#i wanted a living world season for cantha

[the-desert-beast]

i find it fascinating that we never followed through on the sylvari racism, or the norn's fight to get their home back, or the asura's societal response to primordus' death.

[blackbackedjackal]

please try to sell me gw2. i really want to like it and ive tried a couple times over the years to get into it, but every time my experience is like: walk for 5 irl minutes -> talk to someone -> kill 20 things -> random world events -> kill 50 things -> go back and talk to the person. rinse and repeat

and then i uninstall the game

Hard to sell it to ya when it's free to play ;0

As a new/returning player I honestly recommend going in with some friends. It's a game were you can absolutely solo PvE with the right build, but I always have more fun playing with my friends for the shenanigans. I also, 100%, recommend plopping an OC in the game. My first characters were both in-game and all their lore is based around GW2, but putting June in there has been hella fun to see how she would handle being in Tyria.

Your first 80 levels are basically to help get you accustom to the game mechanics and the story. Though the story is optional, I recommend playing it so you get more of a feel of Tyria and the history. The story also leads you through the game an the map rather than just taking random quests as you explore. It's really the only mode that gives you a bit of direction in the game.

If you happen to get stuck or have any questions about the game, it's pretty safe to ask the map chat and usually people will help you out, especially in early maps. GW2 is a game that doesn't really teach you how to play, you learn as you go. There's also plenty of YT vids on how to get started and tutorials if you get stuck or suggestions of things to try out as you level. They've also updated the game fairly recently where you now have access to the Raptor mount without needing to have Path of Fire or doing the expansion, which is a HUGE quality of life change while you explore the early maps.

Once your toon hits level 80, that's when you unlock your mastery tracks that will allow you to do more of the endgame content and continue through the living story. Fractals, Raids, Dungeons, Strikes, World Bosses, Meta Trains, Gold Farming, PvP, WvW, FASHION WARS!!, There's a ton to do once you're set up, and again, lots of resources available to help you out (TaCO, GW2 Efficiency, Crafting Guides).

The world is unique. It feels lived in and ever expanding. The lore for all the playable races in the game is really interesting and they do a lot to subvert expectations from typical fantasy stories. Some things are a hit or miss for a lot of folks but there's so much to love about the game even my least favorite parts are like just mid to me compared to the parts I genuinely enjoy. My favorite expansion is Path of Fire + Season 4. The desert maps are my favorites followed by Maguma (begrudgingly). Cantha had grown on me a lot after a million Leviathan Farms for gold lol. THE SEASONAL EVENTS AHHH like again there's just so much to touch on but yeah the long and short of it is it IS a time sink at minimum to get to the more favored content, but even as a old player I still love making new toons and taking them through the early game content again just for fun.

But yeah, free to play, no subscriptions, all expansions are a one time purchase. You've got 10 years worth of content to explore and try out. It's a relatively inexpensive MMO (the expacs can be up to 50% off during certain yearly sales). An overall very helpful community. Any paid content is mostly cosmetics and convenience items, but nothing that gives you an advantage over other players. Basically everyone is grinding towards a similar end-goal, so you can always get the same gear as people through grinding. Nothing is really out of reach and people are always willing to help others out with multiplayer content.

I've been consistently playing for 8-9 years now. It's one of those game where I'm IN it for like a few months then may take a few months off until a holiday event I love is coming up and then I play for a few months again. It's probably the only other game I've sunk as much time into as Pokemon or Skyrim over the years (I jokingly call it Skyrim Online since ya'll won't catch me playing ESO). But yeah just, it's a game I never expected to play for this long and this consistently and it always feels fun to pick back up. Genuinely I do hope you give it another try. I've honestly had the most fun I've had in years with the wave of new and returning players jumping back into the game c:

[casuallyyoa]

GUILD WARS 2: SECRETS OF THE OBSCURE IMPRESSIONS

INTRODUCTION

Secrets of the Obscure is the fourth expansion to Guild Wars 2, ArenaNet’s MMORPG. Released 22 August 2023, it marks a new chapter in the game’s story following the end of the Dragon Cycle as of the previous expansion, End of Dragons. It’s technically a new slate, with certain design decisions certainly making me think it’s geared to be a much better starting point for those new to the game but we’ll get to that. This will be a mostly spoiler free “Casual Impression” as the expansion is not “fully” released.

OPENING

After an interlude chapter where the commander bids farewell to Aurene, there’s mail asking us to meet at the home instance. Your commander’s race plays a little part in here but whatever it is, it turns out, that journalist you probably would have heard a lot of in Cantha is here for an interview. After answering her questions, a timely mail comes in letting us check in on some old pals.

The commander is not one to be idle, and they certainly sound relieved to have something to do. As we all know though, a ‘break’ never really comes for the singularity that is the commander; what with disappearing towers and seemingly possessed townspeople all in a panic over the loss of their long-standing anchor. Of course, it’s time to investigate.

The stealth section was honestly a little awkward for me to navigate, perhaps in part because of some lag and also launch day jitters. It goes better on a subsequent playthrough. The scouting mission quickly takes a turn for the worse with fleshy interiors and someone - or something - looking eerily like Deimos from the Bastion of Penitent raid. My commander isn’t having the greatest of times, but that confrontation gets put on hold as he makes a stumbling escape. 

We can’t have a proper reunion with Zojja just yet even after so long. We have to keep moving, getting to grips with the basic mechanics of using the Heart of the Obscure, the expansion’s MacGuffin, to close the rifts to prevent more demons from spilling out. 

Welcome to Secrets of the Obscure, and let’s have that DPS meter close for a bit.

I turned down quite a number of settings but there were places where my FPS would completely tank looking out at the land. It’s quite unfortunate, and reminds me of the time where I tried playing Heart of Thorns on release on a dinky gaming laptop. 

Up in the clouds of the wizarding world of Tyria, the Skywatch Archipelago has familiar sights of the past expansions, slices of possibilities explored. I suppose it would be pretty obvious, but this, to me, is one of the things that lends to Secrets of the Obscure being a subjectively better expansion for new fans to start in. 

There are no heart markers that serve as quests, but there is a regular rotation of dynamic events scattered all round. During launch week, there was certainly an unfortunate tendency for a number of these events to stall, leaving those wanting to complete achievements or just the events themselves be left hanging.

MASTERIES, UPDATES

Secrets of the Obscure does not introduce new elite specializations. In its place is probably some of the most utility oriented additions, namely:

Better traversal on flying mounts, and a more quote unquote, streamlined, way to obtain the Skyscale, arguably one of, if not the best and most flexible, mount of the game

For those who already have the Skyscale such as myself, a couple of the skills you unlocked from Living Season 4 get upgraded to make it that bit much better to fly you around, or to yeet yourself halfway across the map. Skills you learnt from Bloodstone Fen during Living Season 3 are usable here. 

Weaponmastery, where a class can wield any weapon previously locked to their specific specializations

The Heart of the Obscure, a trinket to help hunt down the Kryptis, the demons filling the void of the Elder Dragons

You get access to a hub area similar to Arborstone from End of Dragons with its own set of masteries to improve resting bonuses and unlock more crafting. It’s nothing overly substantial, but convenient nonetheless. Getting the portal scroll here requires completion of the current storyline and associated collection.

The Skyscale is probably the biggest deal since otherwise you would have needed Living Season 4 with a lot of materials required. Completing the Season of Dragons Return achievements do get you quite far into obtaining the mount, but yes, it would likely take more time investment than this alternative method due to time-gating.

The expansion introduces the Wizard’s Vault, where players can get a variety of previously premium (in quotes) items that were exclusive to the Black Lion Trading Company cash shop. You could certainly have gotten gems using in-game gold, which isn’t necessarily something most people put in the time to do.

The Wizard’s Vault means you can just play as you like in PVE, PVP or WvW as you so choose to earn acclaim towards these rewards. As people have pointed out, while certainly nice to have more focused options, there are also less of them at present where previously, you could have just picked out the easiest ones to do out of the options you had. I am a primarily World versus World player, but I do understand people’s misgivings about reducing a certain community vibe as everyone congregated to certain maps for a day to get things done together. This is being addressed somewhat, so stay tuned for that. 

Relics are new to Secrets of the Obscure, replacing the sixth rune bonus. Since I only follow meta builds, it’s been an experiment in finding the relic best suited for me. Some of them seem incredibly niche while some I know have risen quickly to prominence. I won’t really comment much on these besides thinking they seem much easier to balance, though them being soulbound at launch instead of account bound makes it quite troublesome. Players like me without the associated legendaries are going to be juggling multiple relics of the same type without being able to shift them from character to character.

OVERALL

Secrets of the Obscure will be doing quarterly updates, so the story as it stands is on a little bit of a breather cliffhanger. End of Dragons took me about 17 hours to go through, while the first release of Secrets of the Obscure took me about 9 to 10 hours, both including breaks. I got all the masteries currently available in about 4 to 5 days, while I don’t recall how long it took for EOD.  

The story is a decent taster to the latest threat that is the Kryptis, continuing from the brouhaha in Cantha’s jade mines. Some characters get introduced just to die which is par for the course, while others return much to my delight. 

Visual clutter is an issue here and there unfortunately., At the very least, I feel like the map wide meta events are much easier to understand even without any context thanks to the mechanics being widely used in smaller events. I think it does make for some oddities in pacing, but like I mentioned, I do feel like this expansion is better catered to completely new fans, so easing them in at some so-called expense of more veteran players is more or less the trade-off I see.

I enjoyed myself, and I think sometimes that’s what matters the most when it comes to being a mostly solo player in an MMO world. Until next time.

[tinotika-arts]

Time to muse about Alexander's time post ... Dragonfall? Post Dragonfall Alex basically peaced out and left central Tyria and was absent for much of Icebrood Saga- until the confrontation where he felt Aurene calling for him.

(Tino rambling hours let's go)

Some little backstory establishing to make some sense:

The Aetherians, the society and community Alexander was part of, are a multi-racial community of geniuses once kidnapped by Kralkatorrik to be Branded, but retain their free will. They come from all walks of life - quaggan, largos, norn, krytan, cantha, orrian, dredge, charr, asura, all various. But all the brightest of their field or have potential to be brightest. No sylvari because this was hundreds of years ago and back then there weren't any sylvari

Prior to Living World Season 1, one of the two surviving Aetherians, Aeon Aurelis, was sent off to Cantha and only returned after the Battle of Maguuma Jungle.

Alex and Aeon have always kept in contact with their fellow Aetherians' descendants in secret, if there were any. Some died out, but some survived in various societies.

Aeon passed away in Thunderhead Keep, taking Kralkatorrik's attack for Aurene and Alex, though it mitigated the blow only a little. Alex puts her out of her misery because the Aetherians can only die via each other's hand, or by Kralkatorrik's magic. Yes, they have tested this out before and Alex learnt this the hard way.

Pre Kralkatorrik's death, Alex was unofficially a Branded Champion of Kralkatorrik's. After his death, Alex was given a portion of Kralkatorrik's magic to pseudo-ascend.

Post Dragonfall, after receiving Kralkatorrik's portion of magic, Alex bids Aurene farewell and disappears for a little bit. Mostly because he a) resigned from the Pact, mainly after Trahearne's passing, b) is still grieving over the loss of his niece in Thunderhead Keep.

What was he doing during the time of Icebrood Saga? He went to Cantha first. It's not too much of a problem for him when he can fly for days on end. He heard about Soo Won from Kralktorrik at his last moments, and at the very least, he wanted to try and honor the Crystal Dragon's last wishes to him.

Protect Aurene

Try and save his mother - or make it painless if her end was inevitable.

Alex entering Cantha came with some problems mainly many questions on how the hell did he cross the Jade Sea, but Aeon laying down the groundwork for him made things easier for him. He probably manages to at least manage an audience with Joon and discusses future stuff about dragons. Definitely side eyes Minister Li.

Joon probably gives him many suspicions when he brings up the sea dragon, and it takes him many weeks and attempts to convince her that no, just because he has partake in slaying dragons, he's not going to slay their dragon.

Perhaps he might eventually get an audience with Soo Won. And Soo Won knows about him. He would sit quietly in front of the dragon, a bit of silence between them two at first.

"I'm sorry."

"Whatever for?"

"I'm the murderer of your children."

"Not by choice. I knew it would eventually come to this."

"If i had a choice... I would have preferred to reason things out. After bloodying my own hands... It comes as a hard knock that all life is precious. If I can, I would like to try and save your last two as well."

"But you know you cannot, if you wish to save Tyria."

"And I hate it. But. I will try to at least save you. Please, let me save you. I know some very intelligent youngsters- there is time, we will make time, please-"

"I appreciate it... But if the time comes, please, do not try to save me and forsake the world."

Alex punches the wall in his temporary housing and fixes it up with magic later. He would discuss with Joon about corrupted magic and void magic later until...

"Alex. Please come back."

He hears Aurene's voice in the wind. And he bids Joon farewell, that there is an emergency in central Tyria and he has to return. And probably to prepare those magic containers they were discussing about because there might be an influx of magic, depending on how he manages to play things out.

Alex returning to Central Tyria after spending time in Cantha be like

"What the hell happened while I was away?? I thought things were going to be fine if I was out of the picture??"

(Also Alex smacks Braham up the head for his reckless actions but he also can't exactly fault the kid. Just. DOn't be that reckless okay? You're still young.

"That's exactly why I can be reckless :D"

"Please value your one life.")

[commander-coppercogg]

So under a cut because spoilers for the new End of Dragons stuff but the boyfriend and I did some wiki diving last night and found some stuff out:

So I originally thought this was gonna be the commander stand in for Cantha and I even saw some people speculate that this might be Zojja coming back into the story. But turns out this character was discussed during a guild chat episode and already had a wiki page!

I’m so interested to meet her and learn about her and her earrings and her eyes and her design are super super cool and holy shit Gorrick used to work at Thaumanova???? Has this been mentioned before??? Maybe it has something to do with how Blish lost his body???

So I went and read the transcript for the podcast episode (cause listening to podcasts is very difficult for me). The transcript seems to be auto generated so there’s a lot of spelling mistakes but here’s the relevant bit:

Fans of Gorrick are in for a treat!!!! I wonder if she has ties to Inquest at all. Cause the Aetherblades and the Inquest had an alliance in Living World Season 1 right? Maybe we’ll get to find out how and why Gorrick and Lish joined the Inquest cause I’ve always wondered about that. I’m really really hoping for good asura content please anet all of the other races have had their moment in the spot light please.

This gets a bit more personal so uh yeah:

I will say my other immediate gut reaction is “oh god I hope they don’t try and cram a bad romance plot line in there.” Cause like on the one hand I’d love to see an autistic character get an in-depth romance story cause a lot of times autistic people (such as myself) are infantalized to the point where we are denied adult romantic and sexual relationships. But on the other hand I feel like it could really easily fall into some really bad tropes. ESPECIALLY if, god forbid, they try and make it a love triangle with Taimi. I remember Taimi saying something at the end of Icebrood Saga (I don’t have screen caps sorry) that made me go “are…are they trying to…no. No way.” And like nothing came of it so maybe I read it wrong. And Anet has always done an incredible job with Gorrick and his character. And I think that’s the reason I feel immediately so defensive and so nervous. Cause I don’t want it to be bad! I learned I was autistic while playing this game and Gorrick is honestly one of the only autistic character I’ve ever encountered and he really means a lot to me. And I can recognize that a lot of my gut reaction is personal projection and nervousness and I’m still really really excited to meet Ankka and got to Cantha. This turned out a lot more personal and depressing than I meant it to, I just wanted to ramble some feeling out.

[commander-rayheart-needs-therapy]

Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons Prep Guide (for Those Looking for Something to Do)

If you’re like me, then you highly anticipating the release of Guild Wars 2’s third expansion, End of Dragons. Some of us are excited to return to a beloved location that we experienced in Factions, while others are awaiting a new land to go and explore. And with the expansion being less than a week away from releasing, everyone is thrilled for Cantha to be coming.

But what do we do in the meantime? While it’s not that far off from releasing, it can still feel like it’s an eternity away as we wait (reluctantly) patiently for all the new locations, features, and story that await us. This leads me to my EoD prep guide for anyone who is feeling clueless on what to do as they wait!

1. Finish the Living World Return achievements.

If you haven’t finished the achievements that came with the release of the living world episodes some months ago, now is the perfect time to do so! Not only does it give you cool rewards, but it also helps you catch up on the story so you know what's going on in End of Dragons!

This actually leads us to our next point...

2. Replay Heart of Thorns and Path of Fire

If you don't have HoT and PoF, that's perfectly fine, and you shouldn't feel any pressure to buy them, but if you do have them, this is the perfect time to replay the story of the two expansions! If you do this along with the living world seasons, you should be completely caught up on everything that has happened in the story so far!

3. Farm Hero Points

When End of Dragons comes out, there will be 9 new elite specializations ready for playing, and what better way to start than dive straight into them? Instead of slowly getting hero points to slowly level your new elite spec, you can start of by completely training your specialization the minute you log in, leading to instant fun!

4. Complete Any Remaining Masteries You Need

Let's face it, not all of us have unlocked all the masteries that are in the game. That takes a lot of time to do, and some of us are more casual players who just don't have the time. Well, the time is now to get those masteries ready before End of Dragons releases! It might make things a bit easier for you in the long run.

5. Level Up Any Characters Who Need It

If you still have any characters under level 80, this is the perfect time to level them up! That way, once End of Dragons is out, your other characters can also get in on the Cantha action, and maybe you'll have access to more of the elite specializations! Besides, leveling characters can be a ton of fun!

6. Work on Map Completion

Unless you're a hard-core gw2 player, I highly doubt every single one of your characters has completed the map. Now is the great time to do so, and while you do this, you'll also be contributing to numbers 3-5!

7. Level Up Your Crafting

With End of Dragons, there is bound to be new gear and weapons for you to craft. If you don't have any high level crafters for what you want, this is the perfect time to level your crafting up!

8. Indoctrinate Your Friends

Gw2 is a game that is more fun when you have friends to goof off with, especially when you consider some of the new masteries that are coming out like the siege turtle, skiffs, and fishing. Now is a great time to try and get your friends into the game. Who knows, they might end up really liking it!

In the end, this is just a list of suggestions for people who aren't sure what to do right now, and isn't required at all to have fun when End of Dragons does come out. You also don't even have to follow the order that I listed the options in! You're free to prepare however your heart desires, be it by following my list or doing something else entirely. I'm really just writing in the hopes that someone who was having trouble figuring out what to do is able to see this and get some ideas on how to prepare.

So for now, I'll be signing off, and I'll see you guys when End of Dragons is out!

