What makes GW click for you?

What is it about Guild Wars that you really enjoy?

I’m looking for a little depth in the answers here.

I’m looking for more than “I enjoy PvP.” If you enjoy PvP then I ask what is it about PvP that is most fun for you? If you play PvE then what is it about PvE that you most enjoy?

Is it the challenge and the feeling of competition against other people that makes it fun? Is it trying to figure out the best build and the research and experimentation that go in to it? Is it the fun of working as a team? Is it the sense of adventure and being “lost” in another world? Is it the unveiling of the story line? Is it the feeling that your characters are becoming more powerful? Is it the collecting more stuff just to see your coffers filled with goodies? Is it getting the best-looking armor? Is it farming? Is it the new visuals and places to discover? Is it the social aspect of playing with other people? Or what?

I’m just curious about this. Often times we think that everyone else sees things the same as we do and that is just not the case. I also expect that PvPers and PvEers will find that they fundamentally enjoy different things. Thanks.

What makes GW click for me is 2 things:

1) that the game mechanics are constrained to a simple system, yet that simple allows for *vast* variation within it
2) that the PVE content for ch1 was so huge! I played through for hours and hours, and still my guild mates said "you're not even half way through yet"! That's *awesome*. I really dislike SP (single player) campaigns that i can beat in a weekend (*cough*halflife2*cough*). Most people skip through lots of ch1 via running, and I understand that after you've gone through the game once or twice, but it's still great that it's there to be explored or played when you want something additional to do.
2) a) i like that running is allowed; sometimes, you just don't want to "run the gauntlet".

eudas

Exploration. Wandering along and getting excited when there's that zone point that appears with 10 mobs still between you and it and you're 60 DP already.

I just like the fact that I am accomplishing something. Like in prophecies, kill the lich, kill the mursaat, kill the titans, save the world, now I'm going to disney land.

You know I don't know. The environment I guess. It is a good looking MMO compared to many others. The graphics and sound are a big plus for what I look for in a game. Really I can't say why it makes me click, every night I get on and say erm im bored but when im not on I want to so bad its like I need a smoke. Maybe im just addicted to games and can't get off even though im not having the most fun I could be having.

Yeah, I agree with that a lot of the time. Usually I have nothing to do with my characters, but I still get on GW anyways.

I like the differences between all the professions. It gives the game HUGE replayability. I agree with everyone else that the huge environment also adds to "what makes it click." The graphics are nice, and it doesn't take up much CPU usage (for me at least), so I can easily do stuff while playing it. I also love all the special events that ANet provides for us...always a joy when you receive special items such as birthday presents, Christmas items, Halloween items, etc (though I was expecting a huge Easter bunny to arrive and give me stuff, but it never happened =P). I also enjoy not having to "camp" spawns like you have to do in other MMORPGs (all you technical people, don't flame me for calling GW a MMORPG even though apparently it's not "truly" a MMORPG). I dunno...there's a lot of stuff =P

I’ll answer too. I’ve been playing GW for about 9 months. I’ve done mostly PvE and played all 6 primaries professions through Prophecies. I’m currently working a few of the Tyrian characters and a few new Canthan characters through Cantha.

My first draw was the adventure and discovering new places and things to do. I’ve enjoyed building up my characters in lvls, skills and in appearance. I guess it’s the sense of being more powerful and looking good while doing it. I have to admit I’ve enjoyed all the different professions and learning their unique builds to be effective. I guess it is the false sense of accomplishment that’s fun too. I mean really there is no real accomplishment in the game, it is just silly entertainment. But it still is fun to get your character all those skills you were working for and have them looking cool in that new armor that cost you all your savings.

I like the unveiling of the story part but I wish it was better. I’ve enjoyed getting good items but pure farming is not my thing. I like the social aspect of the game in playing cooperative missions. Playing with people you know really enhances the experience. My wife and I have played a fair part together. Yet I’ve had some really fun times in PUG’s where the people were talking and having a good time.

Half the reason I even play Guild Wars is to make builds. I love designing things, and making a build is no different. The feeling I get when researching skills and brainstorming for ideas is great, and the best part is when you use it and it actually works. Even when I've gotten tired of a class, there are 7 others to go to, and all the combinations of those make for endless possibilities.

Also I like guildwars because it is a lot more skill based than other ORPGs, and its more fast paced.

I have found this to be true as well. I spend time during school thinking of different builds etc, and I get home and just farm anyway. I think thats one reason I play Gw so much too though, is the sheer amount of things to do. It feels a little overwhelming for me sometimes, what with all the skills, runes, weapons, etc I need to do, and have to fit in farming/RA to make sure I have money for those things. That reminds me, I still need to get out of GWF Pre with my ranger. >.<

I get to take two (or so) hour vacations each night to... somewhere else. It's nice to disengage the brain and redirect thought processes to simpler things; what skills work with both, pulling, finishing missions/quests, etc. Escapism to a degree. GW provides the environment that's most comfortable to do that in. Basically, I just get to be a little younger mentally and go have fun.

There's a degree of satisfaction in getting things done as well. Ran into a few folks from the forums here last night, did the Luxon Kraken mission with them and four henchies. Had a good time, added a name to my friends list.

Really can't pinpoint a reason... I just like it.

I love the teamwork. I love that you can bring no offensive spells and be the most valued member of a team. I love making builds and trying them out. I love the tactics and co-ordination needed for tougher missions and quests, and I love it when you get a random team that works. None of you have ever met before, but you are all good players, listen to each other, and you continue to clear the whole of UW or something - really makes my day when that happens. I love exploring.

