Newbie question - Guild Wars Forums

Milennin · Oct 15, 2006, 08:13 PM // 20:13

Is it normal to die often in Guild Wars? Because I've been trying to go through Diessa Lowlands but I get killed almost everything. Today, I finally managed to reach Traveler's Vale but there are even stronger monsters.XP
I've already done all, or almost all quests in and around Piken Square & Ascalon, but I'm only level 12.x___X
Should I just train on monsters to get stronger or ask a high level player to help me reach the next town?

tuperwho · Oct 15, 2006, 08:18 PM // 20:18

Some ideas to make things easier:

1. make sure you're doing all the quests along the way. Being as high of a level as possible will make things easier

2. upgrade your armor. Higher defense = less damage taken. If you're still using your "starter" armor, you should at least try to get a new set from Ascalon City, or other towns you come across. Also, collectors armor can be a great cheap option.

3. use a party. You don't have to get a high level player to do things for you, but you should at least be using henchmen. Especially the monks

Milennin · Oct 15, 2006, 08:21 PM // 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuperwho

Some ideas to make things easier:

1. make sure you're doing all the quests along the way. Being as high of a level as possible will make things easier

2. upgrade your armor. Higher defense = less damage taken. If you're still using your "starter" armor, you should at least try to get a new set from Ascalon City, or other towns you come across. Also, collectors armor can be a great cheap option.

3. use a party. You don't have to get a high level player to do things for you, but you should at least be using henchmen. Especially the monks

That's actually the problem, I have done all the quests, I don't see any NPCs with exclamation marks anymore. I upgraded my armour at the Armour guy in Ascalon, and I am using the Monk, the Ranger and the Warrior henchmen.=(

MisterB · Oct 15, 2006, 08:21 PM // 20:21

Are you going solo? This game is balanced for a full party(4 in your area)in difficulty once you reach post-searing Ascalon. You can still solo many areas, but you need more experience, and skills that are generally not available that early in the game. Just pick up 3 hench, or join a party to progress further.

edit: I see that is not your problem. You mentioned doing all the quests; have you done any missions? Misiions are generally the fastest way to progress without a runner, or running yourself.

Milennin · Oct 15, 2006, 08:23 PM // 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterB

Are you going solo? This game is balanced for a full party(4 in your area)in difficulty once you reach post-searing Ascalon. You can still solo many areas, but you need more experience, and skills that are generally not available that early in the game. Just pick up 3 hench, or join a party to progress further.

Yeah, I'm using 3 henchmen.^___^

tuperwho · Oct 15, 2006, 08:25 PM // 20:25

What skills are you using, and what points do you have for your attributes. Some things that may help are killing the enemies faster, or adding an armor boost or aura of restoration to heal yourself (you are an ele, right?)

Also, it's important to start learning how to pull and use aggro right. The warrior and ranger will have better armor than you. Use this to your advantage. If you approach enemies, but don't let them actually get inside the white bubble on your radar, you can then click ctrl +shift + space bar. This will display that you are targeting whatever enemy you have selected, and it will send the henchies in ahead of you so that they take the damage, not you.

Loviatar · Oct 15, 2006, 08:26 PM // 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milennin

That's actually the problem, I have done all the quests, I don't see any NPCs with exclamation marks anymore. I upgraded my armour at the Armour guy in Ascalon, and I am using the Monk, the Ranger and the Warrior henchmen.=(

WHICH OF THE TWO ARMOR GUYS?

ONE HAS TWICE THE AL OF THE OTHER FOR SALE

The Pointless · Oct 15, 2006, 08:27 PM // 20:27

Also, which henchies?

Milennin · Oct 15, 2006, 08:30 PM // 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuperwho

What skills are you using, and what points do you have for your attributes. Some things that may help are killing the enemies faster, or adding an armor boost or aura of restoration to heal yourself (you are an ele, right?)

I use Lightning Javelin and Bane Signet a lot. Sometimes Fire Storm or another spell. I heal when my character or another henchmen is going to die, or I revive them.
I spend most of my Attribute points on Air Magic and Energy. Some of them in Smiting and Healing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loviatar

WHICH OF THE TWO ARMOR GUYS?

ONE HAS TWICE THE AL OF THE OTHER FOR SALE

Uhm, I forgot. All my armour pieces give 30+ bonus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Pointless

Also, which henchies?

The ranger, the warrior and the monk.

tuperwho · Oct 15, 2006, 08:49 PM // 20:49

It may help you if you can choose more skills from fewer attributes. Early on, this will likely mean using fire magic, as these will be the bulk of the skills you get from quests. The reasoning behind this is that you don't have a lot of attribute points (compared to the 200 maximum you will eventually have). Therefore, if you can try to only use them in say 2 skill lines, you will be able to make these much more powerful.

