PvP vs PvE Characters (and other questions)...

I just recently got interested in Guild Wars (today, as a matter of fact). I read nearly everything I could from the the official Guild Wars site and this one. I also skimmed the first 12 pages of topics from this thread trying to find answers to my questions. I found the answer to some, however others just confused me...

1.) I read something about you being able to designate a character as 'PvP' on creation. This allows you to select a level 20 templated character or build your own using skills you've unlocked with a PvE character.

Is this true? Can it be explained in more detail? Can I just use my PvE character in PvP without having to build another? If so, can I use it in PvE also? I guess the main question is, if I only want to play one character for both PvE and PvP, can I?

2a.) The level cap is 20. Once you reach it, you are able to continue advancing skills by gaining skill points (by maxing out your experience bar again and again). Can you do this forever until you eventually have every skill from your primary and secondary professions?

2b.) Is there a limitation to what skills from your secondary profession you can take?

3.) Whenever you go on a mission/quest or go to PvP - no matter how many skills your character has you can only take 8 with you. Is that correct?

4.) PvP is only 8v8 and must be 8v8. It can't be 6v6 or 4v4 or whatever. In some instances it may be 8v8v8v8 (multiple teams of 8 in a free for all). Is that correct?

Thanks in advance for your responses and I looked forward to playing with you all in retail.

FL-

1) This is true. You're RPG characters can unlock skills for your PvP only characters by buying skills. When you buy a new skill you've never had before, a message appears telling you you've unlocked something new.
You can also unlock things like Runes (which boost attributes) and Weapon Modifyers (like Lightning Bow Strings and such) buy using an Identification Kit on them.

2.A) Honestly, I don't know how many times you can max out the bar before it reaches an end. I heard it was something like 40. But keep in mind my memory is clowdly on this. However, there are more ways to gain skill points: Completing quest objectives and gaining Ranks (by winning matches in the Tombs) also give you skill points.

2.B) There is no limitation, however, you can only use the primary attribute of your primary profession. Which means that if you had Secondary Ranger, then you probably wouldn't want to use any skills tied to the Ranger's Primary Attribute which is Expertise. Boosting attributes, of course, also boosts the effectiveness of all the skills tied to it.

3) Yes. This is correct. A set of 8 skills is known as a build. And it makes up much of the strategy in Guild Wars. Those 8 skills (out of 150 - 75 for both primary and secondary profession) decide whether you win or lose.

4) Most PvP is 8 versus 8. And yes, in the Tombs (the hardest arena), you will encounter a lot of 8v8v8v8v8v8 and stuff like that. however, the random arenas ("The Crag, D'Allessio Arena, Iron Horse Arena, Ascalon Arena, Fort Ranik") are all 6 versus 6 (or... I think they are. I'm not sure about the Ascalon Arena though. That might still be 4v4 but it's doubtful).

Hope I answered your questions well.

PvE characters can access all the content. PvP only characters are limited to PvP areas.

there is nothing stopping you from doing so. you are only limited by your skill points. you will also have the ability to change secondary professions and obtaining those skills as well.

all skills available to that profession are avilable to you as well. you will be able to use skills from the primary attribute of your secondary profession but they will always have an effective attribute level of 0.

This is correct. you can change your skill bar when you are at a town or outpost.

incorrect. there are 4v4 pvp arenas. in 8v8, you can play a man short. the tournament at the tombs has some 8v8v8v8 maps where the last team standing wins.

Thanks again for all your responses. I think I understand fully now.

What are the advantages to creating a PvP only character instead of just using your PvE character?

Also, can you explain the fame system and whether there is more to it than just the /fame emote?

If you change secondary professions, do all the skills you learned from your previous secondary profession become unavailable to that character?

advantages to creating a PvP only character are that you can customize that character at max level with anything you have already unlocked right at creation. with a PvE character, you need to craft the armor, reset your attributes, find the right weapon, etc. and if you wanted to run a build with a different primary profession, you need to start at level 1 and build him up.

fame also grants your character a skill point per rank that character earned. skill points become exceedingly harder to obtain as you level and so fame is a useful way of getting a few extra skill points.

when you change your secondary profession, you will not be able to use those skills tied to your previous profession. however, it is my understanding that they will still be there if you revert back to your original secondary profession.

