Showing Posts For Haaznahnuff.1907:

Believably Black Human Male?

in Human

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

If we browse through GW art, we see that the Elonian culture and people share a lot of traits with past Africa irl, both sub-saharian and north-saharian. And it’s true that some Elonian made their way to Kryta. Thus, the fact that Elonia is not part of the game shouldn’t prevent players to play a character of Elonian ancestry, or of partial Elonian ancestry.

However, while I agree that the facial customization is limited, this topic turned a surrealistic corner from an educated European point of view (not saying that an European is educated, just saying that some aren’t so!). Black is not Africa (as recognized by anthropologists since the mid 20th century), and as said, even Africa is diversity and history.

I hope you understand why “Anglo-saxon chin” and “full-blood Black guy” made my day.

If you destroy 90% of all the waypoints...

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I say put waypoints everywhere, at least at the beginning of each platform, with banker, merchant, free repair, and portable crafting station. Add resurrection orbs for 1 sp and a few potion/orbs slots above the skill bar. Maybe get a locker to store all our avatars and make it possible to change character just before traveling through WP or resurrecting. Of course, get rid of all this ridiculous background bla-bla when creating our war machine. And add twice as many achievements, so that we really know what and when to do in this game.

Hating the Aspects and Jumping Beans

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

HyruleanHyroe, it’s certainly not a matter of whiny debilitated persons.

I personally don’t mind a lot of eye-hand coordination to win a peculiar achievement/reward, or to access an alternate (optional) content. If I can’t finish a given jumping puzzle, I’m fine as long as to finish it is not mandatory every day.
I don’t mind either if the new game design involves a bit of coordination (along with a better knowledge of the professions, and some fighting techniques, not necessarily some public, written by others meta-game data) to get the action more varied, dynamic, lively.

It’s another matter to need a higher than normal coordination or hardware, or play time, in order to win a meta-achievement or to access/advance a LS content in due time, though.
Unless this achievement is specifically and openly designed to reward a better coordination, the ownership of a better computer, or a better/longer involvement in game. And only if the overall achievement system is balanced accordingly to this design choice.

If you destroy 90% of all the waypoints...

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Imho, there should be a better compromise between

  • those who comprehend the game like a lobby with a character selection screen, an equipment locker, a chat and LFG, and a portals room to dungeons, farming sites, WB, and battle grounds, and
  • those who want an open world to stride across, possibly with some other irl contingency implemented as well.

is just inopportune, firstly because of the game’s population profile. Are we really all with a mature mind, and what this maturity refers to ? Speaking of maturity, I’m not sure for instance that we all need a daily coffer as an incentive to play this game! Should we choose to not earn it while playing our way?

Secondly, and principally, what others do matters in a MMORPG (remember that they, and their actions, belong to your own game). Individualistic gamers just tend to forget this fact, however. Of course there is some needed social tolerance, such as not being exasperated when stumbling across another player dressed like an irl tourist or with bunny ears: again, it’s their choice, and our own game too, but we wouldn’t ask for a special filtering functionality to visually cull them whenever we come close together. Yet, does everyone understand that seeing to many people wearing bunny ears may spoil one’s game, just like any spammed shouting on the UI, that you couldn’t turn off? It’s the same when people appear and disappear in front of you, and use a functionality that you “maturely” decided to ignore.

For instance, first time I read that new WPs would be added just for guilds to access their new dedicated content faster, I really thought that Arena Net is shooting itself in its open, living, persistent, virtual world…

Suggestion:

  • Let’s have WPs near all or most of the instanciated maps (and near guild puzzles if the opposite is unbearable). “Near” is still debatable, though.
  • Let’s have one or two extra WPs on each map, provided they are erected in logical places, see below.

and…

  • Let’s get ride of those indestructible, automatic cubic WP models in the wilds, whereas the “normal” asuran gates are damaged with a single explosive charge, and necessitate each one a qualified team to be operational. Seriously, there isn’t even a better range or a higher success rate associated with those normal asuran gates. The only difference is that they are free of charge (not counting the WPs in the capitals).
  • Let’s replace the WPs with normal asuran gates properly manned, and build in protected (though contest-able) sites (such as Black Lion’s havens, and other outposts) or in any abandoned and ruined complex because lore-wise, it made sense for asuras to build and use/loan them in the past (place of power, temple, energy node, former mining facility, or why not harvesting station, etc.). The latter would need either some kind of Order’s team deployed to man them when they are repaired and on-line, or some kind of automation (but not as those inconsistent current WPs).

