I just want to start this topic saying that ArenaNet, I love this game. It has broken the mold in so many ways, and I just really hope that you continue to develop the game with the same fervor. Guild Wars 2 is awesome, but it is not a finished product. It could definitely improve in areas, and this is an idea that I had about one of the weaker aspects of the game.
Many players find it hard to see the point in going back to an area after they have already fully explored it, heck I sometimes struggle with it. There’s just not much to do when the hearts are completed, Points of Interest, Vistas, and Skill Challenges are all complete. All that’s left is Jumping puzzles if you are good with timing, and going around trying to find dynamic events. Now, I understand that the “flaws” I’m pointing out are minor. Heck there are very few reasons that I have ever gone back to Ascalon in Guild Wars 1, but still it is nice to have the reasoning behind going back.
So, here is my idea, understanding that I have very little knowledge on how this would be completed (programming wise) but I feel that it would bring a lot of new life into the game. My idea about the game is to include battlefronts. Now this idea started when I thought back to Factions after playing the first Beta Weekend Events in Guild Wars 2. In my mind I thought it would be amazing to look on the map and see exactly how the different areas of the world are doing in their battles. Now I understand that things aren’t exactly black and white. There aren’t exactly Centaur/Human wars in every nation. There wouldn’t be a battlefront in the Metrica Province where the asura were pushing out the Inquest, for example, but otherwise I think there are many instances that this could apply.
I could see myself easily looking at the map and seeing that the centaurs have advanced through Gendarran Fields and are making their way to Shaemoor again, and so me and my guild join the Seraph in their fight against the Centaurs. We, as the players, have the ability to take control points (without Seraph telling us to do it), and after we hold flash a signal for reinforcements to hold the newly secured position and move ahead. Slowly after progressing forwards hearts change. What was once a heart for killing centaurs and saving farmers becomes a heart for re-seeding fields and repairing homes. And once things are back to normal the heart moves on to helping with pest control, feeding animals, etc…
Not only this, but it would be nice to actually see the change. I’ve noticed in the game that each of the evil factions seem to leave their mark on the land. The Centaurs devastate nature and leave brown grass in their wake, the Sons of Svanir leave corrupted ice everywhere, and the Flame Legion charr (bake) the land with fire and lava. It would be nice if the lands you took over would repair, perhaps the centaur camps you capture eventually get built into seraph strongholds, or you fight to destroy the corrupted ice in the dome of svanir and turn it into a Lionguard stronghold. Or perhaps you plug the Flame Legion lava geysers and build charr defenses in the area. There are many ways that this could go, and it would bring real physical change to the world, much more than a broken bridge or a ruined waterline in Queensdale.
The world gains a new breath of life this way. I hate to say it but once more the game is starting to feel static. The Dynamic Events and renown hearts were a great start in the direction gaming needs to go, but I think the idea needs to be pushed further. If you want the game to continue to live we need you to keep up the same effort that you had when you first took up the challenge and broke the mold. I look forward to any response to this, brainstorming is how great ideas come into being.
- A simple fan