Flameseeker Chronicles: Stop telling me how to get 50 points when I only have three

I've spent a ton of time the past week talking about how to get 50 points in your Hall of Monuments, and while I'm happy with how much people seemed to enjoy it, I got a lot of feedback of another kind.

This is the connection between Guild Wars 1 and Guild Wars 2 that we've been waiting for, so a surprising number of players have either come out of retirement or are picking up the game for the first time. Those players read a guide on how to get 50 or even 30 points, check their calculators, see three points, and can't even begin to imagine how they'll catch up.

Well, my main account might be sporting 46 points, but the image above is a screenshot of the calculator for my Massively/Guildcast account, so I am right there with you guys. For that reason -- and thanks to a pile of requests -- this Flameseeker Chronicles is for those of you just starting out. I mentioned some of this in last week's Flameseeker Chronicles, but it was geared more toward those who are already underway. This is more basic, so follow along after the jump for a guide on how to get up to speed.

Why do I have three points?

Let's answer that question first, because it's been a bit of a mystery. There were a couple of theories flying around, but none of them seemed to hold true, so we asked NCsoft for an answer. "When Guild Wars 2 is released, there will be a way to link your GW1 account with your GW2 account. If you own Eye of the North, you will receive 3 points for linking the accounts together. The Reward Calculator assumes that you will have linked the accounts together, and so automatically gives you those points."

So essentially, it's a three-point head start. There is nothing you have to do in the Eye of the North or your Hall of Monuments to gain this -- I have a Prophecies-only account that has three points.

Now that we've solved that mystery, it's time to look at the next three points, and the next three, and the next three...

Where to begin?

I really hate to sound like I'm harping on this theme after the past week, but it's really important: Be patient and take your time. If your Hall of Monuments Calculator is showing single digits, you are not going to have 50 points next week. That's OK though, because Guild Wars 2 is not coming out next week either. You've got a ton of time, so you may as well take it slowly and enjoy the game. I know it's a little frustrating when it seems like everyone around you is in the upper 40s, but you'll get there, I promise.

Let's start with the basics. My recommendation is that you focus on one thing first and foremost: Complete all three campaigns (bonus and masters on all of them), plus Eye of the North. That's a tall order in itself, but it's important for several reasons, so let me go through those reasons and give you some tips on making the most of your journey.

First of all, keep in mind why you are doing this. This is your connection to Guild Wars 2. The story of Guild Wars is going to have a significant impact on the world of Tyria in the future. GW2 will make a lot more sense -- and you'll enjoy it much more -- if you understand what came before. Read the quest text and listen to the story the first time you play through, because you're going to revisit a lot of this stuff in GW2.

On a more immediate level, completing the campaigns and expansion is your fastest track to points in the Hall of Monuments. When you complete every mission and bonus or masters goal in a campaign -- Prophecies, Factions, or Nightfall -- you'll receive the Protector title for that campaign and a statue in your Hall of Monuments.

Completion of Eye of the North does not award a statue in itself, but rather it opens the door to five more title tracks, each with its own statue. As you play through, you'll earn points in four title tracks: Asura, Human, Norn, and Dwarf. Each one of those tracks gets a HoM statue when maxed, and simply playing will get you well underway on all of them. You'll also earn points in the Master of the North title track, and you guessed it: That one's another statue.

Making the most of your playtime

Completing the above goals will put you well on your way to a pretty impressive Hall of Monuments, and there is a lot you can do as you play to make the rest of your goals that much easier.

First, for heaven's sake pick up everything that drops for you. All items, all gold. I know a lot of players turn their noses up at white-named items or trophies, but don't do that. You're going to be spending some serious cash later on, and every item you pick up now will add to your stash. Pick up everything, ID and sell it at the end of every play session, and stick the money in your Xunlai chest. I promise you that one day you'll look up and be surprised at how much you've accumulated.

Second, never ever ever start playing without a Storybook in your inventory. There are books for almost every possible gameplay situation now, and all you have to do is have the correct one in your inventory when you play. The blank pages fill in as you progress, and when it's full you turn it in for XP, lots of gold, and significant progress on the relevant title track.

Third, use the resources available. It sounds like a pat answer to say "use the wiki," but it's the best guide out there, as long as you know what you are looking for. If you've not done a mission before -- particularly if you're unfamiliar with the bonus/masters requirements -- or are stumped as to how to get to the next step in an area of the game, visit the official wiki. Simply type the mission in question (or the last mission you did if you're lost) into the search bar and spend a few minutes reading. You'll find walkthroughs, any prerequisites, and playing tips.

Finally, find a good guild if you need help. Massively's guild is currently working on the basic goals that I have outlined here, and there is room for a few more players, but it's not the only guild or alliance out there at all. Check the fansites listed in the community guide and browse their guild recruitment forums to see who's recruiting. Find one that seems like a good fit, and you'll have plenty of help as you play.

This should help get you started if you're sitting at three points. I know it seems daunting, but once you've gone through these basics, you'll be ready to shoot for 30!

Rubi is a longtime Guild Wars player and the writer of Flameseeker Chronicles here at Massively. The column keeps a close eye on all the events in Guild Wars, Guild Wars 2, and anything bridging the two. It's also the home of a weekly summary of the travels of [MVOP], Massively's Guild Wars guild. Email Rubi at rubi@massively.com.