Originally posted by Depravity44
One of my major concerns with GW2 is the possibility that all lvl 80 items will have identical stats.  I was an avid original Guild Wars player and one of my biggest complaints is the fact that I wasn't rewarded for spending hours and hours accumulating items to build high-end Fissure armor.  Yes, the armor looked cool, but it had the exact same stats as (lvl 20) Droknars Forge armor.  So here's the question.  Will my dedication and time be worth the investment in end game dungeons offer better armor that has better stats than other level 80 armor or will it all be the same???!!!!  I really hope I'm not going to spend all these hours in this game just to find out that its a socialist nation at level 80.... :(

socialist nation?

capitalism in its late stages is what eventually turns into fascism. I think I'll take the even playing ground in my MMO and rely on skills, thanks. 

99% of the other MMOs run on the model you want. Guidl Wars never has, and hopefully never will be about what you want. Why would you want to beat someone else just because you spend more time? some people are just naturals are exceel at life with half the effort of other people. thats just how it is. just because you play more, it does not make you better or give you magic powers.

some new kid will always be around who is a talent. Guild Wars recognizes that. fossile dinosaurs like to live in a world were they can exceel at being beta.

gotta stay alpha brah. 

Level 80 Gear

At level 80, there is a cap to weapon power and that cap will not increase once you reach it, unless they raise the level cap in a future expansion, of course.

Gear does have seperate stats and there are quality tiers, but once you have aquired the Gold tier level 80 gear with the stats you desire to compliment your builds, you will not have to worry about a new set coming out with higher level stats.

The highest (Gold) Tier level 80 gear can be aquired from a number of various means, including Heart Vendors (Karma), Dungeons, PVE drops, crafting, etc... There is some effort required to aquire the best gear. It isn't just handed to you when you hit level 80, but the amount of time required is supposed to be very reasonable.

What about Dungeon Gear?

Dungeon gear allows you a one method of aquiring max stat gear for the given level range. Dungeon gear also have skins that are reserved for dungeon rewards and one reason people will do dungeons will be for the look of the gear.

Are there any stat differences between Dungeon gear and gear aquired elsewhere?

One developer talked about the possibility that some dungeon gear may have stats more heavily skewed towards a singular attribute, rather than having more balanced stats, but that the overall power level of the item would be identical to a same tier item aquired by other means.

Gear Upgrades

Most gear have upgrade slots which allow you to further boost and customize the stats for the item and can even confer special set bonuses. Upgrades will allow people to further tailor their stats to their prefered build(s), but just as with gear, there is a power cap on upgrade components and there will be various outlets for aquiring them.

Summary

Gear progression doesn't end the minute you hit level 80. You are also not forced to accept a standardized gear stat package from your max power gear. However, there will be various ways to aquire your max stat, level 80 gear and players of all types, from hardcore dungeon hunters, to master crafters to even casual players, will all have means to aquire and customize their max stat gear with out an excessive amount of time or effort needing to be spent.

Once you aquire you max stat gear and are satisfied with the mix of stats, you will not have to worry about some new set being introduced to the game with a higher power level. No more endless gear grind.

Someone asked about the "hook", since getting "better" gear does not exist. In Guildwars 1, for me, the hook was unlocking my players skills through PvP. I didn't have access to absolutely everything right away, but I had a way to get them without doing PvE (I hate PvE with a burning passion of ten thousand fiery suns). I noticed something in that game: when I started I sucked, and getting new skills was time consuming. When I got the new skills, I had played enough of the game to understand the mechanics and potential mechanics of certain skills, and I would then win more frequently, and unlock more skills faster.  This was a phenomenal mechanic that allowed myself, and players like to me learn the game through practice rather than through the developers puzzles (PvE). By the team I unlocked every skill in the game, I had built relationships with people that I still will play Guildwars 2 with.

