Is it too late to start playing GW?

Is it too late to start playing guild wars? Is anything impossible, or harder to do if I started now?

I would have an interest in meeting other players in game to do pvp, and some pve with would it be hard to do any of this if I bought the game today?

I keep hearing it's a dead game.. Though I don't know. I was on the trial, and saw some people.

Also if I buy from Steam do I get that M.O.X. or whatever?

I really need an opinion on if I should buy this or what. I've played so many other MMOs, but they fail to amuse me. This Dual-Class thing seems nice, and my friend said this game is good with pvp, but dated.

Any opinions?

No, it's not too late. Understand that the people on this forum who say that have been here from the beginning, and have become jaded and bored because they've done everything. All the content that everyone found fun is still there, and more is still being added (albeit slower than everyone would like).

Grouping will be difficult for a lot of PvE content, unless you get a guild, but the low-level areas are actually more populated now than they've been for, I'd guess, two years....because of all the hype surrounding GW2. PvP takes time and practice to really get into; if you are willing to learn from experienced players, there are some guilds willing to teach you, but you really need to have at least a cursory understanding of the game first, and (imo) the best place to learn that (read: die a lot figuring out what works) is PvE.

The game is mostly dead in certain areas. Some places are still crowded, like certain missions on a day when there's a quest for them, or high end areas.
As for PvP, it is getting more and more deserted. Although there are efforts right now to get life back into them, they're getting emptyer every day, even though GW PvP is pretty awesome imo.
In PvE, you will find that there are a lot of players still playing the game, but in order to meet with them, it's a good idea to find a Guild that suits your playstyle. More often than not, people do tasks in the game using so-called Heroes, NPC-controlled characters that you can slot with your chosen skills and equipment. These NPCs have shifted the game away from group play a bit, and in combination with the decreasing difficulty of many aspects of the game are creating a situation where a lot of people just play with heroes.

Still, if you find a bunch of like-minded people, GW is still very fun to play and I can definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to start out. It's a lot of playtime for your money.

Can you play the game as it was played 4 years ago

No because there are just not as many players in the game playing through the missions, or at least they are so outnumbered by those playing just for titles and filling the hall of monuments ready for gw2.

But the pve part of the game is perfectly possible its just a lot of the time you have to play with computer help or find some friends who want to play gw too.
If your buying it mainly for pvp I would say you will be disappointed because without a few changes I am told much of it is dead.

GW 2 is probably at least late 2011 more likely mid 2012 plenty of time to enjoy this game and fill your own hom if you want to.

I only just started in October. I've had no problem finding people to play with even though, ironically, part of the reason why I began playing to start with was because I didn't HAVE to party up with anyone else if I didn't want to.

I keep hearing everyone saying how "dead" the game is. Compared to a few years ago when apparently there were 10+ districts full of people at each outpost... yes, it's "dead" compared to then. That doesn't mean there aren't still tons of people playing or partying up... it just means there aren't as many as there once were.

I find this game extremely enjoyable, and part of that is because a lot of the elements I dislike in most MMOs (towns full of punk kids with entitlement complexes who can't type in complete sentences mouthing off, cussing, calling others "n00b," griefing, scamming, etc.) are nearly non-existent.

I'm also enjoying working on my Hall of Monuments things so I can get the bonuses when GW2 comes out.

I like being able to play at my own pace, exploring the content, advancing through the chapters. I am having fun working on my titles/HoM stuff. And I enjoy grouping up with a few awesome people I've met when time/schedules allow.

I don't know anything about the PvP side of things, but I don't really see how anyone can truly say the PvE side is "dead" when it CAN be played single-player OR multi-player and plenty of people are still doing both every day.

Agree with the Gizzy, the people left and the new people playing are nearly all mature players. There are also active guilds to join if you like.

I am sure you will want to try GW 2 when it comes out, no release date yet but probably very late this year. But when GW 2 does come out, GW 1 will not go away. It will be around for a very long time to come.

I am one of the older ones, started back in '06.. Compared to then, yeah, it's dead, but back then, there would be 5 groups forming in nearly any mission outpost on evening hours.. It isn't comparable..

However, I never stopped having fun while playing GW, I am one of those that just, stays around^^ I am a very active player, and am still trying to improve my playstyle^^

Never really got into PvP though, kind of a harsh environment to walk into when you're not very experienced.. High-end PvE is kind of the thing I'm doing now.. And will be doing till GW2 comes out

dead....not doing as well, but not dead...can you start now, heck yeah--its actually EASIER to play now than it was 5 years ago in some areas. (pve--the introduction of heroes et.al.) and with the zaishen bounties and quests some areas are still very very active.

its a great game, give it a try and you shall see how much fun you can have!

