Guild Wars 2

Winds.3087:

Because people who hate logan are mostly from rytlock’s edgy fancub warband in disguise.

I also don’t understand why people hate trahearne.
He’s like ten times better than any character living story has thrown at us.

I don’t think he’s ten times better than the duo of Rox/Braham. Seriously, those two are fun to work alongside, and it doesn’t feel their AI is useless.

Also, Ellen Kiel would revive me in the Aetherblade Retreat, which Trahearne never did. So he’s got a while to catch up to her.

DarksunG.9537:

Yamsandjams.3267:

Windu The Forbidden One.6045:

I’m really curious about her motives though. Assuming she isn’t evil for the sake of being evil.

Some people just want to watch the world burn.

Ugh, you aren’t SERIOUSLY comparing her character to the Joker? that’s like comparing a Risen to Galactus.

But they both go “I HUNGER!” so they must be similar, right?

Right?

. . . eh?

Korval.3751:

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

The bad news is this is day one, when the patches and hotfixes usually do come. The good news is it should be smoother after

I really hope so! It just feel like if they had more people testing this content on a test server a lot of these problem could’ve been eliminated. I still don’t understand why Anet doesn’t have a test server like WOW. Do they want to protect the Living World story so much that they’re willing to release buggy content and fix it over the course of a week? Bug free Living World updates is MORE important than protecting the story. All it takes a few more months of these kinds of releases for people to become frustrated and leave. I feel like one of them…

Yeah, I don’t think a test server could catch more than half the issues. Small things like definite miscalculations? Sure, perhaps. Glitches from being on a live server with gods-know how many players? Not . . . really probable.

They’re possibly fantastic tools. On the one hand. On the other hand, you actually have to have enough people playing on them to get good data.

But then I’m not a software tester or engineer, just someone who believes absolutely nothing flawlessly is integrated into “public release” from “finished beta testing”.

The bad news is this is day one, when the patches and hotfixes usually do come. The good news is it should be smoother after.

We can only hope. In the meantime, lace up the cleats and get those legs stretched cause there’s a lot of running to do. Seriously, there’s an almost absurd amount of running involved. In a good way.

Viking Jorun.5413:

BobbyStein.2315:

Thalador.4218:

The problem is that Jeff and Ree are either very busy with building the overarching lore (and giving into the subpar ideas of the new writers) or are held back so the LS writing team can have their “fun.”

I can’t comment on what Ree and Jeff are working on, but I can say that I’m ultimately responsible for the quality of the Living World story. I don’t imagine we’ll please everyone with our new direction, but that’s true of any story. That stated, I encourage people to leave their feedback. Just please be respectful.

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

Mm, no, the problem might be that the LS writers are trying to have it be “fun and entertaining” as opposed to “stirring and exquisite writing”. Which is good, because people shooting for “stirring and exquisite writing” sometimes risk missing the mark and moving right on into “boring and pretentious” or too far into “just plain boring”. Like shooting for Inception and instead getting Minority Report.

This is true.

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

. . . on a semi-related note? Who is voicing Scarlet Briar?

Tara Strong

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0152839/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

We have Dil Pickles, Bubbles, Raven, Ben Tennyson, Poof, and Ted’s “I Love You!” Box all rolled into one character?

Now if only they can get Rob Paulsen to VA some asura . . .

BobbyStein.2315:

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

…I think we still have much to find out rather than “we know all we will ever find out”.

There is a lot more to come. The Living World story is paced very differently than other content in the game, partially due to the nature of how we build and release it. I won’t spoil anything other than say that there’s more to come.

Doesn’t surprise me, if the story is supposed to slowly unwind and Scarlet around for a while (put down the pitchforks people), we’re likely to learn more about things. Or, alternatively, be led to intuit things based on minor details sprinkled about.

. . . I prefer the second option, actually, just because it gets more mileage for the fans who follow lore to discuss

Eldrake.1543:

Tara is a good actress, but a good voice doesn’t redeem a terribly written character.

And a well-written character can be doomed by bad voice acting. (See: Heero Yuy in the US dubbing of Gundam Wing. The director’s fault, notably.)

blud.8174:

BobbyStein.2315:

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

. . . on a semi-related note? Who is voicing Scarlet Briar?

Tara Strong

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0152839/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

She voices Bubbles, Batgirl, the asura announcer in the pavillion, and now Scarlet. Is there something this woman can’t do?

Play someone well-adjusted and sane?

Also add Twilight Sparkle (Ponies), Raven (Teen Titans), and Rikku (Final Fantasy 10). From things I was reminded of by two dozen or so friends who went: “OMG! TARA!”

Copestetic.5174:

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

Draconicus.7564:

Sirendor.1394:

MANPOSSUM.4691:

Rooftop free running anyone?

