Need advice, Guild Wars 2 vs Mists of Pandaria

[utahraptor]

On 5/15/2012 I "retired" from a 8.5 years of playing wow. At the end I considered myself kind of a big deal with the rogue dagger legendaries and in a decent guild working on the last 2 heroics. I was just totally burned out. I have tried to fill the hole this summer with other non mmorpg games and outdoor activities, but the cravings for a mmorpg are working their way back into my system.

I am now considering coming out of retirement, but I can't decide which sounds more appealing GW2 or WOW. They are both launching soon (Mists) so if I do start playing I need to decide in the next week or so.

I could probably go back to my old wow guild since I left on good terms. Also, the guild I was in before has moved on to GW2 so I could easily join them as well. They are already asked me to.

Which would you pick if you had to decide and why?

My own thoughts are:

WOW

Pros:

Already have decked out max level character
I know a lot about the game

Cons:

Beta was not fun
Same old stuff with different wrapper in new expansion
Pandas and Pokemon

GW2

Pros:

Refreshing and exciting
Not reliant on 25 man groups
Beta was fun
No monthly payments

Cons:

I would force myself to invest months in GW1 to get the 30 points. I would be starting from scratch in GW1 and I have not enjoyed the tiny bits I have played.
More Extensive item mall then WOW

 

[darkewaffle]

Neither, enjoy having free time and a life.

 

[ShintaiDK]

GW2. WoW is a crappy old outdated game with nothing but grind. It also bleeds massively now.

But mostly, GW2 WvWvW!

 

[Clinkster]

GW2 moves forward in game designing, WoW moves backwards.

 

[manko]

Your own words:

WOW

Beta was not fun

GW2

Beta was fun

I'm playing GW2. You're sure to get value out of the game even if you only play for a month, and you can keep playing it along with another sub game if you want.

I'll check out MoP if they send me a free 7-day pass or something (and if I'm not too busy with GW2). I only played Cata when it was free with a Scroll of Resurrection and I stopped playing after the free time ran out.

 

[Dankk]

Is this even a question? GW2.

 

[KMFJD]

Why would you worry about GW1 to play GW2?

Cons:

I would force myself to invest months in GW1 to get the 30 points. I would be starting from scratch in GW1 and I have not enjoyed the tiny bits I have played.
More Extensive item mall then WOW

Is this even worth doing?

 

[utahraptor]

Why would you worry about GW1 to play GW2?

Is this even worth doing?

http://hom.guildwars2.com/en/#page=main&details=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

It seems very worth it based off what I am seeing in the way of rewards.

 

[gladiatorua]

First GW2 for 1-2 months(PvE content), then MoP after release and couple of patches... if you really want to. With occasional dip into GW2 PvP.

Pokemon

It's actually one of the pros.

I would force myself to invest months in GW1 to get the 30 points. I would be starting from scratch in GW1 and I have not enjoyed the tiny bits I have played.

You don't have to. And if really want to, start from Nightfall campaign.

More Extensive item mall then WOW

Not really. Character slot expansions is one of the few truly valuable things. Bags can be cleared really easily from any point in the world via "deposit collectible" or auction, so bag extensions are not very useful. So item mall is not that invasive.

It seems very worth it based off what I am seeing in the way of rewards.

If you have time. Rewards are skins only.

 

[crunkzilla]

Would love to try out the new Wow expansion, but not for the $40 Blizzard is asking for. Might as well put that $40 towards paying down GW2, at least its a completly new game.

 

[Hmoobphajej]

From my understanding, there will only be a low level advantage with the items that do give you stats. But I'm not too sure if they developed the system they wanted to "upgrade" those items with yet. Plus the item mall in GW2 are also mostly cosmetics purposes except for the few buffs you buy for a price. But like many games the server is not cheap to run they gotta make money some how. From what I have experience from the game so far there is relatively no need to buy the buff except if you have less time to play and can afford the buffs. But PvP is scaled and when it comes to mass battles the only important thing is to have more people not what level you are as much. I was lvl 30 scaled to 80 and stll barely did squat against the enemy team. And i'm pretty sure majority of people were much lower then me too.

 

[KMFJD]

http://hom.guildwars2.com/en/#page=main&details=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

It seems very worth it based off what I am seeing in the way of rewards.

blocked at work so i cannot check it out but i thought these where only cosmetic rewards?

 

[utahraptor]

I think they are essentially cosmetic rewards. I guess it is something I could work on over time even after GW2 launched. I think they indicated they will allow people to continue their efforts in the HOM into the future.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Would love to try out the new Wow expansion, but not for the $40 Blizzard is asking for. Might as well put that $40 towards paying down GW2, at least its a completly new game.

Not to mention GW2 got no subs, unlike WoW. So monthly savings there too.

 

[MontyAC]

Go for GW2. I'm ready for 8/25/12 to start my main toon.

 

[utahraptor]

I decided to go with GW2

 

[LeviathanPT]

Monthly Payments always looses

 

[Gothgar]

I am thinking of getting GW2, so that is my vote just in case you werent convinced by every other single poster in this thread.

 

[Bryf50]

I have pretty high hopes for MoP. Pandas aside I like the Asian setting and the lack of a big bad boss who would undoubtedly be killed in the last raid is a nice change.

That said I'd probably give it some more time before you start playing again. Play GW2 for now and then try MoP in a few months.

 

[Ashenor]

I was a hardcore raider in WoW since day one, and played since early beta. I just don't want to raid anymore. I am going more towards GW2 for now, but when panda's come out i will level up and check out the new content and attempt not to get sucked into raiding.

 

[Genx87]

If a beta wasnt fun it wont be in the live version.

 

[imaheadcase]

I would force myself to invest months in GW1 to get the 30 points. I would be starting from scratch in GW1 and I have not enjoyed the tiny bits I have played.
More Extensive item mall then WOW

Huh? You don't need to play GW1 to play gw2...

 

[Ashenor]

Huh? You don't need to play GW1 to play gw2...

Ya i seen that i never got into GW1 so what am i even missing that people are getting that carrys over?

 

[PowerYoga]

I'd play other games, there's too many good games out right now to be playing a MMORPG. But if you have only these 2 choices, GW2. Wow is old and antiquated and rehashes the same thing over and over.

 

[KidNiki1]

Huh? You don't need to play GW1 to play gw2...

Ya i seen that i never got into GW1 so what am i even missing that people are getting that carrys over?

If you played/play GW1, there are certain items and achievements and things that you can get that 'carry over' to your Hall of Monuments allowing you to get stuff in GW2.

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Hall_of_Monuments

The Hall of Monuments is an explorable area that commemorates acquisitions and accomplishments of a character and/or an account. Available only to accounts that are linked to Eye of the North, it is the only area in the game that is personalized to the leader of the party. Five distinct monuments allow players to show off certain weapons, all miniatures, most heroes and some pets, various prestige armor, and player titles. The hall also serves to kickoff key quests in Eye of the North and for dialogue and quests related to Guild Wars Beyond.
More importantly for many players, filling one's Hall of Monuments is the only way to unlock a number of Guild Wars 2 bonus items and titles.