Guild Wars 2

Back at launch, ANet stated that the EXP needed to progress through each level only increased by a small amount, but honestly, has that been the game’s undoing?

Personally, I feel like the level cap was too small, plus the fact EXP needed is so little…and that’s been the primary factor as to why people reach level 80 so quickly, regardless of whether they rush there (like a typical WoW-style player would), or take their time (like I did, and reached 80 within a week).

Sure, the game is more about the journey than the endgame like many other MMOs, but the journey is so short! I come back for the monthly events, but as I look back at the game, I think it would have been better if the game had a level 100 cap, while the highest level areas reached 80 or 90. There would be a lot more incentive to explore the map to finish those last 10-20 levels.

Oh and definitely more skills. Unlocking all skills and still having skillpoints to spare before even reaching max level….

BTW, how did GW1 sustain itself with a level cap of 20, and stuck that way even through its expansions?

GW1 was basically all “end-game”. The real game content began once you got to level 20, max level. Then the further you progresses, the more difficult the enemies got. So, for example, in “hard mode” you could be faced with a level 30 enemy. Leveling wasn’t the goal – finishing the content, capturing elite skills, and getting titles and elite armors was (purely talking about PvE).
Coming from this, I don’t mind the low level cap – in fact, I’d be happy even if they had carried over the lvl 20 cap. Reaching max level isn’t the end of the progress.

If you reached cap in a week, that’s hardly “taking your time”.

Aoshi.4785:

If you reached cap in a week, that’s hardly “taking your time”.

It’s really annoying how people constantly say this. It’s so unnecessarily accusatory; as if going through the same content at a faster speed means you’re skipping things or are rushing just to get to max.

I think it’s taken me about a month (ignoring all spans of time I didn’t play for) of casual playing to get to 80 – I can see how a person, clearing maps and doing storyline and crafting, could level in a week if they played 3+hrs a day on average. Some people like to play for longer periods than others, and frankly, I’m surprised when I hear people say that they have 60%+ map completion, and aren’t yet at lvl80.

Aoshi.4785:

If you reached cap in a week, that’s hardly “taking your time”.

What I meant was that I didn’t level for the sake of levelling. I levelled as I completed hearts, did dynamic events, crafted, storyline and everything else in between.

There are many in my guild that reached cap in 3-4 days, and had completed the entire map by the end of the week, whereas I hadn’t even gotten to 50% by level 80.

I hear you. Yeah, you can get to cap in a day just by crafting if you have all the mats. and I am level 80 and have 45% of the map done ^__^ Need the rest for that legendary, lol.

I see what you are saying, I was just referring to the speed at which cap was gained.

Imo, it’s like there are two phases to this game: pre-80 and post-80. Pre-80, all you care about is leveling, gathering, crafting, enjoying the content and story (as best as you can >.>), enjoying the scenery, doing a few dungeons for the heck of it, etc without really planning too much. Post-80, you now try to set yourself a goal, be it a legendary, t3 cultural, a few lvl 80 alts, your exotic gear, your fancy exotic gear, ascended gear, wvw, etc. These things will undoubtedly take up a great deal of time, much more than pre-80. These things also focus more on numbers (amount of gold/karma/badges/loot/tokens you have), as well as imo, more “hardcore” playstyle (farming, doing multiple dungeon runs, planning out how best to achieve your goal, etc).

Now, both parts are important and fun. However, imo, pre-80 and content available for pre-80 (disclaimer: i’m not saying it’s a strict gameplay change once you hit 80, I’m saying that there is a change and you might notice it) is sufficient for casual players who only have a few hours a day/week to play.

Also, accdg to anet, no one likes grinding, and imo they did a good job leveling you to 80. There are only very few instances where I felt leveling was a grind (maybe a total of 5-10 levels). They made it short as well so you don’t feel like a grind.

I dont play this game to level

I hit 80 a long time ago, still playing and still enjoying it.
also… an event planed for every mounth

GW1 evolved to the point where you were lvl 20 by the time you left the starter areas – you pretty much were all set up after then. Levelling was just a thing to do whilst you got to grips with your character. The game was about building a skill set up (Secret World based its skill system heavily on GW1) and making something truly spectacular to play the game with, so only being lvl 20 never became an issue.

You also have to remember it took a while for GW to really hit its stride. The first expansion was OK, by the time the 3rd expansion, it became something quite special and has never really been beaten in many respects.

It took me a lot longer to hit a toon to 80 here and Ive barely dungeon bashed at all in my 500 hours. I can understand the frustration those who reached 80 quicker, but if GW1 is anything to go by, you will not be short on things to do in the future.

