when does vanilla end and HoT begin?

when does vanilla end and HoT begin?

in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns

Posted by: Melanu.7425

Melanu.7425

I havent bought HoT yet but i did buy GW2 before it went free to play. In any case im getting closer to cap and am wondering what happens to my story after that and when will be locked out of content?

when does vanilla end and HoT begin?

in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns

Posted by: Illconceived Was Na.9781

Illconceived Was Na.9781

The core game includes all of the original personal story (defeating Zhaitan) and a few of the originally added zones (Southsun, Dry Top, & Silverwastes). You might need to unlock Living World Season 2 (the rise & fall of Scarlet Briar) to play that story, which takes place across the core zones. You don’t have to play the entire personal story to play LS2 or vice versa.

HoT’s story is the awakening and defeat of Mordremoth and takes place across the four HoT zones. Season 3 (which you probably have access to if you’ve played regularly since you started) takes place in the core areas & four new zones (Bloodstone Fen, Ember Bay, Bitterfrost Frontier, and Lake Doric. You don’t need to have finished HoT story to play S3 or vice versa. However, access to some current events (and to the new maps) is gated by starting each chapter.

John Smith: “you should kill monsters, because killing monsters is awesome.”

when does vanilla end and HoT begin?

in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns

Posted by: Moonyeti.3296

Moonyeti.3296

The only thing you will be locked out of is season 1, that is no longer available to anybody, whether they played it when it was live or not. Otherwise, each episode of the seasons is automatically unlocked on an account as long as you log in while that episode is the current one. You don’t have to play the episode to unlock it, just log in while it is current. If you miss the free unlock you can purchase them individually in the gem store.

when does vanilla end and HoT begin?

in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns

Posted by: Sephas.8793

Sephas.8793

The only thing you will be locked out of is season 1, that is no longer available to anybody, whether they played it when it was live or not. Otherwise, each episode of the seasons is automatically unlocked on an account as long as you log in while that episode is the current one. You don’t have to play the episode to unlock it, just log in while it is current. If you miss the free unlock you can purchase them individually in the gem store.

I believe that you can’t unlock them in the gem store per se, but in the Story Journal.

when does vanilla end and HoT begin?

in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns

Posted by: Konig Des Todes.2086

Konig Des Todes.2086

Depends on if you consider “vanilla” to be “everything before the expansion” or “everything at release”. If the former, in the story journal the sections with green are HoT/post-HoT, and in terms of zones only consist of Heart of Maguuma and the Season 3 zones you need to do the story to access. If the later, then the prior as well as the Magma Wastes and Southsun for open world are not vanilla, and just the “My Story” (or Personal Story) section of the Story Journal is vanilla.

The core game includes all of the original personal story (defeating Zhaitan) and a few of the originally added zones (Southsun, Dry Top, & Silverwastes). You might need to unlock Living World Season 2 (the rise & fall of Scarlet Briar) to play that story, which takes place across the core zones. You don’t have to play the entire personal story to play LS2 or vice versa.

HoT’s story is the awakening and defeat of Mordremoth and takes place across the four HoT zones. Season 3 (which you probably have access to if you’ve played regularly since you started) takes place in the core areas & four new zones (Bloodstone Fen, Ember Bay, Bitterfrost Frontier, and Lake Doric. You don’t need to have finished HoT story to play S3 or vice versa. However, access to some current events (and to the new maps) is gated by starting each chapter.

Small nitpicking:

Scarlet Briar was Season 1, not Season 2, and Season 2 dealt with the awakening of Mordremoth while Heart of Thorns dealt with the main campaign against (and defeat of) Mordremoth.

While not necessary, it’s highly suggested to do the story in order, and I would argue against (vehemently) playing HoT without Season 2. The two are very literally the same plot sold in two halves.

Unfortunately, as mentioned by others, Season 1 is not available as it was temporary content and ArenaNet has not retroactively made it part of the Story Journal. All we have is the poor official summary and a multitude of fan summaries. I heard this one is a good video summary.

I believe that you can’t unlock them in the gem store per se, but in the Story Journal.

A season pack exist in the gem store for Season 2. Most likely Season 3 will get such too once it’s finished.

Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.

(edited by Konig Des Todes.2086)

when does vanilla end and HoT begin?

in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns

Posted by: Sephas.8793

Sephas.8793

A season pack exist in the gem store for Season 2. Most likely Season 3 will get such too once it’s finished.

Thanks for the clarification.