The Guild Wars 2 Official Thread

[DiBiddilyBop]

DiBiddilyBop.2574 here

I'm down with being in a CoG guild. Won't get to play again until release though.

[BLeeP]

I think I'm going to bite on this game. I hadn't planned to at all, but I really like some of the things I'm seeing. For those who have given it a good shake in the beta weekends, does it live up to the hype? How much does it differ from other hotkey MMOs?

[Ghostbear]

Originally Posted by digitalErich

So is Ehmry Bay going to be the CoG server at launch?

Yep, I run a smallish sort of gaming group. If you want, and you have facebook, search for the Argent Legion and I'll add you.

[Reverant]

Originally Posted by BLeeP

I think I'm going to bite on this game. I hadn't planned to at all, but I really like some of the things I'm seeing. For those who have given it a good shake in the beta weekends, does it live up to the hype? How much does it differ from other hotkey MMOs?

It's lived up to the hype for me, but I don't think I'd even heard of it until a month or two before the pre-purchase program began in April. I never really got into GW1, either. Maybe I wasn't excited enough to be let down?

I think a good analogy is the first Halo game. Halo: CE was "revolutionary," but still an FPS. If you'd played any shooter before, you know how basically how Halo worked. Other games had done vehicles before. Others had done big maps. Half-Life had already set the standard for narrative in an FPS. Halo's sci-fi setting wasn't even all that original.

But despite that, it was amazing and fresh. The music and visuals sucked you right in, and the action, story, and world kept you plowing through (Well, Library level aside..).

That's what GW2 is like for me. Yeah, you got an action bar. Yeah, you're steering a dude in third person and whacking your hotkeys. There's an undeniably familiar feel to how GW2 plays on a fundamental level.

Like Halo, though, GW2 brings together a technically excellent package with enough twists on the genre to make it new. You only get one, 10-slot hotbar, but depending on class you can modify or swap it on the fly. You can learn all your basic attack skills in the first hour of gameplay, if you wanted (say goodbye to waiting until level 80 to get that one attack that defines your rotation!). Public Quests ("Renown Hearts") have never been done this well. The personal storylines are genuinely interesting, but cutscenes aren't so overdone you wind up skipping through them like I did with TOR.

The DPS/Tank/Healer trinity is all but shattered- that's not just a marketing gimmick. Everyone can do almost everything, if they wanted. Everyone can do ranged or melee and buffs/debuffs. A couple classes can do some healing, but it's not "Healing." It's a couple attacks that also restore some HP to the people around you. It's not a game changer when someone starts dropping those spells on the field. Nice? Yeah. Mandatory? No. You have your own healing spell, but you're expected to try to avoid as much damage as possible.

The list goes on. There's the new take on the crafting system. Match PvP (which you join like you'd join a TF2 server) throws gear advantage out the window. The travel system actually makes sense. You can be a midget creature with a flamethrower.

I'm trying to think of things some people don't like. For one, the zones are instanced. You don't be transitioning seamlessly from one place to another without loading screens. No mounts. No world PvP, only world vs world (vs world). Only 5 character slots, but 8 classes. Cash shop. It's not necessary by any means, but some get offended that such things exist. It's still a 3rd--person hotbar-based MMORPG, but people may not realize they just don't like the genre. Some of the voice acting sucks. I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of anything.

[Widgetcraft]

Another thing that is significant: You can move around during pretty much all of your actions. You are never going to stand in one place and channel a spell, that doesn't happen. Everyone I've spoken to has been somewhat overwhelmed by how fast the game is compared to everything else in the genre, but you can quickly adapt to it after an hour or so of play.

One thing I really enjoy about it is convenience. You can do pretty much whatever you want right out of the gate. Want to do battleground-style PVP? You can do that about five minutes after you've made your first character, and be just as well equipped as anyone in the game. Want to do large-scale, lengthy PVP battles? You can do that as well, with minimal differences in your effectiveness compared to other people. In terms of PVE, there is no more of that quest log bullshit; no more big laundry lists of quests. You just wander into "heart" areas, and fill the heart performing the numerous tasks available there, or even completing the dynamic quest likely linked to that karma point. You can even get into wandering dynamic quests as you walk around exploring.

It feels very fresh, to me. I just don't feel so bogged down when I play the game, it doesn't feel like I'm completing chores. They also take a lot of the "Fuck, I made the wrong decision" traps out of the game. Friends roll on another server? Not a big deal, just guest over with them whenever you want, just so long as you don't plan on playing WvWvW with them. Have interests in multiple guilds? Not a problem, join them all. Like more than two of the crafting skills? No biggy, take as many as you like, just swap them out in town when you want to focus on another, your skill points are maintained when they're inactive.

EDIT: I keep thinking of more things that I like. The level scaling is a big one. I like that I can play as much as I like, and still group up with my more casual friend when he logs in. I just go to where he is questing and my character is auto-adjusted to the max level appropriate to the quest area. I can't recomplete heart quests, but I can still participate in the dynamic quests that are always going on. Assuming he makes a Norn or Human (safe bet) I'll probably be able to do his heart quests anyway, since I'll be playing an Asura and won't be doing the same areas. I still get good XP and loot from doing those lower level areas with him, too. When he gets high enough to do dungeons, those will also scale me to be level-appropriate.

