Guild Wars: Encyclopedia II - Guild Wars - Game mechanics

Guild Wars - Game mechanics

Each player character in and of itself is composed of one primary profession and one secondary profession, with the six professions allowing for a potential of 30 distinct combinations (one of six primaries and a choice of five secondaries).

Each profession has access to approximately 75 skills, ~60 being common and ~15 being elite. Elite skills can be captured from bosses by using the Signet of Capture skill. This allows for a possible total of almost 150 skills per character to acquire, choose from, and bring into battle. However, characters can only bring 8 skills at a time into any area in which combat is possible, allowing for many different battle styles. Since the skill set of each character is an integral part of the team's strategy, preparing the right skill set is critical. Out of the eight skills in the spell-bar, only one elite skill can be equipped at any one time. Skills can be rotated in and out of the spell bar at any time while in a non-combat area, such as a town or an outpost.

There are four different methods of earning a skill. The first method is to earn the skill as a reward from a quest. The second is to purchase the skill from one of the many skill vendors using one of a person's skill points, which are earned at each character level and every story mission, and a cost of gold to the skill vendor. The third method is to use a Signet of Capture, which can be bought from certain skill vendors for a skill point and some gold, and used on a boss enemy's corpse that employs a skill that one would like to learn. The fourth is to purchase the skills from special vendors using faction points, which are earned through PvP combat (skills earned this way can only be used by PvP characters that the player creates). The last two methods of acquisition are the only ways to gain access to the elite skills.

The in-game model reflects only the primary profession's appearance. The character's in-game armor crafting choices are likewise limited to the primary profession's selection. However there are multitudes of dyes and other ways to color and differentiate each character from others.

Attributes can be increased from 0 to 12, at an increasing cost of 1 to 20 attribute points. Attribute Points may be re-allocated only while in a town or outpost. These attribute points are earned as a character levels up. With each additional point invested in an attribute, a linear gain is produced (usually increased effectiveness to a linked skill). The Mesmer-only attribute Fast Casting has diminishing returns, meaning every additional point has less of an effect than the one before. These attributes can also be raised using items known as runes, which are applied to armor. Through the use of runes and specific character class items, a given attribute can be increased to as high as 16. There are penalties associated with the more powerful ones and only runes for the primary profession may be used. There is a cap on character level, which is currently placed at level 20. Though a player will continue to gain skill points after this no attribute points are gained. A low maximum level ensures that the Player vs. Player combat is balanced and interesting, and enforces rewarding player skill rather than time invested in character.

Guild vs. Guild (GvG) combat, a specific type of PvP, is also available. If a player forms a guild (a team of players), then they can buy unique capes for all members, and also a Guild Hall, a private place where only guild members can enter. Together they can fight other guilds in order to raise their rank on the world-wide ladder system. These contests of strength, strategy, and teamwork involve either defending or attacking one of seven possible Guild Halls. Some guilds use live Internet voice communication technologies, such as Ventrilo or TeamSpeak, to better coordinate their team. This often creates a notable improvement in a team's response time, since players can communicate by voice alone rather than having to stop in the middle of the game to type a message to a teammate.

There is also the World Domination Arena, in which Korea, North America, and Europe fight in a PvP arena called the Hall of Heroes. The regions fight for "The Favor of the Gods" in the arena with their team-mates. Wins and losses are displayed in the chat box to declare who has the "Favor" and who is winning. Holding favor unlocks access to the Fissure of Woe and the Underworld, which are two challenging PvE (Player vs. Environment) game areas. Holding favor also allows players from that region to summon an avatar at the various shrines by kneeling in front of them. These avatars will grant various beneficial effects for a small fee (in combat areas) or provide new quests (in cities and outposts). Also a new ability called "Observer mode" now allows players to view recent battles in the Hall of Heroes and Guild Battles that involve guilds rank 100 or higher.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Game mechanics", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki