Is Guild Wars worth it for the Carebear player? - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Rathmaker

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2010

16 May 2010 at 20:00 - 1

Hello there! I have played many MMOs over the years, but I have never tried Guild Wars. Just recently the local Wal-Mart I work at started to carry a Guild Wars complete collection that contains all the Guild Wars games for $40.00. It has got me interested into looking into GW.

The one major concern I have is that whether Guild Wars has enough content to keep a player that is almost entirely PvE oriented interested in the game for a long period of time. I love to explore a world, and experience a story when playing a game. I am not a huge fan of PvP (although if I found it fun that could possibly change in the future

.

Does Guild Wars have alot to keep a player satisfied at the end game, or is it mainly just PvP at the end?

Thanks!

Rathmaker

Mintha Syl

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2010

16 May 2010 at 20:10 - 2

Welcome

I can only say, if you like to roam around and explore like you said this game is really good for you. Also, I think the story is one of the most articulated ones I've seen in a mmorpg. Sure it's not always solid but it's good enough and articulated if you also want to do secondary quests and everything else that has a place in lore.
And, if you look around, there's a lot of people whos' playing since the realise. Most complain there's not much to do after 5 years but well...it's 5 years

As for me I play from almost an year and I'm still at the beginning, and counting I only do pve...if you don't want to rush ahed there's really a lot of content!
I hope you're buying it, it's worth it in my opinion.

Aeronwen

not so much fell as.....

Join Date: Jan 2009

UK

bone

R/

16 May 2010 at 20:25 - 3

Well I am a pve player who is still happy after 4 years, I still have a lot I want to do.

I guess it all depends on you really. I would say go for it, its a great game.

vandevere

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2007

The Great State of Denial

W/Mo

16 May 2010 at 20:30 - 4

Right now, I think it's one of the better games out there for the PVE-type gamer...

Rathmaker

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2010

16 May 2010 at 20:34 - 5

Thanks for the replies! I must say that, from what i heard from fellow guild members in other games (WoW, LOTRO, etc.) I had a preconception of Guild Wars being PvP, but I am glad to see my first impressions of that is wrong.

The Josip

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2009

Me/

16 May 2010 at 20:39 - 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathmaker

Thanks for the replies! I must say that, from what i heard from fellow guild members in other games (WoW, LOTRO, etc.) I had a preconception of Guild Wars being PvP, but I am glad to see my first impressions of that is wrong.

I bought GW for PvP mostly, but PvP is just a very small segment of Guild Wars. And I don't think your fellow guild members even played GW.

Shayne Hawke

Departed from Tyria

Join Date: May 2007

Clan Dethryche [dth]

R/

16 May 2010 at 20:41 - 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathmaker

Thanks for the replies! I must say that, from what i heard from fellow guild members in other games (WoW, LOTRO, etc.) I had a preconception of Guild Wars being PvP, but I am glad to see my first impressions of that is wrong.

Guild Wars has particularly less-than-stellar high end PvP at the moment, and most of the attention as of late has been on PvE updates.

There's enough PvE content in the game to keep you playing without becoming bored for maybe one to two years, depending on how much time you put into it and how fast you go through it, and enough grind in the game to keep you in for another two to three, again depending on how much time you spend on it.

Eragon Zarroc

Atra estern?? ono thelduin

Join Date: Jan 2008

Madness Incarnate

[Duo]

W/P

16 May 2010 at 20:41 - 8

You will love the pve

Guild wars has rich stories for all of the campaigns and there is even a title that you can get for exploring 100% of the continents.

There are many people who only play the pve and never even go into pvp. Titles, quests, and missions will keep you interested in guild wars for a long time ;-).

caballo_oscuro

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2008

Aura

16 May 2010 at 20:41 - 9

many people get thousands of hours out of characters. I'm playing more than 4 years, still haven't done everything i want to and I rarely play pvp if ever. there's tonnes to do in pve.

There's 3 campaigns and an expansion which each have a storyline. there's a bonus mission pack with 4 extra missions with cool weapons. There's dozens of titles, several major end-game missions, hard mode, there's a set of bonus missions with an extra hero you get if you have the three campaigns.

In EoTN, there's a series of replayable dungeons and three side games, polymock, norn fighting tournament and dwarven brawling.

