Guild Wars 2

I just finished the Dragon’s Stand battle with Mordremoth in HoT (better late than never, I suppose), watched the ending cinematic… and then that was it. The mini-map showed four white squares implying that I had party members to speak to, but I couldn’t find them anywhere. Was I supposed to speak to them before leaving that map?

In any case, storywise, where do the Raids fit in? Should I do them before Living Story Season 3 or at any time during it? Or do the Raids not include any story/lore at all pertaining to LS S3 and Path of Fire?

About your first question, I am not sure, maybe someone else can help. Now for the second one.

The first three wings (the ones in forsaken thicket) take place between HOT and LS3, and do provide some extra background for the latter, although for the story of LS3 knowing the story told in GW1 (mostly the prophecies campaign and eye of the north expansion) is more crucial.

If I am not mistaken, the 4th wing (bastion of the penitent) takes place after the first three wings, and before the sixth and last episode of LS3. It mostly provides a satisfying conclusion to a storyline that was left unfinished from GW1, although it does explain a certain phenomenon in LS3 episode 6. Again, it is much less crucial for episode 6 than the story of GW1.

Do note that raids are very hard and need dedication, you need to have a good knowledge of specific builds for your character, the appropriate gear and will need a lot of practice. The hardest part for me is finding a group to do them with, as doing it using LFG is often less than enjoyable, especially for beginners. It’s also unlikely you will play them in the right order. If you are just in it for the story or at some point feel you are not enjoying yourself, I would suggest just reading up on it, or perhaps joining in a cleared instance. These are often advertised in the LFG tab for raids.

As for the first question, those NPCs should have been right where you were when the story ended, at the bottom of the spire. Speaking to them isn’t crucial to understanding what’s going on though. Just some extra flavor.

Raids do indeed give some part of the story but there’s also a character in story that recaps what happens, though in only the most cursory manner

Torvic.8256:

Or do the Raids not include any story/lore at all pertaining to LS S3 and Path of Fire?

No they do not. In fact it’s the opposite, playing the first episode of LS3 after you finish the first Raid complicates things and leaves you with a “then what happened in the Raid?”, making the entire first Raid look pointless story-wise. It doesn’t help that your player character remembers nothing of what happened inside the Raid. It’s as if it happened in a dream or a parallel universe. In contrast, if you play LS3 episode 1 without touching the Raid, the story makes much more sense.

The second Raid has absolutely nothing to do with the story in LS3 or Path of Fire. It’s entirely standalone.

Vayne.8563:

As for the first question, those NPCs should have been right where you were when the story ended, at the bottom of the spire.

If I’m not mistaken they’re actually in the small room off the top of the spire, where the Faolin fight in Bitter Harvest takes place. You should be able to get back into the instance lobby by talking to Agent Zrii in the starting area of the Dragon’s Stand map (check the wiki for more information).

The raid wings do hold story information, in a similar way that the dungeon story modes hold story information related to the personal story in the original game. It’s interesting to hear if you get the chance, but you’ll be well able to grasp the season 3 story without doing the raids.

maddoctor.2738:

Torvic.8256:

Or do the Raids not include any story/lore at all pertaining to LS S3 and Path of Fire?

No they do not. In fact it’s the opposite, playing the first episode of LS3 after you finish the first Raid complicates things and leaves you with a “then what happened in the Raid?”, making the entire first Raid look pointless story-wise. It doesn’t help that your player character remembers nothing of what happened inside the Raid. It’s as if it happened in a dream or a parallel universe. In contrast, if you play LS3 episode 1 without touching the Raid, the story makes much more sense.

The second Raid has absolutely nothing to do with the story in LS3 or Path of Fire. It’s entirely standalone.

I don’t understand your logic. If they do not contain any story or lore that is related to LS3 then how could that lead to a disconnect between the LS3 and raid story?
Surely if they werent at all related there would be no disconnect?

