Guild Wars 2

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/releases/august-20-2013/

Birthday gifts – queen jennah mini, exp scroll and 24-hr boost
Wvw – wxp increased and treb mastery
PVE CULLING IS OVER

Also from
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/473/view/news/page/1/read/28323/Guild-Wars-2-The-Queens-Speech-Detailed.html
-Anyone who finishes the QS meta will receive an infinite watchknight tonic
-Old skins from previous events are coming back for 10 days

Little disappointed that only 1 year old characters get a birthday gift. It’s kinda… “Thank you for supporting us during this first rough year… Sadly, you weren’t here from day 1, so kitten you! Oh you couldn’t afford it on release? Tough kitten!”.

Unless they mean it’s “a thing” now, so to speak, and people get those benefits when their characters get to 1 year of age, which I doubt.

Other than that… pretty uneventful patch. Pretty much nothing but another step for the living story.

Meh, I guess.

Edit: Mhhh… That second link has one interesting thing: Some old skins might return. If that means I can buy a Sclerite weapon with gems, I’m ok with that.

I’m a bit disappointed that we know what the present will be in advance, but also relieved that it won’t be one of a selection of account bound minis (which would have ruined any attempt to collect them).

I’m looking forward to seeing what the suprise is too. I was expecting some sort of ‘everything goes wrong’ surprise, like another attack from Scarlet, but this sounds like a planned surprise from the Queen, which is very interesting.

And on top of all that finally a queens speech without my granny demanding that I stand in front of the telly and at least pretend to be interested!

(Note: You probably have to be British to know what I’m on about)

ProxyDamage.9826:

Little disappointed that only 1 year old characters get a birthday gift. It’s kinda… “Thank you for supporting us during this first rough year… Sadly, you weren’t here from day 1, so kitten you! Oh you couldn’t afford it on release? Tough kitten!”.

Unless they mean it’s “a thing” now, so to speak, and people get those benefits when their characters get to 1 year of age, which I doubt.

Other than that… pretty uneventful patch. Pretty much nothing but another step for the living story.

Meh, I guess.

Based on what I’ve seen from all the developers comments it will work just like the birthday presents in GW1 – meaning ALL characters will get a gift, but they get them on the anniversary of the day the character was created. So people who created characters after launch will get them, but will get them later.

We won’t have to wait long to find out for sure. A lot of people created one character at launch and another one a day or two later and another one after that…as long as some of those are still around we should have confirmation very quickly that all characters get gifts.

yes as soon as any of your characters reaches its first anniversary you get a present for that character from now on.

also, i hope that she announces something like “we’ve found a way into Elona” or “we’re going to take down an elder dragon”

Cendomir.9351:

yes as soon as any of your characters reaches its first anniversary you get a present for that character from now on.

also, i hope that she announces something like “we’ve found a way into Elona” or “we’re going to take down an elder dragon”

That would be awesome. Announcing that following talks with the various emissaries all 5 races have agreed to expand on the Pact and go after another dragon.

I doubt that’s it though, I think they’re probably saving the other dragons (and definitely other continents) for an expansion pack.

Danikat.8537:

Cendomir.9351:

yes as soon as any of your characters reaches its first anniversary you get a present for that character from now on.

also, i hope that she announces something like “we’ve found a way into Elona” or “we’re going to take down an elder dragon”

That would be awesome. Announcing that following talks with the various emissaries all 5 races have agreed to expand on the Pact and go after another dragon.

I doubt that’s it though, I think they’re probably saving the other dragons (and definitely other continents) for an expansion pack.

“Zadorojny explained that these regions [Cantha and Elona] still have stories to tell and that the living world setup allows the Guild Wars 2 devs to explore these regions in the future and add permanent content down the road if they so choose. He further stressed that the game has added what he considers to be an entire region’s worth of content since its launch, with more coming as part of the game’s current update schedule.”

Before you start postulating about new zones or dragons, anet has confirmed multiple times that we won’t see new zones or dragons in 2013.

You cant really call this a update imo, this is more like a small patch. by far the most dissapointing update ever.

Smoothy.1085:

You cant really call this a update imo, this is more like a small patch. by far the most dissapointing update ever.

What, you want them to write out all the surprises?

I’m calling the future opening of the gates to the Desert, which will take place sometime next year.

The content released so far support this, with the Labyrinthine Cliffs being explored and Ebonhawke being fleshed out through the new achievements (they don’t time these things for nothing).

If you talk to the guards standing at the gate at the southern entrance of the fortress, they mention how only the Queen can give the go-ahead to open them.