As for where would we resurrect when dead, there would s[t]ill be portals enough in any given map, imo. Remember what happened to the WPs inside the dungeons? The reasons why, the pros, the cons? Well, I feel like it’s time to consider what is the current open world compromise worth, and what would change in case of a slight or a more radical adjustment.

(edited by Haaznahnuff.1907)

Enough of your GMPC please.

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I agree that a lot of tiny attentions (dedicated dialogues according to the PS/LS achievement status, forking dialogues according to personal background, etc.) (even if carefully, scarcely and cleverly sprinkled on, as Angel McCoy says), would mend things quite a lot and enliven the player’s sentiment that he/she’s really role-playing a character, rather than a MOBA avatar (I use RP as in “being immersed in a fantasy world” here). I easily figure that this work but may be time-consuming. It’s simply to be considered in the grand schedule of what has to be done to improve the game experience.

What is sad (and worrying?), is that this non attention (or time constraint-induced limitation) has lasted since the very game’s beginning, well before the LW. Go talk to the first level PS characters you brought back to your home (charr character’s father, etc.) to convince yourself. My theory is that the PS was (at least at some time in the past years) seen only as a mean to go with the fast leveling-up, and indeed, this (sadly) reflects well the mindset of many players (not those complaining here!).

So yes, perhaps, it could be a good idea to temporary hire a recruit to play the PS in an excessively character-focused way (hard-core/vet/meta MMO players shouldn’t qualify for this role imho), so that the devs and story-tellers would have a genuinely fresh, outside sight on what it feels to play a given character combination the way it’s implemented in game.

This would be just another game polishing action, a bit like when the devs decide to focus on a given profession balance in PvP.

Oh god no...

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Did we chop her body to bits, then burn it to ashes?
Did we throw her ashes in the Mystic Forge?

Would we like a new sexy corruption called the Queen of the Blades?

(Never mind.)

Dark Skinned Norn

in Norn

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

They resemble humans and by media standards, must obey human standards and constrictions.

???
Because of the rating board (similar to the asura being considered as children, or Taimi being assimilated to an irl human child) ? Or because this MMORPG isn’t designed for RPGamers?

To say it short, I’d rather have had the female norns as non-human as the male norns look like. Things would have been more clear in my mind. But no, they are more like teenager walking dreams. Even if the are “sistas” as well.

Back to the topic, I’d have an imaginative explanation based on the Nature Spirits (as suggested above), rather than a hyper-sensitivity to sunlight or hot weather (by human standard).

Indeed, the current design, using a quasi-human tint scale (except blueish white skin), without any “animal/totemic” trait (except tattoos) nor any link to norn transforms (why don’t the transforms have the same general hue as the bare skin?), makes it quite cheap in my opinion (in the sens that they look much like a copy of the humans).

Enough of your GMPC please.

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I’d take it if you don’t mind.

The Sylvari as Mordremoth Minions?

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I don’t see why one could say that sylvaris are predestined minions, whereas we are sure they are a Pale Tree’s creation.

All that you can say is that chances are that the Pale Tree was a predestined minion, like all the fruits he would bear.

It’s not the same thing, I believe.

Story journal

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

For those of level 80 who haven’t completed the Personal Story yet (still two years in the past!), know that once you choose to play the new S2 story (clicking the white button “Play this…”), it replaces your Personal Story, but then, you only have to choose to play the Personal Story again to have it replace the S2 story. You may switch from one to the other as will.
I’m speaking only about the green marker and the head-up notification. I’ve still to test about the interactions with NPC and instances in game.

The Anatomy of a Sylvari

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

The sylvaris are said to be the Pale Tree’s fruits, not seeds. Let’s do not take as granted that all the fruits are reproductive fruits (and seeds). The Pale Tree is not the usual plant, and her fruits are not the usual fruits. She may need fruits for other purpose than reproduction, and we could consider the sylvaris as “emissary” fruits!

The Sylvari Elementalist

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I play a ferocious Defender of the Humus, and try to specialize in Earth and Water.
But it’s just my fantasy.

