Guild Wars 2

Hello all, merry xmas! I left after not enjoying the new xpac. The maps seemed mostly empty and a lot of group mobs running around and not being able to complete the events or know where to go to solo. Basically wondering if it’s been changed at all. Any tips or advice for a want to be returning player?

Well The Only thing that’s changed is the fact that there are far more micro transactions now, than before the expansion.

I honestly don’t know. I haven’t even logon for a while.

But Anet could probably do better on closing down maps. It is better to fill everyone on a map instead of opening a few empty map.

It hasn’t changed no. The maps were never empty and overall still aren’t, it’s just that at the beginning, the megaserver technology wasn’t working properly.

They have fixed that, but due to lots of full meta maps and ofc Wintersday going on the illusion of the game seeming empty in Maguuma still exists. You will still find plenty of players around, but for most maps you will need to taxi if you want to join the meta.

As for tips, well an active Guild is your best option or have a look at the profession forums for tips on builds to help solo through the maps.

So no changes then huh? Well that sucks! I’m on a serious withdrawal on mmos since leaving. I can’t find one I like

You can still enjoy core Tyria to its fullest. New map rewards and precursor collections have helped revitalise old maps. If you enjoyed it before, you’ll still enjoy pre-HoT now.

Stubie.5834:

So no changes then huh? Well that sucks! I’m on a serious withdrawal on mmos since leaving. I can’t find one I like

try to find taxi. It’s probably only way to get in a good map.

Just like the only full SW maps are the one near breach.

Seasons greetings!

You have said a lot in a few lines, so I’ll deconstruct it a bit:

“The maps seemed mostly empty”: The HoT maps consist of a series of event chains that determine the overall reward and outcome of the map. In order for the best rewards, everything must be completed (and as efficiently as possible). This means organised maps “taxi” people in from non-organised maps. This results in a few densely populated maps, but a lot of empty maps. If you’re on a quiet map, try looking on the LFG for a taxi.

“I’m not able to complete the events”: The maps are designed for group play, so you’ll have a tough time doing stuff solo. Even some of the map completion aspects (hero points) require a couple of people or more to help you. This isn’t a problem though- announce in map chat and there’ll be plenty of people who are happy to help.

“… or where to go to solo”: Same as above really. That being said, it certainly is possible to solo stuff. It just requires the right build, gear and a bit of knowledge regarding defensive play. It depends on your playstyle, ultimately. I usually recommend that if you’re feeling squishy, buy some tanky/defensive stat trinkets and see if that helps. Maybe going ranged will be better. That all being said, I actually felt more squishy on my PTV warrior than full zerk, simply because I was able to kill stuff faster and thus not lose as much health. Like I said, depends on what you are comfortable with.

If you’re not too set on solo play, I’d suggest joining a guild and finding a friend to run around with on your adventures.

I dont think asking in a forum is the best way to find out if coming back is best for you. The forum is the home of many angry, disappointed players and nonplayers. Putting in a question like that gets you responses from them.

If you want to find out, download the game and log on. See for yourself.

Thanks for your detailed response. Is there anyway to advance your character without doing the new maps? Like if I just wanted to run dungeon/fractals/spvp. I never was really into map completion and those kind of things.

Stubie.5834:

So no changes then huh? Well that sucks! I’m on a serious withdrawal on mmos since leaving. I can’t find one I like

Wildstar’s Christmas event is sooo much more fun than Farm Wars 2. And Star Trek online has some super nice skins that are easy to get with “fun” events

I happen to have two lvl 50s on Wildstar. One exile one Dom but I can’t find a guild that raids at my play times

Stubie.5834:

Thanks for your detailed response. Is there anyway to advance your character without doing the new maps? Like if I just wanted to run dungeon/fractals/spvp. I never was really into map completion and those kind of things.

Yes, if you have the expansion you’ve unlocked masteries in central tyria as well; anything that gives xp to a level 80 character will advance those. (Except tomes; they give spirit shards.)

Fractals have been reorganized if you haven’t seen them since the expansion — you can now do just one at a time instead of four, and pick exactly which one you’ll get.

PvP is in the middle of a league season, and there’s a new set of PvP achievements leading to a legendary back item: https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/the-pvp-league-begins-on-december-1/
You can also try the new stronghold PvP if you haven’t already; definitely different than regular conquest. People seem to really like it or not at all.

So when you say anything that gives xp to a lvl 80 I get confused. Because before lvl 80 everything haves xp because it scaled. So if that is the case all things should continue to give xp after lvl 80.

Stubie.5834:

So when you say anything that gives xp to a lvl 80 I get confused. Because before lvl 80 everything haves xp because it scaled. So if that is the case all things should continue to give xp after lvl 80.

You continue to get XP after level 80 but if you don’t have the expansion then you gain no benefit from it.

The old skill points were split into hero points and spirit shards. You get enough hero points by leveling to 80 to get all the original skills and traits. Hero challenges (the old skill point challenges) are needed to get the elite specs. Spirit shards are used to buy mystic forge materials and you get them from dailies, PvP, champ bags and killing random mobs.