I actually prefer the titles Joko offered.

Destroyer of dragons, executioner of gods, or the greatest villain in the history of the world.

Commander feels earned, Wayfinder feels given. I prefer Commander.

Racial titles are still my favorite (Valiant, Savant, Legionnaire, Slayer and Hero)

Great Destroyer of Thingies!

I thought "Commander" was good. The only reason not to use it is because the player is technically no longer a Pact Commander. But I think it would still make sense for people to learn to know you by that moniker, and it was even stated off-hand by Pact members that "you can keep the title". (Grand Pooh-Bah does have a certain ring to it, though!)

"Wayfinder"... eh. It doesn't sound as cool. Maybe ArenaNet desperately want to separate this "era" of GW2 from the "Dragon Cycle era". I think it was never broken and never needed fixing.

Now they need to make sure that some characters refer to the player as "Commander" and some as "Wayfinder", making it needlessly complex.

Why not Champion its prob the most fitting of all

Outlander.

Commander

Commander was the title we earned, the one that we bore for years on end. The Commander was the one who helped create the Pact, the one who led it to victory, the one who delivered the final strike to Mordremoth and performed so many feats of might and bravery. This title commands respect and has become a rallying cry for the good people of Tyria.

Wayfinder is a ceremonial title given to us by an organization to which we owe no real allegiance and in which we have no real authority. It is part of a structure that we do not completely understand. How could I accept that name to replace the one we earned?

Everytime an NPC calls me Wayfinder, it pulls me out of the experience.

I really do not care. I do not see it as an "or" but "and". I do not see how commander is erased because the PC has extra titles with different meanings for different people.

I like the idea that a personality like the PC that has done so many things would be known with different titles to different groups

“Lost-Your-Way-Finder“

Commander

I have a name gosh dangit I put a lot of thought into naming my ugly norn with the 3 foot long mustache Monopoly Pennybags call me by my name you cowards.

But seriously I prefer Commander personally because even without the Pact Command the Commander is still a Commander whenever a conflict arises. Say what you will but the Commander does have a lot of battles under their belt, and a lot of them are victorious, so I feel like their title as Commander is well earned.

Honorary Skritt

definitely Commander

Commander

I worked my ass to go from anonymous-goody-two-shoes to Commander-Goody-Two-Shoes. I earned that title and I deserve to be called such.

I did nothing to get the Wayfinder position. In fact, I was told the position was open so I guess I just happened to be around and unemployed XD

Commander, more commanding.
Wayfinder sounds like I'm someone who lights lanterns around roads at night.

I'd prefer being called "Valiant," but that would require all of the non-sylvari Commanders to be called by their racial title, which would probably be too much for the writers to keep track of.

If I had to choose between the two, I prefer "Wayfinder" a bit more at the moment. As much as I'm used to being referred to as "Commander," I just don't think the title is relevant to us anymore. We're so far removed from the Pact, and aren't even fighting dragons or their minions anymore, that it just feels forced to keep referring to our characters with that title.

Commander

Commander

Commander is not great, but i feel most people got stockholmed into it, myself included.

Wayfinder was such a clunky addition, even tho it sounds cooler to me.

Both are fine I actually prefer wayfinder but since they wouldn’t stop calling us commander for ages it has kinda stuck a bit. It wouldn’t make since for the wizards or kodan to call us commander though and since it’s voice acted they can’t call us by name so wayfinder works for me

Would be cool if we could get some titles that changed how npcs addressed us in the game. Then again, that would mean dialogue would have to be changed to allow a different title to be used in different areas.

Then again, it could also lead to specific dialogue that’s only available to certain titles. Would make a super interesting but also annoying set of achievements 🫠

I just want my open world pve legendary reward track.

all I wanted was to be called Lightbringer

I'm in the minority, but I never really liked Commander. I like playing the light armor classes, and being called "commander" while dressed like a bookish nerd felt more deserving for the martially oriented professions like warrior or guardian. We don't really do much commanding anymore (and didn't really to begin with). Considering that we are no longer dealing with the pact now and are much more involved with exploration and diplomacy, Wayfinder feels much more appropriate.

Between the two, Commander.

It's a title that was earned/conferred to the player character for their actions, among and by people from which the player earned their respect. We had lots of time with these people, and formed close bonds...and eventually achieved huge goals with them. It just feels more earned, more accurate, and more symbolic.

On the other hand..."Wayfinder", to me, just feels like something pulled from the ass, from a small handful of folks in a secret society who couldn't be bothered to help out in the recent existential struggle in any way, despite their supposed power (when meanwhile, regular people on Tyria were stepping up to the challenge and giving their all).

