[NOTE*** As of April 15th, 2014 the changes to the game with the April 2014 Feature Pack update have altered The Train route somewhat - these changes will be updated in this map and article as they solidify into a commonly-agreed Route...
FURTHER UPDATES AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARICLE]
Ah, Guild Wars 2... I'm having so much fun with you, I can barely stop to start typing helpful Tips for others to read! Why are you so awesome? Oh, that's right, your creators and other ArenaNet buddies heard the nighttime wails of MMORPG players from other games around the globe and listened intently to our cries, wanting to soothe us softly by satisfying requests we players have made of all of those other games, didn't you? Oh, yes you did. The result: a game I wish I had gotten into a lot sooner... Thank you, ArenaNet.
For those new to the game (or those who haven't done this before), in the beginning area of the Human lands of Kryta, there is a phenomenon called "The Train". After asking a few questions in-game and watching it a while, and then joining in on it off and on, on my own, I feel I can now safely share a simplified Tutorial on 'The Train' and explain to others (mainly newcomers to Guild Wars 2) what it is and how to be a part of it, if you wish to be.
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| Loading Screen for the Queensdale region, where 'runs' of The Train take place (Click to see Full Size) |
What is The Train?
'The Train' in Queensdale is, essentially, a cooperation of players moving and killing together as a group [in an MMO game?Whoknew?lol]. The Train targets a small number of Champion-type mobs [MOBile monsters], killing these same ones in a repeating cycle, again and again. The pattern [the "Route that The Train takes"] has evolved over time and differs little, no matter what server/shard you are on. Traveling and moving in collaboration with each other gives the result of faster kills, experience and loot for all those taking part (and sometimes the groups can get quite large). In Guild Wars 2, one does not need to 'Party' or form an 'official' group of any kind, in order to benefit from conquering enemies together [even when not following The Train]. Merely join alongside and help out a bit, and you too are now part of the Clique of Killing and can reap the rewards.
Even though The Train runs in the first leveling/adventuring area of the Humans (called Kryta), you can play any Race you wish, and then run/travel to the Human lands and be a part of The Train. There are no restrictions on Race interaction (no 'sides'; no factions, no clans, no tribes [to restrict players]) in Guild Wars 2. Any race can be created and interact with any of the other Races in Guild Wars 2. So, be whatever race you want to be, you can still head to Queensdale and get on The Train!
When 'on The Train' (following the group around and helping to kill the Champion monsters), you do have to be a high enough level to 'hit' the enemies in order to register as a 'contributor of the group' and benefit from the encounter (get experience, be able to loot, etc). With the Champion mobs being 'farmed' [by The Train] averaging Level 10 in this region (these are the only mobs that The Train goes after, remember), you may not be able to actually hit them until your character is about Level 7 or 8; so if you are playing a brand new character, do some starting Quests, World Events or your character's Storyline for a bit first.
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| Killing the Boar champion while on the Train in Queensdale (Click to see Full Size) |
If you are a 'Brand New' Player to Guild Wars 2, I strongly suggest doing that for the most part anyway (Quests and Storylines), as doing so, you will more easily learn how to control your character, fight battles, use your skills as you learn them, and learn to navigate the territories and develop your character as a whole.
The Train is, for the most part, a repeated cycle of killing [almost absolutely nothing but] a small number of Champion 'boss' style monsters (as in 5-6 of them, depending on the route The Train takes on your Server/Shard, remember it differs little) - and there have already been arguments all over forums and other websites as to whether relatively New Players should take part in it at all (and if it harms the gameplay/environment of newer players). I believe that this decision is up to each individual, as some people might eschew the practice completely until Level 80 (the current maximum level as of the time of this post), while other people will love the camaraderie and easy access to loot (you always get items comparative to your current level, whatever that may be, when the Champions die).
As with any game, there will always be people that will say a certain activity is too repetitive and boring, and there will always be people that will say it is a good source of 'loot', and there will always be people that will advise doing something else (like playing PvP or more PvE). I like to suggest, if people ask, that each person try Taking A Ride On The Train for themselves at least a few times, then judge whether they wish to continue doing it or move on to other things, leaving the choice up to each player.
[On a personal note for a moment, merely to address this matter that many people seem to argue about and state my own personal opinion, I myself enjoy roaming the lands of GW2 randomly, helping out NPCs and doing the little events found around the world. I play usually always play solo and that affords me the ability to change it up and do whatever activity I want, stop whenever I want (or if I get too tired physically and have to stop, due to my illness) and roam around taking [way too many] screenshots of the environs, gathering resources as I leisurely explore and discover the countryside. I often forget about the Storyline for my character - there is so much to do in the world; but I try to get in on it as I remember to and develop my character along with the story that is tailored for each Race. I do take a ride on The Train, but only as a 'something else to do for a change', not as my 'main leveling mechanic' or my 'main source for items'. I like to think this off-and-on approach allows me to enjoy The Train while not getting too bored of it too quickly, all the while being able to enjoy the game at the same time, and it is just 'another thing that I can do' in the huge game world of Guild Wars 2.]
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| Killing the Troll champion while on the Train in Queensdale (Click to see Full Size) |
How does one 'get on' The Train?
