Guild Wars 2

It’s a combination of things. A non 80 will be scaled up to have the same base stats as an 80 but you won’t have the same stats as them from gear.

-Higher quality gear at 80 gives them an advantage in stats
-Access to all skills
-A build designed for PvP and/or PvE combat
-Experience with their class and how to fight other classes

Yes, the only thing that goes up is base stats. Everything else you have otherwise stays the same, ie. traits, gear, skills etc. Although that puts you at a big disadvantage, you can still have alot of fun. The xp and karma comes fast too if you stay with a group.

I thought/think that your gear was/is scaled up as well, to a level 80 item of the same quality and stats.

Assuming this is true, it still leaves you with a mix of blues, greens and yellows against people who are probably in full exotics (or with ascended jewelery) and have 70 trait points to spend.

Arrow Carts still love you, though.

One issue is also the green arrow that shows you are not true 80. From my experience it makes you an immediate target especially in smaller groups. I’ve tried WvW several times with my L20ish and it is almost immediate death if you are in a group of say 3-4 and you run across a small enemy group of true 80s. I’ve had enemies run right past the players I was with just to wipe me out first for a quick kill. In the zerg you can try to hide in the middle at least.

JustTrogdor.7892:

One issue is also the green arrow that shows you are not true 80. From my experience it makes you an immediate target especially in smaller groups. I’ve tried WvW several times with my L20ish and it is almost immediate death if you are in a group of say 3-4 and you run across a small enemy group of true 80s. I’ve had enemies run right past the players I was with just to wipe me out first for a quick kill. In the zerg you can try to hide in the middle at least.

You can also spot a non 80 right away from their mismatched colors and armor.

kokocabana.8153:

You can also spot a non 80 right away from their mismatched colors and armor.

That makes it even worse. Standard armor + green arrow = instant target.