Guild Wars 2 - No monthly fee

Dj Tano

Dj Tano

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Ok, so its been guaranteed that there will be no monthly fee at all.

It has also been stated that the world will be "open" like in other mmos.

That would mean that a lot of people are going to:

1) move from wow to gw2, because it looks better and has no monthly fee

2) choose gw2 over wow, because it has no monthly fee

If its really going to be like that, then there will be a HUGE conflict between the two, and if gw2 can be also gameplaywise good enough to beat wow, then this would start a new era:

the era of the mmos without any monthly fee

ps: whos going to pay for a mmo if there is a free one?

an sun

an sun

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2007

Mo/

There will be a lot of ppl willing to pay.. simply put monthly fee allows for in game gms, big storage etc. I bet we will still have storage issues in gw2...

Tempy

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Oregon

DOH

Poor Dead Horsey

ravensong

ravensong

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2006

Croatia

Me/

Indeed,thats a good ANet strategy....WoW is getting some serious competition and FREE one...it will drag lots of players I tell you...

Archangel Xavier

Archangel Xavier

Academy Page

Join Date: Feb 2007

New Orleans, Denver, Chicago all over

All your favorite bands suck

W/P

The lack of a fee will only cause an uproar amongst MMOs if GW2 is indeed as open as many traditonal MMORGs. It is said that there will be less instancing. If there is still a fair amount of that ungodly spawn known as instancing present in GW2 it is possible that it will fail to be compared and recognized rightfully as an MMO to begin with. In this case I doubt it would sunder the WoW playerbase. I really and truly hope that GW2 is a bit more traditonal with its open-endedness and instancing so as to eliminate the metaphorical crotch-grab that are monthly fees by creating competition and new standards for future MMOs.

natuxatu

natuxatu

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

Wisconsin

Rt/Mo

To add to GW2 even more... it's possible that someone who does enjoy WoW just simply can't afford it at the time so will try the free MMO and thus (hopefully) get hooked. Its not uncommon for people to have to deactivate their account for a couple months because they can't afford it or bills are tight... unless you have mommy or daddy paying for ya.

Haggard

Haggard

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

Urmston, Manchester, UK

Greener Pastures [DVDF]

W/Rt

From what I hear (not sure) a WoW2 is in the pipeline, and people pay monthly for new content - which GW has not provided other than sorrows furnace and DoA.

Archangel Xavier

Archangel Xavier

Academy Page

Join Date: Feb 2007

New Orleans, Denver, Chicago all over

All your favorite bands suck

W/P

Do you have a link or is WoW2 purely rumor? I was wondering when they'd remember the word sequel. I can imagine any WoW2 would be unleashed some time after GW2. Considering Blizzard's track record of early hype, if it still has yet to be spilled all over gamespot's front page I can't imagine it would be released for quite some time. By then GW2 would hopefully have Shield Stance up and be ready for some tanking.

Pyrea

Pyrea

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2005

The Outer Rim

Initiates of Maat

This all sounds very promising indeed

Just today I was having a conversation about MMO's with my local florist. GW and WOW came up.

I have never played WOW and don't really think I ever will (lol not now anyway). Looks like ANet are going in the right direction.

I've been playing since original Prophecies release and GW is the game I have probably been waiting for all my life. I started playing games from about 9 (I'm 33 now) and always loved adventure style RPGs. Guild Wars is an extraordinary world.

Anyway, gotta go pick up my girlfriend , have fun

Pyrea

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Keep in mind, Jeff Strain has said that they don't wish to be a WoW killer.

But, if anyone can pull it off, the creator of battle.net can!

If always thought that GW > WoW. So, it's no stretch to say GW2 >>>>> WoW.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

[QUOTE]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Archangel Xavier
The lack of a fee will only cause an uproar amongst MMOs if GW2 is indeed as open as many traditonal MMORGs. It is said that there will be less instancing.
quote Mike O Brion and Jeff Strain from interview

Quote:
Guild Wars has had a lot of success with its heavily instanced approach to online gameplay. Will the sequel stick to this approach, or do you plan to make it more like a traditional MMORPG?

Mike: We're going to have a combination - in Guild Wars 1 everything was instanced, and of course, there's a lot of really cool things you can do with instancing. It allows players to change to the world as they're playing the game, but there are some things we want out of persistence that you can't get with instancing, like the ability to meet new friends as you play through the game. So in Guild Wars 2 its both persistence and instancing. The big, over world will be persistent, but when you go into missions and dungeons it will be instanced.

