Curse

wolfe2dale · Mar 02, 2006, 12:53 PM // 12:53

Hi,

I have been reading the Factions FAQ on the Guild Wars website & would like to open a few questions to the forum.

According to the FAQ certain areas of pve will only be accessable by the alliance of guilds currently holding that part of the continent.

This seems interesting to me, up until now any part of pve has been available to any player tenacious, or good enough to access it. Now, though it appears that you will have to be a part of a much larger alliance instead.

So my 1st question is this... Will certain parts of the game now be forever off-limits to those players who, for whatever reason, are not part of a large alliance capable of winning these areas?

my 2nd question is this... Is it likely that after the first few months of gameplay has finished will we settle into a game that has a few, huge, alliances that control certain portions of the map constantly?

&, my 3rd question is this... If this happens will that put off new players, or those veteran players unlucky enough to be in a guild not in one of these alliances from playing the game?

I am probably over exagerrating this, but would really appreciate feedback anyway.

Lord Valkyr · Mar 02, 2006, 12:58 PM // 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfe2dale

According to the FAQ certain areas of pve will only be accessable by the alliance of guilds currently holding that part of the continent.

This seems interesting to me, up until now any part of pve has been available to any player tenacious, or good enough to access it

The only exception to this rule I can think of is UW/FoW. Where you can only get in if your continent has favor. I can see where youre coming from though. I could imagine you would be pretty close in saying that eventually there are only going to a few large alliances...

Makkert · Mar 02, 2006, 01:09 PM // 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfe2dale

So my 1st question is this... Will certain parts of the game now be forever off-limits to those players who, for whatever reason, are not part of a large alliance capable of winning these areas?

Hard to say at this point in time. It's all about how they implement it. If they implement like: either Luxons or Kurzicks have access to it, then you just have to be in the same faction. And guild can probably change their faction. If it is alliance based (a group of guilds that holds an area) then it could maybe be limited to the number of guilds an alliance can have (say, 5 guilds in one alliance maximal for example). In that case it would probably be hard to hold 24 hours a day. But this is all speculation. Your concern is a valid one, but will remain speculation till further information is released.

Quote:

my 2nd question is this... Is it likely that after the first few months of gameplay has finished will we settle into a game that has a few, huge, alliances that control certain portions of the map constantly?

speculation once more. But I think ANet would think on this one.

Quote:

&, my 3rd question is this... If this happens will that put off new players, or those veteran players unlucky enough to be in a guild not in one of these alliances from playing the game?

Depends on the implementation once more. What I think will be in effect, is that small guilds (like 1 man guilds) won't be interesting enough to form alliances with. This may lead to bigger robust guilds, which is a good thing imho.

my 2 cents,

Makk.

Cador · Mar 02, 2006, 01:10 PM // 13:10

[QUOTE=wolfe2dale]Hi,

This seems interesting to me, up until now any part of pve has been available to any player tenacious, or good enough to access it. Now, though it appears that you will have to be a part of a much larger alliance instead.

So my 1st question is this... Will certain parts of the game now be forever off-limits to those players who, for whatever reason, are not part of a large alliance capable of winning these areas?

my 2nd question is this... Is it likely that after the first few months of gameplay has finished will we settle into a game that has a few, huge, alliances that control certain portions of the map constantly?

[QUOTE]

If this happens i will never play factions OR i will build my guild to up to 100+ players and just attack constantly. that is not how this should happen i think that any player should be able to get in maybe charge the player something like money and through players paying the guilds get a share of the cash.

second question i tend to agree with i think that is feasible but... i dont relaly like it. it will change the whole set up of new guilds and whatnot

wolfe2dale · Mar 02, 2006, 01:16 PM // 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makkert

Hard to say at this point in time. It's all about how they implement it. If they implement like: either Luxons or Kurzicks have access to it, then you just have to be in the same faction. And guild can probably change their faction. If it is alliance based (a group of guilds that holds an area) then it could maybe be limited to the number of guilds an alliance can have (say, 5 guilds in one alliance maximal for example). In that case it would probably be hard to hold 24 hours a day. But this is all speculation. Your concern is a valid one, but will remain speculation till further information is released.

Thanks for this, good answers that I had not thought of initially, I hope you are right about the 'Factions' idea, (like UW & FOW are now in Prophecies).

Even the idea that you will be limited to 5 guilds is still a little worrying, imagine if 5 elite guilds allied... They could hold a section of the continent almost indefinately. Of course some would say that it would be their right for being better....

It's all a matter of perspective though I guess. I wonder if Anet could answer this one before the release of the game?

Stabber · Mar 02, 2006, 01:32 PM // 13:32

I don't have official answers. However, my opinion is:

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfe2dale

So my 1st question is this... Will certain parts of the game now be forever off-limits to those players who, for whatever reason, are not part of a large alliance capable of winning these areas?

Yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfe2dale

my 2nd question is this... Is it likely that after the first few months of gameplay has finished will we settle into a game that has a few, huge, alliances that control certain portions of the map constantly?

