The Legendary Shortbow “Dreamer” – A Discussion, by Venn Adamant
The design of the legendary shortbow in Guild Wars 2 is subject to much discussion. The bigger part of the player base of the game were taken aback when they found out some of the best weapons available were a joke, not the epic creations they had imagined. While Sunrise, Twilight or the Flameseeker Prophecies inspire awe and wonder, Quip, the Moot and, of course, the Dreamer provoke laughter and disbelief when displayed in public. In this piece of writing, we explore why this item is looked down upon, and why it shouldn’t be.
As it is the beginning of almost all things, we surely must start with the name of the weapon. The Dreamer is a most appropriate title for a legendary item, since it this commodity is only a distant, unaffordable dream for most players, and when the hundreds of hours of hard work put into its creation finally pay off, it is as if a dream comes true. A project, an achievement, a fantasy, the apex of a character’s lifetime, it is a sign of one’s dedication to the game.
The body of the item is the cause of most of the controversy that surrounds it. It is marked by a small unicorn’s head placed beneath the handhold. This was a very risky decision on the part of the developers, as unicorns are mostly left to little girls to play with, a fan base quite far from the dominating age and gender of the GW2 player populace. From the headpiece, a myriad of intricately formed curves fan out to form the arms of the bow, in some places colored an intriguing dark pink hue. This is important, as unicorns are typically associated with very bright pink colors. The weapon follows this rule, but as its colors are much darker, it gives it a serious, yet beautiful note. Compact, yet deadly, humorous yet somehow graceful, the actual design of the weapon doesn’t at all fit the description of ‘a kittening unicorn bow’.
Last, but not least, are the particle effects. A projectile fired from the bow leaves behind a trail resembling a rainbow. When a player manages to forge a legendary item, he generally likes it to be noticed by others. The Quip compensated for its size with peculiar, high-pitched sounds when fired, and the Dreamer creates rainbows. They are sure catch the eye, and perhaps bring a smile to a stranger that happens to notice them.
In conclusion, the weapon isn’t meant for someone looking for an epic conclusion of his character set, it is meant for more relaxed players who are just looking for another bit of fun. And it’s awesome.
Venn
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Alright, a friend of mine wrote this, when i asked how he felt about the legendary shortbow. i myself have a legendary longbow crafted a few days ago, and when i switch weapons, the auto attack of my shortbow looks unimpressive.
note: Kudzu; footsteps, particle effect, sound effect upon auto attack, mob dies leaving flowerpetals, weapon yellow parts glow.
The Dreamer; only particle effect.
My question is, should i make a legendary shortbow? to fit my longbow?
?