Also the latest wing does close off the white mantle storyline together with LS season 3 ep 6. Ofcourse, they dont cross over into eachother and you can understand the each of the stories separately ofcourse. But to say that its absolutely nothing to do with the story in LS3 is not the wording I would have picked.

If you just mean that personal/living story is completely paralel to raid story, then yes I agree with that.

FrizzFreston.5290:

I don’t understand your logic. If they do not contain any story or lore that is related to LS3 then how could that lead to a disconnect between the LS3 and raid story?
Surely if they werent at all related there would be no disconnect?

Because there is no disconnect between the raid story and LS3. If you play just LS3 there is nothing missing story-wise. It’s the other way around, if you play the Raid and then LS3 you realize that the Raid was pointless.

Also the latest wing does close off the white mantle storyline together with LS season 3 ep 6. Ofcourse, they dont cross over into eachother and you can understand the each of the stories separately ofcourse. But to say that its absolutely nothing to do with the story in LS3 is not the wording I would have picked.

The story in the second Raid has nothing in common with the story in LS3. It closes the white mantle storyline from Guild Wars 1, not from LS3, there is no mention, nor reference in the story of LS3 about anything that happens in Bastion of the Penitent. So yes, it has absolutely nothing to do with the story of LS3

maddoctor.2738:

The story in the second Raid has nothing in common with the story in LS3. It closes the white mantle storyline from Guild Wars 1, not from LS3, there is no mention, nor reference in the story of LS3 about anything that happens in Bastion of the Penitent. So yes, it has absolutely nothing to do with the story of LS3

Well, it explains a minor detail, which could be seen as a spoiler so I’ll hide it for those who still need to see the story of LS3 E6 or bastion of the penitent. As I admit it is a detail, but the OP seems very serious about the story so it might matter to him.

maddoctor.2738:

FrizzFreston.5290:

I don’t understand your logic. If they do not contain any story or lore that is related to LS3 then how could that lead to a disconnect between the LS3 and raid story?
Surely if they werent at all related there would be no disconnect?

Because there is no disconnect between the raid story and LS3. If you play just LS3 there is nothing missing story-wise. It’s the other way around, if you play the Raid and then LS3 you realize that the Raid was pointless.

Also the latest wing does close off the white mantle storyline together with LS season 3 ep 6. Ofcourse, they dont cross over into eachother and you can understand the each of the stories separately ofcourse. But to say that its absolutely nothing to do with the story in LS3 is not the wording I would have picked.

The story in the second Raid has nothing in common with the story in LS3. It closes the white mantle storyline from Guild Wars 1, not from LS3, there is no mention, nor reference in the story of LS3 about anything that happens in Bastion of the Penitent. So yes, it has absolutely nothing to do with the story of LS3

Thats what I meant with parallel and disconnect. I guess Ill just stick with your wording of it being weird to me.

Rasimir.6239:

Vayne.8563:

As for the first question, those NPCs should have been right where you were when the story ended, at the bottom of the spire.

If I’m not mistaken they’re actually in the small room off the top of the spire, where the Faolin fight in Bitter Harvest takes place. You should be able to get back into the instance lobby by talking to Agent Zrii in the starting area of the Dragon’s Stand map (check the wiki for more information).

The raid wings do hold story information, in a similar way that the dungeon story modes hold story information related to the personal story in the original game. It’s interesting to hear if you get the chance, but you’ll be well able to grasp the season 3 story without doing the raids.

Regarding the first question: that’s indeed what I was just able to do.

As Vayne wrote, the conversations with them weren’t crucial but they did add flavor. They also added a bit of momentary closure, at least in terms of knowing where they’re heading off to (Caithe back to the Pale Tree, Canach back to Countess Anise, etc.) just in case I don’t see them again immediately once I start Living Story Season 3.

As for the Raids: I hope to do them eventually, but I’m not sure that I’ll have the time anytime soon. I hope I can get by lorewise in LS S3 without having done them, though.