Just a question here because I am curious. The idea of the Living World is that there is a storyline that you take part in, that you are involved in events that shape Tyria in permanent ways—how would you all convey the sense of progression and change without also making changes to the landscape? I see a couple of comments regarding creating things, not simply destroying. Do you all have any other ideas?
Here are a few ideas off the top of my head. They all are “little things” that require only a little time and creativity.
*Add a few watchknights patrolling around Divinity’s Reach, and a few npcs near the new path. When a watchknight walks by, the NPC makes a comment about how they make them feel uncomfortable like they could snap again. This will attract curious players to talk to the NPC, giving an opportunity to integrate some season 1 summarizing, such as how the watchknights were twisted by scarlette and she even made a huge one at this spot in Lornar’s Pass which in turn encourages the player to explore for that spot later.
*Add a few “molehills” to the junction area between Wayfarer Foothills and Diessea Plateau. Have Biron along with some other Norn walking around trying to fill in the holes as well as find scraps and whatnot. If someone who played Flame and Frost and returned his ship in a bottle to him talks to him, he says it’s good to see them again and states he gathered up other Norn kids who lost something to the Molten Alliance and they’re gathering the scrap to make armor out of their enemy so to speak. If a player who was not around for Flame and Frost talks to him, he gives a small summary about the events of Flame and Frost.
*Now more than ever, the threat of the Elder Dragons is looming over Tyria. The people need something to comfort them, but this something needs to make the people tougher rather than weaker. This has caused the Arcane Council (perhaps particularly a disgruntled Phlunt, still fuming over Taimi’s childish antics?) to force Moto into “deciding” to follow up with Subdirector Klein about mass-producing the first two worlds of the super adventure box as “Super Adventure Box: Episode 1”, at least in an arcade form. This gives both the chance for players to play the popular Super Adventure Box content as well as gives you the developers a perfect chance to expand upon the Consortium and what they are up to lately.
*Gnashblade needs to be more active. He seems to get skins that correlate with current events to sell in his store. Why not have him (or at least one of his employees) be more “mobile” with each new skin update, having him venture to parts of Tyria where the skins would be found. For example, when the Ley Line skins came out Gnashblade could of been standing in the Cavern of the Shining Lights making comments such as “Yes, oh yes, this could sell nicely!” If the player talks to him, they get the black lion rundown, but also get a little “lore” to go along with the new skins.
*Kiel won the election, now it’s time for her to get to work. The city of Lions Arch should be being rebuilt little by little each living story update, and Kiel should be there at the front of it all directing the rebuilding process. Again, if you talk to her you get a chance to learn about the council election, Scarlet’s attack, and even a chance to have her mock Gnashblade a little and mention where he went off to and for what reason (example-I sent him to Drytop to look for anything that could help rebuild this area here, but he is late getting back to me…)
*It’s not like ALL the Zephyrite ships were blown up. Have the rest of their people come looking for them and pick them up in Drytop. Have a few Zephyrites wanting to stay on the ground, perhaps they were too shaken by the hijacking to want to be in a small space with people again or perhaps they always were curious about life on the ground and now’s a good time to try it. Also, the Zephyrites provided Lions Arch with some materials for rebuilding. Therefore, Lions Arch should have at least a little Zephyr Sanctum feel to some of the rebuilt parts.
*The dead should be honored with something better than a wooden signboard with a sheet of names on it. Make a new monument listing the names of those who were lost in the battle for Lions Arch and someone at the monument to talk to who can give a small summary on how Lions Arch got hit but was not destroyed.
I could keep going if needed, however I just wanted to toss a few examples out there of changes to the world that are different from “Place X has been blown up, not rebuilding that, sorry charlie.”