You totally have my attention now. I remember all these roofs and amazing mazes of streets. I always got lost in Kaineng.

Just imagine all the amazing jumping puzzles possible in Kaineng Slams!!:P

Aaaand just like that, at the prospect of having to see Kaineng City again, I’m not behind this idea. No, seriously, I really was not fond of that part of Factions, I was more a fan of the stone forests which were slowly recovering and the sea which was turned into solid jade.

Kaineng City, assuming there even is one anymore, would most likely be vastly different. We’re talking 200+ years different. Just like LA, Divinity’s Reach, and all other areas that have changed drastically in one way or another. I doubt the ole’ Hong Kong slums would be even there. It wasn’t my favorite part either, but it did look very much like Kowloon, and I enjoyed it simply because of that.

Either way, Cantha as a whole is a much different place than what we know about it from Guild Wars Factions. Echovald is de-petrified, and the Jade Sea isn’t so jaded anymore. All-and-all, I, and possibly millions of other players would be greatly disappointed if Cantha’s not revisited. It’s just too big to write off like that.

200+ years ago, Divinity’s Reach didn’t exist But I do get your point . . . my point was that people imagining freerunning the slums as awesome was not as appealing to me. I mean, I do like my jumping puzzles from time to time.

(Except for the northern one in Southsun Cove with the steamvents.)

But I really don’t like that spot. My apologies, it was both interesting and boring at the same time. I mean, sure it felt like slums and like a city which had been active and restructured several dozen times. But on the other hand, it all kinda blurred into one bit lump in my awareness as I ran through it dodging Afflicted. Or, later, Ministry.

Draconicus.7564:

Sirendor.1394:

MANPOSSUM.4691:

Rooftop free running anyone?

You totally have my attention now. I remember all these roofs and amazing mazes of streets. I always got lost in Kaineng.

Just imagine all the amazing jumping puzzles possible in Kaineng Slams!!:P

Aaaand just like that, at the prospect of having to see Kaineng City again, I’m not behind this idea. No, seriously, I really was not fond of that part of Factions, I was more a fan of the stone forests which were slowly recovering and the sea which was turned into solid jade.

Thalador.4218:

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

. . . you realize the last time we had this attempt, it was Kormir and Abaddon, Gwen and the Vanguard, and Trahearne. I liked all these things but I recognize they really . . . fell short for a rather large amount of people.

Kormir and Abaddon were nicely written – I’m not saying it was perfect, but it was definitely compelling and interesting. (The only reason people dislike Kormir is because “she’s done nothing” – mechanics-wise – and stolen “their” godhood. They can’t seem to grasp that the gods’ gift to Kormir was the blessing with which she could absorb Abaddon’s knowledge and power without blowing up herself, the Realm of Torment, and Tyria.)

Gwen’s story wasn’t boring at all. It was really good seeing her grow up and become the Captain of the Ebon Vanguard. Yes, her phases of emo and her tsundere behavior with Keiran were sometimes difficult to bear, but otherwise her coping with those issues was done very well.

Trahearne is also suffering from the “alleged credit-stealer syndrome” – as well as his prowess in battle. But aside from his emotionless robo-voice and his roller coaster of a depression/self-doubt, he isn’t that bad. He’s one-sided, true, but not as kittenome make him out to be.

All of these examples are stellar compared to Scarlet – or at least of what we’ve seen of her so far. (Even in looks… I swear, the corrupt Abaddon with his glowing globe mouth, pincers, and six eyes is a better sight than that crazy red hair and that goofy bark face.)

I know, I understand, and we agree a lot on the trio of things I pulled out of GW lore. However, even you can admit they met with anything from open hostility to “not her again”. (Gwen had a team of vocal detractors for the makeover, once the “she’s alive?!” wore off. I got to hear about it a fair amount.)

But we can disagree on Scarlet. Largely because I think we still have much to find out rather than “we know all we will ever find out”. You know, like Modus Sceleris.

. . . I do hope we get more of them.

Thalador.4218:

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

Mm, no, the problem might be that the LS writers are trying to have it be “fun and entertaining” as opposed to “stirring and exquisite writing”. Which is good, because people shooting for “stirring and exquisite writing” sometimes risk missing the mark and moving right on into “boring and pretentious” or too far into “just plain boring”. Like shooting for Inception and instead getting Minority Report.

For once, it’d be worth to try “stirring and exquisite” writing… Who knows, it might actually work.

. . . you realize the last time we had this attempt, it was Kormir and Abaddon, Gwen and the Vanguard, and Trahearne. I liked all these things but I recognize they really . . . fell short for a rather large amount of people.

Grimno.6172:

Uther Deathhand.1570:

Astasia.1459:

Why do you need 300 gold?

Maybe you should reread the OP, mostly the part where he says “to get my precursor”.

