Character diversity - Guild Wars Forums

Kirbie · Mar 14, 2005, 04:48 PM // 16:48

We all know that we start with race of human
I heard that as expansion comes out, we can choose the race.
Is that means...we have to build our character all over again?
For example....

The game releases on April
So I bought it and started to play human (lets say even though I want to be an elf, I have no choice but to play as human)
With hard work and time input...reached level 20(with fancy gears)

Expansion comes out few months later
Ah...new races!! including elf

Do I have to build my character all over again?

Will there be racial advantage?
Like humans good at this, elves are good at that and so on.

Will expansions be standalone?
or do you have to buy all previous ones in order to play new expansion?

Please help me with these questions

thanks

Davion · Mar 14, 2005, 05:22 PM // 17:22

you "heard"...
just remember a lot of people can be speculative and want to forsee what MAY be coming ...... simply put they can't know what's coming until either GW site itself makes something official or Gaille Grey / Alex Weekes says its offficial.... anything else would fall under rumor or hearsay.

your best bet is to assume the status quo... human only..and wait for them to decide if they add more.

Bgnome · Mar 14, 2005, 05:30 PM // 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirbie

Will expansions be standalone?
or do you have to buy all previous ones in order to play new expansion?

Although i am unsure whether they will require the 1st chapter, i am fairly certain that expansions will not require you to buy anything else. you can choose to buy the 2nd, 5th, and 6th expansions and gain access to all the content that those provide. you will be unable to access any of the content from any of the other expansions.

Kirbie · Mar 14, 2005, 05:52 PM // 17:52

[QUOTE=Davion]you "heard"...
just remember a lot of people can be speculative and want to forsee what MAY be coming ...... simply put they can't know what's coming until either GW site itself makes something official or Gaille Grey / Alex Weekes says its offficial.... anything else would fall under rumor or hearsay.

well...
I heard it from offcial guildwars support page
It's listed on page 4 of official support page:

What playable races are there in Guild Wars?

Question
What playable races are there in Guild Wars?

Answer
In the first chapter you will be able to play characters from the human race. In subsequent chapters of Guild Wars, you may be able to play members of other races

I know we "may" be able to play...but I though it would be a good question to ask

sorry if it was a bad question

Loviatar · Mar 14, 2005, 06:14 PM // 18:14

in an interview it was stated that the initial game was mandatory but any and all additional chapters would be optional and you did not have to buy chapter 2 to use chapter 3 as each chapter builds on 1 and is a complete chapter in and of itself

as they said
NO CLIFFHANGERS to try to make you buy the next one

AS FOR ELF

it is a new character so yes you start it over

BALANCE the elf will not be uber etc

Shrapnel_Magnet · Mar 14, 2005, 07:37 PM // 19:37

Personally, I like to think that Arena.Net is smart enough to not add "elf" playable characters.

In the event of new races, getting to level 20 is not really THAT difficult... doing all the missions should put you close. As for the equipment or items that you have... well, that's why they want to have Account Storage. While you will lose all the customized items if you erase your character, you could put anything else they have into your "storage" box or whatever they end up putting in.

If elves are ever put into an expansion, I'd skip that one. Sure, we're in the "fantasy" setting so it's not like what we're seeing hasn't been done before, but adding elves and/or dwarves is like admitting unoriginality, unless your franchise calls for it (Middle Eath-setting, Forgotten Realms, etc.).

Either way, I'm personally glad that there is only 1 "race" right now.

Blademaster · Mar 14, 2005, 07:56 PM // 19:56

Ditto, except to the fact that if they would have built the game around having those 3 classes it might have worked, but as for adding them after it's released? That would be quite stupid of them.