[rata-novus]

okay i’ve been mulling this over for a good six+ months, and especially after rushing through the “return to” achievements and then going through EoD slowly, i’ve finally made the decision that Soon(tm) i’m going to make a new character (male human thief) and follow these self-imposed rules:

no mounts until the story naturally brings him to those maps/story steps. this means no griffon until completing PoF, no skyscale until finishing season 4, etc.

no gliding until after the first story step of HoT.

no elite specs until after the first story step of the appropriate expansion. the only caveat being the Icebrood Saga, where it will be dealer’s choice between core thief, daredevil, and deadeye. i know ~technically~ you needed PoF to play IBS but thematically and story wise i view it as a standalone experience. also i NEED him to use the fishing rod staff skin from Bjora. NEED.

no armor/skins that wouldn’t have existed during that point in the story. that means when he’s level 80 and hasn’t moved onto season 1/2/HoT, he could use Incinerator, but not HOPE. he could use cultural armor etc., but not bladed armor. the ONLY exception i’m making to this is the angler vest from EoD. my reasons being: i want part of his backstory to be as a fisherman along the divinity dam. also, fishing nodes exist in starter maps so THEREFORE fishmonger vendors SHOULD TOO which means he would be able to buy the skin before stepping foot into Cantha.

world bosses, metas, and JPs, oh my! i want him to do any jumping puzzles, map metas, and world bosses on maps the story and/or map completion naturally takes him to. unless its a meta no one does (looking @ you Serpent’s Ire). i’ll be keeping an old-fashioned list to cross these off as we go.

dungeon story as the personal story would naturally take him there. i generally hate instanced group content as fully fledged level 80 with badass gear, the idea of doing it at LEVEL 30 sounds. bad. so i MIGHT instead just watch a full/no commentary video of the story paths at the appropriate times instead. :/

[edit] no skipping dialogue/cutscenes/vistas [/edit]

[edit2] no skipping ahead map/story wise!!! [/edit]

??? more later ?????

basically, i want to level this character and move him through the world and story as if he were doing it in real time as the expansions, living world, etc. content was being released.

for the past three or four years, every time i level a character for keeps, i use  my scrolls and tomes and if that’s not enough to get them to 80, as many XP boosters as i can and kill yellow enemies to get as much XP as possible as fast as possible. it’s been far too long since i’ve leveled a character “the old fashioned way” and i kind of miss it. hence these “rules”.

another, smaller, reason for doing all this is that i don’t have a single character out of (soon to be) 43 permanent characters who has done ALL the story. in fact, i’ve only finished the personal story ONCE, in 2015, and i haven’t redone PoF since its release. this will be even more fun as i (we) will be able to experience season 1 in a linear fashion as well. idk i just really love the idea of having at least one character that’s done it all, you know?

i’m going to make this character soon, so hopefully there will be a smooth transition from the personal story to season 1 as it releases!

[brax-was-here]

not sure how far you are through cantha, but how are you liking all of it? story, maps, etc

I've completed the story, and tried the Jade Sea meta, which failed.

I love most of the maps! Arborstone was just kinda..meh...but I get that it's supposed to be a central hub.

The maps.

I love Seitung Province. The look, the tranquility. It just oozes peacefulness (mostly). Just walking around, I get the feeling that "I want to live out the rest of my life in this place. In peace."

New Kaineng is fantastic. I love the cyberpunk vibe mixed with the traditional asian aesthetic.

Echovald Wilds is right up there with Seitung Province. I love the scattering of little villages nestled through out the giant trees. Combine Echovald and Seitung, and i would never leave.

Jade Sea is pretty awesome. I haven't really looked around much there as the only time i was there was to finish the story and partake in the meta.

The Story

I will admit the story is excellent, though it kinda became uninteresting to me after Act 2 ended for reasons I'll explain in a bit. I guess I'm just kinda burned out on the "We have to save Tyria from the dragons!" story line. But, the flow of the story was great. No parts dragged. The dialogue was fantastic, and cleverly written. I also like that in a way, throughout the whole story, we get almost all the major players from the past 10 years in there somehow.

Fishing is probably my favorite thing out of the whole expansion, I'll honestly say.

Now spoilerish stuff under the cut

I was more interested in Mai Trin's redemption arc than I was in the main story. Seeing that she had become a revenant and able to channel Scarlet Briar was an excellent twist, and I wanted to see more of that. I fault Arenanet for having this great character development, and then just killing her (seemingly) and that really pissed me off.

Which brings me to Ankka. I don't like this character. Even though she has backstory with Gorrik, I just felt the character was rather lame and uninteresting.

And I cannot forget Detective Rama. He is obviously the breakout star of the expansion and I hope we get lots more of him and his hat in the next Living World season.

I understand this is the final chapter of the Dragon Story arc which means the final battle was to be epic, and Arenanet did deliver on that. Seeing all the dragons again all in one place was really cool. I did shed a tear during the final cutscene with Soo-Won.

And Kasmeer and Marjory getting married is a nice final touch to the end of the dragon story.

So overall, I am really enjoying the expansion, and I hope the Anet dev team can keep up this kind of quality in the years to come.

Thanks for asking!

[kerra-and-company]

Okay, throwing some thoughts out here, so miscellaneous Icebrood Saga: Judgment spoilers under the cut!

I AM SO GLAD BRAHAM IS STILL ALIVE. HOLY SHIT. I so wanted to be able to give him a hug when we found him and pulled him out of the snow; why wasn’t that an option? (Kidding in terms of gameplay, but I’m definitely writing a fic at some point where Kerra gives him a hug. Or it’ll just live in my brain. One way or the other.)

I had a feeling that if Braham survived, Ryland would too, and yep, I was right. And he got stabbed because of course, and of course it was Rytlock, and of course he stabbed him with Sohothin. There’s most likely a lore and/or pain post to be written about that one.

I liked that Ryland kept the ice-saw and that it didn’t change back to a flame-saw after Jormag died. Ryland didn’t change without Jormag, so why would his weapon?

I’d missed the instanced content where you can actually talk to people, so I was super happy to see it come back. I don’t absolutely hate the DRMs, but I definitely prefer instanced stuff when it comes to the story.

Aurene using the magic from the ley lines to sever the champions’ connections with their dragons was really neat and I liked that concept! Actually using the fact that she’s a prism for magic, hell yeah! (And we got to do the crystal-wings thing again, which I was very much a fan of!) And having some of the magic go to what I assume is Steve the deep sea dragon made sense and is a decent jumping-off point for EOD.

