Starting GuildWars - Page 2 - Guild Wars Forums

taffette · Nov 30, 2006, 06:40 PM // 18:40

Errmmm... buying gold from eBay or other sources is against the EULA you agree to and when Anet get wind of it they will ban you. And it's pretty unethical as well :P

Getting enough of your own gold to buy decent weapons really doesn't take that long...

c_ras · Nov 30, 2006, 06:50 PM // 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRONCHEF

I'm still scouring this message board's FAQs so I don't ask too many noob questions that will get me flamed and I'm noticing that there isn't a lot of noob stuff to help people get started.

There are a lot of sites out there that can be very helpful to new players as well as veteran players.

GuildWiki - One of your Best Friends
Guru has a lot of very useful stuff as well as a lot of other GW Fan sites. I recommend to just take some time with a Google search.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRONCHEF

Anyone care to comment on this, or is it safe to go haphazzardly about adding attributes, selecting skills, gears, etc? ie., is it cheap to go through trial and error, or expensive?

You can easily progress through the game with the skills that become available to you. Purchasing skills at the beginning is cheap and the max you'll ever spend is 1k...which isnt all that bad unless you go on a skill-buying rampage. You'll gain attribute points as you level up in the game. Level 20 is the max level and at any time (when in a town or outpost) you can change your attribute points around in your characters profession categories any way you like so that it compliments your build.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRONCHEF

And on the topic of "expensive" is it, dare I say, "ethical" to buy gold outside of the game (ebay, private gold hackers, etc)? Or is it easy enough to get started and comfortable?

Buying EBay gold or using 3rd party programs is against the user agreement and can get you permanently banned from GW. I would hate to see you buy GW and get banned Day 1 (then you are out of a game). Getting a good size stash of gold can be a lengthy process but can be very easy as well. Everyone has to start somewhere, and when you are low level just start picking up all the drops you come across and selling it. Once you get to later parts in the game, you'll get more gold, have access to better drops (which you can sell for a lot of gold depending on what it is), and just overall have more options to get money. Getting gold is easy and is the least of the concerns...not spending it is one of the hardest things! ;-) Don't buy EBay gold...never...ever!

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRONCHEF

From what i've read so far, this game follows other NC Soft games that nerf and nerf in order to keep you poor limiting the high end stuff to a select, rich handful of players/hackers?

When things get nerfed its to balance gameplay. Some people may jump for joy and others may burn their ricecakes, but things change in GW constantly and if things didnt change, the game would be more corrupted than WaterGate. The nerfs don't directly affect or limit you in any way on anything. It will however make you think more!

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRONCHEF

And on the topic of hackers...is this game "hacked" to pieces like many other popular games, or is it a pretty fair playing field?

GW has its share of bots, scammers, etc...like any other MMO which ANet is cracking down on big time. Hacking is very rare and many of the accounts that have been hacked is because the user ends up giving important information out to someone else (user name, password, etc.). Be smart about it and I would say 99% are safe. Just have some common sense and if you are unsure about something, always ask multiple people's opinion before coming to a conclusion. As far as a level playing field....yes. That is why they have the nerfs, updates, the Level 20 cap, and other things. The game isn't about being the highest level with the weapon that does the most damage. Everyone is on equal terms and to be successful....you'll have to do some thinking.

I hope this helps a little

Horseman Of War · Nov 30, 2006, 06:54 PM // 18:54

^ aside from being 'unethical' and definately a BIG no-no in the EULA--- buying gold is kind of silly... Id be too afraid of my account being hacked by the chinese gold farmers... let alone stolen credit card number etc... its just NOT WORTH IT.

-As far as 'hacking' goes- Anet can tell if you use a 3rd party program (usually a bot program, to aquire large amounts of Gold and Ectoplasm) and they will ban you very fast.

So, hopefully this answers your question- Im trying to imply that the people who DO do this stuff are not going to be around long- and if PvP is your concern, there is no such thing as an PvP bot that I have ever heard of... so in deciding on purchasing this game, rest assured that you will be entering an even playing field free from Hackers etc. ArenaNet is usually pretty good about finding exploits and fixing them quickly when they do pop up (such as the afk Tormented Land 'lightbringer point' farm- that was fun lol)

IRONCHEF · Nov 30, 2006, 08:42 PM // 20:42

I guess my ethics question should have been cleared up. I don't buy gold because it's quite lame to cheat yourself of the experience gained getting it. I am playing this game because I've been at a FPS game (BF2) for the last year or so and I need to slow things down again...so I thought about doing this free game where I can spend countless hours grinding away being bored. For some reason, this game stands out as one of those hardcore boring grinding games, so I'm all set! Yeah, I know, wierd..but to each his own.

