Starseer.1047
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Posts posted by Starseer.1047
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I've been looking for posts regarding the writing of SotO. Keep in mind that all this is coming from a rose-tinted glasses-wearing player who has been eating GW2 content up and typically enjoying the meal. It SUCKS to be saying the things I'll be saying, but lying is pointless.
The writing of SotO is much weaker than not only previous expansions, but also living world seasons. And living world seasons were free, as long as you logged in while the episodes were running!
I can appreciate Anet trying something new with their expansion release schedule. More content sounded exciting! And I was fully willing to chuck my money at them bc I was so happy. But, gosh, ik this is their first time around trying this, but oof! At least lws chapters all felt complete. The first section of SotO is blatantly hacked off with an axe from the rest of the story, as is the second--There's a very important demon invasion we gotta stop, we swear! But let's chill for a few entire months. Even though big baddies were faced in lws, such as Joko or Kralk, or Bangar and Ryland, and those episodes were often separated from one another by time, it didn't FEEL that way nearly as much as SotO does. If the price of more consistent content is the content's quality, then my enthusiasm for future expansions (and willingness to dump out money) will be pretty dampened. When EoD came out, the experience was MAGICAL. I felt like I was flying I was so happy and excited exploring Cantha. When SotO was announced, I felt the promise of that same magic! I was hyped! I couldn't wait to be swept up by the story and chuck my poor Commander into a meat grinder! But alas... Even this far into the expansion, there hasn't been a meat grinder!!
I think the best signifier of the expansions's quality was its prologue, the stuff tacked onto the end of EoD. "What Lies Beneath" was AWESOME. I LOVED IT. Demons, trauma, and mental health already played a big part in the canon of my characters, and hot diggity, here were all of the Commander's traumas being raked to the surface. I was STOKED to see what would happen next, how the problem would be solved, especially since the Commander was to be used as bait! And then "What Lies Within" was released. All of that superb buildup fell flat onto its face. You don't even punch the manifestations of your bad memories or anything, you just punch the scary demon until it dies. No confronting your feelings, nothing. I think it could've been a proper signifier/harbinger of imminent demon invasion, but that just never came to be. In a way that felt like it mattered, anyway. I think SotO started off pretty strong with Cerus getting the Commander dumped on him and figuring out they're delicious and saying he wanted to hunt and eat them, but then Cerus died, and the expansion is still going. It's not like the Midnight King has explicitly said to your face that he wants to eat you.
And there's not only a pacing issue--Major story beats are totally missing the mark for me. Take Trahearne's death in HoT. I was legit devastated for weeks and so sad I had to go look for fan content that was happier. Mabon is rather similar to Trahearne, yes? Wise and very, very, very nice. And strong. But my reaction of Mabon's death was thus: "Oh, he's dead. That's a shame." You just don't see enough of Mabon being a great guy before he kicks it. Then other things, such as some of the Ward members'/Dagda's reservations (or outright hostility) towards the Commander for their actions. That was interesting! But the first half of the first part of the expansion wasn't even over before Dagda was hopping on the 'The Wayfinder is awesome!!' train. And, when Convergences were released, turns out Mabon taught Zojja a resurrection spell!! .......Then.... why didn't that spell come up i resurrecting, you know, MABON??? And then Zojja, your friend who you haven't seen in years (in game and out), just up and says 'yes' to yeeting all of her memories of you and the rest of your friends.... off-screen. What!? And now you're getting into the thick of demon politics, creatures who are known for being deceitful, bc this one hot demon lady said their king was a big meanie. Even I, who headcanons their Wayfinder to be a more trusting trusting person in general, find the Wayfinder waaaay too trusting thus far about accepting the evilness of this guy whose atrocities we've never personally seen. We're just taking everyone up on their word. For big bads like Balthazar or Joko, you saw with your own eyeballs that they were causing considerable damage and suffering; for ones like Bangar and Ryland, you could see the imminent catastrophe and calamity they would bring if they were left unchecked, but currently, my view on the Midnight King is that his people generally live in fear for some reason (we don't see Eparch's grunts haranguing plain old civilians like with Joko and the Awakened--The Loyalists are disrupting resistance fighters, but then there are a bunch of Kryptis in Nayos just chilling outside of their houses. And also the king really loved his queen. He just seems really, and UNDERSTANDABLY, upset that his queen killed herself because of Peitha and her pals! Overall, it really feels like 'Wayfinder, do this!' 'Wayfinder, do that!' 'Wayfinder, we need your help!' and you're nodding along and running around doing what everyone is asking of you, instead of feeling like you're actively racing towards stopping an apocalyptic threat.
