Guild Wars 2

If the world is ever-changing and new features are added on the run, could the recently experienced racism against sylvari mark a starting splitting between the races? Obviously we can already beat the dragons if the races work together. Probably something has to happen to raise the stakes, to question our secure victory.

Almost every MMO out there has factions – even GW1. Why is that?

Would you a approve a factions system like Silvari,Norn,(Tengu?)-vs-Asura,Charr,Humans?

Simple Answer: No, I dont need that, i dont want GW2 to become more of a WoW clone..

There you go, WoW invented factions!

The GW1 faction system would be pretty cool. But I don’t think we will see that anytime soon because a huge part of that feature was PvP and well .. yeah let’s just say that I doubt that we will see huge changes in PvP, let alone new PvP maps with S2.

GW1 factions did not have that huge an impact. You could change over at any time you wished (for a small cost), it was pretty much only a pvp thing, even though there was the ownership of some outposts changeing hands. Aside from the pvp aspect you could play together with people without ever knowing if they were one faction or the other. In a way it is kinda like the wvw setting… imo.

So no. I do not want the races to split up, some minor conflicts within the alliances… sure… but full out splitting them apart… no. I do not approve one bit.

Artasqweroldy.7458:

Simple Answer: No, I dont need that, i dont want GW2 to become more of a WoW clone..

WoW clone… That’s pathetic people. It’s like you couldn’t play it and now you hate everything about that game. World of Warcraft has flaws, but has some good sides too.
Not every traditional MMO mechanic is copied from WoW.

Believe me or not, but Guild Wars 1 had factions. Yes, actually two sides fighting each other. That’s a good thing, because it makes PvP possibilities much wider, for instance.

And factions is a brilliant way. It’s not racial split, but divide based on player’s choices and ideas followed in-game.

It shouldn’t be everywhere, but for example in Alliance Battles (google it, WoW clone!) or particular areas. It spices up the game experience, believe me.

Question: Why don’t we just take something already in game, right? And the playerbase can make a factions war out of that. I would suggest taking the server you chose to be part of and that is your faction, then let’s dedicate a map-set for it… How about the Eternal Battlegrounds, Borderlands and Edge of the Mists?

Also another alternative I thought of is this: Why not have us support the minor race we chose to support in our storylines in some new map. Where players are forbidden to actually engage in combat with the other minor-races and such, but you work to make your chosen faction stronger and in turn they themselves fight the battle.

Rym.1469:

Artasqweroldy.7458:

Simple Answer: No, I dont need that, i dont want GW2 to become more of a WoW clone..

WoW clone… That’s pathetic people. It’s like you couldn’t play it and now you hate everything about that game. World of Warcraft has flaws, but has some good sides too.
Not every traditional MMO mechanic is copied from WoW.

Believe me or not, but Guild Wars 1 had factions. Yes, actually two sides fighting each other. That’s a good thing, because it makes PvP possibilities much wider, for instance.

And factions is a brilliant way. It’s not racial split, but divide based on player’s choices and ideas followed in-game.

It shouldn’t be everywhere, but for example in Alliance Battles (google it, WoW clone!) or particular areas. It spices up the game experience, believe me.

I dont have a problem with WoW, but GW2 is meant to be different to WoW, and I like that. But I dislike open world PvP, and i fear an internal war between factions would lead to such a thing.
So pleaso no factions with PvE Impact.

They could introduce itin WvW though.

Something like GW1 factions would be fun. Where you can choose your side regardless of race.

Of course in the end the side with the most asura will win.

Artasqweroldy.7458:

Rym.1469:

Artasqweroldy.7458:

Simple Answer: No, I dont need that, i dont want GW2 to become more of a WoW clone..

WoW clone… That’s pathetic people. It’s like you couldn’t play it and now you hate everything about that game. World of Warcraft has flaws, but has some good sides too.
Not every traditional MMO mechanic is copied from WoW.

Believe me or not, but Guild Wars 1 had factions. Yes, actually two sides fighting each other. That’s a good thing, because it makes PvP possibilities much wider, for instance.