Others may have other opinions, but I would avoid the monk skills for now. I would carry either aura of restoration or armor of earth (which I think you should have by now), and leave the rest of my healing to the monk henchy. Also, while you will be wanting to invest in energy storage, I wouldn't do so too heavily yet. Instead, make sure you use an elemental attunement (for whichever line of magic you choose to use) to save your energy. Also, try to find a staff or wand and offhand with as much energy as possible (+15 for a staff, or up to 17 for most standard wand/offhand combos).

Ondo · Oct 15, 2006, 08:51 PM // 20:51

First you are kind of lower than norm for that are but not much. Usually I am there at 14 or very close to 14. The first quest you get at Yak's - The Way Is Blocked. IS a hard quest, and allot of people die there quite often, quite oftem. You are now allowed to have 6 as a party size. Take as many as you can. If at all possible ask for people to help that are doing the quest. Not sure what armor level at that point in game is but check in Yak's Bend. There's a crafter there by the name of Breyshaw. If your armor is close you'll be fine. I usually get armor at each new area. Ascalon City, Yak's Bend, Lion's Arch, Droknar's Forge. Between the last two I get Collector's armor in the desert.
Don't use Fire storm - it'll just make them run from you prolonging a battle. Check the Campfire section on this board and see if there's any help there for a build that you like or for added suggestions to the skills you are using now.

The Pointless · Oct 15, 2006, 08:52 PM // 20:52

Actually, if I remember right, Smiting served me well getting past Ascalon...

Rathcail · Oct 15, 2006, 09:25 PM // 21:25

Um, have you done the missions in Ascalon? The Great Northern Wall, Fort Ranik, etc.?

Just asking since it sounds like you only have done the quests currently available to you and then fought your way to Yak's Bend instead of getting there through missions.

Loviatar · Oct 15, 2006, 09:34 PM // 21:34

FORGOT THIS

take only ONE quest at a time as the game puts in all monsters for all active quests which can easily overwhelm you.

WLlama · Oct 15, 2006, 10:07 PM // 22:07

Did you do the missions to get to Yak's Bend? It sounds like you are trying to walk there which will leave you a few levels down from where you would typically be with mission completions.

---

I see Rathcail just beat me to the punch...

Milennin · Oct 16, 2006, 07:27 AM // 07:27

Let's see, my best and only weapon is an Air Wand with a power of 6-9. 20% chance on half recharge of Air Spell and 20% +power.
The only Elemental Attunement I have is for Earth.
I dont know where Yak's Bend is, never been there. Furthest I have been is Traveler's Tale.
I think I have done that Mission at fort Ranik one time, but the other player left so I wasn't able to finish it.
I don't have any quests open at the moment.

taffette · Oct 16, 2006, 08:23 AM // 08:23

Best bet would be to finish the 4 missions in Ascalon before going any further then - it's an easy 8000XP and there are usually pick up groups looking for other people. If you get really stuck, pm me in game and I'll give you a hand

Infinity^ · Oct 16, 2006, 09:08 AM // 09:08

So what have we learned?

Finish the missions in Ascalon. Look at your map for mission markers and locate the one you haven't done. (Fort Ranik?)

Always take a full team. Henchies or a PuG.

Make sure you upgraded your armour with the crafter that sells the higher AL.

Get a better weapon. Check the weapon crafters or save up collectables for a collectors weapon.

Specialise. Put you attribute points into 2 or 3 er... wotsits, attribute line things. ie split between fire / healing / energy storage

Buy minor runes. To give your attributes a boost.

Take a self heal.

Take a rez sig.

Dont engage more than one group of enemies at a time, try and pull them towards you with a ranged weapon to avoid being overwealmed.

Milennin · Oct 16, 2006, 01:28 PM // 13:28

Holy, does the Ascalon mission give you 8K experience!O___O I'm going to do that one.=D
taffette, I'll add you ingame when I'm home (posting this at school ;P). My name is Lady Eldin (yeah it says Lord Milennin on forums but that will be a future account).

To Infinity;
-I always go in full team, usually henchmen.
-I have fully upgraded armour.
-I have checked weapon crafters and collectors and I couldn't find a more powerful Air Wand than I currently have.
-I have specialized myself in Air Magic and Energy Storage now.
-What are Minor Runes? I think I have one Rune but don't know exactly what to do with it.
-I have Healing and Revive Spells.
-I'm trying to do that but sometimes it fails.=(

I played some Guild Wars this morning and asked for help from a nice and experienced player and he helped me reaching Yak's Bend. I immediately upgraded my armour to Hydromancer and from now on I'm going to use 6 henchmen.=D

Kakumei · Oct 16, 2006, 02:16 PM // 14:16

Haha I had this problem when I first started. Died repeatedly going across Diessa, but that's because I had no idea missions existed.