The aesthetic was excellent, and I loved the art! Primordus and Jormag had excellent designs, and the attacks seemed good to me (though Jormag will absolutely freeze your ass off if you don’t get out of the way in time, be warned).

I almost got exasperated when they were like, “whoops, you have to hit them more than once!” But it wasn’t actually tiresome for me when I went to do it, and they had less health after the first time, so it wasn’t a pain, either. (And it makes sense--it’d take more than one hit to take down an Elder Dragon.)

This could have just been me (‘cause I know I’m not the most experienced player in the world), but Braham was harder to fight than Ryland--and I don’t mean in terms of “I don’t want to fight you” (though that too of course) but in terms of literal mechanics. He moved and jumped so much and it was harder to bring his health bar down. Not super difficult or impossible or anything, just harder than Ryland, which I thought was a neat parallel even if it’s just for me.

The Commander is a hypocrite. Yep, 100% agree, Braham. You still need a nap. And a hug. Anet, let us hug Braham, please.

Aurene felt guilty, and she shouldn’t (in terms of I don’t want her to--it’s definitely in character). Not everything is your fault, sweetheart. Along those lines, I liked that we got to talk to her at the end! And Braham, and Gorrik and Taimi and Jhavi!

Taimi and Braham need to actually talk about things. I know they couldn’t fit in every conversation, but that’s one I would have liked to see, and it’s one I hope they have in the future.

Can’t wait to see Taimi and Gorrik’s research and what they find out (even if we know or can guess at some of the answers).

Ryland insulting Rytlock and Crecia was expected, for sure, but it’s also interesting because he’s insulting who they were at the beginning of the saga, not who they are now, because he doesn’t know enough about them now to give them updated insults.

It also made me very curious if we’re going to get updates on the Khan-Ur situation, which is by far not the most important thing going on and I’m glad they didn’t focus on it here, but I still would like answers at some point.

I just thought of this but Crecia trapped Ryland in flame in a parallel to how she protected Smodur from him earlier in the saga, right after mentioning Cinder. Ow.

And for everyone’s Commander who’s terrified of fire (Kerra included), fighting Braham has an extra nightmare attached to it, so...fun times.

What happened to the Frozen? Are they free? Still trapped? My guess is free since it was magic Jormag ice and Jormag is dead, but that wasn’t answered (I don’t think) and I really would like to know!

Also, what exactly was the death toll from Jormag and Primordus throughout this whole thing? I don’t need super specific numbers, but estimating is hard and my only conclusion is that it was a Lot, which is slightly too vague for my brain.

Is Aurene going to end up as the only Elder Dragon? Can she hold that much magic alone? The fact that the next part is called End of Dragons continues to scare me.

Gonna end this with: I thought this was a decent finale! I almost wish it could have been longer, but that’s more because I love doing story things and crave more of it than because I thought it was badly paced. (I do think they could have made it at least a bit longer, though, and I would have appreciated that.) They didn’t kill Braham, which was my biggest fear, and he gets to recover and be okay. Two Elder Dragons are dead, as is Ryland, and we’ll be going to Cantha eventually.

First living world season that I’ve been around to play during the release of the ending chapter, and I’m pretty satisfied with it! I’m sure I’ll come up with more complaints later since my default mode is positive, and I still have questions, but overall opinion at this point: pretty good!

[lupinepariah]

Jormag — Dragon of Therapy

I’ve decided to get a Tumblr so that I can talk more long-form than on Twitter. One of the first topics I want to cover is the Icebrood Saga of Guild Wars 2.

I’ve seen some say that this is a Game of Thrones/A Song of Fire and Ice storyline, I don’t agree with that for... a number of reasons—not least of which that I feel it’s about time that we were done with tales of dissension—which I’ll cover here. I think this might be interesting for fans of Guild Wars 2 and those who’ve any experience with therapy.

First of all, I don’t want to rile up the GRRM fans too much but Game of Thrones isn’t exactly good writing, it only seems clever on a superficial level but due to how it’s written the stories can’t actually ever go anywhere as any progress would undermine its focus on pathos and the supposed terribleness and fractured nature of people. This is why GRRM always ends up stalled or in a holding pattern, it’s why the last season of Game of Thrones was so bad as well. I don’t want that for Guild Wars 2. I believe their writers are better than that.

Another problem with the focus of stories like that is that it invites a strong Alt-Right presence, which is certainly the case in the Guild Wars 2 community. I’ve heard “Make Ascalon Great Again” more times than I can count and I’ve had death threats for being a charr fan, it’s absurd. It’s like they took their real world feelings of ethno-supremacy and poured it into the charr as a recepticle of their antisemitism. I think it’s because in Guild Wars 2, the charr “won” whereas the white man did not. This isn’t what happened per se but that’s a topic for another time.

I think that ArenaNet is working to tell more relevant stories and to oust the Alt-Right infestation from their community.

For this reason, I think Jormag’s on the level and on our side.

Hang on, though, hear me out!

For a while now I’ve noticed that Guild Wars 2 has started dealing with some interesting topics, most recently there were some fairly poignant and pointed messages about mental hygiene that would help those who’re not familiar with the ins-and-outs of invasive thoughts. In my opinion, Kralkatorrik’s torment was an exceptionally clever way to do so, in the last act of Living World season 4, we’re beating up a parasite that’s a physical representation of invasive thoughts. What’s most telling about this experience is that Kralkatorrik himself is fighting against it, with Aurene and the Commander serving as his therapists.

It’s a touch abstract but it’s something that simmers. Younger gamers who’ve played it might end up seeing their invasive thoughts as similar to Kralkatorrik’s torment and thus something they can fight. This is amazing to me. I wish more videogames were this brazen, clever, or bothered to care as much.

So what if you’re an Elder Dragon whose spheres of power are ice, perservation, empathy and persuasion? You’re able to feel the suffering of all of these poor, mortal babies and it’s driving you crazy, all you want to do is help them. However, you’re struggling to repress your own inner torment, you’re dealing with how much distrust they have of you due to their preconceived notions, and you’re dealing with other issues too (we’ll come back to this). I’ve had bad experiences just trying to get people into therapy and it’s frustrating.

I felt my eyebrows shoot up when I first watched the Icebrood trailer as Jormag didn’t get growly until they mentioned suffering, but it gets better. What’s most revealing is that the tone they use isn’t one of anger, hatred, intimidation, or aggression. They sound frustrated, very frustrated. It’s relateable.

