Guild Wars 2 Beta Preview

[Friendly Lich]

Gw2 has allot of cool features, while it may not revolutionize the genre it does update it and its still a quality game.

 

[Absolutionis]

Maybe I don't play enough MMO's but this games way different then the millions of other MMOs.

You're right. I completely agree.
They took the realization that they won't be charging a monthly fee and removed all the detestable stuff from traditional MMOs that bogged down playing time.

No LFG
No gear grind
No gear-based PvP
You can make a character and PvP immediately
Lower-level content is fun, useful, and can be endgame
Instantaneous Waypoint-based travel system
Encourage cooperation in combat and resources

In the end, much of that stems from the fact that there is no monthly fee and there is really no reason for Arenanet to waste your time.
More fun.

Oh and there's also the facets of 'good' MMOs such as responsive controls, stuff to do, dynamic events (like Rift), action-based combat (like Tera), etc.

 

[Mr Cwtchy]

I seriously doubt they will go to that model. They will lose most of their player base if they do, and then the game will just die. Their whole mantra is that everything is available to everyone, and that just because someone beats the last dungeon in the game doesnt give them the best gear. So yea, I seriously doubt they will.

That being said, the cash shop does offer boosts and stuff, but since the stuff you get boosted wont affect your actual ability, it won't matter. Useable items in the cash shop can also be found in game.

I don't quite understand why people think subscriptions are the only way to keep an mmo going, especially since GW1 did so well without them. The subscription model to me is just a grab for money.

You underestimate the playerbase's tolerance for such crap. If they do move in that direction(and there's no guarantee they won't), then certainly some of the players will kick up a fuss, and maybe some of those will leave, but depending on how decent the rest of the game is, the majority will simply turn a blind eye to it.

That mantra is as common and generic as they come. Arenanet aren't the first to make such a statement, and they won't be the last either. It's just empty PR.

And sure, some shop items might turn up ingame, once in a blue moon perhaps. But to find them with any sort of regularly you'd have to go directly to the shop.

With regards to subscription models, I agree.

I doubt this will happen, but even if it does, you can buy everything in the micro-transaction store with in-game gold. I am amazed at how many people don't know this, so I try to tell as many people as possible.

But is it for a viable amount of gold? If the pricing of such items turns out to be through the roof, then people simply take the shortcut and bring out their wallet.

 

[banksy122]

I seriously doubt they will go to that model. They will lose most of their player base if they do, and then the game will just die. Their whole mantra is that everything is available to everyone, and that just because someone beats the last dungeon in the game doesnt give them the best gear. So yea, I seriously doubt they will.

That being said, the cash shop does offer boosts and stuff, but since the stuff you get boosted wont affect your actual ability, it won't matter. Useable items in the cash shop can also be found in game.

I don't quite understand why people think subscriptions are the only way to keep an mmo going, especially since GW1 did so well without them. The subscription model to me is just a grab for money.

You underestimate the playerbase's tolerance for such crap. If they do move in that direction(and there's no guarantee they won't), then certainly some of the players will kick up a fuss, and maybe some of those will leave, but depending on how decent the rest of the game is, the majority will simply turn a blind eye to it.

That mantra is as common and generic as they come. Arenanet aren't the first to make such a statement, and they won't be the last either. It's just empty PR.

And sure, some shop items might turn up ingame, once in a blue moon perhaps. But to find them with any sort of regularly you'd have to go directly to the shop.

With regards to subscription models, I agree.

I doubt this will happen, but even if it does, you can buy everything in the micro-transaction store with in-game gold. I am amazed at how many people don't know this, so I try to tell as many people as possible.

But is it for a viable amount of gold? If the pricing of such items turns out to be through the roof, then people simply take the shortcut and bring out their wallet.

The price is player driven. So it is really up to the community pretty much. Sure anet could charge way to much money for Gems which will lead to high gold prices for gems, but the price of gems at the moment seems reasonable.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

Looks like chibi WoW is still pvp based for the most part.

The writer of this article chose to focus on the PVP portion of the game but there is definitely no shortage of awesome content in PVE.


Also.. "chibi WoW"?? I really do not understand how you can compare the two games and come away thinking GW is the cutesy/cartoony one.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

snip

actually, anet specifically made it so that every race, profession, and sex have the same hitbox. While it may be more difficult to spot an asura, simply pressing ctrl will reveal all enemy players, and click anywhere in the vicinity, even above them, and you will target them.

snip

I actually think an icon would be helpful. Here is my reasoning. Let's say you're fighting a ranger with a necro. you're fighting and whatnot pretty evenly. Then all of a sudden his damage output goes up like crazy and you die because you weren't prepared for it. Why? He just used Rampage as One and buffed both his and his pet's damage. But you had no idea he did that because there is no visual indication for this particular elite skill.

