Guild Wars 2

Wolfheart.1938:

I am really conflicted on this very issue, Tobias. I think that way more story should be in game, but as you have mentioned, the effort could go unnoticed by the great majority of the players.

We had story snippets here and there during F&F, how many players bothered piecing them together?

This, I have the feeling the majority will not mention any effort.

Today we saw the short story of Scarlet, what in my opinion gave a lot of depth to her as a character. The other short stories are also quite a interesting read. Now in my opinion it’s very easy to miss these stories as a player. It will show up in “News & Announcements”, both on the website as the log-in portal, but I don’t think that’s the best way to let the player base, or at least the people who are interested in lore know about it.

So why not create a lore corner on the website? That way you can bundle all the stories at one place, easy to find for all who are interested. Give it a nice link on the main page, and the lore could be a lot more accessible.

Discuss.

lordkrall.7241:

Gizmo.8623:

One thing that I forget are short stories:
Newest short story
The read was extremely satisfying! That’s what the game is missing! It must be told there.
Please don’t separate lore from game and just leave us with mob bashing
It’s like 2 different universes – short stories and the game.

And I don’t know why but I think that short stories should be BEFORE the event in game.

Really it’s written really good. And in game we have short sentences, nothing interesting, it’s strange. Genuine question : is it very time-consuming putting more text in game? Would it be possible to put a lot more cutscenes with talked dialogs?

Sad part is that after this fine read I will be back in game and my 80lvl character awaits mindless mob bashing, nothing more.

Thats just the thing though:
HOW would you put this into the game in a logical way?
In-game no other than Scarlet could have told you all this (if even she could after the experiment) so how would they actually make this logical in-game? (Unless of course we travel back in time and relives everything, but that wouldn’t really be a good solution. )

This is very true now I think of it. I think for now the best they can do, is make a lore corner on the official website, where they can bundle all of these stories. Plus some proper announcements to the big audience.

These short stories are always great to read, and are a huge slap in the face for all the people who claim the writing around this game is poor. I do agree that it would be nice to see this information presented in-game.

The depth I was missing around Scarlet is here now, and I’m eager to find out more.

Arshay Duskbrow.1306:

I sure wish the chararacterization of Scarlet in the game matched the one in the story. In the story, she’s presented as cerebral, driven, and hungry for knowledge. That’s good, and an atypical role for a female character. But then the game makes her into just another maniacally laughing, smarmily insulting, hostage-chowder-making villain…

I like her backstory as presented. I just think it’s sad and dumb that ultimately her in-game function is to be yet another Joker-like, smugly chaotic anarchist type.

She isn’t dead yet, there are still a lot of possibilities to give her that in-game depth, this is just the introduction.

Mad Queen Malafide.7512:

I was surprised to learn that she even studied among the Hylek. We generally don’t consider the Hylek a very advanced race. Sure, we’ve seen them construct simple weapons. But the idea that they may have knowledge that the other races don’t, is news to me. The Hylek may be more advanced than we assumed them to be.

Also, we now know that she is not from the future, or an alternate reality. But she claims to have seen the Eternal Alchemy. What do you suppose that means?

Shoe.5821:

we don’t actually know this for certain, it’s unreliable.

we don’t even know if she’s from this world.

It’s safe to assume she’s from this world, since we know she studied with the Asura on Tyria. What ever advanced knowledge she gained in the process that made her this super villain, she had to study it all first. And that’s what she did here.

The Hylek have a lot of knowledge about quite a range of (deadly) poisons, and their remedy’s. They are most likley not the most advanced race, but knowledge is a deadly weapon.

Poison mass attack in future? =p

Namica.2951:

Cyan.6904:

Gandarel.5091:

Elidath.5679:

Gandarel.5091:

It’s not like some people don’t like this ‘new direction’, it’s like almost everyone hates it. And that’s a difference.

The same difference as in “I speak for myself” and “I am omniscient and know what everybody think”.
Please, don’t speak for me or anyone that isn’t you, because apparently you aren’t omniscient, and this new direction isn’t as hated as you make it out to be.

The almost everybody stands for almost everybody, not actually everdbody. I thought this is obvious. Check the feedbacks on the lore + living story forums about all the LS contents.

People who feel the need to comment on forums are often the people who disagree with a direction or decision. People who are fine with the content are more likely to keep quiet.

You can’t automatically discredit a whole swath of people like that. A lot of people just like going to game forums.

I didn’t say people only visit forums to point out that they disagree with a direction or decision. I do say that they might be more frequently present, because they want to point out their concerns and would like to be heard.

Now people who are fine with the content feel less need to tell that (sadly). I just want to point out that the quantity of complains do not reflect “almost everybody”.

I’m rather surprised how smoothly everything goes for me. Almost no lag, with the stats still on the semi – highest settings. Character models might take some time to load, but that doesn’t bug me.

The invasions are great, although it will be more fun if it was a little less crowded. Last evening in Timberline Falls was nice, the groups were a bit smaller, a lot of communication in map chat and commanders who managed it quite well.

