I ' d argue that the problem once again stems from A . Net ' s lack of resources to provide different players with different goals . Masteries , as a core progression system , should have been attainable by pretty much everyone . Locking masteries progression behind raidparticipation negates that . Hell , I ' d even go further and argue that the existence of mastery points is already problematic . If , on the other hand , they wanted to make masteries a hardcore progression system although I have no freaking idea why , since AP already fills that niche ! then they should have provided a casual alternative simply telling casuals to play through the hardcore progression system and then stop right at the end , without ever again earning XP rewards , is shit , pure and simple . It just once again goes to show how poorly thought out progression is in GW 2 .