Modremoth is smart or stupid? (recent events)
You make an excellent point. If Mordremoth can attack the Mother Tree in the Grove, it can attack anywhere.
Unless Anet has taken back their statement that HoT takes place 24 hours after Season 2’s ending (with all the dialogue added with LA’s restoration and this event, plausible), then it’s unlikely that this event is ‘canon’ – and if it is, it’s likely a one-time event that happens almost immediately after the Pact Fleet’s destruction.
If you take note, except for Diessa the three zones are along the placement of Mordremoth’s vines that assaulted the waypoints at the beginning of Season 2 (which ended with Episode 4’s release). So technically Mordremoth already had some presence in those routes. But this presence doesn’t exist in, e.g., Divinity’s Reach (only city where tendrils popped up was Lion’s Arch – which has had a new ground foundation added to be less than pure dirt like Concortia and Salma’s ground).
Then there’s how one of the Researchers state a theory about where Scarlet attacked and where Mordrem pop up.
On the topic of ‘smart or stupid’ – let me ask you this:
Is it smart to assault a large populated location when you’re not fully prepared yet, just because you can? Or is it smarter to wait in the distance, make yourself a known but not immediate threat, and gather your strength so that when you do assault said large populated location there’s no chance for them to be victorious?
The attacks on Fort Salma, Concordia, and The Grove while devastating and with enemy casualties were ultimately unsuccessful for Mordremoth. So why would he antagonize the entire human, norn, asura, and charr races by assaulting their capitals and largest population centers?
A lot of people ask “why don’t the Elder Dragons just wipe out the capitals/races/leaders/etc.” but honestly… what would that accomplish if they failed? High gain, yes, but also high risk. And Elder Dragons don’t play a zero sum game.
And Mordremoth didn’t plant the Pale Tree or the sylvari. And besides that, the Pale Tree was planted 250 years ago not 25.
Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Another problem with DR, Mordy assault wise, is that the whole darn thing is paved. I bet even the dirt patches of the parks overlay a stone foundation. Sure, he could break through it, but it might be a harder nut to crack than he wants to deal with just yet.
Though there are apparently sewer creatures he could worm corrupting tendrils into … and there is a seraph in Camp Resolve who worries that “I hope the Queen held enough of us back to defend DR, if it comes to that.” The soldier even says Dee Arr. The thing is that Mordy probably has more worrisome foes than the diminishing remnants of the human race on Tyria and their one tidy little city. His attacks on the likes of Salma were to go for specific loads of magical widgets, not aimed at humans in particular. And he needed to attack the Grove to weaken the Tree, which worked really well and likely gave him the edge needed to seize the Pact sylvari in the fleet.
He’s an Elder Dragon. He thinks longer term and doesn’t need to pull out all the stops at the start. He has world enough, and time, for his vegetable plans to grow vaster than empires, and more slow. (To mangle one of my favorite poems).
Remember the Elder Dragons are the oldest known race in existence. They’re playing the long game, here. Also, Zhaitan attacked Claw Island more than a century after it awoke.
(edited by Plagiarised.2865)
You will also notice these areas are the locations where Scarlet located to be the path where the Ley line’s magical energy is the strongest.
It seems currently Mordy’s expansion ability is limited by the Ley Line so he may only be able to send spawners in spots where the Ley Line magical energy are the strongest outside his territory.
A lot of people ask “why don’t the Elder Dragons just wipe out the capitals/races/leaders/etc.” but honestly… what would that accomplish if they failed? High gain, yes, but also high risk. And Elder Dragons don’t play a zero sum game.
Not to mention each Elder Dragon hate each other. Corruption of the races is only part of expanding their army. The real fight the EDs are preparing for is towards the larger war against each other to consume what magic remains and to consume the magic the other Elder Dragons have already obtained.
ED’s are not friends with each other due to how each one is competing for their food being Magic Energy.
