Guild Wars 2: Official Strategy Guide (Signature Series)

I wanted a Guild Wars 2 book, but all my local Gamestop sold was the basic paper back, and I really wanted something hardback. This guide is exactly what I wanted it to be. It has a lore overview, class overview, and some interesting information I had never thought to be included.The price I paid with shipping was a great deal! Just a few days after I bought this product, I saw the same book in Walmart for twice the price. It shipped incredibly fast, and arrived two days sooner than its estimated time. I could not be happier with the seller or the product itself. If you are looking for a guide to GW2 that will look pretty sitting on your shelf, this is the guide for you. It even came with this little 'calendar' style map that sits on your desk.

I had read the less positive reviews after placing the order, so was a bit apprehensive about getting the guide. When I got it, I found the book to be very informative and an enjoyable read. There are a lot of strategies, and information that can help people develop strategies. While this is particularly the case for people fairly new to the MMO style game (such as myself), it has also been true for my two roommates (long time veterans of GW1 and WOW).Powergamers will likely find it less useful, but may find the information on the various skills, enemies and weapons worthwhile, or to read up on the world and its history.I would recommend the book at the Amazon price.William

I mainly got the guide just more as a refrence as i am sure i will rely on the Wiki more then i will this guide but i thought having it would be a nice overview and getting the hardback edition as well as the code for the digital one free.Maybe ill enjoy the digital version better as one gripe i have right away is the text is just way too small i think they could have made the font size just a bit better to read.Second the included quick refrence mini altas thing does not even include all of the zone maps a few but not all of them (the game guide does include most of all the zone maps however itself)Also while it does list all the skills for each profession and each weapon set, the problem is unlike the wiki it does not list the overall damage for each skill nor what i find important is the range too)also the monster section could have fared better by having better view of the actual monster model or at least some better artwork then a simple screenshot.I just found overall the guide could have been layed out a tad better and such but overall i say its not a bad deal but you might want to stick with the 15 buck regular edition as the map stand thingy is OK but honestly i would imagine youd use the in game maps more.but considering you get the hardback edition plus the map flipstand things and a key for the copy of the digital guide I guess its not a bad dealjust was hoping it could have been laid out much better and over time this guide may become a bit out of date BUT i find it usefull still as a general reference book anyways.if your short on cast. id just rely on the Guild Wars 2 wiki but otherwise considering this is the only printed official guide out there it does have its usefulness.the real downer however is the digital guide as you get a code for it (the problem is also the guide does not even tell you how to redeem the code, you have to sign in to the bradygames website and then redeem the code in your account....the digital guide really is pretty poor in that yeah its the full book but its flash based and im not kidding like every 3 pages you got to sit there and let it load for a few seconds which is really annoying and clunky. i would NOT have paid for the digital guide on its on. it should have just been a pdf that way i could have viewed it on the ipad as well. but the problem is they just dont want others to copy it so thats why they rather punish the person who buys the guide by using a crappy flash interface rather then just providing a high detailed pdf guide instead.The guide honestly the CE is only good if you just want it as a sort of refrence and to just have it to just to have it if you dont want to pay 120+ bucks plus for the CE.......but other then that. honestly the wiki is much better but some players (and those new to guild wars and such) might get some use to it...

I'm going to keep this review short and sweet, for those of you (like me) that would rather be spending your time playing the game instead of reading a review. Furthermore, this review is strictly in relation to the BradyGames guide and not the actual game by ArenaNet.The game itself, frankly may be the most intuitive and enjoyable MMO I have played to date. So far, it is a breath of fresh air in the MMO genre as there are several things done differently and those things that do feel familiar are polished in such a way as to make you truly appreciate the effort behind this game. If only the guide were up to par.First thing's first: this is NOT a strategy guide!Providing tidbits here and there that qualify as obvious information to anyone playing this game with half-an-ounce of common sense, does not count. As several others have already stated, this book is extremely light on actual strategy. In addition, there are far too many pages of the book devoted to players that have never set foot in an MMO.I'd be remiss if I also didn't mention that this book has me seriously questioning the direction of BradyGames as a company. First, the editing in this manual leaves a lot to be desired. Also, I'm not certain as to why BradyGames feels the need to waste valuable real estate discussing the basics of MMO gaming. That is what in-game tutorials are for!And, on that note this leads me to my overall interpretation of what this guide really is: this strategy guide is simply a glorified user manual!However, with all of that said, I've purchased enough strategy guides at this point to realize that there is a 99.9% chance that the so-called strategy guide I'm purchasing will tell me nothing that I can't already figure out in a limited amount of play-sessions. So, I went in buying this book knowing that I'd get a nice hardcover collectible with great artwork, a smidgeon of info devoted to the history of Guild Wars, and something that I could read while I'm away from my computer.The real disappointment for me with this guide is simply the lack of attention given to crafting, particularly in a game where crafting is so powerful in terms of leveling (the first player to level 80 since launch, apparently reached 80 entirely by crafting).In summary, if you're looking for a decent hardcover collectible with great artwork, would like to catch up on the history of Guild Wars 2, or are just looking for something to keep you occupied with some basic to general information on the game of Guild Wars 2 (while away from your computer), then this book is for you.If instead, you are looking for something long on strategy, look elsewhere, like perhaps to free online profession guides submitted by players (youtube is a great place). More importantly, spend your time playing the game and learning that way via trial and error.Like getting good at anything in this world: it takes practice, practice, practice :)

