"As an ex wow player since vanilla, Guild wars 2 is a refreshing glass, of awesome.
Now you've seen all these posts before, but I feel like I need to throw my hat into the proverbial ring.
I bought this game on a whim, great reviews, seemed like a good time, found it on Amazon for 40 dollars(45 including shipping). Boot up the game, create an account. (Its secure, 24 character + gmail with its own 18 character password secure, both never used before)
Human Engineer, lets do this...log in, its raining, well thats cool. Go over here, this guy needs help, defend this place from centaur etc. Cool, go to otherside of fort, where 20+ centaur descend on our newbie parade. What is this, I am level 1, I should be killing bees or collecting apples....
Boss Centaur runs in, get him down to half health, knocks me down and takes off. Oh no, a repeat boss fight..wait..what....OH MY GOD WHAT IS HE DOING I AM LEVEL 1 AND IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE GETTING TOO REAL FOR LEVEL 1 CHARACTER. ( I wont spoil it for anyone who hasnt started a human yet, its pretty crazy though).
I've had MMO-cynicism after wow died for me (Died for me when they announced Cata, look Taurens, people who have never considered anything other than the elements, nature, earth mother etc, now can become paladins? LORE DAMN IT)
My friends called me the Loremaster, (I even almost obtained the achievement) and I enjoy my stories.
I am nearly level 18, and it is barely day 3 of my quest. Many Centaur have died by my hand and many more shall. I completely explored Divinity's Reach, and Queensdale, killed the Shadow Behemoth, even started a tradeskill.
Now here's where I get excited.
I need to level my trade skill, however I grow tired of the human zone, so I go to the Charr starter zone. Scaled level, I still am powerful but I will get experience as well, as well as collecting all copper ore Tyria can pump out. Naturally, I also want to explore all the locations in the Charr area too, so that's another item on my list.
Suddenly I am almost another level, without even realizing it.
2 days of game play Not a single problem with the player-base Zero lag Have some Green items (took me awhile to understand Greens > Blues) THEY MADE SWIMMING FUN THEY MADE JUMPING FUN Lets pick up this stick, hmmm, press 1 on enemy, watch enemy get knocked back 2-3 yards away. DAT STICK Events, everywhere, always fun, always full of equally crazy yet cooperative people NO HAVING TO WATCH MY GUY SIT ON A BIRD AND FLY ACROSS A CONTINENT Map UI, is amazing and pretty. Personal Story = Immersion
and much more you guys already know.
..."