It’s a beta. “Beta testers are people who actively report issues of beta software. They are usually customers or representatives of prospective customers of the organization that develops the software. Beta testers tend to volunteer their services free of charge but often receive versions of the product they test, discounts on the release version, or other incentives.”
In this case, can I use my beta slot to create, for example, an elemntalist lvl 80 to test new specialization? Or I need to use an old character?
And, that bug about losing GWAMM achiv when you create a new character… already fixed?
Thanks in advance if someone can ansnwer my questions.
This sounds brilliant, but annoyingly I’m going to be away from home that entire weekend.
But I really like that they gave us a list of what they want feedback on – assuming they do the same for betas I can actually play it’ll make a handy checklist to ensure I’ve seen everything they’re adding.
Danielle Aurorel, Dear Dragon We Got Your Cookies [Nom], Desolation (EU).
Eh. I guess I’ll just read some opinion pieces once people get into it.
Was going to potentially check out some streams, but if the zones capped to the same basic areas as the last ‘beta’, then not much point.
Gone for good after Halloween 2Ø12.
A shame fun things could not simply be fun.
Most interesting to me:
“From there, they will land in Verdant Brink, the first map of the expansion, where about 25 percent of the total playable space of that first map will be available to play.”
First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?
“The short answer is that new content is not going to drive people away from the game.
There is absolutely no evidence to support that it would.” -AnthonyOrdon
please give us multiple beta character slots! i’d really like to test Revenant and Tempest, and Reaper, and Dragonhunter, and Chronomancer, and be able switch between them without losing character / account progress. (i’d also like to test out how the account-progression for masteries works)
i have almost 20 level 80 characters as it is, and many more low level alts. i love the variety GW2 offers for character builds, and would love that aspect to be available for the BWE as well!
thank you for listening and considering this request.
And most worrisome:
“Do you feel the need to use your entire skill bar in battles? Does teaming up with other players feel more rewarding? Do you find yourself wanting to change your skills and traits to overcome encounters? Warning—creatures will be more challenging than in the existing Guild Wars 2 world. "
I don’t like the sound of that. Not that content might be engaging.
But it sounds like the whiny “we want every encounter including trash mob fights to be white knuckle fights to the death where I have to take advantage of every skill every perk and only someone iz supremely skilleded as I are can come out alive” posts I see thrown around.
“The short answer is that new content is not going to drive people away from the game.
There is absolutely no evidence to support that it would.” -AnthonyOrdon
They said the 4 currently revealed ones would be available for testing.
“The short answer is that new content is not going to drive people away from the game.
There is absolutely no evidence to support that it would.” -AnthonyOrdon
Most interesting to me:
“From there, they will land in Verdant Brink, the first map of the expansion, where about 25 percent of the total playable space of that first map will be available to play.”
First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?
Was thinking the same first. But then it could also mean “This is our first map that will be implemented with HoT, we will continue to add further maps such as DT & SW with forthcoming updates”. Which I wouldn’t mind, cuz VB is as large as 3 regular maps with all those different layers etc…but the outer view would be pretty meh if game magazines would report “just one map with the start of the new GW2 addon HoT”. So still hoping for more maps from the beginning.
Question: I’ll only be able to pre-purchase HoT on August 7th (maybe the 8th), wich means the beta weekend will have started. Do I get to play even if I pre-purchase during beta time frame?
Most interesting to me:
“From there, they will land in Verdant Brink, the first map of the expansion, where about 25 percent of the total playable space of that first map will be available to play.”
First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?
We’ve known that for months. Some people just spread a lot of misinformation saying the expansion is just one map with 3 biomes, while instead it’s multiple maps (at least 2), each with 3 biomes.
Thank you very much for giving us notice for this event instead of telling us just a couple days before it happens. This allows me to make plans to include playing Beta, instead of just being disappointed that I’ve already filled my weekend with other activities. I sincerely appreciate this consideration.
Question: I’ll only be able to pre-purchase HoT on August 7th (maybe the 8th), wich means the beta weekend will have started. Do I get to play even if I pre-purchase during beta time frame?
If it’s anything like the last beta weekend — when we tested an unfinished Revenant and the Stronghold map — you should be able to participate in the beta event with just a slight delay after pre-purchasing the expansion.
I pre-purchased on Saturday morning during the last one, and received my beta character slot and pre-purchase goodies within about two to three minutes.