When you start a PvP character at level 20, does he come with armor and weapons or does he come with the cash to buy them? How does that work?

I hear a lot of talk about Presearing and the Academy. My guess is you start at Presearing and do missions or quests until you are high enough level to go to the Academy. Can you explain what exactly these two areas are and their limitations?

PvP characters come with customized armor. they are unable to access vendors as they are unable to access any areas outside of PvP areas.

the pre-searing region is a tutorial area. you are allowed to join the academy once you reach level 3. this puts you through a mission, in which you experience the catastrophic event known as the Searing, and end up in modern-day Ascalon. there are no other missions in the pre-searing region, although there are many quests that can get you skills and there are collectors that can trade you useful items.

The only advantage to making a PvP only character is that you can rearrange your build instantly by deleting him or whatever. That and modifyers on your RPG characters will come and go. You won't hold onto that Lightning String forever will you? Well. Once you've unlocked it, it stays unlocked - even if you delete that character (which should answer the question about changing secondaries)


/fame is a new replacement for the (much much cooler) idea of Rank Sticks.

Whenever you win a match in the Tombs (hardest arena), you get a certain number of fame. The number depends on how many wins in a row. First match won is 1 fame, second is 2, and so on. Holding the Hall of Heroes gives a huge amount (25 or something like that for each time you win there... you stay at the HoH until you are defeated cause it's the top tier of the tourney). When you gain enough Fame, you get a Rank. The first Rank is at 25 Fame. When you get to Rank 3, then you are able to type in the /fame (or is it /rank?) emote and this Elk thing appears above your head. I don't like it nearly as much as I liked rank sticks... But anyway... That's how it works, essentially. It's just a prize for your victories at the Tombs (as opposed to the rank sticks which were a cool but discrete way to prove your winnings and help you find a party looking for experienced players)

This thread enlightened me some too, thanks for posting your questuions, FL-.

You can still pvp with the pve character right?

Yes you can.

Do you only get to choose from limited skills/weapons/armor when creating a PvP character? Is there a benefit to playing an RP character to gain stuff you cannot get if you just create a straight PvP char?

Thanks

Yes. Having a PvE (Player vs Environment) character allows you to gain new items, crafting materials (for armor) and skills. Unlocking skills through a PvE character allows your PvP character(s) to use them.

And these are skills you cannot select normally when creating a PvP character?

you must unlock skills if you want to create a custom PvP character. there are premade PvP characters available with a fixed set of skills if you wish to use them.

from this, I surmize, is a secondary benefit of trying out more characters. You can unlock more skills in order to have them availabe to you when you play PVP.

wait im confused.. everyones saying you can pvp with your pvp character but people are saying you cant pvp with your pve characters yet others are saying the opposite.. -_- my question is.. Can we use pve characters for pvp ??

PvE characters can do PvE AND PvP.
PvP characters can ONLY do PvP.

anyone who says that is wrong and has no business answering questions in this forum. as per the sig:
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I get the PVP ONLY level 20 template thing, and the ability to customize your PVP character...

and I think I understand correctly that I can log into PVP with a PVE character (correct?)

...now what i am most interested in is whether or not a place exists for PVE characters to engage in PVP with only other PVE characters. While i like the ability to jump right into PVP with templates and the attached level of power, I am dismayed that dedicated and well executed roleplaying will not earn me an appropriate advantage or disadvantage when playing PVP.

If it is true that the roleplaying is only for unlocking skills and attributes for PVP, then I am guessing for a PVP lover the best course is to create one PVE character who changes professions and earns all the necessary skils and powers, and use the other 3 characters i have available to create distinct PVP level 20's that I can customize.

....just kinda thinking out loud.....any thoughts?