Now let's take a hypothetical case. Same fight, same conditions, only now there is a small area under the ranger's name that displays what skills he is using. Now you're fighting evenly, but then he does a short cast and Rampage as One pops up under his name. Now let's assume you are competent and know that this skill will greatly increase his damage output. And you just so happened to have saved up an entire bar of life force for this sort of occasion. Now once he starts hitting you,you hit F1 and most if not all of the damage has been mitigated. After 20 seconds(that's how long the skill lasts), you pop your lich form and destroy the crap out of him.

I think that's a pretty good reason for adding an icon. Doesn't have to be a casting progress bar, just an icon that shows what skill they are using so you know what's coming your way. The same argument works for dodging: you could waste a dodge on a trash skill and then get blasted by a really powerful one, all because you can't really tell one animation from another.

But Rampage as One does have a tell. Both the pet and the main user have a red aura around their character for the duration that the skill lasts.

That video where he uses a ranger melee build really shows where he uses RaO as you can see him using it on the bar and then its visual effect. Now maybe I'm just used to learning this stuff from GW 1 GvG but that is the level of awareness you had to have in PvP and it seems they want that again.

Also in that scenario you have other options like using a Chill effect or if you have the dagger set immobilize which I don't see why you wouldn't be using the dagger set in PvP(at least in WvWvW) as a necro because of the Spectral Grasp immobilize combo.

Now maybe other skills have similar affects but I know if I see a Ranger coming at me when I'm with my Necro and the and the Ranger have a red aura that is what I would do. It is too early to know if they have reused effects but I think for the awareness you should have in PvP at least in arena style that would be pretty obvious after you've played the game more. All we have had really are 3 BWEs. Now if that were to happen in WvWvW and you were 1v1 you should go down as a necro unless you play well but in the group situation the Ranger would over extend and get destroyed by your allies.

I think there are more factors in PvP that you're missing in your original situation.

 

[somonels]

I've had a little interest in this - which is a big deal since it's an MMO - but the asura always struck me as something I would like to play as but would not stomach. The ending dialog between the two did ease me into them.

 

[Noxogz]

You underestimate the playerbase's tolerance for such crap. If they do move in that direction(and there's no guarantee they won't), then certainly some of the players will kick up a fuss, and maybe some of those will leave, but depending on how decent the rest of the game is, the majority will simply turn a blind eye to it.

While it's true there's no guarantee ArenaNet won't turn the cash shop into pay to win down the line, they've been running GW1 with the same kind of cash shop GW2 has (cosmetic only) and they still don't sell power in it and GW1 is over 6 or 7 years old so I'd say at least they have a good record on keeping their claims that their cash shops won't be pay to win.

And you're right about pay to win not being the game killer so many people claim it is, like you said, most people will turn a blind eye to it if they like the game enough, there's even proof of that!

That link leads to a video made by a developer of the free to play game called Battlefield Heroes, a pay to win game, and he talks about the whole process of how the game got to that point and...

Spoiler

they saw an increase in revenue after the change to pay to win WITHOUT losing their player base and how they realised the people that complained in their forums about the pay to win change where mostly a bunch of hypocrites as they didn't left the game as they threatened and in fact kept buying those pay to win items.

 

[Kordie]

I've had a little interest in this - which is a big deal since it's an MMO - but the asura always struck me as something I would like to play as but would not stomach. The ending dialog between the two did ease me into them.

I personally plan to stay away from the Asura. It's a shame because I like the style of their world and it seems interesting. The characters to me seem too silly and cartoonish. They stick out to me like the Jar Jar Binks of GW. Everything from how they talk, to the flappy ears, to the way the flail their arms when they jump. I don't like the look of them. Having said that, Still lots of awesome going on with the Charr and Sylvari IMO.

 

[the doom cannon]

snippity snip

I will agree that I made a very general scenario. However, I was just recounting a situation I had in pvp where I couldn't see a tell simply because they were on fire. The tells are all well and good but if you can't see them through a flashy particle effect then they lose that. I played gw1 pvp a bit and know what to look for, but with the overly flashy (which I like) particle effects it's very difficult to see them. Maybe it was also cuz I was getting 2v1 so I had my focus split between the 2 because now that I watch the video I can actually see it's fairly obvious. But my opinion still stands. I think an icon slightly larger than the condition/boon icons and just underneath them wouldn't hurt the very pretty and clean UI. Not persistent, just when they use the skill and maybe for like 1 or 2 seconds after. It would make it much easier to fight 2v1.

