Guild Wars 2

I just got GW2 today after a friend finally convinced me to get it so I can play with her. So I instal it, then go to load it up, her server is full. “okay, no biggie, I’ll wait till people log off”, thinking it was like other MMOs where full meant there were just a lot of people online.
Nope. I have to actually choose a different server to play on. I can’t be on her server at all, and I don’t know anyone else who plays this game, so my whole reason for buying the game in the first place is gone.
Why is this MMO so different to other MMOs that it can’t have large numbers of players on servers using a log in queue? I don’t mind waiting in line to log in if it means I get to play with friends. It’s extremely disheartening for a new player.

But that’s where guild wars differs from other MMO’s. Once a week you have a free server transfer (if it’s not unlimited?) so you can just transfer to another server that is not full.

If it’s because you REALLY REALLY want to play on the server that your friend is on, feel free to transfer back 1 week later when population is lower (or 1600000 weeks later if that’s what it takes).

I hope you’re not too disheartened, because this game is really a joy, I believe – and I hope to spread the word. Besides, this game is like 3-4 months old only – compare it to the 8 years of WoW (and continued imbalance) and you’ll see Guild Wars 2 is really not that bad, even despite all the criticism it’s been getting from it’s players.
I also played Guild Wars 1 and that was also very fun.

edit: And hey, play with me, I don’t have a lot of people to play with either, and I’m currently on Ring of Fire which is not full (last I checked, anyways).

Ah I know what’s that like.

If you’re trying to get on the server it’s best to try at off peak hours i.e early morning etc.
The server population depends on the number of ACTIVE players at that time not the overall population.

If you’re looking for some awesome folks to just chat with why not look at Operation: Union? (link in my Sig)

It’s there to help others find others to game with. You do have to make the effort though. It will not be laid on a silver platter for you but if you are willing to naked an effort you will be pleasantly surprised.

Good luck!

i cant really compare the gameplay with anything else (ive played a lot more mmos than wow), as i havent created a character at all, since i wanted to find out what my options were.

Well try choosing the server in the early hours?
However like in life you won’t always get what you want. However eventually when guesting is involved you can game together. Why not trying to make new friends too if you can’t get on the server?

If you return the game because of this you really are missing out and that would be unfortunate.

From what I understand of Anet’s system, waiting for offpeak hours doesn’t affect server capacity. Even if players are offline, they still belong to a particular server.

You can wait for Anet’s guesting system, or have your friend join you in a less populated server(even if temporarily).

I thought server transfers were available once every 24hrs …

@OP
What server area are you in? NA or EU?

Starting 1st November they are going to once every 7 days.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/info/news/Free-World-Transfers-Limited-to-Once-Every-7-Days/first#post579275

And the population does change during off-peak hours – so it is possible to transfer to your friends server then (you may have to set your alarm clock…)

Happyfool.8951:

From what I understand of Anet’s system, waiting for offpeak hours doesn’t affect server capacity. Even if players are offline, they still belong to a particular server.

You can wait for Anet’s guesting system, or have your friend join you in a less populated server(even if temporarily).

No, it is who is on at the moment. I’ve had friends transfer to the server I’m on by waiting until it was a time of day that it isn’t full.

oh ok, is there any requirements? i cant seem to find anything on it apart from the once every 7 days thing. and im on NA servers.
I can’t ask my friend to join me either because she has a lot of friends on her server (shes played since launch i think).
So are there any friendly servers around that i can hang out in?

While you’re waiting to get on your friend’s server, you could also try out joining her across servers / meeting in Overflow.