Guild Wars 2

What kinda bothered me was that there was no mention of a new race… I was kinda expecting Tangu or Kodan, that would’ve been so nice. So is this completely off the table or is there still a possibility to play with a, let’s say, Kodan Revenant?

It is rather unlikely that there will be a new race.
In fact I find it rather unlikely that we will ever have a new race, since that would basically mean creating a rather large amount of new missions for the (original) Personal Story and it would also be hard for it to make sense.

Especially considering that they made a point of the Tengu hiding behind their walls.

According to the FAQ all the major features are already on the HoT page so I’d say there’s absolutely no chance at all this expansion of getting a new race.

Q: When is the next big feature reveal for what’s coming in this expansion?

A: We wanted to reveal Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns when we were ready to talk about every major feature we’re planning. That’s why right now, every major feature planned for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is there for you to check out at http://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com. That said, there are so many details left to uncover and share with you, to show you, and to eventually let you play as we take you on the journey from now through launch.

They’ve said that they have revealed every major feature in HoT, so yeah it’s pretty safe to say we’re not getting a new race. Maybe next expansion now that they have “balanced” the armor categories of classes to 3-3-3.

Keep in mind even WoW alternated between race/class releases. First they released a new race for each faction (blood elves and draenei), then a new class (death knight), then a new race again (goblins and worgen). In Mists of Pandaria they broke the chain by introducing a new race (Pandaren) and a new class (Monk), but they “cheated” by not creating a new race for each faction, but instead making Pandaren available for both.

Warlords of Draenor, which was just released, also broke the chain by introducing no new races or classes.

Well.. What people don’t think about, in the trailer they say: “new civilization” which actually might be a hint that we are getting a new race. Also “new allies”.

But considering that neither Tengu or Kodan joined the fight for Lion’s Arch and the dragons, it’s kind of stupid to suddenly bring in a new race. That’s my opinion tho…
Yes, it would be awesome with a new race, but they need personal story who don’t fit, customize all the armors to their bodies etc etc..

Pifil.5193:

According to the FAQ all the major features are already on the HoT page so I’d say there’s absolutely no chance at all this expansion of getting a new race.

Q: When is the next big feature reveal for what’s coming in this expansion?

A: We wanted to reveal Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns when we were ready to talk about every major feature we’re planning. That’s why right now, every major feature planned for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is there for you to check out at http://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com. That said, there are so many details left to uncover and share with you, to show you, and to eventually let you play as we take you on the journey from now through launch.

So you think they would not have done the presentation on PAX if not all the major features were ready? hmmm I doubt that they’ll let an event like that pass for 1 or 2 major features that weren’t ready yet

Suburbian.1023:

So you think they would not have done the presentation on PAX if not all the major features were ready? hmmm I doubt that they’ll let an event like that pass for 1 or 2 major features that weren’t ready yet

Why would the timing of PAX have any impact on the planned features? After all, everything they talked about at PAX is “not ready yet”. If it was ready then they’d have announced a release date, wouldn’t they?

They have said, and I quote, "We wanted to reveal Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns when we were ready to talk about every major feature we’re planning. That’s why right now, every major feature planned for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is there for you to check out at http://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com.. "

That’s pretty clear, every major feature planned for this expansion is listed on that page. I don’t see them adding any new major features (especially nothing like a new race) between now and release. I think they’re doing quite well at managing expectations here.

Who cares about a new race really? In terms of new character stuff we get is at least 1 new specialisation for each profession and one completely new profession. The specialisations will change how the profession plays, effectively making 9 new profession as well as the Revenant.

With a new race you get a new starter area and a different cosmetic look, maybe some racial skills. I would rather new profession anytime. Besides, no race has been mentioned outside of community speculation so the community hyped itself up over a race that was never on the cards to begin with for this expansion.

Also it is not like the normal updates won’t continue, they haven’t abandoned living story and the feature updates.

Pifil.5193:

Suburbian.1023:

So you think they would not have done the presentation on PAX if not all the major features were ready? hmmm I doubt that they’ll let an event like that pass for 1 or 2 major features that weren’t ready yet

Why would the timing of PAX have any impact on the planned features? After all, everything they talked about at PAX is “not ready yet”. If it was ready then they’d have announced a release date, wouldn’t they?

