Guild Wars 2

Just got a copy since it was on sale, and needed a break from the other MMO I usually play, and wondering if I could get some basic starting tips for the game.

I already have about 8 years of World of warcraft experience on me, which might help. But I hear this game is completely different.

My advice:

You know what you like in MMORPGs more than any of us would. Locate the activities that fit your playstyle and have fun with them. PvE? PvP? WvW? Dungeons? AP farming? Skin collecting? Whatever it may be — Happy gaming.

EDIT: The New Player Experience (aka NPE) may irritate a veteran gamer such as yourself. Just know that the pain is only temporary.

Save yourself some headache in PVE.

There is no tank or healer.
Instead there are DPS, support and CC.
Everyone is primarily a DPS.
You are self-sufficient
Support and CC comes from your utilities, skills and traits, NOT gears.
Just wear Berserker or in some cases Assassins, then pick your build depending on how you want to play.

GL

The low level stuff you find is probably super valuable on the trading post. I would advise selling anything you loot as you level, and only salvage once you reach level 70 or so. Also, make sure you have gathering tools on hand, and gather everything you see.

Try the different weapons available to your profession. They change the first 5 skills you have access to, and can change the whole feel of the class.

Don’t buy traits. The developers have said that the trait system will be simplified at some point (probably) this year.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help on map chat.

You can move while casting. You can move out of the way of attacks or dodge them.

There’s no node stealing. You and all the other people in the map will be able to mine that copper ore.

There’s no kill tagging. As long as you hit a thing and do enough damage, you’ll get credit.

Exploration, crafting, gathering, along with the staples of the MMO genre, will all get you experience.

You do not need ascended gear unless you’re planning on doing high level fractals.

Buy bags of T6 materials with your laurels.

Have fun!

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/players/OMG-If-you-only-knew-this-tips-for-new-players/first
most things in player helping player forums.

Move.

I mean your character. While fighting. You can use almost every ability while moving around. Do so. It helps.

Don’t forget to dodge. Pay attention to mob animations. Learn them. Dodge when the ones that you have learned to associate with heavy hitting attacks or strong control abilities come up.

Linthenius.3704:

I already have about 8 years of World of warcraft experience on me, which might help.

Nope .. best is to forget all that.

Else .. always have harvest tools equipped and harvest everything. It gives exp and
most stuff is simply good money at the Trading Post. Also check always the prices
at the TP before you sell anything to an NPC .. there is not much stuff that you
couldn’t better sell at the TP.

Good, easier starter characters : warrior, guardian, ranger, necro

Race doesn’t matter, just take them for the visual appearance.

My only advice to you would be… try things. No seriously, go and try things. Try to aim for level 30 and try your first dungeon. Do quests, explore, try PvP. Try custom arenas, unranked or ranked. Just try it.
Go to World vs World at least once, but try it during different days/times of the day (if you can, off course.). The night players are usually a lot different in attitude compared to the day players (ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cnEyVp7AoM).
Go to Edge of the Mists for a more… wild WvW.
During all this trying out… see if you can find new players similar to yourself. Join them! Just find what you wish to do in this game, do it and have fun

Beldin.5498:

…It gives exp…

Just adding to this little snippet: just about everything gives xp here so go for broke.

Do.Not.Rush.At.The.Cap!

Seriously, don’t — there is no need for that.

Also, do not skip zones because they are in “lower level” range, you will get automatically down leveled to the zone part you are in but XP and loot (except mats) will be for your level.

Always try to do events when they pop around you as most are fun.

Apart from that, as others said — explore, this game rewards that more than any other I played.