Guild Wars 2

It’s been almost a year since the first dragon storyline. I think it is past time to start tying these stories into the next dragon. Bubbles is the obvious choice since we are moving to southsun, but Jormag would be possible as well.

The entire game story was built around the growing threat of the elder dragons yet we have heard nothing about any of the others since launch. Originally I expected the dragons to come with expansions, but since it doesn’t seem like GW2 has achieved the required funding for an expansion yet we have to make due with living story so I think it is time to progress those stories with what we have.

I think its much too soon for a new dragon story line. First Im sure a new dragon would be a much better reveal with an expansion with new land masses and new mechanics and such. I doubt funding is the reason they havent started on an expansion yet. They are more concerned with building out current content before starting epic new storylines. I think this “living world” is a type of new expansion which im ok with. Let them try new smaller ideas before going all in on a new dragon expansion.

Save dragons for expansions, leave Living Story for more mundane threats.

The entire game was NOT built around the growing threat of the Elder Dragons. Rather, it was built around the distant but large threat of the Elder Dragons. Thing is, Zhaitan wasn’t so distanced. We’ve heard plenty of Jormag, though, in-game. But just because the living story content doesn’t cover the Elder Dragons doesn’t mean much of anything.

I really don’t see where you possibly get the thought that GW2 didn’t achieve the funding for an expansion. Do you think such because we haven’t heard of such? With GW1, they released campaigns on a near yearly basis, so we could be learning of such in a couple months for late August release – however, do keep in mind that GW2’s been having a lot more content than GW1 did (being monthly content updates; and GW2 content needs more work due to the event system compared to GW1 and its quest system).

They have said that they have no plans for an expansion at this time. It takes 2+ years to fully develop an expansion so if they haven’t even planned on one yet then we aren’t going to see one at least for two more years.

I don’t know why they are doing this. IMO it seems like the worst decision in the history of MMO’s, more content + more money seems like a win for everyone. I naturally assumed that if they weren’t doing an expansion it was because they couldn’t fund one since there is literally no other good reason not to do it. Before launch they said their primary source of revenue was going to be box sales and expansions as it was with GW1.

If we want to see a dragon I think it is going to have to be through living story content.

Correct me if I am wrong but I don’t remember any MMO that had expansion (I don’t mean content updates, I mean a big expansion) sooner than 1 year after release. It has been 9 months since release and people from Anet have said (somewhere) that there will be no expansion this year, so why do you expect expansion so soon?

Mind you, people are buying gems like crazy, i’ve spent around $150 or more in addition to my DD copy of the game, and i’m sure many more have. I DOUBT funding is an issue.

People unaware of GW1’s release schedule then?

Prophecies – April 28th 2005
Factions – April 28th 2006
Nightfall – October 27th 2006

Their business model at the time was to release a game every 6 months by staggering 2 design teams giving them 1 full year of development.

Strejda Tom.6108:

Correct me if I am wrong but I don’t remember any MMO that had expansion (I don’t mean content updates, I mean a big expansion) sooner than 1 year after release. It has been 9 months since release and people from Anet have said (somewhere) that there will be no expansion this year, so why do you expect expansion so soon?

You are correct, most MMO’s don’t LAUNCH an expansion until 18 months – 2 years after release. However most announce the expansion with a teaser within the first year. Anet on the other hand has said they haven’t even begun thinking about expansions yet.

Here is the interview where it was mentioned: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/05/no-guild-wars-2-expansions-currently-planned

I would love to have them surprise me and announce and expansion at the one year mark, to be released in 6 months to a year after that, but it doesn’t seem like that is the route they are taking. I figure if I ever want to see another elder dragon I need to start pushing for the story to be established in the living content.

I want a storyline just to introduce Mordremoth (Jungle Dragon). He is closer to home than bubbles, and has multiple (if subtle) references throughout. I don’t think we need a full “Let’s find and kill Mordremoth” storyline, but something to start showing his corruption and perhaps even open up to meet his champion as a new world boss. It would also give an opportunity to open up one more jungle zone which is under represented at the moment.

I think Mordremoth is going to be a long way off tbh. Id be surprised if it comes before late this year. I know they have made references, but they will need more space. Im expecting more Maguuma and for him to be in there, but thats probably an expansion.

ZudetGambeous.9573:

They have said that they have no plans for an expansion at this time. It takes 2+ years to fully develop an expansion so if they haven’t even planned on one yet then we aren’t going to see one at least for two more years.

Factions came out a full year after Prophecies, so your 2+ statement is bull, utter bull, since Factions was a stand-alone campaign. Just saying.

And I don’t think it was announced until 5 or so months prior to release – which would have been December, btw, but I think it got announced in February TBH (I’m not sure on this, I do know that content leading into Factions content began coming about in December). Though I think it was planned from the release of Prophecies – or beforehand.

But either way, ArenaNet not having an expansion planned two months ago doesn’t mean that 1) they don’t have one planned now, 2) unable to produce an expansion before 2 years, 3) they don’t have the funding for an expansion, or 4) that they need to bring out a dragon “now” – storywise, they’re all still far off and not immediate threats, with Jormag as the closest one.

We need dragon related stories, but not necs a dragon. As i e said before, the zhaitan story ended way too suddenly. Once a dragon is killed, part of game disappears with it. The build up, the influence they have -thats what is the fun bit. The final battle and appearance should be years off.

The living story hopefully will run with this. It is ideally suited in philosophy to do so and have multiple, separate dragon related incidents running together. A sudden icebrood attack on hoelbrak, whilst gathering info on brand movements out of the desert for eg.

The biggest challenge anet face is how many stories they have to draw on and keep going. 6 dragons, mursaat, white mantle, palawa joko, cantha, offspring of glint, the 6 Gods, the consortium.

Thats a lot of content i find very exciting that can be drawn from

seeying how fast they could pump out quality content in GW(while Factions was smaller then proph, it was as fun) And now they have alot bigger team/more recourses.

I can see them launching a X-pack in nov/dec, announce it + event at birthday at the end of august and launch 2-3 months later, why not? the release date of GW2 was only given 2 months before release

The NCSoft conference call over the weekend announced that they are indeed working on an expansion and will launch it when they need to maximize profit. I suspect we will see the start of the next dragon storyline then.

ZudetGambeous.9573:

They have said that they have no plans for an expansion at this time. It takes 2+ years to fully develop an expansion so if they haven’t even planned on one yet then we aren’t going to see one at least for two more years.

I don’t know why they are doing this. IMO it seems like the worst decision in the history of MMO’s, more content + more money seems like a win for everyone. I naturally assumed that if they weren’t doing an expansion it was because they couldn’t fund one since there is literally no other good reason not to do it.

Expansions are not the only means of adding significant content to the game. They could add a continent through the living story if they wanted, actually.

You dont always have to pay for the big content additions either, although I concede that bought expansions are the most used method for that. EVE Online for example had 1-2 expansions per year for many years all of which added content (sometimes alot, or entire new gameplay aspects) that all were entirely free to the subscribers (which if turned around is similar to no sub and paid expansions cost-wise, I guess).

So no plans for an expansion in itself is not bad, they steadily patch new stuff. Imo they just need to add a bit more meat to their patches.