There's Challenge missions across the battle isles, in factions, nightfall and eotn with their own rewards.

There's loads of elite armour sets to acquire, loads of weapons, 26 heroes whose armour can be customised. characters who have Ranger as primary or secondary can acquire pets who can be levelled up and trained. They can be stored at the zaishen menagerie in the battle isles so all your characters can benefit from these pets.

There's also miniature characters of many of the creatures in the game, most of which are given as gifts at your character's birthday, but you can trade these with other people.

Oh and there's daily quests as well. And regular seasonal events like celebrating halloween and xmas, and weekend events which give you bonuses towards titles for instance.

Oh and there's books to record your progress on each campaign which you can submit for rewards towards titles and for money.

And there's exclusive weapons you can get only when your character completes a campaign.

And the Hall of Monuments in EoTN will have as yet unannounced rewards for characters in Guild Wars 2.

So yeah, tonnes of things you can do. You'll be kept busy for a while!

byteme!

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

On Earth

W/P

16 May 2010 at 20:47 - 10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathmaker

Does Guild Wars have alot to keep a player satisfied at the end game, or is it mainly just PvP at the end?

That's one thing you won't have to worry about. GW's PvE > PvP scene by a very very sizable margin.

MaTTTiMeX

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/Mo

16 May 2010 at 20:54 - 11

I apologize for somewhat hijacking the thread, but my question pertains to this persons as well, it sounds like there is a TON of PvE content. But my main question is, what is here at end-game? Are there raids similar to WoW or LoTRO?

snaek

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

16 May 2010 at 21:01 - 12

^gw offers ton of pve content, but (imo) wow offers better end-game content.

regarding pvp, gw used to be very pvp-oriented when it was originally released. today however, that is not the case.

The Josip

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2009

Me/

16 May 2010 at 21:03 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaTTTiMeX

I apologize for somewhat hijacking the thread, but my question pertains to this persons as well, it sounds like there is a TON of PvE content. But my main question is, what is here at end-game? Are there raids similar to WoW or LoTRO?

Guild Wars endgame begins after few days of gameplay. Entire GW PvE is basically endgame.

magao

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2008

Australia

Order of Pussycat Mountain [OPCM]

N/

16 May 2010 at 21:06 - 14

High-end ("Elite") areas and Hard Mode (that's the entire game including missions) are the two main endgame things, but (especially in Prophecies) there are many areas that the main storyline doesn't take you to and you can just explore.

And if you want to, there's also plenty of grind stuff (titles of various types) but it's entirely optional.

I've been playing for 3 years and still haven't finished Eye of the North (though I've finished the 3 campaigns multiple times each). I also find that I'll leave GW for a month or two, then come back and it's still fun.

snaek

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

16 May 2010 at 21:08 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Josip

Guild Wars endgame begins after few days of gameplay. Entire GW PvE is basically endgame.

thats not true... yes, you obtain max level (20) very early in the game, but being lvl 20 =/= end game.

Rhamia Darigaz

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2008

16 May 2010 at 21:36 - 16

If you're not interested in the story, or you've already completed it, the PvE sucks. There's very minimal character development; the design philosophy of the game is to be able to easily create a max-power character and then grow as a player. This works fine when your opponent is challenging and evolving with you, as in PvP (ideally), but PvE is just a series of monsters with different skills, all controlled by a predictable pushover of an AI. The bulk of end-game PvE consists of playing dress-up with your character or farming titles in hope that they will have any significance in Guild Wars 2, or that other people will respect you for them. Also, unless you have a group of friends that also plays, you'll be doing this alone or with jaded, unforgiving strangers.
Having said that, if you just want to explore the world and enjoy a new game, It's probably worth the $40.

Gabriel of Ravn

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2010

Virginia

None, retired to GW2.

W/A

16 May 2010 at 21:38 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaek

thats not true... yes, you obtain max level (20) very early in the game, but being lvl 20 =/= end game.

This is very true if now days I start a new character I'll work to get it level 20 just to be able to do actual things like the Elite Areas and Dungeons so once you hit level 20 then you can really start having fun with that character.