The next expansion is due to release this year. I really, really hope that the writing team (and whoever is responsible for the amount of time they're given to work) learn from this first experience, since it... left something to be desired. I really want to see them do better! I really want Anet to succeed in general! I love, love, love Guild Wars 2. It's given me so much! But I can't rightfully say that SotO has felt like it's given me my money's worth. I just can't. Thank you for reading!
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Oh, this is a good idea!
2 minutes ago, Danikat.8537 said:For me I do an extra round of calculations: there's a lot of things on the list I could have bought but didn't, sometimes that's because I don't want them at all but at other times it's because I don't like them enough to pay what they cost, so having checked what they cost I think up a 'sale' price that I would have paid and use that.
- I'm a sucker for mount skins so I'd buy those - 1,600 gems.
- I haven't bought any capes but I have considered one - let's say I'd pay 200 gems for one.
- I wouldn't buy heroic boosters.
- There's a few backpack & glider combos I like but apparently not enough to buy them at full price (or I'd have bought them)...so let's say 450 for that.
- I wouldn't buy the emote, wardrobe unlocks or a bonfire.
- I don't use finishers often and have a few I really like so I wouldn't buy another.
- I like some of the weapons, but again not enough to pay for them when they were in the store so let's say I'd pay 300 gems for one.
- I don't buy dyes on the store but do buy them with gold - that would save me about 60g (which is 155 gems at the current rate).
- I don't buy keys.
- I don't need the mini claim ticket but could make about 20g selling them, which is 77 gems.
So that's 2,782 which means it's just about worth getting for me.
I think it's unlikely, they normally put them at least a few months apart.
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I'm reeeeally stuck on buying the supply drop this year. I LOVED previous supply drops, particularly the 2021 anniversary one (first one I bought). I'm assuming there won't be an anniversary one due to this one, but man... It sure doesn't seem as shiny as previous years, does it? The EoD ones didn't have the super cool mount selects like previous ones, but in comparison to this one, it at least had weapon selects. I like shiny new things. I like Anet and want to support them. But, gosh, even though this calculation of gem value is the highest out of all of them, why does it feel like it's not?
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For those who are unable to attend real life parades for any reason like me, I highly recommend attending in GW2! I've been attending every year since 2018, And as an introvert, it's been tiring, but also so much fun.
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I loved last year's supply drop requisition so much (first time getting a supply drop), so I was saving up to buy this year's eagerly. But then... there wasn't one. I was very much looking forward to it! I even ignored the preceding sales on things I wanted like bank tabs and shared inventory slots so I would have the funds for the supply drop. 😢 I will keep hoping there's something in the works for the next month...
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3 hours ago, kharmin.7683 said:
I can see that, however, it really isn't that much of an issue (for me, at least) to just hop back on the zline and go back to where I started that particular trip. I don't know that I'd want Anet to spend resources for a mid-flight dismount. /shrug
I agree, compared with everything else, this is very low priority. I wouldn't say it's hindering my gameplay; it's more just something that I noticed. I can try out the mount tactic.
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23 hours ago, Starseer.1047 said:
Learning this fight is very much like learning PvE raid fights. I've never been in a group that's actually won yet--The closest I've gotten maybe thrice is 20% (this is pre-midday patch 3/4 CST)--but as I am someone who actively enjoys learning raid fights, I am enjoying myself and actively feel like I--and my team--am improving and believe that victory is within our grasp. The only time I actually felt angry with this meta was when I waited hours for it to start again, only for an escort NPC to bug and instantly ruin the entire meta.
However, there are people who avoid PvE raiding for a reason, and that added to how the siege turtle is locked behind this meta causes a bit of a problem, I feel. I'm mostly having a good time, but every time a map fails a LOT of people are VERY angry in map chat.
Post-midday 3/4 CST patch, I got my first win! It was also my first time doing greens--and becoming a wisp--and I and the other wisps were able to complete our task without much issue. Now, this was with a group of mostly guildmates led by an experienced and competent commander (and lts); most people already knew how the encounter worked well enough, and the commander provided ample instructions and map markers. And even so, after reset with the same group, same commander, same everything, we failed the next meta thanks to RNG, I think? Successful meta, the defiance bar popped up at least thrice and we broke it each time, allowing for beautiful bursts, whereas in the failed one the defiance bar only popped up once, and that was when HP was closer to 20%--The platform was loaded with adds, so everyone was getting downed on the waystation, preventing EMPs from being picked up and used (defiance break failed). Successful meta also had the boss dashing an agreeable amount (my fails are well into the double-digits, and in one of them the boss dashed and dashed, back to back, over and over; it was terrible!).
