Post by TheUncleanOne on Mar 20, 2007 19:00:41 GMT -5
From a fansite:
PC Gamer
May 2007 Issue #161
"Guild Wars Reborn"
General Intro Summary:
They are abandoning the Campaign format because it required them to reinvent GW completely for every chapter, and it began to feel 'bloated' to them. It's also increased the tutorials and has created a barrier to new players entering the chapters. The Expansion increases the timeframe but allows them to do what they want to with the game, without worrying about new professions, or pre-lvl20 content. This is a new blueprint for a completely new game.
Expect a BETA for Guild Wars 2 in 2008.
Eye of the north is a HOLIDAY 2007 RELEASE and is catered to exisiting players. It will required that you own at least one of the previous campaigns and is not considered a standalone. This expansion will connect the Guild Wars 1 and Guild Wars 2 storylines. The developers listened to the community that 2 campaigns a year isn't necessarily what people wanted, that many hadn't finished a chapter before the new one was released.
A team will be assigned to support the current games with live contest still expected.
Guild Wars Expansion: Eye of the North Summary
Will cost less then other chapters with no new professions. 40 new armor sets, 150 new skills (including 50 pve only), 10 new heroes.
"Extend character development beyond level 20" ~James Phinney~
EOTN will link Guild Wars 1 and 2 storylines.
Underground complex of tunnels through all three 'continents' present thus far is revealed.
Three acts:
* Act 1 takes you through 18 underground dungeons to help the dwarves defend against 'the fiery Destroyer', eventually taking you to the Asura and Norns (races)
* Act 2 has three story arcs ranging from exploring the Norns, to the Charr homeland, to an Asura resistance of the Destroyer
* Act 3 pits you against the Great Destroyer
Far Shiverpeaks are Norn Lands, Charr homeland is north of ascalon, Asurans are near Maguuma, Tyrian catacombs stretch across the entire continent presumably
GWEN
Guild Wars 2 Summary
There will be no option to migrate characters from Guild Wars 1 to Guild Wars 2. But you will be able to carry achievements forward through a Hall of Monuments. These are built via quests in Eye of the North and is only available in this chapter.
4 new Playable races:
* Sylvari
* Asuras
* Charr
* Norn
Hundreds of years later, in Tyria... sounds more of a race-reliant struggle.
Radical changes - overhauled environment and character control system, redefined PvP play and retooled NPC companion system.
Predominately open worlds, with instancing as a secondary feature in some areas (not positive on the interpretation). Hundreds of people in the same area, and choices that the population as a whole change the quest structure. PCG gave an example of choosing to rally against a dragon or not. Those that help, gain loot and xp. If the dragon isnt driven away, another 'quest' may trigger, leaving more options for the population. Very cool idea IMO.
I'll just take the level cap stuff directly - "Events will also offer a way for players of different levels to keep interacting in the persistent world - which is crucial, since right now, ArenaNet is planning a very high [100-plus], or possibly no level cap"
Sidekicks simlar to CoH, allowing powers to seep from a high level character to a friendly lower level char.
'Click to move' will be abandoned in favor of a more freedom-rich control scheme, including 'jumping, swimming, and sliding'
Destroyable environments?
Redefined PvP Summary
No real world limitations to servers. You pick a 'world', but can switch between the realms.
PvP World vs World combat sounds to be a massive scale capture the flag (AB style?) with no minimum or maximum party size. Big-ass raids that can supposedly take place for weeks on end. At the end, the 'world' will be reset, and it will start again it seems. More a casual version of PvP where you can pop in and out to perform various smaller tasks. Developers will reshuffle the teams into well-balanced match-ups every week or so.
GvG will still be present, as a more balanced form where everyone is on a level playing field.
Companions Summary
NPC like heros can join you (like a pet it sounds), and dont count towards your party. Not using this feature lets you be mroe powerful. Every player can bring a single companion on his adventure and won't take up a slot.