They have said, and I quote, "We wanted to reveal Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns when we were ready to talk about every major feature we’re planning. That’s why right now, every major feature planned for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is there for you to check out at http://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com.. "

That’s pretty clear, every major feature planned for this expansion is listed on that page. I don’t see them adding any new major features (especially nothing like a new race) between now and release. I think they’re doing quite well at managing expectations here.

Hey man, don’t get me wrong, I never said they didn’t live up to my expectations! I just REALLY wanted a new race :P

lordkrall.7241:

Especially considering that they made a point of the Tengu hiding behind their walls.

But walls are made to be broken down.

I’ll admit I’m not optimistic about a new race, and if one was introduced I think it would either accompany a complete rewriting of the personal story or the new race/races would just have different story lines to the other races… which would be kind of confusing and make the timing difficult, which is where my optimism completely goes away.

However, I want new races, so this is the part where I do wild speculation. At least one, the Tengu, and ideally two, the Kodan. I can’t think of any other races in the Guild Wars universe that would make sense as playable. And if we ignore the time dilation and personal story issues we could have the Kodan come in with the Jormag expansion.

Then have the Tengu come in by either breaking their wall down when Primordious emerges and GW2 pulls a Cataclysm and rebuilds the whole world or have a new colony of Tengu from Cantha or Elona with the expansion that accompanies either the Deep Sea Dragon or Kralkatorrik.

The only other race I could see making even a little sense would be a race of Undead, but I’m not hugely fond of that idea.

Tengu was a race that they wanted to add, but they had time constraints. There is a lot of work to do with each race. You have to build a world and a cultural identity. What do these birds stand for? What do they hold dear? What is taboo? What is sacred? What do they worship? How do you represent and express it in this world?

New races are essentially just skins. Nice to have, but I wouldn’t priorities it over other features.
More to the point, each race they add puts additional permanent burdens on future development. New armors and animations are that much harder to add because they have more races that need them.

they already confirmed no new race is coming on an interview with mmorpg.com, and they articulated why really well.

even then, it makes no sense from a story perspective to add any of the “new race candidates”. as much as i want a kodan character, it’s not happening any time soon.

Its hidden in plain site.. Go to the page
https://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com/en/?_ga=1.183425510.155037214.1428874933

very bottom at the screenshots.. first two look like playable tengu..

Correction the first two news feeds

Primordius is the main ennemy of the Tengu, you could see them as a new race when Primordius comes out. Bubbles is the main ennemy of the Largos, you could see them as a new race when Bubbles comes out.

Andrudaloski.3987:

Its hidden in plain site.. Go to the page
https://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com/en/?_ga=1.183425510.155037214.1428874933

very bottom at the screenshots.. first two look like playable tengu..

Has it occured to you that they might only be NPC Tengu?

Andrudaloski.3987:

Its hidden in plain site.. Go to the page
https://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com/en/?_ga=1.183425510.155037214.1428874933

very bottom at the screenshots.. first two look like playable tengu..

They are NPCs from the Stronghold map.

Was it really worth bumping a two month old thread for that?

Imagine an expansion, where fighting promordus is the main topic. This is when a new race may come in, I mean dwarfs .I`m sure arenanet has the possibility to make an own personal story only for the dwarfs themselves, focusing on killing primordus. This would make sense, at least more or less, since defeating promordus is the only dedication the dwarfs have got. But to be honest, i can image seeing a future expansion, where we could get a new area, the depths of tyria and where we could meet dwarfs and interact with them, but i dont thing arenanet would introduce them as a new race. But tell me, do you think the same way ? I talk about an expansion for defeating promordus where the new areas are underground (depths of tyria) and where dwarfs would be extremely important, like the greatest alie against promordus because of theit knowledge and so on… Well if such an expansion would come eventually, this would be HUGE in my opinion. Sry for my english its kinda messed up, I hope you get the idea !

lordkrall.7241:

It is rather unlikely that there will be a new race.
In fact I find it rather unlikely that we will ever have a new race, since that would basically mean creating a rather large amount of new missions for the (original) Personal Story and it would also be hard for it to make sense.

Especially considering that they made a point of the Tengu hiding behind their walls.

All that would be required is missions for the Personal Story leading up to joining the Orders, assuming of course they’re just going to Revenant it (that is to say ignore the timelines).

It would also require them to hire two voice actors to do all of the new race’s dialog for the entire Personal Story, not just the race-specific stuff.