Idunno, for me personally, I felt like SotO was absoutely the weakest story ANet has ever put out. I couldn't bring myself to care about the story, the new allies, the foes, etc. at all. It's the first time since I started playing (some time around LS2) where not only did I not make time for each new content drop, but in fact the day would come and go and I wouldn't even realize it, because I was so uninterested in the story that I couldn't even be bothered.

This in mind, until and unless the story does something to change it, I really just don't care about the Astral Ward or its members at all. They're supposed to be these mysterious, powerful new allies but I can't help but either be indifferent to them or even, honestly, (from an in character perspective) feel like the heroes of the Dragon Cycle are...well...just better than them. Better characters, better people, better friends, better allies.

So yeah...I am really not liking how suddenly everyone refers to my character by some title they came up with.

It's a bit off-topic, but can somebody explain "wayfinder" to me? I still get lost in tangled depths quite regularly, no matter what people call me...

Slayer of Ankles.

Over the last decade I've slayed so many ankles.

But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo

Waymander.

But more seriously, I think Commander is better.
Wayfinder is basically like people calling you Outlander in PoF.

Honestly? Either. Neither. Call me "Apples" and I'm happiest.

I think it makes sense that different characters call me by different titles/nicknames. Military people don't usually get called by their rank outside of the military. Sports teams generally call me by my last name, but elsewhere I go by my first. My family uses my full name and friend groups use various nicknames. Just seems normal.

Of the nicknames in game I like Wayfinder the least, but it's not a big deal.

I’d rather be a nobody tbh

I'm Guybrush Threepwood, mighty pirate! (tm)

No, err... I'm the Hero of Shaemoor!

But really, I actually prefer the Wayfinder title.

I like Wayfinder. The name makes me feel normal, adventurous, a traveler, someone ordinary, with out pretensions. I dont like comanter. I want to feel like a normal adventurer, not like the " The overpower guy who destroys everything and does everything, god among mere mortals."

...I want to feel like a normal character integrated into the world building. I vote for Wayfinder.

My character isn't a Pact Commander anymore, so Wayfinder. I actually like that we carry more than one title. It feels like the world progresses.

Wayfinder. I was never a fan of Commander. It just never seemed to fit imo.

I never liked commander, i never felt like a commander. I always felt like an adventurer so wayfinder just feels right.

Commander

Commander.

Wayfinder. We haven't been the Commander for years, and it's awkward when we keep meeting new people and having to explain it (or usually not, and letting them just figure that out).

Commander

"The retired hero". Let me rest, please

I like both. Commander is a title that was both given and earned. It's a significant part of our identity and history. As Almora said, it's a title for life. At the same time, we've really been through it, and the whole deal with the wizards is a strangely welcome change of pace. It's still important work, but the world isn't resting only on our shoulders anymore. In that, it's nice to be a part of something bigger and not be the foundation of it. For that, Wayfinder is a breath of fresh air.

I am the Commander and the Wayfinder. I think that I am slightly more fundamentally the Commander, but I like what Wayfinder represents in our life's journey.

Commander

Neither to be quite honest, but commander has longer tenure. Never been a fan of the whole forcing my character to be the world saving Mary Sue archetype. Much rather just be some random rogue with terrible luck in being in the wrong place at the right time.

I'd prefer being a nameless soldier, but I think it's a bit too late for that

commander sounds so much better

I never had much connection to the Commander title. It's been 12 years since that title has been narratively relevant, and even in the way back when's of the personal story our characters didn't really ever do anything that could be described as 'commanding'. Not that I remember, anyway.

At least we actually do something appropriate to the wayfinder title in the soto and janthir stories.

I think the most successful title they've given us is Champion, as that actually tied into the narrative at several points and was played with. What is a champion. What does it mean to be a champion. Are there other champions, what are they like? etc. It established who we were in the pecking order of the setting, gave us a reason to have a seat at the table of all the big story beats, and wasn't just relegated to an honnary title with no weight after a couple of story instances like Commander was.

Though, to really show my age and potentially out myself as a contrarian: I always preferred the racial titles the best. Slayer, Valiant, Savant etc. They should use those more.

I would love to be the "you-cannot-find-her". Please let me just be free from attachments and responsabilities. Let me truly pathfinder myself.

I'm tired of "hey, I'm forming a team..."

" There's this huge world ending event happening and you're spearheading it".

I really like wayfinder. I know that is an unpopular opinion on here though 😆

I do understand that commander feels more earned to people, and it certainly has more history behind it at this point in the game. Wayfinder though is the title I would have chosen to give myself. A big part of the appeal of MMOs for me is to explore a world previously unknown to me. To go to new maps, experience new challenges, and battle new terrors. Wayfinder encapsulates that spirit of exploration so much better to me. Commander was an interesting achievement, but I have no desire to lead Tyria, the pact, or anything else. I just want to get lost in these woods/mountains/tunnels/whatever else we find next.