After seeing it got nerfed…
I just, I’ve never felt so demotivated in my life.
I can’t make any gold now, this, was my chance, my actual chance!
Something I could do!
I can’t flip the market, I have TRIED… god I have tried!

I dunno, a couple people who ran the Scarlet Invasions managed to make a fair amount of gold over a few hours. Not to mention the champion loot involved can include cores and lodestones for fattening your wallet.

Esplen.3940:

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Eldrake.1543:

I hope Scarlet isn’t the personal nemesis that you guys had in mind. She would be a really disappointing nemesis.

Don’t worry. Kiel is pulling all the strings here. Mark my words…

Suuuuuuuuure she is…

Also of note, that she sent Logan off very . . . VERY . . . quickly. Suspicious?

Scribbles.3974:

she didnt come out of no where :/ she was there at the beginning of the crown pavillion, sure she appeared and said yo wut up, im gonna steal this tech from yall and be like, all invade yo kitten , but still, who cares, its harley quinn

Actually, as is now verified, she was around before with the Molten Alliance. Probably the one who talked them into working together, or one of her agents. She was named during the last deal with the aetherblade captain, Mai Trin, though she quickly shut up about it later.

Given her use of strange portals? It’s highly likely we didn’t hear about her for a similar reason to not hearing about the Grand High Sovereign. She didn’t exist here until she showed up.

Thalador.4218:

The problem is that Jeff and Ree are either very busy with building the overarching lore (and giving into the subpar ideas of the new writers) or are held back so the LS writing team can have their “fun.”

Mm, no, the problem might be that the LS writers are trying to have it be “fun and entertaining” as opposed to “stirring and exquisite writing”. Which is good, because people shooting for “stirring and exquisite writing” sometimes risk missing the mark and moving right on into “boring and pretentious” or too far into “just plain boring”. Like shooting for Inception and instead getting Minority Report.

. . . on a semi-related note? Who is voicing Scarlet Briar?

Chadramar.8156:

None of us is a mind reader, especially if all we have to go by are words on a screen without tone or body language, and many times the difference between a “harmless” remark and deliberate bullying can be extremely hard to tell.

As someone who works in food service, and has for a few years now, AND also has worked customer service? Yeah, I can completely comprehend this and it’s part of what should be good training at any of those jobs to divorce what would be “completely understandable reactions” (“Did you see that look s/he gave me? If I wouldn’t go to jail I’d smack that right off of him/her”) from your thinking.

It’s precisely the problem of not being able to know what another person is thinking, what they’ve gone through that day, or if they’re even being truthful to you if they start telling you stories about it. (Or, on the flipside, if they deny anything happened at all.)

There are exactly three things left to say from me:

- No remark is completely and inherently harmless, no matter how you meant it; some people have thicker skins or different perspectives on it. This even includes facts such as “2+2=4”. If you don’t believe that can start a fight with someone, you have not worked with the public enough.

- The online world has made it such that the veracity of any given evidence is questionable. Even things such as photographs or audio can be faked by someone with adequate enough resources, which means “truth” is a very pliable concept these days. Adding to that, cases of hearsay, second-party or third-party accounts? Things become a horrendous mess of trying to figure out “the trooth” in anything anywhere online which isn’t an independently verifiable fact such as “2+2=4” or “wine is fermented juices”.

- You’re right to have been concerned about the watchknights, but it is proven to have been for a completely different reason.

Thalador.4218:

This game seriously needs more “villainy” of Grand Admiral Thrawn’s kind.

If only we could get Timothy Zahn. Though Jeff Grubb is working somewhere in there, I thought I heard, so there’s that.

Though . . . there are compelling arguments for Thrawn also being a villain sue, this is not the place to debate that detail.

Ronah.2869:

It would be nice if A-Net would organize some story writing contest for their future living story. Let’s say for the next year.
They can set up some parameters like we need to have Brham and Rox involved plus introducing 3 new characters, 1 good and 2 bad, etc.
let players write stories and give them some in-game rewards for most of the winners.
You may also combine some ideas into a better one.

Good idea and bad idea at the same time.

Good: The idea to invite players to come up with something which will make it into the game and have a permanent (for what passes for it) imprint on the Living Story.

Good: Allowing them some reward for the inventiveness and quality.

Bad: Allowing them some reward which may not be achievable by multiple people.

Pavees.7281:

also liking something doesn’t make it inherently bad or good but people can like bad writing or bad movies that’s actually possible.

Yeah, there is truth to this. I mean, my brother liked “Meet the Spartans” . . . and Twilight. No, I’m not kidding, but I do mean the book and not the movie.

I’ve seen this villain before, by the way, with less cackling insanity and more cold calculation. I’ll plug Lois McMasters Bujold’s “The Vor Game”. For the same character with the insanity (sans cackling) and male? Tad Williams’ “Memory Sorrow and Thorn”.