Question: I’ll only be able to pre-purchase HoT on August 7th (maybe the 8th), wich means the beta weekend will have started. Do I get to play even if I pre-purchase during beta time frame?
If it’s anything like the last beta weekend — when we tested an unfinished Revenant and the Stronghold map — you should be able to participate in the beta event with just a slight delay after pre-purchasing the expansion.
I pre-purchased on Saturday morning during the last one, and received my beta character slot and pre-purchase goodies within about two to three minutes.
Oh, that’s great. I’d be really sad if I was locked out of this BWE. Thanks for the reply!
Eh. I guess I’ll just read some opinion pieces once people get into it.
Was going to potentially check out some streams, but if the zones capped to the same basic areas as the last ‘beta’, then not much point.
Except they have apparently changed the nighttime experience after the complaints about it. So the terrain will be the same, the experience will be different. Plus there will be four elites to test, map rewards in Pact Tyria, etc.
I see plenty of point beyond seeing a few new valleys.
please give us multiple beta character slots! i’d really like to test Revenant and Tempest, and Reaper, and Dragonhunter, and Chronomancer, and be able switch between them without losing character / account progress. (i’d also like to test out how the account-progression for masteries works)
i have almost 20 level 80 characters as it is, and many more low level alts. i love the variety GW2 offers for character builds, and would love that aspect to be available for the BWE as well!
thank you for listening and considering this request.
and bacon to you too!
Colin Johanson recently mentioned that this BWE will grant 4 beta character slots to allow for proper beta testing by players.
I’m a bit sad to only have one slot. Now I have to choose whether to test one thing and advance its masteries enough to give feedback on higher tiers, or to smorgasbord the start of multiple things.
I think I’m leaning to testing Chronomancer in as much depth as I can.
You’ll be getting four beta character slots to play with – have fun!
Most interesting to me:
“From there, they will land in Verdant Brink, the first map of the expansion, where about 25 percent of the total playable space of that first map will be available to play.”
First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?
Was thinking the same first. But then it could also mean “This is our first map that will be implemented with HoT, we will continue to add further maps such as DT & SW with forthcoming updates”. Which I wouldn’t mind, cuz VB is as large as 3 regular maps with all those different layers etc…but the outer view would be pretty meh if game magazines would report “just one map with the start of the new GW2 addon HoT”. So still hoping for more maps from the beginning.
More than one map is confirmed since HoT’s announcement.
Most interesting to me:
“From there, they will land in Verdant Brink, the first map of the expansion, where about 25 percent of the total playable space of that first map will be available to play.”
First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?
Was thinking the same first. But then it could also mean “This is our first map that will be implemented with HoT, we will continue to add further maps such as DT & SW with forthcoming updates”. Which I wouldn’t mind, cuz VB is as large as 3 regular maps with all those different layers etc…but the outer view would be pretty meh if game magazines would report “just one map with the start of the new GW2 addon HoT”. So still hoping for more maps from the beginning.
More than one map is confirmed since HoT’s announcement.
They never specifically stated there would be more than one map. It’s just assumed as that’s usually the case with MMO expansions. All they said was that the Heart of Maguuma, the upcoming region, would have multiple layers (the Core, the Roots and the Canopy).
I’m glad we have a confirmation now though, sort of.
Dear A-net: Please nerf rock. Paper is fine
~Sincerely, Scissors
Most interesting to me:
“From there, they will land in Verdant Brink, the first map of the expansion, where about 25 percent of the total playable space of that first map will be available to play.”
First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?
Was thinking the same first. But then it could also mean “This is our first map that will be implemented with HoT, we will continue to add further maps such as DT & SW with forthcoming updates”. Which I wouldn’t mind, cuz VB is as large as 3 regular maps with all those different layers etc…but the outer view would be pretty meh if game magazines would report “just one map with the start of the new GW2 addon HoT”. So still hoping for more maps from the beginning.
More than one map is confirmed since HoT’s announcement.
They never specifically stated there would be more than one map. It’s just assumed as that’s usually the case with MMO expansions. All they said was that the Heart of Maguuma, the upcoming region, would have multiple layers (the Core, the Roots and the Canopy).
I’m glad we have a confirmation now though, sort of.
But there’s a couple of cases where they talk about mapS…..
Most interesting to me:
“From there, they will land in Verdant Brink, the first map of the expansion, where about 25 percent of the total playable space of that first map will be available to play.”
First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?
