Guild Wars

[firstadopter]

This World of Warcraft and Phantasy online killer sure looks interesting. Too bad I have a huge backlog of games to play. There's a sale at Circuit City where you can pick it up for $10 off.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=119974&WT.mc_n=57&WT.mc_t=U

[TheAngryIntern]

the cool thing about Guild Wars is no monthly fee. I haven't gotten it yet either, mainly cuz i'm still engrossed in WoW.

[arogan]

Picked up my copy yesterday. I've always wanted to play a MMORPG but never liked the idea of a monthly fee.

Hopefully I'll have some time to try it out.

[arogan]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/rchen/forum/gw002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/rchen/forum/gw014.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/rchen/forum/gw017.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/rchen/forum/gw019.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/rchen/forum/gw025.jpg

MMORPG with NO monthly fee.

- I haven't touched a MMORPG since the original Everquest and that only lasted 2 weeks. I got so bored killing bats and rats. There's none of that here.
- I'm only about 6 hrs into it so this is a very early impression. Finishing all the quests can take anywhere from 50-100hrs.
- I started with a ranger/elementalist (level 3) but I enjoyed the elementalist stuff more so I started a new character: elementalist/mesmer (level 5)
- the engine is pretty amazing. 1600x1200 rock solid 60fps (almost never budges). Graphics/art direction is great. This game loads up FAST, almost no load times between areas (almost everything is streamed), exit is fast too.
- no patches to install ever. all updates are streamed in real time.
- no monthly fee. just buy the game and play all you want.
- I soloed most of the time, I paired up once to complete a few quests that required it.
- lots of interesting emotes with nice animations. Dancing in your underwear in public places is all the rage.
- so far the early parts of the game are actually pretty fun.
- emphasis is suppose to be on player skill instead of how many hours you've played. I haven't played enough to have an opinion. This game is really easy to pickup and play but there is a lot of depth here to master.
- You can play short periods of time. Everything is stored on their server. There are only THREE files on your hard drive (about 900meg total). Really amazing tech.
- no online issues. everything ran smoothly.
- developed by X Blizzard guys.
- You only see masses of online people in towns and outposts. This is where you can form your party. Once you venture off on your quest you party gets spawned its own instance of the mission (so you won't see any other online players except who is in your party during missions). This eliminates a lot problems like spawn camping, quest queues, etc.
- I haven't touched guilds or pvp stuff yet.
- little penalty for death. In pre-searing there is none. You just respawn at the nearest resurrection temple. Post-searing you take a 15% hit to max health and mana up to 60%. The penalty is removed once you enter a town.
- Encourages build experimentation because you can reallocate your attribute points with little to no penalty.
- Quick travel system. Just open the map and double click on any town/outpost you've previously visited and you warp there.
- great camera. Zoom in all the way into first person or pan all the way back out.
- flexible gui. you can pop open as many info windows as you want and arrange them any way you like.
- combat is strategic yet fast action paced.
- there's none of that your character lives only one one server. you can chat with anybody online no matter where they are or what district they're in. There's a drop down in the upper left that you can just select the district and that's it. No starting a new character sillyness.

I highly recommend it. If you always wanted to try a MMORPG but didn't like the idea of a monthly fee, then this game is for you.

[firstadopter]

I'll say one thing, the girls sure are a lot sexier than World of Warcraft. Lol.

[arogan]

Guild Wars onsale at Fry's this week until tues
$35 out the door.

http://www.gwfreaks.com/

Many people use this tool. it is safe and NOT a key logger and requires no account info. It's great at finding skills and locations with very nice integrated map.

66 hrs, infused, at the ring of fire, 3 more missions left until I finish the main story line.
Man the last mission on shiverpeaks (Thunderhead Keep) is TOUGH. It took our group 3 tries to finish it (and that's with 2 monks) and the mission is LONG. At least I earned 2p out of it.

