Guild Wars 2/FAQ
From Guild Wars 2 Wiki
| Note: This is a community-made FAQ based on information from interviews and other official sources. For an ArenaNet-made FAQ, see their website page. Please note that this isn't a page to ask questions, and that most answers are already here. |
Contents |
[edit] General stuff
- Will there be a subscription fee?
No. This has been confirmed several times.
- But I heard they're doing persistent areas, won't they need a fee for that?
No. There will be persistent areas, but they don't need fees to maintain the server costs for them.
- Is there going to be a Prima Guide or something similar?
We don't know.
- Isn't ArenaNet going to ruin the game by making their game more like all the other MMORPGs?
ArenaNet doesn't think so. It is still too soon for us to tell. But think of most of those features as "something added".
- I've got this great idea....
Post it to the fan forums, or you can post to the GW2 Suggestions page on the original Guild Wars Wiki.
- My question isn't answered by this FAQ.
If your answer isn't on this page or on the Guild Wars 2 page then it is likely there is no answer for your question yet. Ask it on the talk page and it may get added to the FAQ, whether we know the answer or not.
- The info on GW2 hasn't changed for a while - what's up?
That's because there hasn't been any more information made available by ArenaNet. It's been stated more information will become available closer to the beta test. Beta test could occur early 2009 at the earliest.
[edit] Release and testing
- When is Guild Wars 2 going to be released?
No official date has been announced for the release of Guild Wars 2. According to NCSoft investor materials released in Q1 2009, Guild Wars 2 has a planned release window of 2010-2011.
- Can I get into the Alpha test?
Alpha test is by invitation only.
- So can I beta test instead?
You bet. Just like the Original Guild Wars games there are going to be public beta tests. ArenaNet has stated this will start closer to the release of the game than for Guild Wars 1.
- How do I sign up for the beta test?
You can't sign up for the beta test at the moment - any site which claims you can is trying to scam you. The only place which will allow you to sign up for a Guild Wars 2 beta test is the official Guild Wars website. Don't give your account information to anyone!
- Why did they cancel the beta test they announced for 2008? Are their dates slipping?
ArenaNet thinks that the market for MMORPG has changed significantly since they developed Guild Wars. Players view betas of MMOs as demos of the final product and so expect a level of polish which betas early in development cannot provide. As a result the planned beta has been delayed to provide the right first impression of the game to these players. It doesn't necessarily mean that planned release dates have changed.
- What languages will be supported/Will there be different servers for different languages?
We don't know.
- Will Guild Wars 2 have standalone campaigns?
It has been stated that expansions and/or mini-expansions are far more likely than standalone campaigns.
[edit] Original Guild Wars (OGW)
- So what was wrong with the Original Guild Wars?
The development team at ArenaNet realized at the time they started work on the fourth Guild Wars campaign that there was so much stuff they wanted to do but couldn't make fit into the existing game. So they decided that making Guild Wars 2 was the best way for them to do what they wanted to the game.
- Can I keep on playing the OGW?
Yes. ArenaNet have stated that the Guild Wars servers will stay open after GW2 is released. There will continue to be special events and patches for players who stay playing OGW.
- Are there going to be any more expansions for OGW?
Between now and release of GW2, no. Whether there are any more after release of GW2 hasn't been entirely ruled out but it seems pretty unlikely.
- Can I transfer an OGW character to GW2?
No. GW:EN allows you reserve character names and transfer some achievements to GW2 through the Hall of Monuments.
- So what stuff do I actually get in GW2 from putting things in the Hall of Monuments?
There isn't any word on this. Anything you get from OGW won't give you a permanent advantage over new GW2 players. Basically, expect cosmetic stuff with stats that new GW2 players will be able to achieve by playing GW2.
- Are Hall of Monuments achievements by character or by account?
By account.
[edit] Technical stuff
- What are the specs for running GW2?
GW2 will have higher requirements than OGW but no requirements have been set. They plan to keep the requirements low so that most PC owners will be able to play the game when it is released.
- Can I play on dial-up?
We don't know.
- Will I need Vista and DirectX 10 to play?
No.
[edit] Persistence
- Why are they adding persistence?
So that you can have a more social time in game and have the potential to see and meet people who are online as much as you are. ;) Persistence also adds new game elements, such as an evolving world and consequences.
