Guild Wars 2

will we have to buy it to play guild wars 2 or will we be still able to play guild wars 2 without expansion like now?

yes you need to buy the expansion. PRice and date was not released yet.

Pretty kitten sure it isnt REQUIRED.

Just know that you won’t be able to explore that region without the expansion.

Gaile Gray.6029:

I think you’ll find helpful info here: https://help.guildwars2.com/home

However, I see your point: You are asking, “Do I need to purchase the expansion to continue playing Guild Wars 2?” The answer to that is “No.” You can continue to play Guild Wars 2 with the expansion or without. You can play Guild Wars 2 and add the expansion when it is released or later, if that’s your choice.

awesome, thanks for quick response. this is really great since i probably wont be able to get it on launch but still would like to play gw2 while i’m getting heart of thorns

PomstaZLesa.9238:

Gaile Gray.6029:

I think you’ll find helpful info here: https://help.guildwars2.com/home

However, I see your point: You are asking, “Do I need to purchase the expansion to continue playing Guild Wars 2?” The answer to that is “No.” You can continue to play Guild Wars 2 with the expansion or without. You can play Guild Wars 2 and add the expansion when it is released or later, if that’s your choice.

awesome, thanks for quick response. this is really great since i probably wont be able to get it on launch but still would like to play gw2 while i’m getting heart of thorns

Would be company suicide making people buy an expansion to keep playing. Like getting someone addicted to a drug then charging more for it

A better question is..Will you need to purchase HoT to continue the LS? This alone can ruin peoples experience of the Game if they can not afford such an expansion.

So, there will be a new WvW Map that is locked to people who haven’t purchased the expansion? And a new sPvP mode taht’s locked?

And changes to the classes/specializations and the economic problems posed by those who do/don’t? I see it as problematic to not be able to utilize important new mechanics for classes which may cause discrepancies in the PvP formats. The same applies to new items, skins, etc.

If these are to be implemented into the base game, then what exactly are we paying for with the expansion aside from some new lore and precursor acquisition?

Gaile Gray.6029:

I think you’ll find helpful info here: https://help.guildwars2.com/home

However, I see your point: You are asking, “Do I need to purchase the expansion to continue playing Guild Wars 2?” The answer to that is “No.” You can continue to play Guild Wars 2 with the expansion or without. You can play Guild Wars 2 and add the expansion when it is released or later, if that’s your choice.

I have another question , can we buy the expansion with in-game money – gems ?
Cause for me personally I couldn’t effort buy it with real money. But would love to play it , and as there is already a possibility to buy the digital deluxe version with gems , that’s why I m asking.

I remember being told that content would be delivered to use through Living World updates but now they’re throwing out the content as an expansion. I’m pretty sure you will have to pay. You’ll still be able to play GW2 but u wont be able to play the new content. Way to isolate people from the community anet.

Why are you asking if you HAVE TO buy it ?!

YOU MUST buy it! its a MUST.

MaJoBooOM.4851:

Gaile Gray.6029:

I think you’ll find helpful info here: https://help.guildwars2.com/home

However, I see your point: You are asking, “Do I need to purchase the expansion to continue playing Guild Wars 2?” The answer to that is “No.” You can continue to play Guild Wars 2 with the expansion or without. You can play Guild Wars 2 and add the expansion when it is released or later, if that’s your choice.

I have another question , can we buy the expansion with in-game money – gems ?
Cause for me personally I couldn’t effort buy it with real money. But would love to play it , and as there is already a possibility to buy the digital deluxe version with gems , that’s why I m asking.

Seeing how you can upgrade to digital deluxe with gems maybe you will be able to .

To continue playing: No.
To ever be happy again: Yes.

just please remember to put an option to purchase through the gem store. some of us have more in game gold than real world money..

How does it work when other MMOs release expansions. (I don’t play them so I genuinely don’t know.) For example, WoW has about 7 expansions now, if I wanted to play it do I have to buy them all before I can even start? Or can I just get the base game and maybe the first one or two and just be locked out of certain areas/classes/races?

I know that’s how it worked in GW1. Even when all 4 campaigns and Eye of the North (expansion) had been released you could just buy 1 of them and you’d still be able to play. You just couldn’t go to the other continents, or get the skills, heroes, armor sets etc. associated with them.

