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Guild Wars 2 introduces the Aetherblades
Who are the Aetherblades? ArenaNet is glad you've asked and has prepared a well-researched essay on the topic. The Aetherblades are a new group that has crashed the Dragon's Bash and is looking to make all kinds of trouble as players head into Guild Wars 2's living story for July. The devs struggled with how to make a new pirate faction that wasn't quite like all of the other pirates in an already piratetastic title. The solution, the article says, was to combine steampunk, lightning, and airships to make a dashing group of electric buccaneers: "We imbued the Aetherblades a lightning aesthetic: They arrive in a bolt of lightning and their skill effects, traps, and weapons are all laced with electrical effects." The article also outlines some of the mobs players will face when they tangle with the Aetherblades, from the basic minions to the razzle-dazzle officer corps.
Guild Wars 2 brings out big changes with the Sky Pirates of Tyria
It's all fun and games at Guild Wars 2's dragon bash until someone turns up murdered in Lion's Arch. That's what sets the stage for the newest game update, Sky Pirates of Tyria. Launching on June 25th, the update will see players thrown into a murder investigation headed by Inspector Ellen Kiel, forcing everyone to take part in several events to track down the perpetrator. If you're thinking it's going to have something to do with the eponymous pirates, well, that's a reasonable guess. This update sees the addition of a new dungeon, the Aetherblade Retreat, which pits players against pirates of a decidedly aerial nature. It also features a wide-scale revamp of traits and skills for every profession to promote a wider range of playable builds, a variety of new rewards including miniatures and monocles, and an all-new event tying into the upcoming novel Sea of Sorrows. Custom Arenas and Spectator Mode for PvP are also leaving beta, giving players more ways to enjoy a spirited battle with friends and enemies. Our own Richie Procopio will be taking part in a press preview this weekend, so tune in before launch for a closer look at the details. [Source: ArenaNet press release]
Guild Wars 2 prepares for Southsun showdown
The big baddie of Guild Wars 2's recent living story has been called out. He's Canach, a renegade who thinks that that the answer to every urban planning problem is "more monsters." The Sylvari is behind a plot to use the creatures of Southsun to free settlers from the grasp of the Consortium. A showdown with Canach is set to happen when the next chapter of the game's living story rolls out on May 28. The update, titled Last Stand at Southsun, will contain a solo dungeon where players will go mano-a-planto with Canach. ArenaNet says that those who defeat Canach will then open up new group content to tackle. Other changes on deck include a zone-stomping monster and plenty of changes to world-vs.-world content. Southsun living story events, achievements, and rewards will be available until June 11th.
Guild Wars 2 gives voice to the Consortium
"The Consortium is neither good nor evil. The Consortium is capitalist," ArenaNet Narrative Designer Scott McGough begins as he introduces this faction to gamers in a new video. If you've been playing Guild Wars 2's new living world content in Southsun Cove, then you've undoubtedly bumped into one or two of the representatives from this firm. McGough explains that the Consortium is angling to be a competitor to the Black Lion Trading Company, and that means selling people all sorts of feel-good products that they want and need. They also appeared to be the savior of the refugees from the previous living story, offering the dispossessed a place to live and work. Unfortunately for the settlers, the Consortium is not prepared to let them go any time soon, and Southsun Cove is a much more dangerous place to live than the Consortium realized. Check out the backstory video for the Consortium after the jump!
NCsoft clarifies stance on Guild Wars 2 expansion
During the most recent NCsoft earnings call, there was a slightly surprising statement regarding a possible expansion for Guild Wars 2. An NCsoft rep sent Massively an email to clarify what the publisher is thinking in regards to the future of GW2. The statement reads as follows: "In regards to your recent post on a Guild Wars 2 expansion, there is a slight misunderstanding when interpreting the answer from the NCsoft earnings call. We are considering an expansion, but we are taking a wait-and-see stance. We are evaluating the performance of the game and deciding on when would be the best time to launch an expansion. But right now, our living story approach is very successful in keeping players engaged with new and exciting content. Launching boxed expansions are a great way to package content, but if we can do this on a more regular basis, something we've been doing since launch, it provides players with new content to explore and experience every time they log into the game." So if you're trying to categorize this, an expansion to Guild Wars 2 should go in the "maybe, possibly, probably, some day, one day, soon, later, never, ignore the man behind the curtain" column.