I think I read somewhere in here that it will be mission-based, but I didn't see it in my quick second-look.
Conclusion Summary
As of now, there will be no monthly fees, and no 'campaigns' for Guild Wars 2... mini-expansions, and expansions are hinted at.
Credit to LiQuId StEeL
Quote: Originally Posted by Gaile Gray
I just chatted with Mike O'Brien, Jeff Strain, and Isaiah Cartwright on the question of PvP. Here is what they said:
There will be two types of PvP in Guild Wars 2:
World PvP will allow you to play characters of any level, using the skills that you have in your possession at that particular time.
Structured PvP (similar to today's GvG) will allow you to enter the game at maximum level with all skills. Yes, that's UAX.
Roleplaying Characters will gain the opportunity to acquire higher levels. I believe that the magazine refers to a cap of 100 or more. This is an opportunity that players have been requesting over the last couple of years. I know that personally, I like the idea a lot.
---
No monthly fees.
I have to say it.
Tell your friends.
Inform your neigbors.
Put your guild on alert.
No.
Monthly.
Fees.
---
It may be a little confusing with discussing both the expansion pack and the new game. The raising of the level cap will apply to Guild Wars 2, not to Eye of the North.
---
I really don't see how having a higher level cap equates to "grinding." Seriously -- I've played games with caps, without caps, with caps that the devs raised over the years, and everything in between.
As a gamer, I think I sort of like the ability to get higher numbers, even if it only shows my investment, my time spent in the game. Now, surely it's true that someone may have lots of lower-level characters, and that player may have achieved more and know more about the game than a player with a single high-level character. It's not, in my opinion, anything like, "My level 50 is 'better' than your level 20." Or, "I'm all that because I was the first to reach Level X."
I just sort of like that feeling of having been around for a while, or "veterancy." It sort of ties in with how much I like the Divine Aura, and the birthday presents, and the first year's Halloween items and with the fact they're only owned by those of us who were here, 'way back then. Each of those things seem to show a history, and for some, that's a very cool thing.
PC Gamer
May 2007 Issue #161
"Guild Wars Reborn"
General Intro Summary:
They are abandoning the Campaign format because it required them to reinvent GW completely for every chapter, and it began to feel 'bloated' to them. It's also increased the tutorials and has created a barrier to new players entering the chapters. The Expansion increases the timeframe but allows them to do what they want to with the game, without worrying about new professions, or pre-lvl20 content. This is a new blueprint for a completely new game.
Expect a BETA for Guild Wars 2 in 2008.
Eye of the north is a HOLIDAY 2007 RELEASE and is catered to exisiting players. It will required that you own at least one of the previous campaigns and is not considered a standalone. This expansion will connect the Guild Wars 1 and Guild Wars 2 storylines. The developers listened to the community that 2 campaigns a year isn't necessarily what people wanted, that many hadn't finished a chapter before the new one was released.
A team will be assigned to support the current games with live contest still expected.
Guild Wars Expansion: Eye of the North Summary
Will cost less then other chapters with no new professions. 40 new armor sets, 150 new skills (including 50 pve only), 10 new heroes.
"Extend character development beyond level 20" ~James Phinney~
EOTN will link Guild Wars 1 and 2 storylines.
Underground complex of tunnels through all three 'continents' present thus far is revealed.
Three acts:
* Act 1 takes you through 18 underground dungeons to help the dwarves defend against 'the fiery Destroyer', eventually taking you to the Asura and Norns (races)
* Act 2 has three story arcs ranging from exploring the Norns, to the Charr homeland, to an Asura resistance of the Destroyer
* Act 3 pits you against the Great Destroyer
Far Shiverpeaks are Norn Lands, Charr homeland is north of ascalon, Asurans are near Maguuma, Tyrian catacombs stretch across the entire continent presumably
GWEN
Guild Wars 2 Summary
There will be no option to migrate characters from Guild Wars 1 to Guild Wars 2. But you will be able to carry achievements forward through a Hall of Monuments. These are built via quests in Eye of the North and is only available in this chapter.
