Guild Wars 2

So I played Guild Wars 2 for the first time today and it just seems very meh and a bit dull so far, I have been trying to level up and get into the good part of the game but it really just seems slow and irritating. Granted, I only have a level 3 thief (a class I found boring and redundant) and a level 5 engineer (a class I like) right now but I just feel a bit disappointed with my purchase and that if you want to progress with the story (the only enjoyable part as of yet) you need to grind to the next level for an hour to be able to stand a chance against the ridiculously powerful opponents I am facing. Should I just give up on the game and go back to Dark Souls or is there something worth working for in this game?

go to the mists, try the spvp (it auto-levels you to 80), take a look at the class skills, and u will have better idea if you like this game.

Sanguinem.4932:

So I played Guild Wars 2 for the first time today and it just seems very meh and a bit dull so far, I have been trying to level up and get into the good part of the game but it really just seems slow and irritating. Granted, I only have a level 3 thief (a class I found boring and redundant) and a level 5 engineer (a class I like) right now but I just feel a bit disappointed with my purchase and that if you want to progress with the story (the only enjoyable part as of yet) you need to grind to the next level for an hour to be able to stand a chance against the ridiculously powerful opponents I am facing. Should I just give up on the game and go back to Dark Souls or is there something worth working for in this game?

maybe you are focusing in the wrong things? here you can get exp for ANYTHING, mix a bit of everything and you will level up faster, explore, gather mats, craft a bit, dynamic events, hearts… also try some other classes, maybe you just haven’t found the right one for you

Sanguinem.4932:

So I played Guild Wars 2 for the first time today and it just seems very meh and a bit dull so far, I have been trying to level up and get into the good part of the game but it really just seems slow and irritating. Granted, I only have a level 3 thief (a class I found boring and redundant) and a level 5 engineer (a class I like) right now but I just feel a bit disappointed with my purchase and that if you want to progress with the story (the only enjoyable part as of yet) you need to grind to the next level for an hour to be able to stand a chance against the ridiculously powerful opponents I am facing. Should I just give up on the game and go back to Dark Souls or is there something worth working for in this game?

Starting out is always a learning cure. Sounds more like you want to just play the story-line. The game is set up to use the story line as an anchor as you level and explore different areas, it is not set up to be used as the main means of getting levels. As posted above, look around (get exp just for doing that), harvest whatever you see (again exp given), hit things until they fall down (exp). You will be over the level required for your story by the time you notice it.

If you are trying to level up in this game via the old method (of practically every other mmo out there) which is just kill every monster in sight you are doing it wrong. Here anet wanted you to feel like a hero and to explore/play all the various different Dynamic events around the maps. That is where you get the bulk of the experience you need to level at a decent rate here.

Also like others have said you get experience for just exploring, (finding all those vistas, Point of interests, new parts of map etc) gathering mats (ores/wood), crafting as well as completing the parts of your personal story that you can do. However the biggest chunk of exp will always come from events/personal story.

I wish you the best in finding the right class for you (although it seems Engi will probably be it) and sticking with the game to see all it’s fun parts.

Oh and lastly I would just like to comment on this part of your post:

" I have been trying to level up and get into the good part of the game "

This too is part of the problem, you see EVERY part of the game is ment to be the “good part of the game”. You are meant to be having fun just playing/exploring/doing the events/hearts, etc. All I can say is don’t rush too much, figure the game out, your char and all the different skills with each weapon/class as you level up. In this game the real game does not start at max level, it’s at level 1.

Thanks all for your responses, I suppose the fact I am trying too hard to level up quickly to get into the good bit has meant that I avoid the good part of the game. Thanks all for your suggestions.

In this game you get xp for doing almost anything, just by running around discovering the map you get some xp. GW2 is the least grindy mmo in terms of leveling up i’ve ever played. I’m finding odd that it is taking 1h for you to lvl up a bit.

Try to do dynamics events and heart quests, or explore a little bit your race’s capital (Black Citadel if you’re a charr, Hoelbrak for norns, Divinity’s reach for humans…).

You still have time to request a refund i think if you didnt like the game.

in my case it took 2 months to get to lvl 80 but i hear people saying that get got there in a week, GW2 wasn’t very addictive for me when i started, but now that i learned how to apreciate the game it became my favorite.
It can also be the case that you are on a low populated server, so you dont see many players around, you can delete all your characters if you want a free server transfer. In NA Blackgate and Tarnished Coast are very high populated servers.

Sanguinem.4932:

Thanks all for your responses, I suppose the fact I am trying too hard to level up quickly to get into the good bit has meant that I avoid the good part of the game. Thanks all for your suggestions.