But obviously this game is different in a lot of ways, it seems more like traditional MMOs so I’m not so sure.

How is this gonna work?
How the guild hall and pvp stuff work for peps that dont have hot?

If I’m in a guild with guild’s hall but I did not buy HoT, Am I not be able to help my friends build the hall and see the hall? Same question with all pvp stuff.

can you please clarify if each account requires an expansion purchase?

Debating on getting an char expansion slot or a second account.

roachsrealm.9284:

just please remember to put an option to purchase through the gem store. some of us have more in game gold than real world money..

I wouldn’t hold your breath. Maybe for an upgrade to a deluxe version, as with the current release, but if the point of an expansion is to create an influx of funding for Anet it wouldn’t make much sense to accept play money for it.

Danikat.8537:

How does it work when other MMOs release expansions. (I don’t play them so I genuinely don’t know.) For example, WoW has about 7 expansions now, if I wanted to play it do I have to buy them all before I can even start? Or can I just get the base game and maybe the first one or two and just be locked out of certain areas/classes/races?

I know that’s how it worked in GW1. Even when all 4 campaigns and Eye of the North (expansion) had been released you could just buy 1 of them and you’d still be able to play. You just couldn’t go to the other continents, or get the skills, heroes, armor sets etc. associated with them.

But obviously this game is different in a lot of ways, it seems more like traditional MMOs so I’m not so sure.

You will be able to play without any expansions. However, in WoW, you won’t get the new areas/features/systems introduced with the expansions unless you buy them. GW2 seem to be heading the same way.

Usually older expansion become cheaper with alot of bundle-sales.

If you’re struggling so much financially in life that you cant set aside $40 or so between now and release, you really shouldn’t be spending all your time online gaming to begin with. If you’re sitting here telling me you’re gonna have to choose between the expansion or a weeks worth of food, how are you affording internet access? I’m not trying to be a kitten, just pointing out clear priority issues. I mean if you can’t afford a dollar a day (assuming the game was coming out in 40 days, probably much longer) you have bigger issues then an mmo expansion.

Unless certain parts of the expansion are disabled where both Players that have the expansion and don’t have the expansion, there may be problems.

Notably the new mastery system. Players that don’t have the expansion won’t have the mastery system and will not be able to bring the “A” game to the existing PvP and WvW maps. Grievers with the expansion will cause all sorts of problems.

I can understand blocking access to the new profession, new areas, and new bosses with the expansion, but the mastery system, the access to more weapons, and the guild halls are functional changes that need to be across the board.

oh thank u very much for clarifying that gaile xoxo

im so excited for this

I have misgivings about playerbase splintering due to paid expansion, but it’s not like you guys are going to jump and change it now. I’m sure you’ve assessed the risks thoroughly.

Heck, maybe I underestimate how deep peoples’ pockets are.

Anyway, it’ll be fascinating to see how this unfolds. Happy for you that you get to talk about it Gaile.

If money is an issue I’m still expecting this would be available through the gem store, so just start budgeting some of the gold you earn to convert to gems. One thing you can be pretty sure of is ArenaNet won’t be releasing this thing two weeks from now, so you should have some time.

You don’t have to buy it.

But I sure as kitten do.

ANet will come to your house, take your credit card and use it purchase this game for you.

sevenDEADLY.5281:

If you’re struggling so much financially in life that you cant set aside $40 or so between now and release, you really shouldn’t be spending all your time online gaming to begin with. If you’re sitting here telling me you’re gonna have to choose between the expansion or a weeks worth of food, how are you affording internet access? I’m not trying to be a kitten, just pointing out clear priority issues. I mean if you can’t afford a dollar a day (assuming the game was coming out in 40 days, probably much longer) you have bigger issues then an mmo expansion.

Unless I’ve missed something no one’s said they’d have to skip buying food or other essentials to afford this.

But it wouldn’t surprise me if for many people it’s a choice between buying HoT and buying other non-essential things. For example going to see a movie that month, or buying another game.

So if you had to buy HoT to keep playing GW2 people might choose to prioritise that over other things, whereas if you can keep playing and get it later they could wait.

I really don’t mean to be condescending when I say this, but if your financial troubles are so bad that you cannot afford to buy a game (something that is completely unnecessary), you have bigger things to worry about than whether or not you can continue the LS. But there is a way.

