Guild Wars 2

I haven’t played in a long time and I’ve been thinking about trying to get back into the game. Is there still a large enough active player base to make it worth it?

Everywhere I go I see players.

Here’s an idea ….. why not jump on and see for yourself? You already own the game if you are posting here.

Yes, there is. If you consider thousands to be large.

PyrateSilly.4710:

Here’s an idea ….. why not jump on and see for yourself? You already own the game if you are posting here.

Well I only have the base game. I was thinking about buying the expansion but I didn’t want to spend 50 dollars if the game didn’t have many players is all.

I see players no matter what map I visit.

You can still look around at most maps with the Core game.

Good luck.

Yeah, because of the mega servers, there always seems to be someone nearby now. I remember the Black Citadel being almost empty back in the day, and now there’s always awesome charr around even on that city map. It’s not just the HoT maps getting use.

HoT has basically turned into zerg-only content. If you just want to play through the game, you’re not going to have a problem. You’ll find smaller groups of 2-5 doing the events. If you want to successfully complete the metas however, using LFG to get into a full map is basically required, the only exception being Auric Basin due to the flood of people exploiting the loot.

If you want to buy HoT, it’s always on sale somewhere. If you’re expecting a refund however, buy it direct, because ArenaNet offers 30 day refunds, so you could even just buy it to try it if you wanted. At this point however, the next expansion will likely be revealed within the year. If they end up offering months worth of refunds again, though this time it’ll likely be upgrades, HoT will essentially be free within 6 or so months when purchased from ArenaNet. I’d recommend waiting out season 3 to see just how close it’s coming to an end. ArenaNet’s next 50% off sale should be in ~2.5 months, the week before episode 5.

Mougen.6702:

PyrateSilly.4710:

Here’s an idea ….. why not jump on and see for yourself? You already own the game if you are posting here.

Well I only have the base game. I was thinking about buying the expansion but I didn’t want to spend 50 dollars if the game didn’t have many players is all.

Come back to see what you liked about the original game. If you like what you see, then get the expansion.

I see about the same numbers as pre-HoT everywhere I go. New zones obviously tend to get more attention.

Here are some reasons I consider my US$50 well spent:

• Expansion includes gliding, even in the old zones. A huge game changer for me.
• There’s “true autolooting” (albeit gated behind masteries). Another huge game changer for me; so much more pleasant when I don’t have to ‘remember’ to get my well-earned (and not-so-well-earned) loot.
• Elite specs. I love the new trait line for necro, druid, and especially mesmer. (Also pretty good imo: guardian, warrior, and ele.) (Fans of engie and thief also love their new elite.)
• New maps: gorgeous. Can be super fun to explore (once you get the hang of their layout, which requires some adjustment).
• New meta events: when those go well, they are a lot of fun. (And these days, they usually do).

There are plenty of things I could live without or that I hate, but that’s true of any game.

I am a new player. I have been playing a number of aging MMO products. One thing that I noticed about GW2 is that the starter areas are filled with new players. This isn’t true for other MMOs. I view it as a sign of health. I am having a blast myself.

Take it as you will.

Morgana.2756:

I am a new player. I have been playing a number of aging MMO products. One thing that I noticed about GW2 is that the starter areas are filled with new players. This isn’t true for other MMOs. I view it as a sign of health. I am having a blast myself.

Take it as you will.

At least one other MMO has learned this lesson — hello, ESO and One Tamariel. I’m not sure how far WoW has gone down the scaling path yet, but they are certainly toying with it more extensively.

It’s part of the great design that backs GW2 that keeps it, honestly, much more interesting during endgame than others manage.

The new HoT maps tend to be pretty lively.

I remember them saying that when the new thing is out the previous will be free, so wait til the next expansion hits and find out xD

SlippyCheeze.5483:

Morgana.2756:

I am a new player. I have been playing a number of aging MMO products. One thing that I noticed about GW2 is that the starter areas are filled with new players. This isn’t true for other MMOs. I view it as a sign of health. I am having a blast myself.

Take it as you will.

At least one other MMO has learned this lesson — hello, ESO and One Tamariel. I’m not sure how far WoW has gone down the scaling path yet, but they are certainly toying with it more extensively.

It’s part of the great design that backs GW2 that keeps it, honestly, much more interesting during endgame than others manage.