See also “Grand Admiral Thrawn”.

Murderous Clown.9723:

Man In Zero G.8312:

I’ve loved it so far – the only complaint I have is NPCs referring to Divinity’s Reach as “DR” in dialogue…. that’s extremely immersion breaking, to be honest. Otherwise fantastic event!

Why? We use initials like that in real life e.g. LA and KL. I don’t see why Tyrians wouldn’t do the same.

Yeah, on the other hand? Scarlet is crazy . . .

Hmm.

Given what we see her doing, and how she behaves, I’m fairly certain there’s a lot more about her than “she’s studied under every race, if the rumors are to be believed”. (Emphasis mine…) The Rata Sum thing? Considering she is actively using portals to summon Steam Creatures (otherworldly constructs) and other hints?

She may have graduated from three colleges all right, just not in the same time continuity. I hesitate to think she actually did study under the charr, norn, kylek, et cetera . . . but it is easy to believe “everyone knows her” on the darker side of things because our characters don’t operate there except to go brush against it from time to time.

I’d believe it more if it was a Whispers agent doing the decanting, since it’s their JOB to go find information even about the stupid minor conflicts which crop up.

As for her attitude – frankly, she’s not the only crazy sylvari we’ve seen. Owain comes to mind, as does Faolain and her three disciples. Canach is a borderline case, since he’s not insane just unhinged.

taek.9386:

kokiman.2364:

taek.9386:

This game had potential but now its become so grindy it’s like ‘work’ away from work and turning into all those other MMOs. Laurel grind, daily grind, achievement point grind, wexp grind, whats next??

I give GW2 one month to prove they are better than that, otherwise cya later and hello to GTA5

The game is grindy because it offers grind as something optional?

It’s not optional, it’s mandatory if you don’t want to fall behind the rest of the pack. For example, say you stop playing now, what will happen when they introduce ascended armor or level 500 crafting, which requires like some absurb amount of laurels for a single piece? Well your pretty much stuffed and imagine if you have alts…

Aaaand as long as we’re playing with hypothetical thingss, as soon as they raise the level cap you’ll even be further behind. Or what if they add another tier of gear? Or if they decide you need to spend four gold a day to even leave Lion’s Arch?

If I stop playing now, I stop playing now and miss anything from now until when I come back. I missed almost the entire “Last Stand at Southsun” and the first week of Dragon Bash. I also missed MOST of Wintersday last year, thanks to family obligations.

Unless some earthshatteringly massive change is implemented which requires seven months of pure time sink? It’s not going to matter much.

Ashen.2907:

Except that the manifesto told us that there would not be gear progression in GW2.

You’ll win this a lot faster if you isolate the soundbyte saying this. Then Vayne can try to refute it or not at his leisure.

Just saying.

In the meantime, I don’t find this game a chore to get done before I can have fun. I have some entertaining moments interspersed between figuring out how to finish the Daily today (if I play) or maybe I want to poke at WvW and try to get better at it. (Here’s a secret: that’s not really working.)

Of course, I’ve been known to have fun doing chores, if only because I have friends/family helping out, I put something amusing on as background noise, or I am required for my job to smile pleasantly even as someone is screaming not-very-inventive craziness in my face over the fact their meal got two pepper grains too many.

Fun is, fortunately and unfortunately, a subjective experience. A lot of people have fun and are entertained by reality TV. I find the bulk of it boring and formulaic. A lot of people have fun getting drunk and/or wasted out at a bar or somewhere other than home. I like to get drunk alone and crawl into bed to rethink my life (another thing which hasn’t worked out, but that’s a topic for my therapist). A lot of people try to convince me to go to conventions; and I gently tell them it’s not worth four paychecks to maybe find something interesting.

I find it fun to go Booster Draft for Magic: the Gathering once a month. I find Settlers of Catan fun, to a point. I find it fun to get out to a Renaissance Faire sometimes and check how many people think they look awesome and how many actually do.

There are times I don’t find GW2 fun, and times when I do. I’ll give you a hint: it’s when other people are involved doing things together with me and actually are entertaining, funny, or competent at what we’re trying to do. The activity and/or the promise of reward doesn’t exactly limit or instill the fun I have. It’s the people I play with who do.

From SBI:

There’s a Champion Icebrood Quaggan in Frostgorge near the SE corner. I rarely see people try that one out.

There’s a Champion Deep Sea Shark in Bloodtide Coast, which nobody used to do. Also the Orrian Terror.

Kessex Hills has the Champion Bandit Foreman, though he is incredibly annoying to fight and at the end of a bunch of DEs.

Lornar’s Pass has quite a few Champions around, including “Champion Steam Commander” if the Steam Incursion events fail all the way.

