What is the driving purpose to the game?

I just started playing, and I'm curious what the driving purpose is for this game. I have the best armors (Statistically) for both my elementalist/mesmer and warrior/monk. They are both level 20. I don't have all the skills I'd like on either, but I'm sure with time they'll open up.

The thing is, I'm not sure what the point of the game is other than doing the missions and the pvp arenas. I tired of pvp actually. My team won when we had a good party, and it didn't when we got stuck with all warriors. This was just the random arenas though. I don't know about the actual pvp characters.

I don't want to sound disrespectful. I'm not hating the game or complaining. It's just that the quests aren't doing much for me now (no more leveling, don't need that many skill points). So the only point to the game is the missions, to see the new areas, complete the storyline and stuff like that.

I need to get some better weapons I guess, which I'm sure will be easier in later areas. And that's it. I think I got uber too quickly, and I didn't even play that long. For example, I got 1.5k armor and I've only got off the starter island in factions. I didn't cheat to get it either. I just tried out 4 characters and pulled their money together (and the monastary credits). I picked the character I liked the best. Then bam! - 1.5k armor easily with a few K left to spare.

I guess the ability to work for things makes the game drive forward for me. I don't think things should be as impossible to get like in WoW - that sucks. But it was far too easy in Guild wars. And come to think of it, I could do the first island quests for new characters and save up for a sword or staff too in 2 days probably.

I'm just at a loss as to what there is to do in the game. The "looks" of things doesn't matter to me. So 15k armor seems out of the question. What's the point?

It's not really a rant. Just doesn't seem like this game has a whole lot to it.

Let me turn the question around

what did you expect it to be?

A little different. More different armors and weapons. Some class-specific, some not. Most RPGs of all kinds do that. I think it adds a lot of variety.

I like the skill-set concept. It makes it so that you won't just end up with an uber set of skills at the end of the game compared to the people who don't... but I dunno. At the same time, everything is just about opened up to me and I'm 20% done the map.

I guess I just expected there would be stuff to work towards, besides doing quests and missions. I can understand the level cap. In a lot of ways, it's a good idea... but now there's not many areas for my character to grow.

there are the more expensive armorsets (15k and obsidian), you can start saving up for them.
You can do high level coop play, like Underworld or Fissure of Woe, or get a taxi to the Elite Missions in Cantha in House Zu Heltzer and Cavalon (a member of the holding alliance can teleport you in).
You can start collecting rare skinned weapons for your favourite character, you can do the veteran quests in Tyria (the Titan Quests).
You can start to try and solo certain difficult area's, collecting all the (high-end) loot, which should also help to save up towards something expensive (weapons and/or armor)
You can start doing GvG, imo the best form of GW PvP (hence the name GUILD wars). I agree it can be hard for a "new" pvp player to get into GvG, but guilds like XoO don't mind taking in new player eager to learn, and give them a chance to develop their skill and gain experience.

This game has a lot to do with classes and skills. It 'could' also have items hard to obtain, but they won't give you any clear advantage in pve or pvp.

I think you are playing Guildwars:Factions, since the experience gain is fast, and max armors can be easily obtained. Why is that? one reason is that you do not have skill quests in factions, and you will have to buy skills which requires skill points.
The other reason...
Now you have the 1.5k armor, and reached lv 20, so you are able to compete/play with other people in a fair game.

Chess/Card games are popular around the world.
Guildwars might have a lot similarity to chess/card games. You pick your card deck (class), and your cards (8 skills) from the deck, and play with the other people who also make the choice. You may only lose or win in either pve or pvp, depending on your skill/class choice, and how you play them. When there is a team, then it will depend on the whole team's preparation and performance.

This is one way of viewing the game. It seems you haven't really completed the pve, and only seen the random arena of the game (based on how you described your experience).

There is an observer mode, in which you can see the more organized pvp match. As for pve, they are also fun to me. For someone who is familiar with other popular MMORpgs, the guildwarsrophecies might be a better introduction to the game, and after playing it you will probably understand how GW differ from MMORPGs. You do not really get the 1.5k armor until you complete more than half of the missions, and you do quest to obtain your skills, which can unlock a lot of your skills without costing you any money/skillpoint.

GW is not an rpg, it's MMO.

The concept is playing and having fun with other people. Of course you could go solo but imo that kinda defeats the purpose of it.

GW isn't about development of a character persay, it's an end to a means.

There is nothing more fun then an Urgoz run with friends or a trip to Sorrow's Furnace to do quests with guildmates. Or helping your buddy get through Thunderhead Keep.

The key to GW like any other MMO is interaction with other players and creation of your own community. Many people rely on software to do this but in the end it's up to you just like in rl. Make friends and play the game with them. You'll log in every day once that happens.

I bet a lot of people who started Guild Wars in Factions first have the same question. I started in Prophesies over a year ago (LOVE it) and got Factions when it came out. I pretty much asked the same question about Factions to myself, with a few swear words added in.

In Factions the learning curve shoots straight up. You have to be high level when you get to the main island because all the packs of monsters will tear up anyone who's not lvl. 20 and wearing good armor. I didn't even notice any storyline, except something about poisoned townies.

Prophesies starts out much better. You gradually level and the monsters gradually get harder. There's a whole lot more to do and the landscape is varied- not a ghetto in sight. Huge map. There's even a storyline, though not a great one.

I've tried to play factions-I wanted to like it, but it's just sooo boooring. Same baddies, same maze landscape, over and over and over.

I'm worried that a lot of people who bought Factions first will be wondering,"Is this it? This is crap!" and not give the other games a chance. Well, yeah, that's it as far as Factions is concerned. But how can you convince someone after they paid 50 bucks for a so-so game that if they pay another 50 bucks they can have the game they wished they bought the first time around?

The purpose of the game is to cyber with everyone in your guild before the timer runs out.

Apparently you haven't really got into this game yet. There's too many awesome things to do.

If you don't like pvp then challenge yourself. Try 55-hp monking... or solo mursaat farming. Do urgoz with like less than 12 people (I'm sure its possible).. etc. Also start collecting weapons. Hey this game is an MMO, you interact with people. Personally my drive to this game is staying competitive with everyone else; unlocking skills, renewing armor set for fresh looks, new weapon and shields, *getting richer*, doing HA if I have time (always fun), etc.

If what you are looking for is character development, then perhaps you should progress through the areas and missions in order to reach the boss characters needed to access the Elite skills available to your class combinations.

The purpose is to play the game until a better game comes out (like Unreal Tournament 2007).....

In reality, I really did try to play a second and even a third character, but man how boring it is going through the same ole' same ole' area's. I don't know what drives everyone else...I beat the game, have (statistically) the best armor and weapons and enough gold to get something I don't have....what other reason do I need to play? Like I said, I am playing it only until a better game comes out than I shelf the whole series....

Start working on getting 15k or try out new builds.

Learning to play better and better. Pure PvE will be boring sooner or later but PvP always offer new situations. If you don't like about simple team vs team then try Alliance Battles, Fort Aspenwood and Jade Quarry where is other objectives too.

Getting fissure armor sets for every character is usually a pretty long process if you seek PvE only goals. Farming is just the most boring thing in the whole game.