Jeff: When we say we're adding persistence, we're really talking about the technology more so than how we use that persistence to add gameplay elements to the game. Guild Wars has always had its own unique flavor of play, and we certainly don't intend to make it more like traditional MMORPGs. By adding persistence it gives us the ability to persue more unique gameplay elements, for example, we've been talking a lot about event change - to us, persistence is something that lets us create big, zone-wide events that effect the entire area that you're in, that everyone can really play together. We don't see persistence as a tool to allow us to introduce a lot of that kind of... problematic components of traditional MMORPGs, like spawn camping and loot stealing and endless regeneration of monsters in the area in you're in. We're going to use it as tool to develop a Guild Wars style of gameplay, so no, I don't think it's going to be closer to a traditional MMORPG.

MSecorsky

MSecorsky

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

So Cal

The Sinister Vanguard

Me/

Dungeons and missions - instanced. This means none of the WoW banes.
Rest fo the world, persistant.

Talk about the best of both worlds. You can do what you need without interference or waiting in line, while still benefit from a persistant world.

Absolutely freaking brilliant.

Lonesamurai

Lonesamurai

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Cheltenham, Glos, UK

Wolf Pack Samurai [WPS]

R/A

and no ganking in the persistnat world... nice!

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

But if you want to Gank, join the slaughter-fest that will be the world vs world PvP part.

I know some peopel are very worried about this part, but honestly, it sounds like an easy way to "kill" 20 minutes before dinner!

MSecorsky

MSecorsky

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

So Cal

The Sinister Vanguard

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
But if you want to Gank, join the slaughter-fest that will be the world vs world PvP part.

I know some peopel are very worried about this part, but honestly, it sounds like an easy way to "kill" 20 minutes before dinner!
I agree fully... it sounds like that will be a blast. PvP you can pop in and out of at will. No waits, no party forming... jus tgo in and help when you can.

Sniper22

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

The only thing is, is that GW should keep some of its Guild Wars like gameplay for GW2 instead of becoming a free WoW game. I'm worried if they can do this if they have a high level cap or limitless. Cause with the high levels, you can't really have any duration skills like spell breaker or stances because they will last forever. GW was based on SKILL not how many HOURS PLAYED. It seems like this would change with the high level limit/no limit....

Lonesamurai

Lonesamurai

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Cheltenham, Glos, UK

Wolf Pack Samurai [WPS]

R/A

Yeah, it keeps it nicely segregated but also immersive pvp aswell

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sniper22
The only thing is, is that GW should keep some of its Guild Wars like gameplay for GW2 instead of becoming a free WoW game. I'm worried if they can do this if they have a high level cap or limitless. Cause with the high levels, you can't really have any duration skills like spell breaker or stances because they will last forever. GW was based on SKILL not how many HOURS PLAYED. It seems like this would change with the high level limit/no limit....
A very real concern, no doubt. Of all the changes, it's the high or no-level cap that worries me the most.

Nothing to do but wait and see at this point. No doubt Anet is reading and realizing how concerned we are.

DunedainJedi

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guard of the Citadel

W/

It looks like GW2 could kill WoW then. If they blend instancing right it could rock.

And the mass, multi week raid thing is brilliant.

Zinger314

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by MSecorsky
Dungeons and missions - instanced. This means none of the WoW banes.
WoW's dungeons are instanced. In fact, by sheer convience, they are called instances!

Actually play the game before attempting to insult it...

MSecorsky

MSecorsky

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

So Cal

The Sinister Vanguard

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zinger314
WoW's dungeons are instanced. In fact, by sheer convience, they are called instances!

Actually play the game before attempting to insult it...
Don't be a fool. I was referring to the known problems of kill-stealing, waiting for hours for a boss to spawn (for your turn...), etc. This has never been a problem in GW, and with the new proposed methodology will still not be a problem.

Actually comprehend what you're reading before attempting to insult it.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
A very real concern, no doubt. Of all the changes, it's the high or no-level cap that worries me the most.

