1 week playing Guildwars: impressions.

Hi all,

Allow me to introduce myself. I'm 25, gamer of several years. I played a Bard on Everquest and a Mage on World of Warcraft. I bought GuildWars last week, and boy, it's quite something!

THE GAME IS HUGE.

I think thats whats astounds me the most. The content, the zones, the skills, everything. Since it has no monthly fee, i was expecting it to be pretty short, "a la diablo". But, oh, how am i surprised.

I first started a monk/ritualist, i levelled him to 20 in 3 or 4 days, did all the quests and missions. Levelling is fast and easy so far. Granted, i have some previous pve experience from other game, but if you could ask my friends, they would tell you i'm a slow leveller. Hitting 20 in 3 or 4 days means levelling is EASY.

Well i didnt liked spirits, so i switched my secondary profession to Mesmer. I think i found the ideal combo, i'm happy with it now. I noticed that lots of players in the game are looking for the "perfect build" or the "perfect combo". I prefer to play the weird and underrated chars. Speaking of weird, i started a guild so that my RL friends and i could have a "chat channel". I called it Weirdos From Downtown [WERD], in honor of all those weird people you see in downtown areas of big cities.

So we wont play IWAY builds, or EoE, or WTF or BBQ, no! Instead, i'm gonna bring my mesmer/ranger fast cast trapper, or my teleporting warrior/assassin! Or hell, my monk/mesmer, to heal like there's no tomorrow! "You wanna heal? Shore! I'll plop down a healing stream totem, while i cast.. FROST SHOOOCK!!"

Even being new at the game, i already witnessed the D/Mo joke last weekend. I saw an IWAY team too. I find it disgusting. Why play something that you dont even created yourself? What's the pride in it? It's like someone playing a Pink Floyd tune on the guitar. Even if you play it perfectly, you didnt compose it. Anyways it's just how i feel, personal opinions and everything.

What else... Being 25 i tend to notice "immaturity" when i see it. Maybe i have a different attitude, but why do players quit when we fail a mission? Or even before? Like when you know you're not going to get Master's Reward, you get always one or 2 quitting. Maybe can someone explain me? Is it impossible to get Master's with another try, if you dont get it the first time?

Comming from EQ, where 6-8 hours raids with multiple attempts and failures are common, i have a "stick-to-it" attitude. If we fail the 1st time, well there's a second and third time, and if it's not today, it's going to be tomorrow, untill we break it.

What else... The graphics are amazing! WoW looks like disney on psychedelic acid, if you allow me the comparison. I'm pretty surprised that my crappy pc can run it so well, awesome!

I'm starting to understand the game a bit more, now that my eyes have memorized a few icons and that i developped key twich reflexes (like hitting protective spirit, reversal of fortune and orison of healing all pretty much at the same time, when i get 3 jade brotherhood knights whirling their axes on my butt, for exemple!), i start to get it and i can't wait to start exploring Tyria, since i want to finish Cantha first.

I noticed crazy prices for specific items. Apprently, 15k armor is pretty popular... Is it necessary? I mean i went from 1 to 20 without upgrading my armor.. Ok only once, i had 15 armor on all pieces. And i did fine. Tough a bit sometimes, i died 230 times, according to /deaths. But i did it. So is end-game gear necessary? My instinct tells me no, but who know.

My ultimate goal is pvp. That what i bought this game for. I found WoW pvp terribly unbalanced. You needed epic gear from 40-man raids, which i couldnt get. I'm glad pvp in GW is SKILL-based, instead of gear-based. Although according to some forum posts, there's segregation among lower rank players. I might stick to alliance battles then!

All in all, the game looks awesome, it runs great, i'm having an awesome time and i'm pretty much hooked already

If you guys wanna talk to me in-game: Erydan Ouragan

Partners in Adventures, i salute you!

Nice little write up. I just have 1 thing to say. 15k armor is exactly the same as 1.5k armor, just looks different, thats all.