(edited by EdwinLi.1284)
Unless Anet has taken back their statement that HoT takes place 24 hours after Season 2’s ending (with all the dialogue added with LA’s restoration and this event, plausible), then it’s unlikely that this event is ‘canon’ – and if it is, it’s likely a one-time event that happens almost immediately after the Pact Fleet’s destruction.
If you take note, except for Diessa the three zones are along the placement of Mordremoth’s vines that assaulted the waypoints at the beginning of Season 2 (which ended with Episode 4’s release). So technically Mordremoth already had some presence in those routes. But this presence doesn’t exist in, e.g., Divinity’s Reach (only city where tendrils popped up was Lion’s Arch – which has had a new ground foundation added to be less than pure dirt like Concortia and Salma’s ground).
Then there’s how one of the Researchers state a theory about where Scarlet attacked and where Mordrem pop up.
On the topic of ‘smart or stupid’ – let me ask you this:
Is it smart to assault a large populated location when you’re not fully prepared yet, just because you can? Or is it smarter to wait in the distance, make yourself a known but not immediate threat, and gather your strength so that when you do assault said large populated location there’s no chance for them to be victorious?
The attacks on Fort Salma, Concordia, and The Grove while devastating and with enemy casualties were ultimately unsuccessful for Mordremoth. So why would he antagonize the entire human, norn, asura, and charr races by assaulting their capitals and largest population centers?
A lot of people ask “why don’t the Elder Dragons just wipe out the capitals/races/leaders/etc.” but honestly… what would that accomplish if they failed? High gain, yes, but also high risk. And Elder Dragons don’t play a zero sum game.
And Mordremoth didn’t plant the Pale Tree or the sylvari. And besides that, the Pale Tree was planted 250 years ago not 25.
Sorry about the Pale Tree years. I thought it was 25 years ago…..
Anyway, let’s assuming that Mordremoth is not ready to fight a full fledge war. Yet, it still insist of sending it’s spawners to attack these locations and failed eventually if the storyline is canon. It’s just the same as sending this spawners to spawn in DR, The Grove and Rata Sum. They still get cut down, but it will also cut down on the amount of people that could fight it. Like Culling the heroes in these cities. That would be much more strategic rather than just randomly spawning in the middle of no where. Like in Brisban Wildlands, where there are more Bandits. In Dieasa, it is helping the Charr take out the separatist and Char renegades. These people don’t care two hoots about fighting an Elder Dragon unless they are been cornered.
However, it would be different if Mordremoth attacked lik DR and take out a number of Seraph and hero type NPCs. Or even take out Queen Jennah (assuming it is not her illusion or even Countess Anise’s herself). It would be a big blow to morale for the people of Tyria. And don’t forgot, people like that corrupt minister Cadeuse would take the opportunity to unsurp the throne for himself and cause chaos between themselves. Isn’t this a better strategy than just attacking out of no where?
That is why I said, Mordremoth seem stupid for attacking no where rather than important location.
Even if it failed to destroy The Grove, it managed to weaken it. Another attack would have complete the job for the traitor Pale Tree. Yet, it did not do anything and sent an army to Brisban , Dieasa, Kessex…..
It’s just the same as sending this spawners to spawn in DR, The Grove and Rata Sum.
I’m sorry, but no. Sending and army of minions via underground to the countryside is NOT the same as sending an army of minions via underground to a highly populated city with concrete ground.
The mere change of population is the key factor. People living inside walled cities (or floating cities) won’t care if you assault outlying farmlands and mines. But they will care if you assault said fortified cities.
Yes, in either case the mordrem get cut down – though in all honesty there’s a smaller likelihood of the mordrem being defeated in attacking the outskirts of civilization – but the repercussions that are the kingdoms’ rulers reactions differ greatly. They will not feel threatened so unless pushed they will not mobilize a retaliation.
But if mordrem suddenly showed up in the Arcane Council chamber? If they showed up in the Queen’s Pavilion? You can bet your kitten the entire asura and human race would be mobilizing – be it in retaliation or in fleeing.
