Guild Wars 2

So what will happen to people who don’t buy the expansion pack?

They’ll miss out on elite specializations, the new story, the Revenant, and some maps.

Not the end of the world.

Well, people who don’t buy the expansion will be playing the same game they have for the last 3 years, with a new borderlands map and a new pvp mode- stronghold.

you won’t get deeper into the jungle

You will be incessantly mocked until the end of your days.

You will have access to what is currently in the game + new borderlands and new stronghold game mode.

You will not have access to Masteries, Elite Specialization. New maps. New story. Guild Halls (and most likely not) new challenging group content.

It’s also been said they won’t have access to future living stories either.

You will get to see if there’s enough there to warrant purchasing it.

You will save $50.

After a while you will have the chance to pick it up on sale.

You won’t get the precursor crafting or the Fractals mastery (which might be important if you do a lot of fractals). No new Living Story set in the new areas and no rewards for that, which could very well be the new armors datamined.

You’ll just be doing what you’ve been doing since you started playing the game.

Gibson.4036:

You will get to see if there’s enough there to warrant purchasing it.

You will save $50.

After a while you will have the chance to pick it up on sale.

or wait for the next expansion and you get 2 in 1 then as they plan to offer HoT and the core game free with the next

Will the expansion pack get release at GameStop?

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/retailers/ there you have all the official retailers.

lordkrall.7241:

You will not have access to Masteries,

this is incorrect you have access to the precursor crafting mastery and one other that i cant recall atm

source
: i played it at an event and checked the masteries tab

Shadow Blade.1324:

lordkrall.7241:

You will not have access to Masteries,

this is incorrect you have access to the precursor crafting mastery and one other that i cant recall atm

source
: i played it at an event and checked the masteries tab

Even though those masteries are ‘core masteries’ and are thus leveled in non-HoT areas, you still need HoT to unlock them.

Diovid.9506:

Shadow Blade.1324:

lordkrall.7241:

You will not have access to Masteries,

this is incorrect you have access to the precursor crafting mastery and one other that i cant recall atm

source
: i played it at an event and checked the masteries tab

Even though those masteries are ‘core masteries’ and are thus leveled in non-HoT areas, you still need HoT to unlock them.

To provide links to what you said:

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/reimagining-progression-the-mastery-system/
https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/a-legendary-journey/

Shadow Blade.1324:

lordkrall.7241:

You will not have access to Masteries,

this is incorrect you have access to the precursor crafting mastery and one other that i cant recall atm

source
: i played it at an event and checked the masteries tab

Nope. You need to own the HoT to progress any Masteries, that includes the ones in the old area.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/reimagining-progression-the-mastery-system/
“The ability to train Masteries is unlocked at level 80 for all players that own Heart of Thorns.”

Ayrilana.1396:

Diovid.9506:

Shadow Blade.1324:

lordkrall.7241:

You will not have access to Masteries,

this is incorrect you have access to the precursor crafting mastery and one other that i cant recall atm

source
: i played it at an event and checked the masteries tab

Even though those masteries are ‘core masteries’ and are thus leveled in non-HoT areas, you still need HoT to unlock them.

To provide links to what you said:

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/reimagining-progression-the-mastery-system/
https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/a-legendary-journey/

It did not say at any point if you do not have HoT you will not be able to craft a pre. If you are using “With Heart of Thorns” as the proof, this is also used when talking about stronghold and WvW maps. It’s more of a, this is when it will be coming, than a you will need HoT to do this.

BrotherBelial.3094:

Ayrilana.1396:

Diovid.9506:

Shadow Blade.1324:

lordkrall.7241:

You will not have access to Masteries,

this is incorrect you have access to the precursor crafting mastery and one other that i cant recall atm

source
: i played it at an event and checked the masteries tab

Even though those masteries are ‘core masteries’ and are thus leveled in non-HoT areas, you still need HoT to unlock them.

To provide links to what you said:

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/reimagining-progression-the-mastery-system/
https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/a-legendary-journey/

It did not say at any point if you do not have HoT you will not be able to craft a pre. If you are using “With Heart of Thorns” as the proof, this is also used when talking about stronghold and WvW maps. It’s more of a, this is when it will be coming, than a you will need HoT to do this.

I’d re-read the blogs again. You must own the expansion to have access to the masteries.

