Guild Wars 2

TL;DR
Game lacks explaining mechanics to new players, leaving them to lose interest in continuing with the game. No clear sense of direction (even if the game is based around exploring the map), what does the ingame future hold for me if i spend time and money on it? I wish someone or something could logically explain what’s going on instead of spending so much time with pointless trial and error.

So i’m new to the game and maybe not even a week in. Only got to level 50 I think on my Necromancer and the feel for it started to kind of dissipate and my attention span started to become more and more relentless towards working at a goal in the game.

There’s some things I’d be interested in addressing, such as i’m very new to MMORPGs, I grew up with no computer until I got a job at the age of 18 and saved up to build my own personal gaming PC with a $1500 budget when I turned 21. It changed a lot of things for me and I’ve always wanted to achieve something great in the world of MMOs, so i’ve tried Guild Wars 2 to be one of my first.
I started in, thinking the game would maybe give tutorials on how things work like professions, and I would ask for help on it and everyone compares it to be similar to “such and such” MMORPG and to treat it as such, well this certainly doesn’t help me out, I have no idea what i’m doing with professions and I wonder why you cant have more than 2. So the only thing I do is collect random materials for a purpose i’m very unsure of what I could even achieve.

To some extent, i’m enjoying the game and understanding it but apparently not as much as I thought compared to other players my level. Everyone looks cooler than me, has all this flashy gear and “legendary weapons” which I only know of “Twilight” and “Sunrise” because I see it a lot when I run around clueless in the Edge of Mists. All these players have all these crazy buffs and run so much faster when i’m in Edge of Mists I always get left behind and end up getting lost and confused when I try to follow the commander. I haven’t even tried PVP yet because I already know i’ll just find disappointment there as my gear is absolute trash compared to what i’d be facing against other players in PVP. Also I have no direct strategy or knowledge of combative tactics in PVP to counter players that might compromise me with ease due to lack of knowledge.

In conclusion, I can sum this up in less than a sentence as someone new in this game
Wtf is going on?
and
Why am I doing this?

Why am I learning professions? The game doesn’t tell me what awaits me if I level up my professions? Could I make an awesome new staff better than this janky looking tree branch i’m running around with? I’m so sick of looking at my fugly weapons when other people my level have all this fancy and flashy cool weapons and armor. Cant afford to waste real life money in the Gem store either, because i’m uncertain whether or not I want to stay motivated to keep going in this game.
Then when you figure out what it takes to earn expensive weapons and armor, you learn that you’re going to have to grind months into the game to achieve it by doing the same thing over and over again. And worse case scenario the gear you’ve always wanted doesn’t meet up to your expectations, then what?

I don’t want to give up this game yet, there’s a lot that I don’t know and there’s not enough tutorials out there no matter what tutorial there is, also, don’t bother linking me it, mostly because I don’t want to read massive walls of texts just to figure out a simple mechanic, which if it’s that complicated then it’s something I definitely don’t want to get involved in. I need an ingame friend who actually knows the game enough to explain what the hell is going on or how to do something that can answer my question straight forward with little to no delay if I were to read a wall of text or post it on the forums and wait forever just to get a straight answer. Yes, MMOs are time consuming, but the spending your time wisely in a MMO is valuable, and sitting around to figure out how to even play/understand the game is not worth my time with such a bad inconvenience.

It’s always daunting for new players entering any established MMO, so you’re not alone. Everyone who’s currently decked out in ascended and legendaries went through that at some stage.

If anything, GW2’s community is one of the most helpful… there’s usually someone on map chat who’s happy to help. Find a guild that suits you, they’re a pretty good resource too.

Btw, in PvP, everyone is upscaled and all equipment stats are equal (PvE stats don’t count here), so the main hurdle is skill and knowing your own and your opponet’s class strengths/weaknesses.

Looks like its time for an NNPE.

You could always ask specific questions on this thread for answers if you have no one in game.