As I played Icebrood, a number of things stood out to me.

“Their wounds will never heal.”

Jormag is talking about how Rytlock and Crecia are stuck in a cycle of pain because they can’t face their past traumas, they’re too afraid to. Oh, sure, it’s easy to stab someone in the face or swing a sword, but sitting down and talking about your failures? Neither of them can do it. Everyone is afraid of talking! See, Rytlock is always trying to be worthy of Ryland and Crecia, so he’s always running off on these madcap quests to prove himself worthy of them. This is why he tells us in Path of Fire that he needs a win. Crecia has abandonment issues because she doesn’t know what’s going on in Rytlock’s head and it’s given her codependency. That’s why Crecia is so clingy with Bangar.

If only they’d just talk!

“You always have to pick up the pieces.”

Braham has so many issues but hey, he’s a norn, feelings are for losers! He’s a big, strong meatshield and he can handle and push through anything! He doesn’t need to talk! So all the Commander can do is pick up the pieces whenever he shatters, and put band-aids on his fragile psyche. He’s always ready to be a legend, but he’s too scared to face his past traumas and talk about them as well. This frustrates me.

And Marjory? Marjory is the masculine one of her relationship with Kasmeer, she seems to believe she has to be the strong one. As such, she won’t face her past either. She can’t admit vulnerability and thus she won’t talk about it, so she can’t let Belinda go.

So they all suffer.

If I were Jormag, I’d be growling about it too.

Jormag just wants them to trust so that they can all get therapy. Their means are persuasion, they want to resist their torment but they also want to help. All the while their torment is using Jormag’s own power to cause suffering with drives Jormag even more potty. The torment of the Elder Dragons just wants their respective dragons to give in, obey, and follow the cycle of destruction and creation. We know Jormag is resisting because they’ve said that they’d rather freeze the world than let that happen again.

So where could the story go from here? I think that eventually Jormag will manage to convince Aurene, which will lead to her and the Commander taking on Jormag’s torment. With Jormag free, they reveal what the “danger just beyond the horizon” is. It’s an invasion force coming in from Cantha, powered by he Deep Sea Dragon. This terrifies Jormag as it would result in so much death and suffering that it’s unthinkable to them. This falls under the “other issues” category I mentioned earlier.

You’ll also note that Fraenir mentioned the “Age of the Dragon,” not the “Age of Jormag.” Just wanted to throw that out there.

All Jormag wants to do is heal people. Right now, distrust and their own torment is making that impossible. They want the Commander to realise what’s going on, if they do they’ll understand that they could really use Jormag’s help. Not just have more draconic power to resist the Canthan invasion but also to provide therapy to the many broken people of Tyria who need it, as Tyria doesn’t really have a way to deal with poor mental health right now.

This would be an incredibly progressive message. I can only imagine it would be good for PR. “Guild Wars 2 has a non-binary therapy dragon!”

The icing on the cake, though? With Jormag’s torment gone, they turn to Bangar and provide him with therapy for his fear of humans and general xenophobia. Bangar comes out of this healthy and in a speech to the Blood legion he declares that Blood now stands with the treaty, that he believes that racism along with the preconceived notions and prejudices that fuel it are foolish. That, indeed, he was a fool and blinded by pointless hatred that served no one and might’ve brought about the end of the Blood legion.

This would say to the unsavoury Alt-Right element of the community that “Hey, hatred isn’t really welcome here any more. Also, therapy isn’t a dirty word. Maybe try it?”

That’s what I’m really hoping for. I don’t normally let myself hope for something this much as I’ve had my hopes crushed one too many times and I’m plenty scarred myself. I will allow myself a little hope here though because it’d be very strange to go with a troped story, it’d be destructive for ArenaNet to make Jormag evil. It’d effectively say “Oh, hey, all of those things that seemed to be messages about mental health? They weren’t. We don’t care about invasive thoughts or any of that stuff. Also, it’s fine if you’re a Nazi. We don’t give a damn.”

I really can’t see that happening???

That’s why I’m fairly convinced that Jormag is good, and that the only problematic elements we see derive from Jormag’s torment rather htan Jormag themself. Plus, “Guild Wars 2 has a non-binary therapy dragon!” is way better as a headline than “ArenaNet kills off its non-binary dragon.” yeah?

This is why I’m allowing myself to hope. They couldn’t be that foolish, could they? Unlikely. But they could be that wise!

Don’t shatter my fragile hope, please?

[secondscion]

Astralarium Book Descriptions

At the renown heart at the Astralarium, you can interact with books after putting them on the shelves to read some text from the book. Here's the text from all 20 books for those who don't want to go through and shelve all of them :)

I’ve also included some notes about where the books should be shelved and where some of the harder ones to find are located.

A Brief History of Cantha

Category: History

(This text is not a work of fiction but is based on historical fact as interpreted by the author. Historical facts have been revised based upon new information acquired by the author since the original printing in 1022 AE.)

In this updated 50th Anniversary Edition, the estimable Loremaster Ermenred provides readers a unique look at the Canthan Empire's intricate and storied history.

From its comprehensive timeline reaching back to the Age of the Marmoset, to its exhaustive examination of Assassins and Ritualists (two of Cantha's oldest and most unique professions), this work is the perfect primer for scholars both young and old.

Behaviors of Risen Beasts

Category: Zoology

Risen creatures display a wide variety of behaviors that most experts would classify as "hostile," both to natural Elonian wildlife and to seasoned explorers alike. This volume contains a distillation of firsthand discoveries and experiments devoted to unraveling the mysteries of this corruption and the methods used to neutralize it.

Using observational logs from Kamma's countless hours within the United Arcanist Lab, readers will get an inside look at the most minute details of her fascinating study on Risen behavior and anatomy.

This fourth edition printing contains a special foreword by an anonymous testing associate Kamma recruited during her experiments on Risen tissue.

Biography of Gwen Thackeray

Category: Notable Heroes

Shaped by a life of loss and victory, driven by ferocity and cunning, Gwen Thackeray is indisputably one of Ascalon's most influential post-Searing figures.

A mere child of ten at the onset of the charr invasion, Gwen spent the better part of a decade enslaved to Ascalon's bestial conquerors. From her failed first attempt to her ultimate victory over the charr in the freeing of revolutionary Pyre Fierceshot, Captain Thackeray's incredible life has been the subject of fierce debate and detailed historical records.