Skyy High

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: May 2006

R/

16 May 2010 at 21:52 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke

Guild Wars has particularly less-than-stellar high end PvP at the moment

Depends what you compare it to, IMO.

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

16 May 2010 at 22:04 - 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyy High

Depends what you compare it to, IMO.

Yeah. Even it's current state, no RPG comes close for organized play quality.

Of course that doesn't touch on the weakness of the casual formats, or how hard it is to organize teams of 8 people for long matches.

Bristlebane

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2008

Mo/

16 May 2010 at 22:30 - 20

Another good aspect of GW PvE is that you can take breaks much more easily than many other games. It's very quick to login and out, if you bring hench/heroes you can take breaks for hours (just be careful of not getting ambushed by roaming enemies), and after years of playing.. taking 2-3 months break is just as easily because you have no monthly fees to pay. So even if you play 1 hour a week or 20 hours a week, you can enjoy the game just as much.

usedsoul

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2010

16 May 2010 at 22:32 - 21

it was super worth it a few weeks ago steam had it on sale for 20!!! I would suggest checking half price books or something akin in your area for a reduced price copy.

jray14

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

NC, USA

Ohm Mahnee Pedmay [Hoom]

16 May 2010 at 22:48 - 22

Of course it depends on what floats your boat. If you think games like poker or bridge are boring because you've already seen all 52 cards, then maybe you're not cut out for this game

. But otherwise I think you'll have fun.

Personally I've enjoyed PvE for all 5 years now (half of it being a hiatus, but 2.5 years of solid playing time, 3700 hours racked up now). I think it'd take at least several weeks to play through all the campaigns on a single character (much more if you do lots of optional quests). Then you can try the same stuff with any of the 9 other character professions, which is almost like a different game because of the different playing styles. And you can start learning the numerous PvE endgame challenging areas, go for titles, get into trading, help guildmates, etc.

Gift3d

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2007

Las Vegas

Enraged Whiny Carebears [oR]

W/E

16 May 2010 at 22:58 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathmaker

Hello there! I have played many MMOs over the years, but I have never tried Guild Wars. Just recently the local Wal-Mart I work at started to carry a Guild Wars complete collection that contains all the Guild Wars games for $40.00. It has got me interested into looking into GW.

The one major concern I have is that whether Guild Wars has enough content to keep a player that is almost entirely PvE oriented interested in the game for a long period of time. I love to explore a world, and experience a story when playing a game. I am not a huge fan of PvP (although if I found it fun that could possibly change in the future

.

Does Guild Wars have alot to keep a player satisfied at the end game, or is it mainly just PvP at the end?

Thanks!

Rathmaker

Guild Wars' population is nauseatingly overrun with neurotic carebears. You'll fit in just fine.

Darcy

Never Too Old

Join Date: Jul 2006

Rhode Island where there are no GW contests

Order of First

W/R

16 May 2010 at 23:28 - 24

I don't play PvP - or at least only the PvE-style PvP. Yet I have 3600 hours over 50 months on my main character. And she is still not finished with everything she can accomplish.

I still haven't gotten through Frostmaw dungeon or killed Duncan in Normal Mode. I still haven't vanquished every explorable area in the game. I still need to get new armor for two of my Nightfall heroes so they can go into my Hall of Monuments. I still want to do Domain of Anguish and get a Torment weapon. I still need a few more titles maxed. I figure i'm good for another year before I can say I "finished" the game.

Mini Lich

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2009

ToA Polish District [PAY CONS]

Dhuum And Mallyx Are Waits Play [ToYs]

N/Mo

16 May 2010 at 23:44 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhamia Darigaz

If you're not interested in the story, or you've already completed it, the PvE sucks. There's very minimal character development; the design philosophy of the game is to be able to easily create a max-power character and then grow as a player. This works fine when your opponent is challenging and evolving with you, as in PvP (ideally), but PvE is just a series of monsters with different skills, all controlled by a predictable pushover of an AI. The bulk of end-game PvE consists of playing dress-up with your character or farming titles in hope that they will have any significance in Guild Wars 2, or that other people will respect you for them. Also, unless you have a group of friends that also plays, you'll be doing this alone or with jaded, unforgiving strangers.
Having said that, if you just want to explore the world and enjoy a new game, It's probably worth the $40.

