Guild Wars 2

Was browsing NCSoft/ArenaNet art director Daniel Dociu’s portfolio site and I came across this piece of art that bears ArenaNet copyright for 2013 (this would have been after the core game released)

This image is incredible. If it is Cantha it is a very contemporary city with technology beyond and architecture that much closer to modern day human civilization than anything we’ve seen in game… We already have a race that’s very advanced and guns are already a weapon type. Could we see more modern weapons added?!? Kind of mind blowing to imagine a elder dragon flying over a very modern interpretation of Cantha.

Thoughts?

If the image doesn’t come though, it can be found here.
http://danieldociu.weebly.com

Wasn’t there something previously about ArenaNet not being able to add Cantha for some reason or another? I thought I read something about this a while back.

If that’s the case, they may not be able to add Cantha to the game at all.

And the image does look like something way more modern than GW2’s world has, so I kind of doubt it’ll be added to the game just like that.

That was an image Daniel Dociu submitted for Into The Pixel. It’s not related to GW2 at all. :p And I definitely don’t see Anet going in that direction for any part of the game, honestly.

Here’s an interview he did on the piece. http://www.intothepixel.com/Daniel-Dociu-2013.asp

RoseofGilead.8907:

That was an image Daniel Dociu submitted for Into The Pixel. It’s not related to GW2 at all. :p And I definitely don’t see Anet going in that direction for any part of the game, honestly.

Thanks for the info! Why is it copyright to ArenaNet if it was just submitted to The Pixel? Maybe a direction they started down and abandoned so the image was property of ANet but he was given permission to use it?

SamTheGuardian.2938:

RoseofGilead.8907:

That was an image Daniel Dociu submitted for Into The Pixel. It’s not related to GW2 at all. :p And I definitely don’t see Anet going in that direction for any part of the game, honestly.

Thanks for the info! Why is it copyright to ArenaNet if it was just submitted to The Pixel? Maybe a direction they started down and abandoned so the image was property of ANet but he was given permission to use it?

Probably because he (and a couple of other artists also working at Anet at the time) had to submit their work through a major studio for that showcase. That’s my assumption, anyway.

Celtic Lady.3729:

Wasn’t there something previously about ArenaNet not being able to add Cantha for some reason or another? I thought I read something about this a while back.

Wasn’t that something to do with NCSoft not liking the homogenization of Asian cultures that was part of Cantha in GW1?

If so, Anet being the publisher now might allow more freedom (even if NCSoft still owns Anet).

What I see more likely is the following, in this order:

• Janthir region.
• Crystal Desert.
• Northern Shiverpeaks
• The Depths of Tyria.
• The Sea of Sorrows.

Keep in mind that art style is idiosyncratic and may not reflect much of anything you can expect in game, even if this were for something game-related. Just look at the Lion’s Arch loading screen. He’s been playing around with blending city photos into montages.

(Also note the Terran letters and numbers. If this were for Tyria it’d be in a Tyrian font).

Mystic dragon is a Chinese dragon. Cantha confirmed.

MithranArkanere.8957:

What I see more likely is the following, in this order:

• Janthir region.
• Crystal Desert.
• Northern Shiverpeaks
• The Depths of Tyria.
• The Sea of Sorrows.

Good list, although I would put Crystal desert on place 1. Why? Because of the egg and the legacy of Glint in that area.
And I have to insist on Ring of Fire, Anet!

So I see it like this:
Crystal Desert
Northern Shiverpeaks
Janthir area
Blood legion homelands
Sea of Sorrows
Depths
Unending Ocean area

Cantha can and will happen now that Arena-Net is their own publisher and NCsoft cant tell them what to do. So they are going to be adding alot of stuff that NCsoft probably said “No blah blah you make money so we can improve our kitten-tastic game aion”

Torolan.5816:

MithranArkanere.8957:

What I see more likely is the following, in this order:

• Janthir region.
• Crystal Desert.
• Northern Shiverpeaks
• The Depths of Tyria.
• The Sea of Sorrows.

Good list, although I would put Crystal desert on place 1. Why? Because of the egg and the legacy of Glint in that area.
And I have to insist on Ring of Fire, Anet!

