Guild Wars 2

I’ve been wondering for a while before the release of GW2 on what exactly was the ultimate fate of our characters in GW1. I mean, considering the many things our characters have accomplished, ranging from leading armies, pushing back invasions, eradicating disease, overthrowing governments, exploring the far reaches of the world, killing deities/creating a new one, traveling (and conquering) realms beyond their own, and the almost near eradication of quite possibly multiple races, you would think that they would be considered one of the most influential figures in history.

And yet, I haven’t heard any mention. Even HOM no longer has any real reference to these myriad accomplishment beyond a ghost in a pool distributing implements of destruction (I was really hoping at least a plaque or something commemorating the many things we did in GW1). Perhaps I just haven’t found it yet? Anybody come across anything?

I like to think that my characters kept going, exploring lands far beyond the realms we explored in GW1, vanquishing the great threats that lie elsewhere. I also like to think that they eventually just left and continue to travel and fight their way through the mists. But that’s just me. What about you all out there?

I think that they should try to add some connectivity with GW1 by briefly mentioning the “Hero of Tyria” in the lore.

A priestess of Kormir for example should mention the Hero of Tyria and the hero’s travels with Kormir through Elona.

Or maybe the Durmand Priory uncovers the diary of the Hero of Tyria’s adventures?

Seriously, I do think they should give the Hero of Tyria some credit somewhere…

To me personally I have seen some of the sequal games who uses the ‘unknown hero’ thing when talking bout the player in an earlier game. Oblivion uses that a lot and it just don’t work for me. You get story’s like ‘the great Prine Rurik of Ascalon traveled over the shiverpeaks with an unnamed hero. While the good prince failed miserable, the person we don’t know the name of was the big hero and succeeded. In my opinion it is too much a made up story. The heroes of old are honoured in the Hall of Monuments by Kimme and there are several minor references to it for example Norgu’s book of Nightfall. You can’t open it or read it but you know that it is bout you.

Arenanet has seemed to leave it open so we can imagine how our hero’s story ended. For me I decided that on continued study of the Scrying Pool they realised the threat the future held and in the last decades of their life they set down a legacy for those they knew, through the seeing powers of the Pool, would rise to face the Dragons.

Its a bit of fanfic but it allows me a feeling of tying my GW2 characters to my GW1 character. They are the seeds he sowed so long ago, embodying his hope and love for his world.

This story fit my character well. I see him dying of a mortal wound on alone on a hillside in the wilderness in the wake of a battle staring across the landscape of Tyria, a smile on his face, knowing the seeds he has planted would someday sprout, rise up and carry on the fight he had dedicated his life to.

He doesnt need a monument cause for me my GW2 characters are his monument.

Yes I am a closet RPer.

Id actually be a bit disappointed I think if they dictated how my GW1 characters story ended.

I always imagined they tried to take on the next biggest glory, going into the Mists for the Hall of Monuments or something, and never being heard from again.

Or maybe they decided they wanted to retire and live a peaceful life. After killing gods and fighting against monsters from another realm, I’d want some peace and quiet too. xD

I think the HoM itself is meant to be our memorial. But I agree that I’d like to see a little more mention of my accomplishments…. something like a bit more dialog with the ghost. For instance, he could recall battles against Shiro, Abaddon, the Lich and the fight against the destroyers when we first learn about the threat Tyria faces from the EDs.

Ya lore history wise our hero has mostly been forgotten in history and the True Main Heroes of GW1 recorded in History in GW2 are Devona, Mhenlo, Cynn, Aidan, and Eve. However, I only say mostly because very few NPCs will mention our GW1 hero during their hidden dialogue but they most only mention him or her as a person rather than by name which shows how our GW1 hero has been mostly forgotten.

However, i do expect our GW1 hero will be mentioned more in our future Personal Story by NPCs, mostly by Ogden Stonehealer since he is the only GW1 character we meet so far that is still alive, to cover a bit of what he or she did after GW1 main story.

I didn’t see Ogden Stonehealer yet. Where did you see him? And he obviously should remember our hero from GW1 since we fought the destroyers together. So I do hope that somewhere along the way more will come to light. Maybe the Durmond Priory will discover our Hall of Monuments and restore it. =)

The hero from GW1 was ultimately forgotten by history. It happens, even in real life there are doubtless very important people we’ll never know of because for whatever reason we have no real records of them ever having existed.

At the Ascalon Settlement, there is a monument dedicated to an ‘Unknown Soldier’, perhaps this might be the memorial to our Guild Wars 1 hero.

Onza.7165:

At the Ascalon Settlement, there is a monument dedicated to an ‘Unknown Soldier’, perhaps this might be the memorial to our Guild Wars 1 hero.

Came here to say this, but you beat me to it.