And there’s no doubt that an unprepared raid would fail if attacking the capital of an entire race (let alone kingdom). But it’s not without doubt the raid would fail if attacking suburban areas.
Besides that, where Mordrem show up is rather crucial locations – just not the most crucial.
- Brisban Wildlands holds the largest skritt city – Skrittsburg. As well as a huge concentration of bandits. Minion making fodder in both cases.
- Kessex Hills holds the mines and farms of Kessex. As well as a huge concentration of centaurs and bandits. Hinders resources and takes minion making fodder.
- Diessa Plateau is the main ranch lands of the Iron Legion. Their primary food source. Attacking that starves the legions – or at least hinders their rations.
Yeah, it might not be cutting off the head of the kingdom, but it deals critical potential damage.
Even if it failed to destroy The Grove, it managed to weaken it. Another attack would have complete the job for the traitor Pale Tree.
The attack did its job, technically, but only because the entire Grove is the individual being that was the target. Attacking DR or Rata Sum wouldn’t be so successful since attacking the underground roots of the Pale Tree was damage – but there’s no such underground targets for Rata Sum, and even breaching the ground in DR wouldn’t guarantee attacking Queen Jennah (not that Mordremoth would care about a puny human queen – remember that the Elder Dragons think in the span of centuries that would be equivalent to days or weeks for us, the life of a single mortal race’s leader is irrelevant because to the Elder Dragons they are as quickly replaced as your pair of underwear).
Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Perhaps I might shatter theories here but I think the invasions were placed based purely on location and level range. They wanted this invasion to be for a certain level so the free to play players could join in. Brisban Wildlands is directly connected to the Sylvari and Asura starter zones, Diessa Plateau is connected to the Charr and Norn and Kessex Hills is connected to Queensdale for humans. At least that is why I think they chose the attacks on these locations.
That’s certainly true, Lethalvriend, and outright stated. Still, the question that must be asked is twofold:
Why not lvl 1-15 zones (either in addition or instead)? Or cities? Both are accessible to low level F2P players.
And why not Snowden Drifts? It’s also a 15-25 zone like Brisban, Diessa, and Kessex.
Also, to note, Diessa is for charr not norn – norn get Snowden Drifts.
Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Sorry about the Pale Tree years. I thought it was 25 years ago…..
At game launch the first Sylvari had been “born” from their pods 25 years previously, after the Pale Tree had grown for centuries. (So now it’s 28 years ago as despite surges and lulls in narrative story time over all we are advancing one for one year wise). Possibly the Pale Tree needed time to mature before She could fruit, possibly She waited for a time when Mordremoth wouldn’t notice for whatever reason so She’d have time to raise a good crop of protected minions.
It’s now 26 years. The firstborn were born in 1302. Every dialogue ever just averages it out to “25 years ago” because rounding.
Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
That’s certainly true, Lethalvriend, and outright stated. Still, the question that must be asked is twofold:
Why not lvl 1-15 zones (either in addition or instead)? Or cities? Both are accessible to low level F2P players.
And why not Snowden Drifts? It’s also a 15-25 zone like Brisban, Diessa, and Kessex.
Also, to note, Diessa is for charr not norn – norn get Snowden Drifts.
to answer your “why not Snowden Drifts”
question. Mordremoth is a plant, as is all of his minions. A cold, snowy place like Snowden Drifts (or any norn place) would put him at disadvantage. cold and plants just don’t mix.
Worrying is like a rocking chair: You go back and forth but never get anywhere.
Sylvari don’t have troubles in the Shiverpeak. One of the sylvari that walk around in Wayfarer’s does so barefoot and says she enjoys the cold feel on her feet.
Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Let’s assume that Modremoth had a plan when it wants to invade Brisban Wildlands, Kessex Hills, Dieasa Plateau…etc..