And factions is a brilliant way. It’s not racial split, but divide based on player’s choices and ideas followed in-game.

It shouldn’t be everywhere, but for example in Alliance Battles (google it, WoW clone!) or particular areas. It spices up the game experience, believe me.

I dont have a problem with WoW, but GW2 is meant to be different to WoW, and I like that. But I dislike open world PvP, and i fear an internal war between factions would lead to such a thing.
So pleaso no factions with PvE Impact.

They could introduce itin WvW though.

Many people enjoy World PvP, believe me. That’s why most MMOs feature at least couple specific maps for it.

But we’re not even talking about that. Alliance Battles weren’t Open World PvP. More like Battlegrounds to be honest with capped teams and various objectives.

Nothing stops ArenaNet from creating a small, varied map or zones where PvP would be enabled in between factions. You like it, ypu step in and fight, earn a title maybe. You don’t like it, you just pass away and don’t touch it.

WoW PvE servers have similar thing. If you don’t like PvP (outsode of places with standarized PvP-on), you don’t switch it and do your job.

Frankly the faction system in GW1 left me unimpressed and was troublesome to say the least. Look at the actual state of the game :

You get imperial faction points that you can convert to your specific faction point. You can freely join both sides regardless of the faction of your guild. Does joining the Kurzicks mean anything nowadays ?

The only visible impact of faction battles is the shift of the frontier. What are the effects ? Some ppl can use merchant npc in certain outposts and others cannot. Not really a big deal right ?

In the end it is a lot of work and fuss for something not very important or interesting gameplay wize.

Anet could implement similar PvP modes without using the faction system.

Everquest was the first game I got into that had factions.

I will not give my opinion on a faction system, but something looks interessing (in the title of this thread).

The fact that, because of Scarlet, sylvaris can be considered as a threat. The madness of Scarlet leads thousands people to death, and because of this, there can be a amalgamation between Scarlet and all the sylvaris. In a real(istic) world (like our world), the acts of one become the act of his race, of his nation.

I would like to see NPC’s text going in that way. One NPC who is polite with humans/norns/asuras/charrs would be cold/rude with sylvaris.

(sorry for the post which can be out of subject considering Miroe’s opening post).

Malemort.9083:

I will not give my opinion on a faction system, but something looks interessing (in the title of this thread).

The fact that, because of Scarlet, sylvaris can be considered as a threat. The madness of Scarlet leads thousands people to death, and because of this, there can be a amalgamation between Scarlet and all the sylvaris. In a real(istic) world (like our world), the acts of one become the act of his race, of his nation.

I would like to see NPC’s text going in that way. One NPC who is polite with humans/norns/asuras/charrs would be cold/rude with sylvaris.

(sorry for the post which can be out of subject considering Miroe’s opening post).

i recommend spending some time in lion’s arch then. especially as a sylvari character.

Rym.1469:

Nothing stops ArenaNet from creating a small, varied map or zones where PvP would be enabled in between factions. You like it, ypu step in and fight, earn a title maybe. You don’t like it, you just pass away and don’t touch it.

That’s why WvW has been in GW2 since launch.

I would actually like to see a little more racial tension in the story of GW2. It felt like it really enhanced the flavor and atmosphere of the books, Ghosts of Ascalon, and Edge of Destiny. It’s not about enjoying racism itself, but rather appreciating the struggle against racism. It’s something I think many Americans can identify with. Not sure about other countries.

That said, I don’t necessarily want to see core game mechanics emerge in the form of Horde vs Alliance. It depends on how it’s done. On one hand I enjoyed the Kurzicks vs the Luxons in Factions, but the whole red vs blue thing has been done to death in MMOs over the years. I think what made Factions work for me was the inherent neutrality of the player, the ability to switch sides, and the story of trying to bring the two sides together to defeat a common foe. Whether it’s Shiro or Mordremoth, I think it could work as long as Anet does it right.

WvWvW =/ Open PvP zone.

