Guild Wars 2

I apply to my first dungeon with my lvl 35 Warrior and even if I create a new group advertisement which clearly states “story run”, I usually get 80 lvl chrs. I am not complaining. It’s great to get help from players with better geared and more focused chars. But it got me wondering what incentive there is to do dungeons on par with their lvl.

So, basically I am asking what is the difference in doing under lvl 80 dungeons with chars that are level “appropriate” as opposed to doing them with lvl 80 chars?
Is doing them with under lvl 80 char better for loot? Do you get more exp?

Yes there is an incentive to do it at an appropriate level. It gives you access to better gear for your level and helps to level you up quite quickly.

Loot is based on your level so a level 80 will get loot more geared towards a level 80. And yes you will get more EXP but it’ll be the same percentage. Completing a dungeon path gives you 70% exp for your next level. Evidently at level 80 this will be higher.

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Experience#Mechanics – this explains the amount of exp you get

So, firstly I recommend if you’re looking to do dungeons at a level lower than 80 you advertise for your own group on LFG. This is because most people advertising are there to do it with level 80s, and may kick you. But there are plenty of people out there willing to go on lower level runs of dungeons so just make your own LFG and you will find them.

Dungeon explorable paths may feel difficult at levels lower than 80. This is because you haven’t got all your skills and traits and highest gear available to you.

You should certainly try stories before level 80.

Dungeons are a good source of exp as stated above.

I know I will be flamed for this statement… but…

I hate running dungeons story mode or explorable without all level 80s.

Level 80s are required to do story mode so they can have access to open explorable mode. They also need all story modes/explorable modes for Dungeon Master title.

Level 80s have better armor/ better skills etc.

Message me in game if you ever have trouble finding a group. I’d be happy to join you anytime.

Lodius.5392:

I know I will be flamed for this statement… but…

I hate running dungeons story mode or explorable without all level 80s.

Level 80s are required to do story mode so they can have access to open explorable mode. They also need all story modes/explorable modes for Dungeon Master title.

Level 80s have better armor/ better skills etc.

Also, don’t forget the trait points. Trait points not only include more powerful effects at Grandmaster level but each point put into a trait line also increases certain stats.

In addition, while most players would spring for exotic gear at level 80, they would try to scrape by at lower levels. This means that the level 70 on the team could be using level 60 gear or lower depending how thick their skin is. To be clear, that is under-leveled and likely not exotic gear.

I’m totally fine with doing story runs under level 80. Its a good way to immerse yourself into the game if you’re new and learn how dungeons work.

You will need to make sure that your group is okay with essentially carrying you though, but most people shouldn’t mind too much if its story though. For explorable, the challenge is steeper so notbeing 80 can hinder your group a bit more.

Even when underscaled, lvl 80s will still have better gear and dps because of ascended, complete traits, etc. there’s even more difference now whether you’re lvl 80 or not, because you won’t have most of your traits unlocked or will be lacking trait points if you’re under lvl (this is a huge deal). If i see anyone under lvl 80 in a group for explorable now, I will immediately leave or call a kick on them. The lowest level I would suggest doing explorable is lvl 70 or higher. At that point you will have most of your traits unlocked, and if you are doing a dungeon like CoF p1 which is so braindead and easy, most of them won’t even care.

It’s entirely possible to do the dungeons at level, though it helps if you have at least one party member who knows the fights. Make sure to start the instance yourself and then advertise on LFG, clearly stating sub 80’s welcome, not a speed run.

Also check the responses here for those who are friendly to sub 80 runs (me included). I’m on NA. Feel free to add me to friends and to ask me for help. I’m on vacation leading into retirement and most of my guild doesn’t show up until the evenings so I am looking for ways to help people out and be sociable. (PM me here if you don’t see me in game, I have other projects and games atm so I’m not in GW2 100% while at the computer).

Do all StoryMode during leveling, as bonus you will unlock some traits.

If you enjoy dungeons, do ‘em, no matter your level. You’ll earn fast XP, gold, and tokens for gear. It’s a no-lose situation. Dungeons will also teach you how to learn fights and work together with a group. You’ll learn the ins-and-outs of your class better, since the fights are much harder than open world.

Once you do a story mode once, you unlock explorable for that dungeon. Also, you can do explorable right off the bat if someone else who’s unlocked it starts the dungeon.

While a lvl 80 will have an advantage in traits,skills,and stats it’s silly to think every 80 is running a meta build and wearing zerk ascended. When you post a LFG your not gonna get one of the guys from DnT, Zerk,ect your gonna get the guy that use to play WoW is wearing lvl 70 rare clerics gear and thinks he’s the “tank”. So when you compare “Mr. lvl 80 tank” who “know what he’s doing” to the lvl 35 guy who doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do, they’re pretty much the same except that lvl 35 guy might listen…..might.

for sure do the story modes as they become available… imo ac story is tuned to level 30’s …lvl 80’s cause the stuff in there to just explode on contact

@OP

As said before, running level appropriate dungeons is great for leveling and gearing up, and traits. And as you said, you are creating your own LFGs, which is the best way to go when PUGing at any level. But the main reason you are seeing lvl 80s in dungeons, even with lower levels, is that running dungeons for many is considered “end-game”. My guess that these level 80s doing the story runs, are generally alts, leveled up by swapping out and the end of a dungeon for the EXP, and need to unlock the explorable mode so they can do dungeon tours for gold/tokens/loot.

Of course doing dungeons at their level (ex. AC which is lvl 35, with a 35 character) will be a bit harder, as you won’t be fully geared, 1 trait point, and if your first character, or an alt, you may be unfamiliar with how your profession works or the dungeon itself.

There are some who will kick lower levels on sight, and others who won’t. I am not one who kicks unless AFK for long periods of time without notice, and even sometimes do “noob only” LFGs to help out those lower leveled or new to the dungeon.