So, anyone familiar with my name around these parts knows that I am a die-hard fan of GW2. I think its the best MMO I've ever played. But no game is completely without problems, and no game can appeal to everyone. I've seen a lot of vitriolic threads about what GW2 does wrong, or how GW2 sucks because it lacks feature X or Y. I thought I would post some of the reasons I feel some players will not like GW2 from the opposite perspective.

So without further Delay...(and In no particular order)

Reason #1 - No Open World PvP

I've always hated OPvP myself as I see it as the refuge of gankers. And I HATE gankers. I don't mind ambushing and the like, its the fighting another player 20 levels below you that I hate. It's sad and pathetic.

However, there is one glorious thing that OPvP offers, and that is the uncertainty of the next confrontation. Not knowing when a fight could happen and could die at any minute is pretty awesome. GW2 does not really have that. When you PvP, its because you chose to and that takes something away from the experience.

Reason #2 - Sense of progression

GW2 does a lot of strange things with progression. Firstly, its a linear progression. getting from 15 to 16 will take the same amount of time as getting from 79 to 80. This means some players are going to blaze to 80 in no time flat. Level in GW2 is not so much about getting that next skill or upgrade as it is about getting acess to more and more content. When you are level 80, the whole world becomes playable due to the down-scaleing of content.

The other factor is no gear grinding, or at least, no heavy grinding. Stats remain easy to get. You will be grinding instead for comsetics.

Other games pace this out so that you feel accomplished in reaching a new level of power. Your amount of strength is determined more by how much time you put into the game than how familiar you are with the games systems (though that knowledge certainly doesnt hurt!) Some players want to know that if they have been playing for years, they can crush the newest players. They paid more after all! In GW2, a new player could absolutly destroy you if they know what they are doing when playing sPvP for example.

Without a much bigger mechanical advantage for progression, many players will feel like they are just spinning in circles never making any progress.

Reason #3 - No Traditional Endgame

MMO's have taught us that the best content is at the end when all the characters tools are complete. They have gotten the last few super bad ass abilities, and great gear, and are now ready to take on the REALLY challanging content. This requires teamwork and time for the biggest of fights.

GW2 takes those experiences and doles them out over the course of the game. You get acces to your skills early on, and the big world event DE's feel much like the big raids (with less co-ordination.)

Tougher content is certainly towards the end, with the continent of Orr, but the real benefit of being max level is that you can go to any area and play that content.

Many players will get to the end of the game and really only have the dungeons to mess with as they do not wish to go to low level content, especially after doing such hugely heroic and epic things towards the end of the game, and get very bored of the lack of content.

Reason #4 - Some Traditional Roles are Gone

With the removal of the so called "Holy Trinity" two very traditional roles are gone. The Tank and the Healer. Anet didnt like the playstyles they were based on, but that doesnt mean YOU dont. I know plenty of gamers that like to heal. Its important, easy to see your contribution, and very low dexerity. Tanking is a lot more complicated, but the point is you will not be able to do either role anymore (Im sure some will debate it).

There is no aggro powers in the game and Dungeon bosses hit exremly hard so traditional tanking is gone. You are not capable of keeping a teamate alive under the barrage of a boss for an extended period of time by focusing all heals on him anymore so traditional healing is gone.

I highly advise you look at why you like those roles. You may find you can still fufill them in GW2, but if you are a hard core Tank or Healer and love that gameplay style, GW2 will disappoint you.

Reason #5 - Cash Shop

I have seen enough implementations of cash shops in games to say that I think GW2's implementation looks to be ok. Nevertheless, paying for bag slots, character slots, xp boosts, etc. will feel like extorting money for some players. If you really hate cash shops in any form, this will not be any different.

I think GW2 has those things just in a different way than people are used to or can narrowly define.

I mean, yes it doesn't have open world PvP in the strictest of senses, but it has WvW.

It doesn't have a traditional gear/grind sense of progression, but it still has levels and stats and gear and character progression it just isn't as sharp of a curve and plateus out at max level quickly.

It doesn't have traditional "end-game" content in terms of raids, but there are dungeons and "hard mode" dungeons and there is "raiding" per say, it is just 100% open world non-instanced and no specific guild or group will ever be able to "lock out" another group or guild by "tagging" an open world boss first.

It doesn't have hard/locked roles but it does have specializations via weapon/gear/trait choice and play style.

It does have a cash shop, but it isn't your typical F2P cash shop because of the Buy to Play model (60$ box price).

So I think if THESE are the reasons people don't like GW2, they may be suprised to find that if they play the game, take the time to do the research and find what GW2 DOES have, they may be suprised.

Originally posted by Aerowyn
got videos in my sig link that cover most those topics as well

And I highly reccomend people check that thread out for awnsers.

This thread was intended to point out the potential negative rather than give a balanced view of a system.

Originally posted by BadSpock

I think GW2 has those things just in a different way than people are used to or can narrowly define.

I mean, yes it doesn't have open world PvP in the strictest of senses, but it has WvW.

It doesn't have a traditional gear/grind sense of progression, but it still has levels and stats and gear and character progression it just isn't as sharp of a curve and plateus out at max level quickly.