I had asked about the ethics of it because GW gold is rampant on ebay and other sites as are the other main games played. I've quit a couple good games because their economies were destabilized by the chinese gold sellers/gold hackers and the game quickly went to the dogs economically..inflation soars, anything decent is out of reach for normal "ethical" players, etc. So if A-net actually does a minimal amount of governing this and actually does ban people who suddenly gain a ton of gold, then I'm in good shape. But as with other NC Soft games i've played, they don't do jack...with the exception of LIneage I having ebay delist Adena sellers for several months.

My thoughts are that most of the sellers of the gold in many games are not because of farmers. There are inside people (secretly or openly) making money because they know how to replicate/hack gold. This is why a single person can run a site and offer enldess millions of game currency for 16 games and get rich. If GW players commonly buy this gold and if Arena net is flakey about stopping it...this game will be a waste of money for me.

So my better question should have been...is this game a sell out to cheaters who buy gold/items/accounts? And is there any enforcement of it?

And thanks so much for the replies. Especially about the early character building process risks!!

BTW..been reading the math coding for this game (damage) and this is exactly what I want to know! If you haven't yet, go check this out! http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content...nics-id674.php Outstanding work by that author! In Lineage I, we had every ounce of damage, defense, elemental damage/defense, etc all worked out mathematically! It's been a while since I've played a game that is so well defined!

netfixr · Nov 30, 2006, 08:54 PM // 20:54

For those of you new who decide to buy Prophesies, please try to get the Game Of The Year edition. Typically the exact same price as regular, you have access to 7 bonus items, max weapons or offhands, for every character you create.

c_ras · Nov 30, 2006, 09:33 PM // 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRONCHEF

BTW..been reading the math coding for this game (damage) and this is exactly what I want to know! If you haven't yet, go check this out! http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content...nics-id674.php Outstanding work by that author!

I just thought I'd throw a link at you that you may want to check out. The link you have is really good and detailed on the damage, but of course there are other things as well.

Guild Wiki - Game Mechanics
This link has a lot of useful information, including damage, drop rates, armor, experiencing, etc. Some of the links on the page are useful and some are common sense.

IRONCHEF · Nov 30, 2006, 09:43 PM // 21:43

Thanks for that site cras!

Ok, just went to target and they had regular guild wars, factions, and nightfall. I'm assuming that regular one is prophecies since I saw nothing saying prophecies elsewhere.

Just created an elemental dude named Dr Ironchef (i didn't dig the two or more names thing, or the alpha-only naming convention...but what can you do?) and now I'm updating and taking forever.

So here's to good luck! *clank*

Mr Jazzy · Dec 01, 2006, 04:41 AM // 04:41

Buy any of the campaigns, install them, execute the application, and click a tab called "add key" to generate character slots. You'll know where to go from there.

Mr Jazzy · Dec 01, 2006, 04:41 AM // 04:41

Buy any of the campaigns, install them, execute the application, and click a tab called "add key" to generate character slots. You'll know where to go from there.

*Darcy* · Dec 01, 2006, 11:04 AM // 11:04

One piece of advice for all new players - READ the EULA.

The legal agreement you approve in order to play Guild Wars lists all the actions that will get your account banned. ANet does not fool around.

Just offering to buy/sell accounts, keys, or gold for in-game or real life money will cause a permanent ban of all your accounts ANet can trace. There is no appeal. Saying it was a joke or you didn't know, will not restore your account.

Any player can report a EULA violation through the PlayNC support site "ask a question" function - with screenshots and time/place info. If enough people file reports for lesser violations against the same player, ANet will "temp" ban the accused while they check the chat logs.

ANet also employs an "anti-farming" program that flags an account that is doing excessive farming. As they like to find the root of the tree if it's a company, action is periodic and usually results in "screams" from players caught up in the sweep. This ban can be appealed.

@IRONCHEF - Yes, there are items that have stratospheric prices being sold in the game. They go for 100k +xxx Ectos. They are not statistically better than other weapons you can purchase or find, they just have a rare skin. As in real life - vanity is expensive.

