I'm the epitome of a noob.

I just bought Guild Wars yesterday, and I am starting to get a feel for the gameplay, but I really need a solid PvE build to start me off. I bought the trilogy, so I am starting with the first campaign. I just want help with which primary and secondary profession to choose for PvE, and a solid build which would give me a solid damage output.
Also, I was trying to find some builds, and some would say something like "expertise 12+1+1". What does this mean? And do I unlock more skills once a certain attribute gets higher?
Sorry I know this is a lot to ask...

1) expertise 12+1+1 means 12 (attribute) + 1 (minor rune, could be 2 or 3 if major or superior runes were used) + 1 (helmet bonus)

2) You don't learn skills by increasing your attributes. You learn skills by buying them from skill trainers and from quests that list them as rewards. There are other ways, but nothing you need to worry about now.

3) Regarding builds: Read the rules before posting. Also read this: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/g...t10432242.html

Don't worry about builds too much now anyway. Get used to how things work, optimise later. You won't have access to many skills now anyway so posting builds is rather pointless.

The whole 12+1+1 is a abbreviation for attribute point allocations; the cap for investing points in an attribute is 12, but you can increase it with a headpiece (all headgear add a point for a certain attribute) and runes that attach to armor(which can increase from 1-3 depending on if you want to use a minor (+1, no penalty), major(+2, small health penalty), or superior (+3, large health penalty).

You unlock more skills either through certain quest rewards (these are mainly in prophecies and eye of the north), buying them through skill trainers, playing pvp and using balthazaar faction, or buying a capture signet from a skill trainer and using it on a boss in a area.

If you're first starting out, pick a profession you think sounds neat and play through the game- there's no need to try and optomize your character with your first playthrough and it's quite easy to level up another character. I'd reccomend starting out with a warrior, necromancer, or monk, since they are easy to get into, but YOU should be the one that makes the choice, not a forum. Once you find a profession you like, level to 20 and post your build on the proper campfire subforum (people will tear you apart fyi)

Welcome to guild wars and the happiest forum on earth!

bah, marty beat me to it

Besides this forum, bookmark:

http://guildwars.wikia.com
http://pvx.wikia.com

In game, you can always type in the chat window, "/wiki [whatever]" to brink up the official wiki page on anything you have a question about.

Since you bought the trilogy, I would recommend you start a Nightfall character since you can get heroes right off the bat.

As far as professions go, I would recommend you create several characters right away and maybe play them all a little bit. Personally I started with a ranger which is pretty versatile, so that's my personal recommendation but all the professions are worthwhile to try out at some point. Also with Nightfall, you will be able to change your secondary fairly early compared to other campaigns so I wouldn't stress the secondary too much.

Most importantly join a friendly guild that welcomes new people. They can give you advice and help you out.

What do you mean i can get heroes right away in nightfall?

Heroes are customisable henchmen. You don't get them in the Prophecies or Factions campaigns. If you start a character in Nightfall, you start getting them straight away instead of going through a chunk of the game and jumping across.

No, it is not a lot to ask, we are glad to help. Right now my advice to you is to just enjoy the game, try out all different kinds of professions and then stick to the one that you feel is right for you. FORGET about having a solid build, because I guarantee you that 80% of people who start a new character DO NOT have a solid build. This is because as a new character you do not have access many skills. What everyone does is, create a balanced build with the skills that you have access to. As you keep playing the game, you will be able to buy new skill (yes you have to buy them....most of the time). Don't worry about the "expertise 12+1+1", this is mainly for higher level of game-play. There is no such thing as a "right primary and secondary " profession. You should find yourself a very helpful guild, this will make things a lot easier. I would like to suggest that you START OUT playing GW Prophecies b/c it had THE BEST beginning of any GW games, absolutely amazing!! But I don't prefer Prophecies, b/c it has a VERY VERY slow "game progression" or w/e you want to call it. Like everyone above me has said "Nightfall", is the way to go. This is because it has Heroes, which are your very own customizable companions. Heroes have destroyed the social element of GW, b/c with them a player can complete the whole story without ever needing help from another player. So if you do Prophecies' story line, you will find that no one will want to join your group and help you, b/c they have Heroes. That is not to say that they won't be some people who will. I can go on and on, but hopefully you get the idea, so enjoy the game.
OH and **hint**hint** You should probably create an assassin, b/c when you get to higher level PvE, sins (assassins) are THE MOST used profession in the game, and that is a big understatement!!!!! And use this site, as it has everything about the game: http://guildwars.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

Is that still true anymore with all the nerfs? Plus, I'm not sure how much I recommend a sin to a new player. I actually had a hard time with my sin when I first started out.

Yes, it is still true. The nerf to SF was was huge, but it still works. Anet would never make SF obsolete, that would destroy all of GW. And of course you are right Sins are a total pain in the ass when you first start out. I absolutely hated them when I first tried them. So ya, sTmahaly44, don't start playing as an assassin until you feel you are ready, unless you want to.

Ok thanks so much guys. Im a R/N and I like it so far. I just put all my points in marksmanship and ill start expertise next

putting points in expertise will help with your energy. that is the energy managment of the ranger. i would advise putting points in that

Speak for yourself; I'm a grumpy curmudgeon.
Seriously though, now is no time to be worrying about... well, much of anything. For now, just learn how the game mechanics work an how the monster AI behaves.

I dunno if it was already mentioned, but don't worry too much about attribute point allocation. Unlike some other MMOs, you can respec in Guild Wars as many times as you like...and that means changing skills, secondary profession (when you reach a certain point), and changing the attributes you have whenever you like....as long as you're in a town/mission outpost.

I agree!!!!!! This was the hardest Profession to use at the start, BUT after the I got several skills that allow me to shine. i now use my sin more than any-other char because of the farming ability and the running he can do and the max damage he can put out. Even after NERF Shadowfarm still RULES

if you are just starting.

BLACK DYE is worth more to sell to other players than the merchant. The merchant price is 1 gold but people pay upwards of 7,500 gold in the starting area of Prophecies.

I know that was a bit off topic but I wish someone woud have told me that when I afirst started.

Like Divine Ashes said above, in GW, you are allowed to move points around. For example, you can take a bunch of points off marksmanship and put then into expertise or any other attribute. This can only be done in a town/outpost. So basically your attribute points are NOT BOUND to the attribute that you put them in.

Welcome to GW! This is an amazingly fun game.

A ranger is a good choice to start, although not the easiest. I think it takes a while to play a ranger well. Most people go with beast mastery and a pet, but after awhile you'll realize that your ranger's best asset is interrupting and spreading conditions such as poison. It's good to put some points into Marksmanship but you should--right away--put some in expertise. That attribute, the main attribute for rangers, really decreases the amount of energy a ranger uses for each spell, so for now, I would balance my attributes between marksmanship and expertise instead of loading up on one. You might even find yourself getting low on energy a lot, putting attribute points into expertise will help save energy. Trapping is fun but you won't use that much until way later in the game. I won't go into it now.

I don't recommend an assassin like someone mentioned. Too many of them are played badly and it's VERY hard to get into a PuG (pick up group). Very few people want assassins. If you enjoy grouping with real people, the easiest characters are monks, rits, necros, and warriors.

My advice. play through prophecies first n learn the basics. When you get comforable, start a mesmer. Youll be one of the most hated classes in gw. its the best feeling.