Guild Wars 2

Hi all,

I know there’s quite a few of these posts already and I tried reading through most of them I could find. Unfortunately, the search function doesn’t seem to work very well and I couldn’t find the specific advice I was looking for.

Anyway, new player here and hoping to save myself some time by turning to you experts. I am a (very) casual player and don’t have a lot of time to try character after character. I know that all professions have pros / cons and I’m not asking for “the best”. Here’s my situation and what I’d like input on:

1. Pretty limited play time – maybe 5 or so hours per week

2. Looking for a PvE focused profession – if I PvP someday, then great, but not in my near future

3. Looking for a profession that can solo (PvE) very well – my average session is only about an hour and no RL friends playing so don’t want to have to wait around for groups but I would like to do as much of the content as possible

4. Definitely not afraid of a challenging profession with more depth – I prefer something with more potential but difficult to master

5. Variety in play style is always a plus

6. No preference on range vs melee – happy to consider either

7. General “fun” factor – I’ve played games in the past where sometimes the developers just get a couple classes right on the fun / entertainment scale

8. Balance of fun while leveling and long-term potential – most of my time will be spent leveling so recommending a class that really shines at lvl 80 but is a drag to get there isn’t ideal. With that said, if I do hit 80, not real likely I’ll hit it again with another character.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated and the more “why” you can tell me about your recommendation the better!

Thanks!

Other than your #4, which can vary with either depending on your playstyle, I think Guardian and Warrior would be your best bet. They’re both fun and easy to level, and can do several things solo. Personally, I enjoyed leveling Guardian more than Warrior, but really either would work, I think. If you want a challenge, level an elementalist. That was difficult for me to level solo.
Bear in mind that these are just my opinions. If you like a mage type but ele isn’t your thing, mesmer might be good!

Ok so:
“1. Pretty limited play time”
Doesn’t exclude any profession
“2. Looking for a PvE focused profession – if I PvP someday, then great, but not in my near future”
Mesmer and Thief are much better at pvp than pve,so they may be out
“3. Looking for a profession that can solo (PvE) very well "
Same as before.
“4. Definitely not afraid of a challenging profession with more depth”
Mesmer is challenging,engineer and ele too.
“5. Variety in play style is always a plus”
Engineer,elementalist are IMO really versatile. From what i’ve been able to see the necro might fall a little here.
“6. No preference on range vs melee”
Warrior and Guardian are really melee oriented.
“7. General “fun” factor "
This is up to you
“8. Balance of fun while leveling and long-term potential”
With torment i’d say the Necro has the late game potential to keep up and keeps a good balance PvE oriented.

More PvE oriented classes: Ranger,Guardian,Warrior,Necromancer,Engineer.
More PvP oriented classes: Thief,Mesmer

So excluding the thief and the mesmer (as they don’t really fill out your requirements imo) i’d ask you: feel more magic or not?

If yes then consider Guardian and Necromancer.
If not then consider Warrior,Engineer and Ranger.

The answer is always Warrior. Always.

Well, with warrior, you get fast PvE kills and is fairly tank and can be supportive(once you know the stuff).
Guardian, is slightly slower kills but very good healing/tank/support.

If you don’t have enough time to play, I suggest you make a warrior because they’re on high demand on dungeon rushes, which by the way is one of the best money makers in GW2.

My best tip to you is, don’t go spending loads of your cash on top notch gear until you know what you’re doing, I’ve already made this mistake, more than once.

Appreciate the insights.

Is there a particular class that’s less gear dependent than others? I.e. are guardians / warriors more gear dependent than a necro / ele?

XoRcYsT.4896:

Appreciate the insights.

Is there a particular class that’s less gear dependent than others? I.e. are guardians / warriors more gear dependent than a necro / ele?

For the most part the caster frames are more reliant on others to tank. But even then, everyone can facetank a little due to a natural heal, just don’t do it in dungeons.

In PvE you’ll find you’ll be killing AI Creatures quicker then you can imagine.

