Guild Wars 2

Just wondering if the large chunk of Kessex Hills will remain changed forever, and if poison spores falling all over the zone are permanent.

This probably sounds whiny, but I really loved Kessex Hills. It was such a beautiful zone. I’m kind of sad a large section of it turned into and Orr-alike.

I’m with you.

Also, KH is probably the only place without problems as far as I’m aware (there is only one event that MAY get bugged) and with very good meta-events.

I really enjoyed completing this map, not only hearths, vistas and PoI’s but every single DE and “secret” on it.

Shame ArenaNet decide to mess with what’s not broken

I hope it’s permanent as it actually fits into the idea of an evolving world (and I assume it will be except for the spore events).

They NEED to do the thing that WoW did which was very sucessful which is phasing so we can do both the old and new area and still give the living world feel.

I am not sure which would be better or which would ANet go with. The whole thing on the uninstanced area of Kessex Hills looks and feels like an added layer to the map that will be removed later, rather than an expansion.

Centaurs and humans still fight over that bridge that i just used a minute ago in the story instance (where oddly enough there were no centaurs and the seraph who are supposedly against this bridge existing, used it quite blatantly.). The quaggan village literally next to the tower itself is in the same state as before, just completely cut off from the lake by the building itself. They should not have stayed.

While removing a path in TA for the sake of a new one did not make any sense whatsoever and Anet did it anyway, here they should have made drastic changes not just graphicly, but gameplay-wise. Half if not all the renown hearts of the effected areas should have changed or removed in mirror of the Holy-mother-of-god-what-the-flying-kitten-is-that changes in the enviroment. I cant believe the centaur are still focusing on fort salma exactly the same way as if no bloodthirsty krait and mind-influencing magic was intruding on their own doorstep as well.

TL;DR
It does not feel like its going to be permanent or changing. It feels like a layer added to be removed soon. Which is a shame imo.

I hope, they restore the Hills, too. It just doesn’t fit. The Seraphs, the centaurs, the bandits, the quaggan. They just don’t harmonise with the new content.
But where is hope: The tower will be destroyed at the end, so — maybe — trees are going to sprout and everything looks like nothing’s happend.

I don’t like it, when things are taken out. New Content? Yes! But don’t remove the old ones!

The new area is permanent

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/info/updates/Game-Update-Notes-October-29-2013

taken from the link

Open World

Kessex Hills
Kessex Hills has become even more of a war zone than usual! The Tower of Nightmares has completely changed the area around Viathan Lake, spewing toxic pollen and gases into the air, turning the sky a dark and sickly hue. The Toxic Alliance, flooding from the monolithic tower, is working to cement a foothold in the region. Seraph forces are trying to stem the tide, but the tower itself appears impenetrable and is surrounded by a wall of suffocating toxic gas that prevents entry.

The Toxic Alliance appears to be here to stay. They’ve been taking territory from both allies and enemies alike, from Mudbay Digs to Greyhoof Meadows and all points in between. As players battle through a variety of new dynamic events, they will wage war on this new threat on multiple fronts around the base of the Tower of Nightmares.

ugg it feels like they took what we said about wanting permanent content and gave us the worst possible implementation of it out of spite.

Won’t these spores be crafing materials? I haven’t checked the recipes yet but I thought something in the item description said they were used for crafting?

So they might add this like Scarlet Invasion – some random events spawning on the 5 or 6 maps we have atm(but map being back to usual other than that).

Personally I like the fact that they have things like this happen and change the landscape of the world and really hope that this change is permanent. It actually feels as though there is a changing world.

However, I feel as though the tower was just kind of stuck there without much change to the surrounding areas. Namely the centaurs quaggan and humans not reacting in anyway or having any deeper dynamic events going on. Rather than the basic Thistle events I wish there were more story driven events revolving around the Toxic alliance in the region.

So more temporary content?

15 char

A complete Obelisk then….

Jeffrey Vaughn.1793:

Without giving anything away, I will say that the Kessex Hills you’ll see in November (and December, and next year…) is not the same as the one we had last week.

thank you for your response im hopeful this mean that the living story really can deliver expansion level changes in the game.

looks like it is going to be permanent….

so, we can tell the future generation of GW2 players that once upon a time, on that side of the lake, there were trees…..

Jeffrey Vaughn.1793:

Without giving anything away, I will say that the Kessex Hills you’ll see in November (and December, and next year…) is not the same as the one we had last week.

