Guild Wars 2

I’ve been chatting on a few other forums/threads about story and how players feel towards their characters. Some people say they don’t feel any emotional connection to their characters and they don’t understand why.

So I was thinking about this and have a theory. Many players have described Guild Wars 2 as a theme park MMO, in that there’s lots to see but not much to do. While I don’t agree with this in the main (as I think there is lots to do if your the right type of player) I do think more could be done to make your character feel grounded in the world.

I’ve played through this game five times now and after all the events, dungeons, adventures I’ve taken part in there nothing that says ‘Hey, I was here’. I have not changed my game world, I have no say in how the world evolves for my fellow player. How can I care about a story that Im not really part of? All them choices I made in my personal
story didn’t change the outcome, so what was the point in giving me a choice? Events don’t count because they are just stories on rails and get pushed back and fourth depending on players pushing them.

The quickest (or should I say more tangible) way to let players put their mark on the world would be player housing. Somewhere to hang my hat, where I can display trophies from my epic battles, (Lotro did this with great success) somewhere I can craft, grow crops, modify and set up just as I like.. my own little slice of Tyria. I know I know, this would in all likelyhood have to be instanced but as with all things it’s not what you do but the way you do it. I hear in Wildstar you will be able to find items out in the game world that open instances on your own house grounds. This to me is not only giving players a plot of land, but making it relevant and giving it context.

Maybe when you choose which organisation to help, Vigil etc you then open up a housing option themed to that choice and your property is placed in the same ‘neibourhood’ as other players.

Also giving guilds to ability to build (and defend) their own forts. Not just instances but huge areas where you can make better siege weapons at the foundry, grow unique crops for special food, decorate as you see fit with huge dragon skulls (or whatever). You could also have a court yard (arena) where other guilds can challenge each other (like customisable arenas) but attached to your guild.

I’ve got lots more ideas but tis already a big post, what do you guys think?

Thankyou for reading,

Genophix