Probably the weakest episode to date, in fact of all the Seasons. The first episode I can say I found more wrong than right and just didn’t find enjoyable and I include the map in that.
- The puzzle element didn’t really bother me, but will end up being too annoying for most. There really was no need for it other than to antagonise players
- Why is my Norn a member of the Shining Blade? This whole sequence was heavily contrived just to satisfy our own curiosity about the Exemplar. There really didn’t need to exist an oath and weird instance for them to tell us what they were up to. Killing mursaat is hardly a shocking reveal after all.
- The map is a bit more interesting than most Orr areas, but lacked any depth and consequently felt rushed and doesn’t encourage as much repeat play as the others. I could never visit here again and not feel I miss out. Balthazars area is particularly overtuned – all I saw was dead bodies everywhere. The map was a great excuse to really and thoroughly explore a great deal of lore on the Gods which it never took. We also seem to rather easily cleanse Risen corpses without fully explaining why (unless I missed something. It just felt too easy)
- How did Braham just walk up to and surround Jormag with an army? The whole build up until now is that you can’t just walk up to a fully active Elder Dragon. That has literally been a major theme in the first 2-3 years of the game. Then he writes us a letter instead of killing him whilst having the chance. What?
- Last instance. The mobs have too much HP although the mechanics are OK. The biggest issue in the last instance is that she dies to quickly from the sparks whilst charging up her magic to destroy the shield. I spent half an hour constantly rezzing her since the sparks wont aggro away.
- Interesting cutscene to end on, but still feels like we are mid season
Overall, I thought this episode was pretty terrible. NEver felt like a finale, the map was weak compared to the other 5 and the story brought in yet another mini story thread instead of keeping on point and rushing through 3 GW1 characters just to get them done and out of the way.
Season 2 as a story was much stronger – it kept to a solid narrative thread without diverting off unless it was relevant to do so. And it had a finale with a solid lead in to get excited about the expansion. The ending here was a bit flat
Apologies, id love to give more positive feedback, but unlike any of the others, there just wasnt anything fun here and im really disappointed this wasnt an avtual finale.
I agree. Too many threads and a result, each are not getting the time investment due as they get rapdily ticked off.
- lazarus revealed. Lazarus is not lazarus. Lazarus returns. Lazarus killed.
- livia returns and is a disguised as a new random npc and her story is now done already
- braham gets scroll, breaks tooth in quickly discarded cutscene and then surrounds jormag even though you cant just walk up and attack a fully active Dragon (ie the pount behind the Zhaitan and Mordemoth build ups)
- Aurene is here! But that thread is hanging now
- Rytlock’s story still hanging
- Balthazar is back – a major arc, yet bumped back to the expansion so we can bring in some unrelated GW1 shining blade lore
- non humans can now joun the shining blade so we can find out the shining blade want to resurrect lazarus and kill him. Killing mursaat is a known objective of the shining blade, making this weird initiation instance unnecessary.
Plus we have Caudecus, white mantle, krytan conflicts over a returned God….so. many things to cover, some of which deserved an entire season of their own. We need to get back to a centralised, defined story arc again. Since the start of HoT, everything feels like a rush to get as many stories told and half told as possible.
If i remember the dialogue, being her mother was used as an analogy. I believe she actually said during the boss fight when asked that she had no descendants. I dont think she is actually her mother (id have to reread the dialogue to confirm)
It is there, i believe the first barter npc has it
Aaaaand this is?
Per the patch notes they restored some scenery to Gilded Hollow that vanished some time after HoT launch. To wit, the skellie in that shot.
I thought that was the skele from the Goonies-esque JP in Bloodtide? I was sure I read he had vanished
HEEYYYYYYY YOOOOOOOOUUU GUUUYYYYYYYYYSSS
Season 2 was a more coherent story. This was a mess, albeit it did start of as a string season. Too often the writers tried to cram various side stories in and it rarely worked, leaving hanging thread, lore contradiction, plot holes in the wake. The writers need to realise we don’t know the overall thread like they do, so they need to give us a string central narrative to grip and pull us along with. For episode 6 not to end as a finale is further evidence of this
Where the Season got it right was in the unique map design and the individual map stories – with the exception of this new one, which had almost none of this.
Most of the maps were a joy to play in, with string events and immersive storytelling in each.
I got through it, but not without a great deal of luck. My warrior switched to a rez banner to try and get her up, but she kept going down really quickly as the adds overwhelm her and can’t be aggroed away. The strategy appears to be all about maximum dps on the sparks and if you didn’t bring a high dps build then it’s going to be a struggle.
