Guild Wars 2

Hey guys, i’m level 55, planning to start WvW for the first time over the weekend after it resets, and i was wanting to get some insight into how important it is to be a part of a guild for WvW.

What benefits are there to being in a functioning WvW oriented guild for WvW matches? and am i likely to be missing out on anything should i choose to head into WvW solo?

Thanks in advance.

I am not guilded (well, I formed a 1-man guild just for additional bank space) and I get along fine. I don’t have some of the resources that others from a big guild might have (money for siege equipment, for instance) but I manage to buy a few arrow carts and ballistas and contribute where I can.

However, if you’re in a guild, there may be some things that are easier. For instance, your guild may have a Teamspeak/Mumbl/Ventrilo server set up to allow quick communication, or you may have a designated group to watch your back when you are out in the world.

So no you don’t have to have a guild, but being in a guild might make things easier. If I were you, I’d head in solo and start looking at the regulars that are there whenever you are there. Get to know them, see if you would like to join their guild, that kind of thing. Who knows, you might like to join a guild after playing WvW

Well, you won’t be as coordinated as you could be. If you wish to go in solo I would suggest asking around to find out who the GOOD commanders are or if you have an open voice communication for your server. You can be more effective than most of the random people simply by communicating in /team on enemy sightings (numbers/location/future destination) doing supply runs for repairs or siege construction, manning siege, flipping supply camps, cutting enemy supply or creating diversions. At level 55, I would suggest not roaming alone – try to gather a small 3-5 man party up and you will be more effective.

As a free roamer who is in a single person guild I can give you an idea of my w3 daily happenings, maybe that can help you decide if it would suit you or you want to get guilded.

First I login and read what the chat is doing, might see how many commanders there are on and jump in and out of their efforts if I like their plan.
I pick up supply all the time, it’s used all the time.
When in lulls I go around checking doors and walls for damage or use random siege weapons/build them.
Roaming around to take enemy dolyaks out or control points and supply camps, I usually find the 5-10 man groups not doing the zerg. I may or may not jump in and out with whatever they are doing, depends on how fun it looks.

Ex. Zerg has been beating on a Garrison takeover for 3 hrs. I run past someone putting up a ram at a keep with 4 ppl and drop my supply on it for them (since I always carry). Hit the gate a few times, run off for more supply, come back and it’s halfway down and no one has said anything about it in chat or the attempt. Ba da bing we take it and I wander off from them, maybe toward the closest supply camp. Oh hey, someone fell off a ledge over there, let me resurrect them, I remember the time I fell there ha. Oooo a dolyak incoming, I’ll escort that on my way back up the hill… etc.

That’s sort of my nutshell of gameplay. I get to run all over doing whatever suits me, like a piece of belly button lint traveling on the wind. At any point the big commander logos call out pvp zerging I can jump in and out of but I don’t find myself feeling like I should join their team, I just come and go. For some reason the only commanders in our zone seem to be those zerging.

To find all the small potato, interesting things I have to split from the zerg and roam. I use my roaming to call out things I see, big groups heading certain directions with no swords in that area or damaged things, sometimes I find enemy siege and other times I just point out that people aren’t taking care of defense when it seems like I’m the only one doing it (that one can end in arguments so beware you will get on ignore lists pointing out any inadequacy in the “zerg mentality” even if it’s just short phrasing and not bossy with the word please or “when you can” “if you could” and no caps without using personal insults). I have memorized the people on my server that do defense because I see them bent over repairing things or we meet in small moments doing small things. You see them often enough that you get to know their habits too. What I’m saying is, I’m not always alone, those stand up ppl I would fight with or stealth in dangerous places because they have proven themselves to be someone with a like mind, their guild tags aren’t important to me.

Because I do run so free wind, I usually don’t wait on rezzes and am surprised when I get one. Unless I’m looking around the area seeing if I want to return, I mostly just release within 15s.

Advantages to being in a (good) WvW guild:
*Direction from knowledgeable players.
*Training from knowledgeable players. (This is a big one, WvW is a big jungle to feel your way though blind)
*Accelerated learning curve through the meta game.
*More effective use of time.
*Consistent community in WvW.
*Familiarity of strategies and/or synergy with familiar players.
*Higher level of coordination (which is a huge aspect of WvW).

Disadvantages:
*The effectiveness of a guild WvW group depends on the response of its members. Belonging to such a group can be demanding. If X tower is under attack, and you personally want to defend it, but Y Keep is being called as the priority, you will have to drop your desire to defend X tower. Sometimes the wrong call can be made and you will be frustrated.
*Loss of a portion of your individual freedom to do what you want at a given time.

Thats a starter list. To me the decision is clear.

A good portion of the above advantages are nulled when you’ve learned enough about WvW, and if you utilize serverwide VoIP to stay in the loop on current strategy.

For the most part, you can be useful just by keeping close track of the flow of battle in the zone and placing yourself where you’re most needed.