I plan to be buying the Guild Wars Trilogy, but I have a few questions.
1. I'm a bit confused, reading NCSoft's description.
How do these "Skill Unlock" packs work? Do I immediately get them, able to be used, upon purchase? Are these just to be bought when you don't want to purchase a full version of the game and just want access to the skills?
What?
2. Will I need to buy the PvP Access Kit to do PvP, or does it come with the Trilogy?
3. What exactly does the PvP Item Unlock Pack do? I'm looking at "will unlock all weapon upgrades, runes and insignias for your account. ", but does that mean I won't be able to upgrade my weapons for PvP without purchasing this (or, again, does it come with the Trilogy?)
The NCSoft Store of GW
SimplyQuestions
Nature Loves Me
1. I'm not 100% sure but I'm pretty positive they unlock the skills for PvP.
Edit: Meaning you won't have to unlock them yourselves, saving you time.
2. Comes with each game, including trilogy.
Edit: PvP access kit allows you to make a PvP Only character without buying the full game. You will eb able to PvP, but no PvE.
3. It unlocks everything it says it unlocks, but you don't need to buy it, you can unlock them yourself through PvP (Balthazar Faction) or PvE (Identifying unidentified items).
On a PvP character you can create your own armor and add to them upgrades that you have unlocked. Buying SKill Unlock Packs causes all the skills to be unlocked, meaning you can immediately use any skills on a PvP-only character.
PvE characters can not create their own PvP Armor.
If you are buying the trilogy, or any of the 3 Campaigns actually, do not buy the PvP access kit.
Like I said about PvP Only characters being able to create their own armor, the PvP Item unlock pack unlocks all the upgrades that are armor/weapon related.
Edit: Meaning you won't have to unlock them yourselves, saving you time.
2. Comes with each game, including trilogy.
Edit: PvP access kit allows you to make a PvP Only character without buying the full game. You will eb able to PvP, but no PvE.
3. It unlocks everything it says it unlocks, but you don't need to buy it, you can unlock them yourself through PvP (Balthazar Faction) or PvE (Identifying unidentified items).
On a PvP character you can create your own armor and add to them upgrades that you have unlocked. Buying SKill Unlock Packs causes all the skills to be unlocked, meaning you can immediately use any skills on a PvP-only character.
PvE characters can not create their own PvP Armor.
If you are buying the trilogy, or any of the 3 Campaigns actually, do not buy the PvP access kit.
Like I said about PvP Only characters being able to create their own armor, the PvP Item unlock pack unlocks all the upgrades that are armor/weapon related.
LicensedLuny
Ok, what you've asked is actually pretty tricky to explain to someone brand new to GW. 
I tried writing out an explantion. It got really long and still seemed unclear, so instead I'm going to refer you to this page on the official wiki.
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Unlock
If you intend to play mostly PvE at first, start without the PvP unlock pack. PvP doesn't require the unlock pack(s) - those packs simply let a new account start out able to use any skill or weapon/armor upgrade without having to unlock them using faction or PvE play. You're still able to play PvP without the unlock packs - it will simply mean you don't start out with every skill and upgrade available.
While not impossible to jump into first, PvP in GW can be pretty intense. Most folks will advise you to play PvE for a while first, just to get used to the general controls and interface. I've played PvE in GW for about 3.5 years, unlocked every skill and upgrade, and I still feel like a babe in the woods on the rare occasions I play PvP.
For the individual questions ...
1) If you buy the unlock packs, the skills are immediately available for any PvP-only character you make and any heroes for your PvE characters. It does not immediately give all the skills to your PvE characters, although it can make some available to PvE characters significantly earlier on in the storyline. The packs are for people that want to start PvP'ing without having to unlock everything and for people that want their heroes to be able to use all the skills right off the bat. There's another option to buy just a PvP version of the game I think. I don't know if it comes with unlocks or not, but it does mean you cannot play any of the PvE content.
2) You can PvP with just about any version of the game. The Trilogy without the unlock packs will still let you PvP and use any skills you learn while PvE'ing or unlock with Balthazar faction (a reward for PvP kills and victories.)
3) You can use weapon and armor upgrades on your PvP characters that are unlocked on your account. Without the unlock packs, this just means you'll have to unlock some of them by identifying loot dropped in PvE or spending Balthazar faction. Here's a link to the article about PvP equipment.
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/PvP_equipment
Welcome to GW!
I tried writing out an explantion. It got really long and still seemed unclear, so instead I'm going to refer you to this page on the official wiki.http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Unlock
If you intend to play mostly PvE at first, start without the PvP unlock pack. PvP doesn't require the unlock pack(s) - those packs simply let a new account start out able to use any skill or weapon/armor upgrade without having to unlock them using faction or PvE play. You're still able to play PvP without the unlock packs - it will simply mean you don't start out with every skill and upgrade available.
While not impossible to jump into first, PvP in GW can be pretty intense. Most folks will advise you to play PvE for a while first, just to get used to the general controls and interface. I've played PvE in GW for about 3.5 years, unlocked every skill and upgrade, and I still feel like a babe in the woods on the rare occasions I play PvP.
For the individual questions ...
1) If you buy the unlock packs, the skills are immediately available for any PvP-only character you make and any heroes for your PvE characters. It does not immediately give all the skills to your PvE characters, although it can make some available to PvE characters significantly earlier on in the storyline. The packs are for people that want to start PvP'ing without having to unlock everything and for people that want their heroes to be able to use all the skills right off the bat. There's another option to buy just a PvP version of the game I think. I don't know if it comes with unlocks or not, but it does mean you cannot play any of the PvE content.
2) You can PvP with just about any version of the game. The Trilogy without the unlock packs will still let you PvP and use any skills you learn while PvE'ing or unlock with Balthazar faction (a reward for PvP kills and victories.)
3) You can use weapon and armor upgrades on your PvP characters that are unlocked on your account. Without the unlock packs, this just means you'll have to unlock some of them by identifying loot dropped in PvE or spending Balthazar faction. Here's a link to the article about PvP equipment.
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/PvP_equipment
Welcome to GW!