And watch out for these type of people, they come and go, but us PvE people like to call them, PvP Flamers.

Bulletproof Maniac

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2009

We Carry Diseases [rat]

A/

17 May 2010 at 02:00 - 26

Practically the entire PvE content is end-game content

Bob Slydell

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2007

17 May 2010 at 02:47 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathmaker

Hello there! I have played many MMOs over the years, but I have never tried Guild Wars. Just recently the local Wal-Mart I work at started to carry a Guild Wars complete collection that contains all the Guild Wars games for $40.00. It has got me interested into looking into GW.

The one major concern I have is that whether Guild Wars has enough content to keep a player that is almost entirely PvE oriented interested in the game for a long period of time. I love to explore a world, and experience a story when playing a game. I am not a huge fan of PvP (although if I found it fun that could possibly change in the future

.

Does Guild Wars have alot to keep a player satisfied at the end game, or is it mainly just PvP at the end?

Thanks!

Rathmaker

I would have to say this is the game for you right now. If you keep to your word on liking to explore and enjoy a storyline, this game can't deliver possibly any more than that. I got a couple good years out of the game before I had explored and done all there was for PvE.

Malache

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2009

WI

[Grim]

Rt/

17 May 2010 at 03:59 - 28

I would say that it's definitely worth it. I played WoW for a while, along with a few other MMO's, but I got sick of the lag/cost and generally rude player base. I've been playing GW for a little over a year now, and have enjoyed it immensely. I'm not a big fan of PvP either, but there are tons of things to keep a PvE player busy for quite some time.

As an added note, of course every game has its elitist players and generally annoying people, but overall I'd have to say that the GW player base is by far the most helpful I've ever found. Getting yourself into a nice guild can make a big difference as well, because many of them are very willing to help out new players & host runs of the elite areas as well.

If you still aren't sure, try the free trial

jonnieboi05

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

Mableton, Georgia

Guild Ancestors Reunited [?????????]

17 May 2010 at 07:04 - 29

Long story short: Guild Wars will probably be the best $30 you've invested into a game in a long time.

Menlai Littiz

Academy Page

Join Date: Jan 2009

UK (Wales)

United in Battle [UIB]

W/

17 May 2010 at 11:10 - 30

Agreed with Jonnieboi .... tbf... you pay what $50 for CoD a couple of months after release... singleplayer is like 8 hours tops.. then you get into multiplayer sure its fine for a couple of weeks but it has nowhere near the longevity of GW (which imo is years) and its half the price! whereas WoW etc. have a long playtime too but end up costing 100's of dollars due to the price of buying the first game + expansions = a hefty price of around $60-$70 and then the money per month which is what $14.99 by the time you reach endgame content on WoW you've sunk a couple of hundred dollars...

Rathmaker

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2010

17 May 2010 at 11:32 - 31

Wow, I did not think this thread would garner this many responses. Thanks to all for them!

My interest got me looking around last night more, and I downloaded the free trial. I must say it was quite fun (although a little humorous when I found out there was not juming in the game lol). My "weekend" from work starts tomorrow, so I will be picking up then.

For Today, I will just play around and see things on my trial Ranger...

tealspikes

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2009

17 May 2010 at 19:08 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhamia Darigaz

If you're not interested in the story, or you've already completed it, the PvE sucks. There's very minimal character development; the design philosophy of the game is to be able to easily create a max-power character and then grow as a player. This works fine when your opponent is challenging and evolving with you, as in PvP (ideally), but PvE is just a series of monsters with different skills, all controlled by a predictable pushover of an AI. The bulk of end-game PvE consists of playing dress-up with your character or farming titles in hope that they will have any significance in Guild Wars 2, or that other people will respect you for them.

I have to agree with this. Guild Wars was designed from the ground up to be a PvP game, but right now you have a (predominantly) PvE game using those PvP mechanics, except against subpar AI opponents. Character customization in GW when compared to other MMOs (WoW, LoTRO) is almost purely cosmetic in order to keep the players on level ground (supposedly for PvP). This is why Anet dropped the last campaign (Utopia) to make GW2 - in order to cater to a PvE playerbase you need to make a PvE game - and no matter how much 'content' is added GW1 the core mechanics still revolve around PvP.