I know it can be quite controversial (and confusing when it’s introduced after launch) but I think scaling is a fantastic idea for MMOs. Both because it keeps maps active so new players aren’t alone and because it enables ‘end game’ players to go back to earlier areas they enjoyed.

A few years ago I went through a phase of trying out lots of different MMOs and it was really disheartening to create a character, drop into this big exciting world and then spend an hour or more completely alone because most people had moved on from those maps. It was even worse in games where XP and loot is only awarded to 1 person at a time because then even if I did find someone we had to be careful to stay away from each other so we didn’t mess up each other’s gameplay. (Something I didn’t think about until the first person I found would only respond to me with “pls go away” and “grinding pls leave”.)

But I don’t think that will ever be a problem in Guild Wars 2. A lot of ‘end game’ stuff like world bosses actually happens in lower level maps, and even now the Living World is introducing a new map with each release parts of it still happen in other maps. But even without that the scaling and things like gathering materials give players an incentive to go back.

Also there always seem to be new players around, which is nice.

Drakz.7051:

I remember them saying that when the new thing is out the previous will be free, so wait til the next expansion hits and find out xD

That is probably a year or more away at this point, estimating from past living story episode counts, and the cadence of releases settled on in this one. I’d pretty much die of shock if it was sooner than six months.

Which might not be the timeline the OP wants.

Danikat.8537:

(Something I didn’t think about until the first person I
found would only respond to me with “pls go away” and “grinding pls leave”.)

One of ArenaNet’s core design goals was that you should never not want to see another player. That can still happen however, because sometimes more is bad. I’ve seen events fail for example simply because too many low DPS players showed up. Most collection events are also far faster when done solo.

The problem with level scaling and the lack of vertical progression is that it creates a wall, as those who couldn’t will never be able to. Traditionally, you’d only need to obtain better gear or wait until the next expansion in order to complete something you couldn’t previously accomplish.

SlippyCheeze.5483:

That is probably a year or more away at this point, estimating from past living story episode counts, and the cadence of releases settled on in this one.

The number of episodes doesn’t matter. Seasons were meant to play out in pseudo real time over a year. If that’s still the case, seasons 3 is already half over. Episode 4 or 5 could even be the last, which would allow for a pre-summer release, otherwise they’ll likely take the summer off with a fall release, which is 2 years after HoT.

Healix.5819:

Danikat.8537:

(Something I didn’t think about until the first person I
found would only respond to me with “pls go away” and “grinding pls leave”.)

One of ArenaNet’s core design goals was that you should never not want to see another player. That can still happen however, because sometimes more is bad. I’ve seen events fail for example simply because too many low DPS players showed up. Most collection events are also far faster when done solo.

The problem with level scaling and the lack of vertical progression is that it creates a wall, as those who couldn’t will never be able to. Traditionally, you’d only need to obtain better gear or wait until the next expansion in order to complete something you couldn’t previously accomplish.

SlippyCheeze.5483:

That is probably a year or more away at this point, estimating from past living story episode counts, and the cadence of releases settled on in this one.

The number of episodes doesn’t matter. Seasons were meant to play out in pseudo real time over a year. If that’s still the case, seasons 3 is already half over. Episode 4 or 5 could even be the last, which would allow for a pre-summer release, otherwise they’ll likely take the summer off with a fall release, which is 2 years after HoT.

True there are still times when having fewer players (or even no other players) around is beneficial. But it’s a lot rarer than in those other games where you never want anyone who isn’t in your party attacking the same things you are, or even being in the area because if the game decides to award credit to them you get absolutely nothing.

Also I don’t think there is a standard length for Living Story seasons. Season 1 ran from either October 2012 or January 2013 (depending on if you count the first Halloween, Wintersday and Lost Shores) and ended in March 2014, which is over a year later.
Whereas Season 2 ran for 7 months from July 2014 to January 2015.

But that’s because Season 1 only became a season retroactively. Originally they were going to have a whole series of real-time ‘special events’. The first one of those was The Lost Shores which was only available for 3 days. It was also the last.

After that disaster they went back to the drawing board and in January 2013 came out with the Living World concept – releases that would stay up for a month each and progress the story, as well as adding new achievements etc. and occasionally some permanent content. At the time that was the whole plan. They weren’t making an expansion, they were just going to keep going with temporary content.

Players kept complaining that the game needed more permanent content and it sucked to miss a release and never be able to go back to it, and kept asking for an expansion.