I like to see more of these updates, although I would like to see a switch from technology to magic. I love myself some good magic!

Mad Queen Malafide.7512:

I think Scarlet is entertaining and funny. But she doesn’t seem like a very deep character to me. What are are her motivations? Or is she just evil for the sake of being evil?

I think there is a lot more behind her than we know of, and like Bobby Stein said in this topic there is still more te come. About her motivations, I think there will be a deeper reason behind it, but she is also clearly quite insane. She shows signs of narcissistic, theatrical, maniacal and bipolar disorders. However, how did she get this messed up?
I’d love to have a consult with her.

I do like Scarlet, her voice acting is spot on, her looks match her behaviour. She isn’t just showing up, there were enough hints along the way. The only thing that bugs me is that some NPC’s knew more about her and that they didn’t tell me about is some sooner.

Gandarel.5091:

Elidath.5679:

Gandarel.5091:

It’s not like some people don’t like this ‘new direction’, it’s like almost everyone hates it. And that’s a difference.

The same difference as in “I speak for myself” and “I am omniscient and know what everybody think”.
Please, don’t speak for me or anyone that isn’t you, because apparently you aren’t omniscient, and this new direction isn’t as hated as you make it out to be.

The almost everybody stands for almost everybody, not actually everdbody. I thought this is obvious. Check the feedbacks on the lore + living story forums about all the LS contents.

People who feel the need to comment on forums are often the people who disagree with a direction or decision. People who are fine with the content are more likely to keep quiet.

The voice acting is amazing here, Scarlet is just great!

I would like to meet Livia and chit-chat with her about the old times. I can’t really picture her as Scarlet though, plus I also think the mysterious Sylvari is more likely to be Scarlet.

You can almost call it the evolution of the human (or Norn, Sylvari, etc.) being in the use of magic.

Aion weapons are beautiful yes, but sometimes also somewhat too flashy..

I have 10 alts, and the chance that they all get max gear someday is close to zero percent. I’m totally fine with that, because I care more about the way to the “result”. It’s just what you think is important, sometimes you just have to deal with what you get.

Devata.6589:

Cyan.6904:

eveleaf.4132:

Creeper.9360:

Guild Wars 1 still isn’t free to play. No reason to think why this game would either.

This sums up almost everything I wanted to say.

Exactly. No need at all.

Why are you against F2P? Because of the way F2P games handle the game. Then I don’t understand your point because GW2 is already acting like a F2P game. With the difference that you also have to pay to play the F2P game.

I really can’t understand how you can be a fan of B2P and don’t see this game really isn’t B2P anymore.

I have no idea why you are quoting me, I never said I dislike F2P (although I have some serious issues against it). The one-time payment to get the game is actually a good thing in my eyes. And, like GW, there is no need to break the B2P method, it’s working just fine.

eveleaf.4132:

Creeper.9360:

Guild Wars 1 still isn’t free to play. No reason to think why this game would either.

This sums up almost everything I wanted to say.

Exactly. No need at all.

I vote for more staff love!

The voice acting of the “Suspicious figure” was amazing, really spot on. I so want to see / do it again! Make it happen =D

They are all watchknights with a little mesmer magic

No staves, what is this..

About the fact that Orr is frozen in time, I can remember a dev said once that it is quite a complicated case and that they’re not glad with it either. They said that making different versions of Orr is technical a possibility, but they don’t want to shatter their players, pretty much to keep the world alive.

I don’t know how they can and will proceed on this matter.

Good thoughts draxynnic, I forgot about the stuff around Marjory.

This will be interesting, lot of free space!

Interesting to see the human race catching up in technology.

Good to go back to good old DR =)

Don’t give up hope youngsters, there are still a lot of opportunities!

Want more hair (style options)!

This is a excellent read. More, more, more!

Antara.3189:

Oh and Cyan, when I mean Corny Campfire songs, I actually mean this.

All. Night. Long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVOm8F2yELc

I’m all up for that.

Antara.3189:

Cyan.6904:

So much excitement about a tent. Anyone want to camp nearby?

I’ll bring the marshmallows

Exactly my idea. Yum.

I’m all for support, but not for over-the-top support. Maniacs =p

The “Give-us-Cantha-or-we-leave-GW2-forever” mentality is somewhat worrying me. I sure get the enthusiasm for it, I also like to see Cantha in the GW2 universe, but this is like saying that the devs should do exactly as the crowd wishes, and every inch of it. Let’s all have some patience and try to not be unreasonable on them.

And enjoy what we have now, update mania.

Aspect Arena is so much fun that you have to vote for Ellen Kiel. Go Team Kiel!

So much excitement about a tent. Anyone want to camp nearby?

I think it’s not very likely that the houses are build by the Zephyrites themselves, because they don’t live on the land, but reside on their large ship-kite hybrid. You make a good point on the transportation, without the aspects it will be very hard to get to most of the houses or sky docks.

It would be nice to see if it is in fact a Canthan colony, but I don’t think that would be possible without for example the Order of Whispers to know, because they know like a lot.