Once you are level 20, ascended and got the best stuff, you'd think the sense of achievement would be gone, and the only reason to play PvE would be to farm. But I still find myself playing it, because I enjoy it. Often if I'm passing through a mission area and a team is in desperate need of a monk, I'll help them out, just for the fun of it.

I also like that it minimizes so well. I can go back to IRC, Firefox, whatever, while it is running. I can switch between GW and other programs instantly. I can have foobar playing mp3s or internet radio playing without any slowdown. The options are very scaleable. It's just a very well made program in my opinion. The areas load instantly (for such huge areas, I always found it surprising). Most modern games when you press alt-tab will cause hard drive thrashing for a few minutes, and the loading screens can take ages as well. I know it's silly, but I find that puts me off starting a game if it practically kills my computer.

PvE and being able to control a huge force of undead minions...well used to be able to.

Agreed on all points.

The part about minimizing is not something you hear a lot about, but I have also found it to be very helpful. (Like looking at maps, etc) Gw is minimized right now as Im typing this in fact.

Because in the world of Guild Wars:

1. The ladies are hot.
2. The armors are cool.
3. The community is warm.
4. The Holidays are wicked.
5. You can get drunk.
6. And escaping my real life no longer requires a monthly fee.

Random Arenas:
- I don't need to form a party
- I can kick arse
- If I'm lucky I get in a good team
- Then we go kicking arses for many rounds

Team Arenas:
- Used to be fun with 3 other guildies
- No longer fun since guildies no longer active
- I'm a one man guild, so no more fun with team arenas and guildies for me

Fort Aspenwood / Jade Quarry
- Reminds me of Team Fortress Classic
- PvP with team objectives other than exterminating the other team is fun- Doing Quests
- Doing Missions
- Farming
- Hording lots of gold
- Buying cool looking armour for my characters
- Getting my name plastered in the all time high score in "The Aurios Mines"
- Trying to figure out what place is farmable
- Experimenting different kinds of builds
- Find out a build that is most effective and efficientYes. Kicking other's people arses is good and fun.Yes. This applies to both PvE and PvP.Yes. Especially in Random Arenas and Fort Aspenwood / Jade Quarry since you are teamed up with a random selection of people.Yes, exploring new lands is always fun for me.Well, yeah. It is like reading a story book.Well, level 20 is the maximum level. I like getting new skills for my characters though.Yes. But storage is extremely limited so I'll just stick with gold for now.Yes. But extremely limited storage capacity. Check out this thread for a suggested fix.Yes. More gold to fill my gold vault is always good.Yes. Always nice to explore new places and see new stuff.Kinda.


Other Factors:
- No Monthly Subscription Fees
- Constant Updates
- Unique PvP system
- Hundreds of Skills
- 8 Skills limitation
- Unique Combat System

well, it is mostly about pvp that attracts me..unlike most of the MMOs available in the market..in Guild Wars's pvp, you need micro and macro-management of your character when pvp..micromanagement in the sense like you need to aware of your positioning, timing when casting spell, etc, etc..macromanagement is that you need to aware of your objective when playing out your character..such as a monk, you need to support your team while keeping yourself out of trouble..

besides, with so many skills available, i love to experiment builds..

PvE - The graphics.

The fact that once you're a lvl20, you can start experimenting with new (and sometimes stupid) builds and adjust them as needed to get the best possible result.

The armor which causes space problems in my inventory
The different weapons for builds, which also cause space problems

The fact that if I'm anti-social, I can take henchies in and if I'm social, I can join a random group.

High numbers for damage

Currently discovering what 'exploring' is about and having a great time reading the quest descriptions.

anets sense of humor Found out after telling my guild I was not available for gvg until I got my phoenix that they confused the pet with the emote

After playing WoW (World of Warcraft) shortly after purchasing Guild Wars: Prophecies, there are several huge differences you immediately see.

1. PvP. No more sissy crap. Guild Wars is pvp at its finest, WoW is simple itemization. WoW = You win if you have any of the following:
-Higher level
-Better items
-Bigger zerg group
The thing that irks me the most however, is the second one. As these "uber" items require easily over 2 months of PLAYING time to aquire. Not to mention the fact that guilds that go anywhere are particularly hard to come by.
Of course these are very generalized topics, but you get the point.

2. Guild Wars is a MENTAL thing, it's not brainless button mashing like a Half-dead retarded monkey can do. You have to (if you wish to be good) actually plan out what you're going to do if x happens, and how to respond when target y retaliates with z skill. Of course, sometimes it's a spamming contest (Interupt rangers :P) but most often its with good prediction and instincts.

3. A more recent thing, ALLIANCE BATTLES!!!! These things are so fun, I can't even describe. Even IF it turns into a zerg fest, a group of 2-4 people can stop an entire advance with tactical use of the map and skills. This is not possible in WoW. WoW is a mass chaos type of fighting which is won by the side with the best equipped players and the largest zerg force.

I know this isn't a thread about why GW > WoW, but this is just the reason I like Guild Wars.

What initially got me hearing of the game: no monthly fees.

This has kept me playing the game even if I've grown tired of it, as I don't have to worry about paying so much for the game every month, just because I want to check up on the game, or my character, or my guild or whatever.

What has also kept me into the game... the great PvP (or even PvE) which requires true teamwork, strategy, and intelligence.