Guild Wars: Factions Interview

Lasareth

Lasareth

Aquarius

Join Date: Jun 2005

Somewhere between Boardwalk and Park Place

Hot off the press

http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=133721

death fuzzy

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

Nefarius Union

the new screenshots are quite nice.

LaserLight

LaserLight

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

La La Land

[NOVA]

A/

"Alliance Missions, in which players co-operate to take ownership of public towns for their alliance"

Alliance, not faction. That's both good and bad, methinks.

Good, in the fact that since so few players can have control of a town at a single time, the game's pricing and such has to be balanced to permit non-controlling players to function.

Bad, in the fact that nobody's ever gonna get a town out from under alliances full of top 50 Guilds >_>. If the Factions versions of Underworld and Fissure of Woe are only accessible via Alliance control, then ninety-nine point nine percent of players of never, ever going to see it.

Gee, thanks Anet. I'm sure iQ and all the other World Championship-level Guilds are jumping for joy. The rest of us are kinda annoyed, though.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by LaserLight
Gee, thanks Anet. I'm sure iQ and all the other World Championship-level Guilds are jumping for joy. The rest of us are kinda annoyed, though.
My thoughts exactly.

I hope that these Alliances don't break the fun of GW.

It's funny, in the end of the interview, he claims the whole point of games is to have fun... but if I am being penalized for not being in a top tier guild, where is the fun in that?

Sai of Winter

Sai of Winter

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

[ale]

Mo/

I think other allianced guilds can visit towns that are controlled by the opposing alliance, because it said Elite Missions can only have the alliance guilds that are controlling the towns enter.
Quote:
In Factions, allied guilds can take ownership of towns within the territory that their faction controls. Within these towns are portals to high-level co-operative missions (with a correspondingly high-level of loot!), called Elite Missions, that are accessible only by members of the guild alliance that controls that town.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

That's exactly the problem. Only the elite guilds will have access to elite loot.

Soul Shaker

Soul Shaker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

Sunshine Coast, Australia

Soul Crusaders

so, the top 50-100 guilds will have something. now, the other 5000 or so will get nothing. Smart. Trust me, if it's like this they will be forced to change it or risk losing customers for chapter 3.

LaserLight

LaserLight

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

La La Land

[NOVA]

A/

Yeah, it's serious bull. Currently, everyone can play Underworld/Fissure and such, so long as a high-level Guild corresponding to their country won enough Halls for them. But this alliance-control/Elite mission thing...no way.

Those things will never - ever - be available to anything but elite players, no matter what. I'm as certain that iQ and other top-tier Guilds will never ally with lower-echelon Guilds just to give them a crack at the Elite missions as I am that the sky is blue. So it's beg for a slot in a high-level Alliance and hope it works out, or give up on it altogether.

Anet, you screwed this sucker over big-time. Fix or die.

Arcanis the Omnipotent

Arcanis the Omnipotent

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2005

Nova Alliance

Me/

Your not looking at the other way this could turn out

Alliance A
Alliance B
Alliance C


Join one, or your guild gets left behind.

Sai of Winter

Sai of Winter

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

[ale]

Mo/

We can probably still get great loot by doing regular missions, quests and farming. Elite Missions seems like HoH, but PvE style. Just have to wait and see.

LaserLight

LaserLight

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

La La Land

[NOVA]

A/

I don't care about loot, I care about content. Loot can be had by trading with the controlling Guilds; the experience of playing Elite missions can't be traded. ArenaNet has no right to shut out everyone who can't beg for a slot in a Guild that doesn't want new players. It's bull, I say! Bull!

Savio

Savio

Teenager with attitude

Join Date: Jul 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

You realize that control is not purely PvP anymore?

Quote:
Challenge Missions: Co-operative missions with specific scoring objectives, such as holding out against progressive waves of enemies. We will track and display personal bests and high scores and display them in-game.
Quote:
An alliance gains faction through both PvP Faction Battles and co-operative Alliance Missions and Challenge Missions, so the most successful guilds will have a diverse membership of hardcore PvP players, role-players, and players who enjoy both.
Those PvPers are either going to get out their farming gear or get some PvE players to help them too.

LaserLight

LaserLight

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

La La Land

[NOVA]

A/

Point being that the hardcore PvE-ers who want access to those co-op missions aren't going to join little NOVA or any other small Guild; they'll charge straight for the highest-level PvP guilds and offer their services there. There's no getting around the fact that somehow, some way, little people are going to get raped in this edition and it's just not cool.

Loki Gladius

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

[KOTL]

Im worried ... My guild consists of 5 people, 4 of which are active. Were all friends that live in the same area.. I love guildwars and going to buy factions, but i cant stop thinking that how are we going to play these new game types if no-one will allie with us?..

I just wanna be able to access these areas. Recruiting for our guild isnt really a choice because we dont want to control a guild, just want one that consists of friends we know.