Yuki Honestcrest says: “We must soon determine with whom we will fight and with whom we will ally.”
This makes me wonder if the Tengu may be on the cards for the next expansion. The personal story involves getting the three Orders working together to take down Zhaitan. One of the key points with LS season two was getting the different kingdoms to work with each other and the Pact. If they can do so and bring down Mordremoth, then that would be a perfect time for the Tengu to open up more. All the other major players have allied with each other, so the choice of who to side with becomes easier. If so I would hope they’d bring in the Tengu as more active NPC allies through the LS by the end of the Mordremoth campaign to make them seem like more willing allies. Although, to be fair, there have been a few at most steps along the way.

As for the personal story there are two fairly easy options:
1) There have been Tengu outside the wall since the game began, you deal with them in several story steps (including some of the ones everyone does) and as Heart Vendors. The Tengu PS could take place when the other PS all take place and just have you be one of those agents sent out to scout, hinder the dragons and spread Tengu influence (the latter being one of the reasons a Tengu NPC has for being outside the Dominion). The story would then slide into the usual Order stuff and go from there. There are Tengu in some of the orders, that would work fine. Heck, there was at least one Tengu in the story instance where you finally kill Zhaitan.
2) Their PS could be set at when they open up (possibly including a little before they do and the moment at which they do) and deal with the ramifications of that (both more Tengu leaving and people coming in). They could warn people when making the character that the Tengu PS takes place later and contains spoilers for the stories of the other races. The PS could be shorter too as it would all be unique to them. This could be more interesting, but also much more annoying. And may make for some weirdness for those who want to play through previous LS seasons with their Tengu, especially if it’s their first (there would be ways around this of course, but it has more potential to be messy).

That’s my thoughts on the topic anyway
PS – a useful thing to know for whoever said it would make the armours and stuff more annoying; the Tengu have the same mesh as the Charr, so it while it would undoubtedly be some extra work, it may not be that much.

I’d love a new race, but it’s not just a skin.. each of the races we have now has their own identity/back stories/ heroes/ enemies etc… so making a new one I can imagine takes a LOT of time and dedication especially trying to give them their own personal story that is unique to them. But It would be pretty hard to fit them in the personal story considering that destiny’s edge each had one of the races but what about a new one? Who would their mentor be and what part would he/she play in the story? Also in terms of the personal story do they REALLY want to go back in time and do a whole new Zhaitan storyline again? I suppose they would have to because it’s referred to a lot in the living story but still.. it’s old news now in Tyria.

Would they get a new starter area? I feel they should. It would be a shame just to drop them off into Caledon forest for example. I’d like it done right and feel really unique and make me want to roll a brand new character to experience it all even if I don’t like the race I would probably still play it if there was new lore and new and exciting things.

I think there will be eventually.. but consider how long it finally took to get the first expansion and new class. It may take that long to get a new race also. I do think now they know they need expansions for the game and will do a big one with a new race eventually. Personally I’d love to see the Skritt. I will cringe if it’s Kodan. I play females and they look exactly like the males and not even remotely interesting to me. Just giant bulky bears and no variety. We already have 2 oversize races, we need another small one! I’d be okay with the Tengu though that seems the most likely and they could do a lot with their character creation as long as the females aren’t only brown and drab=) They may need to break lore a bit so I can make a colorful female!

lordkrall.7241:

It is rather unlikely that there will be a new race.
In fact I find it rather unlikely that we will ever have a new race, since that would basically mean creating a rather large amount of new missions for the (original) Personal Story and it would also be hard for it to make sense.

Especially considering that they made a point of the Tengu hiding behind their walls.

Isolationist policies tend to end in the face of a major attack. Mark my words, the Tengu will receive their own “Pearl Harbor” in the form of a major Destroyer outbreak, and this will make them much more inclined to assist the other races.

Whether or not that results in playable Tengu is entirely dictated by whether or not Anet wants to work for it. But frankly, it would be a crime to not make this rich, long-standing race in Guild Wars lore playable.

Tengu is the only race I’d ever eventually expect to become playable.

Duke Blackrose.4981:

Isolationist policies tend to end in the face of a major attack. Mark my words, the Tengu will receive their own “Pearl Harbor” in the form of a major Destroyer outbreak, and this will make them much more inclined to assist the other races.

Whether or not that results in playable Tengu is entirely dictated by whether or not Anet wants to work for it. But frankly, it would be a crime to not make this rich, long-standing race in Guild Wars lore playable.

