Guild Wars 2

Even before I went in, I thought “they’ll probably figure out some way to involve Scarlet Briar in this.” Sure enough, there she was.

As a fractal, it’s interesting to navigate. Storywise, it was completely uninspired. Exploring Abbadon’s backstory would have been infinitely more interesting than this.

I blame everyone that voted for Ellen Kiel. Proud Evon supporter for life.

Because we needed a 9283749826th post saying this.

Yes, we really did. We really did.

I like the fractal a lot. If they took scarlet out it would be perfect.

I found the Thaumanova Fractal disappointing for a completely different reason.

Whenever I visit the reactor today, I find myself wistfully staring into the sealed-off area to the West (with the waterfalls in). I fully expected to be able to go there when I visit the fractal.

The reactor map from the fractal is completely different from the reactor today, however, and to be honest, I have no idea how one morphed into the other. Where are the poison, water and ice chambers? Or, I don’t know, the floor? Is this really supposed to be the same facility? How?!

I agree, Pixel That bothers the heck out of me. I understand it is supposed to be a big facility, but it looks like a totally different one. I see no connection whatsoever to the Fractal version of the reactor.

The fractal was a joke. Super disappointed. The abaddon story would be ten times more interesting because how the hell would they include Scarlet and your doing a story about a God. Wtf are the writers and devs doing?

Hyperion.9654:

The fractal was a joke. Super disappointed. The abaddon story would be ten times more interesting because how the hell would they include Scarlet and your doing a story about a God. Wtf are the writers and devs doing?

Making sense?

People seems to ignore facts in favor for their blind hatred of Scarlet.

It’s a fractal. No other fractals have had much of a story if any at all. It would not have mattered if Abaddon was chosen since then we’d have this exact same thread only people will be claiming Kiel should have been chosen instead. It doesn’t matter.

Elan.7523:

I agree, Pixel That bothers the heck out of me. I understand it is supposed to be a big facility, but it looks like a totally different one. I see no connection whatsoever to the Fractal version of the reactor.

I was also hoping for (but not expecting) at least some vague clue about whatever is the matter with that steam ogre platform.

Sad kitty is sad.

Well in my opinion the fractal is fine. Interesting mechanics decent boss fight and about the right length for a fractal. I actually really enjoyed it, dunno what most people are complaining about.

zombyturtle.5980:

Well in my opinion the fractal is fine. Interesting mechanics decent boss fight and about the right length for a fractal. I actually really enjoyed it, dunno what most people are complaining about.

People will say that everything is bad just because it happens to have Scarlet in it.
No matter how much sense it makes.

I bet people will even complain about Scarlet being part of the final confrontation with Scarlet.

I didn’t want the fractal but I had higher hopes for something other than what we got.

When I imagined it, I expected a facility where reality was being torn open. As the meltdown occurred, rifts and portals would open up and visions of the past, present and future of Tyria could be seen through them. The actual scenario presented (regardless of Scarlet’s presence) didn’t seem to live up the potential of a significant research facility that caused tears in reality. Maybe I wasn’t paying enough attention, but I felt like it could have been any other asuran research facility and most things would be the same. The potential of dragon research and the potential of a tear in time/space/reality seems completely wasted in this fractal.

All it seems to be is a generic research facility with a couple puzzle rooms and an appearance from Scarlet to acquire another piece of technology. I feel like they completely missed what was compelling about the Thaumanova Reactor when creating this fractal.

The whole place felt like a bad first-game prototype built by an amateur modder on the old Source engine.

The maze part was outright obscene.

“And now let’s navigate this completely featureless samey-looking maze with no map looking for we don’t what or what it does because we won’t tell you why while being shot at from every direction which kills you in two shots. It’ll be fun!”

Scarlet… No.

Get rid of her. Forget her. She’s sh*%.

Is Scarlet there in story mode? I did it yesterday and there was no Scarlet anywhere even though I was expecting her to show up.

The Fractal was pretty dull imo.

Did any of you stay in the observatory after you got your shinies?

Pixelpumpkin.4608:

I found the Thaumanova Fractal disappointing for a completely different reason.

Whenever I visit the reactor today, I find myself wistfully staring into the sealed-off area to the West (with the waterfalls in). I fully expected to be able to go there when I visit the fractal.

The reactor map from the fractal is completely different from the reactor today, however, and to be honest, I have no idea how one morphed into the other. Where are the poison, water and ice chambers? Or, I don’t know, the floor? Is this really supposed to be the same facility? How?!

I imagine the facility we see in the fractal is the underground part of the open world facility. The asura building a plate on it to stop the radiation to come out makes sense. Back than the facility had no roof but afterwards they built not only one. They built the floor of the open world facility and a roof above that to contain the left over radiation. When we now stop the shield and jump into the light we would get to the fractal area but because of the dense chaos magic we will be portet instead.

Except there is an open sky.

It’s a fractal, what did you want the next full on dungeon?

Do you think Abbadon would have been done any justice in a 20 minute fractal?