Vol.5241:

What, you want them to write out all the surprises?

This is why I hope for something bigger to WvW.

Yeah, they’ve gotta be hiding something. You’re not going to get a meta achievement for just listening to her speech.

She’s pregnant.

With Rytlock’s baby.

Drama bomb!

the reward system for the birthday gifts is kind of….well, REALLY stupid. I’ve been here since the early release in August, but I sure as hell don’t have any characters that survived that long (especially with my constant remaking with no makeover kits or name changes back then). So I do hope they will somehow make it when the account was “born” rather than a character that comes and goes.

Drebi.1875:

I’m calling the future opening of the gates to the Desert, which will take place sometime next year.

The content released so far support this, with the Labyrinthine Cliffs being explored and Ebonhawke being fleshed out through the new achievements (they don’t time these things for nothing).

If you talk to the guards standing at the gate at the southern entrance of the fortress, they mention how only the Queen can give the go-ahead to open them.

While I think (and hope for) the same thing. I think more likely it’ll have to do with the current LS plot of the aetherblades.

The Queen will be getting married!

It’s not Logan.

Run.

JayMack.8295:

Yeah, they’ve gotta be hiding something. You’re not going to get a meta achievement for just listening to her speech.

People have datamined the story from recent patches. There is a lot more that will be happening other than the speech, apparently.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/1k9wjp/the_queens_speech/

Danikat.8537:

Cendomir.9351:

yes as soon as any of your characters reaches its first anniversary you get a present for that character from now on.

also, i hope that she announces something like “we’ve found a way into Elona” or “we’re going to take down an elder dragon”

That would be awesome. Announcing that following talks with the various emissaries all 5 races have agreed to expand on the Pact and go after another dragon.

I doubt that’s it though, I think they’re probably saving the other dragons (and definitely other continents) for an expansion pack.

From what I’ve read, they haven’t decided if they want to do expansions ever, but there is definitely a team of people working on content that can either be released in an expansion or as part of the Living Story.

I’m guessing the 10 days of sales will be for the infinite gathering tools, Braham and Rox’s weapons and maybe kites or mini pets. I doubt they will bring back the past RNG weapon sets (although it does appear they will now be attainable via the ticket method). The RNG skins were never sold in the store.

As someone who made all their characters on day one of the BWE I’m a little disappointed it’s just the one mini instead of a whole set. I suspect they won’t be worth much. I never liked the “character” birthday system. It added pressure to prevent you from deleting characters because they were worth something once a year. I guess it won’t matter if the mini is Jennah because once you have one, who cares?

Honestly, I think Jennah is a very underwhelming miniature to celebrate one year of GW2. It seems like she should have been specific to the content, not the anniversary celebration. As much as this month’s story is focused around the Queen’s Jubilee, to a lot of players it’s one year since we entered Tyria (again). Jennah is a poor representation of that to me.

Sandman.7019:

the reward system for the birthday gifts is kind of….well, REALLY stupid. I’ve been here since the early release in August, but I sure as hell don’t have any characters that survived that long (especially with my constant remaking with no makeover kits or name changes back then). So I do hope they will somehow make it when the account was “born” rather than a character that comes and goes.

Sandy, it’s for each character on their respective birthdays. Assuming they follow true to GW1 form, every anniversary for each character they’ll receive a birthday present. So no, it won’t be based on when the account was created, but instead for each character on the account when they were individually created.

… Which, on reflection, means that we could have a small stockpile of Queen Jenna’s in our storage. Hmm… to the Forge!

Sandman.7019:

the reward system for the birthday gifts is kind of….well, REALLY stupid. I’ve been here since the early release in August, but I sure as hell don’t have any characters that survived that long (especially with my constant remaking with no makeover kits or name changes back then). So I do hope they will somehow make it when the account was “born” rather than a character that comes and goes.

That’s how every birthday present worked in gw1 (you’d get a random mini each year, with a different selection each year). I haven’t deleted or had to change anything about any of my characters yet. Mind you, if they make it account bound (when you first logged on or something) I’m not really going to care either way. I don’t really have a use for 6 more experience scrolls.

Sandman.7019:

the reward system for the birthday gifts is kind of….well, REALLY stupid. I’ve been here since the early release in August, but I sure as hell don’t have any characters that survived that long (especially with my constant remaking with no makeover kits or name changes back then). So I do hope they will somehow make it when the account was “born” rather than a character that comes and goes.

The character birthday system was used in GW1, and I would be quite suprised if this wasn’t the exact same model (well, an improved model really, the first game just gave you a mini) It’s no more stupid than telling you that you need to level up new characters, or buy them new gear.

