Guild Wars 2

https://twitter.com/GuildWars2/status/757606533278658560

It has a bit of alot of things (Jade, Snow, Uncategoried, Aetherblade,…)

and look at those glorious Harpy Golems!

I see jumping puzzles, disappearing floors, electrified floors, jump-the-wave type crushers (on the same stage as electrified floors, no less), and Anomaly. In other words, all the things people loved in fractals…
Oh wait.

Bleh. I’m not too psyched about this. Looks like Thaumanova 2.0, and appears to incorporate a mish mash of existing fractal content and a bunch of the mechanics I find the least fun (jumping, electrified floors, disappearing platforms).

Meh so much reused stuff. I hope at least the boss fight has some new mechanics.

Oh well… the hype is dead.

Some people are saying that will be a new frac with each chapter of the LS, if its true then i’m fine with it. But if this is the only fractal for a long time, it would be much cooler if they used Raid assets for the new fractal instead of the old fractal assets.

There’s so many neat and interesting enemies that get no love. Hoping we get some more of the historically themed fractals in the future featuring Largos, the Branded, the Steam creatures and Fleshreavers etc.

One Word Scrambled Egg Fractal…. No originality by Anet what’s so ever….

Jahroots.6791:

There’s so many neat and interesting enemies that get no love. Hoping we get some more of the historically themed fractals in the future featuring Largos, the Branded, the Steam creatures and Fleshreavers etc.

I’m guessing they’ll tie new fractals to the LS at least in some sense. I’m guessing this one will be tied to Rata Novus and why it’s themed the way it is.

I’m excited though, if we have to fight a boss on that death panel platform, ohh fun stuff, especially if the boss has a knockback of some sort

Jerus.4350:

/wave

I wonder who else has come back for this teaser

Honestly, a recycled fractal could be fun in a nostalgic sort of way. But teasing it first was a bad idea, they really should have seen the backlash coming a mile away…

Keep ’em coming, ANet — if they look good some of us might return.

o/

(seen quite a few old friends, some just coming back as well, others having played through)

Hmm, even if it is combining elements of other fractals, it’s still to early to dismiss it as just a copy of other fractals combined (although that won’t stop trolls/cynics from doing this). There’s still potential for this to combine the mechanics in a unique way and at least it’s not something that can just be steamrolled by stacking in corners and AoEing down mobs.

It should be interesting to give this a shot.

RubiBayer.8134:

We knew that a fair amount of people would take a quick look and equate it to smashing a few LEGO bricks together and calling it a day. But an equal or greater number of people understand it’s not LEGO bricks at all, that something looking familiar doesn’t mean it’s the same thing, and that it’s part of the crazy things happening with magic in Tyria since we took out Mordremoth. So we went with the teaser video.

This week’s Guild Chat is focused on Fractals, so some of the fractal team will be on hand to talk about the work they did.

Hehe, I guess that being a forum rat for years left me with a more, erm, fickle view of the playerbase here

It’s encouraging to hear that new, semi-casual 5-man instances are returning. I’m sure I’m not the only one who will be watching closely to see if it’s worth reinstalling for. Hoping for more good things on the way!

Personally I’d rather see a bunch of new fractals added if only for some much needed variety after all this time. Adding this with a remix of old assets is horribly yawn inducing to me. Just my .02 don’t care much what anyone else thinks.

Personally, I’m quite looking forward. Recycled assets are fine for something like this since the lore and the mechanics will be different. Some people look at it as more of the same or even a cop out. I look at it as Anet giving us a new fractal with seemingly relevant lore attached. Nobody complains that mai trin and aether retreat share assets. People passed judgement on this fractal weeks ago when it was announced.

Thank you Anet for the content. But actually.

RubiBayer.8134:

We knew that a fair amount of people would take a quick look and equate it to smashing a few LEGO bricks together and calling it a day.

The main problem is not “smashing together a few LEGO bricks” (even though it underscores how far on Anet’s importance list fractals are). The problem is which bricks got smashed together. And so far i have noticed in that short teaser most points from my personal fractal hate list.
And almost nothing else.

It really is too early to tell.

For me, it will be about unique challenges and fight mechanics. If it is just the same bosses with the same mechanics – only now in new locations – then I can see that raising some ire.

If however, they put in the work to bring in new mechanics and challenges, it is a pretty interesting concept and one I think people should give a chance before criticizing prematurely.

As always, the only sure way to know is to wait and see .

I’ve the feeling there will be a RNG component in this fractal, I mean maybe the fact there are re-used mixed assets could indicate there is an energy instability internal to the fractal and we could have different fractal versions of the same fractal ,auto-generated randomly.

Well, maybe I’m exagerating but it could be very cool a thing like that.

RubiBayer.8134:

dlonie.6547:

Jerus.4350:

/wave

I wonder who else has come back for this teaser

Honestly, a recycled fractal could be fun in a nostalgic sort of way. But teasing it first was a bad idea, they really should have seen the backlash coming a mile away…

Keep ’em coming, ANet — if they look good some of us might return.

