newbie question

I am really considering buying guild wars after much debate. However I was just wandering what everyone thinks about buying Factions with it or is it great without the expansion? also do many ppl still play the original online or is it mainly Factions?

Any thoughs would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Lots of people still play the original (prophecies) but not as many play compared to before factions. If your just starting make sure you play prophecies first becuase its alot friendlier to new players and gives you time to learn the game and its systems.

As for getting factions, go for it, if you want lots more to do then youll get more play out of the whole guildwars, alot of people will tell you not to bother with factions but each unto his own

factions misses some major skills you need for farming, and you would need money when you want to play a little.
so i would advise prophecies

Go with Prophecies, create a couple of characters for a week or two, learn the ropes, get some skills and experience, and see how you like it. If you're having a good time, then go buy Factions.

I agree with the guys better to start with prophecies then work your way up (factions and then nightfall) happy playing!

Keep reading these forums. I have 2 copies of each, Prophecies and Factions. I recommend starting with Prophecies, further, I would say to skip Factions altogether. Nightfall will be out soon enough. Although, frustrating at times, I really enjoy Prophecies and I have found a TERRIFIC guild. Factions, to me was a real serious `let-down`. Some cool armor, weapons, skills, etc..but overall a lot less bang for my buck. I read a lot more posts favoring Prophecies over Factions. Most people saying that they even prefer taking their Canthan `born`characters to Tyria. I agree and do it all of the time.

As for Nightfall, it appears that Factions was an interim game to hold us over until a `bigger and better` Nightfall could be fielded. I will probably buy one, but after Factions I`m afraid, for me this is ANET`s last chance.

I`ll just keep playing what I`ve bought to be with my guild.

Now, before this post elicits a slew of harsh remarks...I will repeat my first comment. Do not rely solely on my response, read as many posts as possible and form your own opinion.

if you do buy guildwars, pm me and i can help you out, i really think prophecies is better, but thats probably because i only do pve

(my two cents mode = ON)

I actually bought Factions first, then went back and bought Prophecies. I prefer Factions, maybe because I've had it longer, I'm not sure. People will tell you that Prophecies is larger, and it is, but also keep in mind that larger != better. I found out the hard way that 'larger' means spending 10 minutes trudging through landscapes to get to your next quest or mission. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome game, you won't regret it. Depending on how much you play, your timing may be perfect; if you get Prophecies and Factions now, you should have a stable of characters primed and ready for Nightfall. Bona Fortuna!

(two cents mode = OFF)

I second Manxmann's motion to skip Factions altogether. One of the selling points for Factions is that it has 2 new professions. While these professions are good, they aren't essential to the game. Even in Factions eltie missions (high level areas) it's incredibly hard for Assassins and Ritualists to find groups. That, plus everything manx said.

seems like everyone is hanging on AN every word on nightfall
I would say, wait till nightfall if you can, to see whitch is the best... or*shudder* go with factions, you get a good amount of money after a couple quests, less scamming in the first major town, that factions armor style thing, as long as you read what the npcs tell you, it would be almost as the chapter one starter place

also, you get a material storage tab in your storage[materials are used in making armor and weapons, they took up alot of space in every one's storage vault], and the two factions classes..

I've been revisiting Prophecies the last week, and it seems like the ones who still play it are new players (who never did it before) or very skilled players (who don't like/have Factions). Doing the missions was either a complete failure due to a poor team, or a success because the team was extremely skilled. I've pulled off several things I've never managed with a mediocre team in missions lately (like a wammo aggroing every possible group in Elona Reach and us coming out alive ).

So yes, people still play prophecies, and if you have the same experience I had with the people who play now you hopefully find it an enjoyable experience. Just be aware of the players who know *everything,* they tend to bring disaster

I would buy whichever one is cheaper to try it out and see if you like GW before spending more money. If you like it, then buy the other one.

And I like Factions better than Prophesies.

The story in both is solid.
The learning curve is much steeper in Factions because it rockets you to 17-18 before you leave the "newb" area (Shing Jea).
I prefer the environment in Prophecies myself. It just looks better.
The character models in Prophecies just seem to look better.
Prophecies is a larger game from what I can see.
If you're into PvP, Factions may be the way to go with the "Faction" war.

Summary, both are good, but for my money (free per month ) I prefer Prophecies most of the time.

agreed

yeah, but that was because of all the bitching about it taking so long to level up a character anyway... can only have it one way or another

How and where does tyria look better to cantha? especially as cantha was built around a different set of graphics API details which means nicer colours, textures and movement in the play world!

Tyria in places now looks static and boring compared to Cantha, but maybe thats also based ont eh fact that after 15 months I'm bored stupid by seeing Tyria

How? they're the same? you just get 2 more with factions ('Sin and Rit)

Nope, about the same size and nearly the same number of missions if you decide to go back and do the missions on both sides of the factions split, plus including the challenge missions that makes a total of 22 missions compared to prophecies 25, plus the reuse of mission areas in factions means that you get more area of play in a much smaller world map... its about the same size

Allaince battles? umm, ok, if you say so

get both, play both, simple, job done... roll on Nightfall