Loviatar · Mar 14, 2005, 08:31 PM // 20:31

Gaile said there is a posibilityof other races in future chapters and that would be possible since as stated eachchapter is supposed to be full game size rather than a expansion

she made a great point of full size chapters rather than a tacked on smaller expansion

chapters will also have a full size price

Kha · Mar 15, 2005, 12:52 AM // 00:52

I hope they don't add other playable races. There are already NPC dwarves, so I would assume they would be a likely candidate for a playable race, and elves would be easy enough to add, but it seems pointless to me. Considering the game will be released with just one playable race, what will the other races offer instead of just new looks?

If they come with traits, strengths and weaknesses, then that would be unfair to the already established community playing the game. And if it is just for looks, why not create those alterations for release so people don't have to delete already made characters if they find a new race/look in an expansion that they like? I'm sure they will figure out the best answer IF they put in other races.

Maybe they will just be new professions?

Loviatar · Mar 15, 2005, 12:58 AM // 00:58

it would be fair if the new characters were balanced against what was already available (which Gaile said would be the case of new chapters)

more variety new looks new challenge

sounds good to me

Mar 15, 2005, 05:35 AM // 05:35

It was said that the new chapters would be standalone, as in a whole new story. They also wont be giving out racial traits at all.

Kirbie · Mar 15, 2005, 06:04 AM // 06:04

thanks all for great answers

but...I have one more question

Ok...lets say an expansion will be same as full game; and other race(s) are introduced.
So, if you are willing, you can start to build your new race character.
"But" I'm pretty sure some people will just continue with their character from previous chapter. (hey, humans are good looking too

)
Now...I see little conflict when it comes to quest.

Lets say people who is staying with previous character is level 20
And lets say people who wants to build new race character is level 1...since they have to start over.
How monsters in expansion quest will be balanced?
It will either too easy for level 20 people if monsters are balanced for level 1 people; or too hard for level 1 people, if monsters are balanced for level 20 people.

I only could think of few things to fix this problem
1st option = magic formula

2nd option = everyone needs to start over for expansion quest. (previous character will only be available for PvP in expansion)

3rd option = Game will detect expansion with new race. Since buying 1st one is mendatory; you will be able to choose new race from 1st quest.

3rd option sounds good, but then people who went thru with human, but wants to change race will suffer; because they have to go thru 1st quest with new race character all over again.

Any thoughts?

Nova · Mar 15, 2005, 06:08 AM // 06:08

I am pretty sure you will have to create a new elf if you want. Don't worry. Expansions are wuiet a while away. You'll want to start a new character tehn probably.

Davion · Mar 15, 2005, 06:40 AM // 06:40

hehe.... kirbie,

the only bad question is the question never asked. Was just a flat answer. if it sounded cold its because it is FREEZING here. and maybe too that I work more than I live.. makes for wonderful dead man walking paradox.

just watch when somebody says "may" or "might".. its never final until they say it is

Nova · Mar 15, 2005, 06:43 AM // 06:43

Um, could you please tell me what your talkign about so we al lknow? I'm confused.... I'm sure we all are...

ThePaper · Mar 15, 2005, 06:55 AM // 06:55

I think he was saying that each new expansion will come with 1 quest, and that that quest will be too hard for a lvl 1 or too easy for a lvl 20.

I dont think that is a viable issue, as each expansion will probably have more than 1 new quest, and the new charachter will be able to level up his/her elf before they go into the new quest(s).

Also I don't think we should get the standard rpg races, we should get to play some of the ingame races avalibly, like the charr possibly. This would open up some interesting race vs race options, and possibly raiding/raiding quests and the charr/humans taking/losing land to each other, changing the world. I have yet to play the game so i dont know if the story would allow this, it is just an idea.

Kirbie · Mar 15, 2005, 07:04 AM // 07:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davion

hehe.... kirbie,

the only bad question is the question never asked. Was just a flat answer. if it sounded cold its because it is FREEZING here. and maybe too that I work more than I live.. makes for wonderful dead man walking paradox.

just watch when somebody says "may" or "might".. its never final until they say it is

i understand...so no worries

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nova

Um, could you please tell me what your talkign about so we al lknow? I'm confused.... I'm sure we all are...

sorry...ill try my best to simplify
example:
-I decided to make a new race character. My new character is now level 1
-John Doe wants to stay with his previously built character. He is beefy level 20.
-John Doe and I decided to do expansion quest.