Nothing to do but wait and see at this point. No doubt Anet is reading and realizing how concerned we are.
here is some more and more on the level cap

[QUOTE]
Quote:
On the other hand, there are things we missed out on, like the more organic type of community building where you wandering through the area and hook-up with other people."
"In Guild Wars 2 we wanted to have the best of both worlds. We are retaining the strengths of instanced areas, but we are also integrating a persistenced world. We are not making a World of Warcraft clone here, we are not trying to do what other MMOs have done."
Arena Net's new spin is sort of an amalgam of both instanced and massive environments, where instanced events can have domino effects on other parts of the world, or zone..
Here's one example of this Strain used:

You are wandering through the countryside and you see a dragon flying overhead. You and a group try to stave off the dragon. If you are successful the nearby town gives you a treasure.
But if you don't drive off the dragon, the bridge will be destroyed. This will lead to a team of carpenters gathering at the bridge to try to fix it and then you will have to protect them from bandits.
"The idea is that there will always be something going on in the world," Strain said.
He said that there will be hundreds of these types of events that happen in the world, some daily, some hourly, some will be triggered by specific player actions.
"That is what persistence allows us to do. That is the type of content and play experience that we can offer in Guild Wars 2 that we couldn't offer in Guild Wars."

Arena Net, it seems, is trying to tackle many of the biggest drawbacks most current massively multiplayer online games face. Chief among them is level capping. Why, once you top out, should you stick around in a game?
Guild Wars 2 is trying to deal with that issue by using a system with a high level cap once that could be set to 100 or even boundless.
"So there is not a level 20 cap," Strain said. "Either it will be a high level like 100 or unbounded, we haven't decided."[/
QUOTE]

MagicWarrior

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2007

Every person I know in real life that started playing GW did so because it had no monthly fee (including myself).

Every person I know that was a WOW player that started playing GW is now no longer a WOW player.

Of course... that only makes up about 20-30 people in total... but still...

As for myself, I never got into the monthly-fee MMO's because I simply don't like being forced to pay for something that I might not even make full use of every month. It's not just about the amount of money spent (I have spent soooo much $$$$ on Magic:the Gathering Online that I'm afraid to even keep track of it)... it's more about having the choice of when and where I want to spend my money.

Zinger314

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by MSecorsky
Don't be a fool. I was referring to the known problems of kill-stealing, waiting for hours for a boss to spawn (for your turn...), etc. This has never been a problem in GW, and with the new proposed methodology will still not be a problem.

Actually comprehend what you're reading before attempting to insult it.
Yes. Those problems don't exist either in WoW, because the dungeons are instanced.

Even in the persistant world in WoW, enemies respawn very quickly, so you don't have to worry about kill stealing. And World Bosses drop relatively bad loot compared to what you get from instances. GW2 will be the same exact way; not sure what you are implying.

Those "kill-stealing" and "boss-spawning" mechanics are from EverQuest era. Get with the times.

Archangel Xavier

Archangel Xavier

Academy Page

Join Date: Feb 2007

New Orleans, Denver, Chicago all over

All your favorite bands suck

W/P

I'm all for a lengthened levelling time per character, but not any higher than level say levl 50 and certainly not unlimited levels. This, of course, is assuming that with the level 50 the same average progress/time can be achieved as with our current level model. Though, when considering the concept of unlimited levels, any system actually making use of the aforementioned is likely to be so different that it would be beyond comparison to anything present in GW (or most rpgs for that matter) in regard to the grind time and its effect on your characters' power and ability.

P.S. Threads with new info keep popping up like mad. Then lvl 100 or no cap? Sounds like this will be a hot topic for some time to come. Also, I hope the instancing of "dungeons" extends to open areas (I.E. not necessarily in a cave, tomb, etc...) that are identical in appearance to open world areas. This is too often an overlooked method of increasing variety to dungeons-- whether they be instanced or not.

Ritual del Fuego

Ritual del Fuego

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2007

CA

Frogs in Winter [FiW]

The only issue I have with open ended levels, if they are not mostly cosmetic or a "badge of honor", is it could reduce the replay value of the game a little. One thing I like about GW (Factions and Nightfall) is that it does not take very long to get a new toon leveled up and playing at a "high" level. Because of this I have leveled up a W, E, N, Rt, and D and will play them all at times depending on what I feel like doing. If having a high level makes a big difference on gameplay and the ability to do high level areas, I think it will force more people to stick to one toon which takes away some of the value IMO. Obviously, having a persistant world that is constantly changing will mitigate some of this, however, each profession presents a different way to play the game and I would hate to have to stick to one just to stay competitive...even with a changing world.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

[QUOTE]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Archangel Xavier
I'm all for a lengthened levelling time per character, but not any higher than level say levl 50 and certainly not unlimited levels. This, of course, is assuming that with the level 50 the same average progress/time can be achieved as with our current level model.
the article stated that GW2 is a complete clean slate new game.

expect leveling to be much slower in the new game so as to prevent the i reached the cap so i am through.

it might take the average player half a year might be a full yeat to reach the cap.(WHO KNOWS?)

from the article

Quote:
Arena Net, it seems, is trying to tackle many of the biggest drawbacks most current massively multiplayer online games face. Chief among them is level capping. Why, once you top out, should you stick around in a game?
Guild Wars 2 is trying to deal with that issue by using a system with a high level cap once that could be set to 100 or even boundless.
"So there is not a level 20 cap," Strain said. "Either it will be a high level like 100 or unbounded, we haven't decided."
this will be slow leveling and there will be a strong sidekick system to temp. bridge level differences

MirageMaster

MirageMaster

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2007

EU

why is this useless thread here?