LunarNacht.8913:

Pixelpumpkin.4608:

I found the Thaumanova Fractal disappointing for a completely different reason.

Whenever I visit the reactor today, I find myself wistfully staring into the sealed-off area to the West (with the waterfalls in). I fully expected to be able to go there when I visit the fractal.

The reactor map from the fractal is completely different from the reactor today, however, and to be honest, I have no idea how one morphed into the other. Where are the poison, water and ice chambers? Or, I don’t know, the floor? Is this really supposed to be the same facility? How?!

I imagine the facility we see in the fractal is the underground part of the open world facility. The asura building a plate on it to stop the radiation to come out makes sense. Back than the facility had no roof but afterwards they built not only one. They built the floor of the open world facility and a roof above that to contain the left over radiation. When we now stop the shield and jump into the light we would get to the fractal area but because of the dense chaos magic we will be portet instead.

I think I can live with that.

Barely, but ok.

the fractal is fine….the whiny hyperbole in this specific forum stinks. OP enjoyed playing it, but scarlet’s mere involvement ruined all that? so hard not to hate 75% of the people on this forum (willfully accept infraction to say that….you devs agree with, tho you can’t say as much).

….shrinks back to professions forums where at the whining actually is warranted and helps improves the game.
you all continue hating every piece of content the introduce…

As far as reactors go though it is realistic. But why the control rods aren’t within the reactor core i will never know. SCRAM cant be performed >.> = Super-critical meltdown.

WereDragon.6083:

It’s a fractal, what did you want the next full on dungeon?

Do you think Abbadon would have been done any justice in a 20 minute fractal?

No it wouldn’t. The Abaddon fractal would be a great disappointment. Epic moment, insanely high expectations and there are people who think that a fractal would be enough for the Fall of Abaddon? No it would be pathetic. Abaddon deserves more than just a tiny fractal.

And to the ones who have a problem with the layout. Remember, its a fractal. Fractals aren’t 100% accurate, some fratcals are more accurate than others. The mists tend to add, remove or replace details. Things that aren’t really affecting the main event. The mists could have replaced some of the rooms.

Walhalla.5473:

And to the ones who have a problem with the layout. Remember, its a fractal. Fractals aren’t 100% accurate, some fratcals are more accurate than others. The mists tend to add, remove or replace details. Things that aren’t really affecting the main event. The mists could have replaced some of the rooms.

This actually annoys me about this update. They’ve abandoned the original style of FotM (which was a huge success, especially compared to the hostile reception this update has received) and done a hatchet job on the two Living Story dungeons despite them not fitting the style of FotM. Now we have three fractals with NPCs, story and dialogue, all of which are established canon instead of actual Fractals. It was cool to see fractals as this glimmer of something, now they’ve outright plonked an actual story component into them (Scarlet’s presence at the reactor) which makes that fractal different from the originals.

We do need to let them know it was disappointing and why, so that they can make the changes needed to do better next time.

I think the boss fight and the room puzzles were fun. But no new enemies and an all-too-familiar setting was boring. Maybe I’m just bitter because I was hoping for the Crystal Sea, Abbadon, his Margonites and the Forgotten. #Evon4life

And while I thought the mechanics of the boss where fun, the art design just wreaked of corners cut and time crunch. It’s just a male human with a glowy shader effect. This would have been a perfect place to introduce a Mursaat boss. Or something entirely new.

Shiren.9532:

This actually annoys me about this update. They’ve abandoned the original style of FotM (which was a huge success, especially compared to the hostile reception this update has received) and done a hatchet job on the two Living Story dungeons despite them not fitting the style of FotM. Now we have three fractals with NPCs, story and dialogue, all of which are established canon instead of actual Fractals. It was cool to see fractals as this glimmer of something, now they’ve outright plonked an actual story component into them (Scarlet’s presence at the reactor) which makes that fractal different from the originals.

I agree. One thing I liked in the old fractals was how there was little exposition or dialogue, and what was there was very vague and cryptic. It added to the mystique.

So scarlet didn’t cause the reactor to go boom in the end nothing she said suggested that she did. How molten alliance was teleporting in though is a major question though I thought they where formed after.

I hope you realize that Scarlet could have been behind the Abaddon thing, also. I’m waiting to find out she’s behind the Elder Dragons, next.

This fractal fell rushed, unfinished and buggy.

Fafnir.5124:

So scarlet didn’t cause the reactor to go boom in the end nothing she said suggested that she did. How molten alliance was teleporting in though is a major question though I thought they where formed after.

I have done the Reactor several times, and I have yet to see a single Molten Alliance mob teleporting in, so please tell me where they are.

I have seen Flame Legion, Dredge, Ascalonians, Skritt, Nightmare Hounds and Aatxe, but never a single Molten Alliance one.

I wouldn’t know how good the fractal was. I opened and went down in the fiery room.

lordkrall.7241:

zombyturtle.5980:

Well in my opinion the fractal is fine. Interesting mechanics decent boss fight and about the right length for a fractal. I actually really enjoyed it, dunno what most people are complaining about.

