Hi All

Firstly, I played in the first GW2 BWE and absolutely loved the game!

I was pretty desperate to find out what the game was like as I had already decided that if I tried GW2 and didn't get into it, I'd give up on MMOs and computer games entirely. So I went out on a limb and got the collector's edition (very pleased with that decision - I like gimics) and awaited the first beta event. I was almosty scared to log-in in case the game was sh_t tbh. Not because I'd forked out over a ton for the CE but because I was committed 100% to selling off my gaming rig and getting a ultrabook or something 'grown-up' if it was crap. It would be like the end of an era for me; almost confirmation I was too old to have this kind of fun anymore.

Thankfully, I was blown away.

Now I'm not gonna lie, I didn't get the feeling I got playing WoW for the first time. But since that was my first MMO and the closest I'd played to one beforehand was Diablo II, the jump was always going to be massive and the whole thing was obviously going to feel revolutionary (had I played EQ or a simiiar game, I doubt I would have been so impressed).

Despite this, GW2 is by far the single best MMO I've ever tried.

But I've been involved in betas before and the result has always been the same: On release, the game has lost a lot of it's magic. Some games were crap, fullstop and beta involvement or no beta involvement, that wasn't going to affect anything. However, with GW2 I want to bask in the glory of the game on release. I want that 'first date with a beautiful woman' feeling to go on for as long as possible when I first log in and create my first permanent character...

So do I abstain from the remaining beta events?

Can I abstain from the remaining beta events?

And does anyone else think they may do the same?

Aryas

First off you are never to old to play - I speak from experience :)

Second off - laptops of any kind suck - there again the last one I used could and did leave burns on your lap from overheating (it was over 10 years ago).

I won't be able to abstain but I am very much hoping not to spoil the Charr area (I made one last time and took them through the tutorial then stopped), the Asura or the Sylvarii area.  I actually don't think I will allow myself to go outside the Human and Norn starter areas and I haven't and won't step into most of the cities besides Human and Norn.

Can you figure out an area that won't spoil it for you?

Originally posted by Aryas

Hi All

 

Firstly, I played in the first GW2 BWE and absolutely loved the game!

 

I was pretty desperate to find out what the game was like as I had already decided that if I tried GW2 and didn't get into it, I'd give up on MMOs and computer games entirely. So I went out on a limb and got the collector's edition (very pleased with that decision - I like gimics) and awaited the first beta event. I was almosty scared to log-in in case the game was sh_t tbh. Not because I'd forked out over a ton for the CE but because I was committed 100% to selling off my gaming rig and getting a ultrabook or something 'grown-up' if it was crap. It would be like the end of an era for me; almost confirmation I was too old to have this kind of fun anymore.

Yeah I remember you...  TBH it was one of the most annoying convo's I've read on here.

Thankfully, I was blown away.

Drats, I was gonna ask if I could have your Stuff...

But I've been involved in betas before and the result has always been the same: On release, the game has lost a lot of it's magic. Some games were crap, fullstop and beta involvement or no beta involvement, that wasn't going to affect anything. However, with GW2 I want to bask in the glory of the game on release. I want that 'first date with a beautiful woman' feeling to go on for as long as possible when I first log in and create my first permanent character...

So do I abstain from the remaining beta events?

Can I abstain from the remaining beta events?

And does anyone else think they may do the same?

Ironically, I was just thinking about exactly this sort of thing while I was out on a walk a few minutes ago...  I've done Betas too and a lot of times they killed my motivation to play them after release.  DCOU did it so badly infact that I didn't even want to know what was going on with it until it went F2P.   ...So 2-1/2 months in beta and only 1 month after F2P was all I could stand of it.  I think when Anet's forums open back up infact I'm going to plead with them to keep the BWE's to WE's only and insist that they don't allow them to become Week-long Tests.

Part of that is because I'm intnentionally avoiding making what is going to be my "Main" for post-release. (A WvWvW spec'd Guardian).  In Gw1 my 2 most played characters over 7 years was a Monk and Mesmer.  ...even more ironically, the "Mesmer" was actually a Dervish primary and for those who don't understand why:  The "skillshot" gimmick for Mesmers in Gw2 is that they spam conditions and Shatter enchanting spells almost exactly like a Dervish playstyle.  ....So in theory, as long as I avoid those 2 playstyles/classes, I think the game will still feel 95% "Brand New and Shiny" to me on release day.   However if Anet were to extend the Beta play alottment to more than just weekends, I'd have enough time to roll these 2 mains (Guard & Mes) and experience too much too soon.

...So that's my Take on it:   As long as we only roll "Alts" of playstyles we don't actually intend on playing seriously after release, I think we'll be just fine.   In my case that's been a Ranger so far, and I will probably roll a Thief too just b/c I hate Thieves and I think their playstyle looks too niche/weak.

...Oh and just incase it still doesn't work out for ya a month after release...

CAN I HAVE UR STUFF?

I really don't know if I should play the game too. I don't want to spoil the game for myself either but I'm tempted beyond belief. I think I'll do as I did before and stick to sPvP.

Well, let's see.

Come release, we have 5 races and 8 professions. 2 races ahven't even been playable by the public yet.