I was sure that the monument there was to our heroes who put them there 200 or so years ago (Which would be Prophecies characters)

You can hear some NPCs in Divinity’s Reach talking about the player characters and the defeat of the Lich. (They refer to them as a “group of adventurers”.) So they certainly weren’t forgotten – Anet probably just didn’t want people to be talking about “The Legendary Hero” awkwardly and without being able to mention any specifics too often, and so they only come up rarely.

You will first meet Ogden Stonehealer in Arah Explorer Mode.

Anet already has plans for Ogden to be a Hero NPC for the Durmand Priory Story Path for the future Personal Story if you’re a Priory member as show through the Durmand Priory intro since he is one of the 3 Hero NPCs for that path.

For the other Order path he is most likely going to be a side character that pops up once in a while.

I mean it some what depends on where your character came from. Such as the Prophecies hero would have a different fate than the one from Factions or Nightfall. Personally I see my main (Human Warrior) as the descendant of my GW1 character. My GW1 name is Exelion The Great and my main in GW2 is Exelion The Last.

They do such a good job dancing around player names in GW2 dialogue that I think they could find ways to make more solid references to our GW1 characters. And even if the specific character you’re named after didn’t do all of those things, there was still someone who did.

I don’t really think the unknown soldier tomb is a reference, just because of the unknown part. Considering you traveled with them the entire trip to Kryta, they would have remembered your name.

Seems like all the heroes and henchmen are the ultimate spotlight stealing squad, since they’re getting statues, and monuments, and book deals, even though you were the leader. Didn’t someone at least write our biography?

The Talcmaster.7391:

They do such a good job dancing around player names in GW2 dialogue that I think they could find ways to make more solid references to our GW1 characters. And even if the specific character you’re named after didn’t do all of those things, there was still someone who did.

I don’t really think the unknown soldier tomb is a reference, just because of the unknown part. Considering you traveled with them the entire trip to Kryta, they would have remembered your name.

Seems like all the heroes and henchmen are the ultimate spotlight stealing squad, since they’re getting statues, and monuments, and book deals, even though you were the leader. Didn’t someone at least write our biography?

Sadly our GW1 biography was recorded by Kimmes the Historian and placed in the Hall of Monuments but ever since the Hall of Monuments became lost and deteriorate over time most of the biography was lost. However, Kimmes still remembers the hero of GW1 so if Anet have plans for the Eye of the North to be incorporated into the Personal Story in the future we most likely will get a more understanding of how our GW1 hero was recorded in History.

However, we most likely may get more of our GW1 hero biography later in the future Personal story but for now they remain as the unknown heroes of GW1 time history wise.

I just hope they add something a little more about our GW1 hero if they incorporate the EotN into the Personal story such as if you link your GW1 account to your GW2 account those monument spots will provide a mini-cutscene showing a Historical record of your achievements for everything you placed in those Monument spots.

For example: the Fellowship will show a mini-cutscene of what happened to all the Hero Companions you placed in the monument there (with each character only getting a very short clip of what happened to them after GW1).

Sadly right now the HoM is just a place of nostalgia.

I hope for some further development of our Hall of Monuments because I guess I had always thought that my GW2 character would be able to view the displays. Of course, after thinking about it, I can see it would take quite a bit of programming to be able to do that. So it may not be realistically possible….I don’t know.

I haven’t seen any statues or monuments to any of the henchmen in GW1. If they exist, I’d like to know where they are. I feel in general there is very little mention or recognition for the accomplishments of all the GW1 heroes. I’ve seen a book by Mhenlo and another by Norgu. Too bad we can’t interact with those books and get some history revealed that way. I’ve not seen anything about the rest.

It would be nice. But, I think it would have to be contained in the HoM instance instead of out in the world because in reality there are millions of Ultimate Heroes from GW1 with different names. Containing it to just the HoM instance makes it possible to actually name your hero and provide a back story of what happened afterwards. Though for me personally I could live without the back story as I have already created one. My GW1 main went to live in the Grove and died there in peace, finally. Which does a lot to explain my Sylvari main’s access to my GW1 hero’s HoM.

I kind of like the fact that the Hall of Monuments has been completely stripped out and looted. Only Kimmes is there to recognise your heirs for their inner worth and deeds rather than their blood connection (although the very fact you have the HoM stone suggests there is some physical link). We can’t leave a permanent mark on the world as we were just one of many, but the fact that our storyline is remembered is proof that our characters were there in whatever capacity.

EDIT: Was going to have a spoiler bit here but the tags aren’t working? :S

I agree. Let’s look at the heros accomplishments from GW1.

