Guild Wars 2

Um…how credible is that site? They claim Nightmare Court are involved, but the Court seems to have no known presence here (No screenshots showing Nightmare Court or other enemies) and the only thing that might indicate as such is the name “Tower of Nightmare” and that’s still not a flat out “yes, the Court are here”.

And please, no more Scarlet. If this is yet another dungeon along the lines of Twilight Assault and the Aetherblade Retreat, I’m done. I won’t do it.

Trehearne is nothing like the Joker. And besides, even he doesn’t deserve to have to put up with that invasive weed.

Marcus Greythorne.6843:

Sorann Peace.9056:

2. ArenaNet has, in the past, made allusions to the idea of introducing a “jungle dragon” as the next elder dragon to fight.

I don’t remember Anet saying something like this, do you have a source?

One of them mentioned a “jungle dragon” in an interview. However, there are no plans to go fight it in the near future to my knowledge.

Songarg.3657:

I’ve started having an Idea that Scarlet, and maybe even the whole Sylvari race are minions of Mordremoth. No, it doesn’t revolve around the idea the Pale Tree is the Dragon. It’s more like Glint in my eyes, and the Pale Tree is a redeemed Champion of Mordremoth.

Yes this is a very loose and weak theory, but a theory none the less.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/lore/On-the-Sixth-Elder-Dragon-and-its-corruption/first

In this thread, the poster brings up the “Pale Tree = Dragon Champion?” theory and gives decent evidence indicating the theory is false. At this rate, I should ask for a sticky of that page.

You seem to have ignored the grind that is necessary if you want any of the Halloween weapons/skins/items.

I don’t like this guy.

“…”

“…”

“..Can I pet your—”

“No.”

Because I can.

“What are you hiding?”

“Nothing…”

“This won’t end well.”

To answer the topic: no. Unless you’re in that guild formed specifically to kill it or a server whose commanders can muster enough people and coordinate them well, there is no point in fighting Tequatl the Sunless. While it’s still being fought, the rewards are not worth the effort, especially when the good stuff is reliant on luck.

Ayrilana.1396:

This Halloween living story is far from a grind. The only thing that could be considered close to a grind are the doors which can be done under an hour in the open world. If you’re doing it in the labyrinth then you’re doing it wrong (this assuming you’re trying to get them done as fast as possible).

Perhaps those complaining about grind should look at what we had to do last year.

For the meta achievement itself? Not that much.

For the Halloween weapons, Bloody Prince mini, and the other items that you trade candies for? Yes. It is a ridiculous grind that may very well be impossible to do in the time alotted without heavy reliance on the Trade Post and/or gem to gold conversion.

They made that more grindy too?

Well, I found the recipe cheap on the Trading Post, so I bought it there to save time farming for it. No idea how much it takes now, if the wiki info is no longer useful. Did you try mixing the amount in the Mystic Forge and it didn’t show the amount you actually needed?

Siphaed.9235:

This year’s Halloween? We get a small story instance with Tassi, then an achievement grind. Oh yes, it is very much a grind. The boss kills are fine, a stomp or two I can see, but the others such kitten door and 50 bags of candy? What do those have to do with capturing a Candy Corn monster?

What I find ironic is that you’re tasked with obtaining a living candy corn monster, and instead of going with a cool gun/device/buff food used while fighting one of the MANY 100’s killed, they have achievements grinded through to get to the single mini-pet. And somehow that mini-pet is now the key to locking up Prince Edrick?

I am so glad I’m not the only one who noticed that. It made no sense to make us beat the meta-achievement for the mini candy-corn elemental when there were plenty of them in the Labyrinth we could use, and much bigger ones at that. Tassi could’ve easily given us a device to capture/tame one, or failing that, give us a device to extract and utilize their essences instead. But she didn’t. Some expert, huh?

