Can't you stay Neutral and be rewarded?

Ok, I know there are two factions. From what I read in some Official Factions literature (can't remember if it was on the site or in my preorder kit), there' supposted to be the ability to join factions or stay neutral. After reading all about the new stuff in the Factions FAQ section on GuildWars.com, I get the feeling that there's something being left out. I mean, what happened to observers and people who wish to stay neutral? Do you have to be in a guild? What's the reward for not getting involved (as I read there would be)?

Like Morrowind said, I'm best described as a mage. I like to observe the world taking place and allow nature to take its course. I see no point in interferring in the affairs of others or disturbing the balance of things. As such, I'd rather play the observer to the factions than pick a side. And I know they already have quests in places like Lion's Arch where you can start aligning yourself, but if you wish to play as a neutral person.... are there honestly no rewards, but rather penalties?

There could be Neutral quests, and I hope there are. We just don't know...

If neutral, you still need to do quests for either side to reap the benefits or they both will ignore you for being a traitor for either side.

Right... but consider that there are elite quests and all sorts of other high end content and such that are only available if you're part of a Guild, Faction, or both. This forces the casual player to choose a side. One of the things advertized (and I'm kicking myself b/c I can't recall where I read it) was that they'd reward the players who aren't participating in a faction.

I'd just hate to take a side at this point. I'd rather stick with the neutral path as long as possible. And from what I understand, choosing certain quests removes other quests. IE: You choose a quest for one faction, you loose a quest opportunity for the other faction. Although that's just hear-say, I'm not about to start grabbing quests and such until I know what I'm getting into.

You must choose... but choose wisely.

I don't think that the game fosters neurality. I know as much as I'd love to be neutral, I'll most likely have to get in a faction.

"All must choose a side" is what the lore says.

Though alot of people would like neutrality, it would completely change the game dynamic of your alliance / side doing well affecting what you get to do with PvE

^ Only one advertisement said "all must choose a side."

Official releases have said that you can remain nuetral, however, I don't think it will be supported much and would probably be very difficult to do.

I'm not sure, after seeing the FPE, that being neutral would even be possible if you play the game at all.
I'm speaking on a PvE theory here... key word = theory.
You could probably go out and just farm and stay netrual (not my idea of a good time though).
True neutrality though, destroys the game play in Factions though. I imagine, that the majority of PvE players would stay neutral if it meant gaining access to the elite missions and end game content without worries about competition.
As it is, at least from what we were allowed to see, the competition is what drives Factions and staying neutral means access to nothing, not even the minor pointless quests sprinkled about the land - those even gave faction points as rewards, so completing those would remove your neutrality.

If I remember correctly, the merchants wouldn't even talk to me unless I belonged to their faction...

So in answer, I don't think neutral players will have anything to do but farm for drops in common areas, or return to Chapter 1...

What would be nice is to give each faction faction-specific armor. Then if you're neutral, it'd be nice to have access to special armors that are not faction specific.

It's funny b/c there have been several people I've seen who are guildless. I wonder how factions will change that dynamic. It's difficult to start a guild, and only elite guilds are really worth being in, but you must be a frequent player to be in an elite guild.

Faction controlled areas and what not will be interesting, but if you're Guildless and Neutral, they really should offer some quests for "mediation" or whatever. Perhaps have quests where you must resolve arguments between NPC's of the opposite factions. As soon as you start gaining points toward a specific Faction, these quests would disappear, but if you remain neutral the entire time, these quests will be available.

Although, the elite stuff and what not... I don't see how ANet could honestly do something like that for the neutral without createing a psuedo third faction.

I think this is what they are planning - Luxon armor is more Organic looking, Kurzick is darker (dare I say "Gothic"), Cantha is the more typical "Asian-inspired" (to quote Anet).


I don't think the Elite stuff should be accessible to Neutrals, as that will be hard for even dedicated Luxon or Kurzick players to achieve!

But there should be some way to bypass the Luxon and Kurzick content, and have some Neutral quests, if that's a players choice!

Without knowing exactly how the game is set up, and how much involves Luxon and Kurzicks specific quests, it's hard to say...

Guild Wars is all about teaming up and busting things in the face as a team. Factions is all about joining a faction and busting things up as a Faction. Though the option to stay neutral is there, since the game concept is centered around players aligning with these factions you'll have to do it eventually anyways. Now if you really don't want to hold strong to either faction, you will be able to switch back and forth. But of course if you're a faction switcher you'll reap less benifit from each faction than you would if you were dedicated to just one.
My guess though is that eventually after playing the game after a while, you'll discover there is some content that you like that is only available to one of the two factions, and you'll eventually go towards them. Since you really don't want to be involved right now though, just go about like you wanted to and don't dedicated to either or. However it's unavoidable that you will have to involve your self with one or the other in order to obtain the "good stuff".

Sweet.. I might have to go Kurzick (if I can't get anywhere neutral). Necros gotta love goth.

Although, can't you return to Tyria with an A or Rt to get Tyrian armor? Or are Rt and A armors only in Cantha?...hmm.....


I think Asian is more of a 90's and later term that was introduced b/c of political correctness.

But referring to factions as oriental themed sounds more correct than "asian-themed" b/c when you look at things classically described as oriental, Factions fits the bill.




hey, I wasn't suggesting that they let neutrals into elite stuff. But still, GW is more about guilds than anything (hence the name "GUILD Wars").

Either way, the game should foster players who aren't interesting in joining guilds or factions. I mean, if they did prevent players from getting essentials, it's be kinda foolish (IMO). You cut out teh casual players who only play GW off and on.

Hm, what I'm more worried about is all the content I'll be missing if I stay loyal to my side... that really bums me out...

Agreed 100%.

I hope you can just spend your Faction and be able to do both... that's what I plan, at least.

If it bothers you, think of yourself as a spy!

Its probably repeat mishes, like the Hatchery one.

Besides, since the game is logically going to focus on uniting Lux and Kurz vs the Evil Taint (wipe that taint boy! :P), I doubt choosing either side will cause you to miss out on much.

Anet made this baby, I think they know what is what when it comes to game design.

Think it has already been said...but spending your factions should have some impact right? Anyone know anything about Guild related alliance? Like say your guild allignes itself with Luxon, does that mean you are bound to the Luxs as well?

Just because your alliance is Luxon doesnt mean YOU have to be Luxon.

If you were Kurzich it just means you cannot spend your faction points for Alliance Standing (as you'd have the opposite faction points).

Thanks for the info

That advertisement being the back of the Factions pre-order case. And yes, I have it, so I'm not mistakening it for something else.