It’s because PvE is such face roll, and even more so if you go back to earlier zones as a lvl 80 with full exotics, yeah the whole game is end game -_-, i’d like to smoke what arenanet were smoking when they came up with that garbage.

The game itself? leveling through each zone and exploring? nope.
Personal story wise? extremely. The personal story should’ve spanned more zones. Hopefully they will be adding more to the personal story.

interpol.2397:

GW1 was basically all “end-game”. The real game content began once you got to level 20, max level. Then the further you progresses, the more difficult the enemies got. So, for example, in “hard mode” you could be faced with a level 30 enemy. Leveling wasn’t the goal – finishing the content, capturing elite skills, and getting titles and elite armors was (purely talking about PvE).
Coming from this, I don’t mind the low level cap – in fact, I’d be happy even if they had carried over the lvl 20 cap. Reaching max level isn’t the end of the progress.

This.

Levels != content

AuroraFlare.1682:

Personally, I feel like the level cap was too small, plus the fact EXP needed is so little…and that’s been the primary factor as to why people reach level 80 so quickly, regardless of whether they rush there (like a typical WoW-style player would), or take their time (like I did, and reached 80 within a week).

I’ve been playing 2-3 weeks and I am only level 37. I’m taking my time for sure. We all have our different paces and of course not all of us pour the same amount of time into the game. But still. Reaching 80 in a week seems like a rush to me.

Is the game too short? Yes and no.

You can reach level 80 quite easily and within a relatively short time. Then it’s up to the individual player what goal to aim for.

I have two level 80 characters and a third one on it’s way (500hrs played). None of my level 80s has a single piece of exotic gear, so my goal is to slowly deck them out with exotics. Will it take me a long time? You can bet.

To me it seems the game is made around that idea. Get to level cap easily and then slowly go after BiS – that’s why exotics, legendaries and ascended come with such high requirements in material and time.

A problem often arises when are players ‘spoiled’ by other MMOs where you often can obtain BiS with a couple of dungeon runs, and by the time you’re done the next dungeon is released … and so on. So they beeline to BiS and expect the next dungeon and gear-update to be released asap.

GW2’s shortness or lack thereof is a very subjective thing. One girl in our guild had 100% at 101 hours of play time, and bailed shortly after. It took me 142 hours just to get my first 80. I’ve now played ~900 hours, and my main is only at 75% completion. There is way more for me to do in GW2. As aGW1 vet I am used to doing tons of stuff while at max level. The game is not too short for me. What other video game could I have bought and enjoyed for ~900 hours without additional (i.e., sub) costs?

I’ve been playing since head start and still haven’t seen everything. My main (lvl80 ranger) has seen 64% of the world. Next is my lvl80 warrior (50%-ish). Then I got a lvl39 elementalist and a lvl39 necromancer. Then an lvl25 thief that has been standing next to crafting stations since level 10 (got skill 400 in jewelcrafting now). And finally a lvl23 guardian.

Nope, GW2 ain’t too short for me, there’s just so much to do! But for me, being an altoholic is the thing that keeps me going.

penatbater.4710:

Imo, it’s like there are two phases to this game: pre-80 and post-80. Pre-80, all you care about is leveling, gathering, crafting, enjoying the content and story (as best as you can >.>), enjoying the scenery, doing a few dungeons for the heck of it, etc without really planning too much. Post-80, you now try to set yourself a goal, be it a legendary, t3 cultural, a few lvl 80 alts, your exotic gear, your fancy exotic gear, ascended gear, wvw, etc. These things will undoubtedly take up a great deal of time, much more than pre-80. These things also focus more on numbers (amount of gold/karma/badges/loot/tokens you have), as well as imo, more “hardcore” playstyle (farming, doing multiple dungeon runs, planning out how best to achieve your goal, etc).

Now, both parts are important and fun. However, imo, pre-80 and content available for pre-80 (disclaimer: i’m not saying it’s a strict gameplay change once you hit 80, I’m saying that there is a change and you might notice it) is sufficient for casual players who only have a few hours a day/week to play.

Also, accdg to anet, no one likes grinding, and imo they did a good job leveling you to 80. There are only very few instances where I felt leveling was a grind (maybe a total of 5-10 levels). They made it short as well so you don’t feel like a grind.

best answer that anyone could give in my opinion.

im glad its so “short” its anoyying enough to go trough the personal story once,
if you like to try out EVERY PROFFESSION with every race, every line of 30! it would be an overkill if it would be longer

AuroraFlare.1682:

BTW, how did GW1 sustain itself with a level cap of 20, and stuck that way even through its expansions?