It's definitely not too late. I am playing this game for a few months now and I find it very enjoyable. As I don't have much time, I am quite happy playing with with heroes/ henchmen, they don't complain when you leave during a mission. But I think you can still find people for quests and missions if you want. Can't say anything about PVP though.

It's 3:30 AM. That's a bit late. Start tomorrow.

A little about me, my history of MMO's is Wow to WAR to Aion and now to GW.

It's definitely not too late...you can pick up GW today and be all geared up in 1 day (unlike other MMO's). Obtaining alll the skills might take a little longer but it won't stop you from getting a working build ready in no time (http://www.gwpvx.com/PvX_wiki for tips on builds) and nothing like other games where it takes months and months for you to be able to experience the high level content...well, maybe it might take some time to get into HM (or worse HM DoA), but then it's nothing compared to the time of other games...

I just started playing GW's ~3 months ago now...and I'm still playing and having a blast.

In regards to PvP, there are a lot of options...You might not be able to GvG or HA because you need a lager group (and a guild or invite for GvG), but there are enough other pvp options to keep you (it's keeps me) busy and interested - FA, JQ, AB, RA, CA (and ZE if you want to count that).

If you plan on playing GW2, there is the Hall of Monuments accomplishments/rewards that you can work on and will really keep you busy

Lastly, they incorporate into daily quests the missions and pvp. It's very easy to find a PUG to the daily quests with (I find it more challenging this way, even though GW has the BEST PUG groups in any game I've played )

Late...

PS - http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Main_Page for more game info, skills, maps, tips, tricks, etc...

I think some people like saying it's a dead game just because they can't call it a noob. It's not like it'll be you and 10 other people online at any one time, still loads of players and many new ones, no doubt wanting the Hall of Monument goodies for GW2, if you join a decent Guild, nothing is impossible or too late

see these comments? they are really very true so don't hesitate and start playing and enjoying GW. Good luck

That depends....

If you're talking PvP, I suspect that the answer is yes. But, since I don't PvP, I don't really know.

If you're talking PvE, I'd say NO. The game is not what it once was in many ways, but it's also a lot cheaper than it was. It's definitely worth the money.

It's too late, don't bother and spend your money on better games.
This is coming from a player who does both pve and pvp and u would be dissapointed quickly in the game.
Sorry, but the game quality is reduced significantly and not worth buying anymore.

My advice is to join a guild as soon as possible. Don't rush it, though. Take your time, feel a few of them out, then join the best one. Your enjoyment of the game will be enhanced greatly.

I am surprised at how many people are (still) playing the game, when I go to towns that I expect to be empty and are not. And these are not the towns/missions that have the Zaishen quests going on in or out of.

I have been playing almost since the release of Guild Wars, and I still very much enjoy playing and working on my Hall of Monuments. One thing I still need to work on it the PvP statue. I mostly PvE. But I can say that PvE is NOT dead at all, just not as populated as it was when the game first came out!

Lately I have met some great people that have made the game new again for me, so I am enjoying it more now then ever

The game is not dead, though through game mechanics designed for the core audience of "old timers" the game is not played how it once was.
As other have said, try your hand at PvE first. You'll learn the basics, and be able to join a guild (hopefully that is in an alliance) that will help you progress.

The one thing I would recommend is that if you commit to playing that you commit to buying all the campaigns plus the EotN expansion. You could get by with just the orignal Guild Wars game (referred to as Prophecies) and the EotN expansion, but I highly recommend the complete set (I believe it's quite affordable on Steam and you get MOX like you mentioned.

At first I recommend relying on your guildies to power level you to 20, and get you in the right direction. By that time you should be good to sandbox your way through the game(s).
The key to success that every good player has, is patience. You'll find areas that will kill you in seconds the first time you try them (anyone else has fond rememberances of their first times to the UW or Urgoz's Warren?) and once you learn builds and find other exp. players to group with, you'll find them to be mind numbingly simple.

I started playing recently, also (probably around November), and I'm having a great time. I'm not into PvP and I live with someone who started playing at the same time as me, so maybe that's why the game is so fun for us, but we're enjoying it a lot.

Put simply if you can find 1 real life person who will play with you nothing in GW is impossible and a great deal of fun can be had.

However if you are alone you may have some long waits for people to play with when doing certain things but most of the time you will find a group eventually.

Actually, you will just use Heroes and Henchmen - no waiting.

I think the people who say its dead do so because they remember better times. But that doesn't mean it still can be great fun for a new player to discover all the great areas, foes and what not. I'm starting to find it boring because I've almost done everything I like in the game. I'm not starting to find it boring because I can't find anyone to play with. There are still enough players to go around with, just find a decent guild or group of friends and go out on adventure ^^ I mean, its not like it takes 20000 people to form a group. Just have 2 or 3 buddies in the same timezone, add heroes, and you'll probably have a great time.