- Are there going to be different server shards?
Yes, however you will be able to move characters between different shards/worlds quickly, easily, and probably without restriction.
- How many people are there going to be in one world/server/instance?
We don't know.
- Are there still going to be instanced areas?
Yes, dungeons and mission type content are still going to be instanced.
- What about Player-killing?
Still none of that. Do PvP.
- What about boss camping and loot stealing which happens in persistent games?
Big events will be announced in game so any player who wants to kill can show up to help. Anyone who helps in the fight will be individually rewarded. Whether the usual problems will occur with mobs of general monsters and bosses is unknown.
[edit] Gameplay
- Will my character be able to jump without the emote?
Yes! And slide and swim and other stuff like that. It has been stated that climbing trees will not be possible.
- Will the game still target for me?
Yes.
- Will map travel stay in the game?
Yes.
- Will there be mounts?
Mounts will not be necessary for travel, because traveling will still be possible using portals and map-travel. However, there may still be mounts for other purposes, but we don't know yet. Most likely, temporary "mounts" like Junundus or Siege Devourers may be included due to their popularity in OGW.
- Will there be henchmen/heroes?
There will be companions but they will not count towards any party you join. They'll be like an extension of your character, and if you choose not to take one, your character will be buffed to compensate. It will also be possible to join a full AI party, however joining a group with other players will yield more experience.
- Any news on armor, equipment or loot?
Armor and weapons will no longer be profession specific. It has been stated that equipment will be a more significant part of PvE and World PvP gameplay.
- Any news on quests?
Quests are being designed to be suitable for solo players, quest difficulty will scale with party size.
[edit] Character
- Do I have to have separate PvP and PvE characters again?
No. One character can participate in any gameplay type that GW2 offers.
[edit] Levels
- So are they raising the level cap?
Yes, but the final cap hasn't been announced. It could be as high as 100 or even limitless.
- Isn't that going to get in the way of me playing with my friends?
A side kick system will be used which will bring your armor and power up to that of people you are with.
- Am I going to have to endlessly grind to be the most powerful I can be?
No. The amount of power you get at higher levels will reduce significantly. At some point you will not get any more powerful by gaining more levels.
[edit] Races
- What are the races I can play in GW2?
Human, Asura, Charr, Norn and Sylvari are confirmed. There may or may not be additional races.
- Will there be any other races?
Maybe. But GW2W doesn't think there will be more for the initial GW2 release.
- Will races get race specific characteristics?
Yes. But, aside from the obvious appearance differences, the exact form of these is unknown. It has been stated that ArenaNet wants race choice to have a significant effect on gameplay.
[edit] Professions
- What professions are there going to be?
As of June 2007, a final decision has not been made, however all of professions of the original Guild Wars are under consideration, as is the possibility of adding new professions.
- How many professions are there going to be?
We have no idea. Really. However it has been implied in interviews that the profession count will be equal to or lower than the profession count in Guild Wars.
- Will there still be secondary professions?
As of 2007, secondary professions have been confirmed to be almost certain.
- How about non-combat professions, like crafter, hunter...?
We don't know.
[edit] Skills
- Will there be skill capture still?
Don't know.
- Will there be UAX, unlock of all skills and items, for PvP players?
It has been stated that a character which is taken into Structured PvP will have access to all skills, items and professions.
- Will I be limited to only 8 skills?
A limited skill system is still going to be used in Guild Wars 2. There is no confirmed information about the number of skills.
[edit] PvP
- What PvP modes will be available?
Two PvP modes have been announced, but not formally named. "Structured PvP" will be similar to GvG in OGW. Players will be on equal footing there. "World PvP" will involve large, ongoing battles in the Mists between players from up to three different shards, with persistence.
[edit] Setting
- Will I be able to travel to Cantha and Elona?
The Movement of the World suggests that the transport routes to those continents have been cut off. It is unlikely that you will be able to travel to those continents at the initial release of the game.
[edit] Guilds
- Will I be able to save my guild's name in the Hall Of Monuments?
We don't know.
- Will my account be able to join multiple Guilds?
We don't know.
- Will Guilds be segregated by character race?
No. Guilds will "accept heroes of all societies into their halls."