I would say, the game isn’t short at all.

Guild Wars 2 sustains itself pretty much the same way Guild Wars 1 did (even though I believe 90% of all the players , just like in GW1 have zero clue what they’re doing, about to do or want to do) There was grinding for titles (sorry it wasn’t much more than that really) There were so many quests that I believe only a fraction of the playerbase actually did them all.

So achievements, different skins, different quests and dressing your character the way you can, or upgrading your wardrobe was sort of sustaining the GW player base. It’s pretty much the same for Guild Wars 2.

I believe there are loads of people not doing all the events (that can’t be bothered), not finding all the events, not even seeing the world of Tyria while staring right at it while they’re playing. There’s a big text in front of their eyes “MMO expectations, grinding and loot.” blocking their view really.

Generally what keeps me playing might be slightly unconventional, but it is just wandering around in the zones. In GW2 I have alot more enjoyment and alot more fun doing so. I can enjoy the beauty of the game alot more (even with graphics not pushed to max) where I spend at least 30 minutes walking from one area to the other (In the slow walking animation, yes) simply watching what NPCs are doing. (sometimes this is quite disappointing but then the view to the horizon enjoying some music (my own or the ingame music) is strangely relaxing. And while I’m not that much of a Role player I can spend time going for a stroll in this game. It’s insane how much enjoyment I get out of it. It’s nearly as good as going outside for a stroll.

Sometimes I encounter an event, see people join in, try to have a funny conversation (whether they respond or not is upto them really) Like saying to a norn while escorting a bunch of kids, “Hey watch your step, don’t crush the children.”

Since I know my way around, I know ALL the jumping puzzles, and most events AND mini dungeons by heart, I can lead people to them.

I also have alot of alts that I try to have some character, some style that I would like to see them in.

As such I haven’t been dungeon running like the rest of the world, or grinding the same event over and over like the rest of the players. ANd like such, it’s the players that I encounter that keep me playing.

The saddest thing for GW2 for me is that certain events are pushed to the end of their chain 99% of the time, which makes it impossible for me to get a full "raidlike"experience some of the mini dungeons have.

Lol I spend guiding two people through one of those, and while knowing my way around, it’s still alot of fun seeing other people attempt it

Too short? OMG no. (Though new content is always good).

I am 790+ hours into the game, have one 80 char and a huge spread of others and I’m still finding new things and places all the time.

I think it’s only too short for those who are really fixed on linear progression and don’t deviate from that, but if you’re willing to try new things and explore a lot there is always, always, always something to do.

Tell me your secrets on getting lvl 80 in a week! I really want to level more characters but I think it takes TOO long mostly because I’ve been playing GW1 for 7 years. This level cap is REALLY annoying for me.

I think the story is too short, I would like more endgame when I get to lvl 80, but getting to lvl 80 is just too long imo.

As a GW1 player I feel the exact opposite. Some of the complaints about end game could of been solved with a lower level cap. What if you only had to level in two zones per race and the entire rest of the game was max level content? You wouldn’t have the gripe about being forced to go to orr where the mobs are annoying and the game would feel a lot larger since you could do things in more zones and still get level appropriate loot.

AuroraFlare.1682:

Personally, I feel like the level cap was too small, plus the fact EXP needed is so little…and that’s been the primary factor as to why people reach level 80 so quickly, regardless of whether they rush there (like a typical WoW-style player would), or take their time (like I did, and reached 80 within a week).

Sure, the game is more about the journey than the endgame like many other MMOs, but the journey is so short! I come back for the monthly events, but as I look back at the game, I think it would have been better if the game had a level 100 cap, while the highest level areas reached 80 or 90. There would be a lot more incentive to explore the map to finish those last 10-20 levels.

Short or not short is a quite subjective thing. It took me about 200 hours to gain lvl 80 and now I still got loads of content in front of me. The journey isn’t over once you hit a certain lvl. Of course it could take longer to gain Max-Lvl but in the end it changes nothing I think.

I’d like it if arenanet added more story stuff which is optional to do, and could be tied with character creation choices or with NPCs (such as humans doing some mission stuff with Anise, or even Logan, haha) or even with Order stuff, such as maybe having to mentor a new recruit (and hopefully you not following your own mentor’s shoes…). Anything which doesn’t have you playing second fiddle to Trahearne, haha.

It could simply be triggered by finding the relevant NPC and talking to them. If they’re not normally in the game world, then it should be simple enough to add them.