Guild Wars 2 in 2023

Guild Wars 2 is a high fantasy MMORPG with large open world maps, a hybrid combat system, unique mount system and horizonal progression featuring both PVP and PVE content that was initially released back in 2012.

Recently the game has just released it’s 4th expansion Secrets of the obscure which has come only 18 months since the previous expansion End Of Dragons.

Secrets of the obscure brings with it two new aerial maps which you’ll explore on your skyscale mount which has new flight materials that you’ll unlock as you progress through the new content.
You’ll face new enemies in the form of the Kryptis which are entering Tyria through reality rifts which players will need to seek out and close for rewards.

A new reward system has been added in the form of the Wizards Vault which basically gives you currency for completing daily and weekly tasks as well as achievements.

2 new 10 player strike missions have been added, a new 5 player fractal dungeon, and probably the biggest change when it comes to classes is that elite specialization specific weapons are no longer tied to a single elite spec which means there’s much more flexibility when it comes to build creation, previously if you wanted to use a Greatsword as a Necromancer you’d need to play the Reaper elite spec but now that’s no longer the case.

In this video I revisit Guild Wars 2 for a bit to see if the new expansion is interesting enough for me to want to stick around and play more.

What do you think about Guild Wars 2 in 2023? Are you enjoying the secrets of the obscure expansion or would you really like to see Guild Wars 3 at this point? let me know in the comments below!
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Guild Wars 2 2023 Steam Description

Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure is the latest Guild Wars 2 expansion.
In a world finally safe from the Elder Dragons' corruption, new threats rise to seek power. Embark on an epic journey and uncover the mysteries of the Wizard's Tower as you defend the skies against incursions from the Mists.
A BRAND-NEW ADVENTURE

Uncover the secrets hidden in the skies: the truth behind the Wizard's Tower and Tyria's place in the cosmos. Alongside new allies in the Astral Ward, you'll fight to defend Tyria from the ravages of the Kryptis, a strange army invading through the Mists. The story of Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure will play out over installments, with new story content to look forward to at launch and in subsequent releases.
THE ASTRAL WARD

Join the Astral Ward and embark on a quest to seal rifts – tears in the fabric of reality – as Kryptis forces crawl into Tyria from the Mists to threaten our newfound peace. Through the Astral Ward, you'll gain access to rich rewards and sent on bounties to hunt ever-deadlier prey.
POWERFUL COMBAT CHOICES

Experience all-new flexibility in combat customization thanks to several potent system updates. Relics augment your build with special additional effects, combined with a streamlined and revamped rune system. Unlock access to weapons that were previously exclusive to elite specializations for each profession. In future releases, each profession will gain the ability to use even more weapons to introduce entirely new fighting options.
SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND BATTLE

Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure offers an updated path to unlocking your skyscale mount. You'll use the skyscale and new Masteries to explore epic aerial maps. At launch, two new explorable zones will take you to the skies over Tyria; a new map will become available as the story progresses in future releases.

Tags
guild wars 2 GW2 secrets of the obscure expansion rifts elite specialization mastery strike missions mmorpg 2023 mmo PVP PVE fractal fashion wardrobe guild wars 3 thelazypeon first impressions review gameplay world vs world spvp arena best spec mounts flying mount skyscale story cutscenes boss fight relic gear build gold farm guild wars 2 gw2 guild wars 2 pvp guild wars 2 secrets of the obscure guild wars 2 2023

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Guild Wars 2 in 2023

[vovin]

To address your gear inventory situation, there are equipment tabs that you can slot your gear into so you dont actually need to hold all of it in your inventory anymore. You just press a button and change the whole set. And it stays in its tab

[dew_b_dew]

I wouldn't expect gw3 anytime soon. The devs have said they're going to focus on releasing smaller expansions more frequently now, starting with this new one.

[Wyrdnairon]

A big part of your issue with the game stems from impatience. Like many other players, you want to "jump in, be high level, get to the good part", and end up skipping everything that makes the endgame good in the first place. Googling a build can help get players into a semi-effective state quickly and then learn at their own pace, but jumping to one that has 'Hard', 'Designed for Raids and Fractals', and 'A complex and fast-paced build' in it's description and then complaining when you get pancaked is pretty low-brow content, dude. And not reading any of the mail you're sent that explicitly tells you that relics are introduced, here's three for free, is part of the reason why you're swimming in inventory: you get stuff, and then you ignore it. I can't tell if you were just in the wrong headspace to make this review, but it seems like you just don't have the patience for MMO-level complexity at the moment.