4 new Playable races:
* Sylvari
* Asuras
* Charr
* Norn
Hundreds of years later, in Tyria... sounds more of a race-reliant struggle.
Radical changes - overhauled environment and character control system, redefined PvP play and retooled NPC companion system.
Predominately open worlds, with instancing as a secondary feature in some areas (not positive on the interpretation). Hundreds of people in the same area, and choices that the population as a whole change the quest structure. PCG gave an example of choosing to rally against a dragon or not. Those that help, gain loot and xp. If the dragon isnt driven away, another 'quest' may trigger, leaving more options for the population. Very cool idea IMO.
I'll just take the level cap stuff directly - "Events will also offer a way for players of different levels to keep interacting in the persistent world - which is crucial, since right now, ArenaNet is planning a very high [100-plus], or possibly no level cap"
Sidekicks simlar to CoH, allowing powers to seep from a high level character to a friendly lower level char.
'Click to move' will be abandoned in favor of a more freedom-rich control scheme, including 'jumping, swimming, and sliding'
Destroyable environments?
Redefined PvP Summary
No real world limitations to servers. You pick a 'world', but can switch between the realms.
PvP World vs World combat sounds to be a massive scale capture the flag (AB style?) with no minimum or maximum party size. Big-ass raids that can supposedly take place for weeks on end. At the end, the 'world' will be reset, and it will start again it seems. More a casual version of PvP where you can pop in and out to perform various smaller tasks. Developers will reshuffle the teams into well-balanced match-ups every week or so.
GvG will still be present, as a more balanced form where everyone is on a level playing field.
Companions Summary
NPC like heros can join you (like a pet it sounds), and dont count towards your party. Not using this feature lets you be mroe powerful. Every player can bring a single companion on his adventure and won't take up a slot.
I think I read somewhere in here that it will be mission-based, but I didn't see it in my quick second-look.
Conclusion Summary
As of now, there will be no monthly fees, and no 'campaigns' for Guild Wars 2... mini-expansions, and expansions are hinted at.
Credit to LiQuId StEeL
Quote: Originally Posted by Gaile Gray
I just chatted with Mike O'Brien, Jeff Strain, and Isaiah Cartwright on the question of PvP. Here is what they said:
There will be two types of PvP in Guild Wars 2:
World PvP will allow you to play characters of any level, using the skills that you have in your possession at that particular time.
Structured PvP (similar to today's GvG) will allow you to enter the game at maximum level with all skills. Yes, that's UAX.
Roleplaying Characters will gain the opportunity to acquire higher levels. I believe that the magazine refers to a cap of 100 or more. This is an opportunity that players have been requesting over the last couple of years. I know that personally, I like the idea a lot.
---
No monthly fees.
I have to say it.
Tell your friends.
Inform your neigbors.
Put your guild on alert.
No.
Monthly.
Fees.
---
It may be a little confusing with discussing both the expansion pack and the new game. The raising of the level cap will apply to Guild Wars 2, not to Eye of the North.
---
I really don't see how having a higher level cap equates to "grinding." Seriously -- I've played games with caps, without caps, with caps that the devs raised over the years, and everything in between.
As a gamer, I think I sort of like the ability to get higher numbers, even if it only shows my investment, my time spent in the game. Now, surely it's true that someone may have lots of lower-level characters, and that player may have achieved more and know more about the game than a player with a single high-level character. It's not, in my opinion, anything like, "My level 50 is 'better' than your level 20." Or, "I'm all that because I was the first to reach Level X."
I just sort of like that feeling of having been around for a while, or "veterancy." It sort of ties in with how much I like the Divine Aura, and the birthday presents, and the first year's Halloween items and with the fact they're only owned by those of us who were here, 'way back then. Each of those things seem to show a history, and for some, that's a very cool thing.
Very Interesting X. 