Go back and do the missions (starting with The Great Northern Wall, accessible from the back of Ascalon City itself). You'll be richer for the experience.

Oct 15, 2006, 08:13 PM // 20:13	#1
Milennin Jungle Guide Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Europe Profession: W/	Newbie question Is it normal to die often in Guild Wars? Because I've been trying to go through Diessa Lowlands but I get killed almost everything. Today, I finally managed to reach Traveler's Vale but there are even stronger monsters.XP I've already done all, or almost all quests in and around Piken Square & Ascalon, but I'm only level 12.x___X Should I just train on monsters to get stronger or ask a high level player to help me reach the next town?

Oct 15, 2006, 08:21 PM // 20:21	#4
MisterB Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy Guild: [ban] Profession: W/	Are you going solo? This game is balanced for a full party(4 in your area)in difficulty once you reach post-searing Ascalon. You can still solo many areas, but you need more experience, and skills that are generally not available that early in the game. Just pick up 3 hench, or join a party to progress further. edit: I see that is not your problem. You mentioned doing all the quests; have you done any missions? Misiions are generally the fastest way to progress without a runner, or running yourself. Last edited by MisterB; Oct 15, 2006 at 08:26 PM // 20:26..

Oct 15, 2006, 08:25 PM // 20:25	#6
tuperwho Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: Tenacious Knights of Doom [TKD]	What skills are you using, and what points do you have for your attributes. Some things that may help are killing the enemies faster, or adding an armor boost or aura of restoration to heal yourself (you are an ele, right?) Also, it's important to start learning how to pull and use aggro right. The warrior and ranger will have better armor than you. Use this to your advantage. If you approach enemies, but don't let them actually get inside the white bubble on your radar, you can then click ctrl +shift + space bar. This will display that you are targeting whatever enemy you have selected, and it will send the henchies in ahead of you so that they take the damage, not you. Last edited by tuperwho; Oct 15, 2006 at 08:28 PM // 20:28..

Oct 15, 2006, 10:07 PM // 22:07	#15
WLlama Caged Mongrel Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cage in a Dungeon Guild: Flaming Turtles Profession: N/	Did you do the missions to get to Yak's Bend? It sounds like you are trying to walk there which will leave you a few levels down from where you would typically be with mission completions. --- I see Rathcail just beat me to the punch... Last edited by WLlama; Oct 15, 2006 at 10:12 PM // 22:12..

Oct 15, 2006, 08:18 PM // 20:18	#2
tuperwho Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: Tenacious Knights of Doom [TKD]	Some ideas to make things easier: 1. make sure you're doing all the quests along the way. Being as high of a level as possible will make things easier 2. upgrade your armor. Higher defense = less damage taken. If you're still using your "starter" armor, you should at least try to get a new set from Ascalon City, or other towns you come across. Also, collectors armor can be a great cheap option. 3. use a party. You don't have to get a high level player to do things for you, but you should at least be using henchmen. Especially the monks

Oct 15, 2006, 08:27 PM // 20:27	#8
The Pointless Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Stuck in the UK Guild: Rage International [RAGE] Profession: W/Me	Also, which henchies?

Oct 15, 2006, 08:49 PM // 20:49	#10
tuperwho Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: Tenacious Knights of Doom [TKD]	It may help you if you can choose more skills from fewer attributes. Early on, this will likely mean using fire magic, as these will be the bulk of the skills you get from quests. The reasoning behind this is that you don't have a lot of attribute points (compared to the 200 maximum you will eventually have). Therefore, if you can try to only use them in say 2 skill lines, you will be able to make these much more powerful. Others may have other opinions, but I would avoid the monk skills for now. I would carry either aura of restoration or armor of earth (which I think you should have by now), and leave the rest of my healing to the monk henchy. Also, while you will be wanting to invest in energy storage, I wouldn't do so too heavily yet. Instead, make sure you use an elemental attunement (for whichever line of magic you choose to use) to save your energy. Also, try to find a staff or wand and offhand with as much energy as possible (+15 for a staff, or up to 17 for most standard wand/offhand combos).