BrotherBelial.3094:

Ayrilana.1396:

Diovid.9506:

Shadow Blade.1324:

lordkrall.7241:

You will not have access to Masteries,

this is incorrect you have access to the precursor crafting mastery and one other that i cant recall atm

source
: i played it at an event and checked the masteries tab

Even though those masteries are ‘core masteries’ and are thus leveled in non-HoT areas, you still need HoT to unlock them.

To provide links to what you said:

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/reimagining-progression-the-mastery-system/
https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/a-legendary-journey/

It did not say at any point if you do not have HoT you will not be able to craft a pre. If you are using “With Heart of Thorns” as the proof, this is also used when talking about stronghold and WvW maps. It’s more of a, this is when it will be coming, than a you will need HoT to do this.

That is exactly what it says, as Just a flesh wound pointed out.

BrotherBelial.3094:

Ayrilana.1396:

Diovid.9506:

Shadow Blade.1324:

lordkrall.7241:

You will not have access to Masteries,

this is incorrect you have access to the precursor crafting mastery and one other that i cant recall atm

source
: i played it at an event and checked the masteries tab

Even though those masteries are ‘core masteries’ and are thus leveled in non-HoT areas, you still need HoT to unlock them.

To provide links to what you said:

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/reimagining-progression-the-mastery-system/
https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/a-legendary-journey/

It did not say at any point if you do not have HoT you will not be able to craft a pre. If you are using “With Heart of Thorns” as the proof, this is also used when talking about stronghold and WvW maps. It’s more of a, this is when it will be coming, than a you will need HoT to do this.

Crafting precursors is one of the Tyrian mastery tracks.

“Masteries award account-wide abilities and bonuses. Here are some examples of Masteries you can train in the Heart of Thorns expansion in both the Heart of Maguuma and the core Guild Wars 2 world:
Master Legends: Train in legendary crafting to learn to create all existing legendary weapon precursors and new legendary weapon precursors introduced with Heart of Thorns.”

Combine that with
“The ability to train Masteries is unlocked at level 80 for all players that own Heart of Thorns. " and it tells you that you won’t be able to craft the precursors using the mastery track unless you own the HoT expansion.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/reimagining-progression-the-mastery-system/

Precursor crafting only for who buy the expansion. Not a big deal. Not. At. All. ;.;

Valento.9852:

Precursor crafting only for who buy the expansion. Not a big deal. Not. At. All. ;.;

Could be worse. They could have said SAB only available for those that purchase the expansion.

It should not be that bad as you can still get a head start and collect whatever items that you need for the precursor collections before the expansion eventually goes on sale. This of course will only work for those that are actual items and not something like the dance for Queen Jennah.

ItZMeJRS.9483:

So what will happen to people who don’t buy the expansion pack?

a quaggan dies for every copy not sold.

I don’t know about anyone else, but that kind of cheers me up. They were starting to remind me of teletubbies.

ItZMeJRS.9483:

So what will happen to people who don’t buy the expansion pack?

Anet will consider player feedback more seriously.

Ayrilana.1396:

It’s also been said they won’t have access to future living stories either.

Noone has said this. just like every game there ill be a significant proportion of people who don’t buy the expansion, and locking these people out of the new story would also preclude these people from buying from the store, so not something they are likely to do.

Not that I’d be bothered either way, LS has been crap.

Vix.6730:

ItZMeJRS.9483:

So what will happen to people who don’t buy the expansion pack?

Anet will consider player feedback more seriously.

This x 1000. By buying the expansion you’re basically endorsing Anet’s shady and contemptuous attitude to its customers.

scerevisiae.1972:

Ayrilana.1396:

It’s also been said they won’t have access to future living stories either.

Noone has said this. just like every game there ill be a significant proportion of people who don’t buy the expansion, and locking these people out of the new story would also preclude these people from buying from the store, so not something they are likely to do.

Not that I’d be bothered either way, LS has been crap.

Some, if not all, of the Living Story steps are in the new map. Unless you have the expansion, you won’t be able to get there. (Just like any mmo out there. If you don’t buy the expansion, you don’t get to see the story).

lordkrall.7241:

You will have access to what is currently in the game + new borderlands and new stronghold game mode.

You will not have access to Masteries, Elite Specialization. New maps. New story. Guild Halls (and most likely not) new challenging group content.

From what I’ve heard they’ll be able to visit Guild Halls once they are claimed via a portal of some kind in Lion’s Arch. They won’t be able to participate in claiming the Guild Hall. This is likely due to Guild Halls being instanced and it would cause issues if the Guild Halls themselves become EP locked. Because that does split the player base and ANet has tried to avoid doing that.

scerevisiae.1972:

Ayrilana.1396:

It’s also been said they won’t have access to future living stories either.