It doesn't have traditional "end-game" content in terms of raids, but there are dungeons and "hard mode" dungeons and there is "raiding" per say, it is just 100% open world non-instanced and no specific guild or group will ever be able to "lock out" another group or guild by "tagging" an open world boss first.

 

I agree.

This game approaches things from a different (but not nessecariy bad) direction. The fact remains that those differences will not be what some people want, and will be put off by their exclusion.

Choosing to be in PvP has an impact on the system. A fairly profound one. I like it as is, but some really want the sense of paranoia. I'm just pointing out, if thats the key feeling you are looking for, you will be disappointed.

Originally posted by Purgatus

I agree.

This game approaches things from a different (but not nessecariy bad) direction. The fact remains that those differences will not be what some people want, and will be put off by their exclusion.

Exactly.

Ignorance is the enemy of wisdom though, and the wise man would not stop at "OK this game doesn't have exactly what I am looking for."

The wise man would then ask, "OK what does this game have?"

They may be enlightened.

OP, I know you don't really believe those arguments because if you did you wouldn't be the GW2 fan you say you are. I know people make those same tired arguments over anf over but really, for me anyway, they explain why GW2 will be better than the current crop of MMO's.

The case can be made either way and it all comes down to personal preferrence. There's no right and wrong, either you like GW2 or you don't, no harm either way. For me, I'll be happier playing GW2 the way it is. For those that agree with those arguments and probably won't be seen playing GW2, enjoy the games you currently play and adios amigos.

Good writeup as a bit of a warning. As a fan I welcome your objectivity!

Critical, not hateful. This is a good read for people who are looking for or expecting a specific something that gw2 just won't offer. 

They did talk about the possibilty of dueling though. I am interested in how/if they implement that. 

Reason #6:

You are unable to play games without having a gear advantage. You can't win at PvPwithout having 2500 more resilience than your enemy. You can't tackle harder PvE content without outgearing it and only having to roll your face on your keyboard. Then, you may not enjoy GW2.

EDIT: my bad, I just noticed you talked about this in your reason #2 :)

That's what I get from reading forums while cooking dinner =P

I haven't done much research on the character building that you will do as you level.  I played beta to lvl 10 and wasn't completely clear on the skills/traits stuff.  I assume those are the big motivating factor to level (other than PvP and I don't really care about that).  Assuming you continue to build your character all the way to the level max that sounds fine and won't be a problem.  Although if you have everything before lvl 80 that could be a problem.

I would add the cartoon fantasy setting to the list of possible dislikes for many people.  If you are burnt out on WoW this setting isn't likely to be different enough to not be annoying (excluding lore of course).

Originally posted by Purgatus

So, anyone familiar with my name around these parts knows that I am a die-hard fan of GW2. I think its the best MMO I've ever played. But no game is completely without problems, and no game can appeal to everyone. I've seen a lot of vitriolic threads about what GW2 does wrong, or how GW2 sucks because it lacks feature X or Y. I thought I would post some of the reasons I feel some players will not like GW2 from the opposite perspective.

So without further Delay...(and In no particular order)

 

Reason #1 - No Open World PvP

Reason #2 - Sense of progression

Reason #3 - No Traditional Endgame

Reason #4 - Some Traditional Roles are Gone

Reason #5 - Cash Shop

 

Spot on OP these are the reasons. Good eye.

Originally posted by TdogSkal
Any place we can read up on the cash shop and what they think they are going to put in it?

http://www.arena.net/blog/mike-obrien-on-microtransactions-in-guild-wars-2

short answer: they dont know the specifics but blog talks about their philosophy on it

Originally posted by Purgatus

Reason #1 - No Open World PvP

I've always hated OPvP myself as I see it as the refuge of gankers. And I HATE gankers. I don't mind ambushing and the like, its the fighting another player 20 levels below you that I hate. It's sad and pathetic.

However, there is one glorious thing that OPvP offers, and that is the uncertainty of the next confrontation. Not knowing when a fight could happen and could die at any minute is pretty awesome. GW2 does not really have that. When you PvP, its because you chose to and that takes something away from the experience.

I just wanna point out that there IS Open World PVP. ArenaNet created a seperate MMO called The Mists which houses it, a lot of people call it WvW. Roughly the size of DC Universe Online at launch, The Mists is a sizable collection of zones with its own ruleset. The PvE game Tyria does not have Open World PVP, yet Guild Wars 2 as a game still does have Open World PVP.

I'm someone who feels like i'll miss healing, not taking, but i kinda liked to be able to save my partners from death in pvp, instead of just being one other person trying to destroy..

So yea..

Partner healing still exists in Guild Wars 2, just the way to do is really different.

For instance, if you wanna heal and ally as an Elementalist you have some options. Lets say your friend is within range and is hurting bad!

With Arcane Evasion on, you can switch to Water Attunement and dodge toward your ally. By landing on your alley, you will produce a heal at his feet. Follow up by using your Glyph of Harmony -- you will share the Regeneration with your ally. If you spected Cantrips of Glyphs to share more Regeneration, pop additional utility to increase the heal and Regeneration duration.

Pop into Earth to give him/her Protection, then quickly switch back to Water again to produce another heal.

If you are using dagger, target your ally with Cone of Cold to give 2000+ heal.