The Sylvari as Mordremoth Minions?

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I wouldn’t necessarily say it holds no water. The Pale Tree itself could have very well been a Champion of Mord but also, like Glint, veered from it’s pre-destined path.

Not really, no.

The Pale Tree was found as a seed in a cave. She might have had some vague memories and thoughts while she was still a seed, but she didn’t seem to gain full enough consciousness to look out into the world until she sprouted out of the ground. That alone eliminates the “Champion of Mordremoth” theory.

I too really don’t see anything in contradiction with the minions theory. The real question is: are the seeds in the cave a draconic creation from the start, or will most of them end to be corrupted (in the later case, what’s their origin?) (it has been speculated that they could be a defensive weapon against the dragons).

What is not speculation, imo:

Granted, the Pale Tree was diverted from its genuine purpose and that’s all*.
But that doesn’t imply that its (their) genuine purpose was not to serve an Elder Dragon (nor does it imply the contrary, of course). A “realm of plants” dragon could very well generate servants through some plant-like process.

Despite the Malyck case (maybe an inconsistency?), we are also told that sylvari appearance, or a large part of it, is made human “thanks to” the massacre of humans at the Pale Tree growing site. That doesn’t mean that other trees’ fruits are not humanoid, but they are surely even less human in appearance. But the greater difference could be psychological (Ventari teaching, the Dream, Mother’s mothering).

In short, I believe that both these considerations can be taken for granted:
- the Pale Tree’s kind of specificity (and maybe the dream process of shared “memory”), and
- the shaping of the sylvari by the Pale Tree in re/deference to the humans.

I mean, we are not speculating from nothing, and any development that ignores those facts is a fail in my opinion.

What is speculation:
There is plenty room to figure how the Pale Tree managed to escape its draconic destiny (premature hatching, Ronan/Ventari infusion), and how other seeds could become trusty draconic lieutenants, now that the Dragon is awaken or in a higher state of consciousness.

Now, if the seeds are a draconic creation, who were/are deemed to (disperse? and) plant them? And when?

Also, even if we doubt that the Pale Tree, and the Grove could become corrupted/reclaimed by the Dragon (don’t we?), Scarlett’s fate could be a hint that the sylvari (the playable species) might be vulnerable to a kind of “reclamation” by means of a violent mind attack (I’ll keep the term “corruption” for other non-sylvari life-forms in case this dragon may corrupt any life-form). That could degenerate into a new enemy faction made of former children of the Pale Tree, and as such sylvari-alike (not monsters), much like courtiers, but free from the Pale Tree protection…

*: except if the vocation of all those seeds is to be found by an adventurer and planted at a “place of power” as sentinels for a greater purpose.

Female LOVE!

in Asura

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

If Arena Net is lazy, it’d rather look proof for it in the quite limited number of physical, and facial variants for each species, outfit variety for each origin, emote variety, …, and above all (far above), the rather poor variety in NPC faces and attire (the number of models is quite limited actually, but this is maybe more a technical limitation than a lack of design time). It’s not a matter of adding boobs to asura females !

I wouldn’t shun a clever and lovely texture and model dimorphism, but not this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWKChAheHgM

What races have the "bro power"?

in Lore

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I’d like to remember two facts (sorry, no precise references):

  1. In Brisban Wilds (Zinder Slope) one Peacemaker wonders whether the Warden’s methods (againt the courtiers) could be efficient against the Inquest and they are clearly allied against all the threats in the area (beside the Seraph btw). Things of the past, although not forgotten, seem to be put into perspective for the common purpose.
  2. Although the Norn and the Charr have developed a mutual respect for generations, not long ago, a trespassing warband would still be hunted and cold-blood destroyed without any remorse nor diplomatic consequences. Respect doesn’t mean automatic friendliness.

Dialogue in storyline "A Tangle of Weeds"

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Sorry, I didn’t understand your real goal, and thought you implies that a sylvari had a grandmother.

I love the present Lion's Arch

in Festival of the Four Winds

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I believe that whatever LA may become, the new and better services layout will stay (or be even improved).

Dialogue in storyline "A Tangle of Weeds"

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Well, given it’s a Whisper mission, I don’t know if we can rely on all that the character and Cai, the Whisper emissary, may say…

If someone can precise the circumstances however, this could be an overlook from the writers (rather than a hidden clue to something).