best game ever!

Esta guía, a diferencia de otras de este mismo editor, tiene una calidad muy escasa. Lo mismo el papel (que hace que engorde más de lo debido) que los contenidos, que no están demasiado desarrollados.

Il tomo si presenta molto ben realizzato, con una cura nella scelta della carta ed una impaginazione moderna e dotata di immagini ad alto impatto visivo e in alta definizione. La rilegatura brossurata è comunque solida e robusta. Il liibro è in lingua italiana, suddiviso in capitoli di facile consultazione e non presenta errori di traduzione. Poichè il gioco a cui fa riferimento è disponibile solo in lingua inglese si è deciso volutamente di mantenere inalterati i nomi dei diversi poteri dei Personaggi, delle Classi disponibili e delle numerose armi proprio per non disorientare il lettore e massimizzare l'utilità della guida. Particolarmente gradevoli e apprezzate le mappe di ogni area del gioco spiegate nel dettaglio con abbondanza di particolari. Nel complesso essa svolge molto bene il suo ruolo di facile, veloce e completa guida di consultazione durante le sessioni di gioco al computer presentandosi esattamente come desiderato da un giocatore moderno.

Pro: detailiete Klassen- und Rassenguides über Fertigkeiten bishin zum Movement.Contra:Ich habe mich so sehr auf diesen Guide/Lösungsbuch gefreut...leider vergebens. Es sind nicht wie beschrieben detailierte Karten enthalten, in denen man alles nachvollziehen kann von "Herzen-Aufgaben" bis Sehnswürdigkeiten - lediglich die Wegpunkte sind eingezeichnet und die Fertigkeitspunkte ... ohne Worte!Desweiteren enthält es lediglich eine Seite in der beschrieben wird was crafting ist und welches der teuerste Beruf ist, nicht irgendwelche Lösungen zu Rezepten oder ähnlichem, leider sehr schade!Zu dem kommen leichte Gebrauchsspuren am Buch selbst.

Whether you're a Guild Wars One diehard fan, or totally new to Tyria, you will love this guide. From the second you look at the cover you can see that this is Guild Wars artwork at it's finest, and I would be happy leaving this out as a coffee table book simply because the artwork really is so stunning. The internal pages are a little thin and fragile though, so handle with care turning pages.The introduction includes some fascinating history of Tyria from the original games, and the time in between the first and second games, plus events leading into the present day. MMO basics, a glossary and regions and races information are included here. Next we have Character creation, a how to play guide and first experiences in each starting zone. Professions are gone into in great detail, as is crafting. There is a bestiary which I haven't investigated fully for fear of spoilers and then the game guide.The guide to the game given here is deliberately not complete. It handholds you through early zones in great detail, teaching you how to do things so that when you get to the higher level areas, you'll know how to work it all out for yourself. Dungeon guides look pretty complete and include tips and hints on how to beat each one. Again I haven't looked too deep into this as I don't want to be spoiled, or to unintentionally leave spoilers for others in this review. Finally there are interviews with Arenanet with some fascinating insights into the mindset of the people who helped to create this stunning world.The map stand that comes extra to this limited edition version of the guide is like a small calendar style book of maps which I think covers every area in the game, from pvp to pve. This will definately save your M key sat next to your monitor and lets you see what's under the fog and where you should be heading next.If you got a digital copy of the game, and feel you have missed out on the printed material that came with a physical box, you will love this book. Everything you could possibly want to read up on and more. The book also comes with a free ecode to access the digital edition of this guide, which is a nice bonus. Although the guide itself will end up shelved for outdated information and both official and unnofficial wikis will eventually overtake it, it is still absolutely worth having for the artwork. Right now it is also providing useful info that isn't available anywhere else.