Now another bone to pick is the one of what to do with the candy corn. Anyone who had a stockpile of candy corn had previously used it up back in August during the Bazaar of the Four Winds event for the Celestial recipes. That chunked out supply and kept demand high. However, now A.Net sets it up that this Halloween requires some 10,000 to 20,000 pieces per unique rewards (Edrick mini or 20-slot bag).

Yet, the nodes have been shaved so that they’re no longer in WvW as they were last year, and there’s a noticeable diminish overall throughout the game’s world. The nodes aren’t even noted icons like they were last year on the mini-map, just looking like ordinary ore.

So I’m completely curious as to which team [of the 4 LS teams] was in charge of this event? What other events have they designed and even learned from? This one seems like it fits more in FFXIV or WoW than it does in GW2.

This. So much this. Even now, the majority of my time is spent farming the nodes in the Labyrinth and the doors every now and then in the vain hope that I’ll get enough materials to make the recipe for the Gift of Souls to make the part I’ll need to make the Crossing staff for my necromancer. And even if I commit the rest of my free time to it, I still probably won’t make it without heavily relying on the Trading Post, which I don’t have much gold to do right now. Same with all the other Halloween weapons, the Bloody Prince mini, and the 20 slot Halloween Pail (why grind for this when making/buying a 20 slot or even 18 slot bag is so much quicker and cheaper in the long run?)

When the recipe to make a recipe to make one part you need for an exotic staff (that already takes quite some material itself) is the hardest thing to get, something is clearly wrong.

Once again, the Living Story is dead to me within a week. The only interesting bit left are the unannounced changes to Kessex Hills and the krait being up to something, but once again, we’ll have to wait and see.

Delvoire.8930:

The doors in the open world are a little stale. That’s because you’re supposed to enter the doors and head to the labyrinth. This way you can fight the legendaries, farm candy corn nodes, and get your door achievements all in one spot.

This. If you want to suffer, go to the Labyrinth and do it. Don’t make the rest of us potentially suffer for it.

Mastruq.2463:

Imagine this scenario but have him yell “Happy halloween, <appropriate expletive>” with each attack. Hilarious, just the thing we need for this holiday.

“Death, good!”

“The pain’s here!”

“Die, die!”

“Return. Die.”

“Another victory.”

Not sure what the Viscount would say, since it can’t seem to talk.

“Thanks game. I clearly don’t want to target the enemy right near me, I want to target that champion/legendary enemy that I’m trying to avoid!” /sarcasm

And this thread sums up why I don’t play that mini-game.

True. Not sure why he’s seeking his father’s approval by this point though: he was originally thrown in the box for trying to overthrow his father by causing an uprising against him (possibly the same uprising that got the Mad King killed.)

Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

For all his talk of painting the Mad Realm with his father’s blood and doing other horrible things to him, the Bloody Prince becomes a complete pansy when he faces the Mad King once more. Granted, their conversations are amusing, but seeing how bloodthirsty he is during our fights against him, and seeing him just stand there whining at his dad in the Labyrinth feels…like he was written differently for both of those situations. Or he’s got a split personality.

His costume is cool, but he needs to ditch the emo mohawk and some of that face paint before I’ll be truly intimidated by him. He’s like a human Leurent who rolled necromancer instead of warrior. Cool staff though…although, I would think the “Bloody Prince” would also have an axe/dagger combo or dual daggers (with custom skins as well) to go with the staff.

Well…this patch was…meh. It started off pretty good, but is pretty much “The Bloody Prince gets out, we wander about doing what we need to get the Mini Candy-Corn Elemental, then we seal him back in.”

On a side note: requiring us to complete a meta-achievement just to see the rest of the story doesn’t come off as good design to me. (even if the real reward is actually the Gift of Candy Corn from sealing the Prince) It made no sense why only the Mini Candy-Corn elemental could be used instead of the many larger ones roaming the Labyrinth. Sure, they were hostile, but surely Tassi could come up with a way for us to capture/tame one, or failing that, give us a device to extract their essences for use.

