Guild Wars 2

My favorite moment of any online game so far has been in this game, running around solo trying to get skill points in out of the way places. I forget the name of the zone, but it’s one of the midlevel zones where there is a large war ongoing. The dynamic events in this area chronicle the back-and-forth of the war, and there are regularly events that, if players are doing them, will charge into the enemy’s base camp in the NE corner of the zone and take out a few large bosses. There is a skill point in that base camp on a raised platform you must climb to and fight an elite monster with its accompanying oozes, and I would imagine most players who get that skill point go to it after taking out the enemy base camp.

I knew none of this when I was running around the area. I was selectively fighting or dodging the enemies in their various camps as I worked my way towards that tantalizing chevron in the corner. With careful play, I was able to wend my way through and make it to the base camp, home of several elite fighters and a few mobs besides that. I fought one, danced around the others, and made my way to the raised platform, hoping that, with all the fuss around, I just needed to commune or consume an item for the skill point. Nope — it was an elite fight, and I was game for it. It was close, but I managed to get the monster’s health down below 5% before being downed. As a mesmer, the downed confusion attack meant I would still kill it…until its pushing attack knocked me down off the platform right in the middle of the elite + mob! With my health rapidly dropping, I kept mashing the 1 key, hoping it was still hitting, knowing I would never get a revive and it would be a lost cause if I died. With my downed health less than 5%, the elite died, I rallied, skill point in hand, and it was time to RUN!

Of course, I pulled the entire base camp worth of mobs and elites behind me, and ran South, the most direct route out of where I came. Er…it was the direct route, right? What do you mean, cul-de-sac with one more enemy camp and no way out?!? Time to turn around and KEEP RUNNING! With precise dodging and non-stop running, I was able to get all the way back out of the base camp and the other two camps I came through to get back. No time for tactics here. Just keep running and make it back to where the dynamic events have the battle actually going on.

I’ve never had a gaming experience like that, and I don’t know that anyone could design it to play it out exactly like that, but it feels like the world of Tyria is set up for fun experiences like that to happen all the time, and I look forward to more of them as I keep exploring.

After reading the OP and replies so far, there are two things that I haven’t heard mentioned yet that may go a long way to address the OP’s concerns.

I have noticed that, as I leave the beginning areas, there are a lot more dynamic events that require the action of a player talking with an NPC to trigger the event. I have learned that, to see the most interesting dynamic events, I need to actively watch and listen for NPC’s asking for help in some way, and I now chat with named NPC’s (not just the heart folks) in most outposts to see what’s going on in an area.

The second thing that no one has mentioned is the scout NPC’s on the map. They very fluidly point you towards the heart areas, and in my mind they are the ones who are giving out the details of what needs to be done before you ever talk to a heart person.

Between the scouts and the NPC’s calling for help or that you need to poke at to see if they need help, I’ve found this to be the most cohesive, immersive world and questing system I’ve seen in quite some time. Between the hearts, all the dynamic events in a zone (several of which you can start yourself so that there’s no waiting), and the personal story (which actively brings you to new zones outside your geographical area), I’m a bit surprised that a quester and story-follower would have trouble keeping up with levels if he/she is following that natural flow.

Have you used either of these features, OP? I’d be interested to hear what level you are and where you’ve been as well.