Don’t call out the system as problematic because you won’t have a thing RIGHT NOW. Those characters that you got “finished” will get presents on their birthdays too. Characters made today will get presents one year from today.

It’s a per character birthday present

ProxyDamage.9826:

Little disappointed that only 1 year old characters get a birthday gift. It’s kinda… “Thank you for supporting us during this first rough year… Sadly, you weren’t here from day 1, so kitten you! Oh you couldn’t afford it on release? Tough kitten!”.

If it’s anything like in GW1, once your characters will get old enough, you will get it as well.

Wallace MacBix.2089:

Drebi.1875:

I’m calling the future opening of the gates to the Desert, which will take place sometime next year.

The content released so far support this, with the Labyrinthine Cliffs being explored and Ebonhawke being fleshed out through the new achievements (they don’t time these things for nothing).

If you talk to the guards standing at the gate at the southern entrance of the fortress, they mention how only the Queen can give the go-ahead to open them.

While I think (and hope for) the same thing. I think more likely it’ll have to do with the current LS plot of the aetherblades.

Could be that the Aetherblades are coming from the direction of the Desert and Jennah launches an investigation into it.

How did they infiltrate DR already? Lion’s Arch is an easy target, it being a coastal city and all, but DR instead is not that easily entered with all the walls and everything.

There’s a portal in Ebonhawke that leads straight into the city.

ProxyDamage.9826:

Little disappointed that only 1 year old characters get a birthday gift. It’s kinda… “Thank you for supporting us during this first rough year… Sadly, you weren’t here from day 1, so kitten you! Oh you couldn’t afford it on release? Tough kitten!”.

Unless they mean it’s “a thing” now, so to speak, and people get those benefits when their characters get to 1 year of age, which I doubt.

Other than that… pretty uneventful patch. Pretty much nothing but another step for the living story.

Meh, I guess.

Edit: Mhhh… That second link has one interesting thing: Some old skins might return. If that means I can buy a Sclerite weapon with gems, I’m ok with that.

It means, that when you character is exactly 365 days old you recieve a gift.
Doesn’t neccessarily mean you HAVE to have 365 days on record on today.

it would mean, as previously; that being 365 days old will get you the reward as listed.

so if your character is 365 days old on october 31st you will still get the gift at that date.

PopeUrban.2578:

Don’t call out the system as problematic because you won’t have a thing RIGHT NOW. Those characters that you got “finished” will get presents on their birthdays too. Characters made today will get presents one year from today.

It’s a per character birthday present

i wouldn’t have bothered posted if I had started any later than day 1, as I would understand I’d need to wait. But I HAVE been there since pre day one, just like many others. At least it’s just a mini, no big deal thankfully, lol.

I’d like for Jenna and Kiel to be corrupted by one of the dragons.

ProxyDamage.9826:

Little disappointed that only 1 year old characters get a birthday gift. It’s kinda… “Thank you for supporting us during this first rough year… Sadly, you weren’t here from day 1, so kitten you! Oh you couldn’t afford it on release? Tough kitten!”.

Birthday presents in Guild Wars 1 worked on the age of the character. When a character reached one year, you got a present. I would be surprised if they didn’t do the same for GW2.

This is slightly different because everyone is getting the same mini, previously it was random with a chance for rarer minis. I also wonder whether it will be connected to the age of the account rather than character in GW2.

She’s pregnant.

With Rytlock’s baby.

Drama bomb!

VOLKON.1290:

The Queen will be getting married!

It’s not Logan.

Run.

Both excellent storyline choices, although Volkon’s is the more likely

Personally I think Queen Jennah is going pull off her face and reveal she is Sideshow Bob from the Simpsons then start laughing maniacally.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayO1wtXbh_Q

Okay, Volkon’s is still the most likely.

Gizmo.8623:

I’d like for Jenna and Kiel to be corrupted by one of the dragons.

i’d like for them to fall in love and get married.

Quite disappointed that they’re not giving out the birthday gifts based on the age of the account rather the character considering I’ve had the game since release (I deleted the character I made on release). Though it looks like I won’t be missing out on anything important anyway, so I can’t complain.

The surprise will probably be just an announcement or a plot twist or something, it will not be content related if you ask me.

End of culling, hells yes! Culling is the devil.