Oct 15, 2006, 08:51 PM // 20:51	#11
Ondo Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: USA Guild: Heavenly Shadows [milf] Profession: W/R	First you are kind of lower than norm for that are but not much. Usually I am there at 14 or very close to 14. The first quest you get at Yak's - The Way Is Blocked. IS a hard quest, and allot of people die there quite often, quite oftem. You are now allowed to have 6 as a party size. Take as many as you can. If at all possible ask for people to help that are doing the quest. Not sure what armor level at that point in game is but check in Yak's Bend. There's a crafter there by the name of Breyshaw. If your armor is close you'll be fine. I usually get armor at each new area. Ascalon City, Yak's Bend, Lion's Arch, Droknar's Forge. Between the last two I get Collector's armor in the desert. Don't use Fire storm - it'll just make them run from you prolonging a battle. Check the Campfire section on this board and see if there's any help there for a build that you like or for added suggestions to the skills you are using now.

Oct 15, 2006, 08:52 PM // 20:52	#12
The Pointless Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Stuck in the UK Guild: Rage International [RAGE] Profession: W/Me	Actually, if I remember right, Smiting served me well getting past Ascalon...

Oct 15, 2006, 09:25 PM // 21:25	#13
Rathcail Jungle Guide Join Date: Jan 2006	Um, have you done the missions in Ascalon? The Great Northern Wall, Fort Ranik, etc.? Just asking since it sounds like you only have done the quests currently available to you and then fought your way to Yak's Bend instead of getting there through missions.

Oct 15, 2006, 09:34 PM // 21:34	#14
Loviatar Underworld Spelunker Join Date: Feb 2005	FORGOT THIS take only ONE quest at a time as the game puts in all monsters for all active quests which can easily overwhelm you.

Oct 16, 2006, 07:27 AM // 07:27	#16
Milennin Jungle Guide Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Europe Profession: W/	Let's see, my best and only weapon is an Air Wand with a power of 6-9. 20% chance on half recharge of Air Spell and 20% +power. The only Elemental Attunement I have is for Earth. I dont know where Yak's Bend is, never been there. Furthest I have been is Traveler's Tale. I think I have done that Mission at fort Ranik one time, but the other player left so I wasn't able to finish it. I don't have any quests open at the moment.

Oct 16, 2006, 08:23 AM // 08:23	#17
taffette Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sunny ol' Manchester Guild: The Trumpet Blowers Profession: R/	Best bet would be to finish the 4 missions in Ascalon before going any further then - it's an easy 8000XP and there are usually pick up groups looking for other people. If you get really stuck, pm me in game and I'll give you a hand

Oct 16, 2006, 09:08 AM // 09:08	#18
Infinity^ Academy Page Join Date: Jan 2006 Guild: House Behelit Profession: R/	So what have we learned? Finish the missions in Ascalon. Look at your map for mission markers and locate the one you haven't done. (Fort Ranik?) Always take a full team. Henchies or a PuG. Make sure you upgraded your armour with the crafter that sells the higher AL. Get a better weapon. Check the weapon crafters or save up collectables for a collectors weapon. Specialise. Put you attribute points into 2 or 3 er... wotsits, attribute line things. ie split between fire / healing / energy storage Buy minor runes. To give your attributes a boost. Take a self heal. Take a rez sig. Dont engage more than one group of enemies at a time, try and pull them towards you with a ranged weapon to avoid being overwealmed.

Oct 16, 2006, 01:28 PM // 13:28	#19
Milennin Jungle Guide Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Europe Profession: W/	Holy, does the Ascalon mission give you 8K experience!O___O I'm going to do that one.=D taffette, I'll add you ingame when I'm home (posting this at school ;P). My name is Lady Eldin (yeah it says Lord Milennin on forums but that will be a future account). To Infinity; -I always go in full team, usually henchmen. -I have fully upgraded armour. -I have checked weapon crafters and collectors and I couldn't find a more powerful Air Wand than I currently have. -I have specialized myself in Air Magic and Energy Storage now. -What are Minor Runes? I think I have one Rune but don't know exactly what to do with it. -I have Healing and Revive Spells. -I'm trying to do that but sometimes it fails.=( I played some Guild Wars this morning and asked for help from a nice and experienced player and he helped me reaching Yak's Bend. I immediately upgraded my armour to Hydromancer and from now on I'm going to use 6 henchmen.=D

Oct 16, 2006, 02:16 PM // 14:16	#20
Kakumei Forge Runner Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Grind is subjective Guild: learn this please	Haha I had this problem when I first started. Died repeatedly going across Diessa, but that's because I had no idea missions existed. Go back and do the missions (starting with The Great Northern Wall, accessible from the back of Ascalon City itself). You'll be richer for the experience.