You mean like the attack on their doorstep by Scarlet’s armies? If that didn’t make them join the fights I find it unlikely anything will.

I also don’t really see how “rich and long-standing” it have been in Guild Wars lore.
Back during Guild Wars 1 they were basically just another NPC with rather little lore tied to them. A bit more was added with the bonus mission pack but other than that there were little lore given.

Tengu? Who cares about Tengu…
Give us Skritt!

Hmmm, Deep Sea Dragon’s name begins with ‘S’? Got it!
Next expansion: Skritt join the fight against the new dragon ‘Shiny’!

Suburbian.1023:

What kinda bothered me was that there was no mention of a new race… I was kinda expecting Tangu or Kodan, that would’ve been so nice. So is this completely off the table or is there still a possibility to play with a, let’s say, Kodan Revenant?

They did mention new races at PAX South. They clearly said that they are not making any new playable races.

Uden Reavstone.3426:

Suburbian.1023:

What kinda bothered me was that there was no mention of a new race… I was kinda expecting Tangu or Kodan, that would’ve been so nice. So is this completely off the table or is there still a possibility to play with a, let’s say, Kodan Revenant?

They did mention new races at PAX South. They clearly said that they are not making any new playable races.

They clearly said that they are not making any new playable races for now.

Edit:

Shacknews: You’ve added a new profession, however you did hold off on adding a new race. What led to this decision?

Johanson: For this one, we looked at what we would get out of adding a new race and what benefit it actually brings to the players from a gameplay standpoint. It’s very limited in Guild Wars 2. A new race adds a racial skill or two and a little bit of story, but it doesn’t give that much meaningful gameplay in the grand scheme of things. The race is more context for the early story that you experience. So we wanted to focus things that would provide a lot more gameplay and address parts of Guild Wars 2 that we felt like we really wanted to be able to make a better experience and grow. So right now, we didn’t feel that a new race was a key need for the game, whereas the other things that we’re adding really provide fundamental building blocks for the future.

What it comes down to is that a new race would require writing Level 1-80 content for them – especially for ones that cannot possibly have participated in the Zhaitan campaign – AND having to make armor models and character animations for every set of armor and every skill. (It’s not as simple as animating them in the same manner as a human, or something.)

That said, the tengu can rot after what they did during the Battle. Talon would be ashamed of their cowardice.

I actually wish that we didn’t have multiple races in the first place. It adds a lot of development work to what essentially has no noticeable impact on gameplay outside of unranked and WvW PVP where Asura are overpowered.

Not having new playable races, while adding in a new class fits with ANet’s historical MO. As for new allied races, there are some good hints that aside from the two types of Maguuma Hylek, the other allied race is seems to be The Forgotten, based on their general shape and morphology.

That would fit, considering how Living World S2 ended, and where it ended.

they should have introduced a new race, that will be the biggest hype, alongside the new specializations maybe…

Zackie.8923:

they should have introduced a new race, that will be the biggest hype, alongside the new specializations maybe…

But why add a race just for the sake of adding a race?

I’m against getting new races for mostly the reasons ArenaNet have already said, because it would be a huge overhaul (An entire city, new storyline etc) at very little skill difference. But also because we already have five playable races, which is four more than we got in Guild Wars 1

I would however, endorse new racial tonics. Particularly Tengu & Largos tonics!

penelopehannibal.8947:

I’m against getting new races for mostly the reasons ArenaNet have already said, because it would be a huge overhaul (An entire city, new storyline etc) at very little skill difference. But also because we already have five playable races, which is four more than we got in Guild Wars 1

I would however, endorse new racial tonics. Particularly Tengu & Largos tonics!

While I can see where you’re coming from, I would hate Tengu tonics. As many resources as adding them as a race it might take, I really want to have a Tengu city and a Tengu storyline. A Tengu tonic would greatly diminish the chance of that ever happening.

lordkrall.7241:

Andrudaloski.3987:

Its hidden in plain site.. Go to the page
https://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com/en/?_ga=1.183425510.155037214.1428874933

very bottom at the screenshots.. first two look like playable tengu..

They are NPCs from the Stronghold map.

Was it really worth bumping a two month old thread for that?

And there is the keep (Air I think, or maybe it was a tower?) boss in the new wvw borderlands thats a Tengu.

skullmount.1758:

lordkrall.7241:

Andrudaloski.3987:

Its hidden in plain site.. Go to the page
https://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com/en/?_ga=1.183425510.155037214.1428874933

very bottom at the screenshots.. first two look like playable tengu..

