Backstage - OOC Forums
General Discussion => The Speakeasy: OOG/Off-topic Discussion => Topic started by: Katrina Oniseki on 10 Aug 2012, 20:29
-
So I've been thinking. Of those who will be playing Guild Wars 2, how many of you will be looking for an RP guild? How many already have a place to go? The thought has crossed my mind that maybe we could work together to build a Backstage presence within Guild Wars 2, if there's enough interest for it.
-
All of my YIS.
I'm totally up for it. Most likely gonna be Sylvari or Char so hope its inclusive of other races since I know you're gonna be a hoo-man.
-
"Maybe."
Ulf's immersing himself in GW2 lore and seems to be enjoying it. I'm going to give it a go, after surprising myself by enjoying my blat in the last open beta.
We're likely to join "Tarnished Coast", which is the designated RP server for North America and is ping-closer to us than the one for Europe.
I'm still getting my head around the GW2 guild system: it seems you can have multiple guilds, that all your characters belong to all your guilds (guild membership is by player/account, not by character), and that you can represent only one guild at a time. I'm also unclear on the final decisions about the mechanics of being invited to other servers where you have contacts.
We'll likely start our own guild as a squad of the Iron Legion for our Char characters. Currently no plans beyond that, although someone should set up somewhere for Norns to have flyting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyting) contests.
-
I already have plans on what server I'll be on and what guild I'll be a part of, for the most part. While you can join other guilds, rules are with the guild I'm going with is that I need to be more active with them then others. We'll see, though.
-
Haven't decided quite yet where I'll be (depends on what friends and some siblings do) but since the guild system does allow for multiple guilds I'm up for joining.
I'm mostly figuring out where I want to have the home server, as all it really matters for is WvW pairings. Probably going to be internet less after mid-September for a good while though, so I won't be super active.
-
Interesting. I know that I'm playing with a tight-knight group from outside of EVE I've played dozens of games with since more or less forever.
We're all Roleplayers, so I may have to poke around and see if I can get something started with my group. If so, it's a possibility you'll see me around IC!
-
Thus far I'm liking the game, but can't find that many RP oriented guilds I'm interested in. Anyone thats playing know of any resources or sites?
-
http://guildwars2roleplayers.com/
-
Is it worth getting? I'm considering it.
-
Is it worth getting? I'm considering it.
I'm enjoying it a lot. The crafting is surprisingly addictive. I'm mostly enjoying exploring.
I chose a thief first off, and later discovered this is considered one of the harder classes. You get good peak damage for a short period, so if your target is not too tough you win quickly, but then you run out of steam, and you're somewhat fragile.
Rangers seem to be much easier.
I started thinking I'd only play three characters, and there's already 6 on my wish list (and I only have 5 slots)
Upsides:
I like that cooperation is encouraged in a number of ways. I like that if I get stomped by a centaur and there's someone else around, they'll probably try to revive me.
I like exploring, and seeing the different places (you get experience for visiting new places).
I like the fact that a lot of it seems designed so that there are few bad choices early on that you can't retract later if you change your mind.
Downsides:
Bits of the game still aren't working (the Auction house has been down every time I've checked)
I miss being able to talk about the game mechanics IC
I'm not entirely sold on the idea that all your characters sharing the same bank and guild
I think it's worth it, but it's only really my second MMO
-
Sleepy Mata update on GW2.
The game mechanics support thinking of yourself as a player, who happens to have a number of puppets/characters. Your characters share the same mail account (for non-NPC mail), a "bank account" where you can store stuff, and some achievements are totalled over all your accounts. As someone used to having alts actually have to deal with each other the hard way that's taking some getting used to. There are things about players coming to EVE from WoW-type games that make more sense to me now. It's tricky for our kind of immersive roleplay.
Parts of it are refreshingly easy: they feel like cheating. Other parts not so much: I accidentally clicked myself into my first PvP event today, was utterly confused throughout it, and now I'm officially a PvP bunny (no, really: they give you a rabbit icon). Must do something about that.
The market is coming online now. The developers explicitly liked the EVE market and wanted to emulate it. We've just discovered that there are some mechanics for setting party destinations and targets, so that's another thing semi-sorted. You still mostly can't kill people and take their stuff, but I think we might work up to something similar-ish.
So far I'd say it's a hybrid. I'm enjoying it as a single-player or duo game which happens to have other people around. I'm keen to find out what it's like with intentional groups.
-
The developers explicitly liked the EVE market and wanted to emulate it.
Yup, absolutely right there. At one time they did claim that the inspiration behind how the Gem system worked was from EVE's plex system. I can't recall if they said their Trading Post was also EVE inspired, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was to some degree.
