Guild Wars 2

Dulfy has an interesting sentence :

http://dulfy.net/2016/01/08/gw2-jan-8-guild-chat-livestream-notes/

Colin: “In the previous years we did lots of biweeky/monthly updates. In 2015 our focus was on HoT with some updates. in 2016 we are trying to find a balance between frequent game updates and working on the next expansion.”

I was just thinking – what exactly word “expansion” means.

Read between the lines, I think it means they can’t afford to give us what we think of as LS anymore; we will probably see expansions bigger than a whole LS, smaller than a whole HoT. I think their expansions might also (IMO should also) target very specific aspects of the game; PVE, PVP, WvW.

I’m sure it means something HoT-like. Twitch chat got very excited when he casually mentioned that in a sentence talking about balancing development focus.

Remember all the discussion about the price model for HoT, and the people that felt it was wrong to “give new players more because the core game is included for them?” Pretty early in that ANet flat out said “this is our new model, you’ll have to buy expansions but all earlier versions will be included so no one ever has to buy multiple games at once just to play.” This made future expansions rather less hypothetical.

The interesting take away from Colin’s comments is that they will be working on the next expansion this year alongside delivery of deeper content for existing systems, not waiting a year to even start. Presumably there will be more information regarding this on Tuesday in Colin’s promised blog.

You should listen to Colin’s comments yourself, Dulfy includes the video and it’s only 10 minutes at the start of the stream (plus a few seconds at the end). The rest is well worth watching if you have any interest in the process of composing game music but won’t tell you anything about coming game content.

edit @ Obtena: Actually, he specifically said that LS would be one of the things coming during the year.

Maybe should fix current expansion before work on new one. Just idea.

You know, I like GW2 but I don’ t believe another Hot-like expansion and LS free content is a realistic goal for Anet … right now.

“deeper delivery of existing systems” is just a vague way of saying things like:

1. Ascended Jewelry crafting
2. More mastery lines (some people don’t even have the points to pay for the current ones)
3. More Legendary gear (we already know this and the requirements to obtain)
4. Gliding in Core (we have hints of that but that shouldn’t really excite anyone that much)
5. another Elite spec (I’m doubtful)

I’m hope I’m wrong but I don’t expect to see anything surprising from these mystery deep contents and I certainly don’t think Anet can afford to give them away for free and uncoupled from story.

Obtena.7952:

5. another Elite spec (I’m doubtful)

I’d be very surprised if they didn’t have ideas on the board. They’re just waiting for the current meta to settle before they introduce new elite specs and ruin it again :^)

Oh don’t worry, the price of the expansion is so high because all the living story coming out is included for free… Oh wait, a lot less living story, and right on to the next expansion? Who could of seen this coming….

Qugi.2653:

Maybe should fix current expansion before work on new one. Just idea.

Couldn’t agree more. The story is terrible – thin as wet toilet paper. And the whole thing is clearly rushed in most other area’s. I wish they would just fix what we already have.

I hope they don’t start doing what rest of the gaming industry has been doing…..adding in non stop paywall DLCS for new content.

It would kill this game for me if they started adding DLC content such as paying for Living story ect. Sounds like they are having financial problems.

I can afford to fork out $60 for a new expansion every few years and buy gems here and there, but that DLC and paid content gets insane.

Lets hope this game never gets to that point…otherwise other games on the market are looking more appetizing. I got some faith things will be better.

But it would really be the death of this game if after a few months of us paying $60 for the expansion only to be hit with DLC content locked by paywalls.

my body is totally ready for the next big riot xD

He is likely refering to an expansion coming out in I would guess 2017.

For anyone familiar with developement cycles this should come as no suprise. It take years to get an expansion done. The entire process is more than just “let’s make some grafics, tweak a bit here and there, done”. The design process usually starts far earlier and has to do with general direction, theme, new ideas and so on that get brainstormed. Then the actual developement and programing takes a huge chunk of time too.

My guess is, areanet are moving to a system of frequent expansions in 1-2 year time gaps with some Living Story inbetween.

The Super Adventure Box expansion, ten new levels and countless retro mini games.

I can but dream, get on it Arena Net!

I have faith in them still. I’m hopeful that these changes will move in the right direction since they are more focused on smaller quick steps instead of big, slow steps. If this is the Tengu expansion, I will roll on the floor out of sheer bliss.

