Guild Wars 2

So I walk into Divinity’s Reach and this guy mentions theres a tent on top of the hole the Collapse left. I go look and there it is, didnt think it was there before this patch, someone would have noticed. Anyone know more? Speculation, ideas, anything?

Edit: picture attached
PS Tents for the Tent-god!

There was a topic on the Lore forum a month or so ago where one of the developers said they’d have to do something with the Great Collapse at some point. Maybe this is a hint that sometime in the future they’re going to put something there?

It’s just wild speculation at this point but I’d also guess if they’ve put a tent over the whole thing it’s because they don’t actually know what they’re going to do so they can’t put a 1/2 finished version in like they did with the Southsun settlements or adding the gates to Cragstead at the start of Flame & Frost. So it will probably be a while before anything is there, but it’s nice to know they haven’t forgotten about it.

I pass by there every so often, and I had taken notice that there seemed to be some new spoken dialogue between the citizens in the area. Things heard in the deeps, etc. I had made a mention of it but no one really thought much of it at the time. Guess this confirms there is more to it than was expected. (I do appreciate Anet takes the time to add in these small details over time. Sure, you might have to be at the right place at the right time, or have to interact with something you didn’t notice before. However, it really does give life to the world and keeps areas from growing stale.)

We do know that ANet will be opening their markets to China at some point.
Maybe we’ll get some “Cantha” flavored buildings there? Yeah I know the original reason for the collapse was the blending of various cultures and the Asian market didn’t like that, but with 250 years of differences maybe ANet finally found a compromise?

Perhaps NCSoft has reconsidered their ideas on “universal” and we’ll see the Canthan district again!

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!! They’re bringing back the Cantha district!!!

Time to buy Gems to thank and support Anet!

Sad penguin is sad…

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

So, I’m not going to spoil anything but I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you guys that according to game lore, there was never a Canthan district. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that the great collapse was formally an arts district.

Community outrage in 3… 2… 1…

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

So, I’m not going to spoil anything but I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you guys that according to game lore, there was never a Canthan district. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that the great collapse was formally an arts district.

I though it is stated by ingame canthans that it was, but maybe I’m mixing memories. I’m not sure but I though it fell because the architecture system (combined with outside game motives) didn’t support the structures correctly and fell but that it was Canthan…

Why would Elonians and Ascalonians have their own district but not Canthans? That feels really wrong and negatively discriminatory!

I think if the story involving the reconstruction isn’t related to Cantha you will get a lot of fans throwing torches at you no matter how good is what you build there instead as there are a lot of expectations about that.

Like I mentioned in other thread, Probably another god awful jumping puzzle planned to last us another 2 weeks with hit F 500x for a 5 point achievement reward

Arghh, looks you can no longer jump in there.

Guys, it’s not a dirt pile. It’s a tarp covering something either completed or under construction.

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

So, I’m not going to spoil anything but I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you guys that according to game lore, there was never a Canthan district. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that the great collapse was formally an arts district.

Is that so, then what is this picture?
“Buildings in the Canthan district of Divinity’s Reach, prior to the Great Collapse.”
Wikipedia.

also the wall is repaired

“Due to time constraints the district was replaced by the Great Collapse” Also taken from the wiki…

Its like when characters are first designed, sometimes they start out as a female, then become male… (someone put in a Pre/post searing reference here, I’m blanking).

In either case it doesn’t matter until they reveal it to us.

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

Nick, that picture was a screenshot taken prior to the release of the game.

is there safely to say within 6 months a replacement for the tent? ^^

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

Nick, that picture was a screenshot taken prior to the release of the game.

And it still can be reconned into canthan district. It’s discriminatory to have districts for all the important nations (Elona and Ascalon) and not Cantha.

PS: Just out of curiosity, where can we find the info that it was an arts district?

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

So, I’m not going to spoil anything but I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you guys that according to game lore, there was never a Canthan district. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that the great collapse was formally an arts district.