As much as I like that answer, I’m skeptical of it’s meaning. I by no means want it to be much like the Lost Shores part where all that remains is the destroyed lighthouse in LA and the lava-rock encrusted Ancient Karka on Southsun. Sadly, by your statement, that’s what I see is going to happen: part of the tower and the stem of the giant thistle plant….the rest back to normal.

azizul.8469:

looks like it is going to be permanent….

so, we can tell the future generation of GW2 players that once upon a time, on that side of the lake, there were trees…..

Oh my god lmao!

But on a serious note, this gives me a glimmer of hope that there is an actual story going on.

At least this is going somewhere, and even though I am at serious odds with you anet after this last patch I do have hope and faith in your abilities to make whatever happens next progressive (in the arch of the story), interesting, and-if you can muster it-I dare say captivating.

PREEEEEETY PLEASE!!!!!!!!

New permanent dungeon!

PRETTY PLEASE WITH A KITTEN ON TOP

Asko.4120:

New permanent dungeon!

PRETTY PLEASE WITH A KITTEN ON TOP

YES PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE !!! ILL BUY MORE GEMS for permanent new content.

I have had my fair share of complaints with this game in the past, specifically about the Living World, but this thread really proves to me that people will complain about ANYTHING!

I personally love this update, for the first time in a long time I am actually drawn in by the story of this Living World update. I REALLY WANNA KNOW WHAT’S IN THE TOWER! I was worried about them killing the lore of the Krait with this patch but they haven’t, in the story instance we saw an Oratuss, we have a reasonable enough reason as to why the Krait are allying themselves with another faction, it’s actually all really well done from what I have played. Not to mention the buildup for all of this, with the trees all being cut down, the veil, etc, very nice job ANet, very well done.

Lastly, from looking at the picture from the next Living World update, maybe just maybe our theories of Scarlet being a minion of Mordremoth will end up coming to light

Stormcrow.7513:

I can tell you what is in the tower….two blues and a green.

sigh I care more about the story and lore of this game than loot….

Well after playing the last release and seeing the “preview image” to the next one – I can’t wait! Maybe you are already on the right track!

At least with story.. as I said earlier, I think the living story and living world should be taken as separate areas.

I like the giant tree roots. The whole place is like a Sylvari jungle Gym.

I’m really hoping to see the blight spread across the zone as the weeks go on. Maybe into other zones.

Jeffrey Vaughn.1793:

Without giving anything away, I will say that the Kessex Hills you’ll see in November (and December, and next year…) is not the same as the one we had last week.

Phasing! PHASING!

Meriem.3504:

Jeffrey Vaughn.1793:

Without giving anything away, I will say that the Kessex Hills you’ll see in November (and December, and next year…) is not the same as the one we had last week.

Phasing! PHASING!

I was a little ticked that Kessex would continue to look like Orr… until you said this… make it so.

Coemone when I started playing this game i created a human as my first caracter.
I was a happy noob that ran around in the beautifull kessex hills and fighted centaurs.
I almost never bother me to to the living storys,I give it an hour then i start queue up for wvw again.
But this Tower have destroyed kessex hills by me.
We must rally to bring down that awfull building!
Now it looks like Orr it is really sad.

It’s not that I wouldn’t like permanent Content. But if the meaning of permanent Content is turning beautiful maps into orr-alikes then Count me out.

I really can’t stand those devastated Areas anymore. Everything is dark and foggy and the Beauty is gone…. Orr is boring enough, there’s a reason why I don’t hang around there longer than necessary. If this Devastation is going to one map after another well…

I’m sure there is more stilistic stuff than making everything once beautiful dark and ugly (and boring) to create a threatening atmosphrere. Don’t get me wrong, I found the changes Fitting – for a limited time, that is.

This whole stuff about scarlet is really starting to push me away. We have five (rahter 6) Dragons… What do we Need that kitten Girl for? x_X°

Yeah, I feel bad complaining, because I know that GW2 actually really needs permanent content additions. Permanent content is good.

I guess I was just disappointed that this particular addition marred one of my favourite zones in the game.

This makes me sad. Kessex was such a pretty zone before and now it’s an ugly mess. First they ruined lower Sparkfly and now this, and they still haven’t given us a restored Orr. Make the game world prettier, not uglier.

Maybe put that Lion’s Arch girl back out there to collect money to replant the trees.

Well,

Even though I preferred the previous beautiful scenery Kessex Hills I actually enjoy the change.

Through it I really do start to feel that the world is changing/evolving. Ok, one can say it has evolved fr the downside but it’s still an evolution.

Who knows somewhere in the future (when the Toxic Alliance is banished) we will have renown hearts to help rebuild Kessex Hill and return it to its original state (without the centaur vs human contest). At that point we’d say “Do you remember how it was like in KH before the TA appeared… Those were the days” XD

I really do hope that Anet continues to make permanent / semi-permanent content like this. Change Scenarios, change DE, change NPC’s with meaning.

