should i buy the expansions?

[notoriousace.1385]

i used to play this a little bit a few years back and only just got back into it. my highest is a lvl 21 necromancer.

i kinda want to buy the expansion for the max boost. was thinking either Thief or Engineer. but beyond the boosts i'm not sure what the expansion gives. would it be stupid of me, a relatively new player, to buy it?

 

what is there to do at max level? what would be the reasons not to buy it just yet?

[Westenev.5289]

The game starts at level 80. Everything before this is an earlybird tutorial.

 

Expansions are great, but I think you should level a character to 80 normally first. Do the story. Get lost in Lorners Pass. Run your first dungeon/fractal. Join a guild.

 

If you're still having fun, then buy an expac.

[notoriousace.1385]

> @"Westenev.5289" said:

> The game starts at level 80. Everything before this is an earlybird tutorial.

>

> Expansions are great, but I think you should level a character to 80 normally first. Do the story. Get lost in Lorners Pass. Run your first dungeon/fractal. Join a guild.

>

> If you're still having fun, then buy an expac.

 

if i end up buying only one, which one should i get first?

[Zex Anthon.8673]

> @"notoriousace.1385" said:

> > @"Westenev.5289" said:

> > The game starts at level 80. Everything before this is an earlybird tutorial.

> >

> > Expansions are great, but I think you should level a character to 80 normally first. Do the story. Get lost in Lorners Pass. Run your first dungeon/fractal. Join a guild.

> >

> > If you're still having fun, then buy an expac.

>

> if i end up buying only one, which one should i get first?

 

Get PoF. You get access to the better elite specializations and mounts. Additionally you will be able to play the living stories that are coming out now.

[DietPepsi.4371]

> @"notoriousace.1385" said:

 

> if i end up buying only one, which one should i get first?

 

The story will make a lot more sense if you get HoT first. HoT also has gliders, which can be used to save yourself in combat, the ability to craft Gen1 legendaries, more challenging content, and a hell of a lot of loot, among other things.

 

PoF is pretty easy by comparison, and has the convenience of mounts which make getting round (or up) a lot easier, but obviously can't be used to save yourself in combat. All of the PoF masteries revolve around Mounts.

 

What might be a good thing to do is also to look at the Elite Specs (sub-professions) from each expansion, and see which ones you like (if any).

 

Final point: To add to what Westenev said; please don't skip to lvl80 if you haven't leveled a character before. A lot of your understanding about the nuances of the game's mechanics are taught from level 1-80. Skipping right up to 80 means all the game's mechanics will be thrown at you at once (because it assumes you know what you are doing). Which may be overwhelming and make it hard to get into the game.

[Rico.6873]

Make the max amount of characters you can make

Play unranked and test every class and try using every ability out there to get a feel what each class can do

If you dont have enough slots for a new character you can always delete one of the newer characters you already tested

 

In pvp every ability is unlocked and all core stats are available as a amulet that decides the stats for all your gear

Experiment as much as you can in unranked and then you decide which charracter gets the max level boost and then you enjoy the game with that charracter

 

Enjoy and GL in finding your class!

[Mewcifer.5198]

> @"Rico.6873" said:

> Make the max amount of characters you can make

> Play unranked and test every class and try using every ability out there to get a feel what each class can do

> If you dont have enough slots for a new character you can always delete one of the newer characters you already tested

>

> In pvp every ability is unlocked and all core stats are available as a amulet that decides the stats for all your gear

> Experiment as much as you can in unranked and then you decide which charracter gets the max level boost and then you enjoy the game with that charracter

>

> Enjoy and GL in finding your class!

 

Just be wary, many skills do not work the same in PvP as they do in PvE. Some classes can feel completely different.

And the max level boosts do allow you some time to run around silverwastes before you decide if you want to make it permanent, so players can experiment around with some base classes that way.

[Westenev.5289]

> @"notoriousace.1385" said:

> > @"Westenev.5289" said:

> > The game starts at level 80. Everything before this is an earlybird tutorial.

> >

> > Expansions are great, but I think you should level a character to 80 normally first. Do the story. Get lost in Lorners Pass. Run your first dungeon/fractal. Join a guild.

> >

> > If you're still having fun, then buy an expac.

>

> if i end up buying only one, which one should i get first?

 

That's a tough one.

 

If you want a challenge in the Jungle, Pick HoT. HoT is a tad bit harder than PoF, and Living World Season 3 (the after-story and lead up to PoF) now costs gems. HoT has more repeatable content in the form of Meta Events - if you like player-driven meta events like the Silverwastes, HoT is a must. It also gives the Revenant Elite Specialisation, which is probably one of my favourites, and has cooler Elite Specialisations (in my opinion).

 

If savanah scenic tours are more your thing, pick PoF. The story is a little more gripping, and Anet do occasionally give away Living World Season 4 episodes for free. It also gives access to mounts, which speeds up map exploration considerably and are fun to ride. You also need PoF to play Living World Season 4 Episode 5, but you can play this anytime after buying PoF because it's unlocked by simply logging in before Episode 6 hits.

[Vayne.8563]

> @"Westenev.5289" said:

> > @"notoriousace.1385" said:

> > > @"Westenev.5289" said:

> > > The game starts at level 80. Everything before this is an earlybird tutorial.

> > >

> > > Expansions are great, but I think you should level a character to 80 normally first. Do the story. Get lost in Lorners Pass. Run your first dungeon/fractal. Join a guild.

> > >

> > > If you're still having fun, then buy an expac.

> >

> > if i end up buying only one, which one should i get first?

>

> That's a tough one.

>

> If you want a challenge in the Jungle, Pick HoT. HoT is a tad bit harder than PoF, and Living World Season 3 (the after-story and lead up to PoF) now costs gems. HoT has more repeatable content in the form of Meta Events - if you like player-driven meta events like the Silverwastes, HoT is a must. It also gives the Revenant Elite Specialisation, which is probably one of my favourites, and has cooler Elite Specialisations (in my opinion).

>

> If savanah scenic tours are more your thing, pick PoF. The story is a little more gripping, and Anet do occasionally give away Living World Season 4 episodes for free. It also gives access to mounts, which speeds up map exploration considerably and are fun to ride. You also need PoF to play Living World Season 4 Episode 5, but you can play this anytime after buying PoF because it's unlocked by simply logging in before Episode 6 hits.

 

Just for the record, even if you buy PoF, you can access the Revenant whether you have HoT or not. You just can't access the HoT elite specialization for it.

[Illconceived Was Na.9781]

My recommendation is:

Level at least one toon to L80 before committing to spend any RL money; it doesn't take that long.

****

If you find yourself loving the game, then buy both expansions. Even direct from ANet, the total cost is $50, which gets you most of what you missed. (The Living World episodes are extra.)

 

And if you aren't loving it, then just stick with what you have now. The game is set up so you can come & go & return at will. Play as much (or as little) as you like, without opening your wallet.

[joneirikb.7506]

> @"Illconceived Was Na.9781" said:

> My recommendation is:

> Level at least one toon to L80 before committing to spend any RL money; it doesn't take that long.

> ****

> If you find yourself loving the game, then buy both expansions. Even direct from ANet, the total cost is $50, which gets you most of what you missed. (The Living World episodes are extra.)

>

> And if you aren't loving it, then just stick with what you have now. The game is set up so you can come & go & return at will. Play as much (or as little) as you like, without opening your wallet.

 

Just adding +1 to this, great advice.

 

Extra note: Knowing what to do at "level 80" is another thing you learn while leveling, most will naturally find several things they want to do that way, others may not and might lose interest in the game. The game really is about finding your own goals, and if you don't you're better off playing something else.