I just wanted to say very simply that I love the Living Story. I can see how you’ve developed it and as Jeffrey Vaughn confirmed that Kessex will be forever changed already by this event, I am positive that ANet is going in the correct direction that most of these points are making. We want change. To feel like something larger is happening besides a mindless grind.
I like the new content every two weeks. I feel that, although sometimes it seems rushed, it makes the world feel as though it is moving. I think that less needs to change in that time though. Take the event we have now for example. These two weeks, there is the tower revealed and toxins pouring out of it. Next week, maybe it starts affecting more zones and other NPCs in other ways. Then after that, the next update can start to get to the bottom of it. All the while, leaving that meta achievement open to be grabbed, maybe adding more achievements over time to help with it.
At no point do I feel the need to grind. I feel that these statements are coming from people who find no point -but- to grind. I feel that when someone complains about grinding, that they are looking at the situation wrong. They see a goal or achievement to get. They do it, then they don’t have any satisfaction from playing the game surrounding it. I do my achievements without “joining the train” so to speak. And I love the story as I take in moderation with my limited time to play. There is so much more to do in this game besides the living story and if you go into the game feeling “Omg, must level to 80 now”, of course they are going to feel it is a grind… because they make it a grind.
I will note that I do wish that we had more personal interaction with the Living Story as a hero should. Choices to make that result in events unfolding. Such as we have now Scarlet and the Krait. Our personal story could just be to simply decide between the two to face, the Krait or Scarlet, and have soloable events or interactions that are a result. Like the following example:
NPC asks me which is the largest threat to be eliminated first. I choose Scarlet and go to find information or even to attempt an assassination. I have a personal story instance that I fight off Scarlet’s minions and/or Scarlet herself, give her a monologue of some sort, and she disappears. I might get a reward that is exclusively for this choice and feel achieved for my decision.
This instance brings about character development and a sense of achievement in the interactions of the world. I do agree that phasing would make things feel even more personal, however hate the fragmentation that can cause.
I do agree with most posts that say we want more unfinished business from GW1 and more dragon interaction. But I like Scarlet and love her character. I like having these ‘distractions’ from the real threats of the dragons and look forward to any stories you come up with! I do feel a sense of growth from the way this living story has been going. From the moment we met Scarlet, we thought ‘Oh look, another bad guy. Let’s kill her and move on.’ but now we are wondering and speculating ‘What is driving this Sylvari? What is making her tick? Is she just insane or is she more intelligent than what we think? What did she see in the Eternal Alchemy and why is she doing this now?’ This is -much- better than the original living stories we first had and I can tell that you, ANet, are developing and learning as you go. Kudos to you.
The problem is though, that not everyone is going to be happy with the decisions on how the living story develops. I can only hope that my post helps and that we can find an even balance that the general populace enjoys. But please remember that the Living Story and this game is very unique. And most unique attempts are met with much cynicism. But it is your uniqueness that will keep me here, learning the lore, and loving the Living Story for what it is, change in an ever developing world, something no other MMO truly has as of yet.
Good luck and thank you for listening to us. Do not be discouraged, there are much more wonderful things to come!
. Let me know if I can snag an invite. Thanks!
Don’t forget guild missions tonight at 9 pm!