Before I start to rant/complain/feedback I would like to point out a few things. I have been a Guild Wars player and fan for a very long time. I have played all the GW1 Campaigns and I started playing GW2 as soon as I could get my hands, durring beta events and after launch. I have been played a lot of GW2 (over 900 hours) and I have raved to friends about how good it is, I have spent money on the gem shop to help support the company. I loved how the dynamic events were, the leveling, the loot & resource node sharing & WVW. I love the art style and many many more things about the game. The personal story ending was the only thing I had some pause on, that and all of orr, but I can get past that. I loved how the first halloween event was with the quests for the book and all the mini games, wintersday etc..
But over the last year, since after dragon bash I have been loosing faith. All the zerg content, lack of story, point less achievement hunting, stagnant guild activities/support & stagnant WVW development has finally taken its toll. Edge of the mist is just another map for zergs to run around in.
I fought for GW2 tooth and nail ever since it came out and I loved what it started out to be, even with all the bugs. I am saying to you the developers I think you are making a mistake some where in your development. I love the idea of the living story, changing world and all. But the implementation of it is really killing the experience of what I had felt with GW2 when I first started playing. I find myself logging in less and less every week. And I think the reason is simply because lack of execution. These ideas of your are awesome, new content every two weeks, “dynamic” zerg content, cool gem store items & a quasi interesting story. But please spend more time on thinking through content & implementing the story properly.
I do not agree with tying everything for the living world and PVE content in achievements. I personally think they destroy the story you are trying to tell, event though your using them as a way to give the players individual quests. It not only ruins the story telling experience and exploration of the content, it is a poor way to deliver rewards for doing content. I mean I was one of those that got all the achievements at the beginning but now I could care less. I was very exited for the ending of this story to only find that after a few sessions of playing the new content I have only completed 3 out of 15 achievements and a broken conclusion that I sort of understand. And after trying for a specific achievement for over 2 hours and not getting it I am finally frustrated enough to give up on the entire achievement system. I know this game has no sub, I know I can come back to it but this is a long time loyal player telling you there is something wrong with your plan. I only hope that you will make things MUCH better in the second season.
I am sorry I dont have a suggestion to fix my complaints other than to spend more time on content and rethink how you tell the story/achievements. I personally enjoyed most of the content up until after dragon bash probably because there wasnt all this zerg content.