Noone has said this. just like every game there ill be a significant proportion of people who don’t buy the expansion, and locking these people out of the new story would also preclude these people from buying from the store, so not something they are likely to do.

Not that I’d be bothered either way, LS has been crap.

Actually this has been said. The story of the Living Story continues in the new zone in HoT. If you don’t have HoT you can NOT continue the story.

How could you? It’s all in the new zones. Even in the beta, you can see the story starting there. So how could you continue it, if you can’t get there to start it?

Vayne.8563:

scerevisiae.1972:

Ayrilana.1396:

It’s also been said they won’t have access to future living stories either.

Noone has said this. just like every game there ill be a significant proportion of people who don’t buy the expansion, and locking these people out of the new story would also preclude these people from buying from the store, so not something they are likely to do.

Not that I’d be bothered either way, LS has been crap.

Actually this has been said. The story of the Living Story continues in the new zone in HoT. If you don’t have HoT you can NOT continue the story.

How could you? It’s all in the new zones. Even in the beta, you can see the story starting there. So how could you continue it, if you can’t get there to start it?

Have a link to where that’s written or said? All the stuff I’ve read/watched thus far has not said anything about HOT-exclusive anything, except for revenant, the extra traitline + a handful of skills, and of course the HOT-specific zones.

scerevisiae.1972:

Vayne.8563:

scerevisiae.1972:

Ayrilana.1396:

It’s also been said they won’t have access to future living stories either.

Noone has said this. just like every game there ill be a significant proportion of people who don’t buy the expansion, and locking these people out of the new story would also preclude these people from buying from the store, so not something they are likely to do.

Not that I’d be bothered either way, LS has been crap.

Actually this has been said. The story of the Living Story continues in the new zone in HoT. If you don’t have HoT you can NOT continue the story.

How could you? It’s all in the new zones. Even in the beta, you can see the story starting there. So how could you continue it, if you can’t get there to start it?

Have a link to where that’s written or said? All the stuff I’ve read/watched thus far has not said anything about HOT-exclusive anything, except for revenant, the extra traitline + a handful of skills, and of course the HOT-specific zones.

The new living story episodes are on the new maps, which are only accessible if you buy the expansion. The betas have shown a little of one story already, the near mutiny against the Sylvari commander. The story line (as far as I can tell) will be of rescuing the survivors, pushing deeper into the jungle, finding the cities of the Hidden and eventually confronting the dragon.

Journey into the heart of Maguuma
“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.”

While it’s possible that individual pieces of the Living Story might come back to an old map, the bulk of the story being told will be in the new areas.

The Heart of Maguuma
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.

scerevisiae.1972:

Vayne.8563:

scerevisiae.1972:

Ayrilana.1396:

It’s also been said they won’t have access to future living stories either.

Noone has said this. just like every game there ill be a significant proportion of people who don’t buy the expansion, and locking these people out of the new story would also preclude these people from buying from the store, so not something they are likely to do.

Not that I’d be bothered either way, LS has been crap.

Actually this has been said. The story of the Living Story continues in the new zone in HoT. If you don’t have HoT you can NOT continue the story.

How could you? It’s all in the new zones. Even in the beta, you can see the story starting there. So how could you continue it, if you can’t get there to start it?

Have a link to where that’s written or said? All the stuff I’ve read/watched thus far has not said anything about HOT-exclusive anything, except for revenant, the extra traitline + a handful of skills, and of course the HOT-specific zones.

If you saw the last video of the Living Story and you played the beta it’s obvious. And yes, it was said directly, but I don’t have a link, because it was in one of a dozen or so interviews….but it was said.

The story continues as you move deeper and deeper in the Heart of Thorns, toward Mordremoth’s strong hold. The story continues in the new zone. The new zones come with the expansion. You can’t get to the new zones to access the story unless you have HoT.

scerevisiae.1972:

Ayrilana.1396:

It’s also been said they won’t have access to future living stories either.

Noone has said this. just like every game there ill be a significant proportion of people who don’t buy the expansion, and locking these people out of the new story would also preclude these people from buying from the store, so not something they are likely to do.

Not that I’d be bothered either way, LS has been crap.

How can you complete a personal story step if you don’t have access to the map it’s on?

Seera.5916:

scerevisiae.1972:

Ayrilana.1396:

It’s also been said they won’t have access to future living stories either.