Guild Wars 2's living story takes us back to Southsun Cove
As the Flame and Frost living story in Guild Wars 2 draws to a close, ArenaNet is gearing up for the next step of its story delivery system. Starting on May 14th, the team will be enticing players to return to Southsun Cove, the location of the controversial Lost Shores event. A new dev blog on the official site outlines what the team is looking to do with the living story: "May represents a transition: The Flame and Frost arc is now complete, and our plan calls for content to build on what came before while also kicking things off in a new direction. With that in mind, Team Spring Break first focused on the essentials: characters, story, and gameplay." In this first chapter of the new living story, players will team up with Inspector Ellen Kiel of the Lionguard as she and her allies address a tense situation between the settlers and the Consortium. It's only the start of the story, however; events won't be heating up until the summer proper.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Thoughts about Guild Wars 2's living story
With Guild Wars 2's first multi-month living story arc drawing to a close, I thought this might be a good time to do a little bit of reflection on how the living story is treating Guild Wars 2 so far. Sure, what we've seen so far isn't necessarily indicative of the way things are always going to be, but it's a good starting point. (In fact, it's our only starting point. Unless, of course, you like rampant and foundless speculation as a starting point. This is, after all, the internet.) To expand the conversation a bit, I think we're including holiday updates as part of the living story. It's seasonal, but it also fits into the grander scheme of providing changing content to keep the world moving and to keep players engaged. That means that what we've seen to date includes all of Flame and Frost, Wintersday, Halloween, and the Lost Shores event. Also, I guess the Super Adventure Box? I mean, it's returning and it had a lore tie-in and stuff. Maybe? I'm not sold.
A guide to Guild Wars 2's Molten Weapon Facility dungeon
Massively's Richie "bogotter" Procopio is concerned for you. He's concerned that you might not have tried out Guild Wars 2's Molten Weapon Facility dungeon, the latest installment of the game's "Living Story" arc Flame and Frost: Retribution. He's equally concerned that you might have missed the memo about just how temporary this dungeon really is: It's over on May 12th, meaning you don't have long to check it out before it's gone. Forever. But it's all good because Richie has put together a brand-new video guide to the dungeon, so you can either watch it and get a jump on playing through the zone yourself this weekend or just live vicariously through him, which would certainly involve less death. Enjoy his walkthrough after the break! (Dead goat sold separately.)
Flameseeker Chronicles: It's time for some retribution in Guild Wars 2
Another patch day is upon us. Among other things, Guild Wars 2's Flame and Frost: Retribution is bringing in a new living story dungeon and some much-needed structured PvP improvements. Over the weekend, members of the press were invited to preview some of the incoming content. I'd like to talk about it with you, so be warned that there are spoilers for the living story dungeon ahead. Something that I found particularly interesting about all of this is that the Molten Weapons Facilities dungeon is going to be available for less than two weeks. The dungeon is due to exit on May 12th. I had expected it to be time-limited, of course, but I think I was expecting a little more time than that. Anyway, let's dive right into it.
Flameseeker Chronicles: April's Guild Wars 2 patch brings custom arenas, spectator mode, and a living story dungeon
It is time to start talking about Guild Wars 2's April update for reals. I've got some serious knowledge to drop on you regarding the Flame and Frost: Retribution update, so let's get right to it. Retribution will be the final installment of the Flame and Frost living story arc. To tie everything off, we're getting a new story dungeon that'll take us deep underground into the Molten Weapon Facilities. Structured PvP is getting some love in the form of custom PvP arenas and spectator mode. Guilds are getting more missions and new rewards. The gem store will be getting new stuff. Let's dive in and look at some specifics, shall we?
Guild Wars 2 wraps up Flame and Frost living story this month
The current "living story" event that's been progressing in Guild Wars 2 over the past few months is set to unveil its final chapter at the end of April. Flame and Frost: Retribution will debut on April 30th, and ArenaNet has a short preview as to what we should expect. In the living story finale, players will strike back against the Molten Alliance -- a team-up of the Flame Legion and Dredge -- by charging into the enemy's weapons facilities. Players will fight alongside event co-stars Rox and Braham to battle "a final hybrid menace." Could it be the unholy pairing of Twilight fandom and hipster subculture? Only time will tell! Catch up on the previous installment of Flame and Frost in a recent column of Flameseeker Chronicles.
Guild Wars 2's living story to 'grow in scope and grandeur'
Guild Wars 2 Living World Designer Leif Chappelle continues ArenaNet's efforts to educate and sell the concept of gradually unfolding stories to the playerbase. Chapelle says that several storytelling tools are being employed, including open world activities, dungeons, crafting, and instanced episodes. "What we're creating is an actual chronology of the world," Chappelle says. "The events of Flame and Frost will create repercussions throughout the world, bringing new tales and conflicts to light. Through the course of 2013, the concept of these Living World releases will grow in scope and grandeur as we move ahead and build up the groundwork to make this a key component of the developing and ever-changing world of Guild Wars 2." While the event is going on, players will have the option to go back in time and see earlier stages of the story, but this will be denied once the arc is complete. Chapelle says that the team has worked hard to make the UI more clear in regards to steering players to the right areas for the story. ArenaNet is currently selling Guild Wars 2 for 30% off until April 1st.
ArenaNet details Guild Wars 2's living story
Guild Wars 2's latest content patch, the Flame and Frost prelude, went live this week, bringing with it the beginning of a new "living story." What is living story? ArenaNet narrative designer Angel McCoy is glad you asked, as she's written up a new blog post all about it. The living story team is responsible for adding new content to the story of Tyria -- new heroes, strange plots, and dramatic changes. The stories the team creates are played out over time in the world, following their narrative paths and slowly but surely changing the world of Tyria. Each bit of living story will only be available for a "Certain period of time," but carries lasting impacts. Players can look to special heralds in cities or a new achievement section for clues on where to head for the most recent bits of living story as they arrive in the game.