So I see it like this:
Crystal Desert
Northern Shiverpeaks
Janthir area
Blood legion homelands
Sea of Sorrows
Depths
Unending Ocean area

I agree with your list, but I can see us going into elona after the crystal desert. One, because after taking out the dragon, there is nothing stopping Joko from marching on the rest of Tyria. So we will need to take him out, also after taking out the 3rd dragon, the home nations and the pact troop numbers would have dwindled alot, and we will need.“fresh” troops. Elona could provide. Also we would then for the most part be fighting a war on one front, to the north. (I can’t see us ever going to fight bubbles).

This would then mean that we would have uninterrupted supply lines from elona, and every where else in Tyria. I can then see the Eye of the North becoming the HQ in the fight against Jormag.

If we do fight bubbles I can see it being around the ring of fire, there is a lot of magic there after all.

If the Zephyrites can get there, so can we.

Looks like an artwork From Docio which isnt gw related.

My personal preference would be something with more pirates. Not steam powered pirates or airship pirates and not necessarily undead pirates. They are basically already everywhere but do not get much story still.
Would also be more than happy with Tengu Asian theme. I am not even much of a desert supporter, but it would be the next logical step I guess.
Elona would be ok too of course, although I am a little bit sated on the savannah theme.

Thornwolf.9721:

Cantha can and will happen now that Arena-Net is their own publisher and NCsoft cant tell them what to do. So they are going to be adding alot of stuff that NCsoft probably said “No blah blah you make money so we can improve our kitten-tastic game aion”

Anet is still fully owned by NCsoft.

Keep the dream alive.

it would be nice to see them go back to Elona or eye of the north now in the next ones . with more story and more pve and d11 at lest

Torolan.5816:

[…]

Good list, although I would put Crystal desert on place 1. Why? Because of the egg and the legacy of Glint in that area.
And I have to insist on Ring of Fire, Anet!

So I see it like this:
Crystal Desert
Northern Shiverpeaks
Janthir area
Blood legion homelands
Sea of Sorrows
Depths
Unending Ocean area

I think that after a dragon an interlude against another enemy: The White Mantle would make more sense, instead going straight against another dragon.

The White Mantle would take advantage of the pact, the 5 big cities and the orders being weakened to try and take over Kryta again.

MithranArkanere.8957:

Torolan.5816:

[…]

Good list, although I would put Crystal desert on place 1. Why? Because of the egg and the legacy of Glint in that area.
And I have to insist on Ring of Fire, Anet!

So I see it like this:
Crystal Desert
Northern Shiverpeaks
Janthir area
Blood legion homelands
Sea of Sorrows
Depths
Unending Ocean area

I think that after a dragon an interlude against another enemy: The White Mantle would make more sense, instead going straight against another dragon.

The White Mantle would take advantage of the pact, the 5 big cities and the orders being weakened to try and take over Kryta again.

That would indeed be very intriguing, but I doublt it will happen. Anet does seem to not like to be reminded of GW1 too much most of the time :/

Mursaats!!!!!!!!!

If it is a modern civilization I hope it’s a stylized kind of modern instead of the dull and plain look in the real world. It’s a shame that skyscrapers in Ireland, America, and China easily look like they could have been designed by the same guy. There’s no sense of art or culture with that kind of design. Take skyscrapers, the Empire State Building was a very big deal when it was built, it has some nice flourishes to it too. Then technology advanced and no one seems to care about plain, simple, brutish buildings simply for being tall. No one really seems to care about the relatively recently build Freedom Tower for example.

Celtic Lady.3729:

Wasn’t there something previously about ArenaNet not being able to add Cantha for some reason or another? I thought I read something about this a while back.

This was about the Canthan District in DR. Basically some Asian audience hated the idea of ArenaNet mixing in multiple Asian cultures to create a unique-but-Asian-feeling culture in Tyria.

Patriotism and all that. Stuff I don’t personally get.

ArenaNet didn’t have time to redesign the appearance of the district before release, so they turned it into a big gaping hole that was the Canthan/Art District (there is in-game and out of game lore calling it both).

It’s why we have the Great Collapse – or rather, Crown Pavilion.

BrotherBelial.3094:

Torolan.5816:

MithranArkanere.8957:

What I see more likely is the following, in this order:

• Janthir region.
• Crystal Desert.
• Northern Shiverpeaks
• The Depths of Tyria.
• The Sea of Sorrows.

