Guild Wars 2

So I’m a new player, ive reached 80. A side goal of mine is to completely open up the game world, first through getting all the waypoints, then maybe later ill start clearing more maps (ive done a few but would prefer the option to go anywhere first)

So the issue I’m having is with the world map. There are lots of marked areas that ive ended up wasting a lot of time trying to figure out how to get there. Apparently there are some marked areas on the map that you just cant get to.

For instance I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to get to the crystal desert. There are guard guarding what appears to be the only way in (spent a lot of time trying to find other routes in) ive gone to the queen to see maybe I need to talk to her. Find out later its not in game.

There has to be some way to let a new player know that certain marked areas of the game are not available, so people like me don’t spend hours and hours trying to figure out how to get somewhere I cant go.

On a side note, it would be nice to have waypoints visible even if the area isn’t explored. This would solve the issue, as if there are no waypoints I can assume the area isn’t a place I can go, would also make things like realizing theres some underground area or part of the map that looks like its not somewhere I can go that in fact has a waypoint and I need to start figuring out how to get there.

I feel like the world map is sort of throws a lot at you without telling you the bare basics, such as what on this map is part of the game, and what on this map is there just to have it on the map. For instance, I didn’t even know I could get to silverwastes until I realized I had items to be used in the area, so I had to go back and figured out there was a portal there I had no idea about, despite having been in the area with the portal there before.

So either make the waypoints visible despite uncovering the area, or make portals between maps visible..there are a lot of areas on the map that I don’t have unlocked at 80, after having tried to unlock all the areas with at least one waypoint, in fact I feel I have the edges of all maps fully discovered, or at least most. I really don’t like that I need to always ask people if I can even go to these areas or not. It should be something I know by looking at the map.

the thing is that the non-available maps are GW1/GW2 lore-related and are probably planned to be add to GW2 openworld at some point. So my guess is they are allready on the world map so you “know” there is more incoming.
Best example, maguuma jungle > HoT maps.

By talking to NPCs you get all the info that you need to tell if 1 area is available or not.
But it wouldn’t hurt to make wich map is or isn’t “availabe” easier to see indeed.

You could always try looking at the Wiki. You can even get to the Wiki from in game. Just type “/wiki xxxxx” just replace the x’s with what you are looking for.

You could ask in map chat how to get to where you are wanting to go. As long as I am not fighting or busy I will always take the time to give directions or help in game.

You could also look at any number of the other sites like Dulfy.net for information on what you are looking for.

Yes, I would like EVERY area you need to explore on a map have a WP, POI, or heart in it. As it is now I can get all of those but still not have completed the map. So I need to open up the wiki to find the areas I missed.

WPs I am a bit meh on opening. A compromise is to have them available to your other characters (but the area around them not explored) if discovered once while still allowing them to be discovered (ie, that they could earn XP from them). Maybe use the undiscovered icon to signify a character (including the first one) has not discoveed them yet while still allowing them to use it.

Menadena.7482:

Yes, I would like EVERY area you need to explore on a map have a WP, POI, or heart in it. As it is now I can get all of those but still not have completed the map. So I need to open up the wiki to find the areas I missed.

WPs I am a bit meh on opening. A compromise is to have them available to your other characters (but the area around them not explored) if discovered once while still allowing them to be discovered (ie, that they could earn XP from them). Maybe use the undiscovered icon to signify a character (including the first one) has not discoveed them yet while still allowing them to use it.

Well, I’m more concerned with the fact that I cant look at the world map as a new player and know “i need to go here but I cant go there” Really strange ive never seen a mmorpg with a world map that has areas appear that seem like I can go there but need to ask someone or alt tab to a wiki to find out if that area is even in game. Maybe to a vet of gw1 and a vet of gw2 it makes sense, but to a new player it doesn’t.

Perhaps just having a mouse over outline on the areas that are in game.

I think having waypoints known even if not explored is a good idea, given how important they are to unlock. Ill be honest, the way they show unlocked areas, areas I cant go, and areas not in game, all with the same exact “artwork fog of war” covering, I have no idea if some areas are dead ends or if there is exploreable content just beyond.

All I’m saying is that to a new player, figuring out how to do this all differently would be a huge help. I’m sure I’m not the only new guy who has wasted hours of time combing edges of maps looking for a path, or a jump path, to try to get to undiscovered area that isn’t in game and isn’t possible to get to.

I think you might have overlooked one thing, each area that you can actually enter has a level range marked over them (even when you haven’t explored it yet). Some may be hard to see but that’s how you can track them down. Because southsun, dry top and silverwastes aren’t in map completion those might be harder to find. All the skill points used to be visible on all the maps but they started hiding them a few patches ago with the hero point introduction. I am guessing that’s in preparation for Heart of Thorns.