We knew that a fair amount of people would take a quick look and equate it to smashing a few LEGO bricks together and calling it a day. But an equal or greater number of people understand it’s not LEGO bricks at all, that something looking familiar doesn’t mean it’s the same thing, and that it’s part of the crazy things happening with magic in Tyria since we took out Mordremoth. So we went with the teaser video.

This week’s Guild Chat is focused on Fractals, so some of the fractal team will be on hand to talk about the work they did.

After watching the vid, my hype instantly went to max. I don’t know why people want to complain about things so much, but at least i got excited.
I think the idea of fusing all the fractals together due to the unstable leyline energies (messing up the mists too then?) is so clever. Adding some new fractal right now which is for example about steam creatures would be sooo random and unrelated. Gotta focus on the Now and not the Past with this new leyline crisis.
Plus its not like the fractals were just put after one another, exit to exit… They were deconstructed and rebuilt into a new fused form. So all this talk about “laziness” is nonsense.

On a sidenote, its great that Guild Chat is returning. Have waited for an ep so long.

Phil.8901:

I’ve the feeling there will be a RNG component in this fractal, I mean maybe the fact there are re-used mixed assets could indicate there is an energy instability internal to the fractal and we could have different fractal versions of the same fractal ,auto-generated randomly.

Well, maybe I’m exagerating but it could be very cool a thing like that.

I agree. This looks a bit huge for a single fractal otherwise.

Yup, getting more excited as I look at it, seems either strangly long for a fractal or as if it’s going to have multiple parts.

Someone screen captured the flashing images if you want to see:http://imgur.com/a/nx1QU

RubiBayer.8134:

dlonie.6547:

Jerus.4350:

/wave

I wonder who else has come back for this teaser

Honestly, a recycled fractal could be fun in a nostalgic sort of way. But teasing it first was a bad idea, they really should have seen the backlash coming a mile away…

Keep ’em coming, ANet — if they look good some of us might return.

We knew that a fair amount of people would take a quick look and equate it to smashing a few LEGO bricks together and calling it a day. But an equal or greater number of people understand it’s not LEGO bricks at all, that something looking familiar doesn’t mean it’s the same thing, and that it’s part of the crazy things happening with magic in Tyria since we took out Mordremoth. So we went with the teaser video.

This week’s Guild Chat is focused on Fractals, so some of the fractal team will be on hand to talk about the work they did.

It’s not that we see stuff return, it’s that the stuff we see in the trailer is all the annoying puzzle kitten of others mashed together. Looking at this trailer I can already imagine the same kind of “fun” we have in aetherblade and thaumanova.

cranos.5913:

RubiBayer.8134:

dlonie.6547:

Jerus.4350:

/wave

I wonder who else has come back for this teaser

Honestly, a recycled fractal could be fun in a nostalgic sort of way. But teasing it first was a bad idea, they really should have seen the backlash coming a mile away…

Keep ’em coming, ANet — if they look good some of us might return.

We knew that a fair amount of people would take a quick look and equate it to smashing a few LEGO bricks together and calling it a day. But an equal or greater number of people understand it’s not LEGO bricks at all, that something looking familiar doesn’t mean it’s the same thing, and that it’s part of the crazy things happening with magic in Tyria since we took out Mordremoth. So we went with the teaser video.

This week’s Guild Chat is focused on Fractals, so some of the fractal team will be on hand to talk about the work they did.

It’s not that we see stuff return, it’s that the stuff we see in the trailer is all the annoying puzzle kitten of others mashed together. Looking at this trailer I can already imagine the same kind of “fun” we have in aetherblade and thaumanova.

From a lot of the pictures, it seems like there is more density of enemies/bosses than in previous fractals. I can’t really say I dislike the puzzles as much as other people, so I can’t account for differences in preference, but at the very least it looks like there’s real potential for some cool stuff.

I say this because I think this first fractal is intended to be the introduction to the new fractal story-line that Anet mentioned they wanted to move forward with, and it was designed around the opening of the plot (that there are new instabilities caused by an unknown perpetrator rather than just a new island like always), which gives them some room to expand forward in a more directed fashion rather than adding to the already-large hodge-podge of stories that the existing fractals merely touch on.

If we fight some of the old bosses with nothing new attached, I won’t be super pleased, but if the bosses had some tactics changed/added and an arena overhaul I think they could be quite fun.

UnbentMars.9126:

cranos.5913:

RubiBayer.8134:

dlonie.6547:

Jerus.4350:

/wave

I wonder who else has come back for this teaser

Honestly, a recycled fractal could be fun in a nostalgic sort of way. But teasing it first was a bad idea, they really should have seen the backlash coming a mile away…

Keep ’em coming, ANet — if they look good some of us might return.

We knew that a fair amount of people would take a quick look and equate it to smashing a few LEGO bricks together and calling it a day. But an equal or greater number of people understand it’s not LEGO bricks at all, that something looking familiar doesn’t mean it’s the same thing, and that it’s part of the crazy things happening with magic in Tyria since we took out Mordremoth. So we went with the teaser video.