Probably the weakest episode to date, in fact of all the Seasons. The first episode I can say I found more wrong than right and just didn’t find enjoyable and I include the map in that.
- The puzzle element didn’t really bother me, but will end up being too annoying for most. There really was no need for it other than to antagonise players
- Why is my Norn a member of the Shining Blade? This whole sequence was heavily contrived just to satisfy our own curiosity about the Exemplar. There really didn’t need to exist an oath and weird instance for them to tell us what they were up to. Killing mursaat is hardly a shocking reveal after all.
- The map is a bit more interesting than most Orr areas, but lacked any depth and consequently felt rushed and doesn’t encourage as much repeat play as the others. I could never visit here again and not feel I miss out. Balthazars area is particularly overtuned – all I saw was dead bodies everywhere. The map was a great excuse to really and thoroughly explore a great deal of lore on the Gods which it never took. We also seem to rather easily cleanse Risen corpses without fully explaining why (unless I missed something. It just felt too easy)
- How did Braham just walk up to and surround Jormag with an army? The whole build up until now is that you can’t just walk up to a fully active Elder Dragon. That has literally been a major theme in the first 2-3 years of the game. Then he writes us a letter instead of killing him whilst having the chance. What?
- Last instance. The mobs have too much HP although the mechanics are OK. The biggest issue in the last instance is that she dies to quickly from the sparks whilst charging up her magic to destroy the shield. I spent half an hour constantly rezzing her since the sparks wont aggro away.
- Interesting cutscene to end on, but still feels like we are mid season
Overall, I thought this episode was pretty terrible. NEver felt like a finale, the map was weak compared to the other 5 and the story brought in yet another mini story thread instead of keeping on point and rushing through 3 GW1 characters just to get them done and out of the way.
Season 2 as a story was much stronger – it kept to a solid narrative thread without diverting off unless it was relevant to do so. And it had a finale with a solid lead in to get excited about the expansion. The ending here was a bit flat.
I kinda wish they’d delayed the episode by one week and brought the announcement in with the episode like they did with LS2.
I wasn’t a fan of this either, but one tip – u can fire the bloodstone at an inactive glyph.
Finally reached the map after 2 shaky instances. Hoping we get on track at some point. We’re veering off again and it still doesn’t feel like we’re starting a finale episode yet.
It’s the same puzzle as earlier in the instance, so it should be fairly straightforward if you were able to work it out first time around
Zealex will be happy I bet!
A nice surprise that we get 2 weapons this episode
I don’t recall it being hidden? It was just tagged onto the end of the story once completed iirc?
iirc the “true” trailer was “hidden” simply by some mean.. I don’t quite remember, I think you had to do something extra. The first trailer was the face of the Pale Tree shown as a painted illusion in branches, while another trailer showed the sylvari being branded and slandered.. although I could be remembering it wrong.. I’m not sure anymore
Season 2 ended with these when you finished the last episode from memory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usGchGV0bKQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yUExT2SSA0
I don’t recall it being hidden? It was just tagged onto the end of the story once completed iirc?
Yes I do, but whether it is Elona and CD is still unknown. A lot of those leaks have already been debunked as shown with the last episode so it’s still not in any way a definite at this point.
Form suggests a trailer or clear cutscene to finish off this episode. However, this season is a bit odd since it is clearly does not feel like a finale compared to S2 and S1. We still seem to be stuck firmly in mid season territory, so I will not be surprised if we don’t see a firm tying up here ready for the expac.
I vaguely recall a dev comment say it was quite a time consuming exercise to pull all those stats together, for no real gain considering how much work they have to do across the various contents being worked upon.
I agree about it being fun and interesting data, but it doesn’t really have a use and I’d not like to see precious dev time used up if it actually is a time thing.
It seems almost certain Balthazar is the one left behind. Short of them saying balth was always Lazarus from the beginning even in gw1, I suspect the real lazarus will remain a hanging thread.
I hope I’m wrong I really do, but then again is one single mursaat actually a threat?
All we can hope is they are out of the picture…“for now”. Neither are destroyed, they are just drained of enough magic to put them down for a bit.
I think there is a certain wisdom in having the Dragons as background “Forces of Nature”, rather than large, destructive, but killable foes. Whilst I love a good epic Dragon battle as much as the next Conan-wannabe, they lose their mystique if they become killable and I think that happened with Zhaitan and Mordremoth. Plus the more you hype them up as a threat, the more anticlimatic the defeat can often be as living up to it can be very difficult.
