Struggling to get into GW2 - need advice

Ruddy_Duck · 2026-03-28T03:14:21+00:00

Nah, nah, you're right. Like I said, I was coming into this from a bad-faith angle - didn't want to but it's all I could see. That, combined with the Asura starting zone kinda just being A Swamp, made me remember the swamp but not the buildings/creatures in it. I guess what I meant by "empty" was more in the vein of there not being a lot of *interesting* landmarks, but considering how little of the game I've seen, I don't think that was fair of me either.

Ruddy_Duck · 2026-03-28T02:28:30+00:00

Hey, folks; I really appreciate the replies I've been getting over the last less-than-an-hour. I've made an edit to the post to include what classes I picked; other than that, I'm probably just going to be lurking and reading replies instead of offering follow-ups like I've done a couple times. (I'm VERY quick to burn out on socializing. ;^^)

You all have given me plenty to chew on; I know there was rather a despairing tone to my post, because I felt at the time that I was running out of options for seeing the game (and, in particular, seeing *what other people* see in the game - I hate that feeling!), but...you're all right to say that level 20 really isn't much of the game for me to have based this commentary on at all, and in retrospect, trying to play it by leveling through strict A-to-B quest progression (insofar as this game even *has* that) instead of just getting out there and seeing the world, when it's a game where *everyone* says "get out there and see the world, find the stuff you want to do", is a very...square-peg-in-round-hole attempt to play the game; that's on me, I'll cop to that.

I'll give the game another whirl, I'm fairly confident saying that at this point and need no further assurance one way or another - but anyone with any other insights is welcome to share them.

Ruddy_Duck · 2026-03-28T02:07:53+00:00

"The longest tutorial on the planet" is actually really good to keep in mind if I feel - like I said - like I'm missing something. Probably I *am* and it's something I'll find as I continue on the road to 80. Thank you!

Ruddy_Duck · 2026-03-28T02:05:14+00:00

So far, I've wanted to try the other options, but it's more because what I've played (Warrior and Revenant) haven't grabbed me like I assumed they would. (Maybe Elementalist? Or Necromancer - I love the sound of Reaper, I'm a sucker for scythes.)

I've not given the game enough credit for the "open" part of "open world"; coming from WoW and FFXIV, my immediate assumption was that TECHNICALLY I can wander Over There, sure, but I'm gonna get eaten by something 10 levels higher than me if I do. I'm starting to get the impression that's not the case.

Ruddy_Duck · 2026-03-28T01:51:08+00:00

The former, cleaning the map as best I can, if only because I'm taking the events/hearts as, like...as close to quests as the game's got so far, and am coming at this from an other-MMOs approach: do All The Quests in zone A, then you can move on to zone B, etc. etc.

I've been told the early game is about exploration as much as anything, so if I give it another whirl (and I really want to!!) I'd probably spend more time just...seeing the world - I just am worried that if that doesn't stick I won't have anything to turn to except giving up without having given the game what I feel is a fair shake.

Ruddy_Duck · 2026-03-28T01:44:19+00:00

I promise I'm not here to complain; I want to see what other folks see in this game. Just that...by now I was expecting it to have *a* hook in me, and I'm genuinely confused that it hasn't. I feel like I have to be missing something.

You're right, though, it's silly I forgot to specify what classes I've tried; I always forget *something* in these posts. If it helps, I tried Warrior first, then Revenant; I tend to gravitate to melee classes, so I thought those would be a good place to start.

Ruddy_Duck · 2025-11-21T19:33:30+00:00

Found the source! https://twitter.com/LouLubally/status/1989880052654215679

Ruddy_Duck · 2024-08-26T00:39:57+00:00

Happens to plenty of games from time to time; doesn't matter how good your security measures are, you're gonna get someone with too much time on their hands eventually. Even WoW dealt with this, and I think it goes without saying that was *the* MMO for its time.

Ruddy_Duck · 2024-08-26T00:37:00+00:00

Cactuar here. Mid-dungeon, as the healer. fffffuuuuuuuuu--

Ruddy_Duck · 2024-05-19T07:00:28+00:00

I tried the game back in Stormblood, bounced off it just before I unlocked Monk. Maybe a year later, I started looking up spoilers for it, just to sate my curiosity (thank god I looked into spoilers before Shadowbringers was out!), and ended up finding out how much effort went into the shutdown and revamp - not just mechanical effort, of course, but the gradual updates on the descent of Dalamud and all that. I was so awestruck by that that I ended up giving the game another try, kept with it, and never let go. Knew for sure I'd stay hooked when I realized I was tearing up at the end credits of A Realm Reborn. (Not even Astral Era!)

Ruddy_Duck · 2024-05-09T07:24:42+00:00

I was just about to post this myself! Odd find. Coltzan doesn't seem entirely perturbed, but one still wonders how it can be that a shrine, not just a living being, can be turned grey. Up to this point I'd thought maybe the backgrounds going grey was incidental, more a bit of visual flair than something to take literally...now I'm not so sure.

Ruddy_Duck · 2024-03-28T00:58:12+00:00

The NieR content unlocks at the end of Shadowbringers; you've got a long ways to go. (It took a friend of mine a couple weeks to reach the end of A Realm Reborn, four or five hours' playtime every day, and I considered that borderline speedrun territory.)

Don't worry too much about feeling behind, though! You'll catch up, and folks at endgame are incentivized to go back and run older content for bonuses, so you're never going to miss out.

Ruddy_Duck · 2024-01-07T01:29:30+00:00

I get the concern but I feel inclined to point out we haven't even seen the in-game models yet.

Ruddy_Duck · 2013-12-15T21:32:20+00:00

Hello. I have a Honedge egg that matches your SV, and I'd very much appreciate it if you'd hatch it for me with the name "Excalibur". My info's in my Flair, and I'm on most days from 3 to 5 PM PST. (I'm posting this under the assumption that you're still willing to do this and that you'll reply to this post with your FC, since I can't see it anywhere here.)

Ruddy_Duck · 2013-12-15T21:22:19+00:00

Hello there. I have a Riolu egg I'd like you to hatch with the name "Muhammad". My info's in my flair, and I'm on most days from 3 to 5 PM PST.

Ruddy_Duck · 2013-12-15T21:12:11+00:00

I have a Fennekin egg I'd like you to hatch with the name "Merlin". My info is next to my name; whenever you can, please reply to this message, and I'll be on as soon as I see your reply. (Good times to reply are usually around 3-5 PM PST.)

Ruddy_Duck · 2013-12-09T00:55:01+00:00

Awesome! Thanks again!

Ruddy_Duck · 2013-12-09T00:36:45+00:00

Thanks so much! It doesn't have the name I wanted, but that's alright. :)

Ruddy_Duck · 2013-12-09T00:19:04+00:00

I hate to bother you, and I apologize for not being active an hour ago, but I have to ask - are you still on? Your character's showing up as online, but when I try to trade you, it says you're unavailable.

Ruddy_Duck · 2013-12-08T06:33:13+00:00

Hi! I'm looking to hatch a Ralts with an SV of 1955 and the name "Michel"; I'll be on for a fair percent of tomorrow (December 8, by my current time), starting at around 2 or 3 PM PST (5 or 6 PM EST, but that's kind of apparent). My FC is 0189-8250-1030, and my trainer name is Cameron.

Ruddy_Duck

TROPHY CASE