PS: not to brag, but my necro is pretty beast
Go guild wars 2!

captcha: She's a witch
NO, she's a NECRO

 

[Calvar Draveir]

Hotbar-based combat was never what was wrong with MMOs, and at least this is partially action-based and requires movement and positioning. People don't seem to understand that the revolutionary part is in the basic structure of the game around those somewhat familliar gameplay mechanics, which really aren't all that familiar if you take into account weapon switching changing your first five skills, and a completely new set of skills and style of combat for underwater, not to mention class-based unique mechanics and elite skills. If it had the same combat as guild wars 1, it would still be a huge step forward.

 

[Baralak]

No, the Sylvari are Elves. They just took the metaphorical speech elves are known for, and made it literal. Seriously, they feel ripped straight out of Kingdoms of Amalur, but with leaf hair.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

No, the Sylvari are Elves. They just took the metaphorical speech elves are known for, and made it literal. Seriously, they feel ripped straight out of Kingdoms of Amalur, but with leaf hair.

No they don't. Stop being silly and ridiculous. They are much more than elves and do carry similarities but they not ripped out of the general trope with no twist or change.

snippity snip

I will agree that I made a very general scenario. However, I was just recounting a situation I had in pvp where I couldn't see a tell simply because they were on fire. The tells are all well and good but if you can't see them through a flashy particle effect then they lose that. I played gw1 pvp a bit and know what to look for, but with the overly flashy (which I like) particle effects it's very difficult to see them. Maybe it was also cuz I was getting 2v1 so I had my focus split between the 2 because now that I watch the video I can actually see it's fairly obvious. But my opinion still stands. I think an icon slightly larger than the condition/boon icons and just underneath them wouldn't hurt the very pretty and clean UI. Not persistent, just when they use the skill and maybe for like 1 or 2 seconds after. It would make it much easier to fight 2v1.

PS: not to brag, but my necro is pretty beast
Go guild wars 2!

captcha: She's a witch
NO, she's a NECRO

I do see your point but you could always suggest it to the devs and see what happens. I don't think it is needed but maybe others do.

 

[Saviordd1]

-snip-

Aiming your abilities should be a thing. It's not willing suspension of disbelief, its annoying.

And by skill I mean something that isn't "Learn how best to abuse one of your 10000 abilities in combat"

By skill I mean something that actively involves dodging and possibly parrying attacks as well as relying less on abilities that are on a hotbar and more on your skill as a fighter. Hell I'd settle for something like Divinity 2, where the hotbar exists but you at least need to dodge attacks and actually think.

 

[Negatempest]

Sheesh, some people here are either picky or have no idea what they are talking about. Let's move combat out of they way since that is what the majority of the people seem to be talking about and focus on other excellent changes.

-Quests. Unlike most MMO's out now where you talk to an individual, get sent to another location to talk to another, than sent to another location to talk to a different NPC. GW2 hardly has that. The dynamic quests are nice in the sense that you as the individual are not the only one on it and are not the only one to help it get complete. There is a quest log on the top right corner that you can click on to let you know what you gotta do to complete the quest. Sure some parts of that quest are being taken by others but there is definitely something to do for everyone. Campaign quests are where you'll find the majority of the classic MMO based quests. Lack of kill marks is very important.

-Locations. They are beautiful and not flat or plains like. We have seen it in many MMO's where if your not in a mountainous area, the whole location is like a plain. GW2 barely has that and actually makes other locations pop out.

-Attack/weapon animation. Here is where it's interesting. A mesmer/caster does not use a 2-hander sword the same way a warrior/tank does. They have their own "method" of how to use a two hander and it's quite amusing. You can actually swing your weapon with no one else around and miss because you were not within reach of your target. Range is even effected by this. You can mark an individual at a distance with a range character and miss because they were not within your attack distance. Weapon and skills are also effected by your distance from the individual. Some take strength from being as close as possible to being as far as possible. So depending on who you see is attacking you, from some study, may know whether to get close as quick as possible or further away.

 

[Negatempest]

Do, do some of you even take internet connection into consideration when you talk about "skill" from actively moving? I see lag-switch being SO abused if attacks are not auto aiming. I see slow internet connection from some individuals who have no choice being over-run by better skill (internet connection) players. And I don't want to hear, "well then they shouldn't play the game than." Since that is a Elitist excuse that would do nothing more than lower the population in an MMO which is something that is contrary to what an MMO is trying to do -_-

 

[Polock]

Snip

this man wins post of the year.

 

[the doom cannon]

Snip

this man wins post of the year.

agreed

snippity snippity snip

I will only disagree with you on one thing. If it doesn't feel like a grind then it isn't a grind, get what I mean? My understanding is that grinding implies repetition, which gw2 simply doesn't have. you CAN go run in circles killing the same things over and over or complete the same dynamic events over and over, but that's the worst possible way to play the game. And as for weapon skill unlocking, it only takes like 10 minutes to unlock all of them....I don't consider that grinding at all.

The rest of you post is spot on