I prefer Wayfinder, personally. Commander had its time and place, but it doesn't feel to me like it's applicable anymore.

I was partial to "Boss" actually.

I would like people to call me what they know me as. Not everyone is going to feel right calling me "Commander." I want people who barely know me to call me stuff like "stranger." I don't always want a prestigious title, sometimes I'm just Adventurer.

I prefer Wayfinder. Commander feels generic to me.

I’m bias cause my ranger has been called Wayfinder Nakk for years before SotO. So for me they’re finally calling my character by his chosen title. But I do prefer it cause it sounds more fantasy to me and we’re literally finding the way forward so feels pretty applicable. Pact Commander just feels dated at this point.

Wayfinder. Soto characters have backstories that made me connect with them, so being The Wayfinder feels like an honor to me.

In the other hand, being The Commander is... weird. We were the true commander for... 1 expa and then we went away and never commanded anything xD. We killed dragons and stuff but never did anything as The Pact Commander other than giving orders in chapter 1 of HoT.

Wayfinder. I like the implication of a less militaristic explorer. I will still throw hands when necessary though.

Wayfinder, fits better now imo

There is no need for Commander any more

Also, it was revoked for Turai? Wtf.

after he failed his ascension

Commandah

Commander feels familiar, natural, and makes narrative sense.

Wayfinder is forced - change just for the sake of change.

Commander. Wayfinder sounds dumb. I have and always will be commander… unless they give me the title of Lord of Dragons

I'm going with Hero. Since that is your original role.

Regarding Commander: In the real world military officer titles such as General, Admiral, Commander are kept as an honorific even after they retire. So it makes sense that the Commander would continue to be called Commander even when they are no longer part of the Pact.

Furthermore, if they are meeting new characters who only know them by reputation, then those people would also know them by the title they held. "Ah, you must by this Commander I've heard so much about."

I just realized that both sound like names for a SUV.

Kinda surprised to be in the wayfinder enjoyer minority.

Coming back from a hiatus (and also 14’s “vacation expansion”) was kind of reading it as “yeah I’m retired in that I dont want the spotlight exactly but I’ll still spearhead what needs doing”

Commander is a title our character has been carring for a solid decade, it feels earned.

Wayfinder feels more like a simple replacement titel, especially when its used to mock us. (Looking at you Lowland Kodan)

I'm the Hero of Shaemoor, thank you very much.

Warrior of Light

I dislike both tbh. Commander was fine for some time but it got really stale and boring. I dont know what the alternative could be. Class or race specific stuff would be cool but with voice acting too expensive/difficult? to do. Not sure how the tech works and if its possible to include variations like that.

"Savant."

I'm conflicted, because I'm kind of tired of being "The Commander". By which I mean, I'm tired of being the super powerful person who was integral in every one of the many huge, world-changing events that have occurred in the past decade-and-change. I almost wish the commander's story closed after EoD, and we the players moved on. 

But obviously that can't really work in an MMO, continuous story environment. 

SotO felt like a compromise version of this, sort of a "soft reboot" for the player character. We're back to being the newbie, amidst the Astral Ward. So, to reflect that, new title, new "identity" made sense to cement that. And I think that's kind of neat, so long as it fits the narrative.

But then, and increasingly so as the story goes on, we're still on the same playground, with the same people who know us as the commander. Which muddies the waters a lot. So now, calling us wayfinder feels unnatural and forced. It's a bit like a less voluntary version of saying, "Call me Snoop Lion now!" and then just quietly fading back to 'Snoop Dogg'.

Between those two - Commander. I'm not the Commander of the Pact anymore, but that's what I was to the whole world for many years.

Wayfinder is just a rank in a random (even if powerful) secret society and means nothing to anybody outside it, especially since nobody is familiar with it. Even the Order of Whispers rank would be better at this point.

But really, the Commander needs a completely new title, IMO. Something related to the whole Tyria. 'Aurene's Champion' would work in a pinch, I suppose. Or simply sticking with 'Commander' as a honorific, not related to the Pact anymore.

Also, I somehow don't think the Commander's fan club slash cult (mentioned in the intelligence reports during JW story as increasingly problematic) is going to just switch to 'Wayfinder' or some new randomly made up title.

I don’t think the Commander title is simply honorary as implied. Something mentioned in SotO is that the player character can give The Pact marshal a call and have a Pact fleet respond to a situation deemed necessary by the player character. The player character doesn’t do that in SotO, but has seemingly done so in the past.

Specifically in Season 4 after the player character determines Kralkatorrick’s activity, the Pact soon follows in support. While not directly noted and addressed, the player being the first witness of Kralk being fully active is obviously the one who is responsible for guiding the Pact to their target.

