PvE newb question: Best way to see the world and story?

I've basically only ever played PvP, with my highest level PvE character being level 12 and stuck in Yak's Bend. But I've always been curious to see more of the lore and world behind Guildwars, and now with the new Guildwars 2 trailer fanning the flames, I'd like to start working my way through the campaigns.

Any tips on good ways to do this? Should I start in Nightfall and get heroes first, and then work my way through the earlier games? Will I be missing the low level story areas in Factions and Prophecies if I do this?

Money, unlocks, etc aren't an issue, since I have more than I will ever need from GvG bounties and other PvP. Just looking to see the world and story and have fun doing it. I'd like to avoid as much sitting in outposts in party search as possible, though I'm certainly happy to play with other players if they're also looking to do the same content as I am.

If it helps I'd like to have the PvE missions something of a challenge rather than mindlessly steam rolling them, if that's even possible these days. So no worries about getting a ton of PvE skills or needing the best EZmode farming builds available.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

Basically your best bet is to just play through the storylines normally. Do your Primary Quests and Secondaries if you choose to do so. If you have already started in Prof play through Prof, if you think you need heroes, your best bet is EotN, NF works too though. All in all, take your time with it, don't rush it and good luck to you.

Like Konker said, play through the storyline and do any and all secondary quests you find while in towns and explorable areas.

The storyline will give you generally 70-80% of the entire continent to see...the best to see more of it is to do the more little-known and utilized quests that appear from random civilians in explorable areas and outposts. They aren't necessarily the best way to gain money (which you said was no problem), but it gives you more purpose to go see more of the zones if you're not planning on just going out there to map your title

Personally i'd make my way through proph with hench / players and then think about making new chars in Factions/Nf,
just so you get 2 experience the begining missions and storylines in those...
You can always ship your proph char to the expansions if you dont get on with the new classes

Markus

As Konker said, primary quests and missions will lead you through the storyline. Side quests may give you some additional lore.

Maybe start with prophecies, then do factions, nightfall, and eotn, to play through in the original order. What I remember enjoying most the first time through was doing missions with random PUGs -- some groups were very good and some were pretty bad, but it was interesting to see the different ways people would interact.

Best way to see the world? Go get the Cartographer Title. There are a few things that you will probably never see if you are not going for that title.

agree with above, i found a few places that i never knew existed while working on that title...

anyway GW2's only coming in 2011, so you have plenty of time left to catch up

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I guess I'll go Prophecies > Factions > Nightfall and just get Heroes when I get them.

The cartographer title is a great idea, as well!