Why, when *I* was raising up a monk, we had to run all over a desert infested with horrible burrowing scarabs, hordes of flying mesmer-things, and meteor-summoning three-headed lizards! We didn't even have primary quests to point the way! We had to pander to the endless bizarre requests of a ghost with all the movement AI of a slug! I - a healer by trade - had to find a way to kill something equipped with my own unlocked skills, and boy hecky that was no picnic. And we did it all without anywhere NEAR maximum-strength armor.
In Kaineng City we were gunning for Weh No Su mighty early by comparison, but everything moves fast there, and defeating the Celestials still felt like a major accomplishment.
Fast-forward to Elona. My paragon works her way across Istan, getting stronger and meeting heroes, enjoying the scenic pace. Finally she's ready to leave the island and enter the big leagues. She gets to know Kourna, and I wonder what the ascension challenge will be this time!
Turns out I already did it! Clearing out a little cave of bugs before rescuing Koss - that was the Elonian ascension!
Double-you.
Tee.
Eff.
Now get off my porch!
P.S. Wurm-riding is more wonderful than Barrage and Word of Healing put together, and more than makes up for this disappointment. I just felt like a little cane-shaking.
These whippersnappers don't know the meaning of ascension! (spoilers)
creelie
Relnor
Quote:
Originally Posted by creelie
Why, when *I* was raising up a monk, we had to run all over a desert infested with horrible burrowing scarabs, hordes of flying mesmer-things, and meteor-summoning three-headed lizards! We didn't even have primary quests to point the way! We had to pander to the endless bizarre requests of a ghost with all the movement AI of a slug! I - a healer by trade - had to find a way to kill something equipped with my own unlocked skills, and boy hecky that was no picnic. And we did it all without anywhere NEAR maximum-strength armor.
In Kaineng City we were gunning for Weh No Su mighty early by comparison, but everything moves fast there, and defeating the Celestials still felt like a major accomplishment.
Fast-forward to Elona. My paragon works her way across Istan, getting stronger and meeting heroes, enjoying the scenic pace. Finally she's ready to leave the island and enter the big leagues. She gets to know Kourna, and I wonder what the ascension challenge will be this time!
Turns out I already did it! Clearing out a little cave of bugs before rescuing Koss - that was the Elonian ascension!
Double-you.
Tee.
Eff.
Now get off my porch!
P.S. Wurm-riding is more wonderful than Barrage and Word of Healing put together, and more than makes up for this disappointment. I just felt like a little cane-shaking. This is why Prophicies is still the best out of the three. In Prophicies, there were chalanges strung throughout the entire game. I always (even still now) had something to do. In Nightfall, I beat everything (with the exception of DoA) within a very short ammount of time--with little or no effort. Now all I have left is the option of grinding for hours to beat an "elite" area.
In Kaineng City we were gunning for Weh No Su mighty early by comparison, but everything moves fast there, and defeating the Celestials still felt like a major accomplishment.
Fast-forward to Elona. My paragon works her way across Istan, getting stronger and meeting heroes, enjoying the scenic pace. Finally she's ready to leave the island and enter the big leagues. She gets to know Kourna, and I wonder what the ascension challenge will be this time!
Turns out I already did it! Clearing out a little cave of bugs before rescuing Koss - that was the Elonian ascension!
Double-you.
Tee.
Eff.
Now get off my porch!
P.S. Wurm-riding is more wonderful than Barrage and Word of Healing put together, and more than makes up for this disappointment. I just felt like a little cane-shaking. This is why Prophicies is still the best out of the three. In Prophicies, there were chalanges strung throughout the entire game. I always (even still now) had something to do. In Nightfall, I beat everything (with the exception of DoA) within a very short ammount of time--with little or no effort. Now all I have left is the option of grinding for hours to beat an "elite" area.
GrendelScout1
Quote:
Originally Posted by creelie
That's the way it was, and we liked it! We loved it!
Taala
Quote:
Originally Posted by Relnor
In Prophicies, there were chalanges strung throughout the entire game.
