Did you guys have any GW2 questions that you wanted us to try find info on @ PAX?

Since a few of us are going to PAX, I figured I'd ask you guys if you had any gnawing questions about GW2 that need to be answered. I'll write them down and bring them along with me this weekend and do my best to find out the answers.

For me personally, my main questions are as follows:
1. Does each norn animal form give a special benefit? For example, does the snow leopard form give a stealth ability?
2. Any idea when we might start seeing a big presentation about WvWvW like we're seeing with structured pvp now?
3. How awesome is the character custimization screen?
Added questions:
4. If there is no body blocking will there be some equivalent and what will that be? (Shooootin)
5. What known pets will rangers be able to have? Do they have to go through a taming process? Will great danes be a pet ? :) (Tserash)
6. How exactly do the Hall of Monuments "heirloom" items work? Are they only good for the first few levels or will they level up like in WoW? (Tserash)
7. When it comes to pvp and such how big a role is aoe going to be (compared to single target dps)? (Tserash)
8. Are you able to release any new information (maps, videos, screenshots, etc) about WvWvW? (Craythur)
9. Please confirm lack of/inclusion of player collision. (Docroc)
10. How susceptible are players to focus fire? (Caemlys)
11. Do the utility skills provide enough of an escape for you to stay alive if applied well or is it a big frag fest? (Caemlys)
12. Will the Gear/Loot rewards in WvWvW game play be as good as in PvE game play? (Kevan)
13. Do they plan to have WvWvW game play available when they 1st launch the game? (Kevan)
14. Do they plan to have more than 1 map to fight over in WvWvW campaign, if so will the maps be different on each Server/Neutral Zone in WvWvW and will they be shuffled when they reset the Server match ups after each campaign? (Kevan)
15. Will there be a benefits/rewards system for Guilds? Any hints on what these will be? (Kevan)
16. What is the size limit for guilds in Guild Wars 2? (Elsimer)
17. Will the hardware on an 2011 imac running windows be sufficent to Guild Wars 2? (Bashir)

For some questions, like #1 and #3, I might be able to find out the answers while doing a play through while others, like #2, I'll have to ask the developers.

As you give me questions, I'll add to the list above.

» Edited on: 2011-08-26 09:43:40

» Edited on: 2011-08-26 15:28:49

2 For myself, you might be able to answer them for me right now though. 1: Will there be a closed/open beta and whats a rough estimate of when we can expect this beta. 2: If there is no body blocking will there be some equivalent and what will that be?

#1 I can answer now and #2 I have a vague idea myself, but I'll definitely find out more this weekend. #1 Arenanet has stated that closed beta will be done "this year." I read this as meaning by December 31st, closed beta will have started. What that means for open beta? Anyone's guess, but from the way things are going, I'd bet the earliest open beta would be is next year. So closed beta by Xmas time, no real idea on open beta, and Arenanet really isn't giving out much more info. Though I'd say once you start seeing more info on WvWvW expect a closed beta fairly soon since that's the last major piece of the pie to be covered (that and the 8th profession). #2 There's a few abilites that help manage opposing players. A great many of these involve traps (thief and ranger) and aoe shields/walls (guardians) that immobilize, snare, or just plain prevent anyone crossing that area for a short period of time (the line wall that the Guardian can make lasts 5 seconds). Also a few abilities are positional dependent. I haven't really seen anything in the lines of abilities that trully mimic a "tank wall" beyond the wall that the guardian can make. #2 is still a really good question and something I also really want to know. I'll add it. Oh and Tserash sent me some questions via email. I'll add those too.

» Edited on: 2011-08-25 11:44:45

Just ask where my invite to beta is.....jeez!

Most of the pvp guys are just emailing me..which works. Added Kevan, Caemlys, and Docroc's questions.

This may have already been covered (if so, where is it?) but my first concern would be the guild limits in GW2. Guild Wars allowed a maximum of 100 accounts per guild, will there be a limit in GW2 and if so what is that limit? According to the Family Tree, Gaiscioch in Rift is currently sporting approximately 467 distinct accounts of active members. If we have to split into 5 guilds then that's going to complicate many of the interactions we want to have.

Elsimer, I'll be sure to find out. I'm sure Ben (Fog) wants to know that as well. However I doubt Arenanet has a firm idea of the ceiling yet for guild sizes. If it comes down to it, we'll do 2 or 3 separate subguilds based on what type of game play you gravitate towards like we did in Warhammer. It was loosely based so if all your buddies were more pvp'ers, you could still be in that pvp subguild even if you mainly did pve. You didn't HAVE to be in any one subguild though if you didn't mind one way or the other, there were definitely subguilds that we encouraged you to be in. That and we had an "alliance" channel that all alliance guilds AND all the Gaiscioch guilds were asked to use as their primary chat. It worked out fairly well honestly. I'll add this question to the list.

Will this game be playable on a 2011 imac bootcamped into Win 7

You may need to explain what "2011 imac bootcamped into win 7" means to me so I can find out for you. Is it a program that allows you to play Window OS programs on a mac?

Basically it is a partition that actually allows windows to run on mac hardware. The question is will the hardware on an 2011 imac running windows be sufficent to play this game.

My questions might be a bit broader than you can ask, Vamp. But here they are: 1. What's the 8th profession? 2. Can Gaiscioch get into a beta? 3. Can I get into the beta with my Gaiscioch brethren? :)

I did think of an easier question to find an answer for: - Do necromancers still need to target a corpse to summon a minion?

Thanks for adding my Question.. Another two, 1. Guilds, what can they do to help out in WvWvW 2. (This isnt really a question but lets pretend it is...)Can Gaiscioch be in your closed beta? Pretty please? If you word that last question correctly we can hope for the best!

I got an answer for all the questions though I will warn you that some were "cannot comment at this time." I'll be posting a blog about the community/designingGW2 today/tomorrow. Later this week, I'll put up another post with the answers to your questions. Sorry for the wait, just trying to balance blogging, my job, and time at home (ie I can't do too much at home or my gf will banish my computer.)

Awesome Vampire. I have no idea where this blog is you mention. Can you post a link, please?

Dont get your computer banished... And yeah, link to your blog?

The link is on the left handside along with the other blogs. Mine is called "Don't Fight in Darkness" I should have the community/dynamic events panel discussion up by tonight or early tomorrow.