Sounds like you definitely own Factions. Do you have Prophecies too? Because if you think Factions is huge...

I came to the game from Neverwinter Nights, which played straight through pretty quickly. I enjoyed it and some of its expansions anyway, and finally bought GW this year. People on the board complain a lot about glitches and changes, but I doubt I'll ever forget how absolutely awesome this game was when I was brand new to it.

I hear what you're saying about the cookie cutter builds. They make the game too routine if you don't customise them at least a little...I can't wait for the two new professions so I can come up with a fun combination for my first delve into PVP.

Welcome aboard!

Don't buy 15K. It only supports farmers!


Endgear, like 1.5K, IS important if you want to do Pvp.
But for Pve...I even did CH1 on my monk and ele with presearing armour(Basically the same as no armour )....including the latest missions.



"Ultimate Goal"...sounds like you are working really hard to ever become a pvp'er...well son, just go make a Pvp character and you're set!



*EDIT* Fast Cast trappers don't work...fast casting is for spells,and traps are...traps .

welcome to this great game! Great to hear you like it. That's what sold me on this game. beside the Free Online playing, it was the look and feel of pre-sering.

you made a lot of points but i'll comment on the 15k armor. IMO it's just for looks and something to do when you have extra gold and just want a different look. it's true what you said about your armor from level 1 to 20 but you're find your self wondering why the heck did i just spend 100k + from some cool looking item when i can craft it for 10k =)

As for people leaving. lately it's been the lag! besides that. i don' t know =( noobs?

my in game name is to the left. see you online (American server)

There are only so many different skills, Johnny. Don't try to act so superior--any build you come up with has already been tried out by someone else before.

I'm not sure if I should even dignify this ridiculous statement with a reply *sigh*

umm...why? If armor was too expensive for you why not at least get a set of collectors armor? I'm sure your PuG would thank you for it. However if any class is going to go without max armor, monk or ele would probably be the safest since ideally they stay back anyways...



As for the OP, I'm glad to see you've enjoyed your experience. If you ever need help understanding skills or effects or anything that has anything to do with Guild Wars, I would strongly reccomend using www.guildwiki.org. There's tons of good info there. When in doubt, just search for what you wanna know about.

Welcome Erydan. I'm glad you are enjoying GW. Its great fun for quite some time. Have fun exploring and making different characters. You've started at a pretty good time, since by the time you complete some aspects of Prophecies and maybe try Factions, Nightfall will be out.

My only complaint with the GW franchise really. Everything else is great. It will, of course, take you some time even after reaching level 20 to equip a character with the various weapons and armor sets you want, as well as the skills you want/need.

^^ Nice to go into PvP with this attitude. Enjoy yourself and hopefully do not let conformists box you in.

This is a very unfortunate aspect of the PvE community. Players can sometimes tend to think a mistake somewhere along the way or an attempt to do things different than they expected means that particular team will never work well together. I've had groups fall apart on the very first mob for really no reason at all. I dont think its entirely age-based. I have played with some great very young players. Its more impatience.

PvE needs more of this attitude. That's always been my outlook too in other games. Even though I was able to solve Prophecies using just henchmen, when I am playing with other players its because.. I want to play with other players lol. If we fail, so what? Do it again. Other games have a bit more benefit along the way during the mission at hand, be it exp or some other reward. GW really doesnt have any benefit if you make it halfway and then fail, since most people made it easily to level 20. I think some impatience derives from that, but GW PvE is more about enjoying it along the way. You're going to find a fair share of those who have to do it their way and quit early in the mission if they cant - so just let the group reform and you'll meet the other half sooner or later that are great fun to play with. Some of my favorite PUG (pick up group) play has been during a group implosion (lol) followed by a reformation of a new party of random people where we worked so well together even with unlikely classes that we demolished the mission. Go figure.

This is precisely why I bought GW over WoW. I cannot handle WoW's graphics and every time I consider looking into it so I can play a deep PvE system when I want to, I cannot bear the graphics and at least dont go looking WoW's direction. Some like it.

