Not an MMO?

I've never played Guild Wars before, but I've read a lot of info about it. I know the game is mostly for pvp. I have a question. Besides for the story and unlocking quests, what is the point of the role playing aspect of the game (PvE)? Usually it's for things like better equipment in other mmo's. Does getting above average equipment and transferring it to a pvp character really make a difference (one big enough to justify the time invested aquiring it) in that character's ability in the arena?

This is probably going to turn into an argument over which the game is focused more on, PvP or PvE. Really, it's more split not one being more focused on than the other.

The point of PvE is for fun, it's a lot different than PvP. You cannot get any better equipment in PvE than PvP except some very minor things like Dire Pets and Req 7 and 8 weapons. Those are very minor and hardly make a difference or give PvE characters an edge at all.

To expand on what Lotrfish said...

Guild Wars was created on several core concepts. First, and foremost, equipment and levels would not matter in PvP. It is easy to attain the maximum level of 20, and is fairly simple to obtain the best equipment, statistics-wise, as well. You can also create a PvP-only character with access to this best equipment. Item rarity and vanity are really the only things that affect weapon prices.

In short, properly-equipped PvE characters and PvP characters are completely equal in functionality (except for extremely small differences that hardly matter). However, PvE characters have access to vanity items such as better-looking armor and weapons than PvP characters do. Which means it is completely your choice whether you want to build a PvE character for use in PvP; you can still be perfectly competitive, equipment- and level-wise, in PvP.

As far as I know, there has only been one well-known instance where a PvPer was helped out by a PvE-only item, and that's Tommy from Team Quitter with his Req. 7 Tactics shield. He gets an extra +16 armor with 7 in Tactics, whereas others get only +8.

To further expand...

You can also unlock weapon upgrades, skills, and armor buffs (runes) by playing PvP. You're awarded points in PvP that you can exchange for those things. However, it's probably best for someone new to the game to go through one of the PvE stories to get the first batch of skills and stuff, as they accumulate much faster that way, and you'll have a good base to start out in the PvP realm.

You will never "get ahead" in GW - there are no long term overpowered builds (there are, however, short term ones before skill nerfs/buffs). I am no more powerful at several thousand hours in game than I was however long it took me to get to Droknar's Forge the first time (I guess somewhere around the 40 hour mark). I have lots and lots of fancy looking weapons and armors dyed in many different colors - but their stats are exactly the same. At best my characters have more builds they can easily switch too, but I really only play one or two unless I'm just goofing off trying to see "will this live?". To some, this also translates into "no content" (content being grind out levels, I always though MMO's were severely lacking in content), however it *does* actually have a story line and if you bother to do quests and actually *read* the dialog it isn't bad.

I play mostly because I enjoy doing so. The reward is essentially in playing rather than becoming more powerful. Yes, I like having titles, like having rare skins on weapons, and the other stuff time in game/gold can purchase - but even were they not there I would still play. Because it is balanced and continues to have skill balances the game plays quite a bit different now than it did before. For me, that is the fun - always new builds and different skill sets to play with. I do not PvP.

Not everyone will like that - if you want level grind, fighting for that godly weapon, and just being able to have an overpowered character WoW is there and it does those things quite well. If you like balanced game play where skill is more important than time/grind then GW is for you (though it does have *some* - it is still an RPG). The nice thing is that with no monthly fees if it interests you for only shorter while when each chapter comes out your old characters are still sitting there waiting on you. You can leave and come back as often as you wish with no financial burdens.

I see. Thanks for the replies guys.

There are PVP only editions of GW as well, if your main focus will be PVP only.

No it's not.

The point is to have fun. An intersting concept, don't you think?

Actually, you can make pvp weapons that are almost or equal to most weapons found in game.

As Etta said, there are pvp only editions of the game which give you all skills, runes etc. Here's a link for more info: http://www.guildwars.com/support/gam...vpeditions.php

Skill unlocks mostly. PvP-only characters are much more convient, unless you have 100 or 2 plat lying around, you don't want to make a PvE char ready for PvP, or it will be using inferior equipment.

Yes, the point of PvE is for fun. The game is not about grinding/power leveling, and the level cap (20) is low for a reason: PvP and the main course of PvE are balanced. Also, every weapon and item can only have max stats (although the stats are configurable) and they are not hard obtain.

This is nice, because unlike WoW (I used to play it), you can't get an edge over someone else by spending a few hundred hours grinding for epic gear. The only edge you have over someone else is how well you can play your character.

Actually the PvP unlock packs only unlock all the Skills for that chapter... Not the runes, mods, etc...

Oops my bad. Hmmm.......what good is it without the runes?

because the runes are mostly core and take a lot less to unlock