Bryant Again

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lonesamurai
and no ganking in the persistnat world... nice!
Awww...

On Topic: Guild Wars 2 isn't trying to *beat* WoW. Moreover, Guild Wars 2 isn't free (very dead horse, I know). I'd just say it's cheaper, and you don't have to deal with any account management - which rules. You just buy the game and boom, you're set.

As things are looking right now, though, it looks like GW2 is gonna be pretty big. Persistancy + High Levels - P2P = Awesome. I mentioned the high-levels because I know of a lot of people who left Guild Wars after they found out the level cap was 20. High level caps are high in demand.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MirageMaster
why is this useless thread here?
This whole forum is useless, if you think about it. This thread is here because people like to discuss about the topic. Please be a little more considerate.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MSecorsky
Don't be a fool. I was referring to the known problems of kill-stealing, waiting for hours for a boss to spawn (for your turn...), etc. This has never been a problem in GW, and with the new proposed methodology will still not be a problem.
Hours??? The most I've ever had to wait for a boss spawn was about a minute, and while I was waiting for it I killed the guys around the spawn for EXP, so win-win.

Kill-stealing is very rare. First, if you attack an enemy first, the kill is yours no matter what. This means you can simply attack it first and if anyone else kills it, it counts as your kill. The only kill-stealing I see is if I'm going for the same boss as a person nearby - in which case, I ask them if they'd like to party-up so we can both benefit from the kill.

an sun

an sun

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2007

Mo/

[QUOTE=Loviatar]
Quote:

this will be slow leveling and there will be a strong sidekick system to temp. bridge level differences
And thank god for that.. add to that ability to change worlds (servers) whenever we want and finally I WILL be able to play with friends.

Sir Skullcrasher

Sir Skullcrasher

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

California

15 over 50 [Rare]

W/Mo

no Monthly Fee for GW2 = a big plus. I'll get the game!!

Thallandor

Thallandor

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Singapore

Seers of Serpents [SoS]

R/

Free games have been around forever if you ever borthered to look. The only questionable differences between these games is the fun and quality factor.

To me, Even if GW2 is buy and free to play forever, However if it display some of the things in GW 1 that puts me off then i probably wont borther with it:

What do i mean by more of the same olde shite from GW1 in GW2?

1) PvE vs PvP debates ie skill balancing BS.

2) Cosmatic weapons/armour/levels/titles/things that you spend hours and hours on but have no real meaning in game.

3) Lack of things to do other than killing things (dont give storyline as an excuse, we been through that BS also, how many times do you want to replay characters through the storyline until your eyes and fingernails bleed?)

4) Limitations of PvE areas by PvP components. YES i am talking about the favor BS.

5) And FFS stop trying to merge PvP/PvE component/crowd together. Instead make your PvP component fun and less Elitist centric, a more inclusive and fun style of play will naturally encourage players to PvP without you begging them to do so.

You have 2 years Anet, dont screw this one up again.

twicky_kid

twicky_kid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quite Vulgar [FUN]

After leaving GW for WoW I am torn about the monthly fees. So much more support is given to WoW by blizzard. There are events constantly. Changes made to the game on a regular basis. An official forum (not downing guru here would be nice if we had an official forum for GW). Lots of storage and character slots right out of the box. Server maintenance is done more often on WoW servers. Maintenance cost money to do. How many times have we had server maintenance in GW? I can probly count the times on 1 hand. Even though the server is down its in early AM hours and doesn't bother me. When I log on I know I'm getting on a server that works. Unlike the 500+ ping I have on GW regularly while I have a less than 100 on WoW servers.

I have ran into less immature and bitchy people on WoW. When you pay for something you tend to appreciate it more.

No monthly fees basicly means smaller budget to work with and any small miscalculation in the budget means the players suffer. Like the celestrial tournament being handled by very few Anet employees. Izzy being the only employee working on skill balances. Those kind of things really affect the quality of the game. Something I personally believe is what has led to the overall quality of GW declining.