If it can just spawn it’s Spawners anywhere and anytime, why it didn’t just attack Divinity’s Reach?Zhaitan attacked Claw Island because it knows that Claw Island is the gateway into Kryta for being near Orr. But it’s problem with it’s army is that they have to be transported via bone ships and Dragon’s champion. And it already know that it can’t rely on just Dragon Champion because the heroes whoop Teq good and proper.
Like in an RTS, you don’t attack the main base as an opener unless you can steamroll every single foe in that single rush. Because it’s either going to be the best defended/has the most forces, or because then you have to try to hunt down the surviving towns.
Honestly, note that “Teq being whooped good and proper” Isn’t some random kitten five heroes dealing it. It’s an entire army with turret, golem, and a megalaser supporting it. IMO, if a dragon champion landed inside DR, it could do massive damage. But would it be worth it? I don’t know.
Mordremoth could probably attack anywhere, as evidenced by the tendrils, but to what extent? There might be a reason why the highest concentration of Mordrem is around the Maguuma wastes. It’s possible that, while it can spawn tendrils and small enemies far away, it takes a lot more effort to do so. Comparatively, the groups that took out Fort (whatever it was where Belinda died) was pretty small. Without the element of surprise, they probably wouldn’t have accomplished what they were set out to do.
The tendrils in places like LA could be used to “see” where it was feasible to attack and what should be left alone. And as far as attacking The Grove of all places, I think, is probably the same reason Kralk woke up and went straight to Glint. The Pale Tree was supposed to be his (minion/general/whatever) and when she wasn’t talking to him, he went to go check it out or get rid of it.
Leader and sole member of the “Bring Penguins to Tyria” movement.
Scouting force send in to measure enemy’s strength and tactics.
Also what purpose is there to attack a city like DR? It’s harder to reach, better defended and harder to get to.
By attacking outskirts it effectively cuts their food supply by killing farmers, animals and destroying fields. It also cuts trade routes.
All of it may also be a simple distraction to have enemy focus on this “big event” when there is another thing going undercover.
You know, right hand doesn’t know what left hand s doing.
It also plays long game. So Mord is not in rush. He can allow himself to do it slowly step by step. Remember DEAD bodies can become mordrem just as live being can. You kill mordrem ? He regrows it. Mordrem kills you? You can become mordrem.
Also Mordremoth does not consider us threat probably or even a challenge. To him we simple “are” and nothing else. It’s a being that’s well over 25000 years seeing as this cycle took place in the past.
We as players (in-game) are simply incapable of understanding him and how vast his plans stretch. It’s a being beyond out understanding.
Also Elder Dragons are not a race. All of the are different. More anything they are forces of nature made manifest.
Also Elder Dragons are not a race. All of the are different. More anything they are forces of nature made manifest.
The origins of the Elder Dragons have yet to be seen.
The comparison to forces of nature, oft used by Anet, has also been stated to be “Tyrian’s view of the Elder Dragons” and as such aren’t actually accurate.
After all, Elder Dragons are intelligent and malicious. Forces of nature are neither.
Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
At this point I feel like the Elder Dragons very much view us as a potential threat. We killed Zhaitan and nearly killed Kraalkatorrik. They’d be stupid to not consider us a threat. It says a lot that Modremoth started weakening us before he even woke up with Scarlet, and the moment he fully awakened he started a full scale assault on the PACT and the races.
Modremoth is likely scared. Unlike Jormag and Primordus he hasn’t had time to set himself up and entrench himself fully, and while he is clearly much more powerful than Zhaitan was, Zhaitan had over a century to prepare before the PACT formed to defeat it. Modremoth won’t have that kind of time to get to his full strength so he’s behaving far more aggressively than the other elder dragons to compensate.
The only other dragon to behave this aggressively was Kraalkatorrik who was also a freshly awakened dragon. He had the advantage of fleeing into the Crystal Desert however, and we never followed him.
Modremoth is actively trying to cripple Tyria, likely so we’ll back off the Maguuma Jungle so he has time to prepare.