Guild Wars 2

I just hit level 7, getting a good grasp on mechanics but nothing has come close to challenging me or testing my brain so far… Just being stream-lined through cake walk events and quests… Does it get a bit more meaty and challenging beyond level 10?

I find mmorpg’s spend too long holding your hand these days.

If you want a challenge right away, you might consider adventuring in a zone that is of a higher level than your character. Or seeking out Veterans, Elites, Champions, etc. Maybe trying a Group Event alone or with only one or two others.

Good luck.

If you want more challenge, you can always do content that is above your level. Unlike other MMOs, you’re not restricted from doing things above your level in this game.

However, as a whole, the PvE content in this game is relatively easy. The newest areas that have been added have had significantly improved PvE content compared to the core game at release, but for the most part you won’t have to apply much effort to succeed.

If you want a challenging experience that utilizes the most of the combat system in this game, I would suggest PvP. If you don’t have the option to just jump right into it, you can access it in Lion’s Arch. Just ask around map chat and people should be more than willing to help you out.

Unfortunately, OP, right now is the worst time to have a fresh start in GW2 if you are looking for a challenge. They implemented the NPE (new player experience) a while ago. Basically they dumbed down the leveling process up to like 30 or so. You used to be able to unlock all of your weapon skills right away just by killing mobs. If you truly want a challenge, get to 80 and do fractals or unlock all your traits without visiting the vendor. Or you could try PvP.

The NPE kind of killed open-world PvE in the low levels sadly to say. ANet’s “test subjects” apparently had a lot of struggles before (which I’ve never met anyone who has).

I want to say the “tutorial”-side of the game ends at 15 or so.

DeceiverX.8361:

I want to say the “tutorial”-side of the game ends at 15 or so.

It might be more accurate to say that it ends once you move on to the second group of zones, which should be around level 15.

However, a lot of people say that the game just isn’t challenging at any point, or only when you get to the living story at level 80. It all depends on the person in question.

Good luck.

I guess these days it’s hard to find any AAA mmorpg that isn’t painfully casual/easy where the bulk of the content is steam rolled through fairly effortlessly and there is no consequence to dieing or careless play… I like the style of this game but I guess I’m left nostalgic for the days of UO, EQ and FF11, where you always felt a sense of dread and risk exploring and had to stay on your toes… These days I feel like I can just blindly cruise around in any mmorpg because they are so streamlined and hand holding. Makes accomplishing feats seem rather mundane and trivial.

DeceiverX.8361:

The NPE kind of killed open-world PvE in the low levels sadly to say.

Back in my day, low level mobs had the power to 1 shot you with their special attacks. Beware of ettins.

… and then beta happened and people complained.

Personally, the first challenge I encountered while leveling my first character was around 40 in Bloodtide Coast. Suddenly, enemies would nearly 1 shot me. The pirates were especially deadly with their fast attacks. At that point however, I fell far behind in gear as I only wore what I found. I hit 80 in Orr with level 50ish gear on for example. After crafting level 80 rares however, everything went back to easy.

Soulmancer.4715:

I guess these days it’s hard to find any AAA mmorpg that isn’t painfully casual/easy where the bulk of the content is steam rolled through fairly effortlessly and there is no consequence to dieing or careless play… I like the style of this game but I guess I’m left nostalgic for the days of UO, EQ and FF11, where you always felt a sense of dread and risk exploring and had to stay on your toes… These days I feel like I can just blindly cruise around in any mmorpg because they are so streamlined and hand holding. Makes accomplishing feats seem rather mundane and trivial.

They basically redistributed the challenge, piling it all up in raids and such. That way the casuals can cruise around nice and easy. Oh but then the casuals cruise too far. They make it to the raids and find out “Hey! There’s this section of the game I haven’t ruined yet! Nerf plz!”

Most of the challenging content wont really be noticable until you hit lvl 80. BUT that doesnt mean there is’nt any while leveling, like someone else pointed out, consider doing stuff above your level..personally I dont advice going more than 1 or 2 levels above because you will have a hard time killing/surviving anything. And there is always wvw/edge of the mists to try out. And there is pvp but I believe you need to unlock traits first, it doesnt unlock automatically in pvp as skills do..for some reason.

Leveling can be tedious and annoying at times for some…but its temporary, best to just get it over with for those that dont enjoy it.

Loki.8793:

If you want more challenge, you can always do content that is above your level. Unlike other MMOs, you’re not restricted from doing things above your level in this game.

Wha, you’ll most likely just end up dying like any other mmo if you decide to venture anywhere higher

Xenon.4537:

They basically redistributed the challenge, piling it all up in raids and such. That way the casuals can cruise around nice and easy. Oh but then the casuals cruise too far. They make it to the raids and find out “Hey! There’s this section of the game I haven’t ruined yet! Nerf plz!”

Come on, you were right up until you laid the whole thing upon the supposed casual gamers. Let’s not forget who is developing the game, they might actually bear some of the responsibility with the results.

But, I do agree that by (ineptly) dumbing down aspects of the game early on, ANet has created a problem as they attempt to ratchet up difficulty like in the latest LS Boss encounters, etc.

Me personally, I like “fun” over brain hurting puzzles or annoying boss mechanics, maybe I am a “casual player” but I also happen to play 6+ hours or more a day and have extra slots filled with alts.

I don’t do dungeons, I find them annoying, tedious, mostly unrewarding and that players no longer play for fun but for “speed”.

I dabble in WvW, but the rank system is a joke now…I am LEGEND! ANet handing gold stars out once again to everyone. (EotM, anyone?)

Contrary to popular opinion, I as a “casual” have not bee thrilled with what ANet has been doing to my level progression and character development.

The Trait system really signaled a huge deviation from the open nature of the game, it was further cemented by many of the NPE gating changes.

Don’t lay this crap at the feet of casuals, it’s on ANet.

One thing, do your opponents actually heal when you die? During my first story line quest at level 10, I actually got swarmed and died… Re-started at the check point, ran back and saw the boss was still at half health so I defeated him easily… Not only did I die and not get any type of punishment, but my opponents seem to be crippled fro,m my first encounter… Is this the normal thing with most story line quests? If that’s the case I’ll likely not be continuing with the game.

Usually monsters will reset their health when you die, unless there was a condition on them keeping them in combat, or somebody else is fighting it teammate, npcs etc…sometimes if you pull a monster to far it will reset at random times as well, extremely annoying when soloing champions and sometimes it can be hard to tell where the “line” is

Soulmancer.4715:

One thing, do your opponents actually heal when you die? During my first story line quest at level 10, I actually got swarmed and died… Re-started at the check point, ran back and saw the boss was still at half health so I defeated him easily… Not only did I die and not get any type of punishment, but my opponents seem to be crippled fro,m my first encounter… Is this the normal thing with most story line quests? If that’s the case I’ll likely not be continuing with the game.

It’s based on how long they’re “out of combat”, generally.

However, if you’re facing a tough fight against a boss and his minions, and you take out one or two minions before you die, then they don’t reappear no matter how long you wait. (Except for in VERY few cases, where it’s an endless stream of minions, but those are rare and you’ll have your hands delightfully full in those cases.)