Finances are tight for a lot of people right now, I understand that, but it is not hard to save up, say, $30-$60 (speculating on price) over the course of the next few months (speculating on release date). Saving up some money is not hard, you just have to discipline yourself, maybe cut back on going out, or buying that daily cup of starbucks, or buying other games. There are people who paid off nearly $100k in debt in about 3 years by making serious sacrifices. Surely you can afford to cut back on one thing and use that money you would normally spend to save up. If you can afford to pay a monthly fee for internet access, then you can find a way to set aside a few dollars each month to save up to buy a game.

Remember, games are to be bought with money you are prepared to use as kindling for a fire. Look up how to set up a budget, figure out where your money is going, and redirect a small bit to your fund to save up. You can do it, it just requires a little bit of time, effort, and possibly giving up something you enjoy for a little while.

Offer to babysit someone’s kids. There are millions of hard working families who are struggling with childcare while they work. Go mow some lawns. Know how to fix cars? Offer your services to people for a small fee. Are you good with computers? Use those skills and offer your services for a small fee. Like to draw and are pretty good? Offer up commissions to people for a small fee. Like the Joker said “If you’re good at something never do it for free.”

You can do it, you just have to make the effort. Unless you are literally homeless and have no employment and no skills to offer (in which case you probably also can’t access the internet and can’t read this), you can afford the expansion.

Danikat.8537:

sevenDEADLY.5281:

If you’re struggling so much financially in life that you cant set aside $40 or so between now and release, you really shouldn’t be spending all your time online gaming to begin with. If you’re sitting here telling me you’re gonna have to choose between the expansion or a weeks worth of food, how are you affording internet access? I’m not trying to be a kitten, just pointing out clear priority issues. I mean if you can’t afford a dollar a day (assuming the game was coming out in 40 days, probably much longer) you have bigger issues then an mmo expansion.

Unless I’ve missed something no one’s said they’d have to skip buying food or other essentials to afford this.

But it wouldn’t surprise me if for many people it’s a choice between buying HoT and buying other non-essential things. For example going to see a movie that month, or buying another game.

So if you had to buy HoT to keep playing GW2 people might choose to prioritise that over other things, whereas if you can keep playing and get it later they could wait.

and what about a choice of a one-time yearly event or the expansion?
don’t judge someone’s personal situation without knowing the details, it just comes of as being self centered.

Does anybody knows what is exactly included in the expansion? A lot of the stuff I saw in the preview I didn’t like.

Stuff I don’t reallly care about:
New PvE map (however fancy it is(hate gliders as well))
PvP
WvW
Guilds

What I care about:
Legendaries
Dungeons
Story

Sadly, only legendaries were confirmed, so I was wondering if I have to purchase the expansion so I have a chance in getting the new legendaries? As much as I like to support Arena net, it just feels like wase of money to buy a whole expansion for nothing I’d play.

You don’t HAVE to buy this expansion set... but you wont be able to explore new things, unlock the new profession, etc etc without that expansion set.

Well, since all the new and exciting things seem to be locked in the new zone, you kinda need to get the expansion. Otherwise you’ll be stuck in the old depopulated wasteland, while all your guildies are grinding for their glider.

Gaile Gray.6029:

I think you’ll find helpful info here: https://help.guildwars2.com/home

However, I see your point: You are asking, “Do I need to purchase the expansion to continue playing Guild Wars 2?” The answer to that is “No.” You can continue to play Guild Wars 2 with the expansion or without. You can play Guild Wars 2 and add the expansion when it is released or later, if that’s your choice.

Why does I have to pay to have a feature that was promised for the release of the game? (guild hall) You know, the thing that should have come nearly after the release.

Cenosia.8539:

Why does I have to pay to have a feature that was promised for the release of the game? (guild hall) You know, the thing that should have come nearly after the release.

When did they promise guildhalls exactly? i’d love to see a source for that.

Will we be able to buy it in game with gems like the heroic to digital deluxe upgrade?

Zyga.2580:

Will we be able to buy it in game with gems like the heroic to digital deluxe upgrade?

I doubt it, the deluxe upgrades are only small bonuses, not large content updates.