Honestly, I doubt ascended Jewelery is coming with laurals, guild coms and relics out there to get the stuff. It would be nice, and I hope I am wrong, but I really doubt it.

If anything, that ascended item that has been in there for ages that is supposedly for JC is just gonna be for legendary trinket.

Well I bought HoT, but I won’t be buying the next one unless they get rid of the Mario Wars 2 theme park style. I also won’t buy the next Xpac unless I see many vids on what exactly is going to be added.

I care less about being surprised at what may be included at this point than I do about getting a more well rounded experience for all play styles; mine included.

Obtena.7952:

You know, I like GW2 but I don’ t believe another Hot-like expansion and LS free content is a realistic goal for Anet … right now.

“deeper delivery of existing systems” is just a vague way of saying things like:

1. Ascended Jewelry crafting
2. More mastery lines (some people don’t even have the points to pay for the current ones)
3. More Legendary gear (we already know this and the requirements to obtain)
4. Gliding in Core (we have hints of that but that shouldn’t really excite anyone that much)
5. another Elite spec (I’m doubtful)

I’m hope I’m wrong but I don’t expect to see anything surprising from these mystery deep contents and I certainly don’t think Anet can afford to give them away for free and uncoupled from story.

1. why add that? You can literally buy most stats with laurels, badges of honor and ectos or flat out earn em with archivements. If anything they could use ascended jewelry for effects like the refractors or stuff.. but then again i doubt it.

2. Yeh thats something i can see coming for sure, thats their new horizontal progression system afterall. Lets hope the new masteries are interresting…rather then time gating.

3. Yea.. armor and the rest of the gen 2 weapons that hopefully look amazing, well.. the ones we got are a good sign already…fortunally. As for armor.. im doubtfull its gonna look good. My bet is on 3 detailed but generic sets with some effects on them..sorta like ascended with sparkles.

4. Most likely gonna be added next week or pretty soon, they already showed gliding in orr. Was obvios they gonna do it… nobody is buying glider skins if nobody is in the new maps afterall.

5. Yea right.. next expansion is the earliest point i can see that beeing added, took em 3 years to add a handfull of things to each class…so yeh… lets not get any hopes up.

Lets hope we are both wrong with our negatives…especially me and that they now slowly “get it” and bring back the game to its glory…

It’s OK, maybe you didn’t get what I was doing there. All those things fit in ‘deeper delivery of existing systems". I’m not suggesting they add it, I’m suggesting they fit in with that statement.

Don’t have a problem with them working on another expansion. The free stuff early on was really cool, but to be honest there was so much of it that it became a bit overwhelming to keep up with.

HoT was way too little for the price though. And really, really poorly designed. The gliding is cool, but only one map uses it effectively (hint: need more gliding maps). But the rest of HoT is garbage, especially in the way it disenfranchised whole segments of the population – WvW players. small guilds, dungeon runners, etc, etc.

HoT being a failure, the next expansion better be a home run. That might be too late though.

Edit: And no matter what they do, I will not buy anything from GW2 again until it’s been out a bit and the people say it’s cool. HoT was the last straw. They lost our trust.

Obtena.7952:

Read between the lines, I think it means they can’t afford to give us what we think of as LS anymore; we will probably see expansions bigger than a whole LS, smaller than a whole HoT. I think their expansions might also (IMO should also) target very specific aspects of the game; PVE, PVP, WvW.

if future expansions are focused simply on the game modes, i would simply add more weapons (as in create entirely new ones, or LANDSPEARS) or expand upon modes that are already in place, maybe one more additional class. most of the dragon’s lairs can be in existing areas, such as the Brand.

The real question is, would these new expansion adding another new E-spec to shatter the Meta once more?

They want to shake the meta up every three months via balance patches. They don’t need an expansion for that. Still elite lines seem very likely things to be included in expansions though not necessarily only released in expansions.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – all I want from the next expansion is a mastery track that lets me wear my hat at a jaunty angle.

Aedelric.1287:

The Super Adventure Box expansion, ten new levels and countless retro mini games.

I can but dream, get on it Arena Net!

I bought HoT despite knowing better, but there is no way that I would pay money for that. HoT is more than arcade enough, so no thanks.^^

Well, I’m hoping that the whole mastery, elite spec, and various other systems that they developed with HoT was a lion’s share of the work, otherwise the next expansion is going to be even smaller than this one.

