PC Gamer May 2007 Information - "Guild Wars Reborn"

Forgive me if this has been addressed (thread is tl;dr), but what happened to Gaile's "some of the info is wrong and some is misleading" comments? Far as I can tell this is the same as that Inquirer article but more fleshed-out...

I would still like some in-detail information about the HAll of Monuments, it'll really influence my decision a lot of what I'm gonna do about Guild Wars in the future.

Or, maybe, just possibly mind you, There are different definitions of fun.*Gasp**ZOMG?~!?**WTF???*

Seriously, I'd rather be a "brainless" PvEr than an elitist PvP buffoon. (No offense to all you non-buffoon PvPers)

I believe the lvl cap is being raised in GW2, not Eye of the North. Since GW1 characters don't carry over to GW2, the answer to your question would be no.

What's really got me spooked is the whole non-transfer thing. I'm sure many people are, but allow me to explain.

The thing I hated the most about Magic: The Gathering was that every so often, a new set would come out, and older cards, usually cards with no new rule conflictions, would be deemed "unusable" and illegal in official tournaments. This would effectively render the time and, very important, monetary investments I've made.

Now, I've not gotten the magazine yet (unless I've read the website wrong, it doesn't even come out until the 3rd of April, so I'm a bit confused, to be honest, how everyone else got one), but I've read around, and I can surmise that our PvE characters will be unable to go to the new area. This is my biggest concern.

However, what I'm really interested in, is if we can use Prophecies/Factions/Nightfall/EotN skills in GW 2? An MMORPG I've played off and on (I've somewhat lost interest in it) had a Rebirth feature; it didn't span multiple games, but what would happen is your super high-level character would reset down to a low-level character. Your items (the weapons and armor) would revert to the lowest level, but retain their bonuses, your spells/skills would come back faster (you lost them at first), and you received special Rebirth-only bonuses. It seems that the GW1->GW2 progression will be slightly similar (the last quoted post from Gaile, the one that when in-depth to the progression, was the most comforting to me, and the most imformative). But, will our "inherited" PvE characters in GW2 get the old skills and items of the previous ones? It seems gold won't transfer, so at least the items part seems unlikely.

However, GW1 was an investment. Whenever I unlock a skill for my account, my account as a whole increases in its value, worth, and power. I want to know that my GW2 account won't just benefit from completely irrelevant bonuses and awards because I've unlocked so-and-so amounts of skills from GW1, I want to have those skills and items still actually unlocked and usable in GW2. What I'm hoping for, is a really more campaign-style connection between GW1 and GW2. It's also a bit cruel to require a first campaign for EotN, and to require EotN to somewhat connect your GW1 and GW2 accounts (although the connection would be useless with a GW1 account, and personally, I love expansions, but GW2 seems neither expansion nor campaign).

Something else to think about, is that GW1 wasn't just a time investment, it was a monetary investment, too. Is my $170 going to go to waste, and net me nothing in GW2 than the equivalent of the Prophecies Game of the Year Edition items? Cause I don't think those bonus weapons are enough to show for 1,450 hours and $170, sorry.

Overall, even if I have to start new PvE characters, I'd probably be minimally content, and adequately satisfied, if the skills, items, heroes, and what-not that I've unlocked from GW1 will still be usable by characters in GW2, if only PvP characters. Like someone said earlier, I don't want GW2 to be like if Burning Crusade forced WoW players to choose and give up their WoW1 characters and completely start new ones. Although my GW1 characters might not be lvl 70 in literal senses, the time, effort, and money have made them invaluable, and I don't want to give them up. Being able to use the same name and title is a mockery to their power.

Also, I have mixed feelings on how populated GW1 might be. The early areas, such as Pre-Searing and Shing Jea, still feel like they're constantly full of new people, and AB and Fort Aspenwood is still going strong, despite some predictions that NF would make them totally empty. But a completely new game in a new world would certainly leave these areas bare. The only way I could see GW1 seeing any activity is because of the rift between GW1 and GW2 players, with GW1 players still desperately trying to hold onto GW1 (I know I'll still be there, playing Fort Aspenwood forever more. xD)

You cannot compare GW to Half-Life or Diablo, for example. GW is dynamic, huge, and is just on a completely different level.

The other parts, such as persistance areas and level caps, are welcomed revamps to the game to me, assuming they are kept in check. I didn't play GW to play WoW.

lol... if they told u everything is true and somebody is going to get it for leaking out the info to the inquirer, would you still purchase the 1-year subscription in order to get May's Issue early?

In PC Gamer mag, James Phinney says extend character development beyond lvl 20 is the first goal of EotN. More lvl's it sounds like to me or they have some other idea up their sleeve only time will tell for certain.

Questions do the devs:

How Anet plan to deal with PK, KS, zone camping and other nuissances of the other non-instanced games?

Will a lvl 100 char be able to go on a lower lvl zone and kill everyone in sight? How powerful these chars will be over the others?

