Questions Concerning Factions - Guild Wars Forums

FelixCarter · Jul 31, 2006, 03:18 AM // 03:18

Okay... Not sure if this question has been asked before... If so, I apologize in advanced. If not, I'm wondering why no one has pondered this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by www.guildwars.com

Q: Is Guild Wars Factions an expansion pack or a stand-alone game?
A: Guild Wars Factions is a stand-alone product. Those who own Guild Wars are not required to purchase Guild Wars Factions in order to continue playing on their game account, and those who purchase Guild Wars Factions may play without purchasing Guild Wars. However, there is a strong level of interconnection between the two games that makes having them both an exceptional experience.

I understand that Factions is - or rather, with the introduction of Nightfall... was - the newest addition to Guild Wars. However, the thing about "there is a strong level of interconnection between the two games that makes having them both an exceptional experience." seems to not be entirely true. To my understanding, Factions seems to act more as an "Expansion Pack" than it does a full, stand-alone game.

It's true that one can play through Factions without ever knowing about Tyria. With 8 classes to choose from, and the ability to level up to level 20 within 3-5 hours (estimated. I didn't do research on this extensively.), Factions is a VERY well-put-together game. However, it is because of these details that the "strong level of interconnection between the two games" is not very apparent.

After one reaches lvl 18-20 and leaves the "pre-island" (Shing Jea), they have the ability (assuming they have Prophecies) to travel to Tyria, where they can start battling level 13 foes, as appose to the lvl 20-25 that exist around Keining?

On the other side... Once one has reached Lions Arch in Tyria, and are fully capable of standing up to lvl 13 foes with their low lvl character, they get the option (once again, assuming they have Factions) to go the Cantha and try taking on lvl 20+ baddies?

This does not make the games sound like they have interconnectivity at all... As a matter of fact, it just makes Fations sound WAY better than Prophecies, in terms of creating a quick-high-level character.

There are many more questions that I have about this ???interconnection???, such as:

Why do all the original professions have new armor choices in Cantha, but the two new professions only get Obsidian Armor from Tyria? Can't ANet add new Sin and Rit armor to the traders in Tyria?
Why do Canthan citizens get 8 classes, while Tyrian travelers only get 6? Could the games not be balanced by perhaps making it so that Canthans can't create Rangers and Mesmers and Tyrians can't create Assassins and Ritualists? (This question is not as important as the others, but I feel it does hold some relevance to the argument.)

I could make the list go on, but I feel these are the most important questions that I want to ask the community.
Feel free to comment, flame, critique, ponder, or do anything else you want with these questions. I would like to hear from as many people as possible concerning this issue.

Former Ruling · Jul 31, 2006, 05:15 AM // 05:15

"Interconnectivity" did not refer to the PvE Storylines lining up perfectly level by level...it refers to having both games giving you a much wider choice in playability.

Now for the dotted questions:
1) You can't make Rits and Zins in Tyria, they HAVE to start in Cantha...so this is where their armor is. If they put armor in Tyria for classes that some can't even get over there..That would be stupid. There are armors for the core classes in Cantha...because you can start core classes there.

2) "Why do Canthan citizens get 8 classes, while Tyrian travelers only get 6?" Because they bought Factions? This is part of the Interconnectivy you are so on about..If you own Chapter 1...Your main insentive to buy Chapter 2 is access to the Assassin and Ritualists. Why can Factions only people play all classes? Well that balanced out because most of the "good" core class skills are only avialable in Tyria (Core classes get Poor Poor [horrible most of the times] skill selections in factions) - so It is in their best interest to buy Chapter 1 to be effective with these classes.

"interconnection" means owning both games gives you the widest access of skills (Skills aren't locked to your using based on what you own or not)

VGJustice · Jul 31, 2006, 05:41 AM // 05:41

While I might have said it a little differently, Former Ruling is correct on all points.

Also, when GW: Nightfall comes out, that one will have two new classes to choose from, but will not have access to either the Rit or Sin. So, no single Guild Wars will have access to all of the characters, but one account with all of the current expansions will allow the player to make all the characters, even if they won't be able to choose in which chapter they start sometimes.

Jul 31, 2006, 05:15 AM // 05:15	#2
Former Ruling Grotto Attendant Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cedartown, Georgia Profession: R/	"Interconnectivity" did not refer to the PvE Storylines lining up perfectly level by level...it refers to having both games giving you a much wider choice in playability. Now for the dotted questions: 1) You can't make Rits and Zins in Tyria, they HAVE to start in Cantha...so this is where their armor is. If they put armor in Tyria for classes that some can't even get over there..That would be stupid. There are armors for the core classes in Cantha...because you can start core classes there. 2) "Why do Canthan citizens get 8 classes, while Tyrian travelers only get 6?" Because they bought Factions? This is part of the Interconnectivy you are so on about..If you own Chapter 1...Your main insentive to buy Chapter 2 is access to the Assassin and Ritualists. Why can Factions only people play all classes? Well that balanced out because most of the "good" core class skills are only avialable in Tyria (Core classes get Poor Poor [horrible most of the times] skill selections in factions) - so It is in their best interest to buy Chapter 1 to be effective with these classes. "interconnection" means owning both games gives you the widest access of skills (Skills aren't locked to your using based on what you own or not)

Jul 31, 2006, 05:41 AM // 05:41	#3
VGJustice Desert Nomad Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tyria, cappin' ur bosses Guild: Boston Guild [BG] Profession: R/W	While I might have said it a little differently, Former Ruling is correct on all points. Also, when GW: Nightfall comes out, that one will have two new classes to choose from, but will not have access to either the Rit or Sin. So, no single Guild Wars will have access to all of the characters, but one account with all of the current expansions will allow the player to make all the characters, even if they won't be able to choose in which chapter they start sometimes.