However, most of what you say about losing our wayI supportt. Even those of us who have been with GW1 are a bit bewildered by Balths return and his motivations.
And the biggest sin of all, goes back to Ep3 where we threw away the breaking of Jormag’s tooth with a rushed cutscene. There was a decent story arc we could have explored round that piece of lore alone.
Rox is the major character in this season and I hope her task will be completed.
I have to ask why you believe this. So far, Rox has had the least involvement of the all the group, let alone being the/a major character this season. She’s tagged along with Braham out of friendship/loyalty and probably the only significant thing otherwise is to rescue Garm.
She is of absolutely no consequence to this current arc at all.
Which is arguably the right call.
There are a lot of characters the team need to write for and trying to cram them all and give them time would be detrimental further to the story, especially as there is a lot of loose ends and bigger arcs going on right no to suddenly bring a less than minor character to the forefront this episode.
Rox will get her time to shine down the line I am sure.
I think if it was always up I;d disagree with you, but yes since it is only up for 10mins at the end of an event cycle and needs a coordinated group often outside of your control, then I think this is valid.
I think come the expansion, there will need to be reevaluation of some HoT content just to make it more accessible to the lower population. Vinetooth Prime is a good example of this, with possible solutions as;
- Better scaling
- Adjusting the event chain to make it always available
- Removing the time limit (my personal preference)
I’m not sure about that. Aurene has already given us a prophecy while still in the egg - that of Logan, Zojja and Trahearne being used as templates for armies of super-Mordrem. Now, that could have been farsight and extrapolation rather than foresight per se, but that’s at least a step along the road.
Heck, the vision just before the Dragon Vigil instance was a prophecy, albeit a short-term one. Other prophecies may be coming.
A fair point which I had forgotten about, I have edited my post accordingly
Im sure they said the opposite that the losing fractal will be added in the future.
They didn’t at the time and I can’t recall them ever saying officially it would be added since either.
To be honest, it has been so long now and the direction of the game has changed enough, that they could add in an Abaddon fractal (which is a popular request) and people would likely be OK about it. They probably realise this too.
Bear in mind, that they did say after the original vote, they had no idea what to do with an Abaddon Fractal, but did have a clear vision for the Thaumonova one.
I can see how the storytelling would be underwhelming, especially for Living World episodes. I kept getting excited by them, only to be let down with dropped threads, baffling ‘plot twists’, random deaths, and isolated responses with no root in the continuity.
Episode 6 is going to have to do a LOT of heavy lifting to resolve plot arcs left behind from the start of HoT…
This is a concern of mine. I fear little will be resolved. We don’t feel at a finale point with so many sudden and unresolved threads popping up left right and centre. LS2 at leats felt like we were heading somewhere, LS3’s GPS fell off somwhere round ep3 and it feels a bit like we are driving around with an upside down street atlas…
My rubbish metaphors aside, the story just isn’t cutting it for me anymore like it did. I was excited for each episode, but the lack of any real coherent plotline and the bizarre identity reveal of Lazarus last episode has hurt my excitement for a release. Luckily, the open world content is still thoroughly enjoyable to me and some wonderful map building, with their own mini stories are keeping me back for more.
If I was to feedback anything constructive, it’s the same as what I’ve said for the last 2-3 years. Each Season and expansion, should be concise, and keep to a clear and central narrative as many players as possible can keep to following. A clear central story for each Season/expansion and leaving no more loose ends left dangling with engage with players a lot more. Shocks for the sake of shocks is also not a positive sign.
I know they want to write this like a TV Series, but this is not the right medium for the style they are going for. Video games work better with self contained linking stories/campaigns.
I think after the Lich opened it and we defeated him and closed it, the entire volcano erupted. If the door is still there, it is likely buried or underwater due to the Movements of the World since GW1.
Im sure a lore expert will give a better or more accurate reply though, since much of gw1 story is a blur to me now.
Prob better to wait until seeing it close up and in game. I remember chuka and champawat being condemned utterly….u til it got in game and many changed their opinion and said how cool it was
Both links doesn’t work
https://twitter.com/GuildWars2?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
No one forgets about her, but right now she doesn’t appear to be relevant. She may have some bearing this episode, but the signs are not there to indicate it. As Konig says, she is likely part of the grand prophecy.
