Guild Wars 2

I’d just like to thank the Team of this Month’s update.

Placing the story instance at the start of the event was a great idea.
It’s a nice way to explain what happened to the great collapse and putting everything in context.

Even more, you guys did a great job on the story of that instance. The characters really felt like they had personality, and the events happening during the opening ceremony were pretty interesting. It ended with some questions left unanswered, that we will hopefully know more about in two weeks.

Who’s the mysterious figure, is this Scarlet? Does Countess Anise have an hidden agenda?

So thanks again for this focus on the story, and I hope this is the quality of things to come lore wise. The pacing was great, and there’s just enough content to “tune in next time” to know what happens next.

Yep, pretty much how I felt. Was disappointed by the lack of story, esp at the end last month. This was a big improvement.

I agree that having a story cutscene/ instance at the beginning of the new content was great. Adds to the experience and world immersion.

When I heard it was gonna be a jubilee I was kind of disappointed but after this update, I have been having the most fun since release. I love the new champions and I love how open world is alive again. I actually want to see more of this story.

Lunar Sunset.8742:

and I love how open world is alive again

If you mean that if we can see ppl escorting same npc over and over or killing few pirates in 2 locations per map is indication that open world is alive again, imo you are mistaken.

Gizmo.8623:

If you mean that if we can see ppl escorting same npc over and over or killing few pirates in 2 locations per map is indication that open world is alive again, imo you are mistaken.

People are doing Champion runs all around the maps at the moment, so I would say it is quite alive.

lordkrall.7241:

Gizmo.8623:

If you mean that if we can see ppl escorting same npc over and over or killing few pirates in 2 locations per map is indication that open world is alive again, imo you are mistaken.

People are doing Champion runs all around the maps at the moment, so I would say it is quite alive.

I do find that every living story did a nice job of reviving the areas they took place in.
During flame and frost, diessa and wayfarer were full of players.
Return to Southsun, well southsun was filled!
Dragon bash, you had players in pretty much every map, doing effigies and holograms.
same for the Bazaar and the Jubilee, with the kites and balloons.

Adding my thanks too. This is my favourite update so far, it’s not perfect, it has it’s bugs however overall I really like this and so far have been having a lot of fun.

I actually like the balloons and the associated events that come with those. I love the Pavillion for obvious reasons, and really liking the story behind this as well.

The Royal Terrace is very handy, and the new masquerade masks in the gem store are really nice, exactly what I wanted for my mesmer. In fact, I got one for my thief too.

In my opinion Effigy’s and Holograms weren’t very fun. They were kinda cool the first time, despite looking very out of place, but doing those achievements felt like a huge grind and pushed the novelty way beyond where it should have been left.

The balloons from this update are much better. They represent the story, they involve actual gameplay (dynamic events, and real ones with some story, I felt the Flame and Frost ones were very hit and miss) and they don’t look out of place. In my head now, I know that Queen Jennah invited representatives from all over Tyria to go to the Jubilee because I’ve seen them travelling there myself in the open world. I’ve also been introduced to the Honour Guard. I have no idea if they are going to be important, but I know who they are now and it’s because of the ballons. Can you say that about Effigys and Holograms? Another thing about it is the world really did feel like it was living. I was looking at the delegate I had to escort in Caledon expecting it to be a sylvari and it was a hylek, then I remembered, there are hylek in this area on the map. There was a disconnect with the Dragon Bash representatives and the ceremony that doesn’t exist in Queen’s Jubilee. It’s a huge improvement and one of the coolest things about it is that it helps tell the story through gameplay, something that has been a weak point in the game up until now.

Here’s one missed opportunity for the balloons and the escort events around them.

They could have given a little bit of backgrounds to the characters you were escorting.
Like while we wait between attacks, they could tell you why they were going to DR.

But i’m just nitpicking here.

Edgar Doiron.2804:

Here’s one missed opportunity for the balloons and the escort events around them.

They could have given a little bit of backgrounds to the characters you were escorting.
Like while we wait between attacks, they could tell you why they were going to DR.

But i’m just nitpicking here.

Would have been an excellent addition, yeah.