I like the zone changes – very impressive! but you do need to adjust the world around it, the way the events just carry on ignoring the massive krait army and the critters is what jars you out of immersion.

Honestly, I love it as it is. The darkness and oppressive, threatening atmosphere feels akin to Nightfall or the Dragonbrand – my fave expansion and area respectively.

Kessex Hills was only really fascinating in its southeast. Aside from that it was pretty, but a little too familiar in some ways (pretty green countryside). I think the changes are gorgeous and fun. I look forward to seeing their evolution.

I’m not really sure if the new Kessex is a good change or not. It’s good for the living story content, but is it worth the disruptions to immersion, continuity with the existing zone content, and experience to new/low level players?

I really liked the zone how it was originally, and I think maintaining that original experience is important, especially for new players. The new events and mobs don’t seem to be designed with level-appropriate characters in mind. Scaling that produces multiple veterans versus single players, or even running into silver/elite mobs alone is not something a low level should be facing. If I had came into this version of Kessex on my first level 15 character, it would have been a huge discouragement to keep playing.

On the other hand, this is the kind of permanent/semi-permanent changes the living story should have. I assume that we will take out this krait tower at some point, but that it will still leave some permanent mark on Kessex. I hope the current Orr-ish looks is not here to stay, but it’s hard to imagine all of the damage that’s been done just going away.

This release really does highlight one big problem with the living story. It can’t co-exist with the content that’s already in the game, especially not in a low level area. The reknown hearts can’t be removed because they are vital to leveling and world completion, but they make no sense being along side this new war zone. This content would be much more appropriate in a new zone without reknown hearts and other unrelated events.

It was just silly to have an offshoot event near the Earthwork Bluffs while there was another event active that had centaur running through the same area, and attacking the NPCs from the offshoot event. This area is also a reknown heart region, which I’m sure is a nightmare to complete with two dynamic events running on top of each other, especially when one spawns mobs that are very overpowered for appropriately leveled characters.

It’s nice to see different event types and activities for the living story, excluding the f-spamming non-scavenger hunt (can we get some hints please?) for obelisks, but I think it’s very out of place. This should probably have it’s own zone, or at least an alternate/phased/selectable version of Kessex.

Jeffrey Vaughn.1793:

Without giving anything away, I will say that the Kessex Hills you’ll see in November (and December, and next year…) is not the same as the one we had last week.

If that means we have a Kessex Hills that looks broken down and without trees, then good. Stuff like this is why I support the Living Story. I want maps changed through the months and years of gameplay.

Personally, I’m glad for the change. Nothing inherently wrong with the old Kessex Hills. But this is what we’ve needed. A progression of zones based on a Living Story. We need to have events that feel impactful. Everyone complains about Scarlet coming, running amok, fleeing, and then everything is as it was. Now there’s going to be change. The world is affected. Good. Something new.

If Anet keeps this up and continues to have the dangers we face impact the world and our efforts be reflected in the world, then I’m all for it.

One of the few green and grassy places in the world (Jungle and Perma-Fall don’t count) in the game. Oh well.

I guess if they turn every zone into Orr, then we’ll all just give up and go there because now every place is ugly and depressing?

Collaborative.

I for one love the corrupted areas anet’s art team does an awesome job with them. and this is by far the coolest looking area in the game at the moment.

for those of us who were disappointed with the lack of things to do in the brand this is a welcome change . who does not love running round in dark areas killing glowey monsters.

I hope it stays long enough that people can explore the changes without Zerg related lag.

I’ll be pretty sad if Kessex Hills doesn’t return to its former glory. We have enough destroyed looking areas in the game. Kessex Hills was one of the (very few) places you could find fields of grassy rolling hills. Particularly the huge place north of the lake and south of the Queensdale zoneline.. that was one of my favorite locations to run through in the game and now it looks awful.

Jeffrey Vaughn.1793:

Without giving anything away, I will say that the Kessex Hills you’ll see in November (and December, and next year…) is not the same as the one we had last week.

I wonder if it is possible for you guys to do a more thorough changing of the zone. By that I mean so that DE’s and hearts in the vicinity of these LS changes reflect this.
Also, cleansing Orr and other places (habitable Blood Tide?). I worry you guys have bitten off more than you can chew with the LS ambitions.

Edge.4180:

I’ll be pretty sad if Kessex Hills doesn’t return to its former glory. We have enough destroyed looking areas in the game. Kessex Hills was one of the (very few) places you could find fields of grassy rolling hills. Particularly the huge place north of the lake and south of the Queensdale zoneline.. that was one of my favorite locations to run through in the game and now it looks awful.

