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Flameseeker Chronicles: Norn week
Last week, ArenaNet treated eager fans to an in-depth look at the Norn race of Guild Wars 2. The new details -- the release of which was similar to Human week's release -- gave us a deeper look at who the Norn are, how they see the world around them, and what's important to them. I've enjoyed it as much as anyone, and I spent the week indulging in repeated viewings of the video, poring over the new art, and reading the write-ups for every scrap of information. Before we continue, however, I want to give a quick update on what [MVOP] has been up to. We began Nightfall a few weeks ago and continued our new practice of making progress in our regular campaign then switching to other content for the second half of the evening. Last Thursday night's choice was Sorrow's Furnace, one of the most visually impressive areas of the game. We ran through the quest Unspeakable, Unknowable, both for the chance to enjoy the view of the zone and to do a quest involving the Great Destroyer. If you missed our Livestream of the evening, make sure you find time to check it out on our on-demand channel. For now, follow along after the jump for my analysis of Norn week!
Guild Wars 2 blog updates with Norn lore entry
The world of Tyria has long been possessed of deep and engaging lore, and the official ArenaNet blog has just updated with a bit more of the backstory that fans will be soaking up with the eventual release of Guild Wars 2. ANet's Ree Soesbee has penned a Norn-centric piece that offers a revealing look at the warrior race's affinity for the Spirits of the Wild. Soesbee's update focuses on four of the more important Spirits -- bear, snow leopard, raven, and wolf -- and features three story vignettes to go along with a bit of intro exposition in each case. Head to the official ANet blog for the latest update as Norn week comes to a close.
Guild Wars 2 Norn week continues with new video and developer interview
In what might well be the highlight of Norn week, ArenaNet has released a wealth of information to Guild Wars 2 fans this morning. A new video, screenshots and art, and an interview with the developers combine to tell players all about what they can expect if they choose to play a Norn character. Where and how will you live? What are your surroundings like? Jeff Grubb, Ree Soesbee, Eric Flannum, and Bobby Stein gathered to deliver some insight on the Norn and gave us some exciting new details in the bargain. For example, the Norn trait of being in sympathy with nature isn't limited to the animal forms we're familiar with so far. For example, Eric Flannum explained that Norn players can use that affinity to call upon the wurm spirit and summon a temporary wurm pet to assist in battle. While we're not sure you'd want one sticking around and following you home, they make for handy companions to call on in a pinch. The new video, set to Jeremy Soule's instantly recognizable background score, offers sweeping views of some of the Norn home areas. The video, which is a combination of familiar and new footage, deserves at least two viewings to allow you to take it all in -- thanks both to the sheer size of it all and the intricate detail. From the shields mounted high above to the weapons on the fences below, there's more to see than can be parsed in one viewing. The screenshots are a combination of new and old too, but even the familiar ones have new bits of information here and there. The Norn female we saw way back when is now clearly identified as a Ranger in the image title, for example. Follow along after the jump for the video, a gallery of the new images, and the developer interview!
A look at the Norn events of Guild Wars 2
Norn Week continues for Guild Wars 2, and while that may sound a bit like Shark Week, it's not quite the same deal. The Norn are a bit more personable, for one. They're also the center of a new piece on designing and redesigning events on the official blog, penned by Jeffrey Vaughn. Focusing on the event design of the Wayfarer Hills (the starting area for Norn characters), the article covers both the general design procedure as well as the specifics for new Norn. As Vaughn puts it, one of the centerpieces of the area's design is the four shrines to the Norn totem animals -- Bear, Raven, Wolf, and Snow Leopard. Originally all four were slated to be attacked by the Dragon-worshipping Sons of Svanir, but those events felt mechanically identical, resulting in changes being made to each shrine's event. Guild Wars 2 players can enjoy a slice of the Norn's Nordic flavor and lore with the latest installment of the week.
Guild Wars 2 Norn week continues with new voice clips
The second installment of Norn week has arrived to the ArenaNet blog, and it seems to be following the pattern of last week's human focus in this Guild Wars 2 series. As with last week, day two brings us a series of voice clips to augment the short paragraphs about the Norn outlook on their surroundings. Both the text and audio both included some interesting new insights into lore that we're already familiar with. Each Guild Wars 2 race seems to have its own "dark" or "rebellious" faction -- the Sons of Svanir in this case. There are a few mentions of this faction highlighting how the other Norn reluctantly accept its members in day to day life. Check out the full entry on ArenaNet's blog as Norn week continues!
ArenaNet kicks off Guild Wars 2 Norn week
"It is a good day to hunt." So say the Norn in Guild Wars -- they're cheerful and eager to meet challenges, and today's Norn week kickoff tells us that it's a typical attitude that will carry on in Guild Wars 2. They've been through various challenges including being driven from their homeland, but the Norn truly "project a positive attitude," according to lore and continuity designer Jeff Grubb. This new blog entry offers a brief introduction to the Wayfarer Foothills area of Guild Wars 2 and gives a deeper look into the culture of the Norn. Players familiar with Eye of the North will recognize traits of the current race of Norn, while those unfamiliar with the game as it is now will enjoy a thorough introduction to how the race thinks and feels. Check out the new information at ArenaNet's blog, and keep your eyes open for our review and analysis of Norn week in next Monday's Flameseeker Chronicles.
Guild Wars 2's Norn week starts Monday
You know you've got a surefire hit MMORPG on your hands when you're confident enough to put out a press release about a press release. NCsoft and ArenaNet have done just that by announcing that the Norn-flavored followup to the wildly successful Human Week is on its way. It doesn't start until Monday, though, so the best we can tell you at this point is that Norn Week is the second in an ongoing series of race reveals for Guild Wars 2, and the focus will be moving away from humans and toward the shape-shifting half-giants called Norn in short order. Norn Week will bring new dev insights regarding the game's lore, new art assets, and a new video. That's a lot of new, but unfortunately you'll have to wait a few more days. In the meantime, head to the ArenaNet blog for the latest official news and views from the world of Tyria.