Are you telling us the most populous human nation on the world had no district for them in a city composed entirely of refugees (many Canthans had to flee because they were at odds with Usoku and his regime)? Like I’m ever going to believe that…

The Great Collapse was both the arts and Canthan district of Divinity’s Reach.

@Lokheit: talk to the pair of Shining Blade guards at one (or all, as they seem to give mostly the same dialogues) of the entrances leading to the Collapse.

“The Great Collapse is an area located in the western part of Divinity’s Reach. Before the area collapsed, this was the location of the Canthan and arts district.”

“Trivia

The original Canthan district
This area was originally a completed Canthan district and included a blend of Asian architectures. However, this mix of styles received negative feedback from China and Korea, since those gaming markets traditionally prefer a uniform design. Due to time constraints the district was replaced by the Great Collapse."

Keep in mind, it was going to be the Canthan District, but was changed (and the lore was) to remove the Canthan District. Thus it became the Arts District.

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

So, I’m not going to spoil anything but I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you guys that according to game lore, there was never a Canthan district. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that the great collapse was formally an arts district.

Now you obviously know more than I do, but I distinctly remember reading something and it said that the Canthans rushed to make a home for themselves in Divinity’s Reach, making unstable buildings up high, and failed to check the land they built upon (it was unstable) so the earth gave way and the Canthans fell to their doom. This didn’t happen? Am I making it up?

Hello guys, I’m here to answer some of the confusion in this game. Since there was never any in game lore saying that the Canthan District was here (despite the pre release screenshots), they finally put some in to explain it.

The Great Collapse was The Arts District before. It contained something known as The Great Sympathy Hall.

Things you should note:

1. Citizens suggest that it may have been caused by sewer drakes, rumors of a giant drake living in the sewers is still active.

2. Minister Caedecus is attempting to send his Ministry Guards into the area to inspect it, they are confronted by Shinning Blade guards telling them to turn back. After an exchange of words filled with tension, the Ministry Guards go back. This could signal the rising tensions and split in the DR government.

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

So, I’m not going to spoil anything but I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you guys that according to game lore, there was never a Canthan district. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that the great collapse was formally an arts district.

According to Ree it was a Canthan district…

Unless she was stating the design history and the lore history in the same sentence. I forgot where the interview was (I think it was a TowerTalk interview about humanity’s lore), but Ree explicitly stated that the collapse happened because of a rush in establishing the foundations, and in the same answer explained it was the Canthan district.

I actually have done my research – the Great Collapse’s story and Thaumanova’s story are two of my favorite aspects of GW2 lore. And there is evidence to say it was an Arts AND a Canthan district.

Aside from Ree’s statement, in the Order of Whispers personal story step Suspicious Activity you are able to ask Valenze and the others about the person you’re going to investigate, and she says:

“He was born and raised in the Canthan areas of Divinity’s Reach. He worked in the gladitorial arena until he was injured. "

So tell me – where was/is this “Canthan areas of Divinity’s Reach?” The gladiatorial area could only be the training grounds looking spots next to the Plaza of Balthazar (no other place fits a “gladiatorial area” description), which is right on the edge of The Great Collapse!

[Edit: Edited to reduce potential rudeness sounding. Meant to seem sarcastically snide, but re-reading post sounded crude and rude]

@Deified: None of that is actually new so it wasn’t “finally put [] in.” There’s also the statements by a shop owner that she lived there, the Shining Blade saying no casualties yet Riot Alice in the human street rat storyline stating her father died then, and other conflicting stories that make you question the validity of the Shining Blade (which will likely disappear when the update occurs…) in this matter.

Konig Des Todes.2086:

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

So, I’m not going to spoil anything but I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you guys that according to game lore, there was never a Canthan district. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that the great collapse was formally an arts district.

According to Ree it was a Canthan district…

Unless she was stating the design history and the lore history in the same sentence.

