Guild Wars 2

As a new player (Played rellease but left ages ago, started a new account for HoT) I’ve levelled up my necro from 1 to 80 and loved the journey. did some EotM, did a it of the story, plenty of maps just for the pleasure of exploring and then even a few dungeons. It wasnt a tricky experience.

I got to 80 and everyone said get some rare gear or exotic gear. I had about 10 gold so rare gear it was. Beserkers is best I read everywhere, fine, np, beserker gear it is, run of traveller for the move speed, and Reaper form (cos I love it even though I had unlocked only a cpl of skills in it).

Silverwaste was a bit of an eye opener. Mobs used abilities on me (how dare they). I had to dodge, I had to learn to use my blinds and fears better but I really enjoyed the whole spreading your influence and final battle

Verdant and the Prologue was even trickier. I died and died and died. I unlocked masteries and I thought I didnt like it. Its too hard. Im not srious enough. In a cpl of hours struggling to even move round the map I felt a lot of the enjoyment wain. I started playing my revenant alt, back on the mindless easy mobs.

But, I wanted to play reaper more so I went back

Scrapped the Zerker gear, full soldiers and a rune set of wurm (the one that gives ferocity and toughness?). Changed my spec up to be tougher, more travel orientated and more tanky. Tried to pay attention more

And it worked, a more forgiving setup meant I didnt get two shotted by the raptor packs and stuff and so I began to progress n the map. I found the Hero point challenges and most of them are communes, not champ fights. 10hp a time rapidlyu gets you through the stuff. I took part in the events (prolly did bugger all to help) but I got better gear, and I got better at playing, I learnt to time my attacks/dodges etc and prolly improved at GW more in those few hours than the whole trip to 80. Night events were great, only 45 mins or so and often a chance at a boss event in the canopy. I learnt gliding and mushrooms, life got even easier.

Tried a bit of pvp and didnt suck as much. Got an ascended GS with condition dmg, switched to carrion build slowly as I learnt to cope with being a bit less tanky. Stuff died faster and I didnt die more.

What I guess I’m rambling at is that yeah, its a bit harder, and the first hour or so is pretty much a big shock but if you can stick with it, modify that build to something tougher and survivable, not trying to one shot every thing things very quickly get easier. I dont play all day every day, I work full time 8-6 and lots of weekends. I dont think its too hard as a casual