1. Pretty limited play time – maybe 5 or so hours per week
Doesn’t matter
2. Looking for a PvE focused profession – if I PvP someday, then great, but not in my near future
Doesn’t matter either lol
3. Looking for a profession that can solo (PvE) very well – my average session is only about an hour and no RL friends playing so don’t want to have to wait around for groups but I would like to do as much of the content as possible
It depends on your skill but I heard nothing good about engineer and mesmer.
4. Definitely not afraid of a challenging profession with more depth – I prefer something with more potential but difficult to master
1. Mesmer, 2. Thief, 3. Elementalist, 4. Guardian,
dunno about engineer.
5. Variety in play style is always a plus
Almost every class has variety in play style.
6. No preference on range vs melee – happy to consider either
Well everyone can do range and everyone can do melee lol.
7. General “fun” factor – I’ve played games in the past where sometimes the developers just get a couple classes right on the fun / entertainment scale
My top list: Elementalist, Guardian, Thief, Necromancer, Warrior
Haven’t played the other classes much though..
8. Balance of fun while leveling and long-term potential – most of my time will be spent leveling so recommending a class that really shines at lvl 80 but is a drag to get there isn’t ideal. With that said, if I do hit 80, not real likely I’ll hit it again with another character.
I found Necromancer too difficult at first (might be missing skill)
Warrior got boring at the middle.
Guardian was a lot of fun through out
Elementalist was a lot of fun through out (except the dying..)
Only heard and noticed problems when leveling mesmer

GreenNekoHaunt.8527:

It depends on your skill but I heard nothing good about engineer and mesmer.
Actually engineer’s levelling and solo are a blast.

1. Mesmer, 2. Thief, 3. Elementalist, 4. Guardian
dunno about engineer.
Imo: engineer,elementalist,thief,mesmer are the hardest in that order.
Well everyone can do range and everyone can do melee lol.
Elementalist,ufficially,has no melee. Only short range casts on the dagger u.u

I found Necromancer too difficult at first (might be missing skill)
Warrior got boring at the middle.
Guardian was a lot of fun through out
Elementalist was a lot of fun through out (except the dying..)
Only heard and noticed problems when leveling mesmer
mesmer’s levelling isn’t as bad as people claims,Necro is one of the easiest,imo THE easiest pve profession

Ranger is also a quite good pve solo class and it has several different, viable builds. I’ll have to disagree about thieves being one of the more complex classes though, I found it to be the second easiest after warrior.

ButterOfDeath.2873:

Elementalist,ufficially,has no melee. Only short range casts on the dagger u.u

I bet elementalist dagger air isn’t much bigger than greatsword.

Melee is 50-200 to me
Short range to me is about 300-600
Range is 900-1000 to me
Long Range is 1200-1500 to me

GreenNekoHaunt.8527:

ButterOfDeath.2873:

Elementalist,ufficially,has no melee. Only short range casts on the dagger u.u

I bet elementalist dagger air isn’t much bigger than greatsword.

Melee is 50-200 to me
Short range to me is about 300-600
Range is 900-1000 to me
Long Range is 1200-1500 to me

Indeed,check Ele’s dagger ranges
nothing less than 240

PLUS what is in-between 200 and 300? really short range? XD (same for 600-900 and 100-1200) :/

edit
fyi,these are melee abilities:
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Cleave

Rainu.6871:

Ranger is also a quite good pve solo class and it has several different, viable builds. I’ll have to disagree about thieves being one of the more complex classes though, I found it to be the second easiest after warrior.

Ranger is really easy pve indeed,thank to the pet mostly.

I find the thief being hard to use EFFECTIVELY but easy to use fine.
Why would you limit yourself to fine?

ButterOfDeath.2873:

GreenNekoHaunt.8527:

ButterOfDeath.2873:

Elementalist,ufficially,has no melee. Only short range casts on the dagger u.u

I bet elementalist dagger air isn’t much bigger than greatsword.

Melee is 50-200 to me
Short range to me is about 300-600
Range is 900-1000 to me
Long Range is 1200-1500 to me

Indeed,check Ele’s dagger ranges
nothing less than 240

PLUS what is in-between 200 and 300? really short range? XD (same for 600-900 and 100-1200) :/

kitten you Guild Wars 2 making me name often seen numbers (300 600 900 1000 1200 1500)