Nice, when gliding hopefully gets implemented this year also to the rest of the game, this hopefully includes then also the WvW maps.. seriously… desert borderlands are designed for gliding there…

When their goal it is to focus 2016 on delivering more depths to the existign gameplay systems, than to try to experimentate with new things, like Colin said, then I hope, that we can expect to see improvements in the following sections and areas of the game in the distant near future:

1) (Obviously)
WvW Redesign of the terrible Reward System that is sicne game release absolutely underwhelming to nearly non existant, compared to the rest of the game.
a Reward Systenm, that actually gives you somethign really rewarding for all the Badges of Honour that you collect as WvW’s Standard Currency, so that you can buy finalyl with all the Badges something, thats valuable and feels like a good reward for the spent badges.
Unique Rewards are also the key here, that are only receiveable via WvW, thus it creates incentive to play WvW

2) WvW Redesign away from the terrible Server System, which creates since Game Release only Population Imbalances and turn it to an Alliance System with 3 fix and clear FACTIONS.
Yes, first this iwll lead most likely to a big QQ about Server Pride, but this needs to get changed for the better of this game, if you want to see ever a healthy WvW without Population Imbalances. People need to gulp finally their silly server pride down and accept, that some changes like this are needed, if WvW should change ever become better without the problems it has now.
There wasn#t ever anyways any kinds of rewards or so for server pride. It plays no role for Anet, if you play since game release on the same server X or not, so why do we hold us all off since 3 years with such obsolete systems???

3) Complete for the sake of this game finally the incomplete gameplay mechanics that have been introduced over the last years:
- Implement finally Jeweler 500
- Implement finally Chef 500
- Upgrade Scribe to 500 and redesign and rebalance its costs to work like all other normal Crafting Jobs
- Adding missing Legendary Crafting Categories for Legendary Accessoires (Rings, Earrings, Amulets

• Adding a System for more constant WvW Tournaments, like every 6 months there should be one. Or 1 every year at least… or how long you you expect us Anet to wait for them, until we get finally able to complete the Set of Heroic Mist Weapons?? There needs to be a more constand income of the WvW Tournament Tickets
• They said that Elite Specializations are the way to go from now on, together with Masteries – so yes, more Specializations and more Masteries are naturally expectable to see as further development of already existing content. They said self that the mechanics added by Hot are a new fundament for our overall horizontal chracter progression.
  It would be weird if they stop with that directly after HoT… so if anyone really believes here that nothing new happens in these areas, must live under an illusion.
  Gliding for Orr shows to me exactly, where they are going, by expanding the Masteries more for Central Tyria (and hopefully also WvW) and hopefully bringing back some live to the older maps, especially all those of them, which have seen absolutely 0 attention by Anet since Game Release.

• Reworking the Reward System completely for Dungeons. Now that you successfully destroyed them completely by taking away from them the sole incentibve, they had mainly for several years since you introduced PvP reward tracks, which already half way destroyed the incentive to play dungeons, you did it now totally by removing the gold rewards. Congrats! Now its time to give Dungeons back rewards, that are UNIQUE to it and only obtainable via dungeons and nothign else.
  Dungeons need direly agaion a good inventive for why you want to play them, if not for the gold (what is ok, we have Fractals for that now), then for somethign else that is not gold!!
  Give Dungeons also the option to earn ascedned equipment from them via Dungeon Tokens, like adding some new nice ascended Dungeon Weapon/Armor Sets iwth new skins that take via tokens significantly longer to earn, than just the exotic stuff, and can be earned only via dungeons, not pvp reward tracks!! This would essentially REVIVE dungeons, without turning them again into a gold farm spot….

• Use Elite Specializations Round 2 to add some new Weapon Types like Polearms(Halberds), Greataxes, Whips, Crossbows, Gauntlets/Claws and Throwing Weapons (Chakrams, Shurikens, Kunais) togive the classes some new Build Diversity through new Weapon Skills. That would add more depth to the Combat System.

