Guild Wars 2

Greetings fellow GW2ers. I’d like the community’s opinion on a problem I’ve been burdened with ever since I started playing the game, and for some reason, this only seems to apply to this game in particular. Though it’s a little difficult to describe, I’ll do the best I can.

I’d describe the issue as severe Altoholism (the act of making many characters rather than just one or two), but I feel that simply doesn’t do it justice. My problem is that I end up making a character (whichever class it may be) only to end up deleting him (for whatever reason) in favor of a different class. Beings as each account only has five character slots with eight playable professions, there’s bound to be at least three of them outside my grasp at any given point. The process goes as follows…

I begin by making a character, choosing a class I think will be fun to play as with whatever race I feel would best suit that class. I enter the world and do the normal player activities. Events, quests, skill grinding, the whole nine yards. This occurs for an average of 10-20 levels before I begin to think about what it would be like to play this same story mission, quest, event, or so-and-so as another class, perhaps with a specific weapon set or skill combo. I then proceed to delete and existing character to test this theory or satisfy my need for a different playstyle, and thus the cycle starts over again.
I’m extremely indecisive as to which class I want to play, and never stick to playing one for more than a few days. I love all the classes of GW2, but all for different reasons. Some of them I play purely for their unique class mechanic, as it’s just fun to play. Others I like because they can handle scenarios other classes cannot. Some classes I like purely for cosmetic purposes, others I like for their abilities that many classes lack. Probably my biggest issue is that I simply want it all, and just can’t have it. I end up making/remaking characters and classes so often that nobody ever makes it past level 22.

My dream, ideal scenario is to be able to make a character and play him all the way to 80, but the way things are now, it’s just not happening. I don’t really want to level three or four characters at the same time. I’m wondering if any other players in the community have a similar problem (probably not of the same magnitude) and have found solutions for it? This issue has kept me from experiencing the vast majority of GW2, and exploring most of Tyria. GW2 is an awesome game, and I feel in love with it the moment I played it, which is why it’s so important to me to find a way past this.

Buy 3 extra character slots so you can permanently have one of each profession.

Edit: With the new, free, easy re-traiting there is no need for more than 1 of each profession unless you want the look of a different race.

I know the feeling, to the point I uh, ‘somehow’ ended up with 15 character slots, mostly bought through gold to gem conversion. And even with that some classes I’ve rerolled several times just because the character itself didn’t click (i.e. it took me three attempts to keep a guardian, I almost swore off asura after I hated my first and then got one to level 80 two months later, etc etc).

My best advice would be to try to get really invested in a couple characters at first, like, make them pretty to look at for you, come up with a cool background for them, just – get attached. That’ll hopefully get you to stick with them a bit more.

Also – don’t be afraid of leveling several characters at once! Sure avoid having them all at around the same level, but sometimes taking a break of leveling your level 20 to push the level 60 up a bit can be a welcome change.

Sounds more like alticide than altoholism!

I don’t have an answer for you, OP, since I keep my alts and play all of them. Maybe just keep plugging away until you finally hit the One. It’s bound to happen one day.

I’m at 25 characters. I’m working on my 18th 80. I have no sympathy for you at all OP. lol

Lazuli.2098:

Buy 3 extra character slots so you can permanently have one of each profession.

^ This .. much better then delete and restart all the time.

Personally i have 14 slots

More character slots is probably your answer. I know it’s real money but it helps to stop purging leveled characters.

As I mentioned in another thread, the thing that stopped me from constantly switching to other characters is the want of a Legendary. Go through the list, find the one you really want to make and it narrows down the choices for a first main. Making a legendary is part of the end game play so you should find the one you can stand looking at and would like to spend all that effort making.

Nothing wrong with Alts that a few extra character slots can’t permanently solve.

I have 11 slots and plan to purchase a 12th before 2nd Anniversary (or if they ever go on sale).

I only play one character. the other two are reserved for leveling with friends.

I would have this problem if I didn’t resolve to pick one character and stick with it if it was not completely unplayable to me for any MMO I played.

Once you start questioning how you’d do as an X (especially with little time to explore that venture), It’s already too late.

Buy at least one extra character slot and designate that one to yourself as your trial slot. You can then make, try out and delete to your heart’s content.

If you want, you might buy 3 others also. Make a full set of professions as your permanent set and play them when not playing your temporary character. Sooner or later you are likely to slow down in deleting chars as you try out everything you can think of.

Oh man this sounds like me! I too only have the 5 slots and I delete and make a new character daily. I do have a lvl 80 but I shelved him after he was max lvl and now I am in an altoholic spiral. I rationalize with myself that I am just kind of like key farming right? ….right?

i too suffer from altoholism, i have 9 char slots, 2 warriors, 2 engi, a mesmer, a necro, a thief, a guardian, and i just deleted a ranger i wasnt playing for an elementalist….i think i may have a problem lol

I’m on 10 slots, 1 of each profession, plus an extra Necro and Ele, 8 have map completion and the other two on are well en route. I can’t imagine ever deleting one, so I guess there will be an eleventh slot bought soon though not until the two slackers have 100% map…

Paragon, I feel your struggle on a deep dark personal level. I’m a ten-year member of altoholics anonymous and I want you to know it can get better.
In all seriousness though I spent the first few months in GW2 swapping between level 15-30 characters, deleting others and trying to find something I liked. The issue was I liked ALL of it.

Now, buying extra character slots is convenient but if you’re anything like me, even having extra character slots won’t cure your indecisiveness. (And personally, seeing an unused character sometimes makes me feel so bad I re-make them just to clean the slate.)
I personally bought one extra slot with a ten dollar bill I found on the ground outside a 7-11 because I am a cheapskate and I took it as a sign from Lyssa or something. In any case I made a guardian with my shiny new slot, played him for two days and promptly deleted him.

And thus the cycle continued.

Now, through all of this I had a warrior I has made as my second-ever character. One day after deleting yet another miserable thief I decided to set my foot down and level the heck out of said warrior.

And by god did I ever. There’s something to be said about the power of will, a lot of root beer and a playlist composed entirely of classical music remixes.
I almost forced myself to enjoy leveling – I explored, I went out of my way to talk to people I met, I sat down and crafted (It’s such a wonderful source of EXP oh my god) and just generally worked him over EVEN WHEN the nagging “but would a ____ class or ______ race be better” set in.

POWER THROUGH IT.

You learn the most about your preferences when you hit 80. The paths you can take to level to max open up after you follow just one – and it really starts to feel a lot more approachable when you look back and (hopefully) remember how surprisingly painless it was to dedicate yourself to one character.

If you need someone to help keep you on track, like some kind of wacko online workout coach or something that’s an option too.

Playing by yourself is a danger to indecisive people everywhere. KEEP YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE. I’ll even play with you if you’ll have an odd internet stranger in your company.

But most of all, be strong, fellow altoholic. You can break the chains of the addiction. I believe in you.