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Flameseeker Chronicles: Returning to a simpler time in Guild Wars
Some days, saving the world from Elder Dragons just feels like such a drag. Every time you put a dragon lieutenant down, you know that another one is, even then, being knit together from crystals or rotting corpses and it won't be all that long before it's time to save the world again. That sort of knowledge can really take a toll on a girl. Making full use of the magic of technology, I've started escaping the pressure of dragonfighting by going back into Guild Wars. Because it's the game that most directly relates to the state of affairs in Guild Wars 2, I've been playing the original Prophecies campaign. I've also been streaming the experience for the uninitiated, so if you'd like to catch up and live the adventure vicariously through me, you can check out the first bits on Massively's Twitch channel. If you'd like to quickly familiarize yourself with where Prophecies sits in the grand scheme of things, I recommend acquainting yourself with our brief history of Tyria. It's been a neat experience so far. I'd like to talk about it with you.
Flameseeker Chronicles: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria
I see a lot of questions about whether or not people who want to play Guild Wars 2 should jump into the original in the (increasingly diminishing) time left before launch. I don't think there's really a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. For those of you who are worried about missing a bunch of lore and history, however, I can do a little to help with an introduction to Tyria, its history, and the events leading up to Guild Wars 2. This won't be exhaustive (see the word brief in the title?), but it might help you understand what the dragon nonsense is about and what's going on with the world you're stepping into. Except where events had exceptional impact, this focuses mostly on what happened in the continent (not the entire world) of Tyria. I hope it goes without saying that there are lore spoilers ahead, as well as Guild Wars campaign spoilers.
The Daily Grind: Are you playing GW in anticipation of GW2?
So last week was basically Guild Wars 2 week around these parts. There were the press beta reveals, ArenaNet's 48-hour beta signup blitz, and a general we-can't-wait-for-this-game vibe in the air. All of that conspired to drive me back into the world of Tyria for the first time in six years, and after I patched the original Guild Wars client, I spent a few hours poking around the pre-Searing bits of the Prophecies campaign. What about you, Massively crew? Assuming you're not in the Guild Wars 2 beta, are you getting ready by playing (or replaying) the original game? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
One Shots: How did you get up there?
Today's One Shots screenshot comes with a bit of a mystery. Massively reader and Guild Wars fan Connor visited Pre-Searing for this image: Here's a picture of Barradin's Estate in Pre-Searing Guild Wars, aerial-style! I always loved Pre-Searing; it has a peace and calm to it. Yep, I did take this myself -- if you Google around, you can find out how. We're all about looking up this week on One Shots! Show us your favorite aerial image -- whether it be taken from the ground looking up or from atop a high-flying mount or tall perch, we want to see! Next week we're throwing the ball back to you. There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots! %Gallery-112285%
One Shots: How do you get in there?
As we approach the end of starting zone week on One Shots, we have a Guild Wars screenshot from Kirana (not to be confused with Karana): Pre-searing in Prophecies is a place I make sure to visit now and then for the sake of nostalgia. It's too bad we can't reach all the places we can see. Hey ArenaNet, can you get someone to unlock this big gate? We're approaching the end of starting zone week, but we've still got room for a few more images. Show us a screenshot of your favorite starting zone -- add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots! If you want to get a jump on next week, we'll be taking to the skies. One Shots will be all about aerial shots, whether they're taken from atop a high-flying mount or on the ground while you're viewing the action in the air. Send your image in and we'll show it off next week. %Gallery-112285%
Flameseeker Chronicles: My name is Gwen