In GW1, anyone can go solo and get money to buy what he wants. How this will be in GW2?

How much equipment will affect gameplay? There will be "godlike-epic" gear?

How races will affect gameplay? like: Will a Charr character with the same build and equipment be more effective than a human, for instance?

There will be better trade options?

For how long they intend to support GW1? after GWEN there will be more expansions?

Will be possible - like in GW1 - have various chars on the same account, and go anywhere and do anything with them? Because the more a game focus on leveling, less chars you can keep up with.

PS: I dont care about starting over again in a new world, as long as this new world is fun and gives me the same freedom of action of this one.

Peace.

You know now that they said that you could transfer equipment from Guild Wars to Guild Wars 2.(which is possibly weapons) Well, I was thinking. Will the equipment get an upgrade in graphics? Or will the graphics in Guild Wars 2 be some what similar to Guild Wars?

the article says the game is getting a major graphics upgrade

Currently GW supports both DirectX 8 and 9. DirectX10 cards are just now coming to market and GW2 will certainly support it. A lot of people will need a new video card for DX9 2 years from now when the game is released I am pretty sure.

I'm really intrigued by this idea of 'linking' characters - sound fantastic, though this post left me a little confused...
For example, my title-hunter is my Ritualist, and I'd LOVE to be able to carry her titles over to a new character! ...But does that mean I have to give my GW2 character the same name? Because I really want to be able to play with all the new options in character creation and create someone new... with a different name
Anyway, my rambling adds up to this:
Do 'linked' characters = characters with the same name, or will there be another way to 'link' them? :S

What are PK and KS? Thank you!

Name me a single MMO--hell, a single RPG--or even a single game--that offers complete character transfer from it to its sequel.

I can think of a grand total of one, myself, and that's Baldur's Gate--and that only works because that series follows the universal D&D rules.

Honestly, character transfer from GW1 to its sequel will probably be impossible. How do you know the classes will exist as we currently know them? How do you know appearances, armor, xp, everything will work the same way as we currently know them to work?

Odds are: they won't be the same. Character transfer is incredibly unfeasible.

Has anyone thought WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SEERS AND THE MURSAAT?

And what if DHUUM is the great destroyer, or MENZIES?

Thanks again Boko.

Boko = my dictionary

amen to that, up to this point ive been pretty negative, but i can honestly say until i know just how this Hall of Monuments will work with, i cannot make my decision, can someone please clarify? gaile would be nice but anybody?...

PK = Player Kill and KS = Kill Steal

Hope that helps

LOL! You're welcome!

no..............

Mmmmm..... GWEN and playing as a charr make me happy.

As for GW2, I think we should stop panicking for now, ntil we get a little more definitive iformation.

What i really don't want to see though, is a Diablo-style screw over. When WoW came out, Diablo died (I might add that i liked its storyline, and was sad to see such a good story go to waste). Why? Because game companies don't concentrate on 2 at a time- Diablo still exists (and still free), it's just hopelessly outdated and hasn't been renovated for... a while. All in all, the only factor really going against GW2 is the increased level cap. other than that, its awesome. Of course, if it's only going to be an experience indicator, then i'll be happier. I don't enjoy long grinds, because I, along with the other casual gamers, don't appreciate a long grind (i'm not saying for sure there's gonna be one, so don't bite my head off!), especially if it's unlimited.

And despite what ANet says, a level 500 char played by a loser who has no life other than GW will always claim to be better than a lower level char (even if that char is 400). That's why i particularly liked the level cap, but i guess i can live without it if i really need to.

Of course, in the meantime, i'll forget that GW2 will ever happen, and then remember when they give another announcement in a year and a half.

I rant on. Nevermind.

Why not? Ok fine, I'll just have to buy my own magazine now (just for the young adult gwen picture)

Amazing. Flaming people who play PvE? <sarcasm>Way to go.</sarcasm>

Yes, the sarcasm tags are neccessary.

Well, then balance it out and play both PVP and PVE...I do, and I haven't played that long, pretty good at both.

you fail to see his point, it was that there are better games for pve than Guild Wars (1)

and you dont get that some people DO like the pve in guild wars.

Ok I havent seen this mentioned but looking at the article it DOES seem that the races have different characteristics. Sylvari are like elves that lean towards magic and dexterity, Asura use magic and metalworking to create weapons, Charr are well just fierce and nasty and the Norns are strong and can turn into man-bears.

Personally I hope the characteristics are very minimal (or at least disabled in PVP) Having racial distinctions seems pretty messy to me and sort of forces people to play a race for a specific profession (i.e. Sylvari or Asura for casters and Charr or Norns for the melee based)

I have been playing Guild Wars for nearly 2 years now, and have spent more time playing it and enjoying it than any other game to date. For my first year or so, I was mainly PvE. Although i did PvP occasionally, I was much more interested in the missions, quests, and after i reached level 20 and discovered it, farming. I loved the challenges that farming posed and the even greater challenges that ANet posed ("nerfs"). After the release of Nightfall, though, although still interested in PvE, farming became less and less appealing to me. The changes that had come about because of farming made it not seem worth the effort to me anymore.