Here are some tips:
Make you char the best PvE it can be and don't worry so much about PvP. Just focus on unlocking all skills and runes that you would think would be useful in PvP. Then, go create a new PvP only character. You have access to everything unlocked AND the BEST weapons/artifacts. These weapons are much better than what even the high end collectors have in PvE. I think I'll stay as a pryo in PvE and probably do an Air Spiker build first for PvP.

Make sure you have the top level armor (all 5 pieces) from Droknar's Forge before you infuse (your armor in inventory screen will say infused). Part of completing mission: Iron Mines of Moladune is getting infused.

Make sure you do the two side quests that net you 15 attibute points each: Forgotten Wisdom(Destiny's Gorge) which once completed gives you Forgotten Wisdom (to get to the top of the mountain you have to approach it from the east side, look for a bridge created by a fallen statue). Hero's Challenge (Vanyi [Droknar's Forge]): complete Hero's Journey first, finish a secondary class change quest (you don't have to actually change your secondary), then you get hero's challenge.

[arogan]

220 hrs total
finished the game with my first character (elem/mes)
33 hrs on my 2nd char (w/mo) lvl 16 in bloodstone Fen.

I've done a ton of PvP in 4v4, 8v8 - tombs and GvG.
I usually play air spiker or Healing monk.

Each is a unique experience. I really enjoy the very deep PvP experience.

Sorrow's Furnace comes out sept 7 which is the first FREE expansion.

[lilyve]

I find GW quiet fun, the pve isn't bad and has a story line u follow.

_____________
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[arogan]

I picked up Guild Wars Factions and spent a day playing it.
http://aroganworld.blogspot.com/2006/04/guild-wars-factions-pc.html

[firstadopter]

How do the graphics of Factions compare to Oblivion?

[arogan]

It doesn't. I mean GW still looks good for a MMO but oblivions has some nice effects that gw doesn't
- better lighting, shadows, etc. Real interriors (gw kind of fakes dungeons but they do a pretty good job of it)
- weather and day/night cycles (gw only gets snow I think)
- normal/bump mapping

I do think they improved the water quite a bit in gw.
Now granted GW scales and runs great on a wide range of hardware compared to oblivion which needs a pretty top end rig to look great.

But beyond that I can't think of two rpg's that play more different than oblivion and gw.

[firstadopter]

I haven't tried the oringinal yet. Should I buy the original first or just go for Factions?

[firstadopter]

Arogan, have you played more hours in Guild Wars or Oblivion? I just ordered Oblivion, but I'm still thinking of picking Guild Wars up.

[arogan]

- There's a core set of skills that will always be available to all chapters of guild wars and then are a few skills that only exist specifically to a given chapter. The best way to do it is buy both and merge the accounts. Then, it becomes one BIG game. I still suggest starting new characters in factions since you level SO much faster and acquire skills faster in general. Then right when you are around level 15 (6-8hrs) or so You'll leave noob island and get to the Cantha mainland. At this point you can instant travel to the battle isles (pvp) and to Lions arch in Tyria (ch 1). So basically by starting in factions if you choose you can still finish both chapters and get most of the story in ch1 (about 75%) and access to all the skills across both chapters (that is if you get to near the end of each chapter). You may still want to start a character in Tyria too so you get the first part of the story there but just remember it takes significantly longer to get to level 20 in ch 1.

- Our guild is very relaxed (and umm maybe not all that competitive yet). We just try to help each other out in pve, do some occasionaly alliance pvp battles, and we are trying to get an organized GvG team to play at least once a week. We are currently trying a template team build. Guild wars lets you immediately create a pvp only level 20 char based on several templates designed by top guilds. These template characters you create come preloaded with a set of skills and attributes that complement each other. This way you can still play even if you haven't even really started the PvE game and acquired skills. Anybody who is interested is welcome. Oh and we use Teamspeak for voice chat. It's pretty much required for organized GvG but I like to use it whenever we PvE b/c it's just more fun than typing all the time. One of my co-workers and I are just starting some new characters in Cantha. So if you are interested once you get your character created we can get you in the guild (that is if you are interested) and we can do some PvE. Either way the whole guild aspect is all optional.