Problem:
-I'm having hard time with expansion quest...because monsters are too strong(because monsters are balanced for John Doe)
OR
-John Doe is sleeping while doing expansion quest, because monsters are having hard time putting dent on his armour. (Too easy because monsters are balanced for me)

hopefully this simplifies
sorry about confusions

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirbie

I only could think of few things to fix this problem
1st option = magic formula

2nd option = everyone needs to start over for expansion quest. (previous character will only be available for PvP in expansion)

3rd option = Game will detect expansion with new race. Since buying 1st one is mendatory; you will be able to choose new race from 1st quest.

3rd option sounds good, but then people who went thru with human, but wants to change race will suffer; because they have to go thru 1st quest with new race character all over again.

this is straight forward and clear to understand right?

Davion · Mar 15, 2005, 07:11 AM // 07:11

Ahh this I encountered..... my friend made a new character in pre-ascalon...I styaed with my lvl 8. It was like watching wind bend reeds... for me anyway.. I didn't get experience but he did ( he was lvl 1).. As far as Post-Searing ascalon.. (pre totorial land)... it may still hold to same setup... the monsters setting at the lower characters lvl of difficulty.. As for sure bet answer... I'd say deadroot might know.

Kha · Mar 15, 2005, 03:55 PM // 15:55

Maybe somehow it will be like how they have pre-made 20s already. You make a RP 20 and you can access all three cities. You don't have to go through the low missions to get to the high ones. Maybe, depending on your character(s) lvl when you get the expansion, you have access to certain cities.

Or maybe there will be one main city that everyone can access, and there will be different paths of quests/missions for you to venture on. One could be for the freshly made lvl 1s and other low lvls, one could be for midlevel, and one could be for high lvls.

Just ideas. I'd like to think that I don't have to create a new character just to experience an expansion, though depending on the added profession(s), I will probably make new characters anyways. I'm hoping for an assassin/ninja.

Loviatar · Mar 15, 2005, 05:43 PM // 17:43

the expansions will be the size of a full game so there is plenty of room for a small leveling area for a completely new character and who is to say an ELF for example couldnt START out as a level 5 (or higher) character to begin with and level up fast

sort of like an elf pre sear askalon then into the game with everybody else that is continung the human

Mar 14, 2005, 04:48 PM // 16:48	#1
Kirbie Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Mar 2005	Character diversity We all know that we start with race of human I heard that as expansion comes out, we can choose the race. Is that means...we have to build our character all over again? For example.... The game releases on April So I bought it and started to play human (lets say even though I want to be an elf, I have no choice but to play as human) With hard work and time input...reached level 20(with fancy gears) Expansion comes out few months later Ah...new races!! including elf Do I have to build my character all over again? Will there be racial advantage? Like humans good at this, elves are good at that and so on. Will expansions be standalone? or do you have to buy all previous ones in order to play new expansion? Please help me with these questions thanks

Mar 14, 2005, 07:37 PM // 19:37	#6
Shrapnel_Magnet Pirate? Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: British Columbia, Canada Guild: Idiot Savants Profession: R/	Personally, I like to think that Arena.Net is smart enough to not add "elf" playable characters. In the event of new races, getting to level 20 is not really THAT difficult... doing all the missions should put you close. As for the equipment or items that you have... well, that's why they want to have Account Storage. While you will lose all the customized items if you erase your character, you could put anything else they have into your "storage" box or whatever they end up putting in. If elves are ever put into an expansion, I'd skip that one. Sure, we're in the "fantasy" setting so it's not like what we're seeing hasn't been done before, but adding elves and/or dwarves is like admitting unoriginality, unless your franchise calls for it (Middle Eath-setting, Forgotten Realms, etc.). Either way, I'm personally glad that there is only 1 "race" right now. __________________ Show Some Beta Love!