Female LOVE!

in Asura

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I feel quite troubled when I read some people asking that kind of request.

  • Asura are not human at all. The fact that we, players, are human shouldn’t be taken too much into consideration except for the teen rating, as said. Moreover, I do think that even if I use it on my asura girl, the human-like hair, and especially the pony/pig tails are out-of-place (Imho, it was a mistake, like warriors wearing stilettos…). No offense here, but when I gaze at some of the sylvari and asura facial player designs, I’m getting quite sad about our incapacity to depart from the human aesthetic canon. Please, don’t humanize your avatars too much: it’s not because they don’t look humans that they are ugly, you know. It makes me remember of all these “BetterFace” fan-made add-ons that transform any single RPG into a mainstream fashion catalog and are an insult to the very will of the designers.
  • Asura are “monsters” without much a sexual dimorphism, as already said, or not the same as per human standards. We aren’t even sure about the difference inside of them. Aren’t we able to cope with this? Aren’t we able to play a species which genders are physically, and why not, emotionally and psychologically, nearer to each other than with the human species? Ah! Don’t even think about playing an ogre, then!
  • Species diversity is much more important than gender diversity, as far as immersion is concerned. Just having two genders and five species doesn’t grant you max diversity if all the gender diversity resumes into a single human gender diversity.
    So, if the lore states that one (or two) of the playable species is definitively non human (or say, less human), then let’s go with it. There are other species to wear ribbons. Or let’s accept discrete, alien, subtle asuran “ribbons” that could be anything but like human ribbons. When I play an asura, I want to feel an asura. It’s not only about my character, it’s about all the other characters, the NPC of both genders, the dialogues, the environment…

That said,

  • I too find some past GW artwork great, and wonder whether these exotic features could be introduced to some extend?
  • I’d think that some female (and male alike) come to the taste of human fashion through contact with that civilization. I indulge myself in playing an asura female with ironed blond pony tails, trying to mimic a fashion catalog, collecting fancies, etc.
    It’s not to say that the asura females haven’t used any make-up for centuries, even when underground, but I’d see her intellect as having difficulty to catch some of the every-day mundane human concerns in the appearance domain.

What's your charr war band?

in Charr

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Duilia Goldilock (Necromancer, Ash Legion, Lock Warband)
It’s a pun by fellow comrades who attached the name to this blond, tall charr.
Other names were more serious (Flintlock, Warlock, Smashlock, Safelock, Mistlock, Oclock, …)

@Rheagar: no offense, but your warband’s name is not your surname. You surname or war name would be usually made of the warband’s name and a personal descriptor.
Tribun Rytlock is of the Stone warband, and his war name is Brimstone, Brim being his personal affix.
Either yours is Letter or Blood. You can let out guts, brains, oil, scream, fire …
In rare cases, or with gladiums, the surname may be like any other nickname (the Bloodletter).

A more natural look while leveling.

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I see. Those shoulders and leggings do really match the other parts. Cheers!
The trick is then to have a blue skin or a blue luminescence.

Practical quasi-lore: Tool uses

in Lore

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Logging axes do have two sides.. They differ from the inventory icon!

Newbie Question Regarding Norn Size

in Norn

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Now you are going to understand my concern with the high max/min ratio.

Behold my lovely norn spy right after a little training with a Vigil Warmaster!
(My avatar is at min size and I believe this NPC is near the max size)

Now, is that 1.5 ratio still in use or is this peculiar NPC a mark of past experiences?

Attachments:

The Sylvari as Mordremoth Minions?

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

They are not transforming, but growing.

To be precise, they are shaping, and the shapers are those who take care for these plants’ growth and formation. And they have certain means to move and dig volumes of earth and rocks, maybe plant workers if one doesn’t want to tape into elemental magic (terraforming).

One of the Firstborn is known as the Shaper of the Grove, by the way.

Do Sylvari actually have sexuality?

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

And sentiments are more than sexuality…

Maybe they never consumed their love/attraction/mutual interest.

A more natural look while leveling.

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

It looks like the sylvari luminescence does impact this non-sylvari armor, or what?

Norn Female Body Measurements

in Norn

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Also, maybe, their bone density is different!

Asian Sylvari discovered!!!