There are some Vanguard/Charr vs Ogre events in the southeast corner of Blazeridge Steppes which have two Champions in the chain and a chest at the end.

There’s a Branded champion in Iron Marches (Victurus the Shattered). NEVER seen anyone trying to take him.

ShadowPuppet.3746:

Just my opinion of course, but I would love to have the community back we had during the bwe’s

Or the early release weekend, also. Though back then Queensdale was just as packed Always in overflow.

kokiman.2364:

Shockwave.1230:

I wish it was a cheap as Guild Wars to get max gear. Getting 1 gold in GW2 seems more time consuming as getting 1 plat from GW.

Not sure if you played GW1 at release but getting max gear (we are talking about best in slot) was impossible for someone who didn’t farm. I think up until Nightfall I never even bothered to pick up a sup. Rune of Health.

Not impossible, but it would require a trip to the Rune Trader. Luckily you could earn your way to the price quickly and you only needed ONE. Max gear was fairly easy to earn if you knew where to look, but max gear with the upgrades you wanted, the skin you wanted, and an Inscription slot was often not a piece of cake. For instance? An Inscribable FDS, max stats, Req 8 Swords could be really . . . REALLY impossible to get.

But on the other hand, other Requirement numbers were easier. Like 13. People really sold those cheap

So for a recap?

Maxed purple Long Sword? Easy. Maxed gold sword with inscription slot with a reasonable requirement (Req 9)? Pfft, find a weaponsmith in an outpost. Maxed Fellblade with Req 8 and Inscription slot? Good luck on a budget.

Shockwave.1230:

I farmed deadeye so I could finally get some exotic armor.

. . . I find it strange, it was much much easier for me to get to work crafting my own than relying on some farm to give me gold enough to earn my way through. Then again, I wasn’t picky for full Berserker’s and went with Temple Armor for karma.

Of course, currently if I wanted Exotic handmade I could do it.

Katran.9186:

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

Dimittri.3245:

..and who will play as Tyrion Lannister?

On the other hand, if this starts to play?

I’ll turn on this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7VmOZ4Ppj8

Well then there’s this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=PcagHjJRl4I&t=46

Though that’d just be silly. Perfect for an asura villain though, I suppose. Grand High Sovereign?

Chadramar.8156:

… yeah, mainstream gaming sites and mainstream media in general are so chock-full of “outrage” against the problematic depictions and treatment of women everywhere. Oh wait. They’re not. It’s a topic that is often deliberately overlooked or shouted down, and pretty much limited to heavily moderated “safe spaces” because mentioning it elsewhere means you’re often considered fair game for graphic abuse and outright kitten and death threats — and then blamed for THAT too.

I think it should have read “generally anyone online” because I see this sort of thing online a whole lot more than in real life. And no, not from media. From users who I’m not sure are serious or just kicking up a firestorm to do it. (They do exist.) It’s more common with those who seek to politicize anything and everything, but I’ve seen people pull gender politics out as their first response to something they don’t approve of . . .

But, being a male who is attracted to the female form (not the sort the watchknights have, though) I should probably shut up and go farm CS again

I voted for Kiel because I liked her, and I knew her better than Evon.

Not to ANet: Never do this again unless you build up each character involved so we know more about them. Like, a sadistic choice between Rox and Braham. Or Tybalt and Gwen.

. . . what? I don’t really think she’s dead. She was “dead” before, you know.

Dimittri.3245:

..and who will play as Tyrion Lannister?

Peter Dinklage. Obviously.

The “Rains of Castamere” starts to play, find your local Guardian and stick by them until the arrows stop. It could be a while, but they can handle it.

On the other hand, if this starts to play?

Run. And trip the Guardian to slow them down a little.

What suggestions have they used? I recall the following, implemented due to small issues pointed out:

- Bonus Chests for World Bosses.
- Karma Jugs for Daily Achievements.
- Custom choices for Daily/Monthly Achievements.
- Craft from Bank.
- Something more to use Karma for (Orrian Jewelry Boxes)

Now, these are the five things which come to mind which weren’t added “in some fashion” like WXP progression . . . these are things which were added almost exactly as asked for at the times they were sought out. I would have put Lost Shores on there, because people wanted a big event but we all know it turned into a rather huge problematic disappointment due to the technical snag of everyone on a server crammed into one zone.

Troop.1369:

Believe it or not Aedil, people will actually take Arena.Net side on that one and will play with your words too.

Don’t even start to wonder why companies feed us this kitten.

I’ll play with his words because I’ve got better examples about legendary weapons being earned instead of simply handed to you by luck. And because we’re in myth and fiction, might as well stick with it.

How Merlin, son of Prince Corwin of Amber and Queen Dara of Chaos, came by Grayswandir. Or how he discovered the twin of that sword, Werewindle . . . (The Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny). (Also fun for the Guns of Avalon . . . hee . . .)

