Way out of the loop - can you fill me in?

favorite character depends on your play style--do you like melee? then the warrior is good ...do you like to hang back---ranger...do you like to see things go BOOM!--ele, do you like to have little minions running around with you-necro etc...since you have factions the ritualist is also a good profession to play.

minipets...the white ones are not as in demands as the purple, gold or green (green are the most rare)...if you need some cash check out the price check forum here---but also note that the prices are out of date a weeee bit....but you will get an idea of the value (or look thru the sell and buy sections and see what is more valued that not)

enjoy playing--its a fun game with plenty of hours of enjoyment.

EQ2 Mappam? if so welcome back to tyria....

LOL = yup one and the same....good Eye Lasai!

Cosy - thanks for the info on the pricing. I have a purple or two but no green etc on the mini's. I will go back into the game and check to see what exactly I DO have then check the pricing.

Edited to add = EGADS the more I read the more I realize how much I DO NOT KNOW about this game now! Wow - there is sooo much to catch up on - from the builds to the maps and merchants. Henchmen, quests, pets, armor, weapons.....Tonics? hmmm...

I am OLD (retired granny from Florida) and as soon as my Social Security Check (told you I was old!) arrives tomorrow I will buy the last 2 packs. This will give me 2 more character slots I can play/learn on. Plus help get ready for GW2.

Suggestions for a build? I like my ranger/Ele - the firestorm and bow is a nice combo for me (along with the pet!)

In other games I do like a Zerker type character (EQ2) or a monk (healing along with fighting) type. I like dual wield swords/daggers (my Sin has this on GW now and I need to play her a little bit to catch up).

I like to solo - and love the henchman idea - have Not figured out which combo works best for me but always add the healer.....

You guys are AWESOME!!

A very nice build for a ranger starts with a Ritualist Factions Skill.

Splinter Weapon Weapon Spell. For 20 seconds, target ally has a Splinter Weapon. Target ally's next 1...4...5 attacks deal 5...41...50 damage to up to 3 adjacent foes.

Plus

Barrage Elite Bow Attack. All your preparations are removed. Shoot arrows at target foe and up to 6 foes adjacent to your target. These arrows strike for +5...17...20 damage if they hit.

Think if you hit 6 foes all bunched up. Each foe slams every other foe with the Splinter Weapon damage.

That is a major synergistic combination for a Ranger. You can cut a groups health by 1/3rd (or more) with one shot.

Then just add Distracting Shot for those pesky healers and a few more skills of your choice to round it all out. Maybe some defensive stances or such.

Just try and keep the skills limited to two main ranger attributes. Don't spread out your attribute points more than you have too.

Oh man, you've missed some of the best drama involving ursan and shadow form.

This is good advice for all classes. Don't spread your attribute points too thin. I like to only rely on two lines that I can max. Some builds require a split into three though.

I play as a primary ranger (mostly). Splinter/Barrage works great in almost all normal mode areas. Hard Mode enemies scatter and it's harder to keep them balled up where that build really shines.

R/Rt SoS spirit spamming is almost stupid easy but killing bad guys without getting killed yourself is fun so a lot of people play that way. I've tried being a touch ranger with is fun in some areas. And more recently (you'll never win any speed clear records this way) going R/D and setting traps, luring baddies into them, then running in with a scythe and mopping them up as they lie on the ground, crippled, bleeding and on fire. I'm sure to many that would be a slow and boring play style but I like it.

So pick a character and play style you like as they're all viable in their own way.

Well, if the last thing you played was factions, here's some things you should know:

1) The game has changed significantly.
2) The PvP scene has stagnated significantly. That does not necessarily mean it is not worth getting into, however. There has been a recent movement to get some new players into it here on Guru. But be aware that if you choose to get into PvP for the first time (or return to it, depending on whether or not you did it before) you will without a doubt find yourself being beaten repeatedly for a while before you get the hang of it. RA, as the lowest form of PvP, is perfect for building your skills. Just ignore the people who flame you.
3) The introduction of the Nightfall campaign added a lot of power creep to the game and more titles. The Eye of the North expansion made it even worse. Since then, Anet has had a very difficult time trying to balance the game, and more often than not their solution to power creep has been to add more power creep. As a result, many of the tactics and strategies you would have once employed are now obsolete (in general, pure damage and defense are now all that is needed to win in PvE). Fortunately, the game is also significantly easier now as a result of the power creep.
4) Nightfall also added two new classes: the Dervish and the Paragon.
5) You probably remember each class being good at a certain role. Power creep has significantly changed what some classes are good at.
6) You should probably find a guild, if you haven't already.
7) As a few people already mentioned, Nightfall and Eye of the North introduced "heroes", which are essentially customizable henchmen. You make their skill bars, you make their equipment, and you can even micromanage them if you so choose. Currently, each player can only bring 3 to a party at a time (though that may soon change).