Good list, although I would put Crystal desert on place 1. Why? Because of the egg and the legacy of Glint in that area.
And I have to insist on Ring of Fire, Anet!

So I see it like this:
Crystal Desert
Northern Shiverpeaks
Janthir area
Blood legion homelands
Sea of Sorrows
Depths
Unending Ocean area

I agree with your list, but I can see us going into elona after the crystal desert. One, because after taking out the dragon, there is nothing stopping Joko from marching on the rest of Tyria. So we will need to take him out, also after taking out the 3rd dragon, the home nations and the pact troop numbers would have dwindled alot, and we will need.“fresh” troops. Elona could provide. Also we would then for the most part be fighting a war on one front, to the north. (I can’t see us ever going to fight bubbles).

This would then mean that we would have uninterrupted supply lines from elona, and every where else in Tyria. I can then see the Eye of the North becoming the HQ in the fight against Jormag.

If we do fight bubbles I can see it being around the ring of fire, there is a lot of magic there after all.

I’m doubtful that we’ll be leaving continental Tyria any time soon. If they ever had the intention of expanding the map, Mordremoth was the perfect time to do so – however, instead of expanding the map they just squeezed him in, literally shifted Rata Sum’s placement (the entire map, not just the cube) over a bit to make enough room. Despite the fact that his placement right next to a giant city of magic and not attacking it makes little sense.

So I don’t expect us to go to Elona or Janthir or anywhere that isn’t on the world map. Not any time soon™ at least.

Nor do I expect to deal with any threats there. They can easily just say “Joko had no intent on attacking Tyria – yet.” After all, he waited until the heroes of GW1 were good and dead (or far too old to fight well) before assaulting Elona. I think he’d wait out the lifespan heroes who took down world-ending dragons. He’s got time on his side, and despite being comedy relief like Lord Faren, unlike Faren he’s actually smart.

Also, the Eye of the North won’t be relevant to the Jormag arc. Why I know? It’s used as an instance for linked accounts. It’s already being used in its entirety. They might decide to use the zone around it, maybe even make it visible beyond an impassable section like Rata Sum in Dragon’s Stand, but it won’t be accessible from those maps.

Torolan.5816:

MithranArkanere.8957:

I think that after a dragon an interlude against another enemy: The White Mantle would make more sense, instead going straight against another dragon.

The White Mantle would take advantage of the pact, the 5 big cities and the orders being weakened to try and take over Kryta again.

That would indeed be very intriguing, but I doublt it will happen. Anet does seem to not like to be reminded of GW1 too much most of the time :/

I think the raid will end up closing up the White Mantle arc – at least, as much of it as Anet’s going to do.

And HoT is all about GW1 lore references – even S2 was in large that.

But HoT was also all about catering to the vocal outcries of how to direct the story. Who knows how the future arcs will go with that…

There are tons of option as futur developpment.

- More Maguma waste to do (SW and drytop are a very little part of maguma waste)
- Giving a hand to queen Jennah against the rise of the Modnirs (north of hintelands harathi)
- Probably ton of stuff to do underwater involving quaggans, kraith and other strange underwater species. (What’s best is that it wouldn’t hurt PvP if they released underwater elite spec and ton of underwater PvE content. Well… PvPer would complaint about lack of new things for them…)
- Cristal desert (My favourite memories from GW1 are here. There must be an arc in the cristal desert!)
- I’m sure we can do some things for the shiverpeak’s cola Bear.
- There is the charr homeland that could bring some trouble in the story.
…etc.

Why would you want to go elsewhere when there is still so much to see “here”?

Konig Des Todes.2086:

~snipped for tidiness~

Excellent lorekittenas expected. I always appreciate your input, Konig.

EDIT: This forum’s censorship is beyond lame.

Konig Des Todes.2086:

Celtic Lady.3729:

Wasn’t there something previously about ArenaNet not being able to add Cantha for some reason or another? I thought I read something about this a while back.

This was about the Canthan District in DR. Basically some Asian audience hated the idea of ArenaNet mixing in multiple Asian cultures to create a unique-but-Asian-feeling culture in Tyria.

Patriotism and all that. Stuff I don’t personally get.