For those looking into purchasing the game now, I'm going to give a fair warning. Don't go to the main GW2 website to purchase the game. Reason for that is, they've temporarily disabled it. Here are a couple of links as to why:
http://techland.time.com/2012/08/29/guild-wars-2-producer-wed-turn-off-sales-to-preserve-the-game-experience/ (http://techland.time.com/2012/08/29/guild-wars-2-producer-wed-turn-off-sales-to-preserve-the-game-experience/)
http://www.facebook.com/GuildWars2/posts/10151098751069209 (http://www.facebook.com/GuildWars2/posts/10151098751069209)
-
Did this end up going anywhere?
I rolled on Tarnished Coast (the unofficial NA RP server, as Mata mentioned).
Bastion Ravenholm in the guild Essence Flux, here.
-
Did this end up going anywhere?
I rolled on Tarnished Coast (the unofficial NA RP server, as Mata mentioned).
Bastion Ravenholm in the guild Essence Flux, here.
I have no idea, honestly. I'm on an entirely different server at this time, and rolling in another guild. For those curious, "Henge of Denravi" server, Charter Vanguard guild, and you can find me under my EVE online name. (Though that's not the only character I have.) :P
-
(Though that's not the only character I have.) :P
No kidding :). I have already bought an extra character slot to scratch the alt-itch. My original main character has fallen a bit behind on the progression stakes...
I've created a private guild for Mata and me that I'm casually putting karma points in as I wander around with the aim of having a guild bank that we can share (more storage!), and once I've done that I'll be looking to find a guild to join for rp purposes.
I have got a little bit of random pick-up RP by helping people with their missions, (some of which has been lovely) but not a huge amount yet.
-
Well, I am on Tarnished Coast. Human Warrior, Marcus Tyber (male this time). See? I'm not always a
space lesbian. I have not created a guild because there isn't anyone I know besides Simca who would have joined it, and Sicma has already found one by now. I am in a guild of OOC friends, but don't represent them or quest with them often. It's mostly just like the GW2 version of OOC chat.
So, I'm still open to meet up. If you add me, please send a mail saying who you are, since I have other random followers and may not recognize your name.
-
(Though that's not the only character I have.) :P
No kidding :). I have already bought an extra character slot to scratch the alt-itch. My original main character has fallen a bit behind on the progression stakes...
I haven't gone that far yet, though all five character slots are filled. Two charr, one asura, one human and one sylvari. Oddly enough the human is the highest toon. :S
As for a guild, I know you can still be a part of a guild and be in a different server. You can be in more then one guild, but can only represent one guild at a time.
-
If anyone is wondering why I completely vanished from Eve, it's because of this darn game.
-
If anyone is wondering why I completely vanished from Eve, it's because of this darn game.
Likewise.
-
If anyone is wondering why I completely vanished from Eve, it's because of this darn game.
Whereas I started playing this game because I vanished from eve... Backwards, I tell you!
-
If anyone is wondering why I completely vanished from Eve, it's because of this darn game.
Whereas I started playing this game because I vanished from eve... Backwards, I tell you!
Same here. :P
-
Want more than two crafting careers per character. They seem determined to make me spread my energies among lots of alts. Presumably this means I play the same content through even more times.
Finally started a female scholar-type yesterday (the squishy mage-types who wear light armor). Found that beginners run around in their lingerie. Ulf built my character some pants so she wouldn't look quite as cold and I'd stop making comments about her unavoidable upskirt view showing that she'd changed from the yellow underwear to a black thong at some point. The pants looked quite modest on his male tailor; not so much when I came to try them on my female mesmer. *sigh*
-
Want more than two crafting careers per character. They seem determined to make me spread my energies among lots of alts. Presumably this means I play the same content through even more times.
Finally started a female scholar-type yesterday (the squishy mage-types who wear light armor). Found that beginners run around in their lingerie. Ulf built my character some pants so she wouldn't look quite as cold and I'd stop making comments about her unavoidable upskirt view showing that she'd changed from the yellow underwear to a black thong at some point. The pants looked quite modest on his male tailor; not so much when I came to try them on my female mesmer. *sigh*
Some of it's unavoidable at the lower levels, I tell you. My own mesmer was just running around not too long ago in something I'd see in the old classic TV show "I Dream of Genie" (she's out of that by now, though). IMO, however, the armors in GW2 aren't nearly as skimpy as I've seen in other fantasy MMOs (like Terra, for example). There was even a guy in my guild who was complaining for a while about how 'not skimpy' the GW2 armors are and how he liked the old GW1 armors better. At least it's not as bad and it's mildly bearable. :S
If anyone is wondering why I completely vanished from Eve, it's because of this darn game.