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

You might be interested to know that during Character Creation, there are both sliders and a sliding panel for you to use in order to allow for some diversity!

Sylvari white deer personal story - spoiler

in Lore

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

By the way, a citizen in the Grove explains that it’s normal that there are “evil” sylvaris.
Ventari only said that “injustice” was bad, and he never taught that “evil” was bad. (ambient speech)

Maybe it’s unfair, and unjust to kill an innocent (like in the Arbor massacre), but to kill alone is not unfair if you’ve some good reason (according to Ventari, Caithe, and perhaps most sylvaris), even if convoluted or hidden. Likewise, we could question the sylvari concepts of honorableness and wisdom (neither one nor the other prevents some degree of “evilness”).
Now it’s up to you to decide how death and anger can be natural, but injustice and gratuitous murder aren’t so.

The Sylvari as Mordremoth Minions?

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

But Vorpp says, and I quote:

Vorpp: “His notes say its purpose was to shut down the mind’s security system and open it—like opening a door—to welcome in the truths of the Eternal Alchemy. But our minds are protected for a reason.

To repeat: But our minds are protected for a reason.

He’s not talking about sylvari minds, but “our” minds. As in, given the context, general sapient (or perhaps, simply living) beings.

That’s not what I read, there are some few sentences to read along the one you quoted:

Vorpp: “His notes say its purpose was to shut down the mind’s security system and open it—like opening a door— to welcome in the truths of the Eternal Alchemy. But our minds are protected for a reason.
Player: “When Scarlet looked across the open threshold, she saw things. And something looked back.
Vorpp: “Ceara encountered something that literally broke her mind, but the only things in there were things she brought.
Vorpp: “I surmise she was directly exposed to a part of her own psyche that had been carefully walled off. Perhaps for her own protection?”
Vorpp: “We’d need to do a far more extensive study of the sylvari Dream

  • Granted, the cube’s primary goal was to use the mind to explore part of the Alchemy (and the machine’s purpose was to lower the natural mind defense).
  • But, in the case of the sylvari (or perhaps in Scarlet’s case only — it’s not clear), something hidden (walled off) in their mind is harmful. I read that the subjects are not harmed by something laying outside (like an over-exposed sensor), but by something laying inside them. Alright, this could apply to all sentient species if this hidden bit was their soul or divine bit inside of them… but Vorpp clearly isolates the sylvari case.
  • Vorpp’s doesn’t say he’s got to study the Alchimy in order to understand what happened, he says he’s got to study the Dream (even if we can see it as a part of the Alchimy). I find that it’s a pretty difference, if all his sayings are self-coherent, that is.

Change T1 male heavy Sylvari gear?

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I hope this gives you faith in humanity once again.

:)

My male warrior will wear some T1 pieces of armor indeed, and not T2 or even T3 (the T1 helm is great for instance). Now, I have to test with the luminescence effects, because… that counts!

Newbie Question Regarding Norn Size

in Norn

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

To those who want metric numbers, we’d have then:

  • Norns:
    Min: 1m78 ; Max: 2m62 ; Ratio: 1.471
  • Charrs:
    Min: 1m52 ; Max: 2m08 ; Ratio: 1.367
  • Asuras:
    Min: 0m86 ; Max: 1m17 ; Ratio: 1.353
  • Humans & Sylvaris:
    Min: 1m50 ; Max: 1m90 ; Ratio: 1.271

Note that the charr are a bit tricky because it’s their standing height, not the overall one!

Now on the rant.
It’s fine we can have in game the diversity is size which is the proper of the humankind (Am I wrong about this being “proper”?), and we know that the Pale Tree did mimic this.
But then, what in the lore tells that all the other species would be (or not be) even more diverse in size (height) than the humans are?
As often in the game industry (and the leisure industry as a whole), I suspect a humano-centrism here (let’s reflect the irl life, let the player be the size he wants, because perhaps he likes or dislikes his own size irl, etc.).

The only reason I see for a norn, an ancient giant species, to be as tall as a human, even in the case of a large-scale degenerative process (loosing their magic, etc.), is to allow players of both species to play together with the feeling to belong to the same species.

My only point here is just:
Couldn’t have we accepted to play a “monstrous” (inhuman, “exotic”) species among 5 other, so that there is no problem in diversity and choice, which max:min size ratio would have been no greater than 1.2? Why?

