Newbie question - Page 2 - Guild Wars Forums

Dzjudz · Jan 18, 2010, 12:04 PM // 12:04

You don't need to buy any unlock packs. You can unlock skills and items as you play, even if you only buy the PvP Access Kit. The unlock packs are only used so you can have access to all skills and items from the start. But you can still access them without the unlock packs. You only have to 'earn' them with Balthazar Faction and unlock them as you play.

glacialphoenix · Jan 18, 2010, 01:22 PM // 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dzjudz

You don't need to buy any unlock packs. You can unlock skills and items as you play, even if you only buy the PvP Access Kit. The unlock packs are only used so you can have access to all skills and items from the start. But you can still access them without the unlock packs. You only have to 'earn' them with Balthazar Faction and unlock them as you play.

And just to make things doubly clear - I'm quoting Dzjudz for emphasis - I was giving you what you'd need assuming you wanted to get everything unlocked straight off.

If you buy the campaigns, it's a lot more worthwhile to play through and

1. Hone your skills and your familiarity with the skills and character classes;
2. Anything you unlock via the PvP kits will not transfer to your PvE characters, although the reverse is true. That is, your PvE characters have to earn whatever they have themselves, either by buying them (buying skills or tomes) or by capping them (in the case of elite skills that you haven't unlocked.) In other words, if you buy the kit to unlock stuff fast, you're only unlocking them for your heroes and PvP characters; any new PvE character won't personally benefit. (The same thing applies to things you unlock via your PvE characters - it doesn't carry over to any other PvE character. However, you're not spending actual cash to buy the skills.)
3. You can unlock skills both by learning them in PvE or by unlocking them via Balthazar Faction, which, as people have said, helps you play better and probably gives you more enjoyment in the long run. There are plenty of ways to earn Balthazar Faction.
4. I hear the campaign's a cheaper option.

moriz · Jan 18, 2010, 05:34 PM // 17:34

you can get away with just buying the pvp access kit. that should give everything you need to set up a few builds, and just unlock all the rest with balthazar faction points as you play.

however, that's coming from me who has more experience in the game, and thus knowing what i need from the get go. you won't have this luxury unfortunately. picking out the right skills might be difficult for you without help.

another thing to take note of, is that GW is a team game. never build your characters to be entirely self-sufficient, because you can't.

Kyolic · Jan 18, 2010, 07:00 PM // 19:00

Guys I am really not interested in pve. I've done it in wow and have been a hardcore raider for a long while. Yet it was consuming all my time and after a point it started to become an hassle. I don't want that anymore so pve is a big no for me.

Besides that, I really don't want to spend time on earning points or anything. I really don't want to. All I want is to get the skills and the gear asap and start playing.

I think I am going to start with PVP Accsess Kit and see how it goes.

shillo · Jan 18, 2010, 07:20 PM // 19:20

OK, I've done a quick check in the online shop (for me, it's in Euros, and I'm rounding up .99's):

* PvP Access kit - 18 euros
* Item unlock - 9 euros
* Skills: Core, Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall, Eye of the North - total 45 euros

Total: 72 Euros. That's complete PvP with everything unlocked. To get started, you only need the access kit. Or you can even download the free trial and try that (I think it has 10 hours limit, and I think you can roll a PvP character there. You will not be allowed to chat, though - goldspam protection).

If you change your mind and go the unlocking route, note that Guild Wars requires you to choose 8 skills before entering combat zones. This means you only need to unlock those particular skills - and for any specific build, it's a few hours of gameplay if you don't already have any of the necessary skills. So with the PvP Access Kit, you can relatively quickly unlock just the common metagame builds and go from there.

glacialphoenix · Jan 18, 2010, 07:37 PM // 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyolic

Besides that, I really don't want to spend time on earning points or anything. I really don't want to. All I want is to get the skills and the gear asap and start playing.

Then shillo's method will probably work best for you. Even if you're going to jump straight into PvP, you will earn Balthazar Faction. It comes with the format; you can use it to unlock skills once you earn it. Not asking you to grind, but probably the best way of saving yourself some cash - unlock the stuff you intend to play later with faction, so you don't have to buy it. You'll be getting the points anyway.

Kyolic · Jan 18, 2010, 08:24 PM // 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by glacialphoenix

Then shillo's method will probably work best for you. Even if you're going to jump straight into PvP, you will earn Balthazar Faction. It comes with the format; you can use it to unlock skills once you earn it. Not asking you to grind, but probably the best way of saving yourself some cash - unlock the stuff you intend to play later with faction, so you don't have to buy it. You'll be getting the points anyway.

Hmm that makes sense if I'll be getting points anyway. Then I can see how fast I will be able to unlock skills and decide to buy some unlock skill packs if necessary.

I will have to buy the item unlock pack anyway so the total cost would be 27 euros as for the begining and may be just stay there if I am able to collect points fast enough.

Let me try that and I will go on bothering you guys if things go wrong with the plan!

Thank you guys again and again for your help. Highly appreciated.

Jan 18, 2010, 07:20 PM // 19:20	#25
shillo Academy Page Join Date: Sep 2006	OK, I've done a quick check in the online shop (for me, it's in Euros, and I'm rounding up .99's): * PvP Access kit - 18 euros * Item unlock - 9 euros * Skills: Core, Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall, Eye of the North - total 45 euros Total: 72 Euros. That's complete PvP with everything unlocked. To get started, you only need the access kit. Or you can even download the free trial and try that (I think it has 10 hours limit, and I think you can roll a PvP character there. You will not be allowed to chat, though - goldspam protection). If you change your mind and go the unlocking route, note that Guild Wars requires you to choose 8 skills before entering combat zones. This means you only need to unlock those particular skills - and for any specific build, it's a few hours of gameplay if you don't already have any of the necessary skills. So with the PvP Access Kit, you can relatively quickly unlock just the common metagame builds and go from there. Last edited by shillo; Jan 18, 2010 at 07:26 PM // 19:26..

Jan 18, 2010, 12:04 PM // 12:04	#21
Dzjudz Furnace Stoker Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz	You don't need to buy any unlock packs. You can unlock skills and items as you play, even if you only buy the PvP Access Kit. The unlock packs are only used so you can have access to all skills and items from the start. But you can still access them without the unlock packs. You only have to 'earn' them with Balthazar Faction and unlock them as you play.

Jan 18, 2010, 05:34 PM // 17:34	#23
moriz ??ber t??k-n??sh'??n Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Canada Profession: R/	you can get away with just buying the pvp access kit. that should give everything you need to set up a few builds, and just unlock all the rest with balthazar faction points as you play. however, that's coming from me who has more experience in the game, and thus knowing what i need from the get go. you won't have this luxury unfortunately. picking out the right skills might be difficult for you without help. another thing to take note of, is that GW is a team game. never build your characters to be entirely self-sufficient, because you can't.

Jan 18, 2010, 07:00 PM // 19:00	#24
Kyolic Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Jan 2010	Guys I am really not interested in pve. I've done it in wow and have been a hardcore raider for a long while. Yet it was consuming all my time and after a point it started to become an hassle. I don't want that anymore so pve is a big no for me. Besides that, I really don't want to spend time on earning points or anything. I really don't want to. All I want is to get the skills and the gear asap and start playing. I think I am going to start with PVP Accsess Kit and see how it goes.