Question about Long Term character development

[Boxy Brown]

There are ranks for sPvP but they're not like RR where being higher rank actually gives you an advantage.

As far as I know there are no WvW ranks, but having done only a very small amount of sub-80 WvW, I can't speak to that with any certainty.

Honestly you should get the game because it's fun, the PvP is solid, and winning a fight actually takes skill instead of a stat advantage or class countering. Not to mention the crafting system is actually interesting, and I expect WvW is going to be awesome once everything gets settled.

[Zoobi]

What it boils down to, if you're not going to play to make a name for yourself via sPVP and/or WvWvW then you shouldn't bother. There are no long term goals outside of completionist things like exploring every zone, having every craft at 400, creating a legendary(that looks fucking awesome). You do not gain power via PVE beyond an exotic set which takes very little time to make(unless of course you're super casual.) The game is entirely focused on sPVP and WvWvW at the endgame.

If you're not in it to see what the game has to offer instead of where you can get your next +10 power(via wow's long gear grind) then it's probably not going to be the game for you.

[VKhaun]

Are there realm ranks? What is going to be my incentive to play a "main" for 2 years straight? If it boils down to FPS type incentive (action and notoriety) or chase achievements, that's not really the type of long-term development I was hoping for.

I would get it. It's worth it if you feel like an MMO and as far as long term is concerned, I've heard that the devs really liked DAoC. I don't feel like I'm making assumptions when I say it's very likely we'll have a realm-rank-like system eventually. You don't really NEED a realm rank system for max level PvP right out of the gate either, so it even makes sense that it would be added later and not be part of the launch development.

[Boxy Brown]

I would get it. It's worth it if you feel like an MMO and as far as long term is concerned, I've heard that the devs really liked DAoC. I don't feel like I'm making assumptions when I say it's very likely we'll have a realm-rank-like system eventually. You don't really NEED a realm rank system for max level PvP right out of the gate either, so it even makes sense that it would be added later and not be part of the launch development.

DAoC didn't have that shit at launch either and it became one of the defining features of the game.

[Zoobi]

Speaking of long-term goals. Look at the shit you need to craft a legendary weapon.

http://www.guildwars2guru.com/news/7...g-screenshots/

Shits literally going to cost thousands of gold. Just tried to chance making zap of rage for my bolt and got a random exotic sword, looks badass but it'll go into the grinder when I make enough money for the next batch of swords.

[Ozoron]

Speaking of long-term goals. Look at the shit you need to craft a legendary weapon.

http://www.guildwars2guru.com/news/7...g-screenshots/

Shits literally going to cost thousands of gold. Just tried to chance making zap of rage for my bolt and got a random exotic sword, looks badass but it'll go into the grinder when I make enough money for the next batch of swords.

I saw ... of rage items on the TP for 40-70gp per. not sure about how expensive the other mats are though

[Zoobi]

I saw ... of rage items on the TP for 40-70gp per. not sure about how expensive the other mats are though

That's the cheapest part of the entire thing. The Icy Runestones alone will cost 100g, getting mystic clovers will take a minimum of 700g if you get the maximum amount per transmute(which is literally impossible because you don't even have a guarentee of getting ANY mystic clovers when you use the recipe.)

[Ero Elohim]

DAoC didn't have that shit at launch either and it became one of the defining features of the game.

If they added a Realm Rank feature, I'd probably swap my feelings on the game real quick and start rubbing my dick all over the screen. Similarly, I'd like to see them add XP rewards to sPvP, since there's an extreme disconnect between sPvP mode and the rest of the game. It might lead to rampant botting, though.

Managed to get a deal on the game and picked the standard edition up for $40. It's still not something I'm entirely sold on, but playing a Ranger with the Combat Mode mod (http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/c..._mode_02_beta/) is actually pretty fun. I still think they should've cut the leveling down to 30-40 at max, and I'm convinced they only went to 80 because they wanted to be seen as "equal" to WoW, and the combat can be clunky and unsatisfying - especially at the low levels, but playing it as a third-person shooter makes up for it.

[Sillywilly]

I've held off on getting very into GW2, even from the informational side... but I've watched the Angry Joe review and I have some questions for current players.


I personally enjoy gearing up. And from what I can tell, it seems like the competitiveness or advantages gained from gear is very very balanced and homogenized, such that no one really has an advantage because they've played for a year vs someone who's 1 month in. It seems like your build gets better by... building it better from all of your options! And from what I understand, armor skins don't exactly translate to specific items? You can make yourself look different with the same exact gear? Is that correct?


So I guess my question is, why would I play GW2 for PvP vs something like Smite or LoL, which offers the same sort of competitiveness - everyone has (relatively) equal access to all of the same options, and you don't get to be automatically better due to time investment. I -enjoy- that aspect of MMO's, I like having a long term goal, or dealing with not having an awesome item for months until I finally, in a giant nerdgasm, achieve or obtain something powerful. Is there any sort of Realm Rank system with little perks or advantages besides cosmetics?

Is that element completely missing from this game? I will probably still pick this up since it's a one time fee, because based on the Angry Joe review, it does offer tremendous bang for your buck. I just wonder if it will really feel like a character building MMO, or merely a multiplayer action game with a story.


Input appreciated!

I'm the same way about long term development of a character Drac. It's what drew me into the MMO genre in the first place and the steady decline of it to attract the Halo kiddies into the market is what's pushing me away. If I just wanna select a toon and go right into the fight without any investment it's easy enough to load up street fighter or halo.

[Draconian]

Yeah, I'm not dogging GW2 at all and I will eventually pick it up. But the feature set just literally has nothing that makes me OMG I NEED IT NOW NOT LATER. And if I'm not feeling that kind of inspiration, why waste my time currently?

