Ok, first let’s go over some of the features you listed.
- Heart of Maguuma (Storilyne + new zones).
Correct, 4 new maps they and have 3 biomes. Essentially each biome (canopy, jungle floor and roots) represent a map on top of another, this gives each of the maps, a sense of verticality and aditional space on each. Also they come with events, map wide meta events, world bosses. We haven’t heard how long the storyline is, but I anticipate probably as long as Living Story Season 2, so about a third or half of the personal story. You will also get access to free Living Story updates in the future as they said those would require HoT.
- New mastery system (the old trait system reworked).
So actually Mastery system is their version of L80+ progression system. In other games with an expansion you get higher level cap and a new tier of armor. In GW2 neither of those apply and as such what you get is a lot of passive and active new abilities that horizontally expand your character. You have things like gliding, ability to unlock merchants in the new maps, ability to use mushrooms to move around, ability to craft precursors, etc.
- Specializations (no idea what is this, like unlocking radically different gameplay skills and mechanics for your class after level 80?).
Specializations are what you listed for masteries, they are a new version of the trait system, this are already in game. Now you select 3 specs (previously trait lines) and out of those select one trait out of 3 possible on 3 tiers. However what is coming with HoT are elite specializations, where the elite replaces one of your core specs. Aditionally to being like a normal spec with traits, it unlocks a new weapon for your class and a new class mechanic. For example Necro is now a Reaper and can use now Reaper shrowd, Mesmer is now Chronomancer and can use time to rewind time by shattering his clones. The reason we are only getting one new class is because every other class is also getting a revamp by the use of elite specs, you can switch to the elite spec and back to the core profession out of combat anytime. I suspect no new classes will come into the game and only new elite specs will show up.
- New class (revenant, just one?).
see above
- New pvp and wvw maps.
WvW is getting new borderlands, but they are also getting a revamped commander system and a whole lot of upgrade revamp and new guild claiming mechanics. PvP is getting a new game mode called stronghold that comes with its own new map. There will also be new reward tracks and pvp leagues with it’s own armor and rewards, including a legendary backpiece.
- New guild stuff (after so much time without playing I don’t really carea bout this).
Guild Halls where you can build and decorate is actually quite a big deal, I understand you might not be interested yourself but it is quite a big thing for a lot of people. Most notably it has a brawling arena that is customizable with props and supports up to three teams and 40-50 people (maybe?)
- Raids and Fractals (added by me)
You will also get a revamp to fractals and increased fractal cap to 100. They are gonna add more fractals in the future. Also Raids are coming shortly after launch, the first wing (out of three) for the first raid has 4 bosses to defeat and is supposed to be really difficult content. Rewards are the pieces needed to craft legendary armor (which have the same stats are ascended but have cosmetic appeal and convenience by allowing you to change stats out of combat.
- Core game goes free, and veterans (ppl who bought the base game so understand I’m a veteran lol) get a character slot if prepurchase expansion, nothing more.
The expansion is the same price for everyone, you as a veteran get the perk of a free character slot.
As for what happens if you don’t buy the expansion, the answer is nothing. You can continue to play the game exactly as you do now. You will get access to PvP Stronghold (but cannot upgrade to new Heroes), PvP Leagues, new WvW borderlands and you can enter an already claimed guildhall. Everything else you need the expansion, new zones, elite specs, masteries, new class, story and future story updates. As for “getting stuck” at 80, guild wars 2 does not do vertical progression and as such there is no additional levels or gear. level 80 will always be level cap and ascended (legendary) will always be top tier gear.