The story of almost everyone hero:
The hero survived the first great fire which destroyed Ascalon, together with Rurik he led the Ascalonian exodus from Ascalon to Kryta, helped the Shining Blade to fight the White Mantle, passed all trials of the old, killed the King of the Stonesummit and fullfilled the flameseeker prophecy and destroyed one champion of Abaddon. After that he/she destroyed the Titans, went to Cantha, rose to the champion of his/her faction, stopped the plague and killed the second champion of Abaddon, and become a national hero. After Cantha he/she went to Elona, stopped the war and killed the third champion of Abaddon, destroyed the god in the end and helped Kormir to ascend into godhood. After it he/she cleaned up a lot, destroying the last minions of Abaddon, the remnants of the Stone Summit, helped Balthazar to regain power over his realm, in the Underworld he/she beat the god of a god (dhuum) and than united the people of Tyria against The Great Destroyer, beating him and stopping Primordius. Then he/she, just like that, rescued Queen Salma of Kryta and won her war against the White Mantle, establishing her as Queen. In the end he/she cleaned up in Cantha. THE END.

And 250 years later noone mentions the hero? I dont think it would be a problem implementing some stories and stuff about all of this into the game. Maybe some quests, some info scattered all around Tyria and stuff like this.
Accounts without a connected HoM would read/see the Name “the hero of heroes” (just an idea), and people with connected HoM would read one of their char names from GW1 (I guess they could choose the char).

The whole story from GW1 influenced my character in GW2 a lot. I am a human noble (well, my ancestors helped to establish Queen Salma power, I guess they were rewarded and they would have stayed well connected with her family ), with Ascalonian origin (250 years are a long time, but nevertheless… the family heritage is not forgotten) and so on.

Even a whole personal questline would be possible with that background. You know, after kicking Zhaitans butt, you will get a letter from Jenna saying 1.) that this reminds her when your ancestors helped her ancestors and she would like to ask you for a favour (if noble) OR 2.) that some research in your past showed that your ancestor is a hero (if streetrat/beggar/homeless/whatever) OR 3.) well .. same as homeless guy.^^ !
Would only work for humans tho.

What do you think about it?

Humans can be related to the original hero, that can be retconned.

Sylvari have the bonus of the pale tree standing on a small human/centaur settlement called Ventari’s Sanctuary.

Norn just drink another beer and claim they were related by blood. Only a fool would try to argue with them.

Asura would never be caught claiming that they knew a human as anything more than a test subject, so a callback to GW1 is not required. All heirlooms are simply confiscated for testing purposes.

Charr, well Charr. I did not kill a million of them in GW1 to grind my titles to now give the rewards to a Charr.

As for the hall being in a desolate state of destruction. Well, that is what you get once ArenaNet catches on that you like something. You like GW1 Prophecies starting area? BOOM, nuclear war, everything gone. You like asian fantasy, woods and the ocean? Well, here is a slum and two wastelands. You like 1001 nights? Allow us to desaturate it for you, color shift it to purple and fill it up with zombies. You like your beautiful hall of monuments? Allow me to destroy it.

ArenaNet really has a fetish for destruction once you think about it. D3 is such a colorful game by comparison, no joke.

You do bring up a good point. An alarming number of fantasy settings seem to insist on destroying locations that fans claim to adore, only to then go on to give that particular region an unsatisfying fate. An excellent example would be either Ascalon, Lordaeron or Morrowind.

With that said, Arena Net have been very good with preserving a lot of the visual appeal of Ascalon, complete with many throwbacks and heartfelt references. Now we just need some of the Ascalonian ‘grit’ from GW1 to be applied to the humans of GW2 so they stop fawning all over Jennah and don’t just forget all their past conflicts for the sake of unity with races they really shouldn’t care all that much about.

Onza.7165:

At the Ascalon Settlement, there is a monument dedicated to an ‘Unknown Soldier’, perhaps this might be the memorial to our Guild Wars 1 hero.

I don’t think so, mostly because monuments to the Unknown Soldier exist in real life as well, and their purpose matches the description on the monument in game. It’s a monument to all those who have died in battle but we don’t know who they are.

It’s not “an” unknown soldier but “the” unknown soldier. All of them.

I think Glint put it best

Glint: “Your deeds have earned you a place among the heroes of legend.”
Glint: “Let us hope today is not the day your spirit joins those ensconced in the Hall.”

so clearly the fate of our heroes to be ensconced in the Hall of Heros

Garenthal.1480:

You do bring up a good point. An alarming number of fantasy settings seem to insist on destroying locations that fans claim to adore, only to then go on to give that particular region an unsatisfying fate. An excellent example would be either Ascalon, Lordaeron or Morrowind.

With that said, Arena Net have been very good with preserving a lot of the visual appeal of Ascalon, complete with many throwbacks and heartfelt references. Now we just need some of the Ascalonian ‘grit’ from GW1 to be applied to the humans of GW2 so they stop fawning all over Jennah and don’t just forget all their past conflicts for the sake of unity with races they really shouldn’t care all that much about.

