Guild Wars Reporter

Guild Wars Reporter


Guild Wars Reporter Episode 128 - Dances with Abaddon

November 13, 2014



Celeste is nearly completely (almost) healthy and rejoins Allona to go over the week’s plethora of news. We also get to hear Celeste’s thoughts on episode 5! Go 5!


Audio Version


What We Did This Week

 


Allona



  • Forgot to mention last week that I got my 12K achievement!
  • Finished monthly
  • Got back to levelling my thief … trying to get back in the swing of that gameplay
  • Played in Silverwastes and got more of a handle on the mechanics there. It’s hella fun!

Celeste



  • Played through Ch 5 last Thursday and got very frustrated with the facet of light. Did it on Saturday like it was easy peasy. Sigh. Thankfully you guys hadn’t discussed the big reveal at the end of the last story chapter so I was spoiler free (A: totally an accident!). Though I do have to brag that most of my predictions were right.
  • Messed around in Silverwastes, mostly just clearing keeps (solo) and finishing up the (temporary, as it will definitely be expanding) map completion
  • Upgraded my engi’s gear now that she’s 80.

 


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Report from Lion’s Arch

 


Interview with the Living World Team

http://www.guildmag.com/lore-interview-september-2014/



  • Angel McCoy (Writer), Scott McGough (Writer), Bobby Stein (Writing Team Lead), and Leah Hoyer (Narrative Director)
  • GuildMag: Are the Seraph still interested in investigating the copper smuggling ring, or have they now decided they’ve done all they need to there?

    • ArenaNet: The Seraph have their hands full with spreading Mordrem. Suddenly, the smuggling ring seems much less important. They have not, however, forgotten them. They continue to track the ring as best they can, but the ring’s members scattered to the wind because of Mordrem.
    • C: I wonder if the White Mantle are after Copper for some reason or if it’s just a way to fund themselves.


  • GuildMag: Councilor Phlunt’s claiming of Taimi’s device has stirred some controversy among the fanbase, but as yet we don’t have much context to judge what exactly happened. What usually happens with a prodigy’s invention when it is claimed by their college in this way, particularly (as is important for asura) when it comes to assigning credit?

    • ArenaNet: While an asura is a student, any device they invent can be seized by and belongs to the college. This works on the same principal as company proprietorship over anything you invent while working for that company. The college has the right to further research the device and to employ it in any way they see fit. The fact that Phlunt is also claiming some credit for the invention is just because Phlunt is a jerk.
    • C: If you go through the Silverwastes you’ll run into Zoijja who makes it pretty clear that everyone who matters knows that it was Taimi’s device. (As seen on Peachy)


  • GuildMag: What is the relationship, if any, between the skritt of Skrittsburgh in Brisban Wildlands and the skritt of Dry Top?

    • ArenaNet: The skritt of Dry Top are cut off from everything in Brisban Wildlands—on purpose. They came out here to make their own community. They’re oddballs and have no reason to go back to Skrittsburgh at this time.
    • C: This is particularly interesting given WoodenPotatoes’ prediction that the skritt holes in dry top are all connected and that a majority of the map is actually at the “below†ground level. (video: http://youtu.be/mJ_HGsbsFcY)


  • GuildMag: When the Mordrem attacked Fort Salma, their goal seemed obvious – krait obelisk shards were being stored there. However, their targets at Concordia and Iron Marches are not as clear; though we see caravans moving magical artifacts, they don’t seem something to be powerful enough to merit the Mordrem’s distant attention compared to, for example, the Durmand Priory or Rata Sum. What were the Mordrem after in those two places?

    • ArenaNet: The most powerful artifacts won’t be common knowledge. That stated, Mordrem don’t always attack with the sole purpose of consuming magic.
    • C: What?!



 


Points of Interest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFWJ23pi2EU&feature=youtu.be



  • Bobby Stein [Lead Writer], Byron Miller [Designer], and Rubi Bayer
  • Stop judging Rubi for all the delicious foods in the fanart (A: Agreed!)
  • C: Sunflower sylvari hair would be pretty awesome. the flytraps too! (A: Agreed!)
  • Bobby Stein: “A lot of the events that took place in the episode were seeded more than a year agoâ€
  • Glint’s lair was originally going to be a giant puzzle but ended up being scaled back to a combat instance because of how hard puzzles are to make in-game

    • C: This makes me so sad, I mean it’s freaking awesome as it is now, if not a little boring, but it would’ve been AMAZEBALLS if it were a puzzle
    • A: It still has puzzle aspects to the fight mechanics though


  • The different visions were meant to show the progression of the Master of Peace searching through Glint’s lair to find the egg.

    • C: Not entirely sure that that was the point that was brought forth until the very last one made it completely clear. The other question is: how did the Master get into the lair? Certainly not like we did.
    • A: I suspect the Zephyrites have other ways of getting in … back doors known only to the Master of Peace. And yeah, I wasn’t really sure what the master was doing throughout the snippets we saw, but it was definitely made clear by the end!


  • The area in the lair was awesome! Music and ambients.
  • The scene with Belinda was meant to happen earlier in the season
  • Audio shushing was pretty awesome
  • I love Seimore Oxbone! The bloodstone chef!

