Guild Wars 2

I have virtually the same problem.
I last played Guild Wars 2 on Sept 23 and all seemed fine.
Yesterday, Oct 4, I tried to play again. I downloaded the recent patch, logged in and clicked the Play button. I got the blank screen, as expected, but then was bumped to the Windows 10 desktop with the message “Guild Wars 2 has stopped.” and then “Windows is searching for a solution.” I tried several more times with the same results, proving Einstein’s definition of insanity.
I tried again today. The game downloaded a new patch (a smaller file and faster download). Again, when I logged in and clicked Play I got the blank screen then was at the Windows desktop with the same error messages.
I have been using Windows 10 without a problem since it forced itself upon me in June or July.
I use Norton antivirus and Internet Security, so I do not have LavaSoft programs or apps running, at least, according to Task Manager.
Any ideas? I would like to join my guild’s event tomorrow.
Thanks

Thanks Rising Dusk (and others who wrote the same earlier)
I’m a little clueless sometimes and it took me a while to figure out that you all meant the Story Journal icon (eight pointed compass-like star) on the left border of the Hero panel.
I got to it and it worked. Clueless, but happy. Thanks a bunch.

This solution did not work for me, even after picking up all my gold (no other items) and emptying my TP account, logging out and in, moving between zones, and a few other suggested tricks.
I have 5 lvl 80 characters. The only one that can play GoM is the one for which I have completed my personal story. The other 4 are all in some story step between lvl 70-80
But the release notes say I can play the Living Story Journal even if I have not finished my Personal Story. Can anyone confirm this, please?

" Even clicking the F-field on the UI won’t activate it." (Donari)
“Basically, just spam your key until it does what it is actually supposed to do.” (StinVec)

Yes, clicking on the on-screen prompt does not work.
Nor does spamming, when the malfunction is at its worst. In fact, I know the problem is coming when the interaction occurs a few seconds after hitting “F”. After that it shows up in spades.

I have found that if I go to the edge of the interaction field, just before the prompt (Gather/Chop/Mine, Pick Up, etc) disappears, and run a circle at that range pressing F every few steps, then I usually get results. Once I had to be even farther away. That is why I think it has to do with graphics location not the same as program logic location.

And it started only after Anet announced the Megaserver. I have been playing for a year and a half and until Arr 13, no problem. Until I found this thread I was going to bump it up to Anet Tech Support. Now it seems to be a “known bug”.

Thanks for all your suggestions, folks.

Will this also affect Gathering/Chopping/ Mining as well as interacting with NPCs?

Nope, apparently not

Thanks, Inculpatus. I did not have AoE Loot on Interact enabled. I did have Autoloot checked./
Will this also affect Gathering/Chopping/ Mining as well as interacting with NPCs?

Did anyone resolve this issue? I have the same problem and have deduced that the location of my character and of the object I want to interact with are not as shown on the screen.
This can be deadly in combat. And I miss a lot of loot because I can’t pick it up.
If someone has found a solution, I would really appreciate knowing what it is.