WvWvW maps are simply too big, too plain, have map buffs and stuff like -40% condition duration food enabled, which is a joke.

They also highly favorize zerging.

Rym.1469:

WvWvW =/ Open PvP zone.

WvWvW maps are simply too big, too plain, have map buffs and stuff like -40% condition duration food enabled, which is a joke.

They also highly favorize zerging.

There is no clear definition of open world PvP because each player has it own silly definition. Unless a the PvP system reward noobs by letting them gank unprepared, they will usually be zergs. Since everybody would be looking for PvP and not be a sitting duck for a noob with leet gear.

In a lot of open world PvP game they is usually zerging.

No. Factions promote hostility between /players/. Just look at how riled up people got over Gnashblade vs Kiel. Look at any game with factions, and you’ll find an extremely negative us vs them attitude that goes far beyond being “in character.” You can’t be Hordeside in WoW for five minutes without hearing someone call Alliance players names simply for preferring to play Alliance, and Alliance players similarly insult Horde players for nothing more than playing as Horde.

GW2 does not need factions. It also does not need to enshrine racism. Celebrating the foul aspects of real life isn’t “mature.” It’s just promoting them.

would love the story to go that direction, without actually making players be in separate factions.

i’m an adult, and like more realistic stories….fanstasy with a touch of reality has its place (see the witcher game series or GoT tv series). I think the GW2 lore is rich enough to go that direction.

I’ve honestly never been fond of opposing factions (kurzicks vs luxons, horde vs whatever the hell they are in wow, etc) simply because it ends up making both sides look all shades of dumb kitten.

Lorewise the whole point is that the races have to unite together to fight off the dragons, which they can’t do if they can’t set aside their differences and fight each other. Cause of that, I don’t believe we will ever get factions or else it makes the whole point of uniting moot.

This could easily be done with edge of the mist map by making your color selectable and then the wvw map becomes a faction battle ground. Just add something like guild buffs based on if you win a match for the week or something.. And we got significant guild content added.

We already have factions. Every race has the opposing side of bad guys. If they want to have players as the opposing faction instead of NPCs then they can just make the nightmare court, etc., as playable.

I don’t think any race would want to side with the Sylvair.

Sylvari Salad Alliance vs Tyria

sure.

No, because the racism against Sylvari is almost purely from grieving, angry citizens of LA. And even then (at least as said by a member of the Captain’s council), it’s not a huge percent of the population in LA.

Yes, there are some who are angry at Sylvari, but it’s not some huge number across the world.

I dislike any system that potentially makes me pick between how I look (race/species) and playing with my friends.

Rym.1469:

WvWvW =/ Open PvP zone.

WvWvW maps are simply too big, too plain, have map buffs and stuff like -40% condition duration food enabled, which is a joke.

They also highly favorize zerging.

That’s exactly what you’d see in an “open PvP” zone in the overworld. With a lot more spawn camping.

Penguin.5197:

Lorewise the whole point is that the races have to unite together to fight off the dragons, which they can’t do if they can’t set aside their differences and fight each other. Cause of that, I don’t believe we will ever get factions or else it makes the whole point of uniting moot.

Indeed, the story is about overcoming differences to unite against common foe and all, but in game the “overcoming” is very rarely touched on. Everyone is magical friends with unicorn shooting bows (I exaggerate of course).

The story about unification against the greater evil would in my mind at least gain a lot of value by actually showing the “differences” that are to be overcome. And that was I think so far not delivered.

Miroe.2054:

If the world is ever-changing and new features are added on the run, could the recently experienced racism against sylvari mark a starting splitting between the races? Obviously we can already beat the dragons if the races work together. Probably something has to happen to raise the stakes, to question our secure victory.

Almost every MMO out there has factions – even GW1. Why is that?

Would you a approve a factions system like Silvari,Norn,(Tengu?)-vs-Asura,Charr,Humans?

I don’t like this idea, and guild wars didn’t have it really. It was just a way to let people pick a team, really it was the birth of WvW.