Sir, I have done my research. And there is evidence to say it was an Arts AND a Canthan district. _

Aside from Ree’s statement, in the Order of Whispers personal story step Suspicious Activity you are able to ask Valenze and the others about the person you’re going to investigate, and she says:

“He was born and raised in the Canthan areas of Divinity’s Reach. He worked in the gladitorial arena until he was injured. "

So tell me Mr. “There Was Never A Canthan District” – where was/is this “Canthan areas of Divinity’s Reach.” Eh? Ehhhh? The gladiatorial area could only be the training grounds looking spots next to the Plaza of Balthazar (no other place fits a “gladiatorial area” description), which is right on the edge of The Great Collapse!

I think we can all agree that a Canthan DIstrict was in the game before release, but they took it out for whatever reason. The fact that theres a huge thread about them taking it out and what not speaks volumes that the community really wants Cantha in the game. However, they can’t go back on the great collapse so they’re trying to make do. I’m sure we’ll eventually see Cantha in the future, lets not bust their balls over this.

Arguing with a dev lolol

Deified.7520:

I think we can all agree that a Canthan DIstrict was in the game before release, but they took it out for whatever reason. The fact that theres a huge thread about them taking it out and what not speaks volumes that the community really wants Cantha in the game. However, they can’t go back on the great collapse so they’re trying to make do. I’m sure we’ll eventually see Cantha in the future, lets not bust their balls over this.

My argument is that there’s actual lore stating that there is or at least was a Canthan area/district in the game, and that Ree had stated – after the Great Collapse’s establishment in lore – that the Great Collapse was a Canthan district that collapsed due to poor foundations (or so the official story goes… I have reason to suspect sabotage).

kahzee.6042:

Arguing with a dev lolol

Hey, why not? It’s all good fun!

I’d probably argue and point out inconsistencies with Bobby Stein, Jeff Grubb, Scott McGough, and/or Ree Soesbee (and others) as well. I think debating about something, even something the other had made, is healthy in developing the story. If a creator of a story gets pointed out the fallacies in the storytelling, they can work to fix those fallaciekitten

han.5236:

So of course the official Lore was rewritten to an “Art District”.

Yet there are “remnants” stating that the official lore has it as a Canthan district.

I see… Lines of red tape everywhere eh? The Shining Blade covering up the existence of Canthans is definitely suspicious. Cantha sounds cool though, but if its not allowed its not allowed. Maybe a Great Collapse fractal could shed more light?

Konig Des Todes.2086:

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

So, I’m not going to spoil anything but I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you guys that according to game lore, there was never a Canthan district. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that the great collapse was formally an arts district.

According to Ree it was a Canthan district…

Unless she was stating the design history and the lore history in the same sentence. I forgot where the interview was (I think it was a TowerTalk interview about humanity’s lore), but Ree explicitly stated that the collapse happened because of a rush in establishing the foundations, and in the same answer explained it was the Canthan district.

I actually have done my research – the Great Collapse’s story and Thaumanova’s story are two of my favorite aspects of GW2 lore. And there is evidence to say it was an Arts AND a Canthan district.

Aside from Ree’s statement, in the Order of Whispers personal story step Suspicious Activity you are able to ask Valenze and the others about the person you’re going to investigate, and she says:

“He was born and raised in the Canthan areas of Divinity’s Reach. He worked in the gladitorial arena until he was injured. "

So tell me – where was/is this “Canthan areas of Divinity’s Reach?” The gladiatorial area could only be the training grounds looking spots next to the Plaza of Balthazar (no other place fits a “gladiatorial area” description), which is right on the edge of The Great Collapse!

This is just like how the US Government covered up the existence of unicorns. They changed the history books in an epic cover up. I can only hope the Canthans rise from the rubble to rebuild the Cantha District.

Konig Des Todes.2086:

Suspicious Activity you are able to ask Valenze and the others about the person you’re going to investigate, and she says:

“He was born and raised in the Canthan areas of Divinity’s Reach. He worked in the gladitorial arena until he was injured. "

So tell me – where was/is this “Canthan areas of Divinity’s Reach?” The gladiatorial area could only be the training grounds looking spots next to the Plaza of Balthazar (no other place fits a “gladiatorial area” description), which is right on the edge of The Great Collapse!

