Guild Wars 2?

[Stridergg]

I demand you launch fireworks on July 4, like all decent Americans.

We are too impatient and can’t wait 3 extra days :)

[El_Chaco]

Is GW2 a game where to start playing it helps to read the manual or is it best to just jump in and experiment? Are there tutorial messages to explain how the mechanics work?

If you have played other MMOs the Online Manual is worth watching. But I agree that you can figure things out by trial-error-and maybe a few questions thrown out in Map Chat.

[tomchick]

I don’t have much to say about the achievement conversation other than this. Daily achievements are the reason I now have ten level 80 characters. Now, I can hear some of you saying, “But, Derbain, there are only 8 classes.” It’s a sickness. Don’t judge me! Hahah.

Okay, I have to ask: Why on earth do you have duplicates for two of the classes? Given how the skills unlock and that you can freely swap them out, why would you roll up alts of a class you’d already levelled up? For the storyline? The genders? As mules?

Also, how did the daily quests figure into this? I’m loving the way they do daily quests as well, but I feel I could do them with my level 80 character as easily as any alts I’m playing.

-Tom

[Hotfreak]

I’m finding the new bazaar area very interesting (visually stunning – so vertical!) but incredibly frustrating, because I’m deeply challenged as a platformer. Give me something to kill (okay there are some of those too). Or something I can math to death with my superior cogitational (and verbal) abilities!

[magnet]

At least there are ground markings that helpfully tell the timing-challenged when to use each ability. But they didn’t keep me from accidentally dodge-rolling to my death. Several times.

[Phred]

At least there are ground markings that helpfully tell the timing-challenged when to use each ability. But they didn’t keep me from accidentally dodge-rolling to my death. Several times.

The best thing I ever did was bind my middle mouse button to dodge and turn off the double tap dodge option. Misclicks on keys got me killed more than it saved me.

[Derbain]

Okay, I have to ask: Why on earth do you have duplicates for two of the classes?

Also, how did the daily quests figure into this? I’m loving the way they do daily quests as well, but I feel I could do them with my level 80 character as easily as any alts I’m playing.

Because leveling has always been my favorite part of any MMO. So when I ran out of classes to level, I just started duplicates. As for how the daily achievements factor into it, well, you get a lot of experience doing your achievements. To me, the satisfaction that I’ve made progress is far more from gaining a level than from simply gaining another skill point on one of my 80s.

Plus, I force myself to try out different builds so it gives me a deeper understanding of the class.

[Daagar]

From reading gw2guru, Derbain’s approach actually sounds like the best way to stay engaged with GW2. It was a bit disappointing to browse the forums over there - most people are bored of the game (from a lack of end-game content, apparently). However, people that are still leveling characters seem to enjoy the game the most. It is quite a stark difference reading between here and there, but considering that I think a lot of the posters here aren’t of the ‘end-game is everything’ type the game still has great appeal.

[Hotfreak]

From reading gw2guru, Derbain’s approach actually sounds like the best way to stay engaged with GW2. It was a bit disappointing to browse the forums over there - most people are bored of the game (from a lack of end-game content, apparently). However, people that are still leveling characters seem to enjoy the game the most. It is quite a stark difference reading between here and there, but considering that I think a lot of the posters here aren’t of the ‘end-game is everything’ type the game still has great appeal.

I believe you, and yet still find the “lack of end game content” problem confusing, given that the “end game” is really the same as the leveling game except without the carrots of increasing traits and new skill acquisition. There are a huge number of material carrots – too many for anyone to reasonably acquire, I think. Perhaps, without that continual level # increase, people just become aware of the emptiness of existence, begin to see every pursuit as a grind, etc. (Full disclosure, that happened to me.) Or they believe that they just won’t ever become more powerful with respect to the content. I don’t know.

Having just run my first fractal last night, I can personally attest to the inspiration of some of that content. No content stays fresh, sure, but that’s good stuff. The dungeons are great, too, from what I recall. And they have added 2 more tiers of equipment since I hit 80 with my 1st character. Is there anything of real substance that WoW (as the “shining example” of end game carrot dangling MMO) offers that’s not there in GW2?

[Wolff]

I wouldn’t count any mmos forum as a true measure of what players think about the game.

[gurugeorge]

Because leveling has always been my favorite part of any MMO. So when I ran out of classes to level, I just started duplicates. As for how the daily achievements factor into it, well, you get a lot of experience doing your achievements. To me, the satisfaction that I’ve made progress is far more from gaining a level than from simply gaining another skill point on one of my 80s.

Plus, I force myself to try out different builds so it gives me a deeper understanding of the class.

Yeah I don’t find making duplicates so strange either. I’m tempted to do a Mesmer again because the class has changed so much, but it’s still fundamentally fun to work with - I’d level up orienting myself around some other kind of build than my first Mesmer mostly has.

[robc04]

Is there a particular world I should choose? I’m in the US (Wisconsin).

For a profession I think I would go with thief, warrior or elementalist. Any reason I shouldn’t?

[magnet]

Tarnished Coast if you want to roleplay, or watch people roleplay.

[LockerK]

The QT3 guild is on Ehmry Bay, but you can guest onto that server for the guild missions. I’m on Tarnished Coast, and it’s amazing how much more lively all the areas are than most other servers I’ve guested on. I believe Jade Quarry and Tarnished Coast are the most populated servers right now, if that’s something you’re looking for.

[robc04]

I decided to go on Emery Bay earlier since I found the post that mentioned that QT3 is there. I’m not much of a roleplayer. Does GW2 crash often? After playing for about 20 minutes my guy froze. I had to alt tab out and now it seems unresponsive.

[tomchick]

Rob, I’ve had no stability problems. ObTechResponse4Dummies: Have you updated your drivers? Otherwise, I got nothing.

Also, post your account name (blahblahblah.####) and we’ll send you a guild invite!

-Tom

[robc04]

Here you go Tom, thanks! RobC.3780

It may have been because I was running Bastion in the background to collect my Steam cards to sell. I won’t worry about the hiccup unless it happens again.

[Daagar]

The QT3 guild is on Ehmry Bay, but you can guest onto that server for the guild missions. I’m on Tarnished Coast, and it’s amazing how much more lively all the areas are than most other servers I’ve guested on. I believe Jade Quarry and Tarnished Coast are the most populated servers right now, if that’s something you’re looking for.

Is there a GW2 equivalent to the WoW realmpop site, or is this merely based on in-game stats at the login screen? I’m curious if realm population matters as much in GW2 (due to guesting) as it does in WoW - playing on a high pop WoW realm makes a HUGE difference.

EDIT: I forgot about the gw2.guildex.org site, which sorta has this information based on guild numbers.

[LockerK]

Is there a GW2 equivalent to the WoW realmpop site, or is this merely based on in-game stats at the login screen? I’m curious if realm population matters as much in GW2 (due to guesting) as it does in WoW - playing on a high pop WoW realm makes a HUGE difference.

EDIT: I forgot about the gw2.guildex.org site, which sorta has this information based on guild numbers.

I can’t find it now but there was a statement a few months back that had JQ, TC, and another server as the top 3 populations. That said, server population only really matters for WvW, since you get two free guests per 24 hours and can do all your PvE on another server if you so desire. For me, I really like having the extra chatter, and people out in the world who RP when I’m running around the low level areas; it really helps bring the game to life. YMMV of course. There was a definite lack of chatter when I was guesting on Henge of Denravi to do some events for past Living Story achievements.

[Telefrog]

The next Living World event has been announced. Cutthroat Politics.