Aurene is just one facet of whatever long game Anet are playing with this story. Unfortunately, it has become so entangled in itself, it is difficult to know where anything is going
https://www.librarything.com/profile/Randulf,
https://www.librarything.com/catalog/Randulf
(edited by Randulf.7614)
He was cut from HoT due to time constraints. We only have guesses as to how he fitted in. I doubt we will ever return to the matter and will be left as one of many unresolved story threads.
New JP maybe?
Or it could just be a voice over with no connection to anyone in current lore.
I think you have made a rather tenuous connection there. I don’t think the number means anything at all beyond some natural coincidences.
However, I do find it a fun theory and I would change Rising Flames to Balthazar and Flashpoint to Melandru, since Draconis Mons and its hanging gardens and druids are more connected to Melandru than anything in Rising Flames is.
Someone said the voice is similar or the same as the VA for Livia. I can’t remember how her voice sounded, so we shall see
You can get a feel for Livia’s voice if you look up some of the GW:EN cutscenes on youtube. Here’s one for you:
Cheers for that. I can kinda see why some are making the connection.
Someone said the voice is similar or the same as the VA for Livia. I can’t remember how her voice sounded, so we shall see
Serious answer:
Technically since baby mice and race can be called kittens, I don’t see any reason why not
Getting the pre through luck shouldn’t reward anything else but the precursor. The crafted version comes with extra goodies for those putting the time/effort/gold into the collections.
I actually like that the juggernaut doesn’t apply when sheathed. It means I can have the best of both effects and show off my normal outfit/look outside of combat.
Palawa Joko is a huge leap and I can’t really see a natural or obvious connection to being Balthazar’s direct nemesis.
The idea has been suggested many times before in some form – whether it’s the Legendary itself that can cycle through sigils/runes loaded to it or as your suggestion is above. It seems a largely popular concept, but I forget if Anet ever commented on it.
I love the new Lion’s Arch.
Seconded
There is no chance (imo) the maps are going to be rebuilt. Too many things are linked to the old maps for events, collections, achievements to lock the current ones away into instances and it would be unfair to newer players.
Maybe one day, they might phase it, but I would think that highly unlikely given the lack of any meaningful gain for the work involved.
If we are getting a new Orr map next episode like is speculated, then I would expect to see the effects of any cleansing contained there so as at least to show the effect in place.
Maps are stuck in time, from core right through to LS3. It just isn’t really feasible to make an MMO a true “Living World” – it actually makes it even more messy (Timberline is a classic example, having core story + LS2 story, all stuck in time, all lumped together, all out of date and in conflict with each other).
But, yes going to Orr would hopefully tie up Rytlock (finally) and the current mystery surrounding the Gods as you say
PoF the Magic Dragon?
Remember the devs have said the fogged out colours no longer represent the World terrain underneath it. They decided to abandon following that as a guide around about LS2/HoT since they stated it was restrictive.
Pilgrimage of Faren!
Orr makes perfect sense (for a change) given the last episode. The problem is how many loose threads there are, given they promised us and end to doing just that. That’s why going to Jormag/Braham…also made sense.
Out of curiosity though, over a week ago you said you were unlikely to return to the game. Does whether we head to Orr or Jormag matter if that is the case?
Funny, so many posted they really love that Outfit.
I like it, too. Just not in the GW2 universe.
At the end of the day, the game has long since abandoned any sense of individual style and if this helps finance the game, I mostly just let it wash over me and ignore it best I can.
Good advice.
This pack, which is usable by any character, comes with the latest advances in piloted exo-golem technology and holographic aeronautical volitation that the College of Dynamics has guaranteed will not explode within the first ten uses.
Seems pretty Guild Wars 2 universe-appropriate to me.
Description wise yes, but to me, personally, the look doesn’t fit
But, each to their own. If the wider playerbase likes it so, be it
Orr makes sense given the connection to the Gods.
I heard it being clean Orr, but I don’t know. The ship looks Canthan and the sea looks green. That said showing clean Orr wold be a weird contrast.
Going back to an old map is unlikely. There should still be some part of Orr round to the east side and considering maps are stuck in time now, they could have a cleansed 4th map separate to the other 3
I do really like the outfit a lot (largely because they look like the Orochi guards from Secret World), but I am in agreement with some of the sentiment behind your post in terms of whether it fits the game or not.
At the end of the day, the game has long since abandoned any sense of individual style and if this helps finance the game, I mostly just let it wash over me and ignore it best I can.
Orr makes sense given the connection to the Gods.
EU players – try now. I’ve just got through normally