As we approach the height of the holiday season, we continue seeing a shift in the focus of the ArenaNet team. While there's not a complete move from Guild Wars 2 to Guild Wars 1, things are a bit more evenly divided thanks to Guild Wars: Beyond and the approaching Wintersday festivities. I've mentioned before that it's interesting to watch Guild Wars 1 continue to progress and develop as its own game while at the same time begin telling the story of Guild Wars 2. That's a fine line to walk, and ArenaNet is balancing nicely. While the devs are doing their balancing act and we've got a little lull before Wintersday hits, I want to take a look at someone who is arguably the most iconic character in Guild Wars: Gwen. Most of us have known Gwen since day one of our Guild Wars experience. She trailed around chattering and healing us. She skipped and twirled and stumbled. She became the face and voice of the victims of the Searing for us. She (sort of) welcomed us to the Eye of the North. And she became a legend that carried forward 250 years into Guild Wars 2. Love her or hate her, she is one of the cornerstones of the Guild Wars world. Follow along after the jump as I take a closer look at Gwen.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Good God, Devona is a beast
"Good God, Devona is a beast." "Heals! I need heals!" "But you're the Monk...ahh, you're dead!" "Bucklers? What is a bear doing carrying a buckler?" The conversations during last Thursday's Massively Night in Guild Wars were as much fun as the actual gameplay, thanks in large part to a 40-man Ventrilo server donated by one of our participants. We'd had an enthusiastic response from the Massively IRC crowd when the idea of a Guild Wars night came up, but I still wasn't sure what kind of turnout we'd have. My question was answered when I logged into the appointed district an hour and a half ahead of time, only to find two people already there waiting for guild invitations. It proved to be a sign of how the evening was going to go. Over the next ninety minutes, the crowd in Ascalon City grew. We had a nice mix of new and veteran players, which gave the new players showing up early an opportunity to ask their questions and chat a bit. I've always felt that the Guild Wars community is one of the best there is, and the time spent waiting reinforced that belief as the veterans eagerly offered advice and answered questions, helping those new to the game find their bearings. So how was the rest of the evening? Follow along after the jump to find out!
Choose my Adventure: Leaving Pre-Searing
Join me as I brave my way through lands unknown in an adventure dictated entirely by you, the Massively readers! Vote for everything from game played to character creation to ultimate goal and watch it unfold in a series of journals and galleries here on the site. Then, as the ultimate goal is reached, we'll do it all over again in a new game!Our Guild Wars journey continues as the next stage of choices and goals have been met. Last week, you voted for Moira Zonk to gather all Pre-Searing Collector's Armor and to finally leave the tutorial area at level 10. I've reached both goals this weekend, and have screenshots to prove it!%Gallery-64234%
Choose my Adventure: Introducing Moira Zonk
Join me as I brave my way through lands unknown in an adventure dictated entirely by you, the Massively readers! Vote for everything from game played to character creation to ultimate goal and watch it unfold in a series of journals and galleries here on the site. Then, as the ultimate goal is reached, we'll do it all over again in a new game!After Monday's post getting us on our way in Guild Wars, you voted on what type of character I should make to begin my adventures. The character has been made and the first goal has been reached: getting a second profession. In this installment, you'll vote on the next goal and the ultimate goal I should reach before moving on to another game.I've decided to make this project go two ways: one as a basic rundown of what I've done in the game to achieve my goals, and another to be more of a supplementary 'in-character' journal provided in the captions of the gallery, linked below. So follow along after the jump for an explanation of how your choices molded my newest Guild Wars character, and don't forget to vote in the newest polls before tomorrow at this same time, when the polls will close.%Gallery-64234%
Guild Wars: A guide to Pre-Searing
The last day dawns on the Kingdom of Ascalon. It arrives with no fanfare, no tolling of alarms. Those who will remember, will speak fondly of the warm morning breeze. People carry on with their daily lives, unaware that in a short while... everything they have ever known will come to an end. This is the opening dialogue for the original Guild Wars, directly after you initially create your character in Prophecies. It lets us know that the beauty we are about to experience in what is known as "Pre-Searing Ascalon" will only be temporary. The name "Pre-Searing" comes from the fact that everything in this tutorial area of GW:Prophecies occurs before the Searing, when the evil Charr burned the lands of Ascalon to the ground. Because of the fact that it precedes the rest of the storyline by two years, the area cannot be accessed again once you leave. For this reason, you will find many players who remain in the Pre-Searing area permanently, as a roleplaying homage to their original homeland and its preservation. In fact, this starter area has had such an impact on players that an entire fan-based community has been created around it.