First off here are 2 sites I use to look up information when I can’t figure out the answers:
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Main_Page
http://dulfy.net/

Second thing ….. Did ask in map chat in game for help? Most will help answer any questions you might have. I know I answer questions all the time in game. If you need help just look me up in game if you are on the NA servers. I am on every day, several times a day.

One thing that might be helpful is that Professions are things like Ranger, Necromancer, Engineer, etc.

Crafting Disciplines are what your character(s) can have active 2 (or more with Gem Store purchase) at a time.

I understand you don’t want to read text, but the Wiki (link above) is very helpful, and it’s not usually page after page when explaining certain parts of the game.

As to friends, you might try the Player Helping Player sub-forum, or the Looking For… sub-forum.

Good luck.

Ooookay. I will take a stab at it.
1st you say you are new to MMORPG. Well GW2 is a bit different from most MMORPG. The traditional MMORPG has the “trinity” which can be summed up as Tanks (they can absorb massive damage and force the “boss” to focus attention on them), the DPS (damage per second which is all the damage dealers of all types), and the Healer (who keeps everyone alive). Most MMORPG are like that — GW2 is a bit different in that there are no real Tanks, everyone has DPS and Heal capabilities to some extent.
2nd how important “how you look” is really up to the individual. You can be a devastating player while looking like you rolled out of bed in your sweats, and a total loser in fancy dress. Or play hardcore armor. Or play in fancy elegant clothing. Check out the “wardrobe” feature.

That said — GW2 is really in top set of MMOs. You have a HUGE area to explore. You can play solo and be successful, or join a guild and make new friends. (You will need to get a headset with mic to do that most effectively.) You can do dungeons, personal story, or just explore and knock off hearts and hero points — do what you want.

You say you are running a necro. Well necros have minions and with minions you can always have a “party of 5” e.g. you and your 4 uglies. Which means you are very survivable running solo. You can easily make it to level 80 solo as a necro. You can clear HoT as a necro solo. Necros are total kitten in PvE. Read the Necro forum for build tips. (Note: forum changes “bad” words into “kitten” so “bad rear end” becomes “kitten”.)

And don’t forget – you can learn skills to get useful items — for example become a jeweler (build your own rings, earrings, etc.)

GW2 has issues, but so does every MMO. Explore and have fun.

More generally regarding MMOs — if you join guilds and have headset with mic — you can meet some very interesting people. In one game I was in a guild where I hung out with a member of the Outlaws motorcycle gang in a poly relationship (him, bi wife, and mutual girl friend), a married couple who were fundamentalist Christians, and a gay black female professional from the rust belt — and we all got along very well together. The MMO experience permits you to meet people from multiple social classes and ethnic groups whom you would never have the opportunity to meet and get to know in “real life”.

zenleto.6179:

Looks like its time for an NNPE.

Aw yeah, NPE 2.0! Now with even more restrictions, content gating and hand holding. I can’t wait.

Seriously though, new characters should just start with one of the scrolls that level you up to 30. The early levels of this game used to be the best thing it had and now it’s close to the worst. I leveled up a new Ranger recently and did it normally instead of just scrolling and it was ridiculous. You can’t tame or swap pets immediately, basic profession functions like commanding your pet are also restricted, your weapon skills are level locked so you’re stuck with a hamstrung skill bar until you level up. It’s just horrendous. We all know that the NPE was terrible but every now and then I forget just how bad it is until I dip my toe back in the water.

I hear you loud and clear, mostly because I find myself in the same exact boat.

I actually did spend some RL moolah to see what I could figure out and…well…I have more inventory bags and a new slot for another bag….and I leveled up Leatherworking and Huntsman to about 200 each.

…now what? Keep doing that? For what? All the new things I can now make are above my level. Plus, the icing on that cake is, what it takes to make them costs a lot more then what I can sell them for.

So….should I just go back out and kill things?

I don’t know because, like you, the original appeal seems to be waning. I want to like this and long ago I was a casual WOW player that only got to about level 75 or so before a job took over my time. Now, I own a business and can do as I please but…this game so far (bought it about a week ago) is feeling a little..I don’t know, aimless and lonely I guess?