They are NPCs from the Stronghold map.

Was it really worth bumping a two month old thread for that?

And there is the keep (Air I think, or maybe it was a tower?) boss in the new wvw borderlands thats a Tengu.

There’s also a Kodan, Grawl, and Ogre boss in Edge of the Mists. The Tengu boss in the new wvw map is highly just for variety. As is the new map itself, variety and keeping things fresh.

am i the only one who thinks of Moa Racing in Lion’s Arch when he sees a thread titled “new race”? :/

Diovid.9506:

penelopehannibal.8947:

I’m against getting new races for mostly the reasons ArenaNet have already said, because it would be a huge overhaul (An entire city, new storyline etc) at very little skill difference. But also because we already have five playable races, which is four more than we got in Guild Wars 1

I would however, endorse new racial tonics. Particularly Tengu & Largos tonics!

While I can see where you’re coming from, I would hate Tengu tonics. As many resources as adding them as a race it might take, I really want to have a Tengu city and a Tengu storyline. A Tengu tonic would greatly diminish the chance of that ever happening.

I respectfully disagree as I believe that things will get added where and when ArenaNet see fit for a story to continue, not whether a tonic has come out or not!

I don’t get Anet’s decision to avoid a new race at all.
I mean, end game is mostly about cosmetics. Heck, most of their revenue is from selling skins/outfits in the Gem Store. Adding a new race would open up a whole new line of cosmetics, and even veteran players are gonna invest time (and money) on giving them the looks they want.

Roseblood.6793:

I don’t get Anet’s decision to avoid a new race at all.
I mean, end game is mostly about cosmetics. Heck, most of their revenue is from selling skins/outfits in the Gem Store. Adding a new race would open up a whole new line of cosmetics, and even veteran players are gonna invest time (and money) on giving them the looks they want.

Because there isn’t any special gem store item for races.
The cosmetic arguement is moot, because people will still buy cosmetic items because they have an impulse to.
Wasting money,time, and resources to make another race,personal story, hub city, etc.

vs using that money to develop other area’s of the game, and a new class.

That’s the arguement.
A new race doesnt add anything new to the game but a few racial skills which will be overshadowed by the classes normal utilities, and a new racial outfit.

It’s like if someone gives you 10 dollars and says you can buy wheels for you bike so you can keep doing your paper route or you can go buy a baseball card.
Which one do you choose?

I would love to see a new playable race, mostly Tengu since we haven’t been hearing or seeing them alot ingame...
But meh, we could MAYBE see a hint of a new race in about .... 2025.
Anet: ’’When it’s ready’’.
’___________’

Why the need for a new race really?

From a story perspective, they’ve only really focused on Sylvari so far and we still have Norn, and Asura. Not to mention there’s a lot to do on the Human and Charr front.

A new playable race is unnecessary.

Video from Wooden Potatoes talking about all the races he can think of that have a possibility of being playable. There are a couple niggles I just don’t agree with, but for the most part I think it’s a solid opinion video.

I mainly liked it because I never heard of Margonites before. With the switch of Abaddon’s power over to Kormir, I would love to see them as a playable race.

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Margonites

Ralanost.8913:

. There are a couple niggles I just don’t agree with, but for the most part I think it’s a solid opinion video.

I read that wrong the first time and did a double take.

Solori.6025:

Ralanost.8913:

. There are a couple niggles I just don’t agree with, but for the most part I think it’s a solid opinion video.

I read that wrong the first time and did a double take.

I was thinking of using another word, but it fit so I kept it.

none.9681:

Tengu? Who cares about Tengu…
Give us Skritt!

Hmmm, Deep Sea Dragon’s name begins with ‘S’? Got it!
Next expansion: Skritt join the fight against the new dragon ‘Shiny’!

Skritt, yuck …
I want Krait

Only races I’d have much interest in would be Largos, Wardens, and Djinn. And of those, only Largos are all that reasonable, so meh…

I guess they could introduce more new races, but unless we head to a completely new area (Isles of Janthir, East of Ascalon, etc.), that feels questionable…

The only new race that seems remotely possible to me is the Tengu, and that is only because I think they were considered before launch as a possible playable race. But at this point, even they seem very unlikely. Way too much effort just to get them up to speed, and the only return on that effort would come from people who really wanted a bird character. Not going to happen.