Why? Because after facing those bosses in the Labyrinth, the last thing I want while roaming to get more Trick or Treat bags in the open world is a boss that I cannot beat alone (and in the Horror’s case, can’t outrun either) popping out and slaughtering me in 2 hits. It might be amusing the first few times for some of you, but it’ll just get tedious eventually. Please leave them in the Labyrinth, where they belong.

Well lucky you.

So you first praise this reward system, then point out (correctly) how it is messed up.
Well, hopefully they see your thread and get on it right away, but I doubt it.

No, I am not buying the Halloween fireworks, because I don’t care about them.

Onshidesigns.1069:

How about letting these enemies spawn from doors in the open world. Maybe 1 in 30 chance.

Grand High Viscount of Candy Corn
Labyrinthine Horror
Legendary Skeletal Lich

No thanks.

“No. No! Don’t send me back. I swear, when I get out, I’ll come for you. I’ll stalk you, burn your cities, eat your flesh. I’ll tear down your world!”

Uh huh, like we don’t have enough bad guys trying to do that already. You, back in the box.

“He’s the Mad Realm’s problem now. I can’t help but wonder though…he got out of the box once. Could he do it again?”

Well, this is pretty much the same fight as last time with one difference: thanks to the glaze pools that Tassi shoots out, the Bloody Prince isn’t so invulnerable anymore.

Time to stop him, I guess.

“The candy corn we used on the Bloody Prince seemed to daze him, but we need more. We’ll need a living candy corn elemental.”

(Specifically, the Mini Candy-Corn Elemental from completing 13 Halloween achievements. Why we can’t just capture one of the many candy-corn elementals in the Labyrinth is not explained.)

“And it won’t be easy. You’ll need to traverse the Mad Realm and face challenges both within and without that chaotic plane. Best the challenges, and you’ll obtain the elemental. Once you get it, bring it back to me. Its essence will allow us to put that bloodthirsty brat back in his box.”

(Nice to see you not doing any heavy lifting here, Tassi. /sarcasm)

“And be careful. There’s no telling what either the Mad King or the Bloody Prince have in store for you.”

(Oh, they’re too busy trading quips. Or rather, the Bloody Prince is whining and the Mad King is trolling him every step of the way.)

He’s a silver level friendly Inquest…is he a defector or a Whisper agent in disguise?

Meanwhile, in the shadow of the Bloody Prince’s return, things have started to change elsewhere..

“I can’t believe it. The Bloody Prince. And what he lacks in his father’s lunacy, he makes up for with terrifying rage. I’m reading a massive energy surge in the Mad Realm itself. It’s only a matter of time before he regains his strength and reemerges.”

“So what now?”

“This measure won’t hold forever. We’ll need to think offensive instead of defensive and seal that box so he can’t come through. Here, take this relay golem with you. I’ll keep in touch if I learn any new developments. Good luck.

No prizes for guessing which one works. After hitting him enough times with his “weakness”, he gets fed up with us.

“Swarming, tiny, petty worms. Very well! I’ll paint the Mad Realm with my father’s blood, then I’ll be back for all of you!”

Toilet paper, rocks, planks….candy corn?

“If anyone has a better theorem, now’s the time to reveal it.”

“Are you talking to me, or him?”

“Tear them limb from limb!”

“Throw everything at him. Something has to be effective!”

So we have to distract the Bloody Prince while Magister Tassi reconfigures her containment fields. Unfortunately, the Bloody Prince is immune to damage and conditions, so no hitting him until he dies.

Thankfully, he decides to tag out and sick a skeleton on us.

(Some time later, over some roasted marshmallows…)

“…and that is the story of my life as the Bloody Prince, up until my father decided to lock me in that box to starve to death.”

“Wow. That’s rough. Sorry about that.”