I’m playing on Gates of Madness server in NA. Made a pretty little Ranger Chick and so far got her up to level 41. I also spent the last two days looking for some gold making things to do…

Spent 20 gold on buy orders for about 250 different low level blue weapons and armor at 1 silver each. I set it to buy 15 of each one I found in the TP with other buyers under 1 silver. Hope that made sense. Essentially, I tried to buy at 1 silver for each item and intended to salvage everything I got to then sell the materials for a profit.

Long story short, I just spent a ton of time salvaging a few hundred weapons and armor and literally broke even on what I spent to buy them. lol Almost exactly.

Not sure what I am doing wrong but gathering, crafting, buying and selling is definitely not seeming to be a good time.

Anyway, not trying to hijack your thread but I can tell you for sure, you’re not alone at all. I’m right there with you and wondering how to give this game a fighting chance to be more fun to play.

I know I am a casual player and always will be. I have zero interest in being the best. I also have zero interest in some elitist telling me I’m trash at the game if I go and try to find a dungeon to see what else is out there. I have no expectation of being instantly fantastic at any of this and anyone who was born with the knowledge required to be a Guild Wars 2 god…well, hooray for you kitten while I shoot that bird in the face for no reason. lol

I’d like to play and have some fun doing it but haven’t found that yet. Maybe we could meet up and be failures together? Perhaps? Anybody out there?

Mayhemster.6980:

I hear you loud and clear, mostly because I find myself in the same exact boat.

I actually did spend some RL moolah to see what I could figure out and…well…I have more inventory bags and a new slot for another bag….and I leveled up Leatherworking and Huntsman to about 200 each.

…now what? Keep doing that? For what? All the new things I can now make are above my level. Plus, the icing on that cake is, what it takes to make them costs a lot more then what I can sell them for.

So….should I just go back out and kill things?

I don’t know because, like you, the original appeal seems to be waning. I want to like this and long ago I was a casual WOW player that only got to about level 75 or so before a job took over my time. Now, I own a business and can do as I please but…this game so far (bought it about a week ago) is feeling a little..I don’t know, aimless and lonely I guess?

I’m playing on Gates of Madness server in NA. Made a pretty little Ranger Chick and so far got her up to level 41. I also spent the last two days looking for some gold making things to do…

Spent 20 gold on buy orders for about 250 different low level blue weapons and armor at 1 silver each. I set it to buy 15 of each one I found in the TP with other buyers under 1 silver. Hope that made sense. Essentially, I tried to buy at 1 silver for each item and intended to salvage everything I got to then sell the materials for a profit.

Long story short, I just spent a ton of time salvaging a few hundred weapons and armor and literally broke even on what I spent to buy them. lol Almost exactly.

Not sure what I am doing wrong but gathering, crafting, buying and selling is definitely not seeming to be a good time.

Anyway, not trying to hijack your thread but I can tell you for sure, you’re not alone at all. I’m right there with you and wondering how to give this game a fighting chance to be more fun to play.

I know I am a casual player and always will be. I have zero interest in being the best. I also have zero interest in some elitist telling me I’m trash at the game if I go and try to find a dungeon to see what else is out there. I have no expectation of being instantly fantastic at any of this and anyone who was born with the knowledge required to be a Guild Wars 2 god…well, hooray for you kitten while I shoot that bird in the face for no reason. lol

I’d like to play and have some fun doing it but haven’t found that yet. Maybe we could meet up and be failures together? Perhaps? Anybody out there?

This is a post I can respect. What’s your normal play time and where do you live? I can look out for you and give you a hand if you want.

Ask in map chat or join one of the guilds you see recruiting all the time. most are willing to help.