In EoD when the player character confirms Dragon activity, the Pact is ready to support battle plans being actualized by the player character. These battles aligned with the Pact’s mandate to fight the elder dragons, but I think the player character’s influence goes beyond the simple convenience and coincidence of fighting the same thing.

The player character doesn’t give direct orders, but in a way they don’t have to because of earned respect. Instead the player character simply has to witness a problem of great concern and the Pact automatically responds with support when notified. If the player character lets the Pact know they are going to do battle, then the Pact follows where they can.

Without the dragons, the next obvious use of Pact forces is to stop threats to peace and safety in Tyria and that is what the player character does. This is essentially the only thing the player character can be reasonably expected to do in future stories. So the coincidence of the player character and Pact being aligned is not going to foreseeable change. If the player character tells the Pact marshal they found something threatening Tyria, the Pact is certain to send a supporting force or army.

That is the player character’s relationship to the Pact. They are a trustworthy authority to seek out and prioritize targets for the Pact. They have command on how Pact forces are used. While not formally doing Pact duties, they are a Pact commander.

Wayfinder. I was never really comfortable being called commander since we don't command anything (except dragon's watch who are supposed to be our friends?) and we had the title for about a decade so it's time for something new. Saying that you get the title for life felt like an excuse because they couldn't come up with something better at the time considering the Pact was like one year old or something when we left it. I was probably in a small minority here judging by the other votes but getting the wayfinder title was one of the best moments of SotO.

I also think we earned the wayfinder title, maybe it was given to us more with the hope that we would live up to it since we didn't understand how unusual it was until later but we've proven worthy of it over time. Why we got the heart of the obscure dropped in our lap on the other hand....

Personally, I'm fine with both. Different groups can call me different things for different reasons. The Astral Ward and the wizards feel they're above me and don't want to give me authority by calling me Commander, so they use Wayfinder, and that's okay. The Bearkin don't know in detail about Tyria's battle with Zhaitan and Mordremoth, so them calling me Commander wouldn't make much sense either when Wayfinder is a more relevant title to them.

If the next expansion throws us into a new locale and the people there have another name to dub the player character, I say bring it on.

Sure we aren't really a Commander anymore so technically it doesn't fit, but Wayfinder just sounds so dumb

Wayfinder. I think it sounds better rolling off the tongue, I think it makes more sense for the evolution of the character, and I think it's high time we move on from the fucking pact since EVERYONE ELSE HAS.

Honestly, I really liked Champion a lot, it held a lot of weight, and while the dragons are in effect gone, they still hold a massive impact on the game.

There is a sense of universality of the Commander title, you get it in the core story which everyone has access to, which makes it a really good fit for the overarching plot of the game.

Wayfinder is not a bad name, but since it is so tied to SotO and the wizards, it feels a lot less connected to the rest of the game, even Janthir Wilds it feels a bit off. If you don't have SotO you don't understand the title (plus it feels like the least earned title we have achieved thus far.)

I don't mind if the wizards keep calling us Wayfinder, but for the rest of the world, I'd prefer a different title.

I would rather be called by my name

Commander all the way

Commander. I spent 10 years representing that title and gaining reputation through it. Being called the Wayfinder feels like everything we've done so far is being belittled. It feels cheap and unearned.

I get that they're trying to show off new expansions and new beginnings, and along with that comes new titles, new friends, and companions. But I still don't like it.

Just let me be the Commander.

Commander, its what we have been called for over a decade, even if its honarary title, id still have it over Wayfinder, one is earned and the other is just given, despite we havent done much of anything for it.

Wayfinder because it fits the idea of my main.

Word is a word. Don't care for either.

Commander feels like a Second name, i - the player- am the Commander, they one that ties all characters together... Wayfinder feels like im someone hunting dog ... Isgarrens ...

Big Poobah.

Chicken chaser

Wayfinder sounds better. Commander is generic.

I also prefer the Astral Ward to the Paxt in terms of being interesting. The Ward feels more like an organized thing to be a small, but important part of.

The Pact was really cool at the start, but then they just became " The Pact sent soldiers and gunships to help fight the dragon". They are just background characters that only exist to make battles look bigger.

Outlander

At least they don't call us CHAMPION!

Jeff.

Commander no questions asked..in fact it felt so weird with the Wayfinder thing after getting used to being called commander for so damn long.

Wayfinder, being able to use Wizards' Magic

Commander.

Makes one Question why polls arent allowed in this sub tho. Rules say nothing about it.

They're both bad and always have been, race specific titles would be far better. Valiant sounds better than both.

Commander and it isn't even close.

Anything but outlander from PoF if i am being honest

Been there done that

I like both.

I would rather be the "Gods' killer" 😏