Still, though, this update is really top notch so far as far as the story goes. I like it.

as for update i give kudos here pretty good update and i like how they stayed with a bit about the aetherblades. still wondering about the molten alliance though.. wouldnt mind if they did a molten segment after this part is over. love the champ loot and the wallet dont care what anyone says i was always forgeting my gold on a certain char aN when needed had to hop around looking for it.. wouldnt mind a little wvw maybe change up the zones a bit.. same old maps get boring but thats for future reference

Gah, now I cant wait to get on the game. Havent been able to get on due to updates the last two nights, and now I’m just dying to play.

This patch has been awesome.

Edgar Doiron.2804:

lordkrall.7241:

Gizmo.8623:

If you mean that if we can see ppl escorting same npc over and over or killing few pirates in 2 locations per map is indication that open world is alive again, imo you are mistaken.

People are doing Champion runs all around the maps at the moment, so I would say it is quite alive.

I do find that every living story did a nice job of reviving the areas they took place in.
During flame and frost, diessa and wayfarer were full of players.
Return to Southsun, well southsun was filled!
Dragon bash, you had players in pretty much every map, doing effigies and holograms.
same for the Bazaar and the Jubilee, with the kites and balloons.

IMO the updates don’t bring life to areas, they force life into them. And temporary

Gizmo.8623:

Edgar Doiron.2804:

lordkrall.7241:

Gizmo.8623:

If you mean that if we can see ppl escorting same npc over and over or killing few pirates in 2 locations per map is indication that open world is alive again, imo you are mistaken.

People are doing Champion runs all around the maps at the moment, so I would say it is quite alive.

I do find that every living story did a nice job of reviving the areas they took place in.
During flame and frost, diessa and wayfarer were full of players.
Return to Southsun, well southsun was filled!
Dragon bash, you had players in pretty much every map, doing effigies and holograms.
same for the Bazaar and the Jubilee, with the kites and balloons.

IMO the updates don’t bring life to areas, they force life into them. And temporary

How do they force life into them? Does someone go about threatening each user to do the event? Sorry, but I just don’t understand how a player can be forced into an area to do something, if you don’t want to do it you don’t have to. They even introduced a way for casual players to complete the meta-achievement through dailies involving the Jubilee. Therefore, your analysis makes no sense.

On a side note, “The Wallet” is quite simply AWESOME!

Era.6179:

Gizmo.8623:

Edgar Doiron.2804:

lordkrall.7241:

Gizmo.8623:

If you mean that if we can see ppl escorting same npc over and over or killing few pirates in 2 locations per map is indication that open world is alive again, imo you are mistaken.

People are doing Champion runs all around the maps at the moment, so I would say it is quite alive.

I do find that every living story did a nice job of reviving the areas they took place in.
During flame and frost, diessa and wayfarer were full of players.
Return to Southsun, well southsun was filled!
Dragon bash, you had players in pretty much every map, doing effigies and holograms.
same for the Bazaar and the Jubilee, with the kites and balloons.

IMO the updates don’t bring life to areas, they force life into them. And temporary

How do they force life into them? Does someone go about threatening each user to do the event? Sorry, but I just don’t understand how a player can be forced into an area to do something, if you don’t want to do it you don’t have to. They even introduced a way for casual players to complete the meta-achievement through dailies involving the Jubilee. Therefore, your analysis makes no sense.

On a side note, “The Wallet” is quite simply AWESOME!

Maybe I have exaggerated a little. My point was that now players battle champs when they spawn and go away for another. Players are forced into areas where champs spawn, because only them can give shinies everyone wants. Other events are abandoned.

no thank you i hate it if ever i thought i was wasteing my life playing this game the last 5 hours spent trying to beat the gauntlet end boss certainly reaffirmed that feeling

thefinnster.7105:

no thank you i hate it if ever i thought i was wasteing my life playing this game the last 5 hours spent trying to beat the gauntlet end boss certainly reaffirmed that feeling

Take a deep breath and try again You will succeed eventually.
(don’t ever try to play Dark Souls :P )

Edgar Doiron.2804:

Here’s one missed opportunity for the balloons and the escort events around them.

They could have given a little bit of backgrounds to the characters you were escorting.
Like while we wait between attacks, they could tell you why they were going to DR.

But i’m just nitpicking here.

I agree. I really hope the Living Story evolves this kind of thing. It was a giant leap from Holograms but it could be better. I’d like to see it get to the point where Living Story chapters might add chain events that branch across entire maps involving the main character like Rox and Braham. They could have done so much more with a chain event, some story and real characters during Flame and Frost. I’m sure it’s a lot more work and resources, but I’d really love to see this kind of thing to evolve into a more exciting and involved open world Living Story. Then again, a chain event would probably need to be specific to a certain map or two. Balloons work well across multiple maps which fills the goal of having Living Story content present in the entire open world (aside from Orr and Southsun).