Costwise I would recommend it, your first few times through the campaign will probably be fun (if you can find people to team with) which is plenty of value for the $20 spent, but most of the PvE game beyond that is grind/farm/grind/farm. However if your time investment is more important, then you might be better off waiting for GW2.

Quaker

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Aug 2005

Canada

Brothers Disgruntled

17 May 2010 at 19:53 - 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by tealspikes

I have to agree with this. Guild Wars was designed from the ground up to be a PvP game, but right now you have a (predominantly) PvE game using those PvP mechanics, except against subpar AI opponents.

I don't know how you can make such a statement that's so obviously false. If GW was designed "from the ground up" to be a PvP game, then answer two simple questions:
1. Why is there no PvP during PvE as in games such as WoW, etc.?
2. Why is there so much PvE content, even in Prophecies?

If GW had been designed to be only a PvP game, there would be no real need for any PvE content.

Also, the statement that GW uses "PvP mechanics" is off-base. What would "PvE mechanics" be? You need to have some sort of "fighting mechanics" to battle AI PvE foes just as much as you need them to fight other players. In fact, imho, you would need more battle mechanics, such as the ability to block with your shield, duck, etc., to consider GW to have "PvP mechanics".

Guild Wars was obviously designed to appeal to both the PvP'er and PvE'er. Instead of having separate PvE-only servers, such as in WoW, they designed the game so that the PvE and PvP aspects were essentially two separate things.

snaek

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

17 May 2010 at 20:23 - 34

theres a lot of evidence of gw originally being very pvp-oriented.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quaker

1. Why is there no PvP during PvE as in games such as WoW, etc.?

the prophecies map used to be littered with pvp arenas, until they felt the to separate it completely and put everything in a separate map on the battle isles. even considering this, pvp and pve were meant to be separate, for example, you can create pvp characters right upon purchase. many other games require you to get past a certain point in pve before even being able to do pvp. pve had a storyline campaign with limited content, where the developers thought everyone would be doing pvp (some of the missions were considered "training missions" introducing pvp game mode mechanics). there was a pve end-game area, uw/fow, but entering these areas were dependent on how well your country did in pvp (hall of heroes gaining favour).

tbh, i think this question is not very relevant at all. just because the game modes were separate, doesn't mean they did not focus on one of the game modes more than the other. if anything, there is no "world" pvp because of the limits of gw's instanced game engine.

Quote:

2. Why is there so much PvE content, even in Prophecies?

i don't really feel the same way. playing through the storyline campaign, you'll find yourself going to very few areas to the point where you won't even be entering some zones. doing sidequests, won't even take you to every single area of the game. sure you can explore, but there is not much point to it other than for fun. also, like i mentioned earlier, the ability to play end-game content was decided by your country's ability to perform in pvp (hoh).

byteme!

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

On Earth

W/P

17 May 2010 at 21:04 - 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaker

I don't know how you can make such a statement that's so obviously false. If GW was designed "from the ground up" to be a PvP game, then answer two simple questions:
1. Why is there no PvP during PvE as in games such as WoW, etc.?
2. Why is there so much PvE content, even in Prophecies?

If GW had been designed to be only a PvP game, there would be no real need for any PvE content.

Also, the statement that GW uses "PvP mechanics" is off-base. What would "PvE mechanics" be? You need to have some sort of "fighting mechanics" to battle AI PvE foes just as much as you need them to fight other players. In fact, imho, you would need more battle mechanics, such as the ability to block with your shield, duck, etc., to consider GW to have "PvP mechanics".

Guild Wars was obviously designed to appeal to both the PvP'er and PvE'er. Instead of having separate PvE-only servers, such as in WoW, they designed the game so that the PvE and PvP aspects were essentially two separate things.

Actually GW was designed originally for PvP to be the end content. Anet just gave up too quickly (and with good reason). PvP was shrinking fast and once people realized what PvE had to offer most of us quit or jumped ship.

Most of the good PvPèrs have left the game. What you have nowadays are the leftovers. The best of a bad situation trying to play PvP. A top 10 guild won`t get the same kind of recognition as before since the pool of quality players have shrunken. That`s not to say there aren`t any good players but rather there are good individual players, just not enough of them collectively in a guild.