So glad some community members have some sense of financial management. To all the players complaining they can’t afford to purchase the expansion learn to manage your finances. This to me has always been an investment into a game that has provided me hours of entertainment so much more worth investing in than console games. I for one do not want to see the expansion in the gem store I want to have anet reap some profit off this expansion. I don’t want it to be cheapened to something you can buy with in game gold.

dsslive.8473:

Cenosia.8539:

Why does I have to pay to have a feature that was promised for the release of the game? (guild hall) You know, the thing that should have come nearly after the release.

When did they promise guildhalls exactly? i’d love to see a source for that.

I don’t remember them ever promising guild halls in the initial release. And they never said if you dont have the expansion you wont have access to the guild halls

Ravion Hawk.4736:

Unless certain parts of the expansion are disabled where both Players that have the expansion and don’t have the expansion, there may be problems.

Notably the new mastery system. Players that don’t have the expansion won’t have the mastery system and will not be able to bring the “A” game to the existing PvP and WvW maps. Grievers with the expansion will cause all sorts of problems.

I can understand blocking access to the new profession, new areas, and new bosses with the expansion, but the mastery system, the access to more weapons, and the guild halls are functional changes that need to be across the board.

Interesting point. It seems specializations will be unavailable unless one has the expansion as well.

roachsrealm.9284:

just please remember to put an option to purchase through the gem store. some of us have more in game gold than real world money..

Yeah, and we can then have the Arenanet employees pay their bills with those gems. Great idea!

If that sounds harsh, just remember that there are hundreds of people working full-time jobs to create enjoyable content for us to play, and that those hundreds of people would like to buy groceries and pay bills so they can continue to live.

Guild Wars 2, itself, cannot be bought with gems alone. (The Digital Deluxe Upgrade is something that adds the DDE bonuses to someone who already has the game.) A fully fleshed-out expansion is one of the things that is certainly worth putting a real price tag on.

And, as Gaile said, it’s still OPTIONAL. Guild Wars 2 will never, ever require us to purchase Heart of Thorns. We won’t be kicked out of the game. We will only lose access to expansion-exclusive content. And possibly not even ALL of that – I fully expect some things to be core improvements that will apply to existing players. Guild Halls, for example, wouldn’t be much of a selling point if you had to get HoT to ever go to one; if your Guild Leader gets HoT and has a Hall, I would certainly hope that all members can visit it, regardless of their account’s content status. (Hopefully, Halls will become available even to leaders without HoT, but I’m not as sure of that as I am that a Hall, once owned, would be available to all members. There may be logistical issues I do not understand.)

Anyway! The announcement is less than twenty-four hours old; we really, truly cannot expect to know everything that is going to happen, nor should we. Things may change between now and release, and Arenanet’s well-known policy about keeping mum on anything they are not sure they can deliver certainly applies here.

Well considering the guild halls are in the new zone i am guessing you will have to get the expansion to visit them

Zera Allimatti.2541:

I really don’t mean to be condescending when I say this, but if your financial troubles are so bad that you cannot afford to buy a game (something that is completely unnecessary), you have bigger things to worry about than whether or not you can continue the LS. But there is a way.

Finances are tight for a lot of people right now, I understand that, but it is not hard to save up, say, $30-$60 (speculating on price) over the course of the next few months (speculating on release date). Saving up some money is not hard, you just have to discipline yourself, maybe cut back on going out, or buying that daily cup of starbucks, or buying other games. There are people who paid off nearly $100k in debt in about 3 years by making serious sacrifices. Surely you can afford to cut back on one thing and use that money you would normally spend to save up. If you can afford to pay a monthly fee for internet access, then you can find a way to set aside a few dollars each month to save up to buy a game.

Remember, games are to be bought with money you are prepared to use as kindling for a fire. Look up how to set up a budget, figure out where your money is going, and redirect a small bit to your fund to save up. You can do it, it just requires a little bit of time, effort, and possibly giving up something you enjoy for a little while.

Offer to babysit someone’s kids. There are millions of hard working families who are struggling with childcare while they work. Go mow some lawns. Know how to fix cars? Offer your services to people for a small fee. Are you good with computers? Use those skills and offer your services for a small fee. Like to draw and are pretty good? Offer up commissions to people for a small fee. Like the Joker said “If you’re good at something never do it for free.”