Noone has said this. just like every game there ill be a significant proportion of people who don’t buy the expansion, and locking these people out of the new story would also preclude these people from buying from the store, so not something they are likely to do.

Not that I’d be bothered either way, LS has been crap.

How can you complete a personal story step if you don’t have access to the map it’s on?

@Seera (not scerevisiae)
The Personal Story only takes place on the existing Tyria map in zones that came with the base game. I don’t think it has ever been mentioned that there would be new personal stories that take place in HoT zones, so it’s pretty unlikely that anyone would encounter an issue of not having access to a map where a Personal Story step takes place.

This News Blog states the Living Story will continue in Heart of Thorns:

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/the-story-so-farheart-of-thorns-beats/

This article talks about the story moving on in Heart of Thorns:

http://www.guildmag.com/points-interest-review-storytelling-heart-thorns/

You can hear the Devs speak about the continuation of the story here in this PoI video (video accessed in News Blog):

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/points-of-interest-episode-18-summary/

Good luck.

StinVec.3621:

@Seera (not scerevisiae)
The Personal Story only takes place on the existing Tyria map in zones that came with the base game. I don’t think it has ever been mentioned that there would be new personal stories that take place in HoT zones, so it’s pretty unlikely that anyone would encounter an issue of not having access to a map where a Personal Story step takes place.

Eh… there is a new personal story coming with HoT. And it is about the fight against Mordremoth. And it does take place in Heart of Maguuma.

My assumption is that HoT will be a self-contained story that will end with Modremoth’s defeat and wrap up that part of the story, and then when the normal Living Story episodes pick up they’ll be going in a different direction entirely. Different zones, different storyline other than Mordremoth. Going after a different dragon, dealing with another crisis, whatever the case may be.

In that way, Anet would avoid excluding people who don’t buy the expansion from future free content.

I mean, obviously the people who don’t buy the expac won’t be able to encounter Mordremoth and will essentially put themselves into a permanent cliffhanger state from the end of LS season 2. They’ll never get to experience the conclusion of what Season 2 set up for. But at least they’d still get the normal bi-weekly LS updates once those resume.

That IS just a guess, mind you. But I don’t really see Anet locking all future content behind HoT.

lordkrall.7241:

StinVec.3621:

@Seera (not scerevisiae)
The Personal Story only takes place on the existing Tyria map in zones that came with the base game. I don’t think it has ever been mentioned that there would be new personal stories that take place in HoT zones, so it’s pretty unlikely that anyone would encounter an issue of not having access to a map where a Personal Story step takes place.

Eh… there is a new personal story coming with HoT. And it is about the fight against Mordremoth. And it does take place in Heart of Maguuma.

Are you sure you do not mean Living Story and the fight against Mordremoth, which is what the story for HoT is about?

Where was this mentioned please?

If it actually is a new Personal Story, does it require the completion of the initial Personal Story to kill Zhaitan? Is this information mentioned someplace? I’ve not seen anything, anywhere, in all of the materials released where it is stated that there is a new “Personal Story” – “Living Story” has been consistently used. I would appreciate a source for this statement please, if you have a moment. I’ll go back and review all of the official materials released to see if I missed it explicitly stating a new HoT-ONLY “Personal Story”.

StinVec.3621:

lordkrall.7241:

StinVec.3621:

@Seera (not scerevisiae)
The Personal Story only takes place on the existing Tyria map in zones that came with the base game. I don’t think it has ever been mentioned that there would be new personal stories that take place in HoT zones, so it’s pretty unlikely that anyone would encounter an issue of not having access to a map where a Personal Story step takes place.

Eh… there is a new personal story coming with HoT. And it is about the fight against Mordremoth. And it does take place in Heart of Maguuma.

Are you sure you do not mean Living Story and the fight against Mordremoth, which is what the story for HoT is about?

Where was this mentioned please?

If it actually is a new Personal Story, does it require the completion of the initial Personal Story to kill Zhaitan? Is this information mentioned someplace? I’ve not seen anything, anywhere, in all of the materials released where it is stated that there is a new “Personal Story” – “Living Story” has been consistently used. I would appreciate a source for this statement please, if you have a moment. I’ll go back and review all of the official materials released to see if I missed it explicitly stating a new HoT-ONLY “Personal Story”.

The Living Story is the continuation of the personal story now. It’s been like that for a while. It’s the story of your character. One runs into another.

The story starts with you defeating Zhaitan. You’re part of the pact then. Then the pact goes off to take on Mordremoth and we all know what happpens (or should by this point anyway).