Yes. I expect, as you do, that there will be a continual struggle between the top two or three alliances rather than a single dominating alliance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfe2dale

&, my 3rd question is this... If this happens will that put off new players, or those veteran players unlucky enough to be in a guild not in one of these alliances from playing the game?

One would hope not. However, if these new or veteran players expect to have guaranteed access to every area, then they are playing the wrong game. GW has been, from the very beginning, a game where access to certain areas has had to be won. If anything, Factions will make this philosophy more pervasive.

As a new player, one's secondary task after playing through the normal story will be to forge ties with other players. I expect there will be mechanisms in place that will prevent impenetrable cliques from forming. It will require effort, influence, and probably also money, to gain admission to the top alliances if one desires access to the elite content.

Luckily, ArenaNet has already stated that access to this elite content is not a requirement for finishing the normal storyline or participating in competitive PvP (which, really, is what GW is all about). Elite areas are like FoW armor -- a nearly impossible goal that exists to keep people playing the game for months on end.

wolfe2dale · Mar 02, 2006, 01:43 PM // 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stabber

I don't have official answers. However, my opinion is:
Yes.
Yes. I expect, as you do, that there will be a continual struggle between the top two or three alliances rather than a single dominating alliance.
One would hope not. However, if these new or veteran players expect to have guaranteed access to every area, then they are playing the wrong game. GW has been, from the very beginning, a game where access to certain areas has had to be won. If anything, Factions will make this philosophy more pervasive.

As a new player, one's secondary task after playing through the normal story will be to forge ties with other players. I expect there will be mechanisms in place that will prevent impenetrable cliques from forming. It will require effort, influence, and probably also money, to gain admission to the top alliances if one desires access to the elite content.

Luckily, ArenaNet has already stated that access to this elite content is not a requirement for finishing the normal storyline or participating in competitive PvP (which, really, is what GW is all about). Elite areas are like FoW armor -- a nearly impossible goal that exists to keep people playing the game for months on end.

I truly hope you are wrong about this... No part of the current game is not possible for a single player to complete by just playing a character from start to finish with the help of a few friends.

Even FoW armour is reachable if you have the patience & the guild to help.

If, as you suggest, players will be required to pay money or give items to certain guilds to gain access to elite areas it will turn this into another clone of WoW where a few players have a stranglehold on certain parts of the
endgame.

I, for one, will not be pursuing the game if this is the case.

Fantus · Mar 02, 2006, 02:03 PM // 14:03

As someone who thinks that the current Worlds at War concept sucks enough as it is, I am somewhat afraid that A-net is actually expanding on that idea instead of abandoning it.

So, yes, I am also wondering how many of the "50 new areas" I am even going to see, since I am not in an "Elite Guild" (since the term "Elite" always seems to be connected to rank and/or size). The guilds at the top end of the ladder approach GW in a different way than I do, so I don't even WANT to be in an "Elite Guild".

Personally I am a type of player how wants to gain access to high level content by their own deeds and not wishing to wait for some random event that enables me to finally go there. Like the way the access to UW/FoW is right now...

Guild Alliances - I am all for it. I also like the idea of alliances fighting each other for some reward. But PLEASE don't lock out players from the game's most interesting areas again, like it was done with UW and FoW. But basically I am quite afraid that exactly this is going to happen.

QuixotesGhost · Mar 02, 2006, 02:18 PM // 14:18

If there's special access, I'm almost certain it will be along the big faction lines. You know the Luxons... and I forget the other one. I really can't see Anet only giving access to the Elite guilds, especially when most of them don't even PvE.

What I'm concerned about is that one faction will start to get percieved as the "winning" one, and will get more and more stacked. Sort of like how a bunch of Europeans defected to American servers a while back.

beanerman_99 · Mar 02, 2006, 02:18 PM // 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantus

As someone who thinks that the current Worlds at War concept sucks enough as it is, I am somewhat afraid that A-net is actually expanding on that idea instead of abandoning it.

So, yes, I am also wondering how many of the "50 new areas" I am even going to see, since I am not in an "Elite Guild" (since the term "Elite" always seems to be connected to rank and/or size). The guilds at the top end of the ladder approach GW in a different way than I do, so I don't even WANT to be in an "Elite Guild".

Personally I am a type of player how wants to gain access to high level content by their own deeds and not wishing to wait for some random event that enables me to finally go there. Like the way the access to UW/FoW is right now...

Guild Alliances - I am all for it. I also like the idea of alliances fighting each other for some reward. But PLEASE don't lock out players from the game's most interesting areas again, like it was done with UW and FoW. But basically I am quite afraid that exactly this is going to happen.

/signed

fiery · Mar 02, 2006, 02:37 PM // 14:37

Remember 55 NEW MAPS for either side to take over.

Urfin · Mar 02, 2006, 04:37 PM // 16:37

I don't know, from my point of view, any sort of content locout that can be forced by players on other players is a bad thing in a game like GW. It works in EVE, which is very-very PVP, but even there content-hugging has proven to generally suck.