Or we can talk about the Darksword (Weis and Hickman) and how it was specially forged to be the single most dangerous weapon in its world.

How about the quest for Thorn, the black sword forged from the heart of a fallen star, against the ice dragon far in the frozen north? (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams) Of course, it was about as much use as a Legendary in this game is

I would poke at Greek myths but legendary weapons always tended to be gifts from gods and bestowed on those favored. Also, the legend was more with the man than with the tool . . . I would daresay it was also the case for King Arthur. Excalibur was less the most awe-inspiring sword there is, and more a symbol he was fated for excellent things (no matter which version, with it being given by the Lady in the Lake or it being the Sword in the Stone).

I tend to like the idea of taking something only slightly extraordinary and having it become a legend of its own rather than a predefined something to shoot for. Unfortunately, there’s very few games where you evolve your own “legendary ultimate weapon” as you choose the path. Usually it’s all chosen for you . . . the only game I can think of where you did build your ultimate weapon was “Vagrant Story” and it was severely a grindy path

Unleashed.6195:

“You’ll find that with unity, many impossible things can be achieved” Doesn’t require an editor to become “You think too little of yourself and others.”

And neither require an editor to become what an actual published, quality author could produce. Sometimes, things are a matter of talent. If they released concept art like they did writing in this game, you would have a mixture of images done with a trackball and Microsoft Paint rather than the mind blowingly incredible work they have.

Funny enough, I’ve seen stuff produced in MS paint which was actually rather good.

But those are good soundbites, I’ll stand by watching what happened to “Goblet of Fire” as proof excellent writers still need excellent editors. Or anything by Piers Anthony.

Unleashed.6195:

Vayne.8563:

I’ve read/seen interviews with the writing team. And I have experience from inside the field as well. I can say how it’s done. And logically writers wouldn’t write this stuff if they weren’t forced to…because the same team writes regional dialogue and personal story dialogue. I’m not sure how else you’d account for the discrepancy.

No, you can’t. If the experience inside the field were something you could point to, it would also point to each studio doing things quite differently. They just said in a recent interview that a team that wrote much of the ambient dialog that did not work on the story dialog is now doing story dialog. Writers frame stories. Gameplay fills in the frame, writers fill in the gaps, gameplay fills in the gaps, writers in the gaps again…

How and where those lines are drawn are different in every studio and even within a studio can change game to game, section of the game to section of the game.

Nothing excuses the poor writing. It’s just as much a part of the world you’re presenting as the gameplay. If you have a gameplay need that means the story must be horrible to support it, you change the gameplay need. Tutorials may be the ONE area where this gets a pass.

Yes, there is exactly one excuse for poor writing. Lack of revision and poor proofreading. How do I mean? First, assume you’re a writer. (And you haven’t gone searching for a better job.)

Well, say you need to write a chapter to fill in between chapters 6 and 8. You know what happens in there, what has to happen in there, but not the finer details. You scribble out notes and then a rough draft. Done, move on to chapter 9. But when you go back through the story as a whole read, you’re not really reading what’s there but you are reading what’s in your mind.

This is most often how I find writers have poor writing slip on by, and the reason good editors are important.

It can be magnified to an interesting level when there’s a deadline involved. And, it’s been said often, there was a considerable deadline pressure going on. I’d wager there’s the spot where many of the things in this game went wrong. Is it a valid excuse? Sure. A good defense? Maybe . . .

Does it change the results? Not really.

Hell Avenger.7021:

I am glad that the general consensus is that story writing is KIIIITTEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNN

It’s not the writing I have great problems with, it’s the presentation and some of the voice direction. The “stand and talk” dialogue does no favors for a story which is pretty heavy with cliche from time to time (thing is, it seems to know that it’s got the cliche and runs with it anyway).

I have said Prophecies’ story wasn’t as good, but it was presented better through the game-engine cutscenes we got. Something we started seeing again in the Living Story, so I am hopeful we get better as we go.

Interestingly, the Mantle is active around Beetletun. Check out the graffiti if you visit, and wonder just why there’s some operating there. Then remember Lord Beetlestone supposedly had done something wicked enough to cause his daughter to run away and it was important enough she was being hunted my Ministry Guard in the free city of Lion’s Arch where the Lionguard operate.

Nuka Cola.8520:

CS Go just came out and i did not bring it to prove fps’s have good story but the opposite because this game has no story its just there for multiplayer. Play the last of us, red dead redemption, deus ex: HR, max pain 3 and all these titles and tell me gw2 reaching even 10% of the awesomness these titles story is. I mean even CoD and Halo have better story lol, hell, even crappy campaigns of battlefield games have a better one lmao.

