What sort of stories would you like to see?
First of all, I want to see variety. Like in Prophecies, Factions, and Nightfall.
From fighting a losing war to seeking refuge, guiding their countrymen through perilous passages, joining cultists that threaten the very faith they were fostered in, becoming rebels upon learning the horrid truth, fleeing to the desert wastes to seek greater power, turning the tide and taking the fight to the main antagonists, to facing the evil they’d considered their staunchest ally.
Mere students only blossoming their skills in their chosen studies get dragged into the machinations of someone who had nearly destroyed an entire continent 200 years ago. They encounter an enemy that nearly becomes their doom, but they are given a second chance to carry out the will of their saviors. From that point they rally the weary armies a troubled emperor, thwart the rituals of their cunning nemesis, join fractured nations, learning their culture, understanding them, cure an ancient ally who empowers them in return… and at last they unite an empire to destroy its ruination for good.
Promising initiates to an order intent on keeping peace in the bountiful provinces of the golden sun begin a journey that will take them from protecting villages from corsairs to the deepest pits of a hellish realm. Captains, hunted criminals, generals and war heroes, slayers of demons, saviors of the wealthiest princes in the world, negotiators of a ruthless undead warlord, lightbringers. They have to be all to even stand a chance, to become the chosen of the true gods… and their only hope.
Where are these stories, Bobby? You were there, you participated in the creation of these amazing tales. Where have they gone? What happened to them? Why can’t they inspire you anymore?
I can’t believe the spark that gave birth to epic legends such as that of Turai Ossa and Palawa Joko, Saul D’Alessio, and all those countless uplifting, touching, bittersweet myths and stories that were weaved into the fabric of the Guild Wars universe is gone.
As for a less theatrical answer to your question: less frequent senseless violence (especially targeting likeable characters or groups of characters) and more scenarios similar to the Ascension in the Crystal Desert, where we actively seek greater power in uninhabited, forgotten regions. Many more stories involving the Orders who finally learn how to pass on the idiot ball to their foes and proactively seek to further their agenda: Vigil campaigns routing large pockets of branded/icebrood/destroyers, or giving — and succeeding in — humanitarian aid to refugees displaced by dragons, local conflicts, etc. Order of Whispers operations against the Inquest and the remnants of the Aetherblades, investigating the corrupt ministry of the humans (may as well foil some sinister plots of those bourgeois White Mantle pawns), the Arcane Council’s ties to the Inquest, shedding some light on Imperator Ruinbringer’s rumored shady dealings, etc. Durmand Priory: tomb raiding ala Lara Croft and/or Indiana Jones, even in dragon-held domains. Oh, and more explorations into Orr; the southern shores (Palawa’s forward scouts might already be there now that ol’ Z has kicked the bucket!), further into the catacombs of Arah, Zhaitan’s corpse, etc.
And what I cannot stress enough: Inspiration in both storytelling, writing, and lore from Guild Wars 1.
@Tamias: Never claimed I was nice. As long as some hear what I’ve been trying to tell for nearly 2 years and start thinking (back then it started very mildly and politely, but over time I became embittered), I’m okay with infamy. I just care too much about the Guild Wars universe to be hindered by playing nice. In the immortal words of Pyre Fierceshot: “Only a poor warrior abandons his best weapons.”
@Sariel V: When I bought the game, I was entirely sure it was a fantasy MMORPG based on an incredible prequel. Now I’m not so sure. It’s more like what I described in my signature with (post-)apocalyptic scenarios awaiting us in every zone we visit.