“It was mostly his fault anyway. Pretending to care for his subjects, acting like his jokes were actually good. What a waste. At least I’m honest about what I do.”

“Ah, all this new information on the Thorns, and from the Mad King’s previously unknown son, no less!”

“That’s Bloody Prince Edrick to you. And make sure you write all this down. That lunatic father of mine will NOT erase my name from history this time.”

“Do we have to fight?”

“Fight? That implies some level of parity between us.”

“I think we can help each other out. You don’t like the Mad King. Neither do we, really. Why don’t we just team up and defeat him when he returns on Halloween?”

“An interesting idea. But I don’t really trust you. And the Living Story script dictates that we must fight. But you did listen to my story, so I’ll go easy on you…as long as you don’t bore me. Let’s play.”

“Prince Edrick Thorn? You’re the Mad King’s son? I’ve never heard of you. And as an expert on the Thorns, I’ve read all the records.”

“That jovial lunatic wrote the Bloody Prince out of history after he left me to starve in that box? Where is he? I’ll chop the pumpkin off his head! I’ll use his fingers for forks!”

“Actually…I thought you were him. Halloween is almost here, and the Mad King visits us with his usual jokes and games.”

“You laugh at his jokes? Play his idiotic games? For fun? He starves me to death, and you adore him?!”

“Who are you? You’re not the Mad King.”

“Do you hear me making jokes? I am NOT King Oswald Thorn. I am the killer of flesh. The spiller of blood.”

“I need you to assist me. Something’s coming. Something violent.”

“Shouldn’t you have called for more than just me—”

“Oh, thank the Alchemy you’ve come. I don’t know how long the containment field will hold. I’ve been tracking this reliquary here. It’s been something of a curiosity, dating back to the ninth century. If I’m right, it’s a missing relic from when the Mad King ruled and terrified his people. But this relic isn’t like anything I’ve seen from the Mad King’s reign. It just…disintegrated a charr when he interacted with it.”

“Um..about that containment field..”

Finally, he met with Tassi in a large underground room, containing an altar to which the box was chained.

“Well, if it isn’t the intrepid investigator from Dragon Bash.”

“What?”

“You know…big celebration in Lion’s Arch? Council member assassinated? Aetherblade debut?”

“No. My sister handled that.”

“Oh well, I digress…”

Further on, an annotated map indicating Tassi’s objective: determining the origin of this reliquary, which she believed to be a Thorn reliquary.

Thorn…the name sounded like he had seen it elsewhere, but nothing came to mind. Were it not for the age of this tomb, he’d have guessed she was talking about some Nightmare courtier.

As he proceeded carefully through the ruins, the crusader spotted a note from Tassi, mentioning she was further in, as well as something about “candy corn”.

The guardian crusader had arrived in the Black Citadel, reporting to a Venna Castblade about a letter he’d received about a haunted box found by Prior Magister Tassi. He didn’t know why this Magister had chosen to mail him regarding a haunted box, but it was not his way to turn down others in need of assistance. And this box had apparently vaporized a charr soldier who tried to touch it. Without further ado, he descended into the newly discovered reliquary to assist.

If the changes end up being like what they did to Tequatl, this will probably be the outcome most of the time.

Cool stories.

In all seriousness though, that’s really bad design to have an enemy just teleport to you at any time which is impossible to beat solo. At least you can run from her sometimes, but that’s really sadistic if it happens in a situation like the opening poster described.

Nike.2631:

The abomination now has an enormous path. You have to go hunt him down to re-enable Plinx.

So…he wanders the map now like all those annoying guild bounty bosses? Sigh..

Well, at least I’m not missing anything important.

As of right now still, the Horror is bugged, and doesn’t appear on some servers. It will show up in overflows however, so there’s your best chance, besides guesting to a server that is not bugged.

Even though I don’t really want the Greatsaw skin (it looks awesome, but doesn’t suit any of my characters), I still think that it should’ve come back for Halloween this time as well.