Guild Wars 2

I’ve a little theory. Almost no chance GW2 will follow this speculative route of mine, but I think it’s interesting to consider nonetheless.

WIth the update regarding Guild Halls we discovered that there appeared a new organization which aims to increase the influence of the guilds in the world through its so called Guild Initiative. Formally, it’s here to recruit fighting forces to help battle Mordremoth, which makes complete sense.

However, this is a pretty risky endeavor. What the Guild Initiative is a bout is essentially providing resources and authoritative power to what are basically paramilitary organizations. What will happen after these organizations no longer have a big bad enemy to fight? Pretty much every military force is devastated by fighting in local conflicts or against Elder Dragons, and now you have these really powerful, organized groups who made their fortune on fighting, but now they’re out of a job.

Let’s not forget that the Guild Initiative HQ is in Lion’s Arch, which is being renovated by… the Consortium. A dubious bunch at the very least. This Guild Initiative is also financed by the Consortium. Is it just an altruistic move to help the good fight? Or are they deliberately nurturing a whole army right under everyone’s noses. Whether or not they can control it is irrelevant, these Guilds may create a lot of chaos. And chaos, as we all know, is a ladder.

So, could we maybe see some internal struggle to take place after Mordy kicks the bucket? Guilds starting to vie for control over certain less protected regions of Tyria, trying to buy their way into high places and smashing the doors down when they meet any resistance? And in the midst of it, the Consortium, holding the leash of the guilds or striking a deal with Tyrian governments across all races to help them against these guilds in exchange for a bit of extra power.

That could be an interesting twist… players as bad guys. My one objection would be that competing over territory would necessarily mean PvP, either open world (shudders) or by some regulated format that we all get handwaved into going along with. The result would be that the larger and more PvP oriented guilds would have the system slanted in their favor, while those of us in, say, guilds focused on roleplay or just running around may have trouble competing. The rewards would therefore have to be small enough to be fair to the losers.

Back on the lore topic, I do like the idea, but it is admittedly the sort of crumbling into anarchy that leaves the governments portrayed as impotent, which would severely hinder storylines involving them in the future. Why would we care if the Ministry overthrows Jennah once she’s become just a figurehead? So what if the charr legions find their rivalry resurgent, when they barely have a say over their own headquarters anymore? Player organizations would become the main movers and shakers, and that would be very difficult to construct a narrative around for ANet. Nice way to end the game and move it to self-sufficiency a la GW1, but not so nice so long as there are still stories they intend to tell.

Oh, I think A-net would still want players to be the good guys, they seem to be really hellbent on this idea. We’ll represent the loyal guys that don’t want to any extra influence and will instead fight against “other guilds” that have risen to power during the Mordremoth crisis. I’m talking about NPC guilds. We’ll have a new Scarlet, who’ll be the head of the most powerful guild or something along those line.

Old political leaders will still command power and, more importantly, reputation. Queen Jennah will still play a key role in the peace treaty between Humans and Charr, but there will be another political struggle on the side. E.g. human guilds may put their own ministers in power, this way Jennah is still important, but the guilds are causing a lot of turmoil and are aiming to take her down. The Charr are still effectively ruled by the Imperator, but charr guilds can create their own new legion that will become a rival to the existing legion trio. Sylvari guilds may bank on creating their own interpretation of the Ventari Tablet and secede from the Grove. And so on.

Aaron Ansari.1604:

My one objection would be that competing over territory would necessarily mean PvP, either open world (shudders) or by some regulated format that we all get handwaved into going along with.

People didn’t mind it with Factions – such was added via the Alliance Battles, and alliance system and town owning system for the Echovald Forest and Jade Sea.

In fact, it made the guilds that could handle such even more popular, and increased PvP if anything. The system wasn’t fully PvP either, but faction based. You can do PvE stuff for faction; the PvP merely determined the line between the two allegiances, thus how many guilds can control how many towns.

Aaron Ansari.1604:

Back on the lore topic, I do like the idea, but it is admittedly the sort of crumbling into anarchy that leaves the governments portrayed as impotent, which would severely hinder storylines involving them in the future. Why would we care if the Ministry overthrows Jennah once she’s become just a figurehead? So what if the charr legions find their rivalry resurgent, when they barely have a say over their own headquarters anymore? Player organizations would become the main movers and shakers, and that would be very difficult to construct a narrative around for ANet. Nice way to end the game and move it to self-sufficiency a la GW1, but not so nice so long as there are still stories they intend to tell.

Which I think is the reason why Anet has kept away from the Guild Wars concept since leaving alpha for Prophecies.