Monthly fees do have their benifits. No monthly fees is a benifit in itself but brings many problems along with it.

I would be fine with a montly fee. If they don't have to charge a monthly fee that gives Anet plenty of room to charge what ever price they want to for a montly fee. $5 a month would blow WoW away for price competition and give Anet a bigger budget to work with on GW. More money = better game.

Onarik Amrak

Onarik Amrak

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2007

Astral Revenants

P/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thallandor
Free games have been around forever if you ever borthered to look. The only questionable differences between these games is the fun and quality factor.

To me, Even if GW2 is buy and free to play forever, However if it display some of the things in GW 1 that puts me off then i probably wont borther with it:

What do i mean by more of the same olde shite from GW1 in GW2?

1) PvE vs PvP debates ie skill balancing BS.

2) Cosmatic weapons/armour/levels/titles/things that you spend hours and hours on but have no real meaning in game.

3) Lack of things to do other than killing things (dont give storyline as an excuse, we been through that BS also, how many times do you want to replay characters through the storyline until your eyes and fingernails bleed?)

4) Limitations of PvE areas by PvP components. YES i am talking about the favor BS.

5) And FFS stop trying to merge PvP/PvE component/crowd together. Instead make your PvP component fun and less Elitist centric, a more inclusive and fun style of play will naturally encourage players to PvP without you begging them to do so.

You have 2 years Anet, dont screw this one up again.
Why do you even play the game? If you don't like all this "BS" go elsewhere. Go join the WoW crowd.

Quid Pro Quo

Quid Pro Quo

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

First, the masses that are playing WoW won't simply switch to GW2 because theres no monthly fee.

Would you switch to another MMO that was like guild wars if there was no price on the box and still no monthly fee? Maybe some would but most wouldn't because your invested in the game and in WoW's case you've invested not only time but real life money.

Second, I really think Anet will spin the genre some and the game will turn out fairly unique. I have a lot of faith in Anet and if any company could pull it off I know it would be them.

Thallandor

Thallandor

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Singapore

Seers of Serpents [SoS]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Onarik Amrak
Why do you even play the game? If you don't like all this "BS" go elsewhere. Go join the LOTRO crowd.
Corrected. Going to take a look tonite in preorder beta.

btw arent you the one who responded to the WoW pic in this thread:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10136271

Love turned hate can be an ugly affair and many have asked the same question before.

Just because you played and enjoyed a game once dont neccessary mean you have to enjoy all apsect of a game or less become a fanboi for the game on one of its fansite. If you been around or have been lurking around these forums while debates have been going on you would understand the frustrations.

But of course i wont expect someone with simplistic mind who knows only WoW as the other game as compared to GW to understand that.


___________________________
PvP QQers, go back and play CS.

The Ernada

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thallandor
___________________________
PvP QQers, go back and play CS.
Nice flame bait, troll. Thallandor, you're clearly just looking for a fight on the forums. Hell you always brag about "PVPing on the forums" Why are you not banned yet?

Zinger314

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

A lack of a monthly fee will not save a bad game.

If GW2 is inferior to WoW and other MMORPGS beyond a shadow of a doubt, then it won't matter that ArenaNet is making GW2 free. They still won't get players.

floppinghog

floppinghog

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2005

pit of brimstone

Squad Six Six Six [ssss]

A/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by twicky_kid
More money = better game.
This part just bothers me, because its plainly false. There are games that charge monthly fees equal or 5-/+ difference to WoW's that don't have updates often, offer little to no support, leech your money, ignore cries of the community for fixes on bugs that have been around since its release (more than 5 years old). And offer no events whatsoever to liven the game up. All while having an insecure server/client prone to hacking.

First and foremost, its the development team that makes it happen, not money, the love for their project shines through any money can buy.

Just thought I would correct you there, the rest I can agree with. WoW isn't AS badly toned as some people around here make. But I myself do not care for paying monthly fees for games anymore, that pressure to make the most of money IS there and sucks wang. Plus I'd take realistic human characters/charr instead of cartoony elves and trolls (a mean generalization, but it works) :P

I've played WoW, saw alot, played most aspects, and came back to GW pretty quickly.

Thallandor

Thallandor

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Singapore

Seers of Serpents [SoS]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Ernada
Nice flame bait, troll. Thallandor, you're clearly just looking for a fight on the forums. Hell you always brag about "PVPing on the forums" Why are you not banned yet?
Yeah i wonder the same thing about you too. Where did we last left off last time? Or did you just clone yourself in these forums again?