Beginner's FAQ

Written by: Sylana
Edited and Published by: Magi

The following is a FAQ compiled by Sylana and its aim is to answer most, if not all, new player related questions. Below is a table of contents to make navigating the FAQ easier.

Table of Contents
What does Pre-sear mean? What does "Post" mean?
How do I indentify something?
What's a salvage kit
What should I sell and what should I keep?
Where do I get armor?
Where do I get weapons?
How does crafting work?
What's north of the wall? How do I clear it?
Should I buy dye from players in Pre-sear?
Should I sell dye I find in Pre-sear or should I keep it?
What is the best profession to start with?
What is the best secondary to choose if I am "X" primary profession?
Who is Gwen and what is her purpose?
What do I do with the tapestry shred?
How do I get a pet? How do I change my pet?
When should I leave Pre-searing?
What happens when I leave Pre-searing?
Why are some items white, blue, yellow, purple, or green?
Why won't the chests?
Why am I only able to change my skills in certain areas?
What are attribute points and how do they work?
What's the level cap?
What's the best / fastest way to level?
How do I choose a guild to join?
What are skill points? How do they work? How do I get them?
What are runs?
What are all of the emotes?
Why do some people have light blue names and some have dark blue names?
What are missions? What are bonuses?
Why are the monsters running away when I cast spells on them?
What are henchmen? How do they work?
How do I get new skills?
What are runes? How do I get them?
What do pvE, PvP and GvG mean?
What does UW mean?
What does FOW mean?
What does RoF mean?
What does HoH mean?
What does HA mean?
What does TA mean?
What does RA mean?
What does IWAY mean?
What does MF mean?
What does MM mean?

What does Pre-sear mean? What does "Post" mean?

"Pre-sear" is a term used to describe a point in time according to the Guild Wars storyline. This time is in the past. The "Post" game is the normal game and refers to the present-the time after the searing.Play through the Pre-searing stage of the game and watch the cinematics to learn exactly what the "searing" is. The Pre-sear area is where you begin with your newly created roleplay characters. It's also known as the tutorial area. You will learn how to play the game in Pre-sear.

How do I identify something?

There are NPCs (non-player characters) located inside of towns. Their names are in green. You can hold down your "alt" key on the left side of your keyboard to see them on your screen so that you can find them easier. Ones labeled, "[Merchant]" sell "identification kits." You can purchase these. Each one has 25 uses. To use the identification kits double click on the kit and your cursor will change. Place it over the item you wish to identify (you may identify any item, even those that do not say "unidentified" and it will give you a price that the item is worth) and click on it. You will see the new item description.

What's a salvage kit?

There are NPCs (non-player characters) located inside of towns. Their names are in green. You can hold down your "alt" key on the left side of your keyboard to see them on your screen so that you can find them easier. Ones labeled, "[Merchant]" sell "salvage kits." You can purchase these. Each one has 10 uses. To use the salvage kits double click on the kit and your cursor will change. Place it over the item you wish to salvage (you may salvage any item) and click on it. You will get a crafting item in your inventory after you do this. It would be wise to save as many as these crafting items as you can after selling what you need to sell to make it through Pre-sear. You can take them into Post and use them to purchase armor. You can also sell them for more money there.

What should I sell and what should I keep?

Keep all dye and all spider webs that you get in Pre-sear. The dye is worth much more money in Post. Collect, collect, collect dyes every chance you get as their prices fluctuate and can be a great commodity in the game. Do not bother dying your Pre-sear armor! The dye is worth far too much and you will be getting new armor in Post. It is simply a waste of a valuable item. It is advisable not to buy dyes from other players in Pre-sear unless you have been through the game before and are familiar with dye values. Most of the prices people sell dyes for in Pre-searing are not worth it. Spider webs can be salvaged with an "expert salvage kit" (these can be bought later in the Post part of the game) to get crafting silk, which is worth far more than the basic glittering dust that you would get if you salvaged them in Pre-searing.

Where do I get armor?

Your character starts out with beginner armor. In Pre-sear you will find NPCs called, "[Collectors]" throughout the lands. These collectors will offer to trade you armor, weapons, and other various items for specific types of loot that is dropped off of monsters when you kill them (i.e. For 5 skale fins a collector will give you a belt pouch). You can obtain a whole new set of armor in Pre-sear this way. Once you get into Post you can get armor the same way but there will also be NPC merchants in various outposts (towns) that will sell armor. In order to buy the armor you will need money (gold and platinum) as well as crafting materials. You can salvage your loot (see questions relating to salvaging in this FAQ) to get crafting items or you may purchase them at a "[Material Trader]," and a "[Rare Material Trader]."