In terms of story? GW2 is better than Max Payne 3, and probably any Call of Duty and Halo overall. In terms of presentation of that story, probably only on par. (That’s something which annoys me to no end, mind you. The Living Story has gotten better at presentation, so let’s hope the writing catches up.)

Now, I’ve heard amazing things about those other titles but I think you cherry-picked. You didn’t mention “The Line” at all, which I would have heartily agreed with as being superior in story and presentation. You also didn’t mention Mass Effect 3, where the story took a right turn off a cliff as far as making any sense with the previous games. Then there’s Diablo 3, where there was an incredible effort to put production value into their work but it was really kind of . . . “WTF is this?” . . .

There’s also no mention of Persona, which is another one I would have happily said “yes, this is awesome”. Or Monster Hunter Tri, which falls under “what story?” with great gameplay under the belt. No Minecraft, no Bastion, and no Journey. No “Call of Juarez: The Cartel”, which is a FPS title which tried the story thing and failed spectacularly on all fronts.

And most glaringly, you didn’t bring up Portal 2. Which, you know, would have been another one which would have definitely worked for you.

Pure Heart.1456:

In a nutshell, here’s what OP is saying, using a Star Wars analogy;

The original Star Wars (4,5,6) movie characters R2D2, C3PO and the Ewoks provided comic relief without trying too hard or making a big deal of it. Kids and adults alike, loved it for generations!

Then new Star Wars (1,2,3) movie characters such as Jar Jar Binx came on the scene, and they just tried waaaay too hard to be funny and silly, and while popular with some kids for a short while, adults hated it, and those same kids when they grew/grow up will hate it as well.

Anet needs to take a ‘page’ of the Star Wars ‘book’.

Noooooo . . . no, they don’t need to add a Jar Jar. They don’t need to pull a Star Wars. They need to pull a Fringe, and tie the threads together. Preferably with a Walter Bishop around.

Nuka Cola.8520:

Why do you bring games that were released decades ago? Are you in 1990 or 2013? Its an insult to fps’s to even compare them to mmo’s when it comes to story/dialogues/voice acting/characters. MMO’s have two things, gameplay and longevity, everything else is done better by any other genre. I have almost 3k hours in gw2 and don’t know a single character’s name… that’s how memorable they’re.

Why did you bring up CounterStrike, which was released a long time ago? If you bring up old games, I’ll bring up old games. And in 2013, the story of FPSs still isn’t much better than MMOs even with cutscenes and voices. The Halo series isn’t very strong with the story or characterizations (with maybe exceptions I can count on one hand). Outside of that, MAYBE Half-Life 2, but I haven’t played it and it’s protagonist has no personality. At all. Ditto Portal.

As for “isn’t done better by any other genre”? Longevity (in terms of repeat play) is the cornerstone of multiplayer-capable FPS, as well as some (but not many) RPGs. Gameplay is a nebulous matter, and it falls onto how much you like particular genres; good gameplay in an RPG is not the same as good gameplay in a fighting game, or a sports game.

Though if you’re talking about challenging mechanics, I’d put MOBA type games ahead of MMOs easily. Also with more longevity, so long as you can stand the other players. Or, dare I say, Magic the Gathering beats all these for longevity and gameplay and while it is technically an old game . . . it’s still going and will probably still go for another five to ten years.

And, yes, the flavor text on MTG cards gives a surprising amount of story behind the game and fictional universe.

crestpiemangler.7631:

“The walking dead” took this one step further by making it like those old books that were popular in the 80’s that let you choose alternate endings depending on the decisions you made…. those were some pretty awesome books for the time.

I hate those books now that I am older. It’s more obvious the more often you work with them how there’s an intended ending and a bunch of endings ranging from silly to “you die, start over”, and often you’d get choices which turned out to not be choices (For instance, “Go to page 26 if you turn left, go to page 56 if you turn right” Page 26: “You realized you forgot something and turn around, go to page 56”) . . .

Video game stories are best served when they work with the mechanics instead of defying them. Why can’t I use a Phoenix Down on her, I have 99 of them! How come I did the boss fight perfectly without getting hit but then he’s kicking my butt in the next cutscene like he was just toying with me? How come I sneak through the whole building without getting caught, then I have no chance to avoid a camera in the next room? “But thou must!” . . . why must I, princess? ARGH . . .

LotharFreund.7456:

If the gem store starts selling Shining Blade outfits from GW1 then you will know it is real.

If they do, I’m going to have to make a warrior human just to run around in White Mantle Zealot outfits with the proper axe skin shouting propaganda.

. . . it’ll be fun.

Nuka Cola.8520:

lol fps’s in general have waaaaay better story telling unless ‘fps’ title is CS to you. Just look at the latest such as Bioshock Infinite, Metro LL and so on. When was the last time an mmo had a story worth having a conversation with your buds? Never.

