Drarra
ArenaNet loves their pranks. In celebration of April 1st this year, they made some stylistic changes to the in-game world...
Bobble, bobble......
Apr 5, 2014
Posted in: Screenshot Saturday: Photos Around Tyria - Plains of Ashford
Welcome back to Screenshot Saturday!
The Plains of Ashford. Those of us who started out playing Guild Wars back when it was released recognize this area as the first place we spent any time. We loved this area when it was beautiful, peaceful Pre-Searing. I'd wager that a number of us still have some Pre-only characters lingering. We were heartbroken to see it become the barren desolation when we returned to Ascalon after the Searing, and the alien landscape helped us hate the Charr who had wrought such destruction.
This view is poignant for a few reasons. The first is that we clearly see the passage of time. We see the architecture of Ascalon in decay. When the Charr destroyed the walls, they did not bother to repair or restore them....
Mar 29, 2014
Screenshot Saturday: Photos Around Tyria
Welcome back to Screenshot Saturday!
The Photos Around Tyria project will showcase a photo from each zone of the game. My goal is to catch something particularly interesting about each area: this could be an area that is utterly atypical and out of place or something that captures the feel of the area.
This week, we will be starting out in The Grove. I find this to be a breathtaking area, serene as only Maguuma can be.
...
Mar 21, 2014
Storytime in the Dungeons
Last weekend, we got together to do an event that has been talked about for a long, long time. The goal: to go through each of the eight dungeons in Guild Wars 2 in order to see the story unfold.
I've done each dungeon in story mode at least once. Like most people, I did them out of order, at various times, and sometimes over multiple play throughs. Our goal was to play them like the story they are. To witness the trouble of Destiny's Edge. Here, in summary, is the story so far:
Our story begins in Ascalon. The Ascalon Catacombs, to be exact. We are assisting Rytlock in finding the former leader of Destiny's Edge, Eir, who has gone in search of the mythical sword Magdaer. Rytlock angers the Ghost of King Adelbern, who calls from assistance from his strongest lieutenants, Master...
Mar 20, 2014
Fancy Features Update - Traits
So season 1 of living story is done. Scarlet is dead (woot!). This past patch is mostly the celebration of a successful conclusion (and if you haven't gotten the rewards yet, do so quickly. There's no achievements or anything, just go to the party and get some fancy things at the end).
Since living story is on cooldown, Guild Wars 2 is releasing it's first feature-only patch, and it's a doozy. They're releasing balance enhancements, feature improvements, brand-new systems, and other things. They'll be disclosing information everyday leading up to the patch. Today they announced a lot of stuff about traits.
For instance, to prevent idiots from putting 11 traits on one branch and 14 on another, each trait will now be worth 5 old traits. This...
Mar 18, 2014
The Battle for Lion's Arch
If you've been in-game at any time during the last month, you've experienced the upheaval and ripples from Scarlet Briar attacking and holding the city of Lion's Arch.
The entire support structure of the capitol city has been relocated to the Vigil keep in Gendarran Fields, and the city has become a war zone and explorable area.
When I reached the point in the story where I realized Scarlet attacking Lion's Arch was inevitable, I knew I'd be upset. What I didn't realize was the emotional reaction I'd have to the destruction of what has come to be my in-game "home". Watching the cut scene that first time I logged in was akin to the first time I played through Guild Wars 1, when i didn't realize the Searing was going to happen. Wandering...
Jan 25, 2014
Screenshot Saturday: Post-Wintersday Edition
Wintersday - when Zommoros inhabits a snowglobe and Toy Soldiers march through Lion's Arch.
With the change in season (Wintersday is more than just a day, it's an experience drawn out over more than a month), [stfu] had entered a state of semi-hibernation. Not many events happened over the past few months as folks enjoyed some time off of work/school/etc... to be with family and friends. With the thawing of Lion's Arch, now's as good a time as any to reflect upon the passing of Wintersda...