Where do I get weapons?

Your character starts out with a beginner weapon. In Pre-sear you will find NPCs called, "[Collectors]" throughout the lands. These collectors will offer to trade you armor, weapons, and other various items for specific types of loot that is dropped off of monsters when you kill them (i.e. For 5 skale fins a collector will give you a belt pouch).

How does crafting work?

There is no player crafting. Crafting is done through NPC merchants. You can trade crafting items (see salvaging questions in this FAQ for further information) and money to "[armor]" and "[crafter]" merchants and they will craft armor and items for you.

What's north of the wall? How do I clear it?

There is a quest that takes you north of the wall-do this quest to find out what is behind it. Aside from the quest there is a group of Charr north of the wall. It is quite challenging to kill them all, especially with only 2 people. There is no specific fool-proof tactic. Just keep trying. When you die you will be resurrected at the resurrection shrine and you can continue to try to kill what is left-they will not respawn unless you leave the wall.

Should I buy dye from players in Pre-sear?

It is advisable not to buy dyes from other players in Pre-sear unless you have been through the game before and are familiar with dye values. Most of the prices people sell dyes for in Pre-searing are not worth it.

Should I sell dye I find in Pre-sear or should I keep it?

Keep all dye that you get in Pre-sear. The dye is worth much more money in Post. Collect, collect, collect dyes every chance you get as their prices fluctuate and can be a great commodity in the game.

What is the best profession to start with?

There is not best profession to start with. Different people will tell you different things. Many suggest a warrior but the best profession to start with is whatever profession looks like it would be fun and interesting for you. Every profession in this game is balanced and has strengths and weaknesses. Read up on each profession here at LQGaming, on the official Guild Wars website, or in your Guild Wars manual and pick whichever one you feel would be best for you to start with.

What is the best secondary to choose if I am "X" primary profession?

There is not best secondary profession. Different people will tell you different things. The best secondary is whatever profession looks like it would be fun and interesting for you. Every profession in this game is balanced and has strengths and weaknesses. There are endless build combination possibilities. Read up on each profession here at LQGaming, on the official Guild Wars website, or in your Guild Wars manual and pick whichever one you feel would be best for you.

Who is Gwen and what is her purpose?

Gwen is an NPC who offers various quests to you. If you give her a new flute and allow her to follow you she will randomly heal you. Try to also give her many red flowers and a new cape. She is quite an enigma in Guild Wars as Anet has not fully included her story in the game yet. There are many theories, questions, and ideas surrounding Gwen.

What do I do with the tapestry shred?

Save it. Its use has not yet been implemented into the game.

How do I get a pet? How do I change my pet?

You must be either primary or secondary ranger in order to get a pet. In Pre-sear you will be given a quest that will allow you to obtain a pet. To name your pet simply type, "/petname [insert your pet name here]" To get a new pet walk just outside of Old Ascalon in Post. There will be an NPC nearby named, "Jarrel the Tamer." Speak to him and he will rid you of your pet. You then can go get a new one the same way you got your pet via the quest in Pre-sear.

When should I leave Pre-searing?

Technically you can leave Pre-searing once you have chosen a primary and secondary profession and you've achieved level 3. If this is your first time in Pre-searing it is highly recommended that you stay until you have completed all of the quests available to you (see the Pre-sear quest guide on LQGaming here). This should take you to level 7 or 8. This is a good level to leave because it suits the areas you will be travelling through when you first enter Post. It is also helpful to stay for a few more levels because you can get dyes much more often and can collect alot of loot and money to carry over to Post so that you can get started with fresh armor and money in your pocket.

What happens when I leave Pre-searing?

When you choose to leave you will first be faced with a small PvP battle. Other players and hench will be grouped with you. You have a time limit and will be on either a blue or red team. The object is to kill people from the opposite team; to try and get the most kills within the time limit. You will not gain or lose anything from winning or losing the battle. It is simply giving you a taste of what PvP is like to prepare you for Post. Once this match is done you will then be intered into a mission. You will be told to complete a task. This is a PvE task. This is to familiarize you with how missions work in Post. Once you complete this mission you will see a cinematic which tells you the story of the searing and then you will find yourself in the outpost Old Ascalon in Post.