The hook was the unlocking of skills and equipment. Once all you accomplished that, you a more than likely working on your Hall of Heroes title. The prestige of having your "/rank" emote was amazing. When I played, the players who had their Tiger earned it, and were also players in the top 100 guilds, and could be seen on GWTV. So, you can't have a piece of gear that lets you be the best. You have to earn it, and you WILL get recognized for being a great player. You will also be recognized for being a bad player, if you are noticed to take an excessively long time to get your rank,.

Originally posted by Mardukk

It looks like this is going to be one of those games were you will either have to love cosmetic options or pvp to play for much longer than the lvling process.

 

I think it will be fun to play through lvling up and checking out all the dungeons, but I don't think it will be a game that you would find yourself playing for years on end as your main game.  It will likely be many people's side game, possbily to log in a few times a week for a change of pace.

Excellent point. Can't see the retention rate staying very high for this game. Will track avidly on xfire.

Originally posted by Kaisen_Dexx

Originally posted by QuicklyScott
This is what I don't understand about GW2.  Where is the hook - what keeps you playing?  If you can jump to the highest level to PVP, and content at level 80 doesn't really progress your character, just gives cosmetic bonuses, then how is it going to capitivate peoples' attention after the first couple of months?  When people just play for fun, the novelty can wear off pretty fast.

Why does gear grind have to be the hook to keep you playing, as opposed to enjoyment? Books don't give people gear, yet they hook people.

I never found the gear grind to be engaging, its basically a slot machine. Insert time and money and for 30 days you have a chance to get that piece of gear you want.

So GW2 is like a book. After your done reading it, you throw it away or shelf it for a long long time. Unless youa re a fanatic (PvPer) then you reread it until even that gets boring.

Yikes.

Originally posted by Monorojo

Originally posted by Kaisen_Dexx

Originally posted by QuicklyScott
This is what I don't understand about GW2.  Where is the hook - what keeps you playing?  If you can jump to the highest level to PVP, and content at level 80 doesn't really progress your character, just gives cosmetic bonuses, then how is it going to capitivate peoples' attention after the first couple of months?  When people just play for fun, the novelty can wear off pretty fast.

Why does gear grind have to be the hook to keep you playing, as opposed to enjoyment? Books don't give people gear, yet they hook people.

I never found the gear grind to be engaging, its basically a slot machine. Insert time and money and for 30 days you have a chance to get that piece of gear you want.

So GW2 is like a book. After your done reading it, you throw it away or shelf it for a long long time. Unless youa re a fanatic (PvPer) then you reread it until even that gets boring.

 

Yikes.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-04-23-guild-wars-2-developer-has-plans-for-literally-years-to-come

BOOM

.....because its really stupid , look at wow... the jump from Tier X to tier X+4 is ......crazy

and a mmorpg that isnt driven by STATS is just cool ! , carron on the stick blablaba....

PLAY FOR FUN no for +10 str :P

OH MY GOD, its almost like there is NO end game gear progression in the game, oh goodness, you might have to keep playing WOW for 5 more years, theres always RIFT, or some of those other old games. 

HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

....

HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Originally posted by Monorojo

Originally posted by Kaisen_Dexx

Originally posted by QuicklyScott
This is what I don't understand about GW2.  Where is the hook - what keeps you playing?  If you can jump to the highest level to PVP, and content at level 80 doesn't really progress your character, just gives cosmetic bonuses, then how is it going to capitivate peoples' attention after the first couple of months?  When people just play for fun, the novelty can wear off pretty fast.

Why does gear grind have to be the hook to keep you playing, as opposed to enjoyment? Books don't give people gear, yet they hook people.

I never found the gear grind to be engaging, its basically a slot machine. Insert time and money and for 30 days you have a chance to get that piece of gear you want.

So GW2 is like a book. After your done reading it, you throw it away or shelf it for a long long time. Unless youa re a fanatic (PvPer) then you reread it until even that gets boring.

 

Yikes.

You're thinking of SWTOR, everyone threw it away already.