Was thinking the same first. But then it could also mean “This is our first map that will be implemented with HoT, we will continue to add further maps such as DT & SW with forthcoming updates”. Which I wouldn’t mind, cuz VB is as large as 3 regular maps with all those different layers etc…but the outer view would be pretty meh if game magazines would report “just one map with the start of the new GW2 addon HoT”. So still hoping for more maps from the beginning.
More than one map is confirmed since HoT’s announcement.
They never specifically stated there would be more than one map. It’s just assumed as that’s usually the case with MMO expansions. All they said was that the Heart of Maguuma, the upcoming region, would have multiple layers (the Core, the Roots and the Canopy).
I’m glad we have a confirmation now though, sort of.
But there’s a couple of cases where they talk about mapS…..
Source?
Also, was this at the announcement? or later on?
Dear A-net: Please nerf rock. Paper is fine
~Sincerely, Scissors
Most interesting to me:
“From there, they will land in Verdant Brink, the first map of the expansion, where about 25 percent of the total playable space of that first map will be available to play.”
First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?
We’ve known that for months. Some people just spread a lot of misinformation saying the expansion is just one map with 3 biomes, while instead it’s multiple maps (at least 2), each with 3 biomes.
I haven’t seen anywhere a confirmation of how many maps.
On the contrary, during the last beta if you looked at the world map while logged into a beta character you could see to the west of Silverwastes/Dry Top what I assume was the zone level 80 marker for Verdant Brink.
It was the only one.
Now, this itself isn’t confirmation of only one zone, I claim no such thing.
Other zones could simply be too far behind to be on the current beta world map, or they could simply be hidden to keep them a secret.
But until this we hadn’t heard word of any more than Verdant Brink, this seems to indicate to me there are more maps, and given that they’re mentioned/hinted at now tells me they may come with release and not as part of LS down the road.
But this is speculation on my part.
Also, 4 beta slots! oh my gosh, that’s so cool, I was trying to decide what I wanted to try out figuring I’d only get a chance to try one maaaaybe two.
“The short answer is that new content is not going to drive people away from the game.
There is absolutely no evidence to support that it would.” -AnthonyOrdon
They’ve said ‘first map’ and ‘maps’ from the beginning. Why is it ‘proof’ now, if it wasn’t before? Why would ArenaNet use ‘first’ and plural ‘maps’ long ago (or now) knowing the way the community would throw around accusations of lies, if it were not more than one?
https://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com/en/?_ga=1.255689997.442035082.1430223902
New adventures await you in the heart of the Maguuma Jungle. Confront the growing hordes of Mordremoth’s minions, discover allies from ancient civilizations, and battle new enemies.
Tackle challenging group content. Explore new open world jungle maps.
Experience new events and storylines.
Test your mettle in new boss battles.
As you can see, the very advertisement has maps, plural.
Be careful what you ask for
ANet may give it to you.
Until this news post I never once myself saw “first map” or “maps” plural.
Only mentions of Verdant Brink, and talk of its three biomes.
I didn’t say it was proof, in either direction.
In fact my first post said “First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?”
I merely wondered if they were throwing out a hint, given how tight lipped they’ve been about the contents of HoT, and they know how badly we want to know.
Nor did I accuse them of lies. I was speculating about the inclusion of more than Verdant Brink at launch, I really don’t see how that translates into accusing them of lying, or even what the heck I’m supposed to have been accusing them of lying about >.>
They do however have a long history of blurting things out and then having to clarify, but by the time they clarify the initial misunderstood info has spread ten times further than the clarification ever will.
Thus my speculation of, was that a hint or a typo?
But hey, it’s not like I said “But this is speculation on my part.” or anything.
“The short answer is that new content is not going to drive people away from the game.
There is absolutely no evidence to support that it would.” -AnthonyOrdon
Most interesting to me:
“From there, they will land in Verdant Brink, the first map of the expansion, where about 25 percent of the total playable space of that first map will be available to play.”
First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?
Was thinking the same first. But then it could also mean “This is our first map that will be implemented with HoT, we will continue to add further maps such as DT & SW with forthcoming updates”. Which I wouldn’t mind, cuz VB is as large as 3 regular maps with all those different layers etc…but the outer view would be pretty meh if game magazines would report “just one map with the start of the new GW2 addon HoT”. So still hoping for more maps from the beginning.
More than one map is confirmed since HoT’s announcement.