Each race has a series of personal story options. 2-3  of the questions you are asked determine your "personal story" quests, for dozens of inital possible starting ideas

For instances, my BWE "main" was a human street rat mesmer, who didn't know the fate of his parents. This gave me two starting personal story quest line that semi-intermeshed: As a street rat, I was highly involved witha clan of bandits looking to overthrow the city, because my best friend got suckered into joining them. Throughout that chain, I had options to let certain NPCs live or die, as well as other choices, that affected which missions I got, who was involved, etc. Later, I got involved in a quest to find out why powerful assassins from a long-hated GW faction wanted me dead, and how this tied into my parents' disappearance. There are multiple choices to take here as well.

Point I'm trying to make is, there's SO much possible content in teh person stories that you can't see even a fraction of it during the BWEs. You'd have to play through multiple, multiple times.

What's more, I did every heart in Queensdale and as many DEs as I could find (including SHadow Behemoth, yay!) And I didn't even scratch the surface of many of teh "hidden" events you need to explore and find.

I wouldn't worry about spoiling it. There's plenty more.

When is the next BWE?

Originally posted by Aryas

I was pretty desperate to find out what the game was like as I had already decided that if I tried GW2 and didn't get into it, I'd give up on MMOs and computer games entirely. 

 

I was committed 100% to selling off my gaming rig and getting a ultrabook or something 'grown-up' if it was crap. It would be like the end of an era for me; almost confirmation I was too old to have this kind of fun anymore.

 

Thankfully, I was blown away.

 

Despite this, GW2 is by far the single best MMO I've ever tried.

 

So do I abstain from the remaining beta events?

 

Can I abstain from the remaining beta events?

 

And does anyone else think they may do the same?

 

Aryas

Aryas,

You are not alone,  I too was ready to give up on the gaming industry.  So far every game I've tested recently has been the same old same old.  Grindy Boring Questing systems and punish you with horrible game play until level 20+ for you to start enjoying a game (cough tera cough)  It just added to it when I left tera's beta feeling yet again disappointed and same ol same ol garbage we've been doing for years just in a different graphical package.

I myself wass scared; which is why I only pre purchased one copy so that my wife and I could see the game and see if its truly all its cracked up to be.

After doing extensive research and viewing as many press beta videos as possible I was pretty confident that I knew what I was getting into but still so many games have lied about what they are going to provide, or just provided the same old crap with prettier graphics like even some recent releases, that I was skeptical.

Sure enough the game has lived up to nearly every expectation ANET has put up for the game.  Now for sure both my wife and I are full for the game and can't wait for launch.

My wife on one hand refuses to participate in any BWE. (though she is caught watching over my shoulder a lot.)  She wants the experience to be as fresh as possible for herself.  She hasn't even studied much about the classes and combat system, just overheard me and a guild member discussing Theory craft.

Upon launch I plan on playing a norn warrior but during BWE's I'm staying away from the norn and the warrior class so I can have that fresh feeling as well.  I'm playing Human / Charr during BWE and Guardian / Their / Engineer.  The 1st BWE I chose Guardian and played 45+ hours. 

I've played nearly all games that have been released since the late 1990's and its been a very long time since a game has fulfilled nearly everything I expected from it.  When I first saw Divinitys reach from a distance I darn near cried.  Playing hours and hours in a puzzle dungeon that damaged our armor so much we ran it nearly naked... There was so much to this game which was limited access during BWE that though I'm playing Human I know I wont ruin the experience for myself as a Norn Warrior.

I left a hardcore raiding guild in RIFT nearly a year ago and have been waiting since then for a good game.. (just thought I'd add that)

To get back to your question, should you abstain from playing?  well the thought has crossed my mind.  And yes as you stated I too was going to give up gaming if GW2 did not fulfill their promises.  I'm sick and tired of being fed the same crap for the last 10 years.. Ok ok I'll stop my soap box.  I have a few questions for you to be able to answer your question:

1. Do you have something to buy your time until launch? (when ever that may be)

2. Are you satisfied enough with GW2 that will make the wait for launch worth it?

3. Can you really abstain from such an amazing experience, once a BWE becomes available? (I'd go fricken mad)

4. would playing a different race / class combo alternate to what you plan on playing come launch make a difference?

Answering those questions may help you make your decision and I hope it helps.

Personally if I tried to abstain knowing I can play it would probably kill me :P j/k or am I? lmao

My wife and I started this past BWE with the intent to play races/professions we had no interest in playing at release, but that plan isn't working because we wound up changing our minds about the one we did play.  So now we're not sure if we're making the right choice by avoiding our "main" choices or whether we should go ahead and give them a try to see if that's still our intended release choice.

I definitely want the race/profession I eventually settle on to be as new and fresh as possible at release, but at the same time I don't want to "waste time" playing something I potentially won't like as much as the ones I tested in the BWE.

So basically, I have no idea what to tell you.

^yeah I could see that happening too.   But some of it will also come down to playng those classes LONG enough to unlock all their different playstyles.   Some Classes are designed to be very advanced and will require the "mastering" of a lot of mechanics and fundamentals that other classes seem to do a much better job with teaching.   So don't be afraid to think of some classes as stepping stones to your primary goal class.  Progress in Guildwars has ALWAYS been measured by knowledge & conditioned reactions, not items/levels.