Guild Wars Questions

Hi everyone,

I couldn't exactly find the official Guild Wars forums (or is this it?), but I found this website on Google. I just have a few questions before a few of us go out and buy the game.


Recently a group of us (five people roughly) have been having the urge to play some good PC coop games, RPG specifically. So someone suggested getting Guild Wars because it incorporates party play. But here are some questions I've been asking:



1. Is the main campaign/story cooperative?

How exactly does this work, do we all follow the party leaders position within the campaign setting? What if someone partied with us who wasn't at that point in the story ... do they miss out on what already passed?


2. Does the cooperative play always support five people?

Because we were hoping to play this together, we're wondering if it's possible we will be able to always play together. The reason is, we don't want one person to become super strong, and then it takes away the fun since everyone else is weaker.


Uh, I think there was more but I'm not sure what it was. If there's any useful information regarding how the party system works, I would love to hear it.

Thanks!

To answer your first question, yes it is co-operative. Lets take an example: Say there are ten missions, and five out of four players have gotten to the fifth mission in the story line but the last player is only on the first mission. That player would generally have to play through the campaign to the fifth mission before he could play with his friends. (though if you buy the first game, it is possible to skip missions and he could go straight to his freinds)
You can play through the storyline backwards, also. Once you've completed a mission you can always do it again - so those four people waiting for their friend could go back through the plot with them if they want.

As a general rule of thumb, the missions work like outposts. Once you get to the outpost where you do the mission from, you can always go back to it and do it again. Once you complete the mission, you'll advance further into the plot and be able to move further into the continent, where you'll find more outposts and missions to do (via quests).

To answer your second question, yes MOST of the game you can play with eight teamates. But at the start of the storylines the party size is four (which then goes up to six, and then eight). Overall about 1/7th of the entire missions in the game are done with less than eight players in a party.

Hope this helps.

adding to above: the starting area for the prophecies campaign is only for 2 players.

Thanks for the reply!

So when you say 1/7 of the missions are done with less then eight people, do you mean because people choose smaller parties, or because there is a party cap on some missions?


Also, you mentioned that in order to advance the main story, all members of the party have to be caught up. Before starting a campaign, do you form your party?

In other words, do you have to choose who's going to be playing the campaign, and you basically have to wait for everyone to be available in order to continue?


Won't really matter for us, since five of us will be playing so it'll easy to get online at the same time.

However, you said that the beginning is a four player party cap. How far into the campaign before you can include a fifth person? I guess that would mean we would have to play with four players until the party increase, then go back and get the fifth person up to date?


Thanks for the answers

for prophecies campaign, the entire beginning area (often called presearing) has a max party size of two. after the searing (you'll know what it is if you play it, i won't spoil it for you), the cap is raised to four. by the time you've finished the first two missions, it will be raised to six.

as for players lagging behind, keep in mind you can always redo missions. if you all want to play with that player, you can just go back in the storyline and play. you won't lose your current progress.

Oh I see! Thanks guys, you fed my curiosity.

Yes, there is a party size cap.
The amount of time before you can have six players changes depending on the campaign. You may or may not know, but guildwars has three campaigns. They all take place in the same world, but each takes place on a different continent - and each one has its own story line. If you buy the first part of the game, you get the main continent and the longest plot line. There are about five missions out of 30 with a party limit of 4. then it goes up to six (and later, eight). Factions, the second part of the game, has only 20 missions but after only two missions the party limit goes up to six. Nightfall, the last part, has 25 missions, and again the party limit goes up after the first two missions.

So it varies depending on the campaign you buy. Honestly I would recommened you buy the first continent if you're looking for a role playing experience, and then get the other campagins afterwads and take your character through those storylines.

There is a party cap on some of the missions. Some are 4 some are 6 and others are 8.

To do a mission all members of the party have to have done the quests that lead up to the mission. You do not stay with one group through out the game and form new groups at each outpost. You do not form a group before a campaign that you stick with. You can join new groups as the game progresses.

No because you are not limited to be in only one group the entire game. If you want to keep advancing yourself you can. You can find groups that are going to do the mission at the mission outpost.

Depending on which campaign you get it varies. In Prophecies you have to wait until you reach the Shiverpeaks before you can add a 5th and 6th person. In Factions you can add them on the first island. Nightfall, I don't remember for sure but it is also somewhere on the first island.

Another thing to think about with the party size cap, is that most of the missions where the cap is four or less, are going to be pretty easy to catch up with if you are by yourself for them.

Most info was already provided above, so I'll add a couple things...

1) You can make several characters to play in the campaign, so if one person gets too far ahead, it is very easy to make another character without deleting the main character, thus you and your friends can easily stay around the same level and progress together through the campaign. There is lots of freedom in that regard.

2) You and your friends will have the ability to form a guild, with which you can wear the same cape, acquire a guild hall, and have a chat tab so that all your friends can communicate together within the game.

3) Based on your questions, it would seem that Guild Wars is the ideal sort of RPG for you and your friends. It is free to play once you've purchased the game, and it has enough content to keep your interest for a long period of time.

4) Before purchasing, check the web for deals on the pakage that includes Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall, and Eye of the North. I know there is currently a package that includes the first 3 for $49 USD, though I don't recall if it includes Eye of the North.

Not sure if you are aware, but just to be clear you will need separate accounts for each player. But at current prices it is a super good deal anyway.

If in North America, you can get the Trilogy (Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall) for $29.90 from GoGamer.com (plus $3 S&H).

NewEgg.com has several deals: Prophecies and Factions at $9.99 each, along with Guild Wars Platinum Edition (Prophecies and Eye of the North) for $14.99. All with free shipping.

Amazon.com has the Trilogy at $46.99 (free S&H) and they will throw in Eye of The North expansion for free; assuming they'll honor the deal, I've had nothing but problems with them in recent months.

You might also find deals at local stores that carry it.

In Europe, the Complete Collection is available which includes the 3 campaigns and the expansion. Not sure on pricing for those.

wiki.guildwars.com

extremely informative website

There is no official forums. The Incgamers one is also pretty active too.


Yes but if you ever wonder off by yourself you can maybe kiss PUGs goodbye. With heros and henchmen, nobody always wants real people.

Not always together! In the beginning and till you get to the main story, you will be limited. I can't remember most, but I do know that Fahrunur, The First City, was a 4 person mission. This doesn't seem as bad in the beginning but for hard mode it will be more noticeable.
You can't designate a new leader (FLAW). The leader is just the person who is #1 in the party list. The new leader will be the one when the leader leaves or whoever has the most people in their group when inviting others. Also if you're a healer multiple hexes or conditions won't be shown, so have the monk get the idea that 1 icon = not always 1.