• Rebalance the Combat System in more depthful ways, be changing the Base health System from an unbalanceable 3 Class Type System into an Individual Class health balancing, so that each class gets its very own individual base health and balanced around its individual amount of base health.
  Take finalyl please a look on other very important game and combat related mechanics of this game, when balancing the Classes – like for exampel the efficiency of Attributes.
  Toughness and Vitality are since game release absolute JOKES and feel like completely bugged. Merge for example Vitality with Healing Power to give Vitality finally more significant IMPACT in the combat system and increase the intensity of toughnes,s so that finally a high defensive build actually also FEELS like being a high defensive build that makes it for direct dam,age dealers feelable harder to defeat you (like fighting a high defensive mordrme, which you effectively can kill only with conditions, but not with direct damage, due to its very high DEFENSE!!!)

• UI Improvements, most especially a compelte redesign of the LFG-Tool!! (pretty please!!) or adding finally a Build Saver-Function as UI, or adding as a massive QoL improvement for PvE as UI and progression system (2in1) ASCENDED RUNES & SIGILS (something that Jeweler 500 could create being able to refine all the exotic ones to accountbound ascended account unlockers, which make it for you in PvE then finally possible to change out sigils and runes that you have unlocked this way for your account like in PvP infinitely and directly, while being out of combat, so that you dont have to buy units of the sigils/runes anymore, that you have once unlocked as ascended version for your account for PvE, which makes craftign these thigns then VERY valuable for you as a player, because once you have crafted then one of these thigns for your account and used the,m, you have to buy/craft the unlocked sigil/rune then NEVER AGAIN for any of your characters!!)

Im sure, i could come up with more stuff, but these thigns are currently the most importan thigns that came up in my head directly, which I hope to see gettign addressed in 2016/17 around when they work on said improvements to the depth of the current game systems, while working on the next expansion also, whioch most likely will be used then again to deliver some of the greater changes that take the most time.

speaking of wvw rewards…I still need to get through my 90+ chests…

Aedelric.1287:

The Super Adventure Box expansion, ten new levels and countless retro mini games.

I can but dream, get on it Arena Net!

ROFL! That would be a nightmare to me.

Serophous.9085:

speaking of wvw rewards…I still need to get through my 90+ chests…

Yes, that needs to get changed too.
The moment we log in into WvW after a match has been reset, should net you in instantly the reward chests that we receivev from the last wvw match..

So when you werre 1st place at the rend of the match, and you log in the next time after the match has been resetted, you should receive instantly those 3 bonus reward chests!!

Before some of the last wvw change,s everythign was fine, we were able to buy us with laurels/badges instant rank ups, so that IF WE WANTED, were able to get instantly those reward chests, or play for them and gridn the wvw exp for the rank ups needed to get all of the bonus reward chests….

personally atm I have 10 of them here, which I can’t get, because I need to get first 10 ranks more, before I get my earned reward chests – what a silly system is that even to begin with, that you need to earn your rewards double practically, just to get them in case of the bonus chests ..

please fix this!

I’m looking forward to being able to glide in Tyria =D.

I often have the urge to jump off high cliffs…

this has NOTHING to do with whatever that website is. this was all expressed in an official arenanet stream!!!!

Yay new expansion 45€ , 3 maps , 9 broken elites, 124758 bugs, 1000h of grinding, advanced cash shop, cash shop mount$, cash shop armors, cash shop minis, cash shop outfits, cash shop unlocks, cash shop…

Can’t wait for this.

Obtena.7952:

Read between the lines, I think it means they can’t afford to give us what we think of as LS anymore; we will probably see expansions bigger than a whole LS, smaller than a whole HoT. I think their expansions might also (IMO should also) target very specific aspects of the game; PVE, PVP, WvW.

Yup, the LS that the white knights were saying made the ridiculous price of HoT worth it is not going to happen.

lubos.7243:

Dulfy has an interesting sentence :

http://dulfy.net/2016/01/08/gw2-jan-8-guild-chat-livestream-notes/

Colin: “In the previous years we did lots of biweeky/monthly updates. In 2015 our focus was on HoT with some updates. in 2016 we are trying to find a balance between frequent game updates and working on the next expansion.”

I was just thinking – what exactly word “expansion” means.

Expansion means expansion, that’s what it’s meant to mean… Get my meaning?

Every game is always working on the next thing be it expansion or whatever they want to call it. Can’t really see anything except hopefully there won’t be well over a year long drought of content just before the next one is released.

