Have been putting my new PC through its paces. Didn't want to but ended up playing some Guild Wars. Its been a while since I've actually logged on. I think GW is a way better MMO than WOW, but that's just my opinion. I'm sure 8 million plus people are all ready to disagree with me. My entire beef with MMOs is the redundancy. let me summarize with an anecdote.This hulking giant of a man walks into a tavern. He swings the doors open in an attempt for a dramatic entrance and then stands in the doorway as if waiting for someone. after a minute the tavern-master looks up from the mug he was polishing and asks, "Can I Help you?"
"Can you help me? no good sir it is I who should be asking if there are any here that need my help. For it is I, Balharium Shadowtamer. It was I who trekked across the great desert plains of santum to hunt the great dragon Panyanf and used his blood and bones to forge the great sword LifeFiend. It was this this sword that I was able to defeat the armies of the Unasal, unleashed on this world by the grand Warlock FootinMouth. He escaped me before I would land the deathblow. But my resolve was unshaken for with death of the warlock would the curse that entrapped the beauty of the east, Princess Peacecraft be broken and My love would be returned to me. So I traversed through the mountains to Dhoom and finally made my way to the lair of Asisibhool, it was there after a great battle that raged for day that the warlock fell and the princess was freed. In gratitude she bestowed upon me this pendant of fortitude and it was there that I ripped this here armor, enchanted by the blood of Griffonataurs, from my enemies dead corpse, making me a god amongst mortals. So again my fellow men, it is I who ask if I can help you, for a small reward of some kind of course."
Everyone in the bar stared in silence at the lunatic who was swinging his sword and clutching his pendant. The silence was broken when a bearded drunk dwarf placed two huge swords that appeared to be LifeFeinds and four pendants of fortitude on the table and said"n00b". everyone burst out laughing as the stranger left the bar in shame.
It is rumored that he was never seen on that server again.
My point with this entire story was that MMOs have yet to make me feel like the central hero in a story like one does in KOTOR or like Jason searching for the fleece. To me it makes no sense to keep paying $5 or $15 a month for this kind of thing.
That is why GW rocks. All the socials aspects of an MMO with the ability to use NPC heroes or Henchmen if one doesn't want to group. And to top it all off, no monthly fees. I just pre-ordered Guild Wars: Eyes of the North (or GW:EN for short) yesterday. Can't wait for the preview weekend at the end of this month. Those who need more info on the game just use Google or hit my IGN, Gamespot or the like.