Mar 15, 2005, 12:52 AM // 00:52	#9
Kha Sins FTW! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Guild: Angel Sharks [AS]	I hope they don't add other playable races. There are already NPC dwarves, so I would assume they would be a likely candidate for a playable race, and elves would be easy enough to add, but it seems pointless to me. Considering the game will be released with just one playable race, what will the other races offer instead of just new looks? If they come with traits, strengths and weaknesses, then that would be unfair to the already established community playing the game. And if it is just for looks, why not create those alterations for release so people don't have to delete already made characters if they find a new race/look in an expansion that they like? I'm sure they will figure out the best answer IF they put in other races. Maybe they will just be new professions? __________________

Mar 15, 2005, 03:55 PM // 15:55	#19
Kha Sins FTW! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Guild: Angel Sharks [AS]	Maybe somehow it will be like how they have pre-made 20s already. You make a RP 20 and you can access all three cities. You don't have to go through the low missions to get to the high ones. Maybe, depending on your character(s) lvl when you get the expansion, you have access to certain cities. Or maybe there will be one main city that everyone can access, and there will be different paths of quests/missions for you to venture on. One could be for the freshly made lvl 1s and other low lvls, one could be for midlevel, and one could be for high lvls. Just ideas. I'd like to think that I don't have to create a new character just to experience an expansion, though depending on the added profession(s), I will probably make new characters anyways. I'm hoping for an assassin/ninja. __________________

Mar 14, 2005, 05:22 PM // 17:22	#2
Davion Krytan Explorer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: wherever the winds take me Profession: R/Mo	you "heard"... just remember a lot of people can be speculative and want to forsee what MAY be coming ...... simply put they can't know what's coming until either GW site itself makes something official or Gaille Grey / Alex Weekes says its offficial.... anything else would fall under rumor or hearsay. your best bet is to assume the status quo... human only..and wait for them to decide if they add more.

Mar 14, 2005, 05:52 PM // 17:52	#4
Kirbie Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Mar 2005	[QUOTE=Davion]you "heard"... just remember a lot of people can be speculative and want to forsee what MAY be coming ...... simply put they can't know what's coming until either GW site itself makes something official or Gaille Grey / Alex Weekes says its offficial.... anything else would fall under rumor or hearsay. well... I heard it from offcial guildwars support page It's listed on page 4 of official support page: What playable races are there in Guild Wars? Question What playable races are there in Guild Wars? Answer In the first chapter you will be able to play characters from the human race. In subsequent chapters of Guild Wars, you may be able to play members of other races I know we "may" be able to play...but I though it would be a good question to ask sorry if it was a bad question

Mar 14, 2005, 06:14 PM // 18:14	#5
Loviatar Underworld Spelunker Join Date: Feb 2005	in an interview it was stated that the initial game was mandatory but any and all additional chapters would be optional and you did not have to buy chapter 2 to use chapter 3 as each chapter builds on 1 and is a complete chapter in and of itself as they said NO CLIFFHANGERS to try to make you buy the next one AS FOR ELF it is a new character so yes you start it over BALANCE the elf will not be uber etc

Mar 14, 2005, 07:56 PM // 19:56	#7
Blademaster Academy Page Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA	Ditto, except to the fact that if they would have built the game around having those 3 classes it might have worked, but as for adding them after it's released? That would be quite stupid of them.

Mar 14, 2005, 08:31 PM // 20:31	#8
Loviatar Underworld Spelunker Join Date: Feb 2005	Gaile said there is a posibilityof other races in future chapters and that would be possible since as stated eachchapter is supposed to be full game size rather than a expansion she made a great point of full size chapters rather than a tacked on smaller expansion chapters will also have a full size price

Mar 15, 2005, 12:58 AM // 00:58	#10
Loviatar Underworld Spelunker Join Date: Feb 2005	it would be fair if the new characters were balanced against what was already available (which Gaile said would be the case of new chapters) more variety new looks new challenge sounds good to me

Mar 15, 2005, 05:35 AM // 05:35	#11
Blackace Guest	It was said that the new chapters would be standalone, as in a whole new story. They also wont be giving out racial traits at all.

