Guild Wars 2

I’ve been playing gw2 on and off since a few months after it’s release, and I’ve got to say I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed an MMO’s story as much as this. I’ve mostly done living world and dungeons, though, not progressing in the personal story past the level 50 point. I did that recently, and I’ve been working my way through the rest of the story progression beyond that, and I’ve got to say…
What’s the deal with Traherne? He shows up in the Battle of Claw Island story (I’m playing a charr, and I’ve found out that he’s in the Sylvari personal story, but still…) and then completely hijacks the story, taking the spotlight above definitely above every other NPC and the player character. Obviously a story’s got to have driving figures, but Trahearne just takes over everything, essentially relegating the player to the role of sidekick. Seriously, as engaging as the story is, when all I’m really doing is accompanying some green dude who popped up out of nowhere and doing his dirty work, I’m left feeling pretty shafted.
Anyone know any reason as to why this happens?

Trahearne was studding Orr since his birth, so he knows a lot about the place and what the enemy is (Zhaitan).
Also he is a prestigious personality outside our story, he is THE first born of the Sylvaris.
So, you met an important character that have tons of knowledge of the thing you want to fight and the place you want to go, it is no surprise that you end felling as a sidekick.

Kloud.1894:

Anyone know any reason as to why this happens?

Read the dialogue, actually talk to the characters outside of the voice acted dialogue scenes. Trahearne knows our mentor personally prior and after the events at Claw Island feels both indebted to you (for doing much heavy lifting and believing his warning) and your mentor (who is the reason you got away). He sticks with you to help. When I played through the PS again and made sure to soak in as much of the dialogue options as possible it did feel right that he came along with you after Claw Island. The issue is that later on the writing puts much more focus on Trahearne’s Wild Hunt and not our own ‘destiny’ to defeat Zhaitan. I also didn’t feel quite so much that I was a commander while playing the last chapters.

Lostwingman.5034:

The issue is that later on the writing puts much more focus on Trahearne’s Wild Hunt and not our own ‘destiny’ to defeat Zhaitan. I also didn’t feel quite so much that I was a commander while playing the last chapters.

Not sure why you feel there is more focus on Trahearne’s Wyld Hunt which is actually about cleansing Orr and not defeating Zhaitan. It is OUR objective as heroes of Tyria to defeat Zhaitan which is what the personal story and writing is really about.

Kloud.1894:

What’s the deal with Traherne?
[…]
Anyone know any reason as to why this happens?

Trahearne is a plot device that allows the personal story to bring all three order paths together to a common conclusion. Unfortunately, the transition between the orders chapters and the following chapters was done pretty badly, creating all the unfortunate side effects you described in your post.

Players who played a sylvari will suffer only to a reduced degree from this transition, since Trahearne has already been part of their origin story. So he wont be introduced as a complete stranger, but as an old acquaintance.

~MRA

I understand his character basis and all the background info behind Trahearne, I get where he came from.
I’m not questioning where he came from.
Well, I am, but more in the sense that he hijacks the story from the player character, occupying a protagonist role that the character we were playing as had filled up to that point. The fact that his character has the Wyld Hunt of cleansing Orr doesn’t excuse the focus the story turns toward him and away from the player character (and any other interesting NPC plotlines).
MRA-
Thank you, I guess it makes sense when you see him that way.
Just frustrating :/

The writing wasn’t as good as it should have been, essentially. Trahearne is introduced badly and then a lot of the story does revolve about his wyld hunt (even thought the commander is still the main actor). That’s only half of the story the player sees though, as other half is told through the dungeons as the story of Destiny’s Edge.

If Trahearne had been introduced properly then the personal story would seem a lot better. For example, we find out about Zaitan’s scouts in Lion’s Arch through the orders. The mentor should take us to see the Trahearne for his unique knowledge as the Orrian scholar so that we can deduce the attack on Claw Island together. We should then persuade Trahearne to travel there with us and the story continues on. He then wouldn’t have to spend all his time at Claw Island following us like a stray dog and explaining the plot.