Competitive content access is ok as long as I don't have to team up with elitist assholes to get it.

wolfe2dale · Mar 02, 2006, 04:39 PM // 16:39

I have copied the following question & answer from a recent interview with Jeff Strain on a German website:

Question:
Let us simulate the worst-case scenario: The best guilds of Guild Wars form an alliance with each other that is, undoubtedly, going to be very successful. Will members of other alliances have any chance at all to enter the areas controlled by such mega-alliances? Are there going to be any more disadvantages that members of the inferior alliances must expect to face?

Answer:
You dont have to participate in that part of the game in order to fully enjoy all of the world playing content. The Factions and alliance speech is for players who wish to participate at that kind of level and I think that a lot of people really find that it is fun. People shouldn´t feel like if they don´t want to participate in that or if they are just a smaller guild who doesn´t want to join a larger guild to form a larger alliance than they are missing out any of the world content. That is not the case. It is true that the best alliance will have access to more cities but there is nothing in the elite missions that is going to finally put anybody into disadvantages. And you know, you have to have rewards and those people who work hard and win the rewards have to get benefits from them.
I certainly understand the statement I may not able to play on that level or not interesting in that and I think thats fine to but by the same token for those people who work hard and be competetive we have rewards.

So I guess there you have it... parts of the game will be off-limits to anyone not in a large alliance.

GW have done the worst thing I can possibly imagine to this game....damn.

Thank God Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion comes out at around the same time... I think I now know where my money will be spent.

Urfin · Mar 02, 2006, 04:58 PM // 16:58

Meh. Why do they never think of skilled active players that totally absolutely despise the company of most of the other skilled players, simply because the fact that those players are skilled is about the only non-revolting thing about them? Double meh.

Tarkin · Mar 02, 2006, 05:19 PM // 17:19

At end all of us will be lone wolfs... a game thas you "need", make part of a huge amouth of people to play some area...

dont work to me... and if dont work... like dont kill bosses to cap elite skills and try like a stupid cap thats skills while the boss are casting that... arenet will change it...

Stabber · Mar 02, 2006, 05:29 PM // 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfe2dale

GW have done the worst thing I can possibly imagine to this game....damn.

Thank God Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion comes out at around the same time... I think I now know where my money will be spent.

Well, that's one opinion. I can certainly imagine worse things they can do to the game (eg. make it PvE only). In any case, Anet are betting a lot on this design. If players leave in droves, Anet will fold and that will be the end of many promising careers. Compared to that, the worst you have to worry about is not getting to enjoy a game. I doubt Anet are making any choices lightly; they are no doubt well aware of opinions like yours and have done things to keep players like you.

And, to be realistic, was there ever a choice between Oblivion and Factions for you? Were you not going to buy Oblivion anyway? Be honest.

Kakumei · Mar 02, 2006, 05:45 PM // 17:45

<Origami> It's really not so much of an alliance than a tool for merging guilds. Nothing more.
<Adversary> well, odds are our guild will remain solo
<Adversary> we pretty much hate everyone else too much to ally with them
<Origami> Probably. Most guilds save for people like XoO won't just due to the sheer fact you lose identity.
<Origami> PvP guilds won't do it at all.
<Origami> It's purely a tool to clear up all the 2 people guilds.
<Origami> Nothing more.
<Adversary> so those people whining about "oh no what if iQ and Te and EvIL make an alliance" have nothing to worry about
<Origami> I'm not worried about it anymore.
<Origami> When you join an alliance, you become them. You don't team up with them - you become them.

Zehnchu · Mar 02, 2006, 05:49 PM // 17:49

Copy/pasted from another forum. Credits go to Gorani:

Quote:

News about GW:Factions (from Gamestar Magazine)

1. An “Alliance” can be formed by a maximum number of 10 “Guilds”

2. “Alliances” with top level faction-points will hold areas (=> If you load a story map a banner with “This area is part of the Luxon realm. It belongs to Alliance “XY” appears)

3. If you are member of Alliance “XY” you will get help from local NPCs (ie. mages will cast buffs on you, traders will make better prices)

4. The best “Alliance” will hold the capital city and will get access to places and areas, that are forbidden to others (ie. a special balcony from where you can look down)

5. How to earn faction for Luxon/Kurzick? (ie. bring quest items to the Luxon or Kurzick NPC; or on 16vs16 PvP maps with multiple goals over a period of time.)

So perhaps there are people who will never see these areas.

Count to Potato · Mar 02, 2006, 05:52 PM // 17:52

What would happen if top ladder guild form alliances?? Don't you think thats a little easy for them? And if you were EVIL would you not make alliances and try controlling everything soly?

Kakumei · Mar 02, 2006, 05:56 PM // 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count to Potato

What would happen if top ladder guild form alliances?? Don't you think thats a little easy for them? And if you were EVIL would you not make alliances and try controlling everything soly?

Why would PvP guilds care?