Mar 15, 2005, 06:04 AM // 06:04	#12
Kirbie Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Mar 2005	thanks all for great answers but...I have one more question Ok...lets say an expansion will be same as full game; and other race(s) are introduced. So, if you are willing, you can start to build your new race character. "But" I'm pretty sure some people will just continue with their character from previous chapter. (hey, humans are good looking too ) Now...I see little conflict when it comes to quest. Lets say people who is staying with previous character is level 20 And lets say people who wants to build new race character is level 1...since they have to start over. How monsters in expansion quest will be balanced? It will either too easy for level 20 people if monsters are balanced for level 1 people; or too hard for level 1 people, if monsters are balanced for level 20 people. I only could think of few things to fix this problem 1st option = magic formula 2nd option = everyone needs to start over for expansion quest. (previous character will only be available for PvP in expansion) 3rd option = Game will detect expansion with new race. Since buying 1st one is mendatory; you will be able to choose new race from 1st quest. 3rd option sounds good, but then people who went thru with human, but wants to change race will suffer; because they have to go thru 1st quest with new race character all over again. Any thoughts?

Mar 15, 2005, 06:08 AM // 06:08	#13
Nova Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: CA Guild: Lords Of Kryta (LoK) Profession: R/Me	I am pretty sure you will have to create a new elf if you want. Don't worry. Expansions are wuiet a while away. You'll want to start a new character tehn probably.

Mar 15, 2005, 06:40 AM // 06:40	#14
Davion Krytan Explorer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: wherever the winds take me Profession: R/Mo	hehe.... kirbie, the only bad question is the question never asked. Was just a flat answer. if it sounded cold its because it is FREEZING here. and maybe too that I work more than I live.. makes for wonderful dead man walking paradox. just watch when somebody says "may" or "might".. its never final until they say it is

Mar 15, 2005, 06:43 AM // 06:43	#15
Nova Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: CA Guild: Lords Of Kryta (LoK) Profession: R/Me	Um, could you please tell me what your talkign about so we al lknow? I'm confused.... I'm sure we all are...

Mar 15, 2005, 06:55 AM // 06:55	#16
ThePaper Banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: I live in an atom bomb in Japan	I think he was saying that each new expansion will come with 1 quest, and that that quest will be too hard for a lvl 1 or too easy for a lvl 20. I dont think that is a viable issue, as each expansion will probably have more than 1 new quest, and the new charachter will be able to level up his/her elf before they go into the new quest(s). Also I don't think we should get the standard rpg races, we should get to play some of the ingame races avalibly, like the charr possibly. This would open up some interesting race vs race options, and possibly raiding/raiding quests and the charr/humans taking/losing land to each other, changing the world. I have yet to play the game so i dont know if the story would allow this, it is just an idea.

Mar 15, 2005, 07:11 AM // 07:11	#18
Davion Krytan Explorer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: wherever the winds take me Profession: R/Mo	Ahh this I encountered..... my friend made a new character in pre-ascalon...I styaed with my lvl 8. It was like watching wind bend reeds... for me anyway.. I didn't get experience but he did ( he was lvl 1).. As far as Post-Searing ascalon.. (pre totorial land)... it may still hold to same setup... the monsters setting at the lower characters lvl of difficulty.. As for sure bet answer... I'd say deadroot might know.

Mar 15, 2005, 05:43 PM // 17:43	#20
Loviatar Underworld Spelunker Join Date: Feb 2005	the expansions will be the size of a full game so there is plenty of room for a small leveling area for a completely new character and who is to say an ELF for example couldnt START out as a level 5 (or higher) character to begin with and level up fast sort of like an elf pre sear askalon then into the game with everybody else that is continung the human