Guild Wars really a MMORPG?

This is a question that has been bothering me for a while. Now don't get me wrong I have been playing GW since the E3 for everyone event and the BWE and it is a great game but it's not really an MMORPG. ArenaNet is not even labling the game as an MMORPG, and therefore I don't think it is fair to compare the game with EQ or WoW or any other MMORPG out there, where the comparison is good or bad. The reason I say this is that with everything aside from towns being instants you will never run into other people in the fields and quests will always be you and your friends, guildmates, random people you party with, whatever. I haven't decided if I like that more that open fields or not, it has it's ups and downs. Either way and what ever "type" of game it is GW is great and I will be there on release and the last BWE.

What kind of game is Guild Wars?

Guild Wars is a competitive online role-playing game. Players can engage in cooperative group combat, in single player adventures, or in large head-to-head guild battles. Guild Wars is a mission-based game set in a stunning 3D fantasy world that offers full, integrated support for guilds. Because the team that is developing Guild Wars has had experience creating successful online game series such as Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo, the members are familiar with the complex issues surrounding online games, and are creating a game that's both easy to learn and compelling to play long term, and yet doesn’t require players to spend hundreds of hours slogging through the preparation just to get to the fun bits.

Aka GW is a CORPG...the official Guildwars FAQ can be quite helpful...

I guess I compare it to the likes of EQ, Dark Age, NWN, Diablo, etc based on the content, and all of which can be played online. I like to compare it to EQ as I played EQ for a looong time. If we were running around with guns, I might compare it to Halo or Medal of Honor. By sheer fact it does fit the MMORPG moniker as it does fit all the requirements,

Massive(ly) - huge game with lots of people
Multiplayer - You play, I play, basically a visually stunning chatroom at times
Online - Only way to play it
Role - Ranger/Necro here
Playing - Mostly, some tend to sit and chat or spam others in town
Game - God I hope its a game as "/deaths" says I died 56 times (groan)

Now I must admit that this game is something entirely different (and better) than the rest, this being big in part due to the PvP and GvG focus of the higher level. I've played 3 Beta W/Es and I'm hooked.

Weather GW is a MMORPG or not I really do love it. I don´t like the PvP element that much, but PvE is very cool :-) If I feel the need to go into combat on "small"" maps I will logon to my favorite CS: Source server. If PvP in GW were an element in the acuall game (read on to find out what I meen) it would be a hole different issue - Maybe I´m just trying say that I´m missing a link between the PvE game which for me is a hole game world and the PvP game, which for me just seems like some maps were you battle.

The connection between PvE and PvP seems like playing HL2 (if Gordon could level) and the weapons he pick up is skills. Then you then play HL2 for a while, then start up Counter-Strike - bring you Gordon at level X and would only be able to use the weapons you picked up in HL2 - (I do know that you cannot compare HL2 and GW as games, but I do think the connnoction between two games in one package is there).

But I must say that I also really miss the possibility to meet other people when going solo in PvE, either if it´s for exploring or mission. Sometimes when I´m in a town I will ask if someone want go on a speciffic Quest with me, sometimes I got no reply sometimes I got one or two.

In case I got no reply I would just go sole, as I didn´t want to just stand in town for 10-20 minutes to wait for someone to go with me. In case I had one or two to go with, we would just leave town in that party size. In either case, it would have been nice to just leave solo or with one or two party members, and just meet a couple of other people as you progress in maps.

<EDIT>One solution could be to let the Party (by vote like cut scenes) or solo player select if you want an instance for your self or you would like to join an "open" instance - like town disticts eg. an instance would hold up to xx people and then a new instance is created</EDIT>

I would also say that if your in a Guild or just have friends playing the game it could be nice to have the possibility to just send a chat message "Where are U?" - They would reply "catacombs - come help us fight the Charrs" - And I would just run to them - Is the game is build now, I can send a chat message "where are U" - they would reply "Catacombs - will meet U in town in 30 minutes" - And I would just have to wait there or go solo, and hope to finish a Quest before they are back in town.

I once asked the question in town - how people feelt about the instances - and most of the answers I got, was that people thought that this is the reason that there will be no monhtly fee for playing GW. I myself cannot see how this has any influence on ArenaNet´s economy? Could it be that in a sence, when I solo, I infact play "offline" in a perspekt that there will be a very limited trafik between client (me/you) and the server. The fact that I solo alot is because I don´t like, to waste time in town - I feel the need go exploring or go on missions.

