When I started GW2, and even GW1, there was that wow-factor where you would explore this vast ever-changing world. Kessex Hills felt like it had massive rolling hills and places like Dredgehaunt Cliffs felt similarly large and expansive. Those were the things that REALLY made me enjoy the game, even after map completion. Obviously the urge to want better and better gear and stuff was still there but this was the main reason. That mixed with the lore of the game made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside while exploring the maps. The new maps have had a good amount of that as well, but am I really the only one who wants, not empty, but vast maps, or maps that feel large, similar to what it was like at launch? Basically the feeling in Skyrim while first exploring Tamriel. I’m definitely not the only one?! That was basically the point of this thread…who wants that again, instead of just more and more armor or something? Obviously Anet are doing a great job getting to that feeling through the LS nowadays, but I need MORE!!!!! :P
Thief main since launch! – Ded Pixel – Maguuma – [SAS]
No, you’re not the only one. I’d actually say you think the same like 70% of the current GW2 players (number pulled out of my kitten, so accuracy might not be very good).
That’s why we have been begging Anet for a proper expansion, with several (5-6 at least) new zones, all filled with stuff to do and at least as good or better than the original zones we got.
Time will tell if that will ever happen. The new zones we’ve got via Living Story are ok (especially the labyrinthine cliffs and the massive JP under the Silverwastes), but they pale in comparison with the original ones.
I know I’d trade the living story updates every 2 weeks for a proper expansion every 1,5-2 years with a couple of bigger content patches in between them. You know, the WoW way.
Nevertheless GW2 is still in my books the best MMO out there today. Not perfect, but better than anything else.
I’d suggest waiting for the next LS patch. It will be the last one for Season 2, yet we haven’t killed Mordremoth (and I don’t think it will happen so fast that it will be in this last patch), so I’d say we definitely have a chance they’ll announce something big like an expansion with a ton of new maps in the direction of the maguuma wastes after this patch (possibly holding a cliff hanger).
The “LS maps” surely can’t be compared to “normal” maps since they were opened piece by piece and have definitely special mechanics that differs them from the “normal” maps (plus, no counting map completion!!). That’s due to the LS character of the maps, so I’m sure a possible expansion would hold maps that are more of your (and my) taste.
Yeath the maps are few and tiny compared to the original ones. Also, the Silverwastes has a lot of rocks and mountains in between. That’s maybe okay, but why can’t we go up there? That would be much more immersive. It all looks so 90ies final fantasy style with invisible walls and not a 2010s AAA MMO. A lot of the competitors have much more bigger maps/zones and no portals to other zones (wich was a concern even during first betas when I heard about it). It kills immersion and the weather/day/night-cycle per zone is immersion killing, too.
Also, the Silverwastes has a lot of rocks and mountains in between. That’s maybe okay, but why can’t we go up there? That would be much more immersive.
I was actually quite entertained when I realized the new Jumping Puzzle there leads from a cave in the north to the outside on the big hills you already knew, leading back underground and around the whole map, until you reached an entirely new area.
I got the feeling there are two very different maps being directly beneath each other (you could jump down in a second from midway JP to the “normal” map and defend a castle there or doing stuff), I really liked that.
Good point. I must admit I haven’t done the new JP – only the start. Had no time lately, but that sounds promising. The JPs are actually the only part in this game where I felt they excelled themselves.
Good point. I must admit I haven’t done the new JP – only the start. Had no time lately, but that sounds promising. The JPs are actually the only part in this game where I felt they excelled themselves.
You’re in for a treat, then. It’s not very challenging per se, but the scope will blow your socks off. Have fun
The LS maps are not the same as the normal game maps. You are not the only one that misses exploring new areas and be astounded by them. I was when I first played the game. The story was not the best, but the maps and the scenery sure is/was.
Cant wait to see the expansion, when you can explore a new world in your own pace again.
The Silverwastes are much closer to a “traditional” map size. There is still not every part revealed. I addition Silverwastes is a map with two layers.
In order to get that we’d need an expansion imo, which I would be delighted with if we got one. I have to agree this game is BEAUTIFUL and the joy you get from many of the sights makes the game really special – but we need a bigger world and I don’t think we’re going to get it with the LS. I’ve enjoyed the LS but its just no replacement for expansions – remember GW1 had 3(?) by now.
In order to get that we’d need an expansion imo, which I would be delighted with if we got one. I have to agree this game is BEAUTIFUL and the joy you get from many of the sights makes the game really special – but we need a bigger world and I don’t think we’re going to get it with the LS. I’ve enjoyed the LS but its just no replacement for expansions – remember GW1 had 3(?) by now.
I’m going to keep saying this until it kills me, but there is NO REASON for an expansion in this game. LS in fact CAN do anything an expansion can do, just not all at once, and, get this, you can have it FOR FREE, if you’re just willing to WAIT a little while for all of it.
In addition, preparing an expansion would be a monumental undertaking when all of the company’s internal processes are centered around the current, iterative release model. People often fail to consider just how much time it would take to completely overhaul the inner workings of the studio, just so they can take a year to make something they could have been slowly releasing the whole time.
“You’ll PAY to know what you really think.” ~ J. R. “Bob” Dobbs
In order to get that we’d need an expansion imo, which I would be delighted with if we got one. I have to agree this game is BEAUTIFUL and the joy you get from many of the sights makes the game really special – but we need a bigger world and I don’t think we’re going to get it with the LS. I’ve enjoyed the LS but its just no replacement for expansions – remember GW1 had 3(?) by now.
I’m going to keep saying this until it kills me, but there is NO REASON for an expansion in this game. LS in fact CAN do anything an expansion can do, just not all at once, and, get this, you can have it FOR FREE, if you’re just willing to WAIT a little while for all of it.
In addition, preparing an expansion would be a monumental undertaking when all of the company’s internal processes are centered around the current, iterative release model. People often fail to consider just how much time it would take to completely overhaul the inner workings of the studio, just so they can take a year to make something they could have been slowly releasing the whole time.
Because an expansion would have more content than the entire LW releases to date.
I enjoy LW as stated above BUT it isn’t enough to create the wonder, spectacle and variety that an expansion would. If you don’t believe this just compare Cantha or Nightfall to the entire LW – remember BOTH these large expansions were released before the current age of our world.
The issue of company structure is an important one – however we’re giving feedback and its up to ANet how to restructure to best meet their playerbase’s wishes (I’m not saying every request should be adhered to but I think this is a large enough issue too require serious thought from the devs).
The Silverwastes are much closer to a “traditional” map size. There is still not every part revealed. I addition Silverwastes is a map with two layers.
The unrevealed part looks pretty small if you take a look at how it meshes with the world map.
Also, pretty much all of the original maps have several layers. Some have like 4-5 on top of each other, such as Lornar’s Pass and the caves under the Durmand Priory.
I’ll admit though that the Silverwastes caverns are extremely cool and vast. They were in my opinion by far the best addition of the whole LWS2 (so far, at least).