People will say that everything is bad just because it happens to have Scarlet in it.
No matter how much sense it makes.

I bet people will even complain about Scarlet being part of the final confrontation with Scarlet.

No matter how good anything is, when there is stinky pooped plopped on it, it no longer is good. Try those most gourmet steak in the world and smear it in turds and tell me how good it is then. : 3

Chesed.2890:

Even before I went in, I thought “they’ll probably figure out some way to involve Scarlet Briar in this.” Sure enough, there she was.

As a fractal, it’s interesting to navigate. Storywise, it was completely uninspired. Exploring Abbadon’s backstory would have been infinitely more interesting than this.

I blame everyone that voted for Ellen Kiel. Proud Evon supporter for life.

Since you don’t know what the Abbadon fractal they would have implemented would have been (i.e. the exact story and fractal mechanics) this seems like a completely silly thing to say. The story could’ve been just as wacked…I mean, it is the same writers. It’s not like they would have went “Oh the Abaddon one won?! Hire the modern Mark Twain’s and write the most amazing story ever known to mankind!”

That being said, I LOVED the boss fight. It really is finally a boss that has a real environment mechanic that is challenging, and quite fun! The actual fighting was really nice, though I was sad when I got the inquest look at was the boring plain one

It was ok, I had really expected some kinda random boss system when 1 of those portals would open up and a boss from some where else would step out. Number 6 is ok and I do like the way they made the last boss their. Even if its a 1 way to death with no way back.

Oh this is priceless….did u people actually expect it to be any good under the condition that devs stated on their stream (when the voted winner was announced) that they really wanted to do the Abadon fracture? If you really want to do something with all your heart yet are forced by a third-factor to do another thing (in this case broke people’s desire for less teleport fees)…it’s only logical, normal and expected that u won’t give it all u got to do something else. Anyone would do the same.

You get what u vote for… IRL also. Enjoy your 5 min “yet-another-asura-experiemnt” content. Can’t wait to see a “Scarlet or Dragons” vote, scarlet offering less teleport fees and dragons offering dragons. Guess what u broke ppl who can’t afford 1 silver will vote.

Rebound.3409:

You get what u vote for… IRL also. Enjoy your 5 min “yet-another-asura-experiemnt” content. Can’t wait to see a “Scarlet or Dragons” vote, scarlet offering less teleport fees and dragons offering dragons. Guess what u broke ppl who can’t afford 1 silver will vote.

Which is kind of lame that players will always go for the cheaper waypoint fees. Some players have made the absurd claim to have saved 40-50+ gold because of that, but even with the most expensive waypoint (close to 4 silver), they still would of had to teleport over 6,000 times to save that amount of gold (spending close to 200 gold in the process on the teleport fees, after the reduced cost), and there is no reasonable explanation for why any player would have to do that across a month of gameplay, and at that point (well, at that point 10,000 silver ago), you deserve to lose that much of your hard earned gold.

aside from that, I actually enjoyed the Fractal, even if there were no titanic battles between gods anywhere to be seen! The part of the story that concerned Dessa was pretty good. Still, it would have been awesome to see some (nearly) all powerful gods come together and lay the smackdown on one of their own.

Rebound.3409:

Oh this is priceless….did u people actually expect it to be any good under the condition that devs stated on their stream (when the voted winner was announced) that they really wanted to do the Abadon fracture? If you really want to do something with all your heart yet are forced by a third-factor to do another thing (in this case broke people’s desire for less teleport fees)…it’s only logical, normal and expected that u won’t give it all u got to do something else. Anyone would do the same.

No actually the devs stated that they would have loved to do the Abaddon fractal too. They didn’t express any preference regarding which Fractal to build. Apparently everyone at the office had their own favorite, and both were popular. I’m pretty sure the team went into building the Thaumanova fractal with a lot of enthusiasm, and I kind of like how it turned out.

I actually feel like this was Scarlet’s best appearance. For once, we actually got to learn something of her motive. Actually listening/reading her monologue can be useful..

She was interested in the research that had been done there, specifically about the “lines of magic that criss-crossed the world” She also lamented a bit on the fact that the facility had been built right atop an intersection and how that was interfering with the stability of the reactor. We also learn that she has a keen interest in Dragon magic and that it was what was actually being studied there.

I’m willing to bet that the Jungle Dragon is sleeping very close to the Thaumanova Reactor, and Scarlet was looking for important information regarding him.

I think it’s a decent fractal. I like the bosses, I could do without the laser room, which is hard to get your mind around (at first) and even harder to coordinate in a pug. The first boss has some nice anti-dps mechanics and the last boss is chaotic and got my adrenaline pumping (which is more than I can say for most bosses in GW2) because of the potential for instant death.

It’s fine, just need a little time to get used to it, wiped 5 times during story, only 1 time at lv 30, we’ll get better eventually.
Don’t care much about the lore behind it.