TL;DR: I was in a successful meta thanks to both an experienced group and chance. The odd amount of defiance bar break opportunities really makes or breaks the run.
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My thoughts on the zip lines are that while the end destination is indicated both with a ping on the map and a green light travelling in the direction the zip line will take, sometimes the green light is difficult to see against bright and/or matching green backgrounds. I think it would also be nice to somehow change the direction you're going in and even disengage from the zip line if desired (or if you find out you're going towards the wrong place).
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Learning this fight is very much like learning PvE raid fights. I've never been in a group that's actually won yet--The closest I've gotten maybe thrice is 20% (this is pre-midday patch 3/4 CST)--but as I am someone who actively enjoys learning raid fights, I am enjoying myself and actively feel like I--and my team--am improving and believe that victory is within our grasp. The only time I actually felt angry with this meta was when I waited hours for it to start again, only for an escort NPC to bug and instantly ruin the entire meta.
However, there are people who avoid PvE raiding for a reason, and that added to how the siege turtle is locked behind this meta causes a bit of a problem, I feel. I'm mostly having a good time, but every time a map fails a LOT of people are VERY angry in map chat.
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So, I logged in to Mistlock Sanctuary. All was normal until I opened lfg to look for fractal groups, then closed it. Then all of the particle effects turned into huge, blue and green squares that floated off of my person. I would attach pictures if I knew how! It was bad thanks to my armor (requiem), but my ghostly infusion in one of my weapon sets made it worse. Other players who had particle effects about them had the blue-green squares, too, and I seemed to be the only one affected (no one else was expressing alarm). Everything returned to normal once I entered fractals with teammates. Since it went away, it's not game-breaking, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to let others know about it.
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On 12/2/2021 at 11:24 AM, Ashantara.8731 said:
The only current workaround is to stow your weapons (or redraw, then stow, if they were already stowed), then wait 2 seconds for the character to realign correctly to gravity, then walk a step or two.
I really wish they would permanently fix this so that characters would never bug out that way. It used to work a year ago (with very rare temporary exceptions), why no more?
I'll keep this in mind next time I try that particular jp (though I probably won't get to it anytime soon, since it made me so mad XD)! And in general, whenever it's impeding my progress somehow. Thank you!
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On 11/12/2021 at 2:31 AM, Starseer.1047 said:
Woohoo, now I get to join this thread! Made the exotic banner and yet I am still unable to obtain the item. Somewhat distressing that there is no resolution in here yet.
Good news folks, there has been a resolution. I am apparently blind and didn't notice that the item available for purchase is no longer required for the Vision collection, but is still sold by the merchant (however, crafting the exotic banner is still needed. it should appear in the collection as the banner's own icon, rather than the icon of item you purchase from the vendor). It was both a red herring and a wild goose! I'm just very glad that my progress isn't irreparably blocked.
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Oh my goodness, that's my biggest beef with this as well--jp problems. There is an achievement in PoF's birthplace of Vlast that wants you to do a jp. Said jp requires you to balance very carefully on ropes (way less sturdy than beams). My character (male sylvari necromancer) was wobbling SO MUCH, quickly wobbling back and forth between hanging off the left then the right, that it was impossible to tell where his center of gravity was, making it where I couldn't accurately correct his balance, causing me to never complete the puzzle. There were points where he was completely horizontal or even hanging off under the rope somehow!? This happened in August 2021, but has been going on long before this (there was a point where, probably last year or farther, I was sitting down... on the vertical surface of a wall!). This also isn't limited to my sylvari necro (though he probably has the most examples, since he's my main); this has happened a lot with my male human mirage.
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I am dealing with this as well, and I have been for a while (the original Oct. 15 date doesn't sound too far out of the picture). It isn't as frustrating as other bugs I'm dealing with, but it certainly is a little strange. As above, [1] seems to have been fixed, but [2] still remains.
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Oh, I dealt with this too, though I originally chalked it up to my recent troubles with bad connection and lag. Sometime this past week I played the first chapter of Long Live the Lich (spoilers just in case), and
Spoilerthe people who got chewed up by the scarabs did not lie on the ground, but remained standing statue still in running positions. When they were awakened and then killed again, they remained standing, which then made it a little hard to tell who was actually "alive" or not as the champion awakened them one by one to be killed. It also broke my immersion terribly.
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Woohoo, now I get to join this thread! Made the exotic banner and yet I am still unable to obtain the item. Somewhat distressing that there is no resolution in here yet.