If you want to learn more:
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Main_Page
especially check out:
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Getting_started_%28Factions%29
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Pre-Searing_guide
and elite skill boss locations:
http://www.xennon.co.uk/eliteskills/

Not everybody likes guild wars so what you might want to do is pick up factions ($40 at sam's club) first. Play it for the first 6-8hrs. See if it is for you. Then, if you think it's something you will stick to pick up Prophecies and merge them.

Another thing you can do if you don't even want to make a trip to the store is just head out to
http://www.guildwars.com
and download the client.
It will then d/l everything it needs. Once in the game you can create an account, visit the new online store and just buy the campaigns you want all online.

What I like to do is on a new install is just run gw.exe with the -image option. See, normally gw likes to stream in parts of the game to your HD in the background and then only uncompress the files needed as you enter each new area of the game. That means every time you travel to a new area for the first time you have to wait a min to uncompress everything needed for that area.
Instead just setup a short cut with gw.exe -image and run that overnight. This forces gw to download the ENTIRE game and uncompress everything all at once then it closes itself. After that run gw like normal and everything will load super fast.

You can read more about it here:
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Command_line

[firstadopter]

Ordered Factions from Amazon for $45 shipped. Thanks man, see you online soon! Is there an alliance vs. horde kind of thing (like WOW)? If so which side is your guild on?

[arogan]

Yeah for factions there is Luxon vs Kurzick. Our guild is Kurzick but you won't have to make that choice until about 25hrs into the game.

[firstadopter]

Finally had some time to try Guild Wars Factions. I picked an Elementist? character. My name is "Rendition One". I just played for 30 minutes.

I agree with Arogan, it's much nicer looking at super models all the time vs. the ugly characters in Oblivion.

The game reminds me SO MUCH of World of Warcraft. I guess it makes sense since the lead designer was also the same one that designed WOW. It irks me have to have learn a new camera button (right mouse button vs. left), cuz I keep tryoing to use WOW's interface.

I guess this is a free WOW (no monthly). Even the exclamation points on top of the NPC characters. LOL.

The graphics are nicer than WOW (I have max graphic settings with 4x AA), but they do not match Oblivion. Still it's fun to play, like WOW.

[arogan]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/rchen/gw%20factions/gw161.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/rchen/gw%20factions/gw195.jpg

ok I've played quite a few hours with my paragon.
- I'm only level 7 now. You level MUCH MUCH slower than factions. It's not bad.
- You pick your secondary at level 5. I decided to go paragon/warrior
- I have two heroes now. First one is a warrior. Second one is a monk. Heroes don't have secondaries.
- It really helps to have a lot of skills unlocked because you can equip your heroes with any unlocked skills. Example I was able to give my heroes end game elites like hundred blades and word of healing even though they are pretty low level. So given that the person who brings the class of hero we want in the party should have a lot of skill unlocks for that class. Example, I should probably bring a monk hero.
- I bought some weapons for my heroes but I guess you don't customize them.
- You have 3 states you can assign each hero (attack, guard, avoid combat)
- You can set waypoints and heroes and henchmen will go there. So it's easy to keep them back if you want.
- There is a bit of a grind right around when you get to level six. Instead of earning faction you have to earn sunspear promotion points. You usually get 10pts for each quest you finish. You also get points by getting a blessing by talking to a sunspear scout (which lasts for 30min) and then going out and killing the specified creatures. You can stack these too. I'm at a point where the primary quest requires you to obtain a certain sunspear title. I've done most of the obvious quests. I guess I can go see if I can find some more.
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Title#Sunspear_title_track
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Sunspear_Scout
- the story really hasn't even started yet. I think I've only had one co-op mission.
- I'm enjoying paragon more than I expected. Already I can tell I like these two new classes more than the faction ones.
- Got my pc gamer grey giant mini pet

[firstadopter]

Is there a good guide on the internet for Factions? I'm on level 4 and I've been having trouble finding the "next quest". Since the outside of town stuff is instanced, it's tough getting advice from other players.