First, I always suggest to others, to get the Waypoints that The Train uses first. This will allow you to quickly relocate and follow The Train, travelling to the next Champion that is to be killed. If you did not create a Human, travel to The Human Lands and simply run to the Waypoints to open them up on your map and register them so that they can then allow you to return to them/use them in the future and for Riding The Train.
Don't worry, there are only three main waypoints used in The Train's generally-used rotation (and it differs only slightly on some servers/shards [for instance, on Eredon Terrace, "The Bandit" is very rarely killed by The Train - which seems to be the main difference for The Route from other shards - however, since I have created my character on ET, this is the example I will use]). The waypoints used and the route generally taken are all shown in this graphic I have created of the map of Queensdale below.
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| The Game Tips And More Blog's Map of Queensdale and The Train Route as of April 2014 [Old Version] (Click to see Full Size) |
The Route that The Train takes usually runs like this (repeatedly):
- Begin the Route from the upper right [the Double Orange Arrows on the map I created, above]
- Kill the Boar champion in the hills there, NW of the Hunting Lodge
- Fast Travel to the Vale Waypont and head into the caves just to the west
- Kill the Troll champion inside the caves of Altar's Windings
- Fast Travel to the Phinney Waypoint and head NW to a glade at the edge of the trees
- Kill the Rotting Ancient Oakheart champion at the forest's edge
- Fast Travel to the Krytan Waypoint and head NE, towards two large hills
- Kill the Forest Spider champion on the larger hill, SE of the Hunting Lodge in a grove of trees
- Run NW past the Hunting Lodge and up into the hills and wait for the Boar event again
A couple notes about the map: I made 'tick marks' (they look like little orange hyphens/dashes) that remind you of the order the champions are killed in and which Waypoint to take [-, --, ---, etc]. I managed to capture and keep the 'white dotted-line of travel', running around following The Train, so if you are a bit lost, try to re-create the white dotted path that you see on my map. To help with finding the Forest Spider champion on a hill SE of the Hunting Lodge (and NE from the Krytan Waypoint), I put a small orange "S" where it is normally encountered. Lastly, my server/shard does not kill The Bandit Lieutenant champion [and we may be the only shard that doesn't apparently], but if you wish to find him, he is in the Bandithaunt Caverns, N of the Vale Waypont.
When you sit down and start to play a new gaming session, or if you have lost track of where to go next, you can always ask in Chat (/map) where The Train is at that moment, to know where to 'get on' (to join in). Most people simply type, "Train?" or ask "Where is the train now?", and usually some kind soul will answer and state what stop The Train is at (what champion they are killing), or where they are heading to, at that moment. Common answers are, "Boar" or "Spider is up" or "waiting on Troll" or "at Oak", for the various champions (it may differ slightly on your server, but not by much). Sometimes, a helpful person will suggest, "Head to __some champion__", which means that the one they are currently fighting is almost dead, so you 'might as well head to the next one'.
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| Killing the Oak champion while on the Train in Queensdale (Click to see Full Size) |
A few things to keep in mind as you ride The Train are: you have to be able to hit the mob in order to be able to loot it at all, therefore you may have trouble if you are much lower than level 7 or so (the mobs are Level 10). Loot will drop that is around your character's level, no matter what it is, so you can usually use it right away or soon. The Boar portion of the Route takes a little bit to get started and sometimes people will say phrases like, "Boar is Walking" or "Hunters are Walking" or "Boar Starting" and so on, to let everyone know, who were most likely just standing around waiting or AFK, that the event is beginning. You can gather Resources that are around (mine veins, gather plants/food, cut down trees) or that you pass by, on your way to the champions, just don't fall too far behind if the group is large - they can start to kill these Champions pretty darn fast - and you might miss out on the Loot Drop entirely!
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| Killing the Spider champion while on the Train in Queensdale (Click to see Full Size) |
That's it! Try not to bore yourself with repeating this excessively, by the way. Have fun, enjoy the loot and camaraderie of fellow GW2 players; but if it starts to become boring, go back to your character's story, pop in for some PvP or even do some Gathering, enjoying the landscape and beauty that is Guild Wars 2.
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[UPDATE 1*** As of April 23rd, 2014 there seems to still be a lot of confusion as to the accepted/overall Route that The Train should take. There have been many arguments over what order the train will travel in and opposing groups will perform the run in awkward manner to each other. As a result, 'finalized' changes to this map and article will be delayed, until the community can solidify a pattern/route for The Train.
For now, "the basics" of what the Train is and does are secure and remain the same as this article. The Train may still run on your server/shard in the same manner, in general. Enjoy these aspects of this post, for now]
[UPDATE 2*** As of May 3rd, 2014 although there is still a bit of debating as to what should be a 'standard route' for The Train to take, a general consensus seems to be forming and this map and article will be redone and/or updated Soon™]
[UPDATE 3*** As of June 2014, although there is still some debate that occurs (mainly because someone gets to Oak 'early' and kills it on the group), most of the consensus appears to be this route:
Boar-Troll-Bandit-Oak
I am working on a new, updated version of the map and will insert it here when finished.
For now, the rest of the information of this post (how to follow the train, etc.) is still valid and hopefully found helpful, for those who are interested in knowing what The Train Of Queensdale is and how to do it]
See You In The Game!
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