You can do it, you just have to make the effort. Unless you are literally homeless and have no employment and no skills to offer (in which case you probably also can’t access the internet and can’t read this), you can afford the expansion.

It depends on the country where U live. I live in Ukraine and 20-30$ it’s really much for us. To say you the truth , I was saving money to buy guild wars 2 for over 2 years ( no kidding ) , that’s why I was happy that I could play guild wars 2 for free and get the premium stuff for in-game money.
So with a sallery for about 60$ a month how can I buy it with real money..right now wwhen we have war in the country – Maybe never. Believe me I love anet , and if I had the real money I would buy it instantly…and I know that’s my problem but still I hope that there will be an option to buy HoT from the Gem Store.

If they do, i think it will be at a sky high price.
I mean, the upgate to deluxe costs like 2k gems and it contains:
1 Mini
1 Elite skill
1 Golem (for 2 weeks)
2 one-use Items

With all the new maps, mechanics, skills (via specialisations), the new class etc. it would be like a few hundred thousands gems or something like that

15usd yes more than that nop

Zera Allimatti.2541:

…
There are people who paid off nearly $100k in debt in about 3 years by making serious sacrifices. Surely you can afford to cut back on one thing and use that money you would normally spend to save up. If you can afford to pay a monthly fee for internet access, then you can find a way to set aside a few dollars each month to save up to buy a game.
… Look up how to set up a budget, figure out where your money is going, and redirect a small bit to your fund to save up. You can do it, it just requires a little bit of time, effort, and possibly giving up something you enjoy for a little while.
….
Like to draw and are pretty good? Offer up commissions to people for a small fee.
…
You can do it, you just have to make the effort. Unless you are literally homeless and have no employment and no skills to offer (in which case you probably also can’t access the internet and can’t read this), you can afford the expansion.

While I am not going to complain about not being able to get an expansion for free(how cheap and rude would it be of me to expect the employees of ArenaNet to work for me for free???) I would like to point out a few things about your statement:

• People who paid off $100k in 3 years : In 3 years I won’t even make $100k before taxes. Much less could I cut back on a thing or two in order to accomplish paying off a debt like that.
• I can’t afford internet access as a matter of fact. My family likes to talk to me though and likes to play gw2 with me among other things so made some sacrifices on their end to pay my internet/phone service.
• I do need to work on budgeting better. Mismanagement of funds is one reason I’m in a bad place. The other is losing a job that actually paid for my needs. (Unfortunately also a bad choice on my part, I quit instead of trying to make it work because I made a mistake and thought I was getting something better.) Also, overspending after losing that job before realizing I needed to make some serious lifestyle adjustments to my new circumstances.
• Lots and lots of people struggle to afford basic necessities but are not homeless without skills. Wages for vast numbers of hourly workers in this country are very low and often not sufficient to even be able live singly given the growing prices of food especially, also housing, utilities, etc. The cost of living is going up faster than wages in general.
• Giving up some comforts for the game? I’m giving up comforts so I can keep feeding my pets decent food that will keep them healthy. Not sure where I am going to find more comforts to give up for a game. I spend more than I can afford to on food, etc already.

That all said, I would have no hesitation to pay Anet for their work if I found a way to get the cash together. I just wanted to offer a counterpoint to your generalizations. Maybe once I get my financial situation a little more stable and pay off some debt…

So, if I remember correctly, Arenanet said we would never have to pay for an exspansion for GW2. We would get the exspansions periodically for free. Additionally, it sounds very much like if you don’t buy it, you will get left behind, no longer have a living story, and really get screwed on WvW (what guild would want half the members that can’t enter all the maps and support their guild).
You can add a lot of flash, but making WvW unbalanced (the new map does that by limiting it to people with the exspansion) even more. You never made Jewelry and cooking to 500, never listened to the players to find out what they wanted, especially in WvW. WvW has been totally ignored by Anet, except when you tinker with it and screwed it up with stupid cannons in EOTM, no white swords, and siege disablers.
These are the reasons people have lost interest. I won’t be spending money on mostly PvE flash, which they should have given us for free like they promised anyways. You want to increase interest, listen to the people who play. Fix the problems, and see what people want

I will not buy it if you dont have to.