Obtena.7952:

You know, I like GW2 but I don’ t believe another Hot-like expansion and LS free content is a realistic goal for Anet … right now.

“deeper delivery of existing systems” is just a vague way of saying things like:

1. Ascended Jewelry crafting
2. More mastery lines (some people don’t even have the points to pay for the current ones)
3. More Legendary gear (we already know this and the requirements to obtain)
4. Gliding in Core (we have hints of that but that shouldn’t really excite anyone that much)
5. another Elite spec (I’m doubtful)

I’m hope I’m wrong but I don’t expect to see anything surprising from these mystery deep contents and I certainly don’t think Anet can afford to give them away for free and uncoupled from story.

You’re forgetting :
6. Gem Store Updates

If Hot was an expansion with the entire years worth of focus.. how will splitting the attention between the next expansion/core game yield better results?

Personally I’d like to see them work on improving the core game experience, balance and making the expansion experience more fun.

Donari.5237:

I’m sure it means something HoT-like. Twitch chat got very excited when he casually mentioned that in a sentence talking about balancing development focus.

Remember all the discussion about the price model for HoT, and the people that felt it was wrong to “give new players more because the core game is included for them?” Pretty early in that ANet flat out said “this is our new model, you’ll have to buy expansions but all earlier versions will be included so no one ever has to buy multiple games at once just to play.” This made future expansions rather less hypothetical.

The interesting take away from Colin’s comments is that they will be working on the next expansion this year alongside delivery of deeper content for existing systems, not waiting a year to even start. Presumably there will be more information regarding this on Tuesday in Colin’s promised blog.

You should listen to Colin’s comments yourself, Dulfy includes the video and it’s only 10 minutes at the start of the stream (plus a few seconds at the end). The rest is well worth watching if you have any interest in the process of composing game music but won’t tell you anything about coming game content.

edit @ Obtena: Actually, he specifically said that LS would be one of the things coming during the year.

Well the word expansion was tossed in the list of types of development focus. The gist of his talk was how in 2016 they won’t be doing anymore, beyond WvW, reworking of an existing game system or spending a bulk amount of their resources focused on one type of development such as an expansion.

2015 was all about the expansion to the detriment of just about all other content. In 2016 they will be spending time using all the new game systems they added in the expansion to focus on releasing content for them as well as working toward the next expansion, whenever it will be released. No game mode will get the short end of the stick in terms of resources. They will also be throwing non content creation resources at bugs in HoT and Core Tyria. Polish and new content are the goals for 2016.

So while there may be work starting on the next expansion, fear not, we shouldn’t see lack of new content and bug fixes in 2016.

From my experience this past year with HoT, I’m so not wanting another expansion, like ever. Much rather have the Living Story return as that was far more interesting and engaging. I still can’t believe how poorly done the actual story was in HoT. Also, HoT divided the player base as those with a lot of time to play consumed HoT in over a week. Meanwhile, others were barely getting started with it. The Living Story on the other hand keeps the community in step with each other far better. It’s almost a quarter of a year since HoT launched and we have only received a rehashed Wintersday. That’s not going to sustain us very long. The fact that Colin mentioned it so quickly in his interview worries me.

DeWolfe.2174 Actually they should do both. But not before fixing things. & not before putting some really big effort on story telling as well. cuz your wrong about being engaging. Cuz at most it’s time to time some what engaging. But not fully immersive as most triple A games.

I remember when sparring about content =/= price and people came back with that you’ll get free content over time like the LS….guess that all goes out the window. So now the price of HoT is worth even less if they have completely stopped the free content.

The current GW2 is nothing more than paid expansions and gem store items. How far the game has fallen from it’s roots.

Garambola.2461:

Aedelric.1287:

The Super Adventure Box expansion, ten new levels and countless retro mini games.

I can but dream, get on it Arena Net!

ROFL! That would be a nightmare to me.

You are forgetting the new playable Asura hero: M.A.R.I.O.

Lumpy.8760:

this has NOTHING to do with whatever that website is. this was all expressed in an official arenanet stream!!!!

/laughs

If you go to “whatever that website is” the OP linked, you will see it is Dulfy’s summary of the official stream and includes a video of the stream.

So it has everything to do with it.

DeWolfe.2174:

From my experience this past year with HoT

Vieux P.1238:

cuz your wrong about being engaging.