World of Warcraft was much easier finding what you have to do next and people tended to be helpful wherever you were. I find myself to get pretty lost quickly in factions, just roaming around to find the next quest 90% of the time. Which is not fun. I do want to level up to get to the fun parts like actual "guild wars!" :)

[arogan]

look about 5 posts up where I post a bunch of wiki links.

[arogan]

$25 for nightfall

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/weeklyad/current/default.asp?affid=3003&source=1208

also available online:
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=646706

[firstadopter]

Nice find. I wonder if this means sales aren't going so well.

[arogan]

Hard to say. Nightfall is a very good game, probably better than Factions though I can't say for sure since I'm working through the game pretty slowly this time. Too many new consoles and great x360 games to play right now. Though my Paragon finally made level 20 and sunspear general.

Just a warning if you do this in store you have to bring in the ad. I don't think a print out will work.

[arogan]

http://www.guildwars.com/press/releases/pressrelease-2006-12-13.php

GW hits 3 million.

[TheAngryIntern]

I just got a free trial code in my email for Nightfall, was thinking about giving it a whirl. where do you play at so I can check you out in game, if possible?

[arogan]

Well the good part is you don't have to pick a server since anybody can play with anyone.

Feel free to add my in game name to your friends list:
(listed in order most likely to play to least)

Cindy A Morgan - paragon (currently working my way through Nightfall with this character so most of the time I'm on with her)
Maggie Gordon - elementalist (my first and favorite character, finished prophecies and factions)
Kate Mccrae - monk (important to keep acquiring those new skills, finished factions, in ring of fire in prophecies)
Lora Yori - dervish (stopped playing at lvl 8 but I might go back)
Madeline Robistat - necro (MM lvl 20 about half way through factions)
Beta Unit - warrior (lvl 20 finished prophecies)
Catherine Stewart - assassin (finished factions)
Lyssa P - ranger (mule)
Iczer One Kano - ritualist (mule)
Kamala Ng - mesmer (mule)

A Rogan - pvp only elem (when I'm in the mood)

[arogan]

Well after 3 months (we took it slow) and 53hrs (on my paragon) we finally finished Nightfall.

The greens that you get as a reward at the end especially some of the staffs are quite nice.
The crafter items aren't that great.

There's still an elite mission to do now or we might take another character through. My elem is about half way through but I'm thinking about bringing my monk over for some of those nice elites

[firstadopter]

Tell me the secret on how you find time to play all these games with a wife? ;)

[stupot42]

Tell me the secret on how you find time to play all these games with a wife? ;)

I second that. I'd be in the dog house big time if I played games more than I do, and that's so infrequently now-a-days.

[arogan]

Well, I have a wife who works retail with some odd hours. 2-3 times a week she works late so I have the kids after day care. They are in bed usually between 8:30 and 9:00. The wife doesn't get home until about 10:30. So basically starting back in Oct me and 2 other co-workers play Guild Wars every time I have that 9 - 10:30 CST block of time. That's why it took 3 months but we stuck to the schedule and got it done. I'm starting up my monk tomorrow (thurs). Anybody is welcome to join. Just let me know. We also have a teamspeak server that we are always on when playing GW.

Every 3rd weekend I have the kids and sometimes my parents come over for one of those days. If I coordinate it we can get a good 5-6 hrs of play. That happens very rarely though (exactly one time since we started nightfall). Usually I use that time to catch up on other pc/console games.

Lose sleep. Stay up until 2am (or like right now which is 2:42am). I just got my monk over to Elona, picked up the 2 heroes, and tried out a couple of new builds so the character is ready to start nightfall tomorrow.

Use secret time machine to "create" more free time.

Wife, kids, family, work, video games, tv/movies, coding, blogging/posting, audio books/podcasts in the car during the commute, some reading to wind down before going to bed, oh and sometimes sleep too. It can be done.

I don't understand people who actually get bored at home.

[stupot42]

Ah, if only I could afford a secret time machine.

I'm certainly never bored at home, but I don't have the time for gaming as much as I'd like. I definitely need to get another HDTV and Xbox 360... just a cheap TV would do. Ah to dream... cos that's all it is for the moment.