Totoro.1845

Plush Ram Backpack

An EOD bank tab sale would be timely for all the new treasures 🐉

According to my profile, I created this forum account a year ago XD. I guess I just happened to be looking in the right place at the right time to see your post and to already be watching and reading about game updates through the years and have at least dipped my toes in all the game modes to feel like I know what is going on. I think they made a smart decision to have the level cap at 80 and just move into the mastery points system to extend playability (though the game doesn't really spell it out for you that once you hit 80 your exp bar is still working even if/when you complete mastery tracks!). Personally, level 80 feels more like the real beginning in terms of gameplay and 1-80 was the re/introduction to the Guild Wars world, especially because it's just not a grind like in other games. In terms of end-game content, there is obviously only so much story at a given time between expansions and mini-expansions/Living World stories, but there are so many ways to play GW2 past level 80. Even then, the way they have implemented PvP and the WvW modes gives you whole new ways to play that makes it accessible for mostly PvE players like myself to get into PvP and WvW, casually or not so casually, and also makes it useful for PvE play (ways to get gear, items for legendaries, alternatives to gaining hero points, and all that jazz). Not to mention the sprawling dungeon system for group play — regular dungeons, Fractals, Strike Missions/Dragon Response Missions, Raids. Also, it can't be understated how important guilds are and finding 1 or 5 to join really does add to the gameplay, including game content that helps in PvE/PvP/WvW. Then there's the achievements system which gets weaved into all game modes. Add into that the fact that the devs regularly rebalance classes and mechanics so that keeps things interesting in all game modes, not to mention the various classes and elite specs you can get into. There's just so many layers to the game that encourages exploration so that even having logged into the game daily for over 2.5 years I still feel like I've only covered a fraction of it. But of course, the real real real end-game is *Fashion Wars* (and maybe decorating) so if you're not into that, you're not into that.

Since the new End of Dragons expansion is coming out in a few months, there's been an uptick in YouTube guides for new and returning players by folks and especially ArenaNet partners. Here's a pretty good, basic overview in video form, that's pretty much already covered here, by KROOF for returning players (with some spoilers if you haven't completed the Personal Story to level 80): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh96AL3R6LQ MukLuk (YouTube/Twitch) has been building out guides with on his YouTube channel and at MukLuk Labs as a one-stop shop: https://mukluklabs.com/ I've been playing pretty regularly for 2 years after 6 years away and it amazes me all the time how many cheerleaders of Guild Wars 2 (and 1) there are creating content and streaming, going on about updates and finer game mechanics and theorycrafting and builds for PvE/PvP/WvW and all the achievements. And all that is made possible by how much there is to do in GW2, between the expansions and Living World stories and *Fashion Wars*. Other YouTube channels to checkout that has pretty current guides and GW2 content (in no particular order): • MightyTeapot • Vallun • GuildJen • WoodenPotatoes • GuildMM If you are in it for the story, then definitely take your time. I, however, wanted to jump right back into the slashy slashy and boosted my Revenant to do all the things. And then I eventually circled back to finish all of the Personal Story and expansions and now working on all of the Living World stories because they turn out to be really useful. One thing that is a blessing and a curse is that the game doesn't really give you a sense of "what do I need to do next" after you get to level 80, just more of a "what do I want to do next". And there are a whole lot of choices you can make so it's easy to flounder for a bit and get discouraged if you have no direction. The best part of the game though is that there is usually always someone willing to help if you ask. Good Luck!