I'm back... Where is everyone?

I decided to play Guild Wars for the first time in a long time, eager to make new friends, join a guild, bash some mobs and hit up some PvP so I made my way to Droknar's Forge. I was the only person there! I read the "which version should you buy" thread. Looks like I'll be buying nightfall soon? Is there a strong player base anywhere in Prophecies? Is the game still populated? How many people play Nightfall. I can't imagine how many other players are as disheartened as I am.

are you sure you were in district 1?

Anyways, most of the people who enjoyed prophecies quit. Guild Wars has become time > skill.

in Lions Arch you will normaly find people. Also in proph (at least in europe, but guess even more in american district) there always a few people looking for bonus of HM mission.
And yes, In nightfall you will find more people, but nowadays there are more in gw:en and in trading centres like KC, LA and Kamadan.

Well crap. I came back to Guild Wars because I thought it was still skill + little bit of time = good. Thanks for saving me from a $40 purchase.

Know of any games (mmorpgs) where someone can be a beast (and have fun) without dumping 5 months-2 years into a character?

Don't despair, there are some of us out there who started in Proph, and still prefer to PvE there. I have Factions and NF, but I just can't be bothered to finish either.

it is still skill > time. you still have to know what you're doing in order to succeed. the issue of time > skill only pertains to optional portions of the game.

Jak3us is full of it, GW is still more skill > time. What he's referring to is a skill that was added in the EotN expansion called Ursan, which is made more powerful by grinding up a title (something that doesn't takes years upon years to do btw). Nobody will force you to use it, yes there are certain areas where people are looking for parties of Ursans at R8, etc, however if you don't like it, form your own party. Furthermore, it's a PvE only skill so it has no effect on PvP which for the most part is still skill > time. All ursan does is let people who don't have a lot of skill, do things that those of us with some skill can do. Ursan is a little overpowered, but if you don't like it, don't use it.

Yup - time really only applies to titles, which aren't needed and most people either don't care about, or just plain don't like. Also if you "require" thousands and thousands of gold.... you are gonna have to spend loads of time to farm or trade smartly to get that much.

Skill is good for - having fun, PvP, even PvE (oh noes! mbe dun uz Ursan?lol)

I have been playing this game almost constantly for 35 months so far - of course have taken a few breaks every now and then - but it still is very fun to me, and I feel that the things which require "time > skill" are not needed to have fun.

I guess I found the game boring after I finished the campaigns. After that all that's realy open to you is to get titles, farm, or clear some high-level area, all of which I find either incredibly boring or take up too much time. Just my opinion of course.

PvP is ok, but I don't find it fun compared to the experiences I had playing through the campaigns.

Most people either went on to elite areas, pvp, or quit =/.
GW has changed alot since the prophecies days (Much to my regret).

Hiding behind the sofa's waiting to jump out and yell, SURPRISE!!