Can you be more specific on which Asian audience it was, as well as provide the source of your information?

Diovid.9506:

Thornwolf.9721:

Cantha can and will happen now that Arena-Net is their own publisher and NCsoft cant tell them what to do. So they are going to be adding alot of stuff that NCsoft probably said “No blah blah you make money so we can improve our kitten-tastic game aion”

Anet is still fully owned by NCsoft.

It is true that NCsofts power over Anet is limited. There is a reason why their financial situation have not been cut back like CNsofts other daughter companies. One of those reasons is that if they did that, Anet would leave the boat. Because they can do that, as far as I have read. I cannot however provide a source of that information, and I would be happy if someone could confirm it for me. “What is Anets connection to NCsoft and how does it affect the game?”

BrotherBelial.3094:

Torolan.5816:

MithranArkanere.8957:

What I see more likely is the following, in this order:

• Janthir region.
• Crystal Desert.
• Northern Shiverpeaks
• The Depths of Tyria.
• The Sea of Sorrows.

Good list, although I would put Crystal desert on place 1. Why? Because of the egg and the legacy of Glint in that area.
And I have to insist on Ring of Fire, Anet!

So I see it like this:
Crystal Desert
Northern Shiverpeaks
Janthir area
Blood legion homelands
Sea of Sorrows
Depths
Unending Ocean area

I agree with your list, but I can see us going into elona after the crystal desert. One, because after taking out the dragon, there is nothing stopping Joko from marching on the rest of Tyria. So we will need to take him out, also after taking out the 3rd dragon, the home nations and the pact troop numbers would have dwindled alot, and we will need.“fresh” troops. Elona could provide. Also we would then for the most part be fighting a war on one front, to the north. (I can’t see us ever going to fight bubbles).

This would then mean that we would have uninterrupted supply lines from elona, and every where else in Tyria. I can then see the Eye of the North becoming the HQ in the fight against Jormag.

If we do fight bubbles I can see it being around the ring of fire, there is a lot of magic there after all.

I believe all that is a question of “Who are our next major enemy?”.

Kalkatorik
I strongly doubt we will start going after Kalkatroik because after his awakening, he have not been causing further problems. all the issues he is currently causing us is a remnant of his breath.
Crystal dessert

Primordus
We see primordous make his moves through the flame legion. we know they worship destroyers, and adopting destroyer-like physical traits. He is very likely a next enemy, because he is such a great influence on the Charr.
Depth of tyria & Bloodlegioon homelands

Bubbles
Bubbles? I love that name. I will call him that from now on. I don’t see that happening any time soon, but I would love it if it did. Nothing else would get my attention just as much.
Unending ocean

Jormag
Jormag he is a major threat. he is continually being on the offence against the shiverpeaks. I could easily see him being our next enemy, because its logical to fight the strongest enemy on the offence.
Far Shiverpeaks

Centaurs
We don’t actually know how strong the centaurs are. all we know is that they are powerful enough to have pushed all the way to the gates of Divinity’s reach. Meaning they are probably a major power. Possibly even more threatening than Jormag.
Woodland Cascades

The White Mantle
We have absolutely no clue about the depth of the roots of the white mantle. How large are the organization? What sources do they have of power? they are a mystery we know very little of.
I doubt this would give us a new map. but if it did, my guess would be islands in the sea of sorrows.

Notice that I am completely leaving out anything outside of our current map. I don’t think they will expand it, until they are done with what we have atm.

SamTheGuardian.2938:

Was browsing NCSoft/ArenaNet art director Daniel Dociu’s portfolio site and I came across this piece of art that bears ArenaNet copyright for 2013 (this would have been after the core game released)

This image is incredible. If it is Cantha it is a very contemporary city with technology beyond and architecture that much closer to modern day human civilization than anything we’ve seen in game… We already have a race that’s very advanced and guns are already a weapon type. Could we see more modern weapons added?!? Kind of mind blowing to imagine a elder dragon flying over a very modern interpretation of Cantha.

Thoughts?

If the image doesn’t come though, it can be found here.
http://danieldociu.weebly.com

well it has a …neon sign.