After following and reading all 27 pages I decided to cast support. I’m a big fan of Cantha, especially the Echovald Forest, it would be a crime against humanity if it will be left out.

Expansions will take some time, Gw2 is far more complex than Gw were and is.

Margonites and Wardens are the mobs I really want to see again, but I also allow them to make playable races of them =P

BuddhaKeks.4857:

Weindrasi.3805:

Dark Elves: It’s not just the ears. It’s the dark skin tone, the white flowing hair (on a deep-sea creature? REALLY? hah!), the hyperfemine and hypermasculine male and female bodies, and the fetish armor. They resemble dark elves and/or night elves to a great degree—their design, from their colors, to their ears, to their sexuality—screams cliched evil fantasy elf. Metal fetish armor and humanoid body types are NOT what you should find on something that lives underwater.

Wings: Those bulky butterfly wings would actually PREVENT a creature from swimming. The lore excuse that they’re fins is rediculous and easy to see through. The designers can’t implement air-combat, but corny aion wings and butterfly fairies are in high demand among kid gamers. So, they slapped some butterfly wings on something and then called them fins. The intention wasn’t to be creative or design a functional sea race—it was to suck in a certain player demographic. As a result, those things growing out of the Largos’s backs aren’t remotely belivable on a sea race.

Pretty much what I have to say about them. Many people think they are a realistic playable race, I sure hope they are wrong. Otherwise we have the terrible Sylvari already, so it wouldn’t get worse, we just had another bad race to evenly spread our dislike too.
Though I have to say, I kind of like the Predator feel from the Largos, they just don’t look like they would act like this. They are far too “elfy”. Besides they don’t look like deep sea creatures at all. They look like happy butterfly people on their way to the magical dolphin land, not like mysterious assassins from the ocean depths.
With a bit luck we soon find out that the Largos have a caste system and those wimpy butterflies are just scouts, while the real warrior caste looks like a mix of a shark, manta ray and a Norn. I would role one like this!

How do they look happy to you? And magic dolphin land, Foo!

Could it be that Anet uses a system like the War of Kryta in future developments?

I had to laugh when I saw this post for all obvious reasons.

Just to say something, it’s never proven that the human gods and the spirits of the wild are the same thing, and the norn and human races doesn’t seem to see it like that either.

After reading a lot of other thoughts and theories I’m somewhat convinced that Kaineng City isn’t that big anymore. All trade activities were cut off, and even if a successor of Usoku lifted those restrictions, the elder dragons prevented that effectively. In my opinion it’s likely that after some time there wasn’t enough farmland and logging areas to nourish all citizens and maintain all buildings of Kaineng and beyond that. It’s a possibility that because of this they were forced to demolish parts of the city to even keep their society alive.

As Konig said, there are only rumors about the depetrification of the Echovald Forest, and it’s very possible that the process isn’t that far advanced yet what makes it impossible to use those grounds to keep society up.

I suspect that this all together impaired Cantha as a nation, what makes it unlikely to be technological advanced beyond other nations and races. I even see Cantha as a fairly weak country that is struggling to manage their own problems. How or if the dragons fit in is beyond that, and I even somehow hope that the dragons are not the reason of all problems in whole Tyria as a world.

(8/10) She looks fierce!

This is my elementalist:

Could it be an uprising of volcanic activity (most likely activated by an elder dragon)? The steam vents are a logical result of that.

(However, I didn’t play the living story content (yet), so it might be misinterpretation).

I’m almost proud to say that I have no characters with white hair. For me it always seems a bit unnatural, and not on the good way.

Six scores eh?

Iceblink (5/10)
First of all, I always like names more with a surname. I just can’t fit this in, I’m sorry =)

Serafita (7/10)
I like this name, however it doesn’t sound very elonian to me.

Ideonas (6/10)
Good name for a human.

Pirea (9/10)
I like it very much, I definitely never heard it before!

Kiku Hiiragi (7/10)
Really fitting the eastern theme, sadly we are not yet in Cantha.

Xiuying Ren (8/10)
Same as above, but this is just a bit more mysterious, and I like that about eastern names.

I have 7 Human characters, but I’ll tone it down to my 3 scholars, all female.

• Cyan Graceland – Elementalist, just a commoner woman descendant of a slightly slipped down family. She’s named Cyan because of the color of her eyes.
• Larissa Vaughn – Mesmer, a noble woman who is seen on royal parties although she might found here fortune on illegal ways. The name just came to me.
• Angelique Cazera – Necromancer – A woman from the streets, but with a higher class background. I wanted to create a name with a Mediterranean feel to it, because she also have some Mediterranean characteristics.

I prefer Humans too, not only in Gw2 but almost in every game I play. Norn isn’t that bad, but only as a female. For Sylvari likewise, although they really need more customization options, especially the “hair”.

As Cantha was my favorite continent, I’d like to go there again. I don’t really know what to suspect of the lands. I guess the petrification of the Echovald Forest and the Jade Sea is not yet completely restored. Because of the insulation, the technology might be less advanced compared with Tyria. That also fits the setting and atmosphere of Cantha, in Gw I always saw Cantha as a more mysterious continent.