13:08, 1 November 2012 (UTC)

This should be archived.

It really doesn't make much of a difference, but official word declared that this jumping puzzle will NOT return as it is, and if the clock tower makes a return appearance, we'll be able to destroy it - literally. Because that's the only word from Arenanet on whether or not the clock tower will make a return appearance (even though they could change their mind), I recommend that the article be properly labeled as something along the lines of "this is out of date info, this jumping puzzle won't return, and don't count on being able to do this ever again." Even though it's still worthwhile information, it would be kinda depressing to a newbie GW2 player who ended up at this page and was eager to test out the jumping puzzle, only to discover that it won't be back. We should be considerate.--T-Lo 08:17, 18 November 2012 (UTC)

If anything, we should add {{Historical content}}. But for repeating events, we usually don't do that unless it was announced as a one-time-feature. And from what I've read, they've only stated that they're aware of some problems with the design, not that they'd remove the feature.

If you wish to collect the official statements and link them in the trivia section, that's fine with me. But archiving or tagging is premature before we've seen next year's content. Tub 11:03, 18 November 2012 (UTC)

This should'd definitely be archived cause of Blood and Madness xD 79.9.201.27 13:55, 12 October 2013 (UTC)

Could you link your source for this? —Dr Ishmael 15:29, 12 October 2013 (UTC)

It looks like this will be returning for Blood and Madness and should not be archived. --Musha 19:58, 12 October 2013 (UTC)

Page updated noting return in Blood and Madness. Celeo (talk) 01:15, 16 October 2013 (UTC)

Speed Booster/Guild Banners

I just added a Speed Booster and entered the Clock Tower area. It did not appear as if it were being applied. When I went back to the standard game (before it should have expired) it was no longer present.

The guild banners that were present before I entered the Clocktower area were not removed -- they continued to count down. Separ (talk) 21:35, 20 October 2013 (UTC)

You can't use speed buffs in the puzzle. Never have as far as I know and just like with the SAB, the buffs are removed upon entry. Other buffs like the guild banners are not removed. This is by design.

→ moved from Talk:Mad King's Clock Tower (original talk page)

Resemblance

It shouldn't be accounted that it's the Astronomical clock in prague. In fact it's just an imaginary piece of art which may combine features different clocktowers around the globe have, but by no means should be linked with just a particular one. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 212.67.148.171 (talk) at 21:46, 20 October 2013‎ (UTC).

Final chest drops

The random drops listed in the "Random possibility" section also only have a chance to drop the first time every day... The documentation is a bit misleading here. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 95.90.231.247 (talk) at 20:16, 31 October 2017‎ (UTC).

Feedback 2017/11/01

"This is the only jumping puzzle that has its own activity-style instance." - Doesn't the Wintersday JP work the same way? --79.237.184.27 22:56, 1 November 2017 (UTC)

Yes, I'll go fix that. Konig (talk) 23:00, 1 November 2017 (UTC)

→ moved from Talk:Mad King's Clock Tower (original talk page)

Are there Endless versions of the 2 possible reward tonics?

Referring to Spooky Ghost Tonic and Spooky Skeleton Tonic. --124.197.79.10 18:35, 5 November 2018 (UTC)

If they even exist, no one has received them. - J.P. 19:25, 5 November 2018 (UTC)

Merge discussion

I agree that this should be merged with the JP page. It would be consistent with Shaman's Rookery and the discussion against splitting that page. --BuffsEverywhere (talk) 22:22, 25 May 2020 (UTC)

Got official confirmation. I was re-watching the SAB video Josh did, and apparently SAB came from this jumping puzzle due it being: "a jumping puzzle that was it's own map". So there we go. - Do_odleplex 20:54, 27 May 2020 (UTC)

Activity

One the time ran out I got todays 'Daily Activity Participation'. —Kvothe (talk) 18:45, 28 October 2020 (UTC)