Do I need to get the expansions to get back into it? Are the classes weak without it?
Ya thats sorta my main question too. Do the xpac features effet the gameplay for say someone in the 40's?
Each of you is asking a different question, so I will answer both.
1) Do the expansions have any effect on a player below level 80?
No, unless you have already unlocked mounts or gliders on a level 80 expansion character. These are convenient to have, but by no means necessary to explore the free to play core game.
2) Are classes weak without expansions?
Yes and no. Generally speaking, the elite specializations are highly desirable and part of the endgame power balance. However, max gear power does not require one to own the expansions and there are viable meta builds that only use the core free specializations. Feel free to search for them on the website below.
Just about every class has viable builds without advanced specializations. Metabattle is okay, but it only takes you so far. My ideal Ranger build is actually base class trap Ranger. Not only is it fantastic for PvE, I brought my self all the way into platinum in PvP, same build, and since it's not "in the meta" it hasn't been rebalanced.
But that's not the only one, my Mesmer build is the same way, base mesmer is great, it wasn't as strong as the chrono or mirage when they were broken, but it was also a build that didn't get nerfed, and still exceptionally viable in PvP and PvE.
I love playing 1 build for everything if I can. Fresh air Elementalist is also still somewhat viable in both PvE and PvP, though for that, I still prefer tempest despite most people going weaver right now.
So.. eh... that went off topic, but, I believe the base game is free now, and you don't have to have the xpacs to get back into things, but I would recommend if you do choose to head back into the game and have a little extra cash, the mounts will really up your enjoyment across the board.
Oh, I agree on all accounts. I was by no means suggesting that metabattle is all that there is for viable builds. However, if you're speaking to a new player with limited knowledge of the game, it's a good direction to point them in for builds which can help set a good foundation for them, especially if they aren't the type to theorycraft.
Every profession has viable core-only builds. The best core-only builds, in my opinion, belong to the Engineer (the poster boy for optional elite specializations), Mesmer, Elementalist, (Condition) Ranger, and Guardian.
Agree on all those. Necromancer is still pretty decent too, with a minion master siphon build.. but you're right, metabattle is a great first stop. I just wouldn't get attached to anything you see because they tend to change somewhat frequently.
Gliding and mounts can save you a lot of frustration when moving around on some of the maps.
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
I've got an engineer. Between turrets, bombs, elixirs and tool belts I haven't a clue. So I stick with turrets.
"I used to think the worst thing in life was to be all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone." Robin Williams
In response to directly above:
As someone that thoroughly loves exploring, the Heart of Thorns expansion maps are far superior to any Path of Fire maps in that regard. Yes, they are geographically somewhat harder to navigate, but true lovers of exploration relish that.
There is simply no contest, and I'm surprised anyone that's played both exhaustively could say differently. The Heart of Thorns maps are by a significant margin, the best made maps in the game. There is so much too them and so much detail, and so much to reward the curious adventurer.
In response to directly above:
As someone that thoroughly loves exploring, the Heart of Thorns expansion maps are far superior to any Path of Fire maps in that regard. Yes, they are geographically somewhat harder to navigate, but true lovers of exploration relish that.
There is simply no contest, and I'm surprised anyone that's played both exhaustively could say differently. The Heart of Thorns maps are by a significant margin, the best made maps in the game. There is so much too them and so much detail, and so much to reward the curious adventurer.
I just don't agree. Verdant Brink has some freedom of exploration. Tangled Depths is, I agree, great for exploration. Auric Basin is too structured and controlled by timers. Dragon's Stand is a glorified meta event that leaves the player completely at the mercy of timers and lanes with little to discover. I don't like any of them, and actively avoid playing on them because I do not like being timed, controlled, or otherwise restrained in my open world experience. In my opinion, none of them compare to the freedom of Path of Fire maps and the secrets found within.
In response to directly above:
As someone that thoroughly loves exploring, the Heart of Thorns expansion maps are far superior to any Path of Fire maps in that regard. Yes, they are geographically somewhat harder to navigate, but true lovers of exploration relish that.