    • With Mawdrey it’s funny and a relevant callback


  • Dancing with Abaddon
  • Then through the power of a video transition of Richie Procopio sharing his Hourglass
  • PvP 101 with Hugh Norfolk

    • Showing off the reward tracks
    • advertising that pvp is a jump in and play for 15min at a time

      • C: which it really is, I mean you could queue in to play pvp all day and night or you can do a match as soon as you get on.
      • A: show me oh wise one.





 


Sort of Celeste’s thoughts on Echoes of the Past

Of course there’s been an overwhelming amount of praise for the latest update but I wanted to share a post that I felt realy resonated with my experience with it (aside from the voiceover audio issues that’ve been around for the past few updates) https://forum-en.guildwars2.com/forum/livingworld/s2/I-am-Beyond-Impressed-Speechless/first#post4540274



  • PandaBro – “This patch is amazing. The new zone feels like it’s ALIVE, it’s like they’ve finally accomplished what they wanted to when they said they wanted to create a “living worldâ€. Everything you do here has an effect, from picking up rubble, repairing barriers to killing massive champions. Enemies force you to spread out instead of just pushing everything to a wall and zerging it down.
  • The living story itself is, right next to the Molten Facility and Aetherblade Retreat, some of the best instanced content. Not only are the aesthetics beautifully crafted but the story actually makes me care a little about the lore (Which hasn’t been the case yet) and the enemies have interesting mechanics which don’t just require me to stand there attacking them.â€

 


Tangled Paths Trailer

http://youtu.be/eXMY3_G3njI



  • Rox and Caithe doing stuff together

    • A: Rox needs a new buddy!


  • The Master of Lightning returns (from the brief encounter we had with them and Taimi)
  • New Lieutenant or evolved Lieutenant of Mordremoth?
  • Shows way more than 5 people running down the path, so I would assume that it’s an open world encounter for the area

 


Ask an Asura

 


What’s the most rewarding release so far? (Jawa)



  • C: I really loved the Labyrinthine Cliffs release, being able to explore a new zone, make a “major†decision for the world of Tyria and being introduced to the aspects was really fun and satisfying. Monetarily: Queen’s Jubilee takes the cake and I think most people would agree with that.
  • A: Rewarding from a loot standpoint: This past Halloween release I think. From a player making a difference or at the forefront of something standpoint: Either the election or ‘building’ the outposts on Southsun. From a satisfying story standpoint: Echoes of the Past!

 


Allona’s tip of the week: My tip is for your aquabreather. I put the same rune in my head armour as my aquabreather (if my level is low enough that multiple runes are necessary). That way I still get the full benefit of the set when I go under water. Of course, that means I do that for my main armour set at 80 as well. ((C: OOOOoo you should also tell people to go to Orr to get the lv 80 one at Winterknell in Cursed Shore))


Celeste’s tip of the week: Say hi to people! I know there’s the tendency to just end up playing with the people around you (and that’s great) but why not actually chat them up and make a new friend as well!


 


Tales of Tyria

 


Tequatl the Sunless sculpture

Judith Mayr – sculpted polymer clay and painted with acrylics

http://judithmayr.deviantart.com/art/Tequatl-the-Sunless-493253303


 


New music available for listening on the sound cloud

https://soundcloud.com/arenanet/sets/guild-wars-2-living-world-season-2-episode-5



  • notice how i said it’s not available for download… sigh.
  • C: I will say that Crystal Oasis music makes everything better..

 


Best birthday ever!

https://twitter.com/AnomalyXII/status/531881626163478528/photo/1


It was shared on the official twitter and I wasn’t sure if you’d seen it. SO CUTE!


 


Lion’s Arch Exploratory Report #22 – Anton’s Ghost

http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/2kxk6e/lions_arch_exploratory_report_22_antons_ghost/


After the destruction of Lion’s Arch, the Council decided to form a branch of the Lionguard that specializes in recon and information gathering in order to better prepare for future threats. The Lion’s Arch Exploratory Brigade was formed. These are their reports.



  • A: Hahahaha! Law & Order intro!

In the Eastern Edges of Gendarren Fields you can find Vollym’s Battle Pit. Near this battlepit, on the western side, you will find an unmarked grave. Upon interacting with said grave, Anton’s Ghost appears. Anton was an Assassin for the Ebon Vanguard in Guild Wars 1. He was also a hero you could have on your side. He is also the original owner of the ascended accessory Anton’s Secret and the exotic weapon Anton’s Blade (I just love it when they put items in the game with history). Just a nice little easter egg for Guild Wars 1 players.


Imgur Guide: http://imgur.com/a/ojkEW


List of Reports


Exploratory Library


Request a Report


Today’s recommended reading:A Short History of the Dwarves


Interested in learning more about the Lion’s Arch Exploratory Brigade? Send a PM to me and I’ll be happy to tell you more about us!



  • A: That really is a nice easter egg. I love that PJ is doing these!
  • C: This is super nifty, kinda like a Did You Know GW edition :)

 


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If you’ve got a burning question for our Ask an Asura segment, please let us know!


 


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