Take 10 steps of bandit-filled grass and then 10 steps of centaur-filled dirt, with a bit of centaur-filled grass mixed in. This describes everywhere in Kryta before this patch. It’s very tedious to complete these maps that look and feel exactly the same multiple times.

PLEASE dont complain about this. Every single thing ANET does people complain. They made an area, low level mind you that no one zergs on and theres no mapchat, into something different. Let the game evolve in peace. This is what we need.

Wish they would put the effort into make a new region rather than changing the appearance of a fairly nice region into a desolate horridly depressing wasteland.

Pre-searing Ascalon was beautiful and fun, so much so that people were willing to leave a character in it permanently. Post-searing was horrid and depressing, so much so that people always went across the Shiver Peaks as soon as they humanly could. Kessex Hills was essentially changed from a lovely pre-searing like zone into post.

I guess all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that it may one day return back to that pre-searing feel. We have enough desolate land no one wants to play in already, it is called Orr.

Lol, so much hate in these forums. We want change so much, but when it happens we throw a tantrum. I personally like the changes they made. The Kessex HIlls of before was nothing special. It barely contained anything visually to separate it from Gendarren, Queensdale, or parts of Bloodtide and Harathi. I found the original a fairly boring, cookie-cutter medieval agrarian setting with nothing to bring me back to it after I’d completed the map. At least the new map is something decently appealing bringing me to it for the time being. I hope the effects of this “invasion” stay.

Honestly, most of you who complain about how good Kessex Hills was before probably spend 99.9% of your time afking in Lion’s Arch anyway :lol:

McFly.2134:

Lol, so much hate in these forums.

You must be new to official forums to games, they are all like this. Guild Wars II is very mild in comparison to many other game forums.

McFly.2134:

Lol, so much hate in these forums. We want change so much, but when it happens we throw a tantrum. I personally like the changes they made. The Kessex HIlls of before was nothing special. It barely contained anything visually to separate it from Gendarren, Queensdale, or parts of Bloodtide and Harathi. I found the original a fairly boring, cookie-cutter medieval agrarian setting with nothing to bring me back to it after I’d completed the map. At least the new map is something decently appealing bringing me to it for the time being. I hope the effects of this “invasion” stay.

Honestly, most of you who complain about how good Kessex Hills was before probably spend 99.9% of your time afking in Lion’s Arch anyway :lol:

You talk about hate, then you put down anyone who doesn’t agree with you liking more ‘dark’ areas in the game, and then slap a label on those of us who enjoy more sunny, grassy areas.

Here is another star for your belly, Sneetch.

notebene.3190:

McFly.2134:

Lol, so much hate in these forums. We want change so much, but when it happens we throw a tantrum. I personally like the changes they made. The Kessex HIlls of before was nothing special. It barely contained anything visually to separate it from Gendarren, Queensdale, or parts of Bloodtide and Harathi. I found the original a fairly boring, cookie-cutter medieval agrarian setting with nothing to bring me back to it after I’d completed the map. At least the new map is something decently appealing bringing me to it for the time being. I hope the effects of this “invasion” stay.

Honestly, most of you who complain about how good Kessex Hills was before probably spend 99.9% of your time afking in Lion’s Arch anyway :lol:

You talk about hate, then you put down anyone who doesn’t agree with you liking more ‘dark’ areas in the game, and then slap a label on those of us who enjoy more sunny, grassy areas.

Here is another star for your belly, Sneetch.

Ok buddy, point to the place in my statement where I used a “label” and applied said “label” to a group of people. Also, nowhere did I even imply anybody was worse or lesser for the choices they make in the game. I afk in LA all the time, so I could give a rat’s ace about how Kessex looks lol. The only thing I implied was that constant complaining is sad. I’m sorry you took so much offense, as if I was talking directly to you from your computer screen hoping you personally would feel like I was ridiculing your every move. (<—-That’s sarcasm) Tone it down a notch there friend, Not everything posted is an insult.

Lostwingman.5034:

Jeffrey Vaughn.1793:

Without giving anything away, I will say that the Kessex Hills you’ll see in November (and December, and next year…) is not the same as the one we had last week.

I wonder if it is possible for you guys to do a more thorough changing of the zone. By that I mean so that DE’s and hearts in the vicinity of these LS changes reflect this.
Also, cleansing Orr and other places (habitable Blood Tide?). I worry you guys have bitten off more than you can chew with the LS ambitions.

That’s the only thing I think is missing. Since the entire map has an effect by this, be it darker or the poison pollen in the air, the DE’s in the area and other NPC aspects should be reflecting the changes.