Why are some items white, blue, yellow, purple, or green?

The color designates the item's rarity. The more rare the item, generally the better the stats. Yellow items usually have max damage but not always. Green items have max damage.
White=Very common
Blue=Common
Purple=Semi-Rare
Yellow (aka Gold)=Rare
Green=Very Rare

Why won't the chests open?

You need a key to open the chests. Each area requires the specific types of keys meant for that area (i.e. areas around Old Ascalon require an Ascalon key). You can purchase these keys from merchants. They also drop as loot from time to time.

Why am I only able to change my skills in certain areas?

You can only change your skills inside of outposts, not in any combat areas be it PvE or PvP. The same goes for your attribute points. This is so that you cannot change your skills or spec in the middle of combat. Doing this would create an unfair advantage (i.e. a smite monk changing to heal in the middle of combat because the team is dying).

What are attribute points and how do they work?

When you gain a level you gain attribute points. You can distribute these points among your specialization lines (i.e. for an elementalists: fire, water, air, earth, energy storage) however you see fit. You can also change these around as often as you like, anytime you like, as long as you are inside of an outpost and not in any sort of combat area.

What's the level cap?

The level cap is 20 but the game does not end there. Once you hit level 20 you still gain EXP. Each time you would gain enough to level hereafter you will gain a skill point instead. You may also ascend by fighting and beating a Doppleganger after you've reached level 20. You may not enter certain areas such as the Fissure of Woe and the Underworld unless you are level 20 and ascended. There are also quests you may not get until you have reached level 20. Guild Wars is a game that is based on skill and actual gameplay/storyline instead of level grinding.

What's the best/fastest way to level?

This question is like the question of which profession is best. There is no true best way to level as each method suits people differently. Some people like being powerleveled. Some like farming monsters. Some like running missions. Some like questing. If you are playing for the first time it is highly suggested that you take your time and concentrate on the game-the quests and the missions-and not so much on leveling. This way you will learn the game and learn how to play your professions easily. Guild Wars is designed so that you level easily simply by playing through the game normally. Ultimately, though, the best way to level is whatever way you enjoy playing and leveling.

How do I choose a guild to join?

You will see constant spam in public chat, "such and such guild recruiting, we have cool cape, guild hall, and website." You most likely want to avoid these as they are usually newly formed guilds who are in the same position as you (unless, of course, you wish to help get a new guild off of the ground but it is extremely hard to do so in Guild Wars). A great place to start are the LQGaming forums in the Guild Society. You can post that you are in search of a guild here. You can also take note of people you PvP with that you get along well with or work well with and speak to them about their guild. These are the best suggestions to find a quality, serious guild.

What is a guild hall?

A guild hall is a private area on an island where you and your fellow guild members can meet up to talk, hang out casually, and to enter Guild vs. Guild matches. There are six different types of guild hall islands to choose from:
Wizard's Isle
Warrior's Isle
Isle of the Dead
Hunter's Isle
Frozen Isle
Druid's Isle
Guild halls can be toured in Lion's Arch and purchased with a Celestial Sigil. These can be won in the Hall of Heroes or bought at the actual guild hall isles.

What are skill points? How do they work? How do I get them?

Each time you level you will gain a skill point. After you hit level 20 you will also gain a skill point each time you gain enough EXP to have gained a level. You also earn skill points from completing missions and some bonuses. A few quests reward them also. Skill points are used to purchase skills for your character from skill merchants located in various outposts. You can buy these skills anytime you wish as long as you have the money and skill points to do so.

What are runs?

A run is when another player "runs" you to an outpost. There is no combat-the runner generally dodges the monsters and gets to the desired outpost as quickly as possible. You and anyone else in the group can die and you will be resurrected inside the outpost when the runner makes it there. People like to get runs to outposts that are hard to get to. Runners usually charge a price but some do it for tips or for free. Be wise in choosing a runner. It is a generally a good idea not to pay for a run before you leave. Many people unfortunately scam this way-take the money then leave you. Most legitimate runners will take half up front and half upon arrival or all upon arrival. The safest way to be sure you're not ripped off if you get a run is to choose a runner doing it for free or for tips but it is a good courtesy to tip them some amount of money when you do arrive. Scammers work both ways-people have left runners without paying. Just use your own judgement if you choose to be run.