There is simply no contest, and I'm surprised anyone that's played both exhaustively could say differently. The Heart of Thorns maps are by a significant margin, the best made maps in the game. There is so much too them and so much detail, and so much to reward the curious adventurer.
Except for the fact that most players can't complete the majority of the hero point and mastery points without the aid of other players, which can be fine in some circumstances, but also, gaining mastery points to get to the other parts of the levels, knowing which ones to get and when so you, as a new player, can experience everything without the slog of grinding mastery points and mastery XP, aren't exactly new player friendly nor particularly as rewarding as PoFs mounts, all kind of points to, it's not the most ideal expansion for new or returning players off the bat.
I have all specializations and just quit some months ago due to WvW bad servers balance they love face closed servers with more population and experimented players vs open servers with less population and new people. Anet thing that bring fresh meat to they favorite players is funny
In response to directly above:
As someone that thoroughly loves exploring, the Heart of Thorns expansion maps are far superior to any Path of Fire maps in that regard. Yes, they are geographically somewhat harder to navigate, but true lovers of exploration relish that.
There is simply no contest, and I'm surprised anyone that's played both exhaustively could say differently. The Heart of Thorns maps are by a significant margin, the best made maps in the game. There is so much too them and so much detail, and so much to reward the curious adventurer.
Except for the fact that most players can't complete the majority of the hero point and mastery points without the aid of other players, which can be fine in some circumstances, but also, gaining mastery points to get to the other parts of the levels, knowing which ones to get and when so you, as a new player, can experience everything without the slog of grinding mastery points and mastery XP, aren't exactly new player friendly nor particularly as rewarding as PoFs mounts, all kind of points to, it's not the most ideal expansion for new or returning players off the bat.
But that's just my opinion on it.
One thing I don't like also. The answer to future content seems to be, make everything more complicated. Each zone with it's own currency. Gated content. I just do enough in those areas to get the points I need and that's pretty much it. I'm mostly in the original content and the living stories, if I like them.
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
Do I need to get the expansions to get back into it? Are the classes weak without it?
Ya thats sorta my main question too. Do the xpac features effet the gameplay for say someone in the 40's?
If you haven't played through the main storyline yet (under level 80) - no, you absolutely don't need the expansions yet. You'll get... I think just a shared account inventory slot, and that's about it that's of any use to you until you do finally hit L80.
You can't get any of the elite specs until you have all of the previous spec points paid for, and that doesn't occur until around L80 anyway. You can't go unlock mounts or gliders until L80 either. So you aren't missing out on anything on your first character and first play through.
Now, buying the XPacs I believe nets you an instant L80 boost (one per xpac). If you want that, that will instantly hit you L80, get you enough gear to get started, and you can start right away with any of the story lines you choose. You still have to unlock gliders and mounts the first play through (both are account-wide unlocks once you get there, which is nice) , but you'd be set to get right at it.
My advice to everyone - go through the story line first. If you make it all the way to the end of the Main story and your ready to start into the Living Story - then spring for the XPacs at that time. I was advised here not too long ago to actually go a bit out of order - start with PoF to get the mounts unlocked, then go back and do HoT. Both the XPacs are a step up in difficulty from the original story (I thought), with HoT noticeably more difficult if your aim is to solo the storyline.
I was trying so hard to come up with a joke about a new class that tries to do reflect damage and fails at it and calling it the J. Price Guardian but I just don't have it. I'm burnt out on ArenaNet.
I'm sorry I have failed you all. I have dishonored myself.
"As far as the forum code of conduct, I would think it's a bit outdated and in need of a refre *CLOSED*"
I was trying so hard to come up with a joke about a new class that tries to do reflect damage and fails at it and calling it the J. Price Guardian but I just don't have it. I'm burnt out on ArenaNet.
I'm sorry I have failed you all. I have dishonored myself.
I guess that's the Price to pay for participating in those other threads.
