TenderFoot

We will be conducting a Stress Test TODAY from 1:20 PM PDT to 2:00 PM PDT.

We will be actively working on the game during the event, so you might experience connectivity problems or discover features that are not working as designed.

Any issues you experience are a result of the rigorous conditions of the stress test, and are in no way representative of the state of the game at launch.
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By participating in this stress test, you’re helping us make Guild Wars 2 a better game.

Please note:

* The Stress Test is open to anyone who has pre-PURCHASED Guild Wars 2.
* You will not be able to purchase gems.

Thanks for your cooperation—we’ll see you in-game!

~RB

Guild Wars was a high-water mark in gaming. A fantasy MMORPG from NCSoft and ArenaNet that eschewed the idea of monthly fees and thrilled critics and gamers alike.

Now, we're about a week away from the release of Guild Wars 2, which is promising to blow even its predeccesor out of the water.

Guild Wars 2 dev Matt Wuerffel took some time out of his frantic production schedule to indulge some of my questions over the phone.

There’s more to being successful in Guild Wars 2 PvP than mastery of your class: it’s just as important to know how the maps work, how to earn points quickly, when to push and when to back off. I’ve played a lot of PvP over the course of beta and I recently spoke ArenaNet about the techniques that will help good teams to stand out. Below you’ll find general tips as well as an overview of each of the three maps that will be available when Guild Wars 2 launches.
These are principles that apply to every PvPer, regardless of profession or build. They apply whether you’re playing with an organised team on voice chat or jumping in with strangers.
For more on the game’s competitive side, be sure to check out our interview with systems designer Jonathan Sharp.
PvP tips

Points mean prizes
Each of the three launch maps are played in Conquest mode, a race to a certain mount of points. Points are earned for capturing areas of the map, killing the enemy team, and completing other, map-specific objectives.
Whatever your plan, you should always be keeping an eye on the point tally. Winning fights and chasing down kills is important, but not if it allows the enemy team to rack up a territory advantage. Good teams will keep track of their options for earning points in a given situation and take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Sometimes, that’s coming together for a coordinated team fight. At other times, it means staying mobile and denying the enemy kills. I’ve covered each map’s tweaks to the point system below.