Way better?

Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Doom 2, Quake, Quake 2, and Quake 3. Any clones thereof (and there were a LOT) . . .

Sure there was story, but it really did boil down to “go and shoot stuff, make it to the end of the level, get the rocket launcher” more often than not. The first FPS I recalled which tried to do anything with story was Half-Life.

As far as MMO stories go? EverQuest at least tried to do something with a story, though it seems they threw in the towel around “Planes of Power” and said “lets just let them kill gods now”. Meridian 59 had a decent amount in there and some world-changing events (more than EverQuest, actually). Ultima Online had some good stuff going on, though it was really only available if you were in the top tier of players (and weren’t getting ganked). I can’t speak beyond that but someone told me FFXI had something of a story going on, there’s plenty of free MMOs which make a better attempt than the aforementioned FPS titles, and as much as I don’t like WoW it at least tried harder than Quake.

(That is to say, it tried at all…)

I don’t expect the level of Shin Megami Tensei out of my MMOs, but I’ll not say GW2 has awesome writing in all areas. The Personal Story shines in a few spots, and really lacks in others. The best parts tend to be out in the world, in my opinion, and can be missed readily. (For instance, I really like the writing they slipped in with Rox, and some of the events in Blazeridge Steppes with the Ebon Vanguard and Legions working together work out for me.)

What I’ve heard about “The Queen’s Speech” gives me hope they’ll manage to improve the quality of the Living Story writing thus far by actually getting some motion on plot.

Nuka Cola.8520:

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

Nuka Cola.8520:

Pretty much this and only thing. MMO standards when it comes to story are as low as it gets in the gaming industry.

I’ve seen worse genres for story. Heck, there was once a time when story was not at all important to the game; I should know, I lived through it. I really don’t quite know WHEN it was decided in the west to focus on story in games . . .

I have a hard time calling the writing worse than GW1 though. I think the personal story is, actually, a smidge better than Prophecies (from Pre-Searing to Hell’s Precipice; the post-campaign material is much improved) . . . in that while you can see a lot coming, it’s not quite feeling like four stories strung together at the ends to make a whole. It feels weak, but it does feel like one story.

Which genre has worst story telling? The only i could think of is sports games lol which have no story at all.

First Person Shooters have had consistently terrible storylines with a few exceptions. As a runnerup, Roguelikes, for which a storyline just gets in the way of “kick in the door and kill stuff for the loot”.

Nuka Cola.8520:

Pretty much this and only thing. MMO standards when it comes to story are as low as it gets in the gaming industry.

I’ve seen worse genres for story. Heck, there was once a time when story was not at all important to the game; I should know, I lived through it. I really don’t quite know WHEN it was decided in the west to focus on story in games . . .

I have a hard time calling the writing worse than GW1 though. I think the personal story is, actually, a smidge better than Prophecies (from Pre-Searing to Hell’s Precipice; the post-campaign material is much improved) . . . in that while you can see a lot coming, it’s not quite feeling like four stories strung together at the ends to make a whole. It feels weak, but it does feel like one story.

Mad Queen Malafide.7512:

Celestina.2894:

and with no replies from a Anet employee to boot to show they even really see this as a problem.

Oh they’re not stepping into this wasps nest. They are staying clear of any heated discussions on sexism in video games.

Although I think if you were to ask the designer(s) of the Watchknights why they made it so blatantly sexual, they would probably respond with: “We just thought they looked nice”

Given that’s what one of the artist friends I mentioned before said when I linked them? Yeah that’s probably a good call.

I agree in principle for the game’s lore not to be required to be found on the forums, or in the website, or the wiki . . . or books . . .

I think the basics of what’s going on are fairly well covered but historical background isn’t offered in many places outside the Priory members and a few books. Although, talking to NPCs can yield some interesting information from time to time. Especially in areas where original GW1 features can be found, like ruins around Ascalon.

Icarus Pherae.4680:

Queen Jenna invites all in for her important speech. Begins by expressing her gratitude for the celebration everyone has been enjoying, the crowd cheers. The band begins playing a happy tune, many in the crowd dance. Jenna goes on to explain that the treaty with the Charr is now solidified. More cheering, the music switches to a familiar tune, an odd one for this celebration, the rains of castamere?

In the crowd our hero looks around uncertain, something thuds into their chest and they look down to find a dagger in the hand of a Sylvari. They slowly follow the arm up to the head to find it is Traeherne. As the screen fades to black he says in a dead pan voice “Zhaitan sends his regards”.

Of course, since he’s a necro and not overpowered as an ally, the ninety thousand players who want him dead immediately kill him so fast he doesn’t get time to do anything other than say that.

Then they complain about his loot.

I want an attack on DR but I want it from the White Mantle and their gods. Not some steampunk pirate wannabes.