Beginner question - Guild Wars Forums

Trixxer · Nov 03, 2009, 02:59 PM // 14:59

Hi all, I'm thinking of getting this game. I'm wondering what the population is like, and which server would be best to join, high pop. Thank you.

untouchable · Nov 03, 2009, 03:00 PM // 15:00

Hm...well i dont think it really matters which server you join, your able to go to every district(europe, chinese, american). But american definatly has the most people from what i see when i play.

Trixxer · Nov 03, 2009, 03:02 PM // 15:02

Rite... So the game allows you to join instanced regions that maybe on other servers or something like that?? Correct?

untouchable · Nov 03, 2009, 03:05 PM // 15:05

Sure, you can go from american to europe, or europe to asia

Trixxer · Nov 03, 2009, 03:08 PM // 15:08

Ok cool, Thank you

Dzjudz · Nov 03, 2009, 03:44 PM // 15:44

You can only see other people in cities/outposts. Within these outposts, you can travel from district to district. For example you can go from district Europe English 1 to district Europe Polish 1 or America English 1, whenever you want. Most people are in America. The game remembers what district type you were in last, so if you are in America English, you will automatically travel to America English if you map to a different city or when you restart GW.

Kendil · Nov 03, 2009, 03:44 PM // 15:44

Guild wars doesn't really work with servers in the traditional way. You are able to switch to anyone you like anytime you like, really, really fast.

Oh, Anet calls their servers district instead of servers. Probably because district isn't like severs in most MMOs.
You don't really chose one district to play in, it's more like you getting the one nearest your country, and then you are able to switch to whatever you like.

Most people are in the American districts.

Quaker · Nov 03, 2009, 04:34 PM // 16:34

Let me try to clarify the server situation:

Games such as WoW, D&D Online, etc., which have a large persistent world, divide their physical server load into "realms" (or "servers") to maintain a reasonable level of performance. It is usually either not possible, or else expensive, to switch a character from one realm to another and the switch is semi-permanent.

GW does not have a persistent world though, so, there is no need to divide the server load into realms. You can think of GW as being just one big server (or realm), with lots and lots of "instances" going on. The physical server farms are divided into "regions", but that is mostly for ping and timezone considerations. The only points where you get random characters interacting are in towns or outposts. These are often divided into "districts" if too many people are in one place, but the districts are dynamic (come and go as needed) and switching between them is easy.

So, when you start GW, there is no concern about choosing a server. Even choosing a "region" only affects your timezone and language, and can be changed freely.

paddymew · Nov 03, 2009, 08:04 PM // 20:04

Every area outside a town, and every dungeon and mission, is instanced. As in you can't meet people outside a town. Because of this, most towns are either trade centers or places for people to get together in groups for missions.
There also isn't the same concept of grinding as in other games, since you follow a pretty linear story where your character will get enough levels along the way to progress without too much pause. Of course, there is a certain standard for areas mid-game, where people expect you to be at maximum level (20), but this isn't too hard to achieve.

Nov 03, 2009, 02:59 PM // 14:59	#1
Trixxer Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Nov 2009	Beginner question Hi all, I'm thinking of getting this game. I'm wondering what the population is like, and which server would be best to join, high pop. Thank you.

Nov 03, 2009, 03:00 PM // 15:00	#2
untouchable Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winnipeg, Mantioba Canada Guild: Terra Noise[Zraw] Profession: Mo/E	Hm...well i dont think it really matters which server you join, your able to go to every district(europe, chinese, american). But american definatly has the most people from what i see when i play.

Nov 03, 2009, 03:02 PM // 15:02	#3
Trixxer Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Nov 2009	Rite... So the game allows you to join instanced regions that maybe on other servers or something like that?? Correct?

Nov 03, 2009, 03:05 PM // 15:05	#4
untouchable Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winnipeg, Mantioba Canada Guild: Terra Noise[Zraw] Profession: Mo/E	Sure, you can go from american to europe, or europe to asia

Nov 03, 2009, 03:08 PM // 15:08	#5
Trixxer Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Nov 2009	Ok cool, Thank you

Nov 03, 2009, 03:44 PM // 15:44	#6
Dzjudz Furnace Stoker Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz	You can only see other people in cities/outposts. Within these outposts, you can travel from district to district. For example you can go from district Europe English 1 to district Europe Polish 1 or America English 1, whenever you want. Most people are in America. The game remembers what district type you were in last, so if you are in America English, you will automatically travel to America English if you map to a different city or when you restart GW.

Nov 03, 2009, 03:44 PM // 15:44	#7
Kendil Krytan Explorer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sweden	Guild wars doesn't really work with servers in the traditional way. You are able to switch to anyone you like anytime you like, really, really fast. Oh, Anet calls their servers district instead of servers. Probably because district isn't like severs in most MMOs. You don't really chose one district to play in, it's more like you getting the one nearest your country, and then you are able to switch to whatever you like. Most people are in the American districts.

Nov 03, 2009, 04:34 PM // 16:34	#8
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	Let me try to clarify the server situation: Games such as WoW, D&D Online, etc., which have a large persistent world, divide their physical server load into "realms" (or "servers") to maintain a reasonable level of performance. It is usually either not possible, or else expensive, to switch a character from one realm to another and the switch is semi-permanent. GW does not have a persistent world though, so, there is no need to divide the server load into realms. You can think of GW as being just one big server (or realm), with lots and lots of "instances" going on. The physical server farms are divided into "regions", but that is mostly for ping and timezone considerations. The only points where you get random characters interacting are in towns or outposts. These are often divided into "districts" if too many people are in one place, but the districts are dynamic (come and go as needed) and switching between them is easy. So, when you start GW, there is no concern about choosing a server. Even choosing a "region" only affects your timezone and language, and can be changed freely.

Nov 03, 2009, 08:04 PM // 20:04	#9
paddymew Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jul 2008 Profession: D/	Every area outside a town, and every dungeon and mission, is instanced. As in you can't meet people outside a town. Because of this, most towns are either trade centers or places for people to get together in groups for missions. There also isn't the same concept of grinding as in other games, since you follow a pretty linear story where your character will get enough levels along the way to progress without too much pause. Of course, there is a certain standard for areas mid-game, where people expect you to be at maximum level (20), but this isn't too hard to achieve.