Curse

mrmojo · Jun 21, 2006, 08:37 PM // 20:37

maybe you should get a life

Yoshiro · Jun 21, 2006, 09:12 PM // 21:12

Premise: i have a Necro chara (and 1 war and 1 ele) with both the 2 campaigns completed (with all bonus/master ), 3 normal skillset complete,180 elite skills...and i had explored the most part (90% at least) of both maps..All of this for telling one thing: Factions is BORING. Pve Part: 1)story:foregone,too short and with missions annoyng most than difficult... 2) Elite mission? the duration is 3-5hours with high difficult situations,monsters and crappy rewards (except zodiac weapons: great skin i admit it).Farming? Yes,thx ( for kurzick/luxon rewards,before ot those i have farmed ecto and shard for my fow armor) but WHY in pvp? The battles are random then very often i found team of noobs and now one question: when you get all the points for amber/jadeite,why continue? To conquer an outpost? When i want to go in elite mission i can ask for a taxi,then why? At last (but no least)in Factions the component Hack and Slash is too prevalling: in Prophecies this important component is mitigate by the exploring part (maps and mission) and the interest for the story. Pvp? no thx...so many skills so few types of team builds...The what can i do at this point in the game? New green weapons farm? they are pretty uselss and hard to sell...why do not add new quests and for them a decent reward?

BloodBuckle · Jun 22, 2006, 04:09 AM // 04:09

I have to completely disagree with the topic.

When I bought prophecies I was expecting some traditional MMO aspects, guess I didnt look into it enough(got it day it came out.) Got bored after a month of play. Came back got bored again. Came back during Christmas time played for a bit then got bored after my guild broke up. Then I read about factions, played the preview and I have to say I like it more then prophecies. Only real dissapointments were no increase in level cap, storages still same size, and thats it! I love the game so much, that the first day it came out I spent all 24 hours of the day playing it, had to get off because all the coffee and soda was making me twitch. I just hope that NCsoft keeps making the games better.

hypocrites_tale · Jun 23, 2006, 04:58 AM // 04:58

My friend just signed off after 10 hours of consecutive play.

Factions is really addictive, and the pvp has me shouting over ventrillo as emotionally as a drunk watching oprah.

I have a love for combinations, control, and graphic aesthetics. Factions offers them all.

ps i got factions on sale for 12 bucks off. XD

Amity and Truth · Jun 23, 2006, 01:33 PM // 13:33

It honestly was to be expected that Factions would strike many as boring real quick. Yes there are some real problems in the game and it's certainly not perfect. There are many mistakes in the plotline, lousy voice acting and some badly synchronized cutscenes - but Prophecies had them too.
That's not the reason.
The reason might simply be that we are now better at Guildwars and know how to play. The first time through the game, it took me a whole month back in prophecies. Though my second character was allready down to 14 days and my third was through in 2 days. (Not actual days, but playtime).

Then, when i started Factions and just played i was done in like 21 hours. Why that? Because there is less content? Maybe, but moreover because i allways completed the missions first or second try, breezing through the game like it was nothing... that's the problem. We're simply too good.

Swinging Fists · Jun 23, 2006, 08:27 PM // 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amity and Truth

Then, when i started Factions and just played i was done in like 21 hours. Why that? Because there is less content? Maybe, but moreover because i allways completed the missions first or second try, breezing through the game like it was nothing... that's the problem. We're simply too good.

Ok, I just started playing GW this past February, and this post brings a question to mind. When GW was originally released, and people didn't really know how to play, were any of the PvE missions really really hard ? Were there any (THK) that people just couldn't get by ? Is it that we have just become very good and the missions SEEM easy now or were they never that hard to begin with ?

Also, when Factions first came out, people commented that the missions are now harder and you actually have to have skill to finish the game. Is this true ? Are there actually people who are trying to progress that aren't able to get past a certain mission ? I know there are places where it is difficult to get a group due to lack of people there, but I attribute this more to people doing other things, like AB's, repeatable quests, not playing Factions because they don't like it, etc. Are there people who actually do not have the ability to make it through the Factions storyline ?

Athena99 · Jun 23, 2006, 09:02 PM // 21:02

i like factions. before getting to the mainland its a little stale, but after that you have a lot of fun doing missions and primary quests. i also have a lot of fun because i tried an assassin, and i admit it, its hard. but i like the challenge of trying to stay alive. i also drag my guild buddies along, so that makes it more entertaining xD

Amity and Truth · Jun 23, 2006, 09:26 PM // 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swinging Fists

Ok, I just started playing GW this past February, and this post brings a question to mind. When GW was originally released, and people didn't really know how to play, were any of the PvE missions really really hard ? Were there any (THK) that people just couldn't get by ? Is it that we have just become very good and the missions SEEM easy now or were they never that hard to begin with ?