The zone portals are usually visible on the map as small white stripes or because they have roads leading to the edge of the map. One misleading example is a road in gendarren fields that once led into Lion’s Arch but got closed off after it’s destruction. The road is still there on the map from before the destruction but the entrance is no longer there.

If there’s not a number on the map indicating the level range for that area, you can’t go there. Isn’t that easy enough to see?

Maybe a better suggestion for the inaccessible areas would to have them greyed out (like when you’re doing a personal instance, that area of the map is greyed out with lines over it). Maybe add a toggle on/off for those people that get annoyed by simple things, like having a map greyed out.

I can probably give you a solution. From an middle zoom map you can see the name and lvl of explorable maps, if that information does not appear when the map is not explorable .
I hope this can help you .

Balaur.1409:

I can probably give you a solution. From an middle zoom map you can see the name and lvl of explorable maps, if that information does not appear when the map is not explorable .
I hope this can help you .

As was pointed out before the issue is not the level. You can get it from the wiki as well. The issue is finding areas inside a zone you have not explored.

StrangerDanger.3496:

So the issue I’m having is with the world map. There are lots of marked areas that ive ended up wasting a lot of time trying to figure out how to get there. Apparently there are some marked areas on the map that you just cant get to.

You can go to Options – Content – Hide Personal Story and Events
(At least that’s what I think it’s called. Going off memory since I have already done map completion on one of my chars.)
That should show you areas on your map that you have not been to for the map you are on. If you have finished everything on the map for the 100% it will then show you the nearest map zone with incomplete things.
Now to throw a wrench into that … there is a difference between getting 100% on a map and getting 100% total map completion and/or the Explorer achievements. Those require a few more spots and this should help for that – http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Map_completion

Like I said, I’m sure this makes no sense to people who have been playing for years and or are long time followers of guild wars. For new players its incredibly strange to have marked locations on the world map that appear as undiscovered spots that are not in game and not accessible. Especially considering theres not indication that these are areas that cannot be entered (grey them out would work)

For a game that has you wanting to explore and clear areas its sort of frustrating to need to alt tab to a wiki, ask in chat, or have to know someone only a veteran or long time follower of the game knows.

As for seeing a level range being the only indicator of an areas ability to be explored, that’s good to know. Does this mean there is an entire area to the south of silverwastes since it says “80” below it? Because this would lead to the other issue I have and that is teleports between zones are poorly marked, I have silverwastes fully explored and haven’t seen a route to get to that southern “80” area. Just an example.

Not the end of the world here just seems strange how this game handles the world map and zones, and I’m sure I wont be the last new player to spend hours trying to get into an area that doesn’t exist beyond being labeled on the world map.

First Silverwastes is not needed for map completion. Second that area under SW is Drytop – http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Dry_Top – and again that is not needed for map completion.

PyrateSilly.4710:

First Silverwastes is not needed for map completion. Second that area under SW is Drytop – http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Dry_Top – and again that is not needed for map completion.

Gotcha. But do you see my point? How would I have known any of this in game? I would have had to alt tab and open a wiki or make a forum post to know that the area there is drytop (ill have to read the wiki to even figure out how to enter it I’m sure)

Again from the eyes of a seasoned vet I’m sure this is a silly complaint…but to a new player seeing spots on the world map that appear like places I can go, but are not, its pointlessly confusing and causes people to waste time….and lets be honest here, you shouldn’t have to alt tab then research an area to figure out if its a place I can go to or not…that’s what a world map is for….

I wouldn’t mind if they added a sort of tint, or “greyed out” the areas slightly, of the places where you are unable to go as of yet. I would find it helpful, too. Having them blurry confuses them with unexplored areas that you CAN access. So I see your point, and it seems like something easy enough to do.

StrangerDanger.3496:

Gotcha. But do you see my point? How would I have known any of this in game?

No I do not see your point. I have been playing games online since the old BBS days. I know to look for any guides or walkthrough’s if I cannot figure it for myself OR in this game I ask in map chat.
What I don’t do is come on the forum and complain that the game does not explicitly tell me everything. I would rather find the “Easter eggs” and be surprised on things.

I’ve not seen any posts about this particular feature (or lack thereof) of the game before. Guild Wars 2 really encourages exploration, and your attempts to find ways into inaccessible (at this time) areas may have led you to discover things many never have (or never would have without the Wiki, or hearing/reading about it elsewhere), such as Mini-dungeons, Jumping Puzzles, parts of the Map needed for ‘Explorer’, etc.

Just think, you may be more familiar with the maps than many others. Hopefully, you never see some of the other Tyrian maps, as they show even more areas we can not access at this time.

Regardless, welcome to Tyria, and happy discoveries! =)