I think more clear information needs to be released for people like us

Sai of Winter

Sai of Winter

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

[ale]

Mo/

I think there isn't a limit to how many allies we can align with, but we have to wait and see to experience the game before we make any conclusions.

Mandy Memory

Mandy Memory

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2005

USA

Xen of Sigils [XoO]

W/

Its done by alliance...just switch alliances

And it said that you get the faction for control from a mix of pve and pvp...dont worry yet

Vermilion Okeanos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

I don't think Anet are that dumb (or forceful) to do what it seem to be interpreted by most people.

Com'on, they made GW, give them some credit. For all you know, joining alliance might be just a matter of registering at some NPC (like guild register) with a list of alliance that you can join.

Also, I do remember they talked about "set skills" (I assume like that of wintersday snowball fight) in those mission for balance. That means even some random PvEr got a shot in beating a seasoned PvP players (as they won't have such curve of FoTM etc).

Atomox

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jul 2005

Dark Hearts of Valor

Mo/E

It seems to me that when they speak of alliances, they mean that you may align with one of the three warring factions, not simply thousands of tiny Guild alliances. I'm sure Arena Net is smarter than that. They couldn't aliennate so many people.

What I am curious about is what exactly keeps guilds from swapping alliances every minute when they want to access a new special area.

Wrath Of Dragons

Wrath Of Dragons

Burninate Stuff

Join Date: Aug 2005

New Mexico

E/Mo

wow. ben out for like 2 hours and people are already whining. imagine what would happen if GW had some PLAN behind this, and are not going to just cater to top guilds. just some food for though...
props to ANet. looks awesome, cant wait!

seut

seut

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Europa

The favor system is the biggest mistake in current GW. Ecluding people from content, when friends are online and want to play together is NO FUN. Moreover it's the source of much hatred and racism.
Does Anet learn from this? Apparently NOT
Elite content only for an elite few.
I played without being in a guild for some months. What happens to guildless people?

Ensign

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

w00t, time to fire up the iQ farming division. =)

BellyFlop

BellyFlop

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

This guy sounds like a robot always saying the same thing no matter how many interviews they do.

why giving interviews if they all say the same?

just 2 days ago same thing on the podcast game on.

Its getting boring, i wish there was a really guild wars player asking the questions as well cos all they ask is the same boring stuf!!!.

i like the terms they use to ask question most of this terms are the ones that are used in WoW and not GW .

thelessa

thelessa

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

Texas

Purple Puzycats

R/Mo

It is looking like my little 2 person guild is going to just see about 1/3 of chapter2. sigh......

EternalTempest

EternalTempest

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

United States

Dark Side Ofthe Moon [DSM]

E/

If your faction (there is only two… and your guild picks one) controls that area (and it's not all all or nothing) = gain access
vs
Does your server have favor (for all advanced areas)

Now coming from the American server and when I play we seem to always control it all the time I could go "I don't like the new system".

Truth is I think its more fair that if you are aligned to that faction (be it a guild of 3 members) your area controls access to it you get it, I think this is a vast improvement.

Everything they are showing is small guilds for other stuff can group together and not have to form one big one.

I came from FFXI and they had a conquest system (it didn't deny you from access but gave nice perks to the country that controlled the region) so this idea is not that foreign to me. Instead of three countries in FFXI, GW has two factions w/ a neutral countries.

We don't have the full system yet and I trust Anet (or if they botch it, to fix it quickly) myself.
I'm in that small guild of 5 people that know each other situation too.

I'm also looking forwars to the cross content that the faction preview in Gamming world where you go to Lions arch and meet some npcs too from the C2 perspective.

devils wraths

devils wraths

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

the fianna [fi]

E/Mo

i think the factions is bull the max level is staying 20

Rogmar

Rogmar

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by devils wraths
i think the factions is bull the max level is staying 20
Lol...Go play WoW.
The bad thing is if your guild choses a faction you don't want to be in, it kind of ruins your playing experience. I hope I won't have to leave to get the right faction .

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ensign
w00t, time to fire up the iQ farming division. =)
double that woot Ensign because you missed the farm report announcing a complete crop failure compounded by low stock on hand.

shevaa

shevaa

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

N/Mo

Ok I might be wrong but I don't think anet would do that to us. Here is how I see it (again this is just my thoughts).


Quote:
The Luxons and Kurzicks have a tremendous hatred for one another. The reasons for this stem mostly from a dispute over resources. Each side currently controls lands and resources that the other would like to get a hold of, and as a consequence, they are at a constant state of war. Players will be able to ally with either one of these nations, thus creating a system in which guild wins advance the cause of one side or the other, changing the political face of the world.
So I am thinking that this would be what the consider the "alliance". I think you can have smaller guild alliances within the overall alliance (ie. your guild and your friends guild) but say IQ decides to "ally" with the Luxons and your allied with the Luxons as well then when IQ wins you would also get access to those areas.

Kakumei

Kakumei

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2005

Grind is subjective

learn this please

I love how the game isn't even slated to be out for at least another couple months or so, and people are ALREADY complaining.