To the people of her homeland, she is and forever will be known as the true Hero of Ascalon. Yet to her enemies, hushed whispers speak of a terrifying foe known by a more ominous title: Goremonger.

Read along as our team of experts delves into the fascinating history of this larger-than-life hero of humanity.

Biography of Ogden Stonehealer

Category: Notable Heroes

A gifted healer and a faithful follower of the Great Dwarf, Ogden Stonehealer has devoted his life to the gathering and preservation of knowledge throughout Tyria.

From his home within the Durmand Priory, Stonehealer serves the many races of our world as a living compendium, a veritable library of lore reaching back to the days of yore.

But a life such as this does not begin in the quiet halls of academia. When the Elder Dragons threatened to bring ruin to the dwarves, a great battle raged from deep within the surface of our world to its highest mountain peaks. The Great Dwarf and the Great Destroyer met head-on, and the fate of all dwarves was forged in the fires of war.

Eternal Alchemy of the Stars

Category: Astronomy

Do you seek new meaning in the age-old quandries of the Eternal Alchemy? Then look no further than the lens of your telescope! In his exciting literary debut, Pilkk explores the previously undiscovered connections between the Eternal Alchemy and the stars above. About the author:

A merchant by trade, Pilkk spent many a night in the Cursed Shores staring at the sky, pondering the Eternal Alchemy. His early studies at the Durmand Priory yielded few answers and greater questions, plaguing Pilkk day in and out. After years of unanswered questions, he turned his queries to the stars. Much to his surprise, they replied.

Despite controversy over Pilkk's qualifications, scholars and laypeople alike find his lines of inquiry both insightful and easy to understand. As a result of his studies, Pilkk was awarded the "Unexpected Brilliance" award by the Durmand Priory.

Everyday Healing: Gift of the Monk

Category: Theology

Do you seek the divine favor of the gods but have yet to receive their blessed power? Fear not and look no further, for you already have the power within you.

Since the ancient professions coalesced, the monks of Tyria have been harnessing this gift, perfecting a unique form of prayer-based healing that mitigates the woes of modern life and conditions their acolytes into warriors of peace and righteousness.

In this easy-to-follow book, we'll provide all burgeoning monks with a guaranteed path to improving their form and reducing painful overextension.

Remember, the road is long, but it need not be taken alone. Share your journey with a friend, because as the old saying goes: a friend on the path's worth your life by half. 

How Kormir Did It

Category: Theology

There are few humans in Tyria's history who can say they've challenged a god. Fewer still can claim they defeated one. Yet only one can claim to have ascended our mortal plane, becoming a god herself.

Kormir, Goddess of Order, Spirit, and Truth, began her rise to godhood as a decorated Spearmarshal. Even in life, she sought to bring order from chaos, leading the charge against criminals and corsairs who threatened the lives of the innocent.

In this exciting collection, Kormir's loyal Sunspear compatriots speak of her mortal years, how she survived her confrontation with the Hunger, the grand battle against the fallen god Abbadon, and her ultimate ascension to the pantheon.

Koss on Koss

Category: Notable Heroes

I am Koss Dejarin, Sunspear and protector of Elona. Many writers have tried to chronicle my journey from nobleman to warrior to simple farmer, but none of them has been me. And so it was that I set out to remedy this, taking up the pen in lieu of the spear to set the record straight once and for all.

Perhaps you've heard of my relationship with corsairs throughout Elona, and the sacrifices I've had to make to keep their swords from our throats. Perhaps you've heard of how my father disowned me for joining the Sunspears. Perhaps you've heard of my adventures with the Tyrian hero and the final fall of Abbadon.

Or perhaps you've heard of none of these things. Regardless of where you stand, I assure you that this autobiography is the final word on my life, and the only side of my story world believing.

Malomedies's Observational Tips

Category: Astronomy

From the mind of Malomedies, master astronomer and mathematician, comes the ultimate collection of tips, tools, and tricks for stargazers new and old alike! Piecing together a lifetime's worth of research, Malomedies's students offer a rare glimpse into their master's brilliance through easy-to-digest lessons and dictums.

Are you a budding apprentice? A seasoned master? This collection has something for everyone.

Discover what materials are most appropriate in sun-viewing telescope lens filters, marvel at Malomedies's simple schema for interpreting binary and trinary star systems allignments, and much more!

Raptor Training and Care

Category: Zoology

Recognized as Elona's supreme authorities on raptor training and care, Aksim and Tasa offer up their expert knowledge in this comprehensive guidebook on creating a lasting bond with your spiny saurian.

Learn all there is to know about raptor behavior, positive reinforcement, grooming, and proper riding techniques. Whether you're looking for a partner to race across the dunes of the Crystal Oasis or you just want a loyal companion to guide you through the busy streets of Amnoon, this guide is sure to give readers a deeper appreciation for the lifelong bond they can build with their raptor.

Not sure if a raptor is right for you? Visit Aksim's raptor stable in the Crystal Oasis to hear about the benefits of raptor ownership firsthand.

Skies of Nightfall

Category: Astronomy

Across Elona, the prophecy of Nightfall is one of our most well-known but least understood texts. Now, using the analytical techniques of Malomedies, we can finally explore the world as it was leading up to Abbadon's calamitous escape attempt from the Realm of Torment. Through knowledge hidden in the stars, we can see firsthand how Varesh Ossa's plot unfolded with a clarity unlike any seen before.

Experience a brand-new side of this monumental historical event, learning invaluable techniques in the art of astronomical divination along the way!

Spirits of the Wild

Category: Theology

The norn city of Hoelbrak stands as a testament to a culture born of defiance; defiance both of the elements and of the Elder Dragon that sought to end their lives.

When Jormag threatened to bury the norn in a hellscape of ice and frost, the norn turned to their spirits: Wolf. Bear. Raven. Snow Leopard. The norn do not credit their survival to themselves, but to these Spirits of the Wild. In this updated compendium, renowned norn historian Thyrie Bylund explores the fascinating relationship between norn and their spirits. Through a combination of written firsthand accounts and oral histories, Bylund discovers the very real effect these spirits have on the norn and all who live alongside them.

Star Chart Basics

Category: Astronomy

Location: In the chamber directly above the bookshelves. Go up to the next level and enter the inner part of the building.