Hrm, i remember a time back in the Preview Days were Guildwars was not yet released that people had some huge problems with two of the jungle missions (Bloodstone Fen and Riverside Province). At the end of bloodstone fen, the part with that close combat boss, many a two teams were just slaughtered by the boss.
And the Riverside Mission was an even more severe problem... people were just incapable of appropiate pulling or anything and got slaughtered many many times. (Speaking about the Preview Event which had the jungle missions in them, starting from Lion's Arch)

After the release though, those missions were a breeze as people have learned how to play in the missions and quests before and as soon as they got to these missions, they did them in no time. Though they then hit the desert. And they hit it like a train would hit a mountain. If you search for some of the older threads on this board you will probably see thousands and thousands of complains, frustration and what not about the desert and especially those "impossible" missions. Missions like Thirsty River, Elona Reach and Dunes of Despair. Those missions caused fear back in those days.
What are they today? Go in, breeze through, yawn some and moan about the boring dragon's lair.
And the Doppelganger? Oh boy, how people were whining and complaining about the Doppelgange being invincible, yet they beat it with lots and lots of tries. Now? Go in, kill, go out (okay that one actually was nerfed in one of the updates).

That's basically the problem with us, the community in my opinion. If you don't believe me simply compare your current view on missions like Thirsty River with the impression you first had when playing the game.

And from a fried of mine, who started Guildwars completely with a new character... she felt like smashing her head against a wall while playing. I often heard her say that the game is too fricking hard, some of the missions would not be completable and... you get the point.
The old community on the other hand... well... cut through the missions like a hot knive through butter. Basically no Guildwars Content. No storyline, no plot will keep a good and experienced player busy for more than a few hours. And what then follows is what's called the endgame content.

In Factions that would be Factionfarming, Elitemissions, Titles or PVP. With faction farming being pointless, Elitemissions being too easy, Titles being utterly pointless and worthless and PVP still being something for only the interested... there basically is no endgame content thus creating a somewhat dull and boring impression of Factions while it indeed isn't really any more different from Prophecies.

Add another factor into the mix. People tend to like the old things better than the newer ones. The glitter of nostalgia. Ever heard a 60 year old person speak? "Ye good ole times eh?". You will basically hear something along the lines of, everything was better back then. Ever seen an update in a computer game (of course you have)? What will you? Countless amounts of people complaining about the change. You think this behaviour is exclusive to Guildwars? You're wrong, Quake, Counter-Strike, Unreal Tournament, World of Warcraft, Neverwinter Nights, Everquest, Lineage... yadda yadda yadda etc etc etc.

Pompeyfan · Jun 24, 2006, 04:05 PM // 16:05

Totally bored with Factions - I took 5 characters through prophecies and enjoyed re-doing areas/trips with guildies/friends but Factions is just some damn boring - too linear, too much back-tracking in quests, stupid time-limits and too many mobs in small areas - it dosen't make it challanging, it makes it annoying plus even if you don't want to farm you're forced to just to get into two cities to carry on the game as not enough unique missions to get the faction required.

I've taken 2 of my characters through factions and done every mission/quest possible on each and I just can't be arsed to go through all the grind again with the other 3 let alone try out the two new ones (which I find totally underwhelming).

I got Propechies a year ago and in the 9 month's I played it solidly I built up over a 100 hours worth of TV on my Sky+ box to watch as I was spending time in GW, since Faction's has come out I've managed to get all that TV watched and my Sky+ is now empty - I think that gives a good indiction of how little interest I'm finding with Factions.

ubermancer · Jun 24, 2006, 04:59 PM // 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amity and Truth

Hrm, i remember a time back in the Preview Days were Guildwars was not yet released that people had some huge problems with two of the jungle missions (Bloodstone Fen and Riverside Province). At the end of bloodstone fen, the part with that close combat boss, many a two teams were just slaughtered by the boss.
And the Riverside Mission was an even more severe problem... people were just incapable of appropiate pulling or anything and got slaughtered many many times. (Speaking about the Preview Event which had the jungle missions in them, starting from Lion's Arch)

After the release though, those missions were a breeze as people have learned how to play in the missions and quests before and as soon as they got to these missions, they did them in no time. Though they then hit the desert. And they hit it like a train would hit a mountain. If you search for some of the older threads on this board you will probably see thousands and thousands of complains, frustration and what not about the desert and especially those "impossible" missions. Missions like Thirsty River, Elona Reach and Dunes of Despair. Those missions caused fear back in those days.
What are they today? Go in, breeze through, yawn some and moan about the boring dragon's lair.
And the Doppelganger? Oh boy, how people were whining and complaining about the Doppelgange being invincible, yet they beat it with lots and lots of tries. Now? Go in, kill, go out (okay that one actually was nerfed in one of the updates).