In your face Anthony!

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

Just a final quick note, I’m certainly not denying that at one point a Canthan district was planned and partially implemented. But the actual lore of the district that the game shipped doesn’t support it very well right now.

I think it’s great that you guys are fans of Cantha and I would personally like to see it in the game as well. But what you’ll be finding under that tent (very soon) is not Canthan.

Sad penguin is sad

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

J’m just making assumptions here, but if we did return to Cantha I suspect it would be a really big deal, way too big to fit under the even largest of tents, or even in an existing city at all.

Hopeful penguin is hopeful

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

I’m just making assumptions here, but if we did return to Cantha I suspect it would be a really big deal, way too big to fit under the even largest of tents, or even in an existing city at all.

This sounds very interesting

Zomaarwat.3912:

Maybe a Great Collapse fractal could shed more light?

I think this could be a fun idea. Presuming it wasn’t a mere poor foundational collapse.

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

Just a final quick note, I’m certainly not denying that at one point a Canthan district was planned and partially implemented. But the actual lore of the district that the game shipped doesn’t support it very well right now.

I don’t see why the district couldn’t be an arts and Canthan district, given there’s lines for both. And besides, who wouldn’t consider foreign art to be the best of what art has to provide?

But if it wasn’t a Canthan district, that still leaves the massive question: Where is the Canthan areas that Valenze mentioned. And I doubt a Preceptor of the Order of Whispers would be wrong in such a thing.

Konig Des Todes.2086:

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

So, I’m not going to spoil anything but I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you guys that according to game lore, there was never a Canthan district. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that the great collapse was formally an arts district.

According to Ree it was a Canthan district…

Unless she was stating the design history and the lore history in the same sentence. I forgot where the interview was (I think it was a TowerTalk interview about humanity’s lore), but Ree explicitly stated that the collapse happened because of a rush in establishing the foundations, and in the same answer explained it was the Canthan district.

I actually have done my research – the Great Collapse’s story and Thaumanova’s story are two of my favorite aspects of GW2 lore. And there is evidence to say it was an Arts AND a Canthan district.

Aside from Ree’s statement, in the Order of Whispers personal story step Suspicious Activity you are able to ask Valenze and the others about the person you’re going to investigate, and she says:

“He was born and raised in the Canthan areas of Divinity’s Reach. He worked in the gladitorial arena until he was injured. "

So tell me – where was/is this “Canthan areas of Divinity’s Reach?” The gladiatorial area could only be the training grounds looking spots next to the Plaza of Balthazar (no other place fits a “gladiatorial area” description), which is right on the edge of The Great Collapse!

And considering how A LOT of the lore and general information in this game comes from outside the game (specially considering who said it, as most of the confirmed facts we got from multiple lore related stuff comes from interviews with Jeff and Ree), then it IS where the Canthan District was. Not to mention the points already mentioned by Konig of ingame info about the Canthan District (and if that’s not where it was… I don’t know where it’s placed then as there is not enough room for a secret district).

Honestly I would prefer 1000 times to wait more so you guys can deal with whatever keeps you from making it canthan instead of scrapping it and doing a recon to use that area for a different living story.

That hole can be there as long as you want, we won’t complain, but if you want to replace it and eliminate all connections to a Canthan District, then no matter how good the story and the ideas are, you will outrage the community.

I’m sure there is some way to implement what you were thinking other ways without eliminating connections between the Great Collapse and the Canthan District.

Edit: As Konig said, it can perfectly be both the arts and the canthan district. There is no reason at all to negate one or the other.

So…

Anyone wanna know how to get inside the great collapse?

Gudradain.3892:

So…

Anyone wanna know how to get inside the great collapse?

I know I do. Sewer-based JP, ahoy!