Start at least one player in Factions because pretty soon now "Feb 3rd" will be the Canthan new year festival and you might as well have a character in that start area to take part.

You guys are AWESOME!

Gremlin - I have a couple of characters based in Canthan - but didn't know about the New Year Festival - good info.
Reaper - Boy tell me about the changes! I feel SOO lost with all the new content.
THANKS again!

I don't think its really a spoiler to give a heads up about festivals as opposed to the general game.

There are some Chefs in shing jea during the festival and they collect ingredients to create a celestial banquet.

If the players in your district can complete all the dishes you get a better reward.

Some districts are sponsored by very nice guilds and they bring all the necessary items.
Worth looking out for this and of course thanking the nice people for their service.

install game
create account
click exe icon
all answers are found inside

Put that on a sticky its actually the answer to every question ever asked on the forum or is ever likely to be asked.

Well nearly every question

Shady - thank you for the offer! I have no idea WHAT I want or need at this point......but SOO appreciate the offer.

Today I will get the 2 remaining Packs and then create another new character to test out.

I have 2 full pages of handwritten notes from research I have done while trying to catch up on this game. I have taken my Ranger/Ele from lvl 11 to lvl 14 = so I am progressing a little on a lot of the game-play.

There is still soo much I need to figure out that at times it is almost overwelming!

I sound like a broken record - but Thank You All SOOO much - your help has been very helpful AND you are all so friendly - gives me a wonderful feeling for this community AND the game!

By all means pick up the other two packs.. Heroes add so much to the casual game and it fun to gear them and expiriment with stupid grouping. Personally I love Elona, NF and the char faces from there. EoTN is a lot of fun, with more of the dungeon style instancing we had in EQ.

I'm also older and retired, enjoy the casual/nonsub pace of this a lot. I have no great urge to revisit Nektulos even after 5 years there. Smed seems driven to destroy any and all SOE games.

Welcome back again. I remember you well from the crafting boards. my forum handle there was Lycantha..who was my SK..

....

You go granny!

HI THERE!

I do still play EQ(extended) as I LOVE the housing and crafting associated with my Carpenter! But I have to agree with you on SOE......

I am really enjoying Guild Wars (again) but feel soo lost. I just loaded Nightfall BUT NCSoft has blocked me from loading Eye of the North until later (interesting security measure!!) I have NO IDEA how long I will have to wait before I can try again (site doesn't list the Amount of wait there is).

I am mostly a Solo Player so the henchman option is awesome for me! No waiting for someone to walk their dog or loosing connection while in the middle of a quest/dungeon/etc. No having to wait for a healer to join the group or or - well it fits my play style soooo well.

The Hero will be fun to fiddle with and I look forward to getting back into the Swing of this game.

I Love being retired so I have my days (after my to-do-list is done lol) to play as much as I want!

Just had a thought of the retirement homes of the future the staff trying to organise Bingo and old time dancing while we are all online in GW2 or maybe 3 for some of us.

There will be a shakeup coming in geriatrics as the Hippies become elderly
followed by The the Heavy metal adherents then Glam rock, Punk rock etc.

Goth grannies lol

there are quite a few 'mature' players out there (heck one of my mods in Ventari's is about that age)...as well as us not quite baby boomers who are also playing. AND there are TONS of ladies who play (me for one).....so welcome back and you have a place right here always!

(ps...ranger and ele---fire storm is bad now---the mobs run away from it, ....might want to check out some of the builds for rangers in the ranger section here: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/ranger-f209.html)

I strongly advise you to read this guide, for the Hall of Monuments, incase you are planning on atleast getting 30/50 on the HoM Calculator and play GW2
http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/the-road-to-50

Also, KISS is a very good alliance, 1700 members and the biggest alliance in GW and events and runs through pretty much everything are hosted every day.

Just ask around in the big cities for an invite to it .

The thing about groups that go for numbers is that they generally suck and kiss isn't an exception.