I think its less about if they care about other races as much as self interest. Humanity lacks the strength to deal with threats like the dragons. They are barely managing the Centaur. Unity with the other races is in the humans best interests at this point. Being all jaded over a war that happened 250 years earlier and stubbornly refusing to move on would be pretty stupid behaviour.

Seriously people have to deal with the fact that the humans lost the war to the charr. Better that humans dont lose one to the centaur or lose everything to the dragons at this point.

In the end however Im pretty content for them to leave it vague what happened with my GW1 player. It allows me to decide what happened to them and it means that their story in GW2 fits with the character I played in GW1.

Lutinz.6915:

Garenthal.1480:

You do bring up a good point. An alarming number of fantasy settings seem to insist on destroying locations that fans claim to adore, only to then go on to give that particular region an unsatisfying fate. An excellent example would be either Ascalon, Lordaeron or Morrowind.

With that said, Arena Net have been very good with preserving a lot of the visual appeal of Ascalon, complete with many throwbacks and heartfelt references. Now we just need some of the Ascalonian ‘grit’ from GW1 to be applied to the humans of GW2 so they stop fawning all over Jennah and don’t just forget all their past conflicts for the sake of unity with races they really shouldn’t care all that much about.

I think its less about if they care about other races as much as self interest. Humanity lacks the strength to deal with threats like the dragons. They are barely managing the Centaur. Unity with the other races is in the humans best interests at this point. Being all jaded over a war that happened 250 years earlier and stubbornly refusing to move on would be pretty stupid behaviour.

Seriously people have to deal with the fact that the humans lost the war to the charr. Better that humans dont lose one to the centaur or lose everything to the dragons at this point.

Hmmm, honestly I think you are wrong. During the Charr invasion there were three human empires: Kryta, Orr and Ascalon.

Ascalon got destroyed but the kindgom existed for some years and got annihilated in the foefire. Win for Charr.

Orr destroyed itself and the invading Charr armies. Well, both lost.

Kryta stopped the Charr invasion. The Charr stayed in Ascalon and kept fighting Asclon until the foefire.

I don’t think there were any winners. Charr got their old lands,w inning against Ascalon, but lost to Kryta. Ascalonians actually disliked and didn’t trust people from Kryta.
In Guild Wars Beyond your hero was part of the group which forged the pact between Queen Salma of Kryta and the Ebon Vanguard.
The King of Ascalon never approved of it. Thats why Kryta was helping the Ebon Vanguard. I think it is a mistake to see the human race as a united race. Well in GW2 maybe it is, but 250 ago… I don’t think so.

I’ve never seen anything official but I think for simplicity all our characters don’t actually exist in canon and their actions are attributed to heroes, henchmen and the relevant NPCs. So for example Koss, Norgu, Zhed etc. would have been there with Kormir when she became a god, but not our character/s.

But since I didn’t see anything official I decided to make up my own endings for my characters. I even picked out a spot on the cliffs overlooking Giants Basin where my main character would live.

Oh, the players are also mentioned in one of the novels, for that matter. Glint tells the story of how she instructed them to save the world and then they beat her within an inch of her life for no discernable reason to Destiny’s Edge.

Rosen Myst.7641:

I didn’t see Ogden Stonehealer yet. Where did you see him? And he obviously should remember our hero from GW1 since we fought the destroyers together. So I do hope that somewhere along the way more will come to light. Maybe the Durmond Priory will discover our Hall of Monuments and restore it. =)

Ogden is in Arah Explorable.

Lurinna.4306:

Oh, the players are also mentioned in one of the novels, for that matter. Glint tells the story of how she instructed them to save the world and then they beat her within an inch of her life for no discernable reason to Destiny’s Edge.

Oh god that bonus was considered canon? I always thought it was out of place and random…

As for the war… I really don’t feel like anyone ever wins with war, especially this war… just a lot of dead soldiers and civilians.

“War does not determine who is right, only who is left.” – Bertrand Russell.

GW2 needs a ‘Cavern of Time (WoW instance)’ Where players get to travel through time and see/help with events what happened to the various heroes we had and maybe even a player’s ‘ancestor’ through the HoM.

Phrixscreoth.6895:

Lurinna.4306:

Oh, the players are also mentioned in one of the novels, for that matter. Glint tells the story of how she instructed them to save the world and then they beat her within an inch of her life for no discernable reason to Destiny’s Edge.

Oh god that bonus was considered canon? I always thought it was out of place and random...

Well, it was at least an amusing nod to the mission+bonus by the author.

In any case it’s been my assumption that, for story purposes, your hero is included in a party of your friends/henchman/hero NPCs all rolled together (obviously ignoring the MMO aspect of the game for the main story). They should be able to sufficiently dance around characters’ names well enough to still give our GW1 players a nod alongside Cynn, Devona, Mhenlo, Koss, Gwen, et al.