And isn’t there already a “Canthan” district in DR, anyway? The so-called Eastern Commons? I remember that the buildings there had a slight Canthan influence, similar to the Ossan Quarter having Elonian influences.

The Eastern and Western Commons’ housings is actually an atypical Ascalonian/Krytan mixture that’s seen throughout the smaller villages of Kryta. They’re not Canthan looking in the least.

@Koing
Where is the Canthan district? Pushed out of sight by racist Ministers in their conspiracy to oppress the non-Krytan minorities. DOWN WITH THA MAN!

Funny enough, I recall at least one minister to encounter in the personal story is supposed to be from the Cantha district as well.

In all seriousness, the Devs are probably gonna handwave it and explain that the Cantha district in Divinity’s Reach is just in the inaccessible, outer band of the DR. I mean if you look at the map, there’s about a fourth or a third of the city we can’t get into, and we pass by it in game when entering from Shaemoor.

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

Nick, that picture was a screenshot taken prior to the release of the game.

Well, maybe the retconned Lore doesn’t mention anything about a Canthan quarter, but before the release of the game it was intended to be a Canthan quarter as the picture showed.

As we might infer from the fact that there’s an ascalonian quarter (Rurikton) and an elonian quarter (Ossan Quarter), I anticipate that the area would have been named after Master Togo, or some reference to the Dragon Empire.. but for whatever reason, it was collapsed and retconned instead.

This information was data mined from the patch. Sounds like a smaller Lion’s Arch…

Royal Terrace

109813_0777 Special Access Pass!
109813_0825 Gain entry to the Royal Terrace in Divinity’s Reach.
* Asura Gates to All Cities
* Crafting Stations
* Bank and Guild Bank Access
* Mystic Forge
* Merchants
* And more! All within easy reach, for those who enjoy the ultimate convenience.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/1iwok3/dishonorable_mini_pets_motd_armors_and_much_more/

How disappointing.

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

So, I’m not going to spoil anything but I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you guys that according to game lore, there was never a Canthan district. If you’ve done your research, you’ll know that the great collapse was formally an arts district.

Art district with Canthan buildings.

It’s disgraceful that folks have cited npc dialogue THAT’S INGAME and the dev is saying that it never existed when npc dialogue says otherwise. watch they retcon because refusing to acknowledge or reinstate the cathan distract is borderline disrespect to the players when ascalon and elona got their districts as well.

Pavees.7281:

It’s disgraceful that folks have cited npc dialogue THAT’S INGAME and the dev is saying that it never existed when npc dialogue says otherwise. watch they retcon because refusing to acknowledge or reinstate the cathan distract is borderline disrespect to the players when ascalon and elona got their districts as well.

Don’t worry. It is impossible it wasn’t the Canthan and arts district at the same time. Just because one dev might not have done proper research, doesn’t mean it’s the case.

Alas, it seems what we are getting won’t be Canthan, but fear not… one day Cantha, the first human empire on Tyria, will return and crush all resistance who dares oppose her.

I’ll bet you coins that there’s a giant Aetherblade base right under Divinity’s Reach.

Guys, there’s a big difference between in game lore and what actually happened. He never denied that it was the Canthan district in the real word past, he just said that it’s not part of official lore because it was changed before release.

Navzar.2938:

Guys, there’s a big difference between in game lore and what actually happened. He never denied that it was the Canthan district in the real word past, he just said that it’s not part of official lore because it was changed before release.

Except there are still several references ingame to it having once been the Canthan District (in addition to the Arts District). So either there’s a retcon happening only just now (it did not happen prior to release), or there’s some misinformation coming from this dev.

That said, there are some screenshots on Reddit of what’s hiding beneath the tent, and it’s definitely not Canthan anymore.

So it wasn’t Canthan District?
LOL
I was searching that district in BWE2, with screenshots and trailers.
I had hopes for that district after releases, but know… >.<

AnthonyOrdon.3926:

But what you’ll be finding under that tent (very soon) is not Canthan.

When he said ‘very soon’ he might have meant the next update ^^