Challenges? Prophecies felt like a dragged on tutorial until Crystal Desert, even on my first time through the game. It was just so damn easy.
When things got interesting, there weren't many quests to do and only handful of missions left until it was over.
When things got interesting, there weren't many quests to do and only handful of missions left until it was over.
Grais
Okay, I was just beginning to wonder if there was ascension in NF(nevr bought Factions, just started NF), can someone clarify what, or how it(Ascending) takes place. Thanks much appreciated.
ShadowStorm
Ascention in Nightfall is essentially the completion of a specific quest right before you go rescue Koss from the Kournans. The quest doesn't even tell you you're ascending.
Oh, and if anyone at Arena-Net is reading this: For chapter 4, could you please make the equivalent of Ascending noticable? Also, wait to reward the characters with the bonus 15 attribute point quests until after ascention. That way it makes us feel like we've actually earned something. Thanks.
Oh, and if anyone at Arena-Net is reading this: For chapter 4, could you please make the equivalent of Ascending noticable? Also, wait to reward the characters with the bonus 15 attribute point quests until after ascention. That way it makes us feel like we've actually earned something. Thanks.
isamu kurosawa
Well it fits in with the story of you being a "hero".
In the previous two you had to prove you where a hero, but in nightfall its pretty much stated after the attack on gandara by every npc that you are a hero.
...Didn't like how my foreign character'd where referenced as "from istan though", and at one point in vabbi my mesmer was referred to as poor and in shabby clothing......That npc is lucky there is no friendly fire in GW.
In the previous two you had to prove you where a hero, but in nightfall its pretty much stated after the attack on gandara by every npc that you are a hero.
...Didn't like how my foreign character'd where referenced as "from istan though", and at one point in vabbi my mesmer was referred to as poor and in shabby clothing......That npc is lucky there is no friendly fire in GW.
Hyper Cutter
One thing I like about Factions and NF is that they give you your 30 points much earlier and don't make you jump through hoops for them like Prophecies did...
It's worth noting, though, NF "ascension" only counts for Elonians for some reason...
It's worth noting, though, NF "ascension" only counts for Elonians for some reason...
artay
What ticks me off is that if your a proph or canthan character, you cant ascend in elona! Sucks for my sin! (i brought him over without doing anything in cantha)
kazjun
Quote:
Originally Posted by creelie
Why, when *I* was raising up a monk, we had to run all over a desert infested with horrible burrowing scarabs, hordes of flying mesmer-things, and meteor-summoning three-headed lizards! We didn't even have primary quests to point the way! We had to pander to the endless bizarre requests of a ghost with all the movement AI of a slug! I - a healer by trade - had to find a way to kill something equipped with my own unlocked skills, and boy hecky that was no picnic. And we did it all without anywhere NEAR maximum-strength armor.
In Kaineng City we were gunning for Weh No Su mighty early by comparison, but everything moves fast there, and defeating the Celestials still felt like a major accomplishment.
Fast-forward to Elona. My paragon works her way across Istan, getting stronger and meeting heroes, enjoying the scenic pace. Finally she's ready to leave the island and enter the big leagues. She gets to know Kourna, and I wonder what the ascension challenge will be this time!
Turns out I already did it! Clearing out a little cave of bugs before rescuing Koss - that was the Elonian ascension!
Double-you.
Tee.
Eff.
Now get off my porch!
P.S. Wurm-riding is more wonderful than Barrage and Word of Healing put together, and more than makes up for this disappointment. I just felt like a little cane-shaking. Lol, funniest post I seen in ages. Though you're right about ascension. Gotten easier and quicker every chapter.
In Kaineng City we were gunning for Weh No Su mighty early by comparison, but everything moves fast there, and defeating the Celestials still felt like a major accomplishment.
Fast-forward to Elona. My paragon works her way across Istan, getting stronger and meeting heroes, enjoying the scenic pace. Finally she's ready to leave the island and enter the big leagues. She gets to know Kourna, and I wonder what the ascension challenge will be this time!
Turns out I already did it! Clearing out a little cave of bugs before rescuing Koss - that was the Elonian ascension!
Double-you.
Tee.