On players having flashier gear than you….you are joining a game that is years old and a good chunk of the players you see have been playing for years. Even if they appear to be your level in WvW you are scaled up and in lowbie maps you are scaled down so they aren’t actually your level or they might be levelling alts and putting different skins on their their stuff. You’re less than a week into the game, don’t expect to have everything. The majority of players, even those with multiple level 80s and map completion do not have a legendary weapons, especially not twilight. Those are intended as very long term goals for players who like having something to work towards. They don’t even have better stats.
For most of the game you can get away with using whatever you find or craft. At level 80 you will want exotic gear. Exotic gear (which is good enough for everything but raids and high difficulty level fractals) isn’t that expensive so you don’t have to stress about it too much. Hell, if you join a guild and ask someone will probably give you some. Ascended gear is better but it is a long term goal and you don’t need to have it before you can jump into group content. If you have money problems sell crafting materials you aren’t using. Use the wardrobe features at the back to find skins you like, then you can just look up how to get that particular one.

Structured PvP (not WvW) is a level playing field. You have all skills and traits unlocked and equipped gear for PvE is only for looks. You set your stats in the PvP build tab (its one of the icons at the top of the screen in the mists). You will still get your kitten handed to you until you learn the ropes but that’s true of every PvP game I have ever played. Just don’t play ranked PvP and it should be fine. If you want to fast track your learning a bit watch some videos of your class (but don’t expect to be brilliant and do what they do right off the bat with no practice)

The crafting is…well, what it says on the tin. When you talk to the trainer for it you can ask which things you can craft with it. Decent for keeping your character geared as you level and gives you experience to help you level up faster but if you don’t want to bother with it just yet you don’t need to, in fact it might be better to just sell the materials. It’s also how you get ascended weapons and armour. If you are thinking long term and aren’t going to be making alts I would recommended going with the two that give you weapons for your class because ascended accessories, rings and amulets you get though other means and ascended armour is expensive but isn’t that big a difference. However emphasis on long term. Getting crafting to 500 is expensive and once again ascended gear is not necessary for most content. I still have not bothered fully gearing with it.

zenleto.6179:

This is a post I can respect. What’s your normal play time and where do you live? I can look out for you and give you a hand if you want.

Thanks.

I am East Coast, USA. Usually play in the evenings. I’m a bit of a night owl so I stay up late. It’s 11:30PM here right now.

In game: Mayhencania

Gate of Madness

Been standing in Lion’s Arch for days lol

Mayhemster.6980:

zenleto.6179:

This is a post I can respect. What’s your normal play time and where do you live? I can look out for you and give you a hand if you want.

Thanks.

I am East Coast, USA. Usually play in the evenings. I’m a bit of a night owl so I stay up late. It’s 11:30PM here right now.

In game: Mayhencania

Gate of Madness

Been standing in Lion’s Arch for days lol

I’ll see what I can do but it won’t be today. I’m at work. You might get hit with more help than you need before I get on

Tapioca.9062:

zenleto.6179:

Looks like its time for an NNPE.

Aw yeah, NPE 2.0! Now with even more restrictions, content gating and hand holding. I can’t wait.

Seriously though, new characters should just start with one of the scrolls that level you up to 30. The early levels of this game used to be the best thing it had and now it’s close to the worst. I leveled up a new Ranger recently and did it normally instead of just scrolling and it was ridiculous. You can’t tame or swap pets immediately, basic profession functions like commanding your pet are also restricted, your weapon skills are level locked so you’re stuck with a hamstrung skill bar until you level up. It’s just horrendous. We all know that the NPE was terrible but every now and then I forget just how bad it is until I dip my toe back in the water.

I was (am) more annoyed about the map changes but…yeah.

zenleto.6179:

Mayhemster.6980:

zenleto.6179:

This is a post I can respect. What’s your normal play time and where do you live? I can look out for you and give you a hand if you want.

Thanks.

I am East Coast, USA. Usually play in the evenings. I’m a bit of a night owl so I stay up late. It’s 11:30PM here right now.

In game: Mayhencania

Gate of Madness

Been standing in Lion’s Arch for days lol

I’ll see what I can do but it won’t be today. I’m at work. You might get hit with more help than you need before I get on

No worries, nothing expected. Not even sure what I, or the OP for that matter, need help with so I’m just running around dippin’ mah toes in stuff.

Anybody who gets a kick out of shooting these moa birds in the face, let’s go. lol