Zelanard.5806:

Diovid.9506:

Thornwolf.9721:

Cantha can and will happen now that Arena-Net is their own publisher and NCsoft cant tell them what to do. So they are going to be adding alot of stuff that NCsoft probably said “No blah blah you make money so we can improve our kitten-tastic game aion”

Anet is still fully owned by NCsoft.

It is true that NCsofts power over Anet is limited. There is a reason why their financial situation have not been cut back like CNsofts other daughter companies. One of those reasons is that if they did that, Anet would leave the boat. Because they can do that, as far as I have read. I cannot however provide a source of that information, and I would be happy if someone could confirm it for me. “What is Anets connection to NCsoft and how does it affect the game?”

BrotherBelial.3094:

Torolan.5816:

MithranArkanere.8957:

What I see more likely is the following, in this order:

• Janthir region.
• Crystal Desert.
• Northern Shiverpeaks
• The Depths of Tyria.
• The Sea of Sorrows.

Good list, although I would put Crystal desert on place 1. Why? Because of the egg and the legacy of Glint in that area.
And I have to insist on Ring of Fire, Anet!

So I see it like this:
Crystal Desert
Northern Shiverpeaks
Janthir area
Blood legion homelands
Sea of Sorrows
Depths
Unending Ocean area

I agree with your list, but I can see us going into elona after the crystal desert. One, because after taking out the dragon, there is nothing stopping Joko from marching on the rest of Tyria. So we will need to take him out, also after taking out the 3rd dragon, the home nations and the pact troop numbers would have dwindled alot, and we will need.“fresh” troops. Elona could provide. Also we would then for the most part be fighting a war on one front, to the north. (I can’t see us ever going to fight bubbles).

This would then mean that we would have uninterrupted supply lines from elona, and every where else in Tyria. I can then see the Eye of the North becoming the HQ in the fight against Jormag.

If we do fight bubbles I can see it being around the ring of fire, there is a lot of magic there after all.

I believe all that is a question of “Who are our next major enemy?”.

Kalkatorik
I strongly doubt we will start going after Kalkatroik because after his awakening, he have not been causing further problems. all the issues he is currently causing us is a remnant of his breath.
Crystal dessert

Primordus
We see primordous make his moves through the flame legion. we know they worship destroyers, and adopting destroyer-like physical traits. He is very likely a next enemy, because he is such a great influence on the Charr.
Depth of tyria & Bloodlegioon homelands

Bubbles
Bubbles? I love that name. I will call him that from now on. I don’t see that happening any time soon, but I would love it if it did. Nothing else would get my attention just as much.
Unending ocean

Jormag
Jormag he is a major threat. he is continually being on the offence against the shiverpeaks. I could easily see him being our next enemy, because its logical to fight the strongest enemy on the offence.
Far Shiverpeaks

Centaurs
We don’t actually know how strong the centaurs are. all we know is that they are powerful enough to have pushed all the way to the gates of Divinity’s reach. Meaning they are probably a major power. Possibly even more threatening than Jormag.
Woodland Cascades

The White Mantle
We have absolutely no clue about the depth of the roots of the white mantle. How large are the organization? What sources do they have of power? they are a mystery we know very little of.
I doubt this would give us a new map. but if it did, my guess would be islands in the sea of sorrows.

Notice that I am completely leaving out anything outside of our current map. I don’t think they will expand it, until they are done with what we have atm.

The reason I said we will go after Kalkatorik, is that he was who the pact was going to go after next, before Mordi woke up.

Mouhappai.5406:

Can you be more specific on which Asian audience it was, as well as provide the source of your information?

I don’t have a specific source, but you can search for information on the Canthan District of Divinity’s Reach (which ended up as “the Great Collapse”, now Crown Pavillion).

IIRC, it was more about the fact that all Asian cultures were being represented by one huge stereotype. Heck, it seemed like even Elona had more cultural distinction between regions.

Cantha was primarily Chinese with other cultures being mixed in. Moreover, from my personal experience, it seems as if some Koreans take great insult at being associated with Japanese culture (due to the Japanese having invaded Korea several times). NCSoft is a Korean company… Korea has also been invaded by China…

It’s more about heritage.

It’d be like insinuating that all native peoples and cultures across the Americas were all the same. (Note: They weren’t. People with Native American heritage might be insulted to be associated with a completely different group of Native Americans. Particularly if their groups had fought.)