To some extent I would say that if you play solo alot there is no meaning in this beeing an Online game - you could just do Quest´s and explore offline, and connect to the internet and do some multiplaying Online and/or PvPing if you feel like it.


-=THe [email protected]=-

<EDIT2>I´ve startet a new tread about this</EDIT2>

Some very interesting points in your post, I too find it frustrating to wait in town to find party members, an LFG tag would be useful for this purpose (as would an AFK tag). The link between pvp and pve is somewhat nonexistant, unlike (another comparison) DAoC. My greatest wish is for guild level missions and raids in addition to the GvG, and perhaps a trophy system for conquering other guilds (a rivalry building tool). I do mostly "solo" with the henchmen, but I have also been in some decent groups. I'm hoping that by lvl 20 the group dynamics will improve, and there will be better stratey discussions pre-mission, but that relies on us as players learning our abilities.

well I don't think the normal roleplay is defined as you have defined it:

Role - Ranger/Necro here
Playing - Mostly, some tend to sit and chat or spam others in town

although with most roleplaying games that's truly more what it really is. I define roleplaying as taking on a role and acting that character as he would truly act in that world, developing a personality, quirks, etc... In this case, I actually don't consider this a rpg, but I know most people do.

this to me is more of a mission based exploring game with a tiny backstory not a roleplaying game at all

what is my role and how can i make my character an individual in personality reputation etc so people react differently to me according to my past actions?

I do agree with you in the lack of depth to the "role", but this seems to be the case in almost all people in computer based RPGs. Back in the day of pen n' paper (PnP) it was a lot easier (especially always being the DM/GM and playing the NPC's), but being dehumanized behind a computer it takes a lot more effort on the players behalf to make it a tradional role play (quirks, personality, etc). I see a lot of people trying, and some just abusing the Emote system, but a lot of people won't take the time for one reason or another. I love true roleplay, as it ads much more functionality and entertainment value.

No not tags people, make flags you run around with!

Blue Flag: Looking for an EXP party.
Red Flag: Looking for a Questing party.
White: Away From Keyboard.

And last but not least...

Black: Looking for dance party!!!

YES!!!

Now thats the best idea I've heard yet, and it wouldn'y be hard to add as an /emote since flag and item holding is already hardcoded!!!

none the less this is a unique game and there's always something to do...


they had balls to try some of the stuff they tried...and it actually worked out good


for example the lvl cap of 20.....that took balls, that could either make or break the game, and by the looks of it, everybody seems to think it was a good idea, so props to guild wars!


by the way twiztid: Wuddup Ninja

/agree

Props to GuildWars!

well I have to say that I agree with most of the replies so far. As for the FAQ I have read it and understand that they are calling it a CORP or whatever, my purpose was to see what other players are considering the game and what they think about it. Yes a lot of the things they are doing are new and yes they are fun, will I stop playing WoW, not likely, but I will be playing GW at the same time. As far as the role playing game part goes, no MMORPG out there has yet to capture the feel of a true RPG, the closest was NWN and even that was not the same as sitting around the table roleplaying with friends.

Juggalo for life!

It's an MMORPG per definition, unless you have some odd definition of MMO that includes instancing. But GW doesn't have shards, so you can play with anyone in the game. Isn't that massive?

completllly agree my friend since MMORPG stands for Masive Multiplayer Online Role PLaying Game ...... and i would definitivelly not define Guildwars as MAssive .... i do think its an MORPG game dougth .. in the same category as DIABLO ... in fact .. it does perfectly for the absence of a DIABLO III . but thats only my worthless opinion

Now my friend .. thats its y most of the ppl that play guildwars do so ... cause in other games that trully are MMORPG the only thing that matters its your lvl ... so if you power LVL or are a nerd and play 24/7 u can beat anyone ... meanwhile in heare it actually TAKES SKILL swince lvl cap its 20 and theres a max of 8 skillz ... wich in fact its inovating but its still not massive .. .and one does miss running in to guilkdies in the middle of the battlefield and having then to help you without beeing =in the party .... AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE FACT THAT IN MOST OF THE MMORPG U CAN FIGTH ANYONE ANYWERE. at a penalty cost of course

CORPG... never knew that. Logical though. and dont like WoW anyway :P wat TOO massive

WOW talk about ressing an old thread... look at the dates! lol.

Hahah yea no really, almost a year old, nuts.

and a DOUBLE POST TO BOOT

nominated for thread necro of the year so far.

how about a close on this one?