Whereas I started playing this game because I vanished from eve... Backwards, I tell you!
Same here. :P
I was letting my EVE account lapse anyway. It's just really good timing on Anet's part to have the game out when it did. Yay no MMO withdrawls for me! :P
-
IMO, however, the armors in GW2 aren't nearly as skimpy as I've seen in other fantasy MMOs (like Terra, for example).
Terra is not skimpy at this level, it's sexual aggression. :P
-
So I gave in when they released more digital versions today (how the fuck do you run out of digital version anyhow?) and bought the game. Currently DL'ing after loads of shaite with the register, confusing stuff that was.
Anyhow, I'm likely to start up a Guardian of some stripe (Tanky-healer type likely, they seem like the only class that are even remotely durable at this point) and now wonder about only one thing; what servers are you all on? It would be nice to be able to run into you all at some point, and as I've got no ideas as to guilds to join (neither me nor my RL friend who is also starting GW2 atm have decided on anything yet) options would be nice.
Also, Terra took Linage II's fetish for skimpy slut-uniforms and chain-mail bikini's to it's apex and then kept going from there. They are likely the most sad example of a developer-made soft-porn for teens game there is. That is a damn shame, because I liked Terra's game-mechanics allot without trying to sell it to me over sexuality, but the visuals regarding females (and many males) combined with L2-grade 'experience-walls' killed it for me.
Those were the two things I could not stand with L2, they are the two things I can't stand with Terra, and it looks like this is among the things GW2 avoids. Some classes are 'skimpy', to a degree. I can forgive that, for the most part, because atl heavy armor (example: chain-clad Female Guardians, from what I've seen) look like they are wearing functional armor, for one thing, and some degree of 'I expect our players to be younger males' is to be expected. Annoying, but you have to learn to see past it, unless it's really glaring...
-
So I gave in when they released more digital versions today (how the fuck do you run out of digital version anyhow?) and bought the game.
They'd temporarily shut off purchases while the servers were tweaked - it wasn't that the servers themselves were insufficient, so much as that the software was configured to with the expectation of a certain number of people online; when that turned out to be a gross underestimate, the software began to permanently enter its overload prevention behavior.
Anyhow, I'm likely to start up a Guardian of some stripe (Tanky-healer type likely, they seem like the only class that are even remotely durable at this point) and now wonder about only one thing; what servers are you all on? It would be nice to be able to run into you all at some point, and as I've got no ideas as to guilds to join (neither me nor my RL friend who is also starting GW2 atm have decided on anything yet) options would be nice.
One thing that's important to understand is that there are multiple variations of any given tier of armor, some of which provide increased health/damage resistance (other versions increase your raw damage, precision, etc). Furthermore, armor upgrades are plentiful enough (at low levels, at least) to plug your armor full of upgrades for your preferred attribute as well.
So, while a light or medium armor wearer may not be the equal of a heavy armor wearer, it is not difficult to build a tankier toon with lighter armor.
Second, dodging is critical in GW2 to keeping incoming damage down that is a lot different than the other MMOs I've played - it is possible to dodge a great many attacks simply by running around constantly and using the leap/roll function. It's something I'm still having to train myself to keep using.
-
What are the pros of lighter armors ? Better dodging ? Moves ? Agility ?
-
My new Mesmer graduated fairly quickly from out-and-about in her lingerie to "Why yes, I always do a little light centaur-slaying and mining on my way back from belly-dance class". She's just starting to get into one of the earlier slightly steam-punky looks that GW2 does well. If you like that aesthetic--and I do--the medium armour class is really where you want to be, though, and that means Engineers, Thieves and Rangers. Light (Mage or "Scholar") armour seems to specialise in masquerade costumes, but looking ahead it does seem to have a range of options once you get past the early levels, so you can choose where you like to be on the spectrum from showgirl to Sherpa.
If I hang around I can see myself transmuting some of the high-level gear to look like some of the lower-level stuff which appeals to me more.
ObEVE: Why didn't Incarna get this level of avatar-based stuff working? I mean, I love Incarna's sculpting and detail, but what use is perfect customisability if we can't get more than one of them in a room together?
-
My Elementalist got some armour from the WvW store. New 'pants' were just a little flowery ribbon around her left leg and nothing else, she is showing off a lot of wooden legs :3
-
So I got the email to buy a digital copy of this today. Any advice for someone who knows nothing at all about the game?
-
Mammal, what do you want to know? Overview, lore, forums, servers, roleplay? The only external things you need to bring to chargen are a suitable name--you can Google for name advice and generators--and a decision about whether to join one of the roleplay servers (Tarnished Coast for North America; Piken Square for Europe).
