Guild Wars 2

Currently at work so I can’t get the game right this second. Just wondering what my best plan of action should be when I get the game downloaded and log in. I’m excited to try the new content. Was debating getting it last time it was on sale but at the time I wasn’t actively playing. Of course I started playing again 2 days after the sale ended…Whoops. I’m really just into exploring and pve content. I don’t do fractals or have interest in raids if that helps with my options. Thanks.

Based on how I did it, I would suggest this.

Take the character you feel most comfortable playing, and start HoT’s story. When you get into the first HoT map this way you’ll have unlocked the mastery system, and you can improve your character by earning exp and mastery points in any content (for HoT masteries in HoT content, for central tyria masteries in all other content). If you’d like to finish story first, try to get the basic gliding, updraft and bouncing mushroom masteries first, those will be necessary at some point. But don’t grind, just enjoy the new maps and the story, the things you need to progress your character will come naturally if you like exploring.

While downloading it might be worthwhile to look up how the mastery system functions in more detail, some people get confused by it without looking on (for example) the wiki.

I second the above suggestion. Start the HoT story first until you unlock the mastery system, then just go around exploring and playing whatever you enjoy.

Just like the personal story in the original game, the HoT story expects you to explore the world outside of the story between episodes. Where the personal story is level-locked (formerly soft, now hard to every 10th level), the HoT story is locked by (few) mastery levels. And just like the personal story, the leveling will come pretty much by itself if you just go out into the maps and explore.

And most of all: Have fun! The HoT maps are really awesome, and if you like pve and exploration you’ll have a great time in them (even though you’ll probably feel totally lost at first, as all of us have in the beginning ).

Sounds like a plan. Thanks for the input. Looking forward to firing the game up later.