Nov 30, 2006, 08:42 PM // 20:42	#24
IRONCHEF Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Nov 2006	I guess my ethics question should have been cleared up. I don't buy gold because it's quite lame to cheat yourself of the experience gained getting it. I am playing this game because I've been at a FPS game (BF2) for the last year or so and I need to slow things down again...so I thought about doing this free game where I can spend countless hours grinding away being bored. For some reason, this game stands out as one of those hardcore boring grinding games, so I'm all set! Yeah, I know, wierd..but to each his own. I had asked about the ethics of it because GW gold is rampant on ebay and other sites as are the other main games played. I've quit a couple good games because their economies were destabilized by the chinese gold sellers/gold hackers and the game quickly went to the dogs economically..inflation soars, anything decent is out of reach for normal "ethical" players, etc. So if A-net actually does a minimal amount of governing this and actually does ban people who suddenly gain a ton of gold, then I'm in good shape. But as with other NC Soft games i've played, they don't do jack...with the exception of LIneage I having ebay delist Adena sellers for several months. My thoughts are that most of the sellers of the gold in many games are not because of farmers. There are inside people (secretly or openly) making money because they know how to replicate/hack gold. This is why a single person can run a site and offer enldess millions of game currency for 16 games and get rich. If GW players commonly buy this gold and if Arena net is flakey about stopping it...this game will be a waste of money for me. So my better question should have been...is this game a sell out to cheaters who buy gold/items/accounts? And is there any enforcement of it? And thanks so much for the replies. Especially about the early character building process risks!! BTW..been reading the math coding for this game (damage) and this is exactly what I want to know! If you haven't yet, go check this out! http://www.guildwarsguru.com/content...nics-id674.php Outstanding work by that author! In Lineage I, we had every ounce of damage, defense, elemental damage/defense, etc all worked out mathematically! It's been a while since I've played a game that is so well defined! Last edited by IRONCHEF; Nov 30, 2006 at 08:45 PM // 20:45..

Nov 30, 2006, 08:54 PM // 20:54	#25
netfixr Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Nov 2006 Guild: CoG	Goty For those of you new who decide to buy Prophesies, please try to get the Game Of The Year edition. Typically the exact same price as regular, you have access to 7 bonus items, max weapons or offhands, for every character you create.

Nov 30, 2006, 09:43 PM // 21:43	#27
IRONCHEF Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Nov 2006	Thanks for that site cras! Ok, just went to target and they had regular guild wars, factions, and nightfall. I'm assuming that regular one is prophecies since I saw nothing saying prophecies elsewhere. Just created an elemental dude named Dr Ironchef (i didn't dig the two or more names thing, or the alpha-only naming convention...but what can you do?) and now I'm updating and taking forever. So here's to good luck! clank Last edited by IRONCHEF; Nov 30, 2006 at 11:54 PM // 23:54..

Nov 30, 2006, 06:40 PM // 18:40	#21
taffette Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sunny ol' Manchester Guild: The Trumpet Blowers Profession: R/	Errmmm... buying gold from eBay or other sources is against the EULA you agree to and when Anet get wind of it they will ban you. And it's pretty unethical as well :P Getting enough of your own gold to buy decent weapons really doesn't take that long...

Nov 30, 2006, 06:54 PM // 18:54	#23
Horseman Of War Desert Nomad Join Date: Jun 2006 Guild: The Cult of Doom Profession: P/	^ aside from being 'unethical' and definately a BIG no-no in the EULA--- buying gold is kind of silly... Id be too afraid of my account being hacked by the chinese gold farmers... let alone stolen credit card number etc... its just NOT WORTH IT. -As far as 'hacking' goes- Anet can tell if you use a 3rd party program (usually a bot program, to aquire large amounts of Gold and Ectoplasm) and they will ban you very fast. So, hopefully this answers your question- Im trying to imply that the people who DO do this stuff are not going to be around long- and if PvP is your concern, there is no such thing as an PvP bot that I have ever heard of... so in deciding on purchasing this game, rest assured that you will be entering an even playing field free from Hackers etc. ArenaNet is usually pretty good about finding exploits and fixing them quickly when they do pop up (such as the afk Tormented Land 'lightbringer point' farm- that was fun lol)

Dec 01, 2006, 04:41 AM // 04:41	#28
Mr Jazzy Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Cali Guild: Mending For The [win] Profession: W/A	Buy any of the campaigns, install them, execute the application, and click a tab called "add key" to generate character slots. You'll know where to go from there.

Dec 01, 2006, 11:04 AM // 11:04	#30
Darcy Never Too Old Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rhode Island where there are no GW contests Guild: Order of First Profession: W/R	One piece of advice for all new players - READ the EULA. The legal agreement you approve in order to play Guild Wars lists all the actions that will get your account banned. ANet does not fool around. Just offering to buy/sell accounts, keys, or gold for in-game or real life money will cause a permanent ban of all your accounts ANet can trace. There is no appeal. Saying it was a joke or you didn't know, will not restore your account. Any player can report a EULA violation through the PlayNC support site "ask a question" function - with screenshots and time/place info. If enough people file reports for lesser violations against the same player, ANet will "temp" ban the accused while they check the chat logs. ANet also employs an "anti-farming" program that flags an account that is doing excessive farming. As they like to find the root of the tree if it's a company, action is periodic and usually results in "screams" from players caught up in the sweep. This ban can be appealed. @IRONCHEF - Yes, there are items that have stratospheric prices being sold in the game. They go for 100k +xxx Ectos. They are not statistically better than other weapons you can purchase or find, they just have a rare skin. As in real life - vanity is expensive.