How can you say I’m wrong in what my experience was? It’s “my” experience! I believe they had the right concept with making the story episodic in nature. In reality, it probably doesn’t matter what was better as a player experience. Anet corporate is looking at last quarters sales figures and saying, “MOAR DAT!”

i burst out laughing when he said they were working on another…
really? you think we’re stupid enough to give you another £30 after the utter failure that HoT was?
if it wasn’t for the elite specs then the expansion might aswell never have happened.
empty maps, barely any new armour or weapons, a handful of story missions you’ll finish in an afternoon or 2…
fool us once Anet…

I really hope that the exciting prospect of Gliding in Tyria isn’t locked behind the next Expansion because that would be a pretty cynical money grab right?

This just feels wrong headed to me, they have a limit on resources but they have already moved on to 50% invested towards the next Expansion before they have fixed HoT’s many issues or even given the players the largish chunk of HoT that was supposed to be provided after HoT went live?

Please speak for yourself, Liewec. I have had a ton of fun with HoT, there are things in it I have yet to experience despite many hours played, I don’t feel stupid for having bought the Ultimate Edition, and unless my life goes very poorly by the time the next expansion hits I’m sure I’ll be buying the biggest version of that.

Your “us” and “we” should be “me” and “I.”

Balancing and bug fixes on currently released material before gliding outside of HoT, and especially before any thoughts of a new expansion. Priorities.
In fact, with all the stuff HoT broke, I would say, “Let’s never do another expansion again, and just skip to GW3 with a totally new, modern engine”.

Donari.5237:

Please speak for yourself, Liewec. I have had a ton of fun with HoT, there are things in it I have yet to experience despite many hours played, I don’t feel stupid for having bought the Ultimate Edition, and unless my life goes very poorly by the time the next expansion hits I’m sure I’ll be buying the biggest version of that.

Your “us” and “we” should be “me” and “I.”

Well it’s then two “I” vs one “me”. And I think theres a plenty of "I"’s that have same thoughts like Liewec. If you want proof go look at pvp forum or new wvw borders or new zones.

Ragnarox.9601:

Donari.5237:

Please speak for yourself, Liewec. I have had a ton of fun with HoT, there are things in it I have yet to experience despite many hours played, I don’t feel stupid for having bought the Ultimate Edition, and unless my life goes very poorly by the time the next expansion hits I’m sure I’ll be buying the biggest version of that.

Your “us” and “we” should be “me” and “I.”

Well it’s then two “I” vs one “me”. And I think theres a plenty of "I"’s that have same thoughts like Liewec. If you want proof go look at pvp forum or new wvw borders or new zones.

I also like HoT, and many ppl too. Actually a lot of my guildies and friends like HoT, and, in game, I never met anyone complaining about HoT that it was a failure. Sure, it has its weaknesses, but it’s definitely not a failure. The most angry people are usually the loudest. And I am sure the amount of ppl who like HoT at least a little is much higher than ppl who thinks that it’s a failure. The words ‘us’ and ‘we’ here on the forums are usually meant to describe the whole community or at least the majority. When he used these words, then he should at least use ‘we, haters’ or ‘we, who don’t like it’ (I almost always use ‘I’ or ‘me’, don’t worry)

Donari.5237:

Please speak for yourself, Liewec. I have had a ton of fun with HoT, there are things in it I have yet to experience despite many hours played, I don’t feel stupid for having bought the Ultimate Edition, and unless my life goes very poorly by the time the next expansion hits I’m sure I’ll be buying the biggest version of that.

Your “us” and “we” should be “me” and “I.”

I’m adding to it and thus making it officially an “us”. Are you satisfied now?? L2forum

I thought the same thing when I heard Colin say another expansion. Since I have a lot of accounts, it cost quite a lot to upgraded them all to HoT. The upgrades ranged from Ultimate to Basic’s. To only see people posting photo’s of a Walmart selling physical copies of “HoT” for $25 not even 6 or so weeks later. I’m certainly going to be hesitant to pre-order again after that. Besides the fact that I felt and still feel “HoT” is overpriced.

It may be the cynic in me, but announcing working on an expansion while there is a myriad of bugs and balancing issues currently in the game, I can only think that this will be their excuse for not balancing or releasing any meaningful content until the next expansion.

Sort of like the lead-up to Hot, where updates came few and far between for months.