So yesterday I began my explanation as to why I wouldn’t be purchasing the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion. I started with the state of WoW, and my place in it. I had a full post written for today explaining the other side of the coin but as I read it through I came to realize it was turning into an in-depth review and that wasn’t what I wanted. Don’t get me wrong, it fully illustrated something and would have gotten the point across. However, I can probably sum it up with this:
I’ve talked about it here a few times, but the fact of the matter is this: I’m excited about Guild Wars 2. In going back over my review that I had written (for a game that isn’t even out yet, oddly enough) I came to realize I’m simply excited about the game because for a change someone is improving on WoW, and I honestly believe the MMO genre is going to evolve via GW2. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not half-cocked and thinking it’s going to kill World of Warcraft, because that’s not the case at all. I think there can easily be co-existence, if for no other reason than one is a free to play model (sort of, you have to buy the game initially, but ArenaNet isn’t charging for more).
Without going into full detail, Guild Wars 2 has been five years in the making and when the first big thing you flaunt (aside from no monthly fees) is “throwing away the holy trinity of MMO’s” then there’s reason for potential. That the game wasn’t rushed leads me to believe it’s going to follow through and I can’t wait to check it out. If you really do want all the juicy details, I recommend Vayne‘s thoughts because he really reviews the game as it gets set to launch on August 28th.
I’m not going out and getting the game the day it launches either. But, unless it miraculously flops and all the reviews say it isn’t worth it, then I’ll have it before 2013. So, I’ll be playing it of course. I’m at a point in life where I can’t justify my time and energy into two MMO’s. What I can reasonably do, though, is play Guild Wars 2 the way I’d like and still do enough WoW stuff like Laid Back Raids and what have you. Again, the no-subscription model helps me achieve that.
It really is hard to put into words just what it is about ArenaNet’s upcoming blockbuster that has me excited, without reviewing everything that they’re doing. If there’s enough interest, I can put it into perspective for us WoW players in a later post (just ask). I said I don’t think it will kill WoW, and deep down I’m hoping it forces Blizzard to step things up. I’ve eluded to being a wrestling fan in other posts and one of the best time periods was “The Monday Night Wars.” Why? Competition benefitted fans. The MMO industry is no different. It’s gotten stagnant and WoW does a great job of taking what other games do and make it better in their own game (achievements is a great example of this). There’s really been no challenge to Azeroth, where enough players turned and looked the other way…and kept looking. I think Blizzard needs that in order to really take Warcraft to the next level. And yes, I believe ArenaNet is the gust of wind to help that.
It’s a game that isn’t about end-game. It’s a game that can have cross-server guilds, a main source of healing being you, and a skill set that you can customize but is also dependent on what type of weapon your character has at the time. A game where standing there and taking damage isn’t an option. It’s about dodging. It’s…seemingly a breath of fresh air. One I’ve been looking forward to inhaling for close to two years now.
But I won’t get it on release day. I’ll give them time to work out the launch kinks and let the reviews start to pour in. See what the negative people have to say and see if the positives remain true. All the while, I will continue to enjoy World of Warcraft just as I am now. It isn’t because of Guild Wars 2 that I’m not buying Mists. It’s because Mists has done nothing to pull me in, and if I can keep playing WoW the way I am then I’m ok with that. Guild Wars 2 has done a much better job of pulling me in and combined with my complacency(?) in WoW, it’s where I’m at.
If there were nothing else on the horizon but Mists of Pandaria, I still wouldn’t purchase it. I’m happy others have enough to carry on their legacy to level 90 and so forth, and who knows…I may change my tune. I made this decision when Mists was announced and I had no idea when either was going to see release. It just so happens that as I turned my head away from the new WoW content, there’s this big old dragon’s head smiling with all kinds of loot underneath him. If I venture into her lair, I’ll still come back to the inn for fun and comradery.
There is so much I want to say in response to both posts, but you know at the end…it is only something you can decide on
I am glad you will be around that little bit longer.
If they ever create a game where I am a dragon, living on pern or something – I may consider leaving WoW for that.
I was playing Guild Wars when my friend got me into WoW, and there were a lot of things in it were pretty awesome. I may have to do some reading about GW2 though as I know nothing about it. But it isn’t going to win me over if I can’t have dragons as pets and mounts :p LOL
I didn’t play the first Guild Wars at all, but I heard relatively good things about it. To my understanding, the sequel is almost an entirely different game (save for lore, races, and such).
Like you said though, there is much to enjoy in Azeroth still -and I do. I just don’t see much in Pandaria that’s for me.
Wait, they’re killing the holy trinity? Does that mean there are no healers? Because healing is what I enjoy most about WoW, so if there’s no healers in Guild Wars 2 then I’m probably not interested.
There’s healing still. Most healing your going to get, in theory, is from yourself. But basically, all the professions have the ability to heal others. So, let’s say you want to play a healer -you aren’t limited to three or four professions.
It’s more that you no longer need to queue and wait for a tank, or a healer, or two dps (or larger for raid builds). It’s more like any 5 people can get the job done.
Last month I had a Secret World closed beta key drop into my lap, and it totally dragged me in. Been having a blast with it during the Cata doldrums. So it’s pretty funny that every single one of your plusses about GW2 applies to TSW, in so many words!
1. It’s a game that isn’t about end-game
TSW is about following plotlines around the world, collecting and actually reading the lore to fill in the story, figuring out tough investigation quests, popping into persistent-server PvP for 15 minutes, filling out your talent wheel to earn cosmetic gear and try new builds. I’m looking forward to playing the other factions at some point, just to read the quest turn-in text! It’s that good. (I have a bad habit of fighting bosses twice because I read my completion pop-up before retreating to a safe respawn distance.)
2. It’s a game that can have cross-server guilds
Cross-dimension guilds, and you can whisper and group with anyone, even other factions.
3. a main source of healing being you
Everyone can add healing abilities to their build (1 point into Fists gives a healing passive that doesn’t require you to equip a fist weapon, and there’s a self-heal in one of the Misc trees). Lots of DPS trees have support functions like dispelling or applying damage reduction/healing increase buffs to your defensive target.
4. a skill set that you can customize but is also dependent on what type of weapon your character has at the time
You can use two weapons — want swords and magic at the same time? Want to juggle a pair of pistols AND a shotgun? Go ahead! 7 active and 7 passive ability slots can be paired with anything you want (some abilities require a specific weapon). Equip a different weapon, get different choices. However, many passive abilities don’t require a specific weapon, so you can hold on to your favorites from other builds.
5. a game where standing there and taking damage isn’t an option.
Standing still will kill you — solo dungeons in the second zone teach this clearly (damned A’kab!). The game does a great job of indicating upcoming mob ground attacks, and differentiating them from player spell effects.
6. It’s about dodging.
Using the double-tap “active dodge” ability is often required in order to get away quickly enough.
Even on a limited budget, I’ll probably pick up GW2 at some point just because of the low cost to entry, but not until I’m tired of TSW. Interested to hear more about why GW2 is such a breath of air to you.
Interesting thoughts on Secret World. I’ve mildly had my finger on its pulse but not enough to draw me in yet (heck, I could say the same about Spiral Knights, to be honest). I might look at it more closely as well.
With either game, the one thing I can hope is that they show Blizzard that WoW needs to make some subtle and not-so-subtle changes to grow with the times. Some changes are long overdue and others may or may not work in Azeroth. Time will tell.