Just Beginning - Making a Descision

I just stumbled across this game and have not bought anything yet. In the past, I played DDO (Dungeons and Dragons Online), EQ (Everquest), EQ2 (Everquest 2) & Coh/Cov (City of Heroes/City of Villains). Each had their own strengths and weaknesses. However, I got bored and left the game.

Now I see this game and it looks awesome. However, there are many addons. Can I get some advice?

Do I have to buy the original Guild Wars game? Is it a download? Is it included as part of any the addons (Factionsm Nightfall, Eye of the North)?

you don't have to buy Guild Wars Prophecies (the original game) to play.

You have a choice of starting with Prophecies, Factions, or Nightfall.

In order to play Guild Wars Eye of the North (an expansion) you have to own at least one of those three campaigns.

Welcome to Guild Wars and have fun!

Is "Prophecies" the base game (client)? Can I just play that for awhile and then buy the other additions later? How many additions are there? Is it just Factions, Nightfall & Eye of the North?

Prophecies is the first game (I guess "base" is a good word..) and there are additional chapters: Factions and Nightfall. You only need to own one of these to play, but if you have more than one - you gain access to more content. Today's release of "Eye of the North" is an expansion of the first game - Prophecies, and the only requirement (other than buying it) to play it is to have a level 20 character.

So I guess to answer your questions..
1. Basically yes
2. Yes
3. 2 other chapters, and 1 expansion
4. Yes

You are right, it does appear that the base game is the client download. However, it also seems clear that I cannot play it without an access key which I can only get from buying Factions, Nightfall, Eye of the North or finding a free trial or promotion.

Does anybody know where I can find a free trial or promotion? I do not mind spending money, but I would love to see this for myself before spending any.

Prophecies, Factions and Nightfall are all stand-alone games that are all played through the same basic game client. It doesn't matter which one you install first; you will be getting exactly the same game client that everyone else has, and the access keys (sold with the games) determine which areas, professions, skills and other game features you will have access to. Prophecies, Factions and Nightfall all have starter areas that allow you to create new characters and start them on their journeys through the stories; Eye of the North does not have a starter area and requires you to migrate characters from the other games in to be able to play.

The only choice you need to make when starting to play Guild Wars for the first time is which of the first 3 chapters you want to start off with. There is a forum sticky here that goes into details about what you can expect from each of these games, and which ones are most rewarding for newcomers to the game.

Thank you. That explains alot. since I have to choose a chapter, is there a trialware version of anything so I can see the gameplay for myself and see if this is the game for me?

I haven't seen anywhere around here that has trial keys for the GW games...

I know that buddy keys (trial keys) were included with the Nightfall CE, although I have no idea how many of them are still in existance. There's another sticky on this forum for buddy key requests - if you ask there, you might get lucky and get a trial key.

Well, sice I cannot get a trial version, how does one choose which GW game to buy? Is there a general rule of thumb here? Which one is the best one for a beginner to the game to have?

Any advice would be appreciated.

You can either go to the sticky at the top of this forum section and ask nicely if anyone has any to spare or you can go buy the dvd trial pack (trial keys for all three). I do believe they are still around.

I have a store bought (physical) copy of Eye of the North. It came with some trial keys. I'm at work right now so I can't remember which ones. If you want, you can e-mail me at [email protected] and I'll send one to you. Of course you'll be required to join my guild. Just kidding.

IMO, Prophecies or Nightfall would be best to start with, Prophecies has a slower learning curve and level progression then all the other ones, Nightfall is a little faster but still good. I would avoid factions until you have a good handle on the game, it has the steepest curve and rushes you to lvl20 really fast. The best way to go about it I think is propechies>nightfall>factions.

What is IMO?

As far a picking one of the three goes:

Personally, I like Nightfall the best (although I'm having a lot of fun in EotN). The continent/theme is African and the scenery graphics are nice. You will also gain access to using heroes which is unique to Nightfall.

Each game is a continent/map. Prophecies is North American is style (more traditional fantasy). Factions is modeled after China. There is a lot of content in each iteration. I had Prophecies/Tyria for almost a year before I purchased the other two campaigns.

Here's the thing about Guild Wars: 99% of the continent you learn about through game play and forums such as this. There is not a lot in the way of compiled detailed instruction and tips (no Brady games strategy guides). So don't get frustrated if you can't figure stuff out.

Guild Wiki should become your best friend. I keep a small window open as I play. It makes a world of difference. In fact, you could surf that site before even buying the game to get an idea of what gameplay is like.

Too much information? Welcome to Guild Wars.

IMO = In My Opinion
IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

Are all these (Factions, Prophesy, etc) individual games? Or is this like EQ where buying the new one gives you access to additional content, lands, etc in the same game you are already playing?

Actually both.

Prophecies has a beginning and an end (primary storyline). Factions has the same as does Nightfall.

If you were to buy all three (and subsequently add the key for each to your online account), a single character from any of the campaigns can gain access to the land/maps of the other two games.

Each game has a "port city" that allows you to "travel" between games/continents/campaigns (they are all one and the same).

This is adventageous because certain skills and items are not available in all three games.

Just thought I would point out that buddy keys came with the standard edition of NF as well. I got standard edition and got keys for a lot of stuff (even outside GW).

I was concerned that this game was like many of the stand alone games. Meaning I could import my character from one game to another. But if this is like the other games I am used too, it seems that this is way worth buying.

Can you explain buddy keys to me? I understand that I can give a buddy key out, but do they have to buy anything to use it?

Buddy keys = trial period.
That's it, just a free trial period for a friend.
If you are coming to GW as a new player than the choice of first Campaign is a serious one. As others have mentioned I will echo to choose either Prophecies or Nightfall but each for different reasons.
Prophecies has the best learning curve and the most PvE content imo. Skills can be aquired via quests instead of via gold which new players will find in short supply at first. The one major downside I see to getting Prophecies first is the lack of player controlled Heroes.
Nightfall has a slightly steeper learning curve but explains the game very well in the early island. The addition of using up to 3 player (semi)controlled Heroes is THE major selling point for starting out with Nightfall. The other would be that you have a better chance of filling out players in that campaign vs. the earlier two.
I think you will greatly enjoy this game judging by your past game choices. Just a word of caution early on...GW PvE(the "story mode") is a whole separate game from GW PvP(player vs player) and they need to be approached in different ways.
Good Luck and Have Fun!!

Thank you for that. I actually do not like PvP at all. I find that in most (or all, in my experience) are filled with people that tend to destroy a newbie before I can get any power of my own and unless I come in the game with lots of protection from my friends, I do not stand a chance. This is why is dislike PvP.

I like a game where I can go pretty much where I please without being stuck in a story setting and without getting ambushed by 50 player killers. PKs may think that is fun, but I don't. Granted, I like the story setting and will play that as well, but I like the social environment too. I like to group play but I also like to solo. If this game can do this for me without forcing me into a PvP situation, that is good.

It is my understanding that if I start with Nightfall, I will have access to all the NF features, but not any of the Prophesy features. Is this right?

With Nightfall you will have access to heroes. Heroes are like the henchmen NPCs available in Factions and Prophecies. They fight at your side and allow you to command them. Unlike henchmen, you can customize the skills, armor and weapons of your heroes.

Once you acquire heroes for a given character while in the Nightfall campaign, they will be available to that character in Factions and Prophecies as well. There are no such Prophecies specific features.

Does that answer your question?

Yes and no. I understand about heroes (at least I do now). In spite of all you say, I think I will start at the beginning. I will buy Prophesies and if I like the game, I will buy Nightfall and then Factions.