Guild Wars 2--Updated Impressions

QFT.

And also note at the top of the article that this article is not Anet giving info. It clearly says "Words: PC Gamer UK". And as the title states, this is only an "updated impression", ie. someones interpretation of Anet's words.

To be honest, the less heroes the better. I have fond memories of when GW used to be a co-operative game and people would play with each other to accomplish a common goal.

Sounds like D2.Heroes are a big part of my game.It will be interesting to see more info on GW2.

A.Net has said officially that you will get a buff IF you do not bring a companion. So I can easily see GamesRadar mishearing or misinterpreting that especially since they don't understand the expansion concept.

Vinraith, your posts always make me laugh. You're always so ... optimistic.

I do think you need to give ArenaNet more credit, though. I mean, after all they have done to develop the Hero mechanic, it's hard to imagine they'd just ... abandon them in favor of one Uber Hero. Although, they might....

[Secret Hope: That they retain the Hero mechanic but allow you to play your alts as your NPC Heroes. ]

As much as I love my heroes and I think they are one of the best features of GW, It DOES take away a lot of the co-op feel of the game. Every once in a while I'll get in a PuG again and remember why it can be so fun.

So you want GW2 to be able to let friendly AI play the game for you like GW, eh?

I agree that GW2 should have Heroes or at least 1 uber Hero/companion AI (I believe I read it will), but having so much AI help wouldn't be good for the game...


.......... and you want GW2 to be like Final Fantasy XI, eh? LOL

Updated impressions? What? There's nothing to that article at all... it reads like the first 5% of 8 month old ones...

do you think it will be compatible with the old gw? i hope so because i havnt had the game that long and once the new ones out no one will play the original gw...

I really really am looking forward to having no instanced areas

Forcing us to pug?

AI could mean heroes as well :P

I'm sincerely glad I can provide some entertainment.

Unfortunately, they've already said there won't be heroes in the game. I'm... confused by that, because as you say they've gone quite far with hero mechanics and they added quite a lot to the game for a lot of people. I know I'm not alone in that I was brought back to Guild Wars by heroes after becoming very frustrated with the fact that I couldn't succeed in high level areas with just a friend or two and henchmen. I thought Anet had learned something there: that you can't force people to group with strangers just by making the AI crappy. Instead, the lesson they seem to have taken is that solo players should be denied a complex strategic experience by forcing them to play truly alone: no AI companions (beyond one optional one that gimps you if you use it).

Anyway, I'd love nothing more than to give Anet credit where credit is due. Guild Wars has been a fantastic game that's given me enjoyment for better than a thousand hours. I can't remotely complain about that, its minor flaws are far outweighed by its strengths. It's unfortunate, then, that those very strengths are being removed from the design for GW2 to cater to the MMOG crowd.

My sentiments exactly.

As for AI, I can do without heroes and henchmen in GW2. Prefer it that way. Guess we'll see what happens.

The options are going to be PUG or play without a party (unles you happen to have a full party-worth of friends who not only play the game, but have loose enough schedules that they play at the same time you do). Since I'm guessing they'll be scaling by party size, that'll likely deny all the high end items to solo players. It's final victory of the "people should be forced to play with me, heroes are TEH SUXXORZ" crowd.

AMEN!!

(I should've just added extra exclamation points to get this message up to 12 characters. ^_^)

I love HEROES! I like to run all my side-quests solo and sometimes even the main missions (Though I mainly do Main Mission with my GF and Guildies). I mean what is Guild Wars without Heroes?

This article is just bad. It's based only on info known for over a half year, sounds just as it was a pile of rewritten rumors based on another rewritten article that was based on the original PCGamer article +the Jeff Strain interview.
Now just imagine another website wanting to draw readers by posting a 'new' GW2 article, and basing it on *this* one. The rewritter can further bias the info, concentrate on something unimportant, emphasize something that doesn't matter, or even make up something new ... like in this sentence: No other sources mentioned AI parties (except a single Companion per player), none mentioned simple grinding, nor any XP penalties. I call pure BS on this, pulled by author from thin air.

No argument from me. One would have expected better from PC Gamer, however, from which the text is lifted pretty much verbatim.

I do find it odd how "quiet" ArenaNet has been regarding GW2. I mean there's been barely anything official from them for many months now. Most other games in development have active websites, screenshots, and the like far in advance of game release.

My guess is too many controversial issues to resolve. They dont want to release information on one aspect of the game and risk making an entire population of users unhappy, and would rather release a lot of information about multiple aspects right at the get go. That way while some would not like one aspect, and others another, most are going to like most aspects in some combination.

Or, they havent gotten that far yet and cant agree amongst themselves on some of the issues.

I think the new party system will be an epic failure. Mainly because I can see a certain scenario come into play:

<Vala Of The Fens(the hot GW2 version) loads up GW2>
Vala: Can someone help me kill some Charr? I could take them with my companion but I want more exp.
Warrior: What level?
Vala: They're level 10. There are a bunch of nukers in the groups though.
W: kk. Where you at?
Vala: Near the [insert geographic landmark].
Mesmer: Can I come with you guys? I need to level up.
Vala: ping your build plz.
Me: [skill bar full of disorganized crap] I know my build is crap but its the best I can do.
Vala: Ok. Just stay in the back ok?
W: I have a monk guildie coming.
<a mob is approaching>
Vala: Let the warrior take the aggro and we'll nuke the group.
W: I'll ping when I'm rdy for you to come closer.
Me: kk.
Monk: ok
<tank pings and Monk runs into battle>
Vala: wtf?!?!
Me: the stupid monk is smite!
Mo: u didn't say I had to be healz
<tank dies>
W: dude! y didn't u heal me?
Mo: I'm smiter
W: y didn't u say that b4 we started?
Mo:...
Me: gtg bye
<Mesmer leaves>
Vala: great...now we have to find some1 else. ur a noob monk.
Mo: STFU! I had 5 15k armor sets, fissure armor, AND tormented weapons for all my GW1 toons! so i'm not a noob.
Vala: You're a noob with too much free time. bye
<Vala logs off mad>