They never specifically stated there would be more than one map. It’s just assumed as that’s usually the case with MMO expansions. All they said was that the Heart of Maguuma, the upcoming region, would have multiple layers (the Core, the Roots and the Canopy).
I’m glad we have a confirmation now though, sort of.
But there’s a couple of cases where they talk about mapS…..
Source?
Also, was this at the announcement? or later on?
This was the first thing that popped up when they announced HoT. I remember having the discussion about multiple maps around the announcement.
There are other cases later on that mention maps. But that requires a bit more digging.
https://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com/en/?_ga=1.255689997.442035082.1430223902
New adventures await you in the heart of the Maguuma Jungle. Confront the growing hordes of Mordremoth’s minions, discover allies from ancient civilizations, and battle new enemies.
Tackle challenging group content. Explore new open world jungle maps.
Experience new events and storylines.
Test your mettle in new boss battles.
As you can see, the very advertisement has maps, plural.
I don’t recall seeing that bit, glad that’s on there.
I will simply point out that that is marketing on a website.
How often do details like that fall through the cracks before an actual release?
(also, we were also speculating as to whether more maps were coming with the HoT launch, or later through Living World seasons, and even with that website bit and the comment about “first map” I could totally see only Verdant Brink being available at launch, thus my posts speculating)
“The short answer is that new content is not going to drive people away from the game.
There is absolutely no evidence to support that it would.” -AnthonyOrdon
https://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com/en/?_ga=1.255689997.442035082.1430223902
New adventures await you in the heart of the Maguuma Jungle. Confront the growing hordes of Mordremoth’s minions, discover allies from ancient civilizations, and battle new enemies.
Tackle challenging group content. Explore new open world jungle maps.
Experience new events and storylines.
Test your mettle in new boss battles.
As you can see, the very advertisement has maps, plural.
I don’t recall seeing that bit, glad that’s on there.
I will simply point out that that is marketing on a website.
How often do details like that fall through the cracks before an actual release?
(also, we were also speculating as to whether more maps were coming with the HoT launch, or later through Living World seasons, and even with that website bit and the comment about “first map” I could totally see only Verdant Brink being available at launch, thus my posts speculating)
Here they don’t say maps but they imply more than one map by talking about how different maps will have different features and themes and talk about Verdent Brinks being the first map that players will encounter.
April 3rd blogpost https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/gameplay-features-making-the-most-of-maguuma/ Each map also has its own unique themes and map-wide meta-features that connect to the story and the characters in new and exciting ways. For example, in Verdant Brink—the first map players encounter once they enter the Heart of Thorns—
Be careful what you ask for
ANet may give it to you.
Most interesting to me:
“From there, they will land in Verdant Brink, the first map of the expansion, where about 25 percent of the total playable space of that first map will be available to play.”
First map? Is that a hint finally that Verdant Brink isn’t the only map being added with HoT?
Was thinking the same first. But then it could also mean “This is our first map that will be implemented with HoT, we will continue to add further maps such as DT & SW with forthcoming updates”. Which I wouldn’t mind, cuz VB is as large as 3 regular maps with all those different layers etc…but the outer view would be pretty meh if game magazines would report “just one map with the start of the new GW2 addon HoT”. So still hoping for more maps from the beginning.
More than one map is confirmed since HoT’s announcement.
They never specifically stated there would be more than one map. It’s just assumed as that’s usually the case with MMO expansions. All they said was that the Heart of Maguuma, the upcoming region, would have multiple layers (the Core, the Roots and the Canopy).
I’m glad we have a confirmation now though, sort of.
But there’s a couple of cases where they talk about mapS…..
Source?
Also, was this at the announcement? or later on?
later on
Feb 4
In the deep jungles of Maguuma, you’ll run into similar stories of an even larger scale that occur in secondary phases. For example, the first map you’ll enter in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns will tell the story of some of the survivors of the catastrophic Pact Fleet expedition into the jungle.
Feb5
With the launch of Heart of Thorns, there will be two Mastery regions: the Heart of Maguuma, encompassing all PvE zones that are part of the Heart of Thorns expansion
April3
From the towering heights above the jungle canopy down to the root-riddled depths below the surface, each map in the Heart of Maguuma focuses on vertical as well as horizontal exploration.
I cant be bothered to look through another 10 pages of news to find more sources for you bud, I took the oldest ones so start from page 10 of the news if you wanna find more.
