Guild Wars 2 8/28/2012

[Ciaran]

After a few betas and stress tests and a long, long time waiting, ArenaNet has announced the release date for Guild Wars 2!
http://www.arena.net/blog/announcing...-2-launch-date

This is 100% legit.

The game has gotten more and more polished with each Beta and performs better than some other "live" MMO's.

The last beta is July 20th - 22nd so if you've been thinking about getting the game and would like to get a sneak peak, now's the time to pre-order and get in on the last beta!

[Ashbinder]

Yep, been following this one closely. I've prepurchased and I'll be giving the beta a go on July 20th. If it's fun I'll have a run on it for a few weeks and see if it pushes the same buttons DDO does for me.

I can see several pros and cons for this game.

Pros:
All classes self healing, self sufficient
Active combat, not simply cycling cooldowns
Far more polished than most other MMOs
Eyecandy and earcandy galore
Flat fee purchase, no monthly fees, no major microtransaction focus

Cons:
Little character customization (no multiclassing, race has little impact, etc)
Only 10 skills available for every class
UI hit point meter is Diablo orb style, makes my eyes bleed
As yet no in game voice chat option
Little endgame content at launch

[Calebro]

Cons:
Little character customization (no multiclassing, race has little impact, etc) There is no need to multi, as all professions can perform all functions based upon gear, build, and skill choice. Some are better than others, but they can all function. You want a CC based Thief, you can build one.
Only 10 skills available for every class False - each weapon set offers 5 different skills, and there are loads of weapon sets.
At bare minimum each prof has at least 15 skills available at any one time, while some have up to 25, and these numbers go up when you factor in underwater combat, environmental weapons, etc.
It's not about learning how to use 100 skills. It's about learning how to use 15-20 skills *well*
UI hit point meter is Diablo orb style, makes my eyes bleed
As yet no in game voice chat option
Little endgame content at launch - the de-leveling system makes the entire freaking game endgame content, and sPvP & WvWvW are as well.

If it's fun I'll have a run on it for a few weeks and see if it pushes the same buttons DDO does for me.

As to it being fun:
I pre-purchased the Collector's edition for the expansion pack the day it became available. I have three other games installed on my system at the moment as well.
I have had absolutely zero desire to log into any of these games ever since the first beta weekend, because they aren't Gw2. Another guy in my guild (he's from Sarlona here and has played since beta) feels the same way. We both regret spending $80 on an expansion that we have no desire to play.

[Teharahma]

This is the Ferrari I leave my old Ford for.

Ford being Turbine.
Can't wait to finally be able to play it on a daily basis.

[Tinrae]

This is the Ferrari I leave my old Ford for.

I feel the same way. Almost like none of my MMO games are even interesting anymore. Shamefully, I haven't even played in MotU yet and I bought the big expensive special pack.

To be fair though, I've been playing MMOs for quite a long time and I think I'm just slowly checking out. This may well be my retirement game as I can't seem to stay interested in the hamster wheel anymore hehe.

[Uska]

Didnt care for GW1 and I dont see GW2 drawing me away from the only mmo I find interesting to date(well there is a fake one in the pages of KOTDT) until maybe the pathfinder one is done. But I hope you guys have fun

[Urist]

Is there anything in the GW2 preorders that's actually worth preordering for? Other than beta access, I mean? It doesn't seem like it, to me.
Otherwise, I'm just going to wait until it's actually released, to be sure that it works well enough through Wine.

Personally, I considered my pre-purchase of MotU to be, at worst, back-payment for the amount of enjoyment I've gotten from DDO already.

[Tinrae]

Is there anything in the GW2 preorders that's actually worth preordering for? Other than beta access, I mean? It doesn't seem like it, to me.
Otherwise, I'm just going to wait until it's actually released, to be sure that it works well enough through Wine.

Personally, I considered my pre-purchase of MotU to be, at worst, back-payment for the amount of enjoyment I've gotten from DDO already.

If you don't care about beta and headstart access, have any character names from GW1 you want to keep, and don't care for the (mostly useless) swag, then no the pre-order isn't worth it.
I personally only pre-ordered because I wanted to keep some names from the first game.

I've paid Turbine quite a bit with a fully unlocked premium DDO account and a lifetime sub to Lotro, so I'm confident that I've paid my dues with the company for my enjoyment.

[Ashbinder]

I preordered mostly for first bite at the cherry for naming purposes. I never played GW1, but from my understanding all names are two words, whereas GW2 is allowing single word names meaning all single words are up for grabs from day one. I've already picked out eight names with a naming convention for my characters, with early access I should hopefully get what I want.

I haven't yet seen how many characters a standard account can create at launch, the wiki is scarce on details in that department. Some rumors I've seen point to five, officially you can buy extra character slots for more cash. I plan to roll one of every profession and try them all to about level 20 before I settle on a single main.

[Lleren]

Looking forward to the live release. Prepurchased both GW2 and DDO's expansion this year.

While I do have some reservations about the game, I am still quite the fan.

[Calebro]

Some rumors I've seen point to five, officially you can buy extra character slots for more cash.

Yes and yes.

[edit] And the gems (store currency) can be traded, which means it doesn't have to cost you cash if you don't want it to. It also takes the power that gold farmers have and places it in the hands of the players, hopefully removing the spammers from the equation.
Why would the farmers/spammers expect us to pay for services that we can do ourselves in game for free? You need 100 gold? I'll trade you for 10 gems! You need gems? I'll trade you for 100 gold. (You use the trading post for this, but the concept is the same)
What's left for the farmers/spammers to offer us?

[Ashbinder]

It's a smart move setting the gems free for trade, since we know all they'll be used for are convenience (exp boosts etc), cosmetics (armor skins etc) and content (new packs).