You are welcome. Btw having said all that I said does not mean that you can’t level fast and having fun while doing so. There is at the moment a method where you can level fast and depending on your idea of fun have fun while also making some nice coin.

You may already be familiar with it but if not I will let you know. It’s basically the Queen’sdale champ farm train. It’s pretty much a lot of events all tied to Champion mobs that you run over and over. A lot of people frown on this style of gameplay but at the moment it’s here and Anet seems to be ok with it. What you will get out of it is fast levels and some nice coin. You will run with a mob of other players so if you are a social gamer you might like this and also make some friends from it.

Once again goodluck!

top left corner of the screen go to pvp, go to heart of the mists, take asura gate (big round pink portal) to lion’s arch, head to gate hub plaza waypoint and take asura gate to other 1-15 zones and level up there until you’re high enough to go back to your starting zone. don’t grind because that will get old very quick.

ellesee.8297:

top left corner of the screen go to pvp, go to heart of the mists, take asura gate (big round pink portal) to lion’s arch, head to gate hub plaza waypoint and take asura gate to other 1-15 zones and level up there until you’re high enough to go back to your starting zone. don’t grind because that will get old very quick.

I agree with this.
You can also try the sPVP there, see what armour will look like by using preview option at the lockers or try different traits/combat skills 6-10 on the training dummies there (you are leveled to 80 and all traits are availible also it does not cost anything to change them unlike the PVE environment).

milo.6942:

go to the mists, try the spvp (it auto-levels you to 80), take a look at the class skills, and u will have better idea if you like this game.

^This is excellent advice from milo…

Try all the classes at 80…see if you like them…

Also check WvW out see if you like that…its a excellent place for leveling…if your server has a karma train taking towers/keeps/stonemist you can gain 2-3 xp levels a hour.

By the sound of it you may like dungeons/fractals which are like the story instances only far harder…you after be level 40+ to do those and really best at 80 with decent gear.

Hint: The good part of the game starts at lvl 2, because (aside from Dungeons and Fractals) you’ll be doing much the same at lvl 80.

Also, isn’t Dark Souls supposed to be much more difficult than GW2? oO
Now, if you want GW2 easy-mode, just play Guardian or Warrior.

If you have trouble gaining levels quickly enough to be able to do your next story step, you may also try visiting the other races’ starting areas – there are various regions catering to your current level (the lower the more zones, actually).

The trick to leveling in this game is different than any others. if you are more PVE oriented do this:

Finish your starting zone map for your race. Head to Lion’s arch through the asura gate in your capital. Then do all the starting zones for each race. Hit every heart, POI, vista, Skill point and gate.

Basically “complete” the maps. Because you are “leveled down” in the starting zones, you keep leveling up like normal, even though its starter content. You end up late 20s at the end of doing all of the starter zones (or higher, I forget). Then start on the 15-25 maps and so on.

Completing maps may become a bit like grinding, but for me, its “exploring”. I’m introducing my character to the rigors of this world… /shrug I STILL do this with all my characters when I make a new one. Come back to the personal story stages when you want to (and after you a well geared) and that xp advancement is still there for you later on. You could literally hit 80 by completing all the lower level maps and not get to the 65-75 maps at all.

BTW – keep in mind the way classes play at 10 and 80 are completely different in some cases. Engineers start off with pistols or rifles and end up flame throwers and grenaders. Thieves gain a lot from traits, but much of the “depth” of its gameplay comes from knowing how all of the traits and skills work together to achieve more AND a skilled thief will absolutely NOT make the class look boring… ESPECIALLY in PVP. That’s probably true for most classes, but if straightforward isn’t your game, stay away from warrior.

If you want to see how impressive a class can be, youtube is your friend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-sp223bITg

Sanguinem.4932:

Thanks all for your responses, I suppose the fact I am trying too hard to level up quickly to get into the good bit has meant that I avoid the good part of the game. Thanks all for your suggestions.

I suggest you take time and pleasure in leveling you char. Once you hit the 80, it may turn out that after a couple of months, you will feel 10 x worse than you feel about the game now. Trust me.

Corpus Christi.2057:

Sanguinem.4932:

Thanks all for your responses, I suppose the fact I am trying too hard to level up quickly to get into the good bit has meant that I avoid the good part of the game. Thanks all for your suggestions.

I suggest you take time and pleasure in leveling you char. Once you hit the 80, it may turn out that after a couple of months, you will feel 10 x worse than you feel about the game now. Trust me.

Be careful with this forum.
A lot of negativity here.

