It wasn't until Friday's stress test that I realized that I've been spending most of my time playing GW2 staring at the mini-map.
I grew so dependent on the mini-map for; spotting gathering materials like plants, ores and wood, etc; looking how to get to places, etc. Things the mini-map shows you.
I tried making the mini-map smaller so that it doesn't show me too many things around me, but it didn't work, my eyes keep going to the mini-map for 95% of the time I was playing. Horrible habit!
I want to be able to memorize and recognize the areas around me, and also recognized gathering nodes like wood, ores, etc etc. I also want to take in the view and the great details that were put into this game.
So I decided to cut out a square piece of thick paper and cover my mini-map! I left room around the border so I can have an idea of the direction my personal story is, or waypoints and hearts. But the mini-map will no longer hold my hand to get there. I tested this out for half of today's stress test and I can already see a small improvement- though half hour isn't really a long time to truly tell.
Are you guys as dependent on the mini-map as I am?
(Below: Square cut-out covering the mini-map)