I took about a 2 month break about a month ofter the release of Nightfall. It seemed as though ANet wanted their PvP community to grow, which made perfect sense to me because of the GW PvP being so fun, challenging, balanced and intense. I returned to playing and am now almost completely PvP, an yes, am enjoying it greatly. I knew that the GW PvP was great and enjoyable but just never took the time to concentrate too much on it. I felt that ANet was trying to make GW a more PvP oriented game with these new updates and releases, which at first i was mad about, but later came to realize that it was fine.

With the announcement of not only raised level caps, but possibly no level cap, makes me rethink my choices. If ANet wanted a larger PvP based community, why do this? I thought the current level was a basis of GW. Its really what separated it from other games, well one of the things.

---"Will the character level ceiling of 20 be raised with Nightfall?"

--- "No, the maximum character level will remain at 20 for Nightfall. The level cap of 20 is a fundamental balance mechanism for the Guild Wars series, which offers games that revolve around player skill. The leveling system allows you to track your progress as you start a character. But by Level 20, your character is fully trained and is ready to experience the most exciting content in the game. Additionally, the title system give players something to work for after reaching the level cap."

A quote from the Nightfall FAQ sums what i feel about the level cap exactly. The amount of balance it created was amazing and i really think a raise would ruin this. I have no doubts that Anet will make another awesome game in GW2, and I can see that they want to appeal to everyone and please everyone, but such drastic changes of the basics of the game? Such things that make it so great to start with? Why fix it if it isn't broken? why fix it if its working amazingly and the only people who say its "broken" probably don't understand how it really works?

How dare you all call yourself GW fans and still compare WoW to GW?..
It cant be compared, if this is a problem dont buy GW2.

See GW for what it is and always will be, dont compare to a desperate moneywanting game.

Im happy they are making these huge changes to a big game. Im considering putting myself to a coma just to wake up and see its there.

Im a big fan, unless they really make GW 2 to WoW, with every single exact detail WoW has Im not gonna stop playing, Ive always taken GW for what it is and dont wish for anything to be changed. Level capping 100+ is a big change and I cant wait.

Thanks ANET for a great game, that shouldnt be compared, its unique.

EDIT: Ive been playing for 2 years, and a huge change like this is just candy. Its needed to get of the same old thing habbit. Expansion is needed becouse it has probably alot to offer for us who played this game a while.

GW2 brings Guild Wars to a new world, a new world, a new gameplay, a new engine. So why not make these changes. We should be happy for not having to pay and yet have a great game.

Bobert did you miss the fact that the raised level caps won't affect PvP? Well at least GvG and other standard PvP forms. It might have an effect on world pvp.

Don't be silly. I know you can get mail in basic training. Just have your wife send you the May issue, and you're all set. See? Simple, and there you go.

It is almost completely the same, yes. I found her comments very misleading.

The PC article makes it sound like the "world PvP" would take place only in the mists, with GvG and other types of combat with fixed levels, skills, and equipment options.

I assume mutually accepted duels would be a feature, if they wanted to keep up with everyone else.

LOL just had my first email offering me a guaranteed place on the beta test for GW2. Apparently all they need is my password for my GW account and I will gain access to GW2 testing features within 48 hours.

Wondered how long it would take the scams to come out of the woodwork!

I hope you reported them here and at the GW support site if applicable.

Yeah its inviting me to send an email to a member of the support team's hotmail account.

Just giving people a heads up because its probably gonna happen to others.

Playing a Charr sounds fun and all, and reinventing heroes is a solid start, but it makes me sad to know the idea of a casual MMO has been voted out in favour of a grindfest. The new features seem less like improvements, and more like stuff added to get the WoW market. New races, higher cap... these are not things I think Guild Wars is about. It may be a fun game anyway, but I think A-net's vision of a casual game that blends PvP and PvE with no fees and no grind has been lost.

It's been fun, I guess...

It's all my expectations, AND MORE!

The support team has hotmail? Yeah, right.

Well, when the time comes for the real beta, I'd actually like to get in on that. That'd be one way to see if the new game is for me or not. Then again, I'm sure my husband would love for me to stop playing GW altogether, the spoilsport. lol

I've been against the whole "transfer characters" idea all along (and as a result am super-happy they aren't doing it), though I love the Hall of Monuments idea. I, too, would like more information on it.

GW is getting a little WoW-ish, but ArenaNet continues to follow the policy of focusing more on combat than making a living and having a virtual marriage. It's adding free movement, which is always a plus.

Remember people, so far there is no monthly fee, so no worries! For many of us, that's the main appeal factor of GW1.

People were complaining about a higher level cap but I was thinking that maybe you get max hp and attributes at lvl 20, but it just records your level to show other people how much work you've put into your character. Just my thoughts.