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So... Guild Wars. by Long, Shuddering Spurt Over Druids 04/28/2005, 8:12pm PDT
Random observations:

Will be called a MMORPG or MMOG or MMPW but has so little to do with the genre it's probably not even worth coining a new acronym that starts with MM.

Instancing EVERY combat area is just fine by me. It automatically means there will be no bullshit when it comes time to kill people/things. Theoretically you are giving up the ability to make new friends and build bridges when your hands accidentally touch when you both try to kill the same zombie.

No potions, no scrolls, no ammo. Wish they'd ditched inventory as well. All armor needs to be "crafted," which is just getting ingredients and money. Everything besides armor is found. Most characters will not be that focused on equipment, since their damage/healing is not linked to their stuff. Warriors and rangers are the exception.

Storyline is weak but completely skippable.

Runs great on my somewhat aged system. Never crashed, even in beta.

The "Each guy takes eight skills from two classes" system makes each character just limited enough. There are no automatically gimped classes, although some notably self-sufficient combos are easier when starting out (namely Warrior/Monk).

Each skill has a short description, including it's type and attribute it relies on. Guild Wars uses it's own definitions of words, like hex. Your spell removes hexes, but it's not working on Weakness. Why? Because Weakness is a condition, not a hex. If you just thought that was totally retarded, this is probably not your game.

You can create a max level PvP only character at any time, but they will only have the skills you have acquired while playing a regular character. You do not have to build every character to max level.

Unless you know about 8 other people who will be buying it, you will have to join a guild where most of the members have either Evangelon or Something Awful inspired names. Protip: You still need ReiAyanami TheCutie to remove hexes and conditions, so whenever you start to say something that ends in "pretentious bullshit," try to make it about Ghost in the Shell instead.

Gushing about guild vs guild:

Best PvP I've ever seen in a RPG-based game. The guild fights are usually flag or kill-enemy-npc based, sometimes both. Things happen fast and chaotic. Interrupts, punish-attack, punish-spell, hex removal and stun skills that are nearly useless on monsters are suddenly requirements.

Little things like color coding the skill graphics so you know if you're under a Mesmer or Necromancer hex make it easier to keep up. Another nice one is all of a classes skills have similar sound effects and colored auras when cast, making it easier to keep track of who is doing what.

I haven't played a RTS since Starcraft, but Guild Wars is the first game I've played where deception is so important. Skills that make you appear weaker are amazingly effective. Skills that affect a third party, so they don't show up on the screens of people targeting them, are good too. Delayed damage was the central part of my build.

Any good team has brought a counter to everything with them. Physical damage, elemental damage, hexes, enchantments, they've got it all covered. You win fights by breaking the other team's life support system before they break yours.

The way skills stack between classes mean you will probably start designing your team like you usually design your character. Trying to do this with your guild will probably get stupid quick if there is not somebody in charge or at least a democratic vote.

Verdict:

People who REALLY like Everquest/WoW might not find what they like here. You WILL want to join a guild eventually, and if you just can't take the anime/pwned crowd, pass. If you wanted a 3d sequel to playing Diablo II on Battle.net focused on team combat, and then a lot more team combat, this is your game.
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So... Guild Wars. by Long, Shuddering Spurt Over Druids 04/28/2005, 8:12pm PDT NEW
    Unless there's a... caltrops guild? NT by pinkie goes next to mouth 04/28/2005, 8:27pm PDT NEW
        Fuck. by Bill Dungsroman 04/28/2005, 9:05pm PDT NEW
            Whatever did happen to that post? NT by FABIO 04/28/2005, 10:20pm PDT NEW
                Everyone fucked veronica while SB flexed in the corner. NT by Bill Dungsroman 04/28/2005, 11:36pm PDT NEW
                    thwe beiipolarity Axe Effect???/ NT by Entropy Stew 04/29/2005, 3:35am PDT NEW
                        Welcome back NT by Mountain Dew Code Red 04/29/2005, 7:30am PDT NEW
                            I thought that one wasn't me for a minute :( NT by Entropy Stew 04/29/2005, 10:52am PDT NEW
            Re: Fuck. by FABIO 05/07/2005, 3:39am PDT NEW
    MMO Annoyances by jeep 04/29/2005, 10:55pm PDT NEW
        New (but equal) annoyance: don't tell anyone they can buy it online, ever by Long, Shuddering Spurt Over Druids 04/30/2005, 5:22am PDT NEW
            Re: New (but equal) annoyance: don't tell anyone they can buy it online, ever by jeep 05/04/2005, 4:57pm PDT NEW
    And the facts are in by Long, Shuddering Spurt Over Druids 05/06/2005, 9:19pm PDT NEW
    My favorite thing to do so far by Daverd 05/14/2005, 2:33pm PDT NEW
        Re: My favorite thing to do so far by Universal Plan B 05/14/2005, 8:52pm PDT NEW
            It sounds like SOMEONE is no stranger to getting served... NT by Fussbett 05/15/2005, 2:26pm PDT NEW
                It's ON! NT by FABIO 05/15/2005, 5:39pm PDT NEW
                    So how abouts a Caltrops Guild? I bought the game because of this thread alone! NT by Galvon 06/19/2005, 3:54pm PDT NEW
 
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