End game gear is SO not necessary in this game. You can choose to either get the run-of-the-mill max stat weapons and armor fairly cheaply, or the same things in better looking versions that cost a fortune. That's it. Pretty much end of story there.

Then you will be pleased with GW. Again, enjoy. ^^

I am glad you like it, but Monk with Mesmer secondary is not weird. It is actually a perfect but very common combination, because mesmer gives the energy management a monk desperately needs

If you like to play weird and underrated, try playing an Assassin with Necromancer secondary, or a Mesmer with Ritualist secondary. It has potential, but you hardily see it
The worst is Monk with Ranger secondary, and try doing it with a pet :P

Welcome to Guild Wars! If you think Cantha is large, just wait until you get to Tyria. :-) The guild system (and alliances that Factions allows) is great for linking like minded players. When you have friends to play with it makes it so much easier to mess with builds. I agree, the graphics are awesome to say the least. Ive started a screenshot gallery to use for wallpapers (starting a theme package gallery for my guildies) so if you find a nice place you wish to keep, shift+printscreen is your friend. Unfortunatly you will find leavers and other forms of jerks peppered throughout the lands and some days you might need a "water off a ducks back" mantra if you know what I mean. Some people seem to just 'play' for the sake of trying to ruin someone elses day. As others have said, prices are all about looks. The armors can do the same jobs, weapons can do the same jobs, but you might just end up prefering certain skins and obtaining them is something to work towards. It is worth at least upgrading to collectors armor as you progress though for the sake of any people you might team up with. Its a bit of a moral breaker if your team mate keeps dying because their armor level is way below anyone else. No one likes watching a squishy get squashed when a thicker hide would have kept them up. If you have friends that want to PvP as well then the team arenas will let you get your gaming on without having to worry about rank strife, though I dont think you would have to look too hard to find others in the same mindset as you if these forums are an indication.

Which game ?

Congratulations, you've guessed it. You know, the problem with Guild Wars is that it looks great until you "finish" it for the first time. After you are done with the PvE part you suddenly noticed that there's nothing else to do besides farming and doing the pointless Aspenwood/Quarry missions.

I was done with Factions after a week of casual playing, after that I had an ambitious idea of unlocking the Ritualist class for PvP but I just can't force myself to play PvE again so my Rit stays parked in Kaineng since 2 months.

Fast Casting only effects "Spells." Traps aren't "spells" :P


By the way, welcome to Guild Wars! Glad you're enjoying it.

yeah been playin the game since it came out.. it's still one of the best online imo and I came from lineage 2

I like your attitude on builds.. it's peeps like you who will find the really cool things in this game and eventually solo things in pve most players think impossible.. I think you'll find the playerbase to contain many braindead but that's mainly cause it's a free game imo.. if you have friends and a guild you'll be fine have fun man.. this game needs more players like you

if you have'nt tried prophecies it's around twice as big as factions- I'm done until nightfall personally- all skills unlocked both campaigns (pretty good goal)

if you start a character in prophecies you will realize that the made the leveling system a lot different for factions. Prophecies leveling is a LOT slower in prophecies. Which brings me to another point... Tyria is about twice the size of Cantha, so i wish you good luck on you journeys

I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the game Erydan. As someone else has mentioned, although crafting your own max AL armor might not seem necessary, you should get it regardless for when you're in a PUG. Case scenario: you're in a PUG doing some random mission. You're healing yourself quite alot because of your lower armor, so instead of healing your team which is much needed, you're focussed on yourself, your team-mate dies, now there's no-one to do the killing. - Of course it's not straight out necessary, but it'll benefit your team if you have max level armor. Monsters have this hack, they can sniff out the guy with the lowest armor

With that said, I hope you enjoy the rest of Factions You're gonna love Prophecies.