Looking to go from apprentice to master in the art of observing, charting, and interpreting the stars? Then break out your telescope and switch up your sleep schedule, because this comprehensive guide from Scholar Fatima (author of "Star Charts," "Advanced Star Charts," and the best-selling "A Fool's Guide to Star Charts") is the first and last resource you'll ever need!

Learn the basics of ascension and declination notation, the most ideal times of the lunar cycle to make observations, proper drawing techniques, and even weather-prediction tips to ensure you always have the best possible star-charting conditions.

Taming Elusive Beasts

Category: Zoology

A ranger's skill is oft demonstrated by their menagerie of tamed beasts. From bears to bristlebacks and beyond, the successful ranger knows the secrets of communicating with these creatures multifarious. In this fascinating series of personal accounts, ex-corsair and ranger extraordinaire Abasi details the complex intracacies of these relationships.

Using a suite of skills typical to rangers of any experience level, Abasi demonstrates proven methods for taming beasts of every shape and size using the proper body language, sounds, and tools. "It's a back and forth," explains Abasi. "It's a negotiation in a different language, and each creature has its own language to master."

The Genius of Vekk

Category: Notable Heroes

When the Great Destroyer threatened to turn its ire on the free peoples of Tyria, no single race stood alone in the conflict that followed, and no single asuran challenged the evil of this tragic era more so than Vekk.

Follow his journey in this comprehensive volume, from his beginnings as a simple elementalist to the indelible legacy he left as one of Tyria's greatest heroes.

Praise for "The Genius of Vekk"

"Combining written accounts from the era along with the most recent historical findings, this incredible biography covers everything from Vekk's knowledge of Scrying Pools to the emergence of asura gates in Tyria. I came away astounded at the depth and detail presented, andI (sic) would recommend this biography to anyone with an interest in the period"

- Arcanist Timble, Durmand Priory

The Grace of Melandru

Category: Theology

The next time you step outside, be sure to take a moment to listen. Do you hear that?

That is the sound of Melandru, speaking to you through the wind, the leaves, the grass. Pay careful attention, and you may be able to understand her words of wisdom.

Experience the full measure of Melandru's grace in this meditative exercise book, co-authored by twelve of her priests and priestesses throughout Tyria. Explore the value of nature walks, capture the beauty of her bounty with step-by-step leaf drawing exercises, and stop to smell the roses as you venture outside the comforts of your home and step into Melandru's own.

When you can see, feel, and hear her beauty all around you, perhaps you'll also come to appreciate the beauty within yourself.

The Movement of the World

Category: History

Location: In the chamber directly below the bookshelves. Head down the spiral staircase that the bookshelves circle.

Our world is constantly in motion, be it the tides of time, the tides of war, or the tides of the sea that swell and chum, covering kingdoms lost and revealing lands of old.

Decimus the Historian takes up his pen once more in this stunning essay on the events that have shaped our world, both figuratively and quite literally. As the guilds expanded and cultural revolutions pushed the races of Tyria closer together, our world shifted to one of modernity and prosperity.

But as the Elder Dragons woke and unnatural cataclysms tore open the flesh of the world, the face of Tyria was forever altered, and new conflicts threaten it in ways heretofore unseen. Humanity is in decline, the balance of power shifting. Only through careful examination of the past can we hope to change our future.

The Reign of Palawa Joko

Category: History

Marvel, all! For the finest compendium of Palawa Joko's deeds has finally been written, praise be unto his name!

From his mighty throne in the Bone Palace, deep within the Desolation, the great Palawa Joko inspires righteous fear and complete devotion from all corners of Elona. Press on, dear reader, and learn of his triumph over Varesh Ossa, his conflict with Mad King Thorn, and the inevitable rise of his elite Mordant Crescent.

Immerse yourself in the only historical text to accurately describe the incredible, world-changing achievements of the great Palawa Joko. The Elon River was diverted, the Bone Wall was constructed, yet so much remains in our future! Read on, friends, and bear witness to the brilliance of our savior, our leader, Palawa Joko!

You and Your Springer

Category: Zoology

Straight from the windswept canyons of Highjump Ranch comes the last guidebook you'll ever need on springer care! After years of working alongside Stablemaster Unja and her expertly trained family of ranch hands, we've compiled the ultimate list of dos and don'ts for the responsible springer owner.

Whether you're looking to construct the idea living environment, grow the right crossbreed of carrot, or learn just how high your springer can jump without injury, this guide will offer all the answers and then some!

A portion of all profits from this book goes to support Highjump Ranch and its efforts to find homes for springers all throughout the Crystal Desert.

[kerra-and-company]

🍂🏞️👑 for Kerra!

Ooh, fun, thanks so much for the ask!! :)

🍂 What are their opinions on the different seasons? Which one do they hate and which one do they love and why?

Generally, Kerra enjoys spring the most. Winter is colder than she’d like, and fall is...okay, at least. Early on, she dislikes summer the most because dry heat is very unpleasant for her. Once she travels to Maguuma, she realizes that she’s actually most at home in the warm but humid air of the jungle, and she has no clue what to do with this information. She’ll never love summer, but she looks on it a bit differently after that.

(No, she does not enjoy the desert. Why do you ask?)

🏞️ If your OC could travel to anywhere in their world where would they go? Why? If they could live there would they?

At this point in the story, Kerra wouldn’t travel anywhere. She just wants to rest with her family. But if she was given a break and was up for traveling again, she’d want to go to Cantha. She’s curious about the land across the Jade Sea, and it’s one of the few places she hasn’t yet seen. It’s very doubtful that she’d choose to live there, though, as pretty much everything and everyone she cares about is in Central Tyria.

👑 If your OC was made royal (or is royal) how would they use their power? Are they a good leader or bad? Do their subjects like them or is it ‘off with their head’? Do they enjoy being royal?

It depends what you mean by “royal”--Kerra isn’t “royal” like Queen Jennah, but she’s kind of the closest thing to it, in some ways, for sylvari. I won’t go into that too much here because I wrote an entire thing about it (which you can see at the link!), but if she were royal in the way the Queen is...hm. She’d do her best to be a good leader, but she’d chafe at being overprotected, and she wouldn’t enjoy having a bodyguard 24-7. She wouldn’t be able to travel the way she does now, which would be incredibly frustrating; she absolutely can lead from a desk, but she would not enjoy it. Her subjects would like her; she’d get a reputation as a merciful queen, but also one willing to dole out punishments if necessary.