Guild Wars 2

True fact: I have never watched any of Game of Thrones

Last weekend, I decided I might like to start watching it, as I heard many good things said about it. I headed down to the only shop that sells TV box sets so that I could make a start on this serial. They’ve got box sets on sale, except that they don’t have the first season. The explanation from the store’s staff is that they’ve simply decided that they don’t want to sell it anymore, as later seasons have come out.
One of the guys there actually said that I don’t even need to watch the first season to enjoy GoT, and that it’s perfectly enjoyable to just start watching from the second season. I find what this guy says to be a bit odd. Surely the first season has the important role of getting the viewer started, like introducing characters, giving gradual exposition of the setting, and laying down initial conflicts and plot-lines to follow. Wouldn’t I be missing out on a lot of important details if I skipped the first season?

Is this guy right in saying that my enjoyment will be just fine starting from season 2 onwards?

I’m guessing your asking if you can enjoy Living story season 2 without playing Season 1.

Short answer is yes. Generally a good Storywriter keeps each season as a arc in it’s own little package. Most of what’s important is resolved by the end of the season. Leaving new characters and challenges to rise up in the second season. You do often loose enjoyable backstory but you should have no problem figuring out who’s who and what’s happening. Not to mention a quick visit to the wiki give’s you all this info

Your comparison would be valid if you’d compare seasons of McGyver instead. The amount of world lore in LS season 1 and McG season 1 are somewhat equal.

Tom Gore.4035:

Your comparison would be valid if you’d compare seasons of McGyver instead. The amount of world lore in LS season 1 and McG season 1 are somewhat equal.

And, notably, there’s probably going to be a catch-up just before LS season 2 hits. Since there’s ample amounts of complaints about missing the stuff.

Please don’t compare Game of Thrones Season 1 to GW2 Living Story Season 1, they are not even in the same league (no offense).

Any who even though you are using it as a metaphor, watch GoT Season 1 – it has important stuff. On the other hand you don’t have to know THAT much of what happened in GW2 Living Story Season 1. I’m sure you can find a short TL;DR version of it somewhere, that’ll set you up for the next season.

Hopefully this helps.

EDIT: This gave me a thought. ANet should have an in-game “book” that summarizes what happened in each season. That way, people who missed it can read it

Lore in season 1 can be summarized in a few sentences. You didn’t miss much. Also living story was boring.

Avster.1935:

Please don’t compare Game of Thrones Season 1 to GW2 Living Story Season 1, they are not even in the same league (no offense).

None taken; they’re not even really in the same sport.

Game of Thrones, and by extension A Song of Ice and Fire, is written where there’s really no black-and-white and many sides have redeeming qualities to them which keeps things from being too simple. (Even the Lannisters aren’t all rotten, and even the Starks have their issues and evils.)

Guild Wars 2 is unashamedly simplified – there is very clear evil in the dragons and their minions. They’re inevitably what the five races have to unify to fight, so that their little territory gripes over who owns what is just childish squabbling over sandcastles as the tide comes in to erase them from the beach.

If you are talking bout Game of Thrones- you do need to watch season 1- season 2 will make no sense if you don’t (imo- it also was a lot weaker, picked up in season 3 though)

If you are talking about Living World season 1- no
you can play season 2 any time- it will take you about 5 min to catch up.
Season 1 was a lot of fun and made for an epic year imo- but it won’t hurt you that you missed it.

Also a video game is not a TV series based on books- you can’t really compare the mediums involved