New Player - Guild Wars or Factions

I'm considering buying GW and am wondering whether I should buy the basic guild wars or the Factions expansion?

I can only afford one and am wondering what the best choice is.

Obviously I'm starting as a new player and will be level one.

Recommendation?

I was in the same situation last week, I personally suggest Guild Wars: Prophecies. I've seen better ratings on the original than the new factions. Also, the pve in the original is suppose to be better and more fulfilling whereas factions just seems to get you to the max level right away. There's some new content in factions, but I personally think the original would be a better choice for your first guild wars game.

Go with Prophecies. Its PvE is better and PvP is just as good as Factions. Assasin and Ritualist arent going to be dominant class' so you are not missing out on anything. The new items from factions can be sold to people in Prophecies and are s[reading fast so your not missing out on that also.

Agree on Prophecies is bigger and more fun.

Monster bosses are uberpowerful in Factions. I am very dissapointed in that. Prophecies is difficult too, but you can play it for weeks, without being really overpowerd by monsters mobs higher lvl than yourself.
Prophecies all the way, with nicer armour too.