After reading many other people’s topics about the Act 3 event and how the timing is bad and ANet should feel bad, I have new hope for this event. I really desire to see an event which sets the stage for the substance of Act 3, but does not provide any special advantage to those attending. Let me sum up.
Disclaimer: I do generally support ANet, could be called a fanboy, and generally trust the company to deliver a satisfying experience. That said, imagine this:
The level of spectral energy in Lion’s Arch is finally reaching a climax. After days of building, the ethereal powers are suddenly fluctuating wildly, releasing all kinds of paranormal activity. Members of the Lunatic Court begin flooding Lion’s Arch, seeking out the normal NPCs and eliminating them. Any player unfortunate enough to stand in their way meets an unfortunate transformation into one of the minions of the Mad Realm. Lightning flashes over the gruesome scene, showing the massacre of the city’s denizens. As they fall, their positions are assumed by Advisors to the Mad King, heralding his reign over the beacon of Tyria’s unity.
With the city subdued, all eyes turn to the decayed lion statue. The metal frame finally gives way to the arcane rust and slime. As the statue falls with an ear-wrenching shriek, a monstrous door appears. It slowly opens, revealing none other that Mad King Thorn, come to rule the city through fear and terror. His servants across the city cheer his return to the realm of mortals. As the cheers begin to fade, the Mad King explains that the next few days will be very “fun,” and invites all to join him in a little game… ::end narrative::
The game would be the Act 3 primary event, repeated every 3ish hours so that everyone could join in and earn rewards, just as these events were done in the original GW. Act 4 could be a storyline where the races harness the wild energies to fight back Thorn and revive the original inhabitants of Lion’s Arch, undoing the damage of the Lunatic Court.
If this scenario is similar to what ANet has planned, it honestly should only be done once. The effects will remain and anyone can enjoy them until Act 4 (imagine if the 4th site of the Mad King’s Realm is the transformed Lion’s Arch!), but this transformation adds a fun and exciting element for those who can make it. I hope this event is something similar, making for great fun and not punishing those who could not attend.
I just wanted to toss out a case where ANet knows what they’re doing with the event, and show how it could be awesome but still not detrimental.