[Edit] Even if this scale is false or obsolete, I stand on my rant about the norn size ratio! [/Edit]

The Sylvari as Mordremoth Minions?

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I understand that Vorp tells us that Omadd did allow one sylvari to glance at her very own, deep, and hidden nature, a nature specific to the sylvari. Well, well, well.
I’d bet that the barrier that had to be breached is the one the Pale Tree builds (or has being built) in the mind of all her fruits before they awake.

The Sylvari as Mordremoth Minions?

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

They can only alter plants. The animals I’ve actually seen recently to be explained by them taming through violence in mundane ways – wurms too. In those cases, perhaps also with the sylvan hounds and mosshearts too (and their changing shape is just a result of their own biology), the Nightmare Court are little different than dog fight “tamers”. Abusive pet owners that train their pet to relieve their anger and frustration on others.

I’d think that spiders are altered too.
Perhaps, it’s simply an overlook by Arena Net, and you would be right about the basic fact that the Nightmare court may have a special kind of Shaper who can change the form of plant-like creatures. But corrupted husks, if non-animal, aren’t a Court creation, and yet they look akin to nightmare hounds and spiders, hence my point about the same origin of this magic.

A more natural look while leveling.

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Not sure there. Look at the Tier1 weapons that are affordable to all as quest rewards and loot (Shiverpeaks, Krytan, Glyphic, Steam,… but no sylvari ones). Why not the armor? Or yes, five other Tier 0 “regional” sets for karma vendor instead of all those basic skins.

A charr leveling-up in the Shiverpeaks would loot and buy either basic equipment or regional (Shiverpeaks’) one (plus ogre, modniir, etc.).

Norn Animal Transformations

in Norn

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I’d have those were-forms less bland however. More details and colors in the fur and the feather, please.

Norn necromancer?

in Norn

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

There’s a norn necromancer in Godslost Swamp and he’s studying lost spirits.
That’s the point of the highly mystic norns, I think. Those necromancers act as shamans of all spirits (remember that everything living is part of a common spirit), the searchers and teachers of the interweaving between the Myst, the spirits and the ancestors. It’s a very noble, and useful profession indeed.
(What would be the “game” profession of the havrouns by the way? Guardians, elementalists?)

The Sylvari as Mordremoth Minions?

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Perhaps, as already discussed, those Pale Tree seeds that have grown so far don’t belong to the original plan anymore. The original plan was to keep the seeds in a hideout where, obviously, they weren’t scheduled to evolve in pale trees. Now, where those seeds come from, who brought them all there, what their purpose are, and who/what should awake/plant them, we don’t know.

As already told, they could either have been placed there by the Dragon before he went asleep, to serve him when he awake (and thus, Mother and Malyck’s Pale Tree went out of this plan), or, they have been placed there as anti-dragon weapons by some entity to help the world when the Dragon awakes (again, the already grown up pale trees are out of this plan, except if the entity, or another one, decided it is better to have some seeds planted earlier than the others).

The Sylvari as Mordremoth Minions?

in Living World

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Nonetheless, the Nightmare Court uses a kind of magic to pervert sentient beings, such as fernhounds, spiders, and some treants, and even to break and bind sylvari minds in spite of their attachment to the Dream. Some of they may have tapped the Nightmare somehow, not knowing it was draconic magic.

Moreover, we have wurms and husks which are not the product of the Court, but which look the same as the Court’s servants. Perhaps another hint into what might be the next enemy.

Let's explain some toponyms

in Lore

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

What an answer, thank you both of you!

By the way, Lychcroft Mere is just south of Meremoot Hill, in the Kessex area, not in Godslost!

Also, is a blackroot an irl plant?

Feel free to go on commenting while I’m preparing the next batch.

(edited by Haaznahnuff.1907)

Newbie Question Regarding Norn Size

in Norn

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Is your scale up to date? As I wrote, I don’t think that my norn is of the same size as tall humans.

Lore-wise, you might want to know that norns are said to be a race of giants, cousin to the jotuns (cf. the Story Teller in the Great Lodge : both kins used to rule the world).

Newbie Question Regarding Norn Size

in Norn

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Between the smallest female and the tallest male, the discrepancy is important.
My character often wonders if she really belongs to the same species as those huge muscular warriors.