It'll also curb rampant inflation like DDO sees. As more gold enters the system, it gets converted into gems and spent on the three Cs. I doubt you could farm enough gold to substantially offset the cost of new content, so it'll mostly get used for fluff.

Also love that PvP is completely dependent on skill, not gear. PvP in GW2 is set off with all characters at max level with all skills unlocked and identical gear. No advantage vs. other players if you've sunk tons of cash into the game since it makes no difference in PvP, only in PvE.

[Calebro]

Also love that PvP is completely dependent on skill, not gear. PvP in GW2 is set off with all characters at max level with all skills unlocked and identical gear. No advantage vs. other players if you've sunk tons of cash into the game since it makes no difference in PvP, only in PvE.

Structured 5 vs 5 matches, yes. World v world, no.
WvWvW raises you to level 80 for stats and HP, but doesn't unlock anything and uses your usual gear. So a level 5 guy pretending to be level 80 in sPvP is not at a disadvantage, but that same guy in WvW will be at a pretty big disadvantage if he separates from the main force. The main force will carry him, but if he's running a supply caravan or scouting, etc, he'll get himself roflstomped fairly quickly unless he's an outstanding player.

[ferrite]

As I recall there were more than a few problems with GW. No swimming, for one. Instances. Lack of unique weapons and armor short of 'skins', with essentially all weapons doing exactly the same thing. Lack of customization. Boring community.

Beautiful graphics, yes, but graphics alone a game does not make. And I was no spring chicken in the game either, I managed a rank 5 kobd and various statues like fow and uw in my hall, with full sets of tormented and destroyer gear, among other various junk collected, so I definitely put in the time. But GW has had its day, better games exist now.

I'm optimistic GW2 will be different and fix these issues, but will probably wait and see how it all plays out. DDO, even with all its problems, is still far better.

[Calebro]

As I recall there were more than a few problems with GW. No swimming, for one. Instances. Lack of unique weapons and armor short of 'skins', with essentially all weapons doing exactly the same thing. Lack of customization. Boring community.
<snip>
I'm optimistic GW2 will be different and fix these issues, but will probably wait and see how it all plays out. DDO, even with all its problems, is still far better.

• No swimming: Gw2 has 3D (X-Y-Z axis) underwater combat. When you enter the water, you automatically equip a different weapon, and your skill bar changes accordingly. The underwater fights are some of the most chaotic, because you aren't used to having to look up and down for enemies as well.
• Instances: Open world, with shards. It isn't instanced, per se (like DDO is), but it isn't a *full* open world either. At least, that's how the betas have been. But even then, it was open enough that it felt like a full open world.
• Lack of unique weapons/armor: Fixed. Not only are there unique weapons/armor with variable stats, but anything worth keeping also has slots to further customize the equipment to your tastes.
• Lack of customization: This depends on just how much customization you want. There isn't any multi-class system, but the classes are versatile enough themselves that there's also no need for one.
• DDO is better: It used to be. I didn't care for the first game for some of the reasons that you listed, along with many others. But this is an entirely different game. After playing the beta weekends, I'm building a new rig so that I can get even more enjoyment out of it.

[Tinrae]

I'm optimistic GW2 will be different and fix these issues, but will probably wait and see how it all plays out. DDO, even with all its problems, is still far better.

I was skeptical for a while about GW2, but after playing in the betas I am entirely confident that it was money well spent.

GW1 vs DDO? Subjective. I put about 7k hours into GW1 but I wasn't as focused on PvE as I enjoyed PvP. I have nowhere near that amount of hours in DDO and probably never will since I detest PvE grind. Not that DDO is a bad game, but I haven't gotten the same amount of enjoyment from it.

[qoolboxer]

http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/...tiated-READ-ME!

There are so many good things about GW2... all who havent been looking at this game please read above link!

[mademan77]

I left DDO about 8 mnts ago, i miss Khyber, for Swtor. I needed a change from DDO after playing for nearly 3 years. I had several tr's and have played every class. Swtor kept my interests for about a mnt and have since dropped my sub. I regretted leaving DDO until I bought GW2 and played in the two BWE's and the stress tests and i have to say that it is truly as good as being advertised.

It plays so much different then other mmos, no holy trinity..tanks, healers, dps is just one of its great features. The world vs world is really fleshed out, its what Warhammer onlines world pvp was suppose to be. The pve is laid back, not really hardcore and there isnt even a dungeon/slash raid until lvl 30/lvl cap at launch is 80. This aspect of the game is quite casual, which may not appeal to all.

The games combat is not real time like ddo, it does have a roll mechanic and is quite action orientated. I like the combat alot, the abilities animations are stunning and so diverse. I recommend anyone to pick it up...like someone else stated, it has spoiled me from all other games at the moment...i too cant seem to get myself to play another game.

I've been contacting old guildies here and creeping on the forums to see if anyone is starting a guild there. I miss the ddo community but not the game...looking to transplant some of you wonderful ppl to this new exciting game. It might even be casual enough, also no subscription, that you could enjoy this wonderful game and GW2.

[Ashbinder]

Just got an email alert for the Beta weekend on the 20th. Gonna log in and check it out, play with the character generator awhile to prepare my character appearances in advance. See you all there!

[Bilger]

Pre Ordered months ago done a couple of there betas and game is pretty well done from water combat to world encounters where takes more than just you to kill.

Game seems well done still not sure on no holy trinity but from beta seems to work well but never did get high enough for the dungeons.

Had a few guildies do a couplle and said where very tough but once get down and how to work it together will be not easy but a lot of fun.

Will be playing both when it is released. I still love DDO and enjoying the new area.