What are all of the emotes?

You can find an emote list here at Guild Wars LQGaming.

Why do some people have light blue names and some have dark blue names?

A dark blue name means that person is in a group. A light blue name means that person is ungrouped.

What are missions? What are bonuses?

A mission is an outpost designated on your map with a shield. When you are in a mission outpost you will see the primary/secondary profession of each person above their head to make group forming easier for you. When you enter a mission you will get a set of tasks to complete. You must complete these tasks without your entire group dying. You can complete it with only one person alive but if everyone dies you fail. When you complete a mission you will be rewarded EXP (usually 1,000 points) and 1 skill point. Each mission includes a bonus task which is optional to do. If you complete the bonus you will get additional EXP (usually 1,000 points) and possibly a skill point.

Why are the monsters running away when I cast spells on them?

The AI (artificial intelligence) implemented to the monsters in Guild Wars causes them to react in a similar way a person would. When you cast an area of effect (aoe) or a point blank area of effect (pbaoe) spell on the monsters they will try to flee it in order to stay alive. You would probably move out of a firestorm raining down on you...so will the monsters.

What are henchmen? How do they work?

Henchmen are NPCs that you can group with to help you out. You can find them near the portal exits in each outpost. You can choose from several different ones such as a healer, a protector, a ranger, a warrior, etc. Simply click on the hench that you wish to take with you and their name will appear in your group window with a green plus symbol next to it. Click on the green plus symbol to add the hench to your group (player grouping works the same way). Henchmen have AI (artificial intelligence) and will automatically attack any target you attack. They will also run from aoe and pbaoe spells cast on them.

How do I get new skills?

Various outposts have skill merchant that you can purchase both primary and secondary skills from. You will need skill points and money to do so. You can also do quests which reward skills to you. You will discover this in Pre-searing as most of these quests are centered around skill rewards.

What are runes? How do I get them?

There are several different types of runes. These runes have various stats such as health or a + points to your attribute spec (i.e. + 1 hammer for warriors):

Minor: +1 to noted attribute spec; Vigor runes give + 30 Health
Major: +2 to noted attribute spec but - 50 Health; Vigor runes give + 41 Health
Superior: +3 to noted attribute spec but -75 Health; Vigor runes give + 50 Health

You can purchase these runes at Rune Traders in various outposts. You can also salvage them from loot with an expert salvage kit (make sure it is an expert one, otherwise you may only get crafting materials). Blue items sometimes carry minor runes, purple items sometimes carry minor runes, and yellow ones sometimes carry superior runes. These runes can be attached to armor by double clicking on them and clicking on the armor piece you wish to attach them to. Runes do notstack. This means that you can only have one rune for each attribute. You cannot have two or more minors, two or more majors, etc. You also cannot have a minor and a major or any other combination. You can only have one for each. This includes the health runes.

What do PvE, PvP, and GvG mean?

PvE=Player vs. the environment. This is you against the game-monsters (AI)
PvP=Player vs. Player. This is you against other players.
GvG=Guild vs. Guild. This is when guilds fight against each other.

What does UW mean?

UW-Underworld. This is an area that you can access only when your country has the favor of the Gods (gained via the Hall of Heroes), you are level 20, and you are ascended.

What does FOW mean?

FOW=Fissure of Woe. This is an area that you can access only when your country has the favor of the Gods (gained via the Hall of Heroes), you are level 20, and you are ascended.

What does RoF mean?

RoF=Ring of Fire. This is an area where the final missions are located on volcanic islands.

What does HoH mean?

HoH=Hall of Heroes. This is a PvP area that you gain entrance to by winning several PvP matches in a row in the Heroe's Ascent. Battles fought here determine which country has favor. You can choose your group members here.

What does HA mean?

HA=Heroe's Ascent. This is an 8 vs. 8 PvP area. You can gain entrance into the Hall of Heroes via winning matches in this area. You gain entrance to the HA via winning matches in the Team Arena. You can choose your group members here.

What does TA mean?

TA=Team Arena. This area is a 4 vs. 4 PvP area. You can gain entrance into the Heroe's Ascent via winning matches in this area. You can choose your group members here.

What does RA mean?

RA=Random Arena. This area is a 4 vs. 4 PvP area. You can gain entrance into the Team Arena via winning matches in this area. You are randomly paired up with other players here.