That's basically the problem with us, the community in my opinion. If you don't believe me simply compare your current view on missions like Thirsty River with the impression you first had when playing the game.

And from a fried of mine, who started Guildwars completely with a new character... she felt like smashing her head against a wall while playing. I often heard her say that the game is too fricking hard, some of the missions would not be completable and... you get the point.
The old community on the other hand... well... cut through the missions like a hot knive through butter. Basically no Guildwars Content. No storyline, no plot will keep a good and experienced player busy for more than a few hours. And what then follows is what's called the endgame content.

In Factions that would be Factionfarming, Elitemissions, Titles or PVP. With faction farming being pointless, Elitemissions being too easy, Titles being utterly pointless and worthless and PVP still being something for only the interested... there basically is no endgame content thus creating a somewhat dull and boring impression of Factions while it indeed isn't really any more different from Prophecies.

Add another factor into the mix. People tend to like the old things better than the newer ones. The glitter of nostalgia. Ever heard a 60 year old person speak? "Ye good ole times eh?". You will basically hear something along the lines of, everything was better back then. Ever seen an update in a computer game (of course you have)? What will you? Countless amounts of people complaining about the change. You think this behaviour is exclusive to Guildwars? You're wrong, Quake, Counter-Strike, Unreal Tournament, World of Warcraft, Neverwinter Nights, Everquest, Lineage... yadda yadda yadda etc etc etc.

Quoted to re-enforce the truth.

Azu · Jun 27, 2006, 01:56 PM // 13:56

Think about it like this... if you hadn't bought Factions, you wouldn't have access to the event this weekend... and I'm sure they'll be adding some new area soon before the release of Chapter Three like Sorrow's Furnace was added, it's just a matter of waiting for them to complete these types of things.

I, for one, love Factions, theres so much to do even though the game is kinda short. It's still very challenging.

Drake Striker · Jul 01, 2006, 10:26 AM // 10:26

I, like many other people was less then impressed with Factions. Don't get me wrong I still play, but not with the same zeal as with Proph. One reason is that due to the sheer increase in areas guildies, are far more spread out. Prior to it's release everyone in the guild was pretty much in the same areas with all their characters... and if not you could get there fast enough with a good guildie running you. The Anti-running added ( Which I hate with a passion) forces you to play through the whole story line over and over, rather then letting you get to the end game goodies with all your characters sooner. If I didn't have such an awesome guild I would have quit after factions...

FalconDance · Jul 01, 2006, 05:17 PM // 17:17

I took approx 9 characters all the way through Prophecies (and 'retired' several of them). My roster is now half (4) Tyrian veterans and half (3) Canthan. Which do I enjoy more?

Factions, actually. None of my girls have done all the quests out of the Kaineng metro area (they are never-ending!) but Lili, my Tyrian ranger, is now beginning her Luxon quests and has explored quite a bit of the Jade Sea. Ruby, Canthan warrior, has garnered a decent amount of Kurzick faction and is deep within the Echovald.....happily henching.

The Kaineng quests bore me in that it's run here--run there--run back to over there. Kaineng is the typical older city rabbit-warren, something I don't like in real life

(I avoid even big towns whenever possible). But out in the countryside, there's something new to see every time one of the girls go out!

Factions makes me think strategy and alternate builds much more than Prophecies ever did. Lili can't get into a PUG in Cantha (ranger-haters

) but my mesmer gets invites all the time even though she's newly emigrated. Ruby, a warrior/rit can't get into most parties either! Someone once told me it was because there were "too many tanks" (!) So she carries a focus instead of a shield and merrily scythes the foe down with henches. My ele, Minau, has trouble when people find she isn't a fire nuker---but they all want her when they hear she's a Dirty Minion Mistress (earth-based

)!