Other MMO’s have done this and it’s worked for some but not for others. As someone said this would lead to picking what race you wanted to play vs playing with your friends. This happens for me in WoW. A lot of my friends Played Hord, but I liked the Drenie and they are Alliance. So I didn’t get to play the race I really wanted to play all that much till most of my friends stopped playing or moved to playing Alliance.

I thought that racism to Sylvari meant to actually be mean to those woods.
Like, ingame.
Can we create a kitten-guild that will eradicate this plague from Tyria?
Obviously they’re stealing enough of the story to be left free.

BrunoBRS.5178:

i recommend spending some time in lion’s arch then. especially as a sylvari character.

Little touches like that have me loving this game even more.
I can’t nor will I ever support faction systems based on the races joining together.
The races themselves provide a decent difference for the stories taking place.
I do though love how even when the Pact is combining all the Orders together, we still have individuals who are petty or bitter due to personal tragedies.

As such the Sylvari hatred in Lion’s Arch. I don’t mind seeing some of that on a small scale, but I don’t want to see Sylvari versus the world dynamics.

Atlas.9704:

BrunoBRS.5178:

i recommend spending some time in lion’s arch then. especially as a sylvari character.

Little touches like that have me loving this game even more.
I can’t nor will I ever support faction systems based on the races joining together.
The races themselves provide a decent difference for the stories taking place.
I do though love how even when the Pact is combining all the Orders together, we still have individuals who are petty or bitter due to personal tragedies.

As such the Sylvari hatred in Lion’s Arch. I don’t mind seeing some of that on a small scale, but I don’t want to see Sylvari versus the world dynamics.

I’d be quite happy to see the Sylvari wiped from the face of Tyria. I find them boaring and they just don’t seem to fit. I know ANet made them for guild wars 2, but I feel eye of the North introduced the races nicely and I would have rather seen the Tengui as a playable race. Would have made way more sence.

The sylvari are my favorite race and I am in the Caithe fan club. I am interested in their entire story so the discussion that is raised in this topic interests me very much.

Concerning the questions of factions, as Katz.5143 said, the game already has factions. The only thing to figure out then is to figure out how to make the “evil” factions playable without breaking the game.

This particular quandary has actually been around quite some time and is evident concerning the sylvari and the Caledon Forest heart in which the character infiltrates Briarthorn Den. Once within the character has a chance to decide whether they wish to help or hurt the fern hounds. It ends up not being much of a choice though, because if you choose to hurt them it gives you a damage over time debuff called “darkening heart” that will eventually kill you.

This struggle with darkness is an essential part of the sylvari story. It is dealt with in one line of the personal story and is a major part of the story of Caithe. It is wrapped up in her relationship with with Faolain and is encapsulated in that one line we hear during A Light in the Darkness: “For you…Yes. I will fall into Nightmare.”

If Caithe were to fall into nightmare I feel my character would follow her there.

There is a lot of character potential in the idea of a character (including a player character) having a low/dark time in their life when they act more like a villain than a hero.

This seems though like something that would be best handled by the Personal Story system. That though is going to be revamped for Season 2 and so I will have to wait before I make any further decisions on how it might be implemented. For now will I look forward to Season 2 and hope that Caithe’s story is continued and her relationship with Faolain is touched on more.

I think there should be factions like ESO but perhaps this doesn’t determine your race. Any race can be any faction but make a living world event where you have to choose one—perhaps with a new level cap.

how about we just have guild wars factions……as the guild wars factions

Oh for crying out loud, Can the game stop being about the Sylvari?

I hope we can finally get away from them for good.

There is allready everything you ask in the game.
The whole story starts with racism, Charr vs human.
Ever hear the ingame jokes the charr and Norn tell , some are pure racism.
We also have factions, the whole races to start with but even then we have the order, the priory and the vigil, each have faction issues against the other.
Come to think of it , what’s the difference between factions and racism ? they both hate the other.
But we have overcome all of that by the end of your personal story.

And to my final note, please don’t get more people vs people in the story and PvE gameplay. personally I have more that i don’t want of it in WvWvW. and the “activities”.