So the pact storyline which started in the personal story continues in the living world. They’re now one and the same thing.

Vayne.8563:

StinVec.3621:

lordkrall.7241:

StinVec.3621:

@Seera (not scerevisiae)
The Personal Story only takes place on the existing Tyria map in zones that came with the base game. I don’t think it has ever been mentioned that there would be new personal stories that take place in HoT zones, so it’s pretty unlikely that anyone would encounter an issue of not having access to a map where a Personal Story step takes place.

Eh… there is a new personal story coming with HoT. And it is about the fight against Mordremoth. And it does take place in Heart of Maguuma.

Are you sure you do not mean Living Story and the fight against Mordremoth, which is what the story for HoT is about?

Where was this mentioned please?

If it actually is a new Personal Story, does it require the completion of the initial Personal Story to kill Zhaitan? Is this information mentioned someplace? I’ve not seen anything, anywhere, in all of the materials released where it is stated that there is a new “Personal Story” – “Living Story” has been consistently used. I would appreciate a source for this statement please, if you have a moment. I’ll go back and review all of the official materials released to see if I missed it explicitly stating a new HoT-ONLY “Personal Story”.

The Living Story is the continuation of the personal story now. It’s been like that for a while. It’s the story of your character. One runs into another.

The story starts with you defeating Zhaitan. You’re part of the pact then. Then the pact goes off to take on Mordremoth and we all know what happpens (or should by this point anyway).

So the pact storyline which started in the personal story continues in the living world. They’re now one and the same thing.

AH, thank you, Vayne. I appreciate your explaining that there is basically no difference any longer.

So it is not actually stated anywhere that there is a new HoT-ONLY “Personal Story”, just that “Living Story” (all added story-related content) will require HoT.

Basically, the term “Personal Story” and “Living Story” are the same thing now and everyone is using them interchangeably. So apparently it does not matter that there is no official information stating a new HoT-ONLY “Personal Story”, as the “Living Story” will require HoT (thus being HoT-ONLY) and it is the same thing as “Personal Story” now.

I know that LS Season 1 wasn’t really a continuation of the Personal Story (regarding implementation, anyway) due to there being open world elements that included (and several times required) many other players to complete them. Season 2 really was a true continuation to the Personal Story as I believe it was entirely instanced and solo content, so it did not require anyone else to complete it.

So if I understand correctly, the community has basically decided (justifiably) that “Living Story” and “Personal Story” are the same thing now and that those names are able to be used interchangeably.

Saying “New Living Story will require HoT” and “New Personal Story will require HoT” are both talking about the exact same story and content and both are correct.

Thank you, Vayne, for clarifying that LS and PS are the exact same thing now.

It probably doesn’t make a difference other than preventing potential confusion, but perhaps it would be better for the term “Personal Story” to only be used by the community when referring to the solo, Zhaitan-related story that was included with the base game, and “Living Story/Living World” when referring to the added story content (including HoT and future story related content).

Again, thank you for explaining that to me, Vayne. I appreciate your taking the time to do so.

The short version is: You can continue playing, but will not receive any content updates outside the original game up to LS2 nor be able to access HoT content except that which is made available to all (like the new WvW and PvP maps)

Electro.4173:

In that way, Anet would avoid excluding people who don’t buy the expansion from future free content.

There’s a reason why they no longer have a core game on sale and you can only buy it together with HoT now. There’s a reason why the offer core “free” with every HoT purchase. There’s a reason why most new mechanics (masteries, elite specs ect) are locked behind HoT.

They want to avoid splitting the playerbase by the simple expedient of making every active player buy the expansion. After HoT launch, core will be no more than a demo access.

I’m not sure it was the playerbase that decided that Personal Story and Living Story became interchangeable so much as the Devs referring to the ‘story of Tyria’ and referencing such things as the ‘Leader of the Pact’ continuing their story in the jungle, and ‘the story started with Zhaitan and continues with Mordremoth’ -type comments.

Regardless, ‘the story’ continues on, encompassing what is commonly known as Personal Story, LS S1, LS S2, and HoT Story (whether that HoT Story is more PS or LS).

In a nutshell, you can not continue the ‘Story of Tyria’ without the purchase of HoT.

Good luck.

I only play GW2 for WVW and PVP so $60 for 1 class and a new trait line and a few new skills per class isn’t good value at all to me. I know a lot of people feel the same.

Well, then don’t buy it if it’s not something you will use and you think the cost is too much for what you’ll get.