Guild Wars 2

Maybe there are others that can add names etc and flush it out better. My idea mainly is just a way to incorporate a few different existing game mechanics into an event that will be interesting and give a way for all to feel like they were able to take part in it.
By taking elements that exist in PvP and Pve they could have really made this event fun. Take the spawn areas that currently exist where there is an AoE that kills you fast where you have Mob spawns that have to be controlled other wise there gets to be far too many mobs. Add in NPC spawns at locations nearby that spawn in intervals? or require supply to spawn similar to the new Stronghold.
Now you need groups to protect these NPC’s while they try to get to specific areas (maybe control points)in order to get to staging areas to set up weapons that will remove the AoE/shield and allow the Big things in the center to actually start taking damage (in the manner that they currently do from the bombs that are dropping or you could have another type of NPC that spawns when you take over the control points that actually drops these bombs that are required to kill the big things in the center of the AOE fields)
That would make sure players have a reason to really protect the first NPC’s to get them into positions.
After the big things in the enter get destroyed have them drop things that players will need at the end of the event in order to spawn a 3rd type of NPC that will be needed to help in the finale of the event sorta like the scarlet one but with Mobs that require that 3rd NPC to kill them? so that the players can finally engage in the main fight with the boss and hear DIE! DIE! DIE!, DIE! DIE! DIE!, DIE! DIE! DIE! on a loop
all these things together would give everyone on a map ways in which they can help and get credit for the event. Of course there may be others that can do a much better job scripting the event and adding names etc sorry that is not my forte. Just wanted to give what I thought would have made interesting zone wide encounters

Protect NPCs? Already a bad idea no offense. No one likes escort quests or depending on mechanics outside their class (like bomb throwing) instead of it being optional.