Guild Wars 2 takes the MMORPG in some bold new directions, and nowhere does that ambition show more than in the game's massive world vs. world game type. ArenaNet has posted a new blog post detailing the mode, which sees entire servers duking it out in a two-week long, three-way battle.
World vs. World (or WvW) combat will take place in a battleground called the Mists. The Mists are divided into four separate maps, one home base for each of the teams, and a central battleground called the Borderlands. Each of the maps will support upwards of three hundred players at once, so they're understandably huge.
To score points for your team (and ultimately win the battle), you'll need to capture the objectives the are scattered throughout the map, including resource camps, keeps, and towers.
Resource camps are the easiest of these to take, but they'll play a crucial role in gameplay by producing supply. Supply is WvW's universal resource, allowing you to build weapons, purchase upgrades, and repair damaged defenses. Every resource camp will regenerate supply over time, and periodically send out caravans to resupply your team's fortifications.
And a steady supply line will prove vital if you want to take on the game type's most important objective, keeps. These massive castles are guarded by sturdy walls and dangerous NPCs, and you'll need a rather impressive force to gain entry and defeat the ruling lord.
That's where siege weapons come in. By spending supply, you'll be able to construct massive weapons of war, from trebuchets and catapults to a giant, robotic siege golem. With the right arsenal, you'll be able to topple the keep's walls and capture it for your team, scoring big points and helping to turn the tide of the battle.
To put the kibosh on grinding, WvW will automatically adjust your character so they're about as powerful as they would be at level 80. That means you can hop into the battle with your all the skills and gear you've earned in PvE and have a good time, no matter what level you are. Of course, that doesn't mean everyone will be on a level playing field. Higher level characters will still have access to better weapons and skills, so you probably won't be able to hop right in and take down anyone you please, though it will stop things from getting too out of hand.
There are loads more details over on the official blog post, so if this taster has piqued your interest, feel free to head on over for the full rundown.
Guild Wars 2 will be out later this year. ArenaNet recently confirmed that they plan to bring the games to console sometime after the PC release.