I had a friend remake his monk 3 times.... first time it was Mo/R 'cause he wanted a pet. He deleted the monk to make a W/R (he had 3 FREE slots...) because he wanted a pet... So he deleted that W/R and made a monk again after seeing how sexy "Mhenlo" is, again he made a Mo/R 'cause he wanted to have a pet AND use a bow. Finally he decided to stop fooling around and make a proper monk... Deleted his monk and made a Mo/R AGAIN !! kalsjdlakjdlkdsajdsa at that point I'm actually quite frustrated at him. After a few days he quit playing GW... he simply ruined the game for himself -_-

But Grim wanted 15k armor, ask anyone in grotto what armor i wear and they'll let you know that i'm the wammo with the crappy 1.5k forge armor!

LOL, you really should rethink that thought. The base classes each have 150+ skills, just in the base classes you have roughly

150*149*148*147*146*145*144*143
211970764029024000

different skill combinations from just two classes. Granted that number does not take into account builds with the same skills, but different order of those skills. Nor does it take into account the fact that there are currently 8 classes and multiple attributes for each of those builds.

Now I'll agree that many of those builds are probably crap, but I'm also certain that not every build has been tried. Just because a lot of people run the same build does not by any means mean every build possible has been tried.

Nice to see someone actually liking the game

I assume you played factions which is kinda bad you should have gotten Prophecies first to get a better feel of the game - leveling is MUCH slower in Prophecies.

15K armor is not needed but not getting any (even collectors) armor is just plain silly - you're gimping yourself by not getting the extra benefits from those.

But nice with a positive thread for once

I take it you have Factions, not Prophecies?

I actually have great fun as a healer-trapper. I go for enjoyment and tactical fun over pure DPS or competition builds, but I still think it is quite effective. Makes me feel a little more useful in some missions instead of just heal-spamming all the time.

Nothing more fun than sneaking into a melee and laying down a spike trap.

Heh, I guess he doesn't know Fow Armor :X.

All armors have same stats but diffrent look:

1.5 k Armor
15 k Armor
Fow Armor=1 million

There are crafters that can give you max weapons and armor for much cheaper than the farmers can. That said, sometimes I like farming to get some of the cool looking things too.

One of the best aspects of GW is you can play however you want, pve, pvp, farming, or simply casual strolling through.

One thing to consider, if you hit skills too quickly you will skip some. You can only have one skill being performed, and one in queue. If you try to cast 3, while you are casting the first, the second is flashing, if you hit a third, it skips the second, and the third is flashing.

Please don't discount using preset builds. They will help you learn how to play pvp, which is a lot different than pve. By using them, you can then become proficient and make up your own builds. Otherwise, you'll be wasting a lot of time. Except stay away from touch rangers, they are all noob/pansies, jk.

If you need any help my IGN is off to left.

Its pretty quick and easy to get to level 20 with Factions, it'll take a bit longer with Prophecies and Tyria is much bigger

Uh, because it's effective, or fun? The prot/boon monk, for example (that is now a premade template) is a great build, and is run by a lot of top teams. Nobody cares who came up with it first -- in competitive PvP teams are generally interested in playing to win, not playing just to be different for the sake of being different.

Different people find different things fun. I myself like to use interesting builds when playing pve, but know that when it comes down to something ultra-competitive like pvp (or a really difficult pve mission) its best to go with an optimal build. Besides hes not in pvp yet so why take away creativity at this point?

As for monks and armor, so long as you stay away from using pugs when doing quests or randomly fighting, having next to no armor is a very nice training tool for a starting monk. I went through most of factions with low end armor, and that very weakness in armor taught me alot about placement and basically how to survive properly as a monk. Now that i have full armor, i use that same kind of tactics i used ot use when i have no armor, and Im often complimented by many of the groups im in as being the best monk theyve ever had. Having low armor teaches you a great deal about placement, spell choice and timing. Other classes though should try to bulk up when possible ^_^

Anyhow, glad youre enjoying the game, I remember when i felt like that when i first played. Just dont let ohers get you down, play the game how you want to, but remember that when you are responsible for the success of other people, to play as well as you can using a good build (otherwise people will get mad).

-Ex0dus