Jesus. Give it some time.

BellyFlop

BellyFlop

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
i think the factions is bull the max level is staying 20
I think and this is what I think, that this is one the good things about GW, I play WoW and people scream that they don’t lv fast enough , I play WoW not because u can get to lv60 I just play cos it’s a more complete PvE game. Plus I got bored of GW after 8 months playing it.

I like to take my time and don’t need to be rushed that’s why I don’t pay for runners in GW that’s a good way to enjoy the game to the max.

After all they want to release 2 games a year so I think lv20 is more than enough, but again my opinion and u are entitle to yours.

Pevil Lihatuh

Pevil Lihatuh

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Yorkshire, UK

R/Me

it's always been 20, it always will be. it was stated before the game was released.

Anyway I agree with Kakumei. Wait til the game is out, you play it and hate it before you moan. ANything can sound good or bad on paper.

devils wraths

devils wraths

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

the fianna [fi]

E/Mo

dont get me wrong i think guild wars is a great game its just i would like to see a lvl increase for our lvl 20 chars i mean if the new creatures are no doubt going to be higher level but this could mean they can be like 30 lvls higher than u. this could mean no farming in factions

Oronar

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2005

The article seemed to make a clear distinction between factions controlling areas and alliances controlling areas. Factions are not the same as alliances. Alliances, from what I understand, belong to a faction and control a town within the region controlled by their faction. Assuming this wasn't just poor communication, it sounds quite terrible. However, we have yet to see exactly how the mechanics work out. Considering how obsessed Anet is with balance, it just doesn't seem like they'd basically say 'Screw you' to every small guild out there looking to take a shot at the new content. Wait and see.

Oh, and I doubt we're going to see level 50 monsters in Factions. If they want to make an area more challenging they'll add larger, more diverse monster groups that actually require a bit of strategy to kill once you've engaged them in battle.

Wrath Of Dragons

Wrath Of Dragons

Burninate Stuff

Join Date: Aug 2005

New Mexico

E/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by devils wraths
dont get me wrong i think guild wars is a great game its just i would like to see a lvl increase for our lvl 20 chars i mean if the new creatures are no doubt going to be higher level but this could mean they can be like 30 lvls higher than u. this could mean no farming in factions
if its there, you can kill it. just maybe not by yourself

LaserLight

LaserLight

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

La La Land

[NOVA]

A/

Heh...believe it or not Oronar, I agree with you. It seems so out of character for Anet to do something this callous and ill-thought-out that I have trouble believing it of them. But I read what I read, and I figured I had to point out what they said and complain, if for no other reason than to get Gaile in here to call me a moron for misinterpreting things.

Really Gaile, feel free. It'd be more than worth being called a moron to hear that Anet's still the Poor Man's sugar daddy and not elitist tyrants, eh?

Defender Of Orth

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

Eternal Knights

W/Mo

Im sure A-net isint so stupid to do that, they know what there doing (with this alliance thing)

2. We have somthing like that right now called...you know uh, FAVOR OF THE GODS!

As I already said, A-net is not a bunch of mentaly Imparied children smashing a keyboard, they know what there doing.

LaserLight

LaserLight

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

La La Land

[NOVA]

A/

Favor of the Gods, Orth, allows every Guild, and even freelance players, access to the areas tied to Favor. Given how the Alliance-control mechanic in Factions was worded, it sounds as if only a single alliance - alliance, not faction as in Luxon or Kurzick - can control a city and gain access to its Elite mission.

This, obviously, would suck on a staggering scale. Thus, the worry. So please, exercise your abilities to read and think clearly before you attempt to smart off.

Demonstar

Demonstar

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pevil Lihatuh
it's always been 20, it always will be. it was stated before the game was released.
I don't see this to be entirely true. If they are hoping to release 2 games year, which I personaly think is really rushing it, the leveling up will need to be adressed. People will eventually want to become stronger then they currently are and ANet and NCSoft will eventually have to address that. Weather for better or worse.

kazujin

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

E/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by shevaa
Ok I might be wrong but I don't think anet would do that to us. Here is how I see it (again this is just my thoughts).




So I am thinking that this would be what the consider the "alliance". I think you can have smaller guild alliances within the overall alliance (ie. your guild and your friends guild) but say IQ decides to "ally" with the Luxons and your allied with the Luxons as well then when IQ wins you would also get access to those areas.
If that were the case, wouldn't everyone join that side that IQ is on? Thus, tilt the balance even further?

LaserLight

LaserLight

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

La La Land

[NOVA]

A/

Why? The game is balanced with a maximum level of 20. Anet's biggest concern is balance, period. As has been stated, raising character level would require a rise in monster level, rendering the thing essentially worthless and drastically shifting the game balancing and going a long, long way towards ruining the skill-centric approach Anet's gone for in favor of a time-centric one like every other MMO on the market.

All for a very temporary, very small rise in established player satisfaction? No thanks. Level 20 is just fine for me. After all, no one else is any more powerful, eh?