Tips and advice for a new player in Prophecies...

Critter667

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2009

Just looking for any tips and advice. I have had the game about a week. My first real character is a level 12 Elementalist/Monk which seems to be ok for soloing or guiding my party of henchmen, but who knows.

A few questions...

When should I worry about Collectors?
When do the better drops/items/weapons start to appear or do they not?
Should I get items mostly through quests or just luck?
Should I save all materials, or just sell the general junk?

I was run to Lion's Arch... when should I go try the other campaigns? Should I rush to finish this one first, or get to the others to access skills and such?

Should I focus only on quests, or is it worth it to go out and just kill what's around? Are there any recommended levels per quest such as say... level 12 should get you through to XXXXXXX mission with no problem?

I am enjoying the game, but I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything I should know or do already, and thanks all!

the_jos

the_jos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Hard Mode Legion [HML]

N/

Since you are new to the game I'm going to give you some advice:
You broke the storyline with your run to LA. That's ok, but you don't gain experience by doing that. I suggest you move back on track and play at least the missions that are between Ascalon and LA. Experience is far more than using powerfull skills or having the best gear around.

Collectors: the only ones I cared about were the armor collectors, but that was when there was only Prophecies. If you want the best armor you can easily go to NF or Factions and get it there nowadays. I would not recommend this for starting players since playing with high gear as it will make your gameplay more reckless/careless than it should be. The same goes for lvl20 heroes for owners of NF or EotN.
But I also have to be honest and say that it's slightly harder now to get the collector's armor because farming was somewhat nerfed. The armor collectors are on wiki.

When looking at level, when you are around the level of the henchies in the outpost it should be doable. Might take a few attempts but that's what's learning is all about.

Weapons: I always used things that dropped for me on casters. Few from quest rewards.
Things change with physicals. Casters should damage with skills, physicals with their weapons. For my old warrior I used collector weapons and cheap greens.

Good luck

poppu16

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

W/

Oh and yeah, wasn't necessary to make 2 posts.
You can edit previous to add more content on it (and you asked the same questions on both ~~).
You will have a better overview of people's responses.

Zodiac Meteor

Zodiac Meteor

Imma Firin Mah Rojway!

Join Date: Aug 2008

At the Mac Store laughing at people that walk out with anything.

E/Mo

When should I worry about Collectors?
No, most players will have greens (High rarity weapons) that go for 2-3k. Once you get farther into the game Collectors become useless entirely.

When do the better drops/items/weapons start to appear or do they not?
The strongest attack for a staff is 11-22, as an Elementalist you shouldn't be looking for higher damage staffs because your strong point is spells. If you see a monk using a spear/axe/sword, consider that a good thing because the last thing you want as a spell caster is 'wanding.'

Should I get items mostly through quests or just luck?
Quests are great for 2 things, one is the experience and the other is skills. Once you get to max level they become, like the collectors, useless. Although it is a great way to get skills after level 20.

Should I save all materials, or just sell the general junk?
I keep all my rare/common materials, you will be thankful when your new warrior needs 200 iron and 32 steel.

You are still in the tutorial and some parts can get hard. Whisper Zodiac Ele and I'll be happy to lend you a hand.

kupp

kupp

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2008

The Shiverpeaks

[KISS]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Critter667 View Post
Just looking for any tips and advice. I have had the game about a week. My first real character is a level 12 Elementalist/Monk which seems to be ok for soloing or guiding my party of henchmen, but who knows.

A few questions...

When should I worry about Collectors?
When do the better drops/items/weapons start to appear or do they not?
Should I get items mostly through quests or just luck?
Should I save all materials, or just sell the general junk?

I was run to Lion's Arch... when should I go try the other campaigns? Should I rush to finish this one first, or get to the others to access skills and such?

Should I focus only on quests, or is it worth it to go out and just kill what's around? Are there any recommended levels per quest such as say... level 12 should get you through to XXXXXXX mission with no problem?

I am enjoying the game, but I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything I should know or do already, and thanks all! You can worry about collectors early in the game, BUT only bother with the armor collectors. For weapons, you can get the same stuff or better by doing some quests wich give you XP at the same time, and by drops.

Better drop/weapons are always appearing the further you go into the game. If you mean the highest level stuff, on prophecies that won't happen until the Crystal Desert / Southern Shiverpeaks.

You should do quests, not for the weapons but for the XP. But whatever you get, be it through quests or drops, keep the best. Also, CUSTOMIZE IT! It's only 10g for a 20% damage bonus, you can't go wrong with that.

It's usually better to sell them unless you're looking for some specific materials that you need. Even with the high level drops it still compensates to sell them than salvaging, I believe.

Since you're new I'll also break things down for you in GW. You don't go out and kill what's around in this game since the XP gain is minimal, you gain XP by doing quests and missions. This is done on purpose to eliminate grinding (you know so you won't go on for a month to reach the next level by killing the same mindless mobs and and over like on most MMO's). What matters the most is your level than the skills you have. Of course they're very importante but you should focus on leveling up ALONG with getting new skills, one without the other will be useless. Keep in mind you can also get new skills in Prophecies as quests rewards, along with the XP and the casual weapon.

As for the right level, well while you're playing the game, you'll level up and even if you go through the missions without doing anything else you'll still be at the acceptable level for that are you're in, it's usually a few levels bellow the enemies you're facing. You shouldn't have gone to LA if you don't want to miss out on anything as you just skipped 1/4 of that game, but it's no problem. Just go back to where you were and keep playing the game normally, you'll eventually get there like you should.

Finally, as for other campaings, well it's up to you but the advisable for a new player is to do them in proper order. Finish prophecies first before moving on to factions, then to nightfall, then to EOTN. Once you reach level 20 you won't be really at any disadvantage like you would when switching campaings at a lower level, but still it's easier to do what I just said. Also keep in mind, you can get free skills in prophecies by quests, but in all other campaigns you have to buy them from skill trainers, wich will get expensive. The price keeps increasing the more you buy, topping at 1k per skill.

Swahnee

Swahnee

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2008

Italy

Mo/

"When should I worry about collectors?"
I found armor collectors very useful only before reaching the last outposts, where you can craft max armor. Remember, in fact, that collectors' armors in tyria and cantha can't be upgraded with insignias (http://guildwars.wikia.com/wiki/Collector).

I found collector's weapons very useful too, but only if they have maxed stats (which means only in the last areas of the game). However, i use collectors' weapons when i need a specific weapon with a specific mod: if you haven't any preference on mods and such you can simply use drops, as long as they have max stats.