MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch has now spent over 7,500 hours in Guild Wars 2. During this time, he has seen and experienced almost everything. What captivates him so much about the MMORPG?
When I first discovered my first MMORPG in 2006, at the age of 13, it was Guild Wars 1. My mother was absolutely against a monthly subscription; otherwise, I would have probably ended up playing WoW like some of my best friends. In hindsight, however, I don’t regret a second, as I spent thousands of hours in GW1.
So when the sequel was announced in 2009, I was understandably thrilled. Although I tried many other games during the transition, including Aion, LOTRO, or SWTOR, I kept returning to GW1 – even this game from ArenaNet fascinated me.
In August 2012, Guild Wars 2 was finally released, and for me, another career began alongside the game. I founded the fan site Guildnews.de, which I managed until February 2020, and I was a streamer and YouTuber for the game. I wrote guides and did pretty much everything that is possible in Guild Wars 2.
Even today, after over 7,500 hours of gameplay and without the fan site, I still play the MMORPG regularly. But what exactly fascinates me about it? And what can one still engage in?
The constant curiosity about what comes next
Guild Wars 2 releases a new content update every 2 months with gameplay content in the form of:
- New story
- A new area
- New achievements
- New skins and rewards
Since I am closely connected to the game and the lore, it is a given that I play every update. Although the new story usually occupies only 2 to 3 hours, there are always new activities or achievements to keep busy with.
Moreover, there are always special rewards in the game. It was almost like my duty to get the sweet otter infusion when it was introduced with the latest update.
But even outside of these story updates, things are constantly happening in the game:
- There is a new festival roughly every 2 months, like Dragon Bash in June or the SAB in April.
- There are adjustments in PvP or WvW that have to be tried out, like the 2v2 season at the beginning of the year.
- There are reworks in the game, like the adjustments to the skimmer mount.
Anyone who wants to take part in all these contents and events has to log in and play regularly. For those who want to earn all the rewards from these updates, a significant time investment is required.
Expansion Number 3: A particularly exciting aspect is the announcement of the third expansion in March this year.
This means for me that Guild Wars 2 will continue for a long time, and I definitely want to know how the story will take us to a new continent. Even though I already know that some steps need to be taken that I don’t like:
There are always open tasks
Even after 7,500 hours of gameplay, there are things that are still not done. I now have 13 characters at the maximum level, and each of them is fully equipped with the best armor. I have leveled all the professions and unlocked almost all available recipes.
But still, there are many things I have not achieved yet:
- I “only” have 35,220 achievement points. I am missing many accomplishments from the two newest episodes, but also from raids, collections, or in WvW. In comparison, other players have already surpassed the 43,000 mark.
- I have yet to complete the raid “Hall of Chains”.
- I am missing numerous legendary weapons, colors, and generally many skins.
- I wanted to make it into the top 100 in a PvP season.
This list could be extended with many more things.
What is certain is that I would still need thousands of more hours to complete just those mentioned here.
Fun at huge world events
Even after 8 years, I enjoy launching Guild Wars 2 to tackle world bosses and world events. These are tasks that can involve up to 100 players.
Highlights are world bosses like Tequatl or the Shatterer, as well as long event chains, especially found in the Heart of Thorns expansion.
It’s not just the rewards that are interesting, but the feeling of encountering a massive and threatening enemy that can only be defeated together and with strategy. Even though the strategies are usually simple and the bosses are “zerged down”, it is always fun!
The PvP
This point is quickly covered. Even though I’ve fallen out of practice a bit in recent months, PvP has long been my favorite activity.
Seasons and the associated leaderboards create a certain appeal. Guild Wars 2 holds seasons that last 8 weeks and allow players to earn special rewards.
There are also automated tournaments that take place daily, culminating in a monthly tournament. Whoever wins gets not only a lot of in-game currency but also a statue of themselves in the PvP hub. This is then replaced during the next monthly tournament when someone else wins.
The social component
Guild Wars 2 has accompanied me for many years. Many of my best friends I have met through the MMORPG, and we also discuss the development of the game. Additionally, I have a guild that organizes events, and I know many people from the game.
Whenever I log in, a conversation usually starts. And that is great. I take people with me to my home instance or help them with achievements.
The global GW2 community: Besides my own guild and my surroundings, the entire community is also fun. It is important when wanting to participate in the world events mentioned above, but it also stands united when problems arise:
- The streamer MightyTeapod organized a big event due to the lack of new raids being released recently to keep raiders engaged.
- The community regularly organizes PvP tournaments as well.
- But they also engage socially, for example, with the Pride Day, which takes place every year in the capital Lion’s Arch.
Consequently, the social component plays an important role.
The work
Even though Guild Wars 2 is currently not receiving major updates, there are still regular news and guides to be written here on MeinMMO. Additionally, one is in contact with the developers and receives previews, like with the patch “No Mercy”.
There are moments where experience and knowledge stand out or where I can even create a guide during work hours, like Breaks without truly being away
What fascinates me the most about Guild Wars 2 is that one can simply take a break and return without being left behind. By skipping level-ups or an item spiral, I can leave the game for a month or even a year. The Buy2Play model also helps tremendously, as there is no subscription barrier. Many people underestimate this and other things about GW2. So when I take a break, I may not really rack up game hours, but I can jump right into the latest content. Without these hurdles, whether gear or subscription, I am never deterred from the game. That’s why, after 7,500 hours, I still enjoy diving into the MMORPG again and again. If you now also feel like playing Guild Wars 2, you can find an overview for starting in 2020 here.