Sanguinem.4932:

Thanks all for your responses, I suppose the fact I am trying too hard to level up quickly to get into the good bit has meant that I avoid the good part of the game. Thanks all for your suggestions.

GW2 was the first game where I outleveled my husband – he’s more mission oriented than I am in terms of leveling up, and I like to wander around, harvest, and check off all the areas of the map, and basically putter around.

A few things that aren’t obvious:

• The longer a mob has been in the world, the more XP it is worth, so keep moving around and don’t hesitate to go after mobs even if they don’t aggro you.
• You get XP for harvesting, and everyone gets their own harvesting nodes (you can’t “steal” a node from someone else), so harvest everything you see.
• Dynamic events are worth detouring for – don’t get too focused on clearing the hearts. Often dynamic events will spawn that will give you credit for the heart at the same time you’re completing the event.
• Food and potions give you bonus XP and don’t cost a lot. It’s not all that significant at the higher levels, but at the lower levels they can make a big difference.
• Talk to named NPCs you see – sometimes it will start a dynamic event, but it almost always gives you a little flavor of what’s going on in the area
• If you don’t like the area you’re in, head to Lion’s Arch through a portal in your home city and try out one of the other races starting areas. The exploration bonus can push you over the edge to move on to the higher level areas.

These and a lot more tips are in a sticky in the Players Helping Players forum – the thread is a little long, but definitely worth looking over.

Tiger.7506:

Corpus Christi.2057:

Sanguinem.4932:

Thanks all for your responses, I suppose the fact I am trying too hard to level up quickly to get into the good bit has meant that I avoid the good part of the game. Thanks all for your suggestions.

I suggest you take time and pleasure in leveling you char. Once you hit the 80, it may turn out that after a couple of months, you will feel 10 x worse than you feel about the game now. Trust me.

Be careful with this forum.
A lot of negativity here.

Wait, if my feeling is truly as I informed him, am I forbidden from sharing for the sake of “keeping this forum positive”? Please, be serious…

My 2 cents.

Considering you’re coming from Dark Souls. I suggest you ask for a refund on GW2. You’re expecting a very high quality gameplay, be it combat, crafting or tactics and an amazing story. Things that you won’t find here.

If you read my post history, I am one of the more critical people of the game on these forums.

With that being said, I encourage you to stick with it. The leveling experience in GW2 is far better than any other game Ive ever played.

Don’t just look at it as “well I gotta do more stuff to get to the next personal story:”. The leash is off. Go explore… you see a mining node go after it. Quite possibly, there is a dynamic event happening near by, or you might stumble upon a renown heart. My point is, you are free to run around the zone and find things to do. There are many.

Hint: Don’t just be looking on ‘the surface’ i.e. open air land.

As far as things to do at max level: Well, thats where it gets…a bit more complicated. You have your run of the mill things like dungeon running, or PvP…you can also head into WvW(which you can do at any level and be upscaled in level) which I am finding to be more and more entertaining. Some epic battles especially on reset nights! Theres map completion, if you want to see every nook and cranny in the game (the art team should win ‘most gorgeous game of the decade’ award. Find some jumping puzzles…some are really difficult.

Theres some good looking armor sets to obtain. And, sigh..I must begrudgingly advertise…ascended gear which is BiS gear, and takes a stupidly long time to craft.

Oh, and the best looking legendaries you’ll find in any MMO in my opinion…

I’d recommend not focusing on your personal story as the main focus of your play time. They give good exp but they suffer from Anet and their methods of a challenge. By that I mean they add a ton of hp’s and CC to monsters you were killing in a third of the time in the map leading to it. Apparently at Anet, long winded fights = more fun. I usually sort out my inventory and salvage during PS veteran fights while my toon chips away at the too many hp’s in auto-attack.

Like I said, they give good xp but this is an online game after all but on saying that you could always join a guild and ask for help on your story to reduce the tedium. At least you’ll have people to talk to while the sponges soak it up.

Lv3 and Lv5 and the game is irritating? Are you playing with poor spec PC? Coz this game has really nice graphics.

As for leveling, this game is pretty easy compared to other MMO. I mean, you dont lose XP, or item when you die. You get XP for pretty much everything you do. You just tag and you are instantly credited for the event. There are many places to visit and explore, specially if you are pretty new. There’s Vista too to, and yes, gives XP too.

The starter area mobs are so freaking easy, I never died in this game till I reach Sparkfly Fen.

My suggestion is try to chug along till you are Lv10 and go to Queensdale (if you are not Human) and explore the area. Chat arount, mingle, or simply talk to NPCs. If you can;t get thru it, time for a refund.