This week’s Guild Chat is focused on Fractals, so some of the fractal team will be on hand to talk about the work they did.

It’s not that we see stuff return, it’s that the stuff we see in the trailer is all the annoying puzzle kitten of others mashed together. Looking at this trailer I can already imagine the same kind of “fun” we have in aetherblade and thaumanova.

From a lot of the pictures, it seems like there is more density of enemies/bosses than in previous fractals. I can’t really say I dislike the puzzles as much as other people, so I can’t account for differences in preference, but at the very least it looks like there’s real potential for some cool stuff.

I say this because I think this first fractal is intended to be the introduction to the new fractal story-line that Anet mentioned they wanted to move forward with, and it was designed around the opening of the plot (that there are new instabilities caused by an unknown perpetrator rather than just a new island like always), which gives them some room to expand forward in a more directed fashion rather than adding to the already-large hodge-podge of stories that the existing fractals merely touch on.

If we fight some of the old bosses with nothing new attached, I won’t be super pleased, but if the bosses had some tactics changed/added and an arena overhaul I think they could be quite fun.

You could be right, but this trailer sure doesn’t show it.

RubiBayer.8134:

cranos.5913:

It’s not that we see stuff return, it’s that the stuff we see in the trailer is all the annoying puzzle kitten of others mashed together. Looking at this trailer I can already imagine the same kind of “fun” we have in aetherblade and thaumanova.

Puzzle kitten

LOL ok that gave me a chuckle. :P

cranos.5913:

RubiBayer.8134:

cranos.5913:

It’s not that we see stuff return, it’s that the stuff we see in the trailer is all the annoying puzzle kitten of others mashed together. Looking at this trailer I can already imagine the same kind of “fun” we have in aetherblade and thaumanova.

Puzzle kitten

LOL ok that gave me a chuckle. :P

Dem kitties tho. That one in the middle. He’s seen some things, man.

Astralporing.1957:

I see jumping puzzles, disappearing floors, electrified floors, jump-the-wave type crushers (on the same stage as electrified floors, no less), and Anomaly. In other words, all the things people loved in fractals…
Oh wait.

Sadly that’s what I was thinking too. I hate to be that guy that judges it without playing it but that video just made me go from excited to feeling like..oh this looks like one i’ll be skipping then.

Anet, please stop reusing tired, dated and annoying mechanics that so many of us despise. Electrified floors and more jumping platforms? REALLY?

RubiBayer.8134:

cranos.5913:

It’s not that we see stuff return, it’s that the stuff we see in the trailer is all the annoying puzzle kitten of others mashed together. Looking at this trailer I can already imagine the same kind of “fun” we have in aetherblade and thaumanova.

Puzzle kitten

Let’s be honest this is more like a puzzle kitten:

recycled assets suggest to me that the art team was “too busy” for fractals (or something, i dont work at anet and know nothing obviously) which isnt a very good sign so hopefully its not falling on the art team to make fractals great again and anets encounter/map/mob design pulls off something awesome. ill wait and see.

One other question actually. If we need gliding for this new fractal, what will happen for the people that don’t have HOT? Will they be unable to do the new fractal?

As much as I want to be positive because YES FINALLY, I’m not sure going the re-used asset route is very reassuring (on a superficial level at least) after years of no new content. Also the prospect of having story closure honestly terrifies me because I don’t want fractals to become legacy content like dungeons. I think even the most positive person can admit that being a fan of fractals has been a rough ride, and it’s hard to let go of the fear and cynicism after so long. I’m excited for the guild chat, though – it will be refreshing to hear about the future of fractals from the people actually creating it, in the way we get for raids.

Mitch.4781:

One other question actually. If we need gliding for this new fractal, what will happen for the people that don’t have HOT? Will they be unable to do the new fractal?

Gliding? We’re unable to gilde in current fractals, why should this new one be an exception?
I’m more confused about how this new level will be pasted in the current fotm line-up. Will all levels get shuffled (and thus reset the fractal achievements… AGAIN) or will it be exclusive post-lvl-100 and thus raising the AR req?

Nash.2681:

Mitch.4781:

One other question actually. If we need gliding for this new fractal, what will happen for the people that don’t have HOT? Will they be unable to do the new fractal?

Gliding? We’re unable to gilde in current fractals, why should this new one be an exception?
I’m more confused about how this new level will be pasted in the current fotm line-up. Will all levels get shuffled (and thus reset the fractal achievements… AGAIN) or will it be exclusive post-lvl-100 and thus raising the AR req?

There’s plenty of leisure room to fit more fractals in a 100 list without repeating any inbetween tiers: they can just remove 4 of the repeating ones in each tier and fit this one and it’s still gonna be a few fractals short of never repeating inside a tier. Then, when we have 25 non repeating ones to fit in each tier (hopefully soon™ ) we can expand on 100+, but I kinda wish they’ll do that without increasing the AR needed, since we’re already punished enough for pursuing the T4 fractals (i.e I have to forfeit all the +++infusions to stack up on AR until I have the 9000000000 +1 infusions to put +21 on rings).