Edgar Doiron.2804:

The characters really felt like they had personality, and the events happening during the opening ceremony were pretty interesting.

This. +1. Lore sucks yet, because it’s very predictable, fest after fest, dragons aren’t mentioned. But still that was the first quest with SOUL.

Katran.9186:

This. +1. Lore sucks yet, because it’s very predictable, fest after fest, dragons aren’t mentioned. But still that was the first quest with SOUL.

So, since they are so predictable: Who is Scarlet?
What is her plan? Is she the mastermind or does she take order from someone?
What do the Aetherblades have to do with the Steam Creatures?

Since it is all so predictable I would assume you should be able to give us answers to all these questions?

I wonder if that mysterious figure is a mesmer or some other type of spellcaster race that can go invisible….cough cough mursaat….. BUT really. Count Anise seems to be in on this too. I wasnt getting a good vibe from her.

lordkrall.7241:

Katran.9186:

This. +1. Lore sucks yet, because it’s very predictable, fest after fest, dragons aren’t mentioned. But still that was the first quest with SOUL.

So, since they are so predictable: Who is Scarlet?
What is her plan? Is she the mastermind or does she take order from someone?
What do the Aetherblades have to do with the Steam Creatures?

Since it is all so predictable I would assume you should be able to give us answers to all these questions?

Her plan is to “input generic evil deed like usurpation of power”, she’s mastermind (but if she is in some generic Order, she can be latest chosen master), and, huh, they were creators (If they were Asuran I’d add "but something went wrong) of steam creatures.
GW2 is too predictable, not like GW1. Deal with it. Save this post and cry, when my rightness will be revealed in some of upcoming patches.

Katran.9186:

Her plan is to “input generic evil deed like usurpation of power”, she’s mastermind (but if she is in some generic Order, she can be latest chosen master), and, huh, they were creators (If they were Asuran I’d add "but something went wrong) of steam creatures.
GW2 is too predictable, not like GW1. Deal with it. Save this post and cry, when my rightness will be revealed in some of upcoming patches.

So you simply don’t have a clue at all, that is what you are trying to say?
The Aetherblade did not create the steam creatures.

This is the fist Living World release I’ve really liked. Glad to finally see some combat heavy and difficult challenge fighting content. All the jumping around stuff in the past is too light hearted and wears thin quickly I think, it should be relegated to tag-along or side event stuff, never the main thing.

I hope this team gets highlighted to do more things soon.

In the future though we need to see less reliance on the crutch of one shot mechanics as a stand in for difficulty. Let’s make more use of the variety of skills that all classes have.

lordkrall.7241:

So you simply don’t have a clue at all, that is what you are trying to say?
The Aetherblade did not create the steam creatures.

Ah yeah, right, it WAS asuran experiment that went wrong, lol.

Katran.9186:

GW2 is too predictable, not like GW1. Deal with it.

Oh yeah. Khilbron = The Lich, WHAT a surprise for us. Please…

Gorgaan Peaudesang.8324:

Katran.9186:

GW2 is too predictable, not like GW1. Deal with it.

Oh yeah. Khilbron = The Lich, WHAT a surprise for us. Please…

Mai Trin is a pirate, oh no.

Katran.9186:

Gorgaan Peaudesang.8324:

Katran.9186:

GW2 is too predictable, not like GW1. Deal with it.

Oh yeah. Khilbron = The Lich, WHAT a surprise for us. Please…

Mai Trin is a pirate, oh no.

She lives in Lion’s Arch, so…

But GW1 was predictable. Nostalgia doesn’t mean that GW1 was all great.

Gorgaan Peaudesang.8324:

Katran.9186:

Gorgaan Peaudesang.8324:

Katran.9186:

GW2 is too predictable, not like GW1. Deal with it.

Oh yeah. Khilbron = The Lich, WHAT a surprise for us. Please…

Mai Trin is a pirate, oh no.

She lives in Lion’s Arch, so…

But GW1 was predictable. Nostalgia doesn’t mean that GW1 was all great.

Lore, story quests, pvp of GW1 > GW2
No discuss.