So many people bitch about how hard Factions' mobs/missions are.....geesh! Give a challenge and a possibility for death and listen to the crowd whine! A friend recently was ranting on Vent about never being able to take his tank out without operating at serious dp. At the time Ruby was in the Echovald with henches --far, far further than his tank ever dreamed about since he vehemently disagrees with the factions system-- and had NO dp whatsoever (not to say she never dies, it's just pretty rare). I think it's a solid mix of skill usage and a little luck in spawns. Certainly, Anet didn't set out to make a game that only a small handful could ever successfully fight. And the argument I hear frequently is the whole factions system being bullsh*t. Well, since that was the premise from day one and (the generic) you still bought (multiple copies in some instances) the game, whose fault is that and why do you think you have the right to bitch about it now?

Anti-running works for me. I HATE it when I see so many begging for runners to short cut them everywhere or to see lvl 5s in Forge armor in Ascalon! ("*insert profession here* in Drok's armor lfg" anyone?

) Yes, it's a little tiresome to take each character through everything but since each profession plays differently and has a potentially completely different effect on a PUG (or hench make-up), it's almost like a different mission each time. Now, if you were playing the same profession over and over with little variation and complaining about boredom, then who's the fool?

Prophecies is longer and slower but Factions keeps me thinking and coming back for more.

Gift_of_darkness · Jul 02, 2006, 09:12 AM // 09:12

The factions game is easy, but the pvp is good. (apart from HA /rank ><)

Antheus · Jul 02, 2006, 12:08 PM // 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wotan

Is it just me or does factions not offer much challenge and the same urge to play the game like Prophecies did? I was bored with factions already 1 week after release...I remember the good old phrophecies times where i played for 16+ hours a day. With Factions everything changed...i log on, see all friends offline and log off. Gameplay is horrible imho.

...i feel ripped off for paying 50 bucks for this game!

16+ hours a day?

That means no job, no school, no social life?

I'd say Factions just improved your life.

rkubik · Jul 10, 2006, 11:56 PM // 23:56

I agree with you. I have had many PUGs where I have wanted them to take a mesmer and they said no way. I was just in eternal grove miss and they kicked the mesmer. When I asked why they said they were not doing anything. I replied with they were interupting skills the whole time and the leader said "what good is that?" I promptly left the group. If you have a good mesmer the missions are sooo much easier in both campaigns especially in the later stages of prophecies. I like factions but it is hard to top the original.

Cebe · Jul 11, 2006, 12:48 PM // 12:48

I feel most people will remain loyal to the first game they bought. As for me, the first one I bought was factions. I liked it so much I bought Prophecies a couple of months later, when I'd finished all the Canthan missions. My first impression of Prophecies was "What...? What...? Is this EVEN possible?" Some of the enemies in Tyria make Shiro look like a big black fluffy Chow-Chow, lying next to a nice warm crackling fire, with the only care in the world being when it would get it's dinner. They are MENTAL. I can only play in Tyria for a couple of hours before I get bored and have to come back to Cantha again.

Maybe the Tyrians are a bunch of hard nuts, hardened by encounters with the variety of impossible enemies on their side of the water. I feel sometimes in Tyria, in particular the Black Curtain, there are just too many enemies to make it any fun - it just makes me give up cause I get bored of continually killing more and more stuff that pops up out of the ground and having NO energy. On the upside, Tyria does have more teleporters in the explorable zones - which is fun.

Cantha for me all the way. I'll be interested to see reactions to Campaign 3, due for release some time in the winter I think. Maybe it will get double the hatred from Factions and Prophecies, or maybe the creators will figure out that by combining certain aspects of the two games they could make a really good one.

felinette · Jul 11, 2006, 02:29 PM // 14:29

I agree with a lot of the great points in this thread. I do think those who have Prophecies are more likely to be bored with Factions because we already know the system, and the additional skills and professions didn't add much variety to the mix. There isn't much to work with as things stand now, especially when Anet insists on forcing PvE and PvP together. I think they could get a lot more creative with quests and skills if they separated them. I know that wasn't their vision, but if your vision isn't working in practice and is turning an interesting game into mediocre one, then it's time to revisit it and perhaps throw it out the window.

bpphantom · Jul 12, 2006, 01:39 PM // 13:39

Well, I enjoy Factions, but getting to level 20 before actually leaving the island is a little... well, anti-climactic.
The hench's at least keep up in level better than they did in Prophesies, and they're some nice additions, but the story in Proph is a metric ton better.

Still, I like my Cantha toons. The ability to take them back and forth to get skills, including duplicates with different names, is great.

PvP... meh. I don't.

|pyro| · Jul 12, 2006, 02:04 PM // 14:04

I also think that proph story is better.
But al leat you get ascended in 24h and you can go to FoW. The only reasion I made my monk in factions was cozfast lvl up fast ascension then Went to warcamp and ToA and lived happay aver after like a farmer.