Feedback on the narrative structure in SotO.
in Lore
Posted · Edited by Starseer.1047
Incorrect word
Dude, I'm not saying they're missing. I'm saying they're not super effective. I don't approach this game cynically. I don't come in with the goal of figuring out everything wrong. Rather, I'm the opposite--I tend to breeze right over issues in my giddy ride through new places and story, so the fact that I of all people is noticing the weakness isn't great. Hell, on my first playthrough upon release, I squeed my way through the maps and the story, but even then, I noticed Mabon's death as blatantly falling flat, and the urgency of the threat Eparch posed being disrupted by how the expansion is being released in installments (they feel very chopped up into pieces). I don't think SotO is a terrible, awful, no-good, very bad expansion! I just think it's weaker than its siblings. Again, the Kryptis in Nayos are very clearly living in fear. There are prison camps, people are starving, things aren't sunshine and rainbows, and there was an entire demon invasion of the Wizard's domain beginning to seep into the rest of Tyria. I'm not sure if it's intentional bc 'ha ha obscure', but Eparch's goal isn't clear enough for me to remember. Mordremoth: Cover all of Tyria and beyond. White Mantle: Recapture Kryta. Balthazar: Kill Kralkatorrik, followers and the whole world be damned. Joko: Kicking puppies is fun and also I'm invading Tyria now bc you hurt my feelings. Kralk: Eat everything, including reality itself. Bangar: Conquest of all of Tyria, then Elona and Cantha, bc charr supremacy. Ryland: Ambitions... to help Jormag take over everything. Jormag: Defend themself, including against Primordus, and since Primordus is expanding rapidly, Jormag must as well. Primordus: Burn everything. Ankka: Vile creature who shot your daughter, then framed you for a terrorist attack. Soo-Won: Doesn't want to hurt people, but her strength to keep herself from doing so is waning. Eparch... My subjects are tasty? And so are dreams? And I'm super pissed at Isgarren? I might be missing something, I entirely admit that, but I think it's a flaw that I can remember the motivations of all these other villains, whose stories I played through earlier than Eparch's and therefore would be less fresh in my mind, but not Eparch's.
I think out of the lineup, Eparch is most similar to Joko in that he's very strong and being evil is fun (or so it appears at the moment), but Joko not only found a way to dump squadrons of his troops into Tyria via the Inquest portals, but he got his hands on the extremely deadly Scarab Plague and very much intended to use it! And you saw both of these things with your own two eyes! Not only that, Joko also personally captured Taimi, forced her to do his bidding on the threat of death + Awakening, trapped her inside of her own golem, and forced you to save her as she screamed and pleaded and begged for your help as she slowly suffocated to death while you fought her golem through walls of fire, desperately trying to get it to open. Demons are popping up in Tyria, yes, but it currently feels more like scouting parties rather than WHOA sudden invasion oh crap!!!! I'm not feeling the weight of the threat Eparch poses. And I want to! I want Eparch to punch me in my face so I will really want to punch him back! I think the biggest thing he's done that's gotten a stir out of me is when he finally showed up in person and trapped you in a T-pose, powerful Wayfinder you, and you were entirely powerless while he talked. I want more of that!
Let's take this as an example. Disclaimer: I'm not saying this is THE fix, the magic wand that'll fix everything, that it's the smartest idea around and DUH they should have done this, none of that. But what if Eparch captured Zojja? She's a budding Wizard, and it's been well- and naturally established that she has a lot of potential. So, it makes sense that Eparch would not only notice her, but want to capture her to make use of her power. Turn her against you and the people and land that she loves, and is her home. If Eparch suddenly popped in, trapped you in that T-pose, and forced you to helplessly watch as he dragged a struggling Zojja through a portal and deep, deep into Nayos while he taunted you with his intentions, I would be SO MAD. And I would DOWN to zooming my way deep into Nayos, into storming Eparch's very castle, in order to rescue Zojja and punch Eparch in his dumb, mean face.
Overall, SotO just isn't sucking me in and making it where I literally can't put down the game until I'm done. For the latest release, I didn't even play the story right away! I didn't immediately leap in, like I did for all other story! And I hate that! SotO was the first expansion that unfortunately failed to inspire me to recommend it to people who don't own it. I couldn't, in good faith, tell people they should spend money, ESPECIALLY on the bigger packs, especially when they came in with the explicit desire of a good story. I wanted to, so much, but I couldn't.
If I sounded angry and vindictive, I'm sorry; that wasn't my intention! I just really want GW2 to do well, and I'm sad that even li'l GW2-adoring me noticed potential that wasn't being realized. I sincerely wish to be proven wrong! Thank you for reading!