There’s a massively informative article up on the ArenaNet blog discussing the “World versus World” PvP format, including lots of details about how up to 300 players will be able to contribute to their side’s efforts regardless of each player’s current experience level:
We have amazing PvE gameplay and intense competitive PvP in Guild Wars 2, but we also offer huge, open-field, server-versus-server warfare the likes of which you’ve never seen. We call it world vs. world or WvW.
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From the earliest days of development, we knew that we wanted to include some form of large-scale PvP combat in Guild Wars 2, but how would it work? We knew right away that we wanted three teams fighting against one another on a series of huge maps in the Mists (our world vs. world battleground) and that each team would be composed of an entire server full of players. Including three forces in world vs. world acts as an excellent balancing factor, preventing one team from growing too powerful and ruining the competitive balance of the game. Two teams can gang up to counter a more dominant third team, a dynamic that simply isn’t possible with only two opposing factions.
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Taking a keep is no easy feat. Tough NPCs guard each keep, which are all surrounded by stout walls. You’ll have to make your way through sturdy gates before you even get a chance to try and defeat the lord protecting the keep. If enemy players are defending the keep, it’s even more challenging.
Luckily, you’ll have the ability to use siege weapons to tear through those walls and gates, but we’ll talk more about those in a bit. Once the keep lord is finally defeated, your force has to hold the keep for a short time before you claim it for your server. Once you capture a keep, all gates and walls are repaired, so don’t hold back your assaults in fear of damaging the structure. Tear down whatever you must to get inside!
Click to see full-size imageThere are buildable siege weapons, including Trebuchets, Arrow Carts, Catapults, Ballistae, and Siege Golems. And you can also pay to upgrade defences on your side’s fortifications, hire additional NPC mercenaries, and recruit local tribes to assist you in your battles.