I’m not sure what order the decisions were made in but the first change to be announced was that ‘season 1’ of the Living Story was ending after the Battle of Lion’s Arch and that when ‘season 2’ started up it would be permanently available, even to people who weren’t around when it was released. Later they also announced they were going to release an expansion.

So it seems to me that each season is as long as it needs to be. Season 1 went on from when they started the Living Story concept until they conceded the temporary format wasn’t working and reached a logical break point where it’d be easier for new players to pick up the story. Season 2 went from when they had finished creating the new format until they reached the point in the story where they wanted the expansion to start (or possibly when they needed to put everyone onto developing the expansion).

Season 3 might follow the same format – ending when they can no longer commit resources to developing it. But hopefully they’ve been able to plan it better this time and it will end when they’re ready to launch the next expansion.

But I don’t think we can say that will be a year, or 7 months or 14 months or whatever just because a previous season was that long.

GW2 is a dead game, what’s the point if Anet dont care about their game?
There is nothing we can do about it when the devs has given up.
I’m done with this kitten game.

Alga.6498:

GW2 is a dead game, what’s the point if Anet dont care about their game?
There is nothing we can do about it when the devs has given up.
I’m done with this kitten game.

Yeah, it feels like it was just yesterday when Anet was fixing bugs for a dead game they couldn’t possibly care about. How times have changed.

Alga.6498:

GW2 is a dead game, what’s the point if Anet dont care about their game?
There is nothing we can do about it when the devs has given up.
I’m done with this kitten game.

You being bored with the game does not mean the game is dead or that Anet doesn’t care about their game. Many of us have problems with various aspects of the game, but straight up lying doesn’t help anything.

Alga.6498:

GW2 is a dead game, what’s the point if Anet dont care about their game?
There is nothing we can do about it when the devs has given up.
I’m done with this kitten game.

Yet you still find time to complain about a game you are done with? Complaints with no validation or truth to them?

Your disgruntlement does not mean the game is dead or that Anet doesn’t care about the game or that the devs have given up.

The game is doing fine by any MMO’s assessment. Your statements simply are not true.

Also, you three who replied me might be newcomers to this game.
If you have been so long as me ever since BETA, then you know what I am talking about.
Otherwise, if you enjoy the game as if was all new and exciting, well... good for you.
Enjoy the game while you can.

I am not going to reply anymore replies so you can have your dramatic flame war somewhere else.

Alga.6498:

Also, you three who replied me might be newcomers to this game.
If you have been so long as me ever since BETA, then you know what I am talking about.

I’ve also been playing since beta. The game isn’t dead, and trying to claim otherwise (or to claim that Anet “doesn’t care” about said game) is, indeed, just lying

Alga.6498:

Also, you three who replied me might be newcomers to this game.
If you have been so long as me ever since BETA, then you know what I am talking about.
Otherwise, if you enjoy the game as if was all new and exciting, well… good for you.
Enjoy the game while you can.

I am not going to reply anymore replies so you can have your dramatic flame war somewhere else.

Vet here since GW1 beta. No, I can’t claim to know what you are talking about. Basically what I am seeing is someone trying to be edgy and salty. This game is far from dead. If you don’t want to play it any more don’t.

Alga.6498:

GW2 is a dead game, what’s the point if Anet dont care about their game?
There is nothing we can do about it when the devs has given up.
I’m done with this kitten game.

See ya tomorrow.

Alga.6498:

Recently….

3 new maps. New storylines. New mini pets on those maps. New weapon skins on one map. New ascended backpacks with new skins. New achievements. New hearts and events. New fractals. New PvP backpack. New Legendaries. New nodes for your home instance.

Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean that they haven’t released new content.

Here since beta too. My guild membership is now over 300, the most we’ve had and we don’t actively recruit.

People everywhere I go in the game. The game is still one of the busiest western MMOs. For a four year old game, this game is doing very well.

Anyone who says it’s dead is either trolling or mistaken.

Active up the waz… oh god i googled this word, bad word! Very active!!!

Mostly in NA times. During OCX times, it’s like a ghost town lol.

But Monday OCX is active because of raid reset.

Samnang.1879:

Mostly in NA times. During OCX times, it’s like a ghost town lol.

But Monday OCX is active because of raid reset.

Not my experience and I live in Australia. I always find people to play with, no matter what I’m doing. All the metas are being done every time they come up. World bosses too. Not sure what you’re on about.

Some places are not like before * cof * WvW * cof *,
but meta events, world bosses and so on are packed with players