It's going to be something I pick up sometime over the winter probably when I'm sitting around bored and wanting a new game.


Thanks all for the insights, it helped me clarify exactly what I'd be getting into. It's on the list, just isn't a ravenous priority due to lack of long-term development and caps on every aspect of gameplay.

[Taolas]

Shoot us your character name so we can invite you, Ero.

Me and Wulf need to get pics of the Flame Legion base. It's crazy.

[Graveworm]

Similarly, I'd like to see them add XP rewards to sPvP, since there's an extreme disconnect between sPvP mode and the rest of the game.

In the original Guild Wars, you had to roll a PvP-only character to get free access to skills and items (once you had them all unlocked). Now that PvP-only character is rolled into your PvE character. Frankly, I like the disconnect, and I feel that you don't need to be able to level in sPvP because there is no need to progress in sPvP. Just play it and have fun.

[Boxy Brown]

In the original Guild Wars, you had to roll a PvP-only character to get free access to skills and items (once you had them all unlocked). Now that PvP-only character is rolled into your PvE character. Frankly, I like the disconnect, and I feel that you don't need to be able to level in sPvP because there is no need to progress in sPvP. Just play it and have fun.

I don't see how giving you level appropriate rewards like XP for sPvP activity detracts in any way from the game.

[Ero Elohim]

In the original Guild Wars, you had to roll a PvP-only character to get free access to skills and items (once you had them all unlocked). Now that PvP-only character is rolled into your PvE character. Frankly, I like the disconnect, and I feel that you don't need to be able to level in sPvP because there is no need to progress in sPvP. Just play it and have fun.

Except every time I have fun in sPvP, I'm not progressing my character at all. Meanwhile, my guildmates are all getting higher in level, unlocking new zones and new dungeons to play in. When I come out of sPvP, I have to play catch up in order to group up with them again. It'd also make a fun alternative to the woefully boring snorefest that is the GW2 low level experience, where you press 1 and watch your character autoattack an enemy to death.

Considering GW2 gives you XP and loot for literally everything else, from WvW to crafting to wandering around a map, there's a looming disparity when you engage in sPvP.

[Zavon]

I don't feel that I should be rewarded for sPvp-- well beyond the near constent spvp armor drops. I do it for fun. Then again, that is the only reason I play any game. The moment things feel like a job, I'm usually out except for a couple of notable exceptions (dragon age 2 for instance, why the fuck did I do that to myself?).

Not saying that I disagree that there shouldn't be any reward. Just I dont care. From their stand point I guess they thought that since spvp was seperate from pve completely, to insure fairness, then well it *is* seperate.

[Graveworm]

I don't see how giving you level appropriate rewards like XP for sPvP activity detracts in any way from the game.

Because rewards for your PvE character (e.g. XP) should not be earned by your PvP character. Everything that earns XP is done in your PvE gear with your PvE skills and traits (or via crafting PvE gear). Structured PvP earns Glory instead.

[Zavon]

Zoobi posted this in the Chat box, and I felt like it belonged in this thread:

http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/c..._and_you_dont/

There are some shit people in this subreddit, downvoting anyone that responds with actual facts about how to avoid hitting any of the grind limits. And upvotes for anyone that just whines and bitches. It is extremely annoying and we as a community should be better than this.

God save me from some aspects of the MMO community. You people are impossible. You have ruined a ton of AAA games in the last few years - you DEMAND treadmill gated endgame, beat it in a month, and then whine and abandon a game for not having enough content (you all know exactly the games I am talking about). Now a game has to literally FORCE you to stop doing the same mindless activity over and over and actually do different things to enjoy endgame, and you all bitch and whine because you can't grind yourself to boredom in a month like you have done with every other MMO.

You are destroying the viability of MMOs by being entitled impatient kids who can't make fun for yourself, you have to have a game hand it all to you on a silver platter and whine and bitch if you don't get it fast enough, or complain because you have to work hard to get something you want because they won't let you run the easiest dungeon over and over or run the same dynamic event over and over. Fuck everyone whining about this.

You all keep acting like this, you realize NO MMO WILL EVER SATISFY YOU. You will buy a new MMO, play it for a month - bitch and whine - and then abandon it and the company will lose money. What will happen in 5-10 years? Nobody will be making MMOs anymore, because they will simply not be profitable.

Maybe the problem isn't the MMO, maybe the problem is you. Maybe you need to examine the way you approach an MMO - many of you will spend hours playing a FPS with no progression because it is fun - and then you whine because spvp has no progression and say so "what incentive do I have to do spvp if I don't get better gear?" (Actual statement I have heard).

Many of you will spend hours exploring the world in Skryim, doing tons of side-quests, and yet whine and complain because all there is to do in GW2 is explore the world and run dungeons and do events. That is like rushing to finish the storyline quests in Skyrim and then complaining that the game has almost no content.

Why can't we as an MMO community take the attitude we bring to FPS games, RPG games, and apply it to an MMO? Too many damn players feel like the only thing that motivates them in an MMO is the "carrot" of gear always being held out in front of them (and don't know what to do with themselves without it) - and you are destroying the genre. You need to fix that shit before you destroy the genre that we love.

We take the attitude of playing games for FUN in almost every other genre, so why can't we do it for MMOs too?

[Taolas]

Some people hear MMO and immediately put it in a box of MMO-ish expectations. PvE plays great for open world exploration, a lot of neat characters, and little stories you can stumble upon. Not typically things I would look for in an MMO, as it's usually about fun treadmills and skipping text. Single player games like Skyrim do stories excellently, but GW2 pulls it off well enough, and multiplayer makes it more fun for me.

http://imgur.com/a/V9Prl
(between the blue circle screen and the tell a secret one, she gets kidnapped by a pirate and you have to go track her down with the Norn)