Also, cannot bear the irony of wanting a game with "more power-based progression", then just buying your way into whatever gear the internet tells you to buy and complaining how expensive it is to have skipped the grind.

[baddlyghost]

I have played almost all major mmorpgs out there. Guild Wars 2 just hits different.

[HeisenbergFam]

For a game that was made in 2012 it aged like a fine wine

[darensgw]

Well, your critique about gear is exactly what legendary armor and weapons do, they let you change the stats of your gear whenever you want on every character, and it’s a grind for you to do.
You could argue it just should be free for everyone but I think it’s ok for someone to grind for it as a big goal to have in the game

[ringthatkill]

Legendary gear lets you do what your "hot take" complains about, just gotta work for it. Ascended gear has the same stats as legendary and can be traded within characters while u work on Leggies

[UberAwesomeDewd]

For me the thing that keeps me addicted to GW2 is leveling up my account. The idea of permanently unlocking things for your account like Armor, Weapons, Skins, Mounts, and Masteries is what I really enjoy. It's kind of like how roguelikes are addicting because you go into a run and unlock something that makes your future runs smoother/different

[FitFrenzyy]

Hot take was indeed very hot. The idea already exists in the game and is the main source of progression for most PvE players, that is Legendaries. These are stat selectable pieces of equipment usuable across most of your alts. I agree this isnt new player friendly but the game is casual enough as is honestly and you've got to have something to work / grind towards. Otherwise great review.

[ElevenHymn]

LazyPeon only having 96 mastery points spent unlocked explains a lot. That's half the amount you'd have by completing the content up to and including Heart of Thorns. That's not a lot of experience, and explains him not understanding the horizontal progression (since he doesn't have much of it unlocked).

[thesnekofsneks]

i cant wrap my head around the fact that he never noticed the novelties tab 🤣

[Northena]

20:00 - For the equipment issue, look in the Equipment tab. There's small tabs at the top with the numbers 1 and 2 (and the rest are locked which you purchase via the Gem store), which are basically templates. For template 1 you could use for your PvE build, and template 2 for your WvW build. Once your gear is in an equipment tab, it disappears from your inventory - clearing up space. Literally changing your build with the click of a button.

For the stats issue, that's why there's Legendary gear essentially. Legendary can be equipped on multiple templates AND multiple characters simultaneously (a medium armor set can only be equipped by characters who can wear medium armor, ofc). Legendary gear let's you swap your stats any time you'd like when you're out of combat and - for the fashion crazy people - changing the look of a legendary item doesn't cost transmutation charges.
Overall, legendary gear is a huge quality of life upgrade and usually a long-term endgame goal many, many players go for. While there's a bump in numbers between Exotic and Ascended gear, Legendary gear is not better than Ascended, pushing it even more on the QoL upgrade aspect.

[IndiePatron]

Played it for the first time this year, put 200 hours in, can recommend

[Zarturael]

I'm having an absolute blast with SotO
I'm an ex-wow payer and started playing GW2 last year in august when it released on Steam, and was doing all expansions and living world seasons in order. I finished a week after SoTo launched, just in time to jump in while it's still fresh :D
Guild Wars 2 ❣

[stratiss]

Peon: I like gear progression.

Also Peon: Make gear useless.

[ArkhBaegor]

People have mentioned legendary gear already, but ascended gear also fixes your issue to a lesser extent, since ascended gear is stat-changeable at the mystic forge

[FalenTyrael]

I guess after making youtube vids for years the patience to put out quality stuff has wear thin.WIth each new vid you can feel his impatience to just get it over and upload the video.

[shrenko]

For me personally GW2 is the best mmo on the market right now. Im not a meta gamer and I love colllecting stuff, farming achievements, transmog and that kind of content and GW2 hits every spot in those regards for me. Fantastic game

[XtinaLeigh]

Enjoy your vids man, but I gotta say-

Dropping gear from the game would remove a majority of the fun and excitement from getting a new item, plus a majority of the trading post is people trading gear or crafting components for gear. It would make absolutely no sense to remove gear from the game, especially with equipment tabs already being a thing. I'd also rather have this system over rng enhancement systems rampant in other mmos. But that could just be me.

[rufemannen]

The thing you said about gear at the end. It's already in the game. You just need to unlock/craft it. legendary armor. you can equip the same legendary armor piece/weapon on how many characters you want. And with legendary armor/weapons you can switch stats as you wish, you can also unlock a legendary version of the runse/ sigils and use them in the same way.