Buying old skins sounds interesting, if its not going to be restricted to RNG. Not sure about the precedent it sets though, seems like it might create a situation where people won’t buy the skins the first time around (especially if they’re RNG and the “return” isn’t) and instead wait for them to come back. Though maybe it’ll be a one-time thing

Overall sounds like a pretty boring update, though. The page for Queen’s Speech is signifigantly shorter than most previous updates. Maybe they’re just trying to keep more of the actual content a secret rather than spoiling it on the preview, though.

Also, the Watchknight Tonic better have freaking costume brawl skills. They introduced Costume Brawl specifically for the purpose of giving tonics some sort of fun use beyond just visual aesthetics, and yet many of the new tonics don’t have brawl skills (Aetherized tonic, Molten Brawler tonic) as well as many old ones like the elemental tonics. They need to start putting brawl skills on every single tonic.

I really don’t understand how so many people are misinterpreting the announcement:
“Characters that are one year old will receive a Mini Queen Jennah, a 24-hour Birthday Booster, and a Scroll of Experience.”
Not accounts that are one year old.
Not only the characters that were made on release day

Characters – on their one year birthday – get a birthday gift. How hard is that to get?

Danikat.8537:

(Note: You probably have to be British to know what I’m on about)

Or just watch Doctor Who like I do.

Sandman.7019:

the reward system for the birthday gifts is kind of….well, REALLY stupid. I’ve been here since the early release in August, but I sure as hell don’t have any characters that survived that long (especially with my constant remaking with no makeover kits or name changes back then). So I do hope they will somehow make it when the account was “born” rather than a character that comes and goes.

It will work just like gw1. Whenever one of your characters turns a year old(er) you will get a reward on that character.

So is it 1 year to the date of each individual character initially created?

Because I’m sure there’s people who’s bought/played the game from day 1 and since then deleted/remade characters over the course of the year, myself included. And assuming with the 1 year character detail, even though I’ve played the game from day 1
(even pre-ordered), I guess I won’t qualify for any “gift” huh?

Pretty disappointing if so..

the Queen’s major surprise will be that she is pregnant !!!. Every kingdom (queendom as the case here) is waiting for the first born to inherit the throne

Dear ANET,

A little earnest feedback

Please know that I’ve enjoyed the game, made the most of the last several releases and have smiled at the great strides you’ve made to improve the game.

Now, with regards to the birthday present my characters will be receiving soon – I am sorely disappointed. To begin with, I spent a whole year not caring about Divinity’s Reach. My menagerie includes sylvari, charr, “a big northern human” and several asura. So big is my disregard for the human race of Tyria, I’m 0/7 currently.

Now, it is my understanding that you’ll are giving me a Queen Jennah mini, in fact, several of them. What am I supposed to do with them? Finally have a tea party with the mini queen, mini Kiel and the mini itsy-bitsy bikini human lady what’s-her-name?

Your human fetish should not be excused just because we happen to currently be congregating in Divinity’s Reach. Where’s the mini wrench-jungling asura? Where’s the glow-in-the-dark mini sylvari?

In fact, scrap the mini. Why not go big and go generous: why not offer us a choice of 3 unique head-piece skins that can each be applied to any armor (heavy/medium/light) much like the gauntlets from the Frost & Flame?

I’ll spent the next several months looting mini Jennahs from my mailbox and destroying them so that they don’t waste inventory space.

Please…

Try harder next time! I’ll prob. still be around.

~Lak

mXz.4512:

So is it 1 year to the date of each individual character initially created?

Because I’m sure there’s people who’s bought/played the game from day 1 and since then deleted/remade characters over the course of the year, myself included. And assuming with the 1 year character detail, even though I’ve played the game from day 1
(even pre-ordered), I guess I won’t qualify for any “gift” huh?

Pretty disappointing if so..

1 year from the creation of each character. If you made a character on October 12th 2012, that character will receive a birthday gift on October 12th 2013. This happens for each character, it has nothing to do with the account.

Everyone qualifies. it doesn’t have to be ONLY for older accounts. if you just started today, you will receive a gift a year from now.

Heizero.9183:

Everyone qualifies. it doesn’t have to be ONLY for older accounts. if you just started today, you will receive a gift a year from now.

In that case, it shouldn’t be associated with the “Queen’s birthday” like some sort of mini event. Just mention it as an isolated update to the game in general, that way people won’t go thinking.. “oh great, another event I won’t be able to get anything from”.

And since it’s a birthday gift, shouldn’t it be a surprise? It’d at least sweeten the prospect of getting mail one day labeled as “It’s your birthday!” here’s a gift just for you, rather than make the whole deal a bit sour as it is now.

If any info was to be withheld from players, it should’ve been that.