Compared with Single-Player Games
MMOs are a completely diff erent experience than general single-player games. Most single-player games have well-defi ned boundaries; as you play them, you are guided through a storyline with a set beginning and end, and you don’t socially interact with other people. Your character’s progression is determined solely by decisions you make (through skills/levels), but the characters themselves are defined through a static pool of traits. With the exception of the occasional gameplay patch, the characters (and the world they inhabit) don’t change in terms of gameplay or eff ectiveness.MMOs aren’t like that. First, because they are fully online, they are dynamic. What you experience in terms of gameplay, character progression, and social interactions can change depending on what server you join, who you meet, and what you determine to be important.
Try this example. In a single-player game, the end of the game is the end of the plotline. However, in an MMO, you have a lot of input regarding what you consider the “end” of the game. Is it when you hit the events in the highest-level regions? How about when you discover all the crafting recipes? Or, is it when your gear is the best it can be? What about once you’ve completed every single task available or discovered every single exploration point? The answer depends on what you want, and you don’t have to pick only one! Make up new ones as you go.
A Story All Your Own
Many people’s enjoyment of a game depends greatly on how they relate to the story. They look for a vibrant world with well-developed characters and imaginative plotlines. It’s even better when they get to contribute to the environment they inhabit.Many MMOs have been criticized for not having a story or plotline that relates to a player, that the player in an MMO doesn’t have an eff ect on the world. This isn’t the case with Guild Wars 2.
All players have their own personal story. is story depends on choices you make, from your character’s creation to decisions other characters ask you to make. What you decide changes what missions become available to you and how the story progresses. Your race, character background, affiliations, and morality all play a major role in the epic quest that unfolds.
Your Place in the World
In addition, we mentioned that Guild Wars 2 is very dynamic, right? Things happen in the world when you aren’t there, and it changes according to what you do (or don’t do). You may find a fort filled with hostile centaurs that attack you the moment you get close. The defenders of the area are all gone or dead, and you have to decide to help or just move on. If you help, you can fight the centaurs back, revive the guards, and restore the fort. Soon afterward, you might see a merchant show up. The next person to arrive will find a well-defended bastion in the wilderness, complete with protection and opportunities to buy, sell, and repair. How’s that for having an effect on the world?Developing Your Character
Character progression is a defining trait of MMOs. Because what is important varies from player to player, there are numerous paths to power. Here, we’ll take a look at the various ways characters can progress, from rising in level to gaining equipment to crafting and beyond.Remember, this is a chapter on MMO basics. We’re only going to cover these topics in a general manner. For more information, and especially how they relate to Guild Wars 2, read our chapter How to Play Guild Wars 2.
