Guild Wars 2

So is there any uses or benefits that free players can gain by going to a guild hall? The majority of my guild is currently free to play but none of them can do anything to help progress it or interact with anything in it. So is it just “a cool thing to look at” for them or are we all missing something here?

Edit: They can’t access pvp arena, merchants (besides general), and some have told me they’re even having trouble going through the portal for guild missions

I don’t have a free account, but I do have one that doesn’t own HoT. Characters are able to speak with NPCs, donate, use the guild bank, and harvest. If you can’t even use the merchant, then it’s probably as you say: just cool to look at.

The wiki has restrictions pretty well documented:
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Account#Free_accounts

It says

Guild Vault unavailable, but full access to all other guild features.

i’ve been having the same problem. when f2p guildies want to donate to treasury, they’re told “buy HoT”, they want to get guild boost – “buy HoT”, want to use the guild arena – “buy HoT”.
it makes me feel more and more akward trying to recruit new people with “we have a guild hall, but you won’t be able to use it much”…
that certainly is not what i’d call “full access to all other guild features”.

FtP can donate to treasury, but only through the actual Treasurer, who stands by the entrance waypoint. They cannot interact with the proprietors.

The Scribing station works as a personal bank for all, but the scribing master will not sell even a humble mining pick to those without upgrade. As mentioned, thankfully, there is the general merchant for everyone for the meager price of 30 gold.

Not being able to buy new guild armor or weapons recipes goes deeper than just interface: the price includes crystalline ore. But the old guild armor and weapons and the backbags are available. I’ve no idea if the very expensive miniatures are for sale for all or not.

Personally, I find it embarrassing when showing new people around. “There is this cool feature here, but unfortunately you cannot use it, since you don’t have HoT.” If it were up to me, I would give access to all things that don’t require HoT currencies to all guild members.

Free to play players should be able to use the merchant closest to the waypoint where you come in, to both buy and sell. They can also gather every day and use the bank’s scribing station. On Guild mission days they can use portals opened by other players to get to guild missions as well.

Garambola.2461:

I’ve no idea if the very expensive miniatures are for sale for all or not.

Doesn’t matter. Crystalline ore again.

build ever changing JPS in guildhalls. Welcome to minecraft.