Official wiki: http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Main_Page
Useful info forum: http://www.guildwars2guru.com/forum - see especially the Vigil Academy for chat about builds
A roleplay forum: http://www.guildwars2roleplayers.com/
You get slots for five characters on an account. You might well decide to dive in, mess around, and then, if you think you've screwed things up, start over.
There's a bunch of stuff that's handled "by account" rather than "by character", which is a bit of a novelty when you're used to your characters being their own people with their own separate hangars and accesses.
The only roleplay I've found so far has been lightweight chat in taverns and the occasional ganging up to fight together in the field. Oh, and with Ulf's characters, but that's taken as read. :)
-
Thanks, Mata, I'll work through this stuff. I'm not used to thinking about servers - Eve is the only MMO I've ever seriously played.
-
Me too, and I'm generally not a solo gamer, either, so there's a bunch of stuff to figure out.
There are five races:
1. Asura: intellectual Yodas who make clanks (http://girlgenius.wikia.com/wiki/Clank): have three schools of science
2. Charr: big cats with attitude and gearwheels, who've killed their gods: have three remaining Legions
3. Humans: steampunk/fantasy, with aspects of the circus: have six gods
4. Norns: oversized (stereotypical) Vikings: have totem animals
5. Sylvari: plants, the whole race "awoke" only recently: have a phase of the day.
You also need to pick a profession:
Heavily-armoured "soldier" professions are: Guardian, Warrior
Moderately-armoured "adventurer" professions are: Engineer, Ranger, Thief
Lightly-armoured "scholar" professions are: Elementalist, Mesmer, Necromancer.
Anyone can fight close or at range by using appropriate weapon combinations. Anyone can heal, and the game positively encourages a culture of healing random people. You can play it as a single-player which happens to have other people around, although some things are much better with company.
-
ObEVE: Why didn't Incarna get this level of avatar-based stuff working? I mean, I love Incarna's sculpting and detail, but what use is perfect customisability if we can't get more than one of them in a room together?
Because CCP screwed up by releasing it too early in that embryonic state and players made sure that CCP almost kills the project as a scapegoat afterwise ?
-
Lyn, yeah, that was mostly rhetorical. :)
More thoughts on GW2 as I play it some more: it's mostly ethically very easy. There are bad guys, and you aim to defeat them. No real shades of grey. I was trying to read up on the Nightmare Court (http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Nightmare_Court), the plant-people's main internal starter baddies, and the language needed some heavy Wikipedia-style tags about bias. I found myself thinking "In EVE this would be a niche player faction with a rich and fruitful subculture".
(You do get choices in your personal story, but so far they've been mostly triage/resources decisions.)
-
Okay I'm in. We should hook up, Mata, we're vaguely in the same tz.
-
We should: PM sent.
-
There are actually a ton of people roleplaying Nightmare Courtiers, in spite of the games incredibly black and white morality. (Well, at least as it expects the players to percieve. Sometimes I feel like the game creates actual moral ambiguity completely by accident, but leaves the player character powerless to act on it.)
-
Aaaah, I'll get to that game at some point, but right now a bit too much on my plate and too little money in the wallet going in all kinds of directions, so I'll have to stay out for a bit.
I'm gonna be all over a CHARR WARRIOR, though. But most of y'all play on the NA servers unfortunately and I'll be heading onto the EU RP one when I eventually do make it over.
-
Gwen, roleplay in GW2: tell me about it!
-
Okay! You see, I... Uh...
...Er, can you be a little bit more specific? :p
-
Well, there are these taverns where people stand around chatting, but what else is there?
-
2. Charr: big cats with attitude and gearwheels, who've killed their gods: have three remaining Legions
Worth noting that the Titans were not gods at all, but rather demonic entities that tricked the Charr into believing they were gods for a short time. Once the Charr realized their mistake, they rebelled against the leading shaman caste (the Flame Legion) and threw out religion and anything else related to worship.
The Charr IC, other races IC, and the OOC lore generally recognizes that the Charr do not have gods at all and never did. they were just bedazzled by pretty fireworks and stuff for a while. So, it's more accurate to say the Charr are big angry cats who are even more atheist than they were thousands of years ago.
It's also inaccurate to say 'the Charr killed their gods' (Titans), since it was the human player characters in GW1 that did an overwhelming majority of the Titan killing once the demons were accidentally released. There are a few instances where a Charr legion or cluster of warbands downed a single Titan though. For the most part, the human GW1 heroes killed the Titans, while the Charr got rid of the Flame Legion who had claimed the Titans were gods.
-
Thanks for that, Kat. I have much to learn.