As a spy, she’s a tiny, skinny female with dark hair and “common” hair style, without any distinctive tattoos. She’s one head taller than the tallest of humans, and this comes handy when you have to merge into a human crowd (bent those knees under your coat!).
She’s a daughter of Raven, of course.

Let's explain some toponyms

in Lore

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

To be fair, I expect far less answerers than readers, and far less interested readers than the player base is large, but only one answer may win the day, and Tamias just started the process ! And he provides us a reason why I started this thread: “killing zone” was translated into “execution zone”, so I thought that tengus were sentenced to death and executed there…

And he’s right… think how most of the wiki pages are poor when it comes about the origin of the names. If we could add for some at least one sentence…

Explain the Asura ranger to me..

in Asura

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

The rangers are definitively the eyes and hears of any army, and the small scale deep patrols, or scouts. Indeed, any golem squad need some rangers ahead and around when they walk in close order outside the city.

As said above, they can also be explorers. No long range exploration golem is in used at the moment (remember the collect of data in the Rootangles), so they have to rely on sentient or sapient auxiliaries to cover more ground more efficiently. Imo, they aren’t as specialized in combat with pets as other species are. Granted, pets are the ranger’s specialty, but it’s also only one of their trait lines, a line that doesn’t need to be filled, if you want.

Also, if you think more scientific and less martial, you may see the ranger as the biocollector/trapper in every and each scientific expedition, or as a freelance, autonomous biosampler, whom job is to gather rare biological remains throughout Tyria, for the colleges and peripheral krewes to use.
And you’re right, some are behaviorists who will soon find applications in the golem industry (think about that class of Inquest golems, which we aren’t sure about if they are suits with “something” inside, or purely mechanoids).

(edited by Haaznahnuff.1907)

A more natural look while leveling.

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

I remember I got the staff with my engineer (did I?).

But generally speaking, it’s unlikely you get cultural equipment (my sylvari warrior got chaimail chest etc.). Or… things changed in between.

Eager to see what you get after helping the Warden?
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Called_to_Service

(edited by Haaznahnuff.1907)

Do Sylvari actually have sexuality?

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Bright, but I’d add another Pale Tree gift, some fertile egg. Even if Caladbolg is a splint of her, it was designed as a weapon. Let’s say that Trahearne has to play a similar role as Ronan, to inspire the egg and give the sapling a consciousness.

You could oppose that the Pale Tree is unable to reproduce itself by any ways, and that the only entity that could create another Pale Tree is the one that created the eggs found by Ronan. So a last quest would be needed to steal another of these eggs in order to revive Orr with Trahearne and Caladbolg.

Worst racials?

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Seed Turret can be used either for a bit of extra DPS if placed in a safish spot, or as a distraction.

Healing Seed’s main problem is that in most situations where you want it, it dies in about two seconds.

Indeed, Healing Seed saved me often times during the leveling up face to a veteran. It dies fast, but I used it as a decoy (it seems to always catch the aggro), or as a last stand ally when cornered. Before dying, it heals you a bit and grants you a few seconds of regen, all that you need to last more than your enemies. However, if you miscalculated, its rather important CD is killing. I’d have had a CD proportional to its up time!

Now, for prepared situations, it can be replaced by bundle turrets when you can afford them.

A more natural look while leveling.

in Sylvari

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

It’s simple.

Most sylvari-related karma items sold in Caledon Forest and Brisban Wilds should have been Tier1 cultural in appearance (not stats). Also some sylvari PS rewards could have been also Tier 1 cultural (I believe at least one is?) (Kitten! One of the quest is to help a smith!). Finally, some chest loot tables could have had more Tier 1 cultural too.

Backgrounds skins could also have been made culture-dependant (mesmer and necromancer are to some extent, and not warrior, engineer and guardian).

Otherwise, like Electro, I found “normal” gear adapted to my characters.

Let's explain some toponyms

in Lore

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Map: Kessex Hills
http://gw2.mmorpg-life.com/kessex-hills-map-of-pois-waypoints-vistas-skills-and-more/3598/

Names and titles


- Who is the Overlord? / what is an overlord? A rank, the head of all the Harathi army?
- Is he the Harathi Overlord to be killed in the nearby group event?