Bro they missed every class up , and instead of creating new classes or new real content they come up with stupid mounts, raids and everything else in World of Warcraft. GW2 is turning into WoW just take make the combat tab targeting and you got yourself WoW. It's been 6 years, I think Anet lost their direction of trying to keep GW2 different from tradional MMO's.
Warrior is so much fun. Every class feels different so don't listen to people all too much telling you what to play you should find for yourself what you're most into & comfortable with. Have fun in tyria mates
You would think by now they would have made a new class or two. That's a long time to only have a handful of changes to the launch classes.
Think about it. Every new class would require retroactively adding an elite specialization for each previous expansion and would increase the number of elite specializations to develop for every future expansion.
Plus, what traditional RPG class or GW1 class couldn't be easily made into an elite specialization for an existing class?
6 years in and to me GW2 still has the best graphics (love my chaos weapon skins), best combat (love the combo system and my Tempest Auramancer), and most important to me World vs. World.
GW2 respects my time with ease of life features that are sorely missed when playing other MMO's. Simple things like quick-loading right into the game with no splash screen crap, excellent inventory management, excellent achievement/quest management. And another big deal for me are all the game modes available: PvE (solo, raid, dungeons, explore, world bosses), sPvP, WvW.
I also like how ANet admins the gem store vs. other games that use a similar setup.
For me there's not a single MMO currently on the market that even comes close to GW2, it's the ultimate MMO_ARPG. I'm really interested to see if ANet continues on with GW2 for a bit longer or starts working on GW3.
Your class choice should be: TEMPEST, although I'm a bit partial.
Also, is it just me or was this thread nothing more than an olive branch to Guild Wars 2 fans after making not one, but two controversial threads on it.
Comments
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
As someone that thoroughly loves exploring, the Heart of Thorns expansion maps are far superior to any Path of Fire maps in that regard. Yes, they are geographically somewhat harder to navigate, but true lovers of exploration relish that.
There is simply no contest, and I'm surprised anyone that's played both exhaustively could say differently. The Heart of Thorns maps are by a significant margin, the best made maps in the game. There is so much too them and so much detail, and so much to reward the curious adventurer.
But that's just my opinion on it.
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
L2P!
If you haven't played through the main storyline yet (under level 80) - no, you absolutely don't need the expansions yet. You'll get... I think just a shared account inventory slot, and that's about it that's of any use to you until you do finally hit L80.
You can't get any of the elite specs until you have all of the previous spec points paid for, and that doesn't occur until around L80 anyway. You can't go unlock mounts or gliders until L80 either. So you aren't missing out on anything on your first character and first play through.
Now, buying the XPacs I believe nets you an instant L80 boost (one per xpac). If you want that, that will instantly hit you L80, get you enough gear to get started, and you can start right away with any of the story lines you choose. You still have to unlock gliders and mounts the first play through (both are account-wide unlocks once you get there, which is nice) , but you'd be set to get right at it.
My advice to everyone - go through the story line first. If you make it all the way to the end of the Main story and your ready to start into the Living Story - then spring for the XPacs at that time. I was advised here not too long ago to actually go a bit out of order - start with PoF to get the mounts unlocked, then go back and do HoT. Both the XPacs are a step up in difficulty from the original story (I thought), with HoT noticeably more difficult if your aim is to solo the storyline.
I'm sorry I have failed you all. I have dishonored myself.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'll see myself out.
Plus, what traditional RPG class or GW1 class couldn't be easily made into an elite specialization for an existing class?
GW2 respects my time with ease of life features that are sorely missed when playing other MMO's. Simple things like quick-loading right into the game with no splash screen crap, excellent inventory management, excellent achievement/quest management. And another big deal for me are all the game modes available: PvE (solo, raid, dungeons, explore, world bosses), sPvP, WvW.
I also like how ANet admins the gem store vs. other games that use a similar setup.
For me there's not a single MMO currently on the market that even comes close to GW2, it's the ultimate MMO_ARPG. I'm really interested to see if ANet continues on with GW2 for a bit longer or starts working on GW3.
Your class choice should be: TEMPEST, although I'm a bit partial.
https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Reaper_-_Condition_Minion_Master
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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