Gamescom sees first Guild Wars 2 trailer

Rejoice, MMO fans, for NCSoft and ArenaNet have not forsaken us.  In fact, they surprised the MMORPG community today with a Guild Wars 2 teaser trailer at Gamescom.

The video is actually more substantial than any conventional teaser, full of lore and even in-game footage.  The ancient dragons of Tyria are prophesied to rise from its depths, bringing apocolypse to the surface.  So powerful are these creatures and the five races that must set aside their differences and band together -- if they want to survive. 

Guild Wars fanatics probably know most of it, but the concept art and game footage are mostly new and, of course, breathtakingly beautiful.  Would you expect any less from ArenaNet concept artists? 

Along with the trailer, we have screenshots (of the video) and concept art of the different races and new locales.  Unfortunately, there was no release date or period announced with these assets.  Below the video, you'll also find some general FAQs from ArenaNet, which may answer a few of your burning questions.

When is Guild Wars 2 going to be released?

When it’s finished. Guild Wars 2 is the largest project ArenaNet® has ever done and we want to make sure we take the time to do it right. 

We will release more info about lore and races later this year. We will reveal more about gameplay early next year.

Although we publically beta-tested the original Guild Wars® while it was still in early development, with Guild Wars 2 we will commence beta testing closer to the game's release. Guild Wars 2 is a very large and ambitious game, and Guild Wars players rightfully have very high expectations of its quality. We want players to be absolutely blown away by the game the first time they experience it.

Guild Wars 2 is being developed for the PC.

Nope. Like the original Guild Wars, there will be no subscription fee for Guild Wars 2. You just buy the game and play it online without paying a monthly fee.

Yes. Guild Wars 2 provides a massive, online persistent world.

While Guild Wars 2 adds a persistent world, it retains the unique characteristics of the original game, including a strong narrative, extensive instanced game play, an anti-grind design philosophy, and strong support for competitive play.

Will Guild Wars 2 have non-human playable races?

Absolutely! In addition to humans, players will be able to create, customize, and play a variety of non-human races.

·  Charr - The conquerors of Ascalon, the charr are ferocious, warmongering creatures—the intractable foes of humanity. Now, as greater dangers threaten their conquests, the charr legions and their war machines prepare for war.

·  Norn - The norn are half-giant brawlers from the frigid northern lands who can shape shift into mighty bestial forms. Driven from their homeland by a force beyond reckoning, the norn have regrouped among the dwarven ruins of the Shiverpeaks.

·  Asura - The asura, who once ruled the caverns and tunnels below Tyria, are an advanced race of small size and great intellect. Now that they have risen from below, the asura aim to rule the surface world with their powerful golems and ingenious plans.

·  Sylvari - Not much is known of the sylvari, save that they are a race of sentient plant-beings, newly blossomed into the world. The sylvari are the youngest of the races, bound together by a common dream and awesome power.

How will character progression work? Will you be raising the level cap?

Guild Wars 2 will have the kind of extensive character advancement appropriate to a persistent world RPG. Our goal is to avoid forcing players into the grind-based gameplay that too often accompanies a high level cap.

Also, to allow players the freedom to play together even if their friends are at a much higher (or lower) level, we are planning to implement a strong sidekick system, similar to that used in City of Heroes.

We're applying this same philosophy to competitive play. Players will be able to engage in organized, balanced PvP (similar to GvG in the original Guild Wars) without first leveling up characters, finding equipment, and unlocking skills. While inside the organized PvP area, all characters will be the same power level and will have access to the same equipment.

Will Guild Wars 2 be solo-able?

Yes. You will be able to advance your character to the maximum level without ever joining a group if you so desire. Most content will be designed in a solo-friendly way, though often with mechanisms for scaling up in difficulty when more players are involved. This will give players the option to experience the game however they prefer.

Can I play my original Guild Wars character in Guild Wars 2?

Because Guild Wars 2 is a whole new game with different professions and races, new technology, and expanded game play, it would not be possible to directly use an original Guild Wars character.

However, your original Guild Wars character names will be reserved for your use in Guild Wars 2. The Hall of Monuments in Guild Wars 2 recognizes the accomplishments commemorated by your original Guild Wars characters and provides you with unique rewards to showcase those achievements. 

We will reveal exactly how the Hall of Monuments works closer to the launch of the game.

The system requirements haven't been finalized, but just as with the original Guild Wars series, we're committed to creating a beautiful game that will play great on mid-range gaming PCs.