—> Yes; I’ll submit “Commander” (cf. Hamlet) as an equivalent in French (Overseer and Feudal Overlord are ugly)


A centaur I guess…
- Could you provide an alternate name “the lord of the land(s)”?“of the dust”?
- Is this a rank?

—> I’ll go for some earth shaman commander and submit “Lord of the Earth”, though it’s rather heavy

Other


- Is it like “Old Red Quay” or is there a subtlety? Why “red”?

—> I’ll submit “Red Oldwharf” (In French, currently it’s “Oldwharf”)

Map Areas
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Category:Kessex_Hills_area_maps


- What does it evocates in your mind: a lords assembly of old?

—> I’ll submit “Hill of the Meeting/Gathering on the Mere” (currently, it’s “Festive Hill”, because of the modern meaning of “moot”)


- Are we okay to say that this mere is the same as in “Meremoot Hill”?
- Is Lychcroft a NPC, or could it be further translated (Lych Croft)?

—> currently “Swamp/Ponds of Lychcroft”, I’ll submit “Swamp/Ponds of the Fields of the Lich” or “Swamp/Ponds of the Necrotic Fields” (in reference to a dialogue with an asura researcher who wonders why the risen are attracted to this place)


- Is Delania a NPC or some random generated name? Is Delanian a region?

—> I’m not going to submit anything: all names are “of Delania”, that sounds fine enough.


- Which derives from the other? Who/What is Triskell?

—> I’ll assume that a triskellion and a triskell are the same geometric celtic pattern, and I’ll submit “Vale of the Triskell” and “Quay of the Triskell” instead of the current “Vale of Triskellion” and “Quay of Triskell”, the vale being named because of its three branches shape, and the quay because it’s just in this vale.


Whooo… three different forms!
- Is Viath a NPC?
- Does “Viathan” means “of Viath”? What is the subtlety in English between “Viath Shore” and “Viathan Shore”? Why not “Lake Viath” or “Viath Lake”, etc?
- Then we have “Viathan’s” = “of Viathan” ! Is “Viathan” a river, or the lake proper?

—> I’ll assume that a viath/a viathan is a local name for a leviathan and I’ll submit “(Le)”Viathan’s Lake", “Viathan’s Arm” and “Viathan’s Shore” or “Leviath’s Shore”

  • Earthworks Bluff
    - What are the bluff in this context? Is only see a earthen and wooden work with palisade (as we can see elsewhere on the same map).

- A furnace pit for tengus sentenced to death, or a hunting, larger ground for the same usage? So is it really the Tower Hill in London?

—> I’ll submit “Dominion Hunting Grounds”


Any hint?

—> Alright, it’s the same word and it means rich in ferro-magnesic rocks (hence `ma f ic’)


What is a “cut” here? A rift, a bassin (the area is surrounded by upper ground) or a pass, some shorter way?

—> Blackroot being an American plant, we don"t have a vernacular name for it and it was translated into “Bitter Roots”, which is fine (“Veronica” would be too modern, and “Dove’s Root” would be un-meaningful for Europeans anyway). I’ll submit “Bitter Roots’ Trench”, or some equivalent, to replace the current and inaccurate “Bitter Roots’ Passage”.


There is also a passage in the Bloodtide Coast region. So, are all passage subterranean, narrow areas? What is the difference with a pass (in the GW2 usage)?

—> answered

(edited by Haaznahnuff.1907)

Let's explain some toponyms

in Lore

Posted by: Haaznahnuff.1907

Haaznahnuff.1907

Hello all, I’m returning to the English Forum to get some wide and authorized audience from loremasters. All this is motivated in overhauling the localization in French. But maybe, it could help the localization in other languages (don’t let your hatred preventing you from answering ! ). At least, you could see it as an opportunity to discuss some names here. Well, when I say “overhauling”, it’s just “submitting some alternate translations”, to be clear. Also, I confess that I didn’t check all the wiki base (trivias, etc.), but I’m confident in that all the questions are relevant just because they refer to some material that sounds odd or ambiguous in French.

I’ll post here questions about toponyms one map after the other (Points of interest, Map areas, Waypoints). So, I’ll necro the thread each time a new batch of questions is ready.

Lastly, don’t fear to “hijack” the thread if you want to submit another toponym : you are welcome even if I didn’t see any problem with this one.