They have really put forth every effort to allow you to play with your friends, regardless of circumstances.

[Reverant]

I agree. Convenience is very much the name of the game here. Some people may like the artificial expansiveness created when you artificially restrict players via game design (ie "I feel the world is large because it takes 10 minutes of running to get somewhere useful"). Personally, I like that I can do what I want, when I want, and how I want, with minimal fuss. It takes all of ten minutes to start a new character and get into a PVP match where you're on even footing with a veteran player, provided you have the skill to do so. Any other game, that would take you 100 hours to get to level cap and then grind out the necessary PvP gear so you stand a chance.

A quest log *does* exist in the game... sort of. I feel like I should say that in case someone sees it and shouts SOMEBODY LIED TO ME! In the upper right hand corner, you'll see a small list of quests. At the top will be the next storyline quest you're eligible for, and below that will be whatever dynamic quest you're currently able to participate in. If you go into your Hero menu, there's a recap of your story quests (for the purpose of story summary). So, in that sense, a quest log sort of exists. There's a bar that shows you what you're doing, and a menu window that shows you what you did.

Also, gear will matter in WvWvW, but we honestly don't know how much yet. The devs told everyone that if you're in starter gear and you come across a player in level 80 gear, you won't be utterly helpless. You don't have a good chance at living, but the outcome isn't automatically set in stone. We don't really know how true that is, though, since that would require both a sizeable population of high level players AND them fighting 1v1s vs low level players. The former simply didn't exist in the beta, and 1v1s in the zerg onslaught of WvWvW aren't as common.

[Blue]

Both of you should maybe stop talking. You're making the (almost) two-week wait worse.

[Shieldmaiden]

I need to stop reading this thread. I've been following this game for ages and was hoping to have my PC upgraded to play it by now.

[Savok]

I wanted two things out of GW2. For it to not be WoW and for it to not be crap. It does both, maybe this genre can start moving again.

[Ondo]

Originally Posted by Reverant

It's still a 3rd--person hotbar-based MMORPG, but people may not realize they just don't like the genre.

Well, ArenaNet's Manifesto video said "if you hate MMOs, you'll really want to check out Guild Wars 2" - that bit of hype I don't think Guild Wars 2 lives up to.

[Ondo]

One of my favorite things is the way every player can revive other players.

Which reminds me of a non-obvious thing I found I liked about the Thief - it can work well sometimes to use all your initiative, then revive someone. Against one boss I got into a rhythm of doing that.

[Reverant]

Originally Posted by Ondo

One of my favorite things is the way every player can revive other players.

Which reminds me of a non-obvious thing I found I liked about the Thief - it can work well sometimes to use all your initiative, then revive someone. Against one boss I got into a rhythm of doing that.

You sound like the sort of person everyone needs on a team.

The worst part of GW2 will be that it launches right as school starts. I'll be looking for a job in the coming weeks as well, so that'll also dwindle my play time

[digitalErich]

So I wrote off the Ranger since it's a pet class, but I did want to try one, but couldn't play more than an hour or so during that stress test.

Has anyone spent any time with one? Is your pet pretty integral to your play style or are there "builds" (not sure what the GW2 term is) where you don't need them or they are there just for flavor?

I don't mind pet classes aesthetically, I just find that in most every MMO style game, active pets (non-turrets) tend to be a little annoying, mechanically.

[Ondo]

Originally Posted by digitalErich

So I wrote off the Ranger since it's a pet class, but I did want to try one, but couldn't play more than an hour or so during that stress test.

Has anyone spent any time with one? Is your pet pretty integral to your play style or are there "builds" (not sure what the GW2 term is) where you don't need them or they are there just for flavor?

I don't mind pet classes aesthetically, I just find that in most every MMO style game, active pets (non-turrets) tend to be a little annoying, mechanically.

There's another stress test today starting in like 5 minutes, but only running for an hour.

I've found the Ranger quite fun while not actively managing my pet, but I'm not sure if that's practical. And I think they'll be an important part of your DPS in any build.

Sword and Greatsword are the fun parts of the Ranger though.

[Savok]

Originally Posted by Ondo

Well, ArenaNet's Manifesto video said "if you hate MMOs, you'll really want to check out Guild Wars 2" - that bit of hype I don't think Guild Wars 2 lives up to.

They said check it out, not to suck their dicks. It's based around the painfully static bullshit we've had to deal with since WoW, GW2 is part of the generation that changes that. If you're totally averse to the idea of playing with other people then yeah you're gonna be fucked. Also no sub fees, lot of people hate those.

[digitalErich]

So should I be getting emails about these last minute stress tests or do you have to check the forums?

[Savok]

Well there's one going right now and no email here.

Also Savok.7194

[Reverant]

I find out about the stress tests because I browse Massively. You'd have to follow them on Twitter or Facebook to get updates directly from them, since they don't send out emails about the stress tests. Not sure why.

[Blue]

Tried a Nord Guardian for about 30 minutes and then a Human Warrior. I like both, but I think the versatility of the Guardian wins out more as the Warrior seems like a one-trick pony. Not that that's bad, I just like more of an option, I think.

Now the choice between Guardian and Thief. And I really thought that Asura would be my race of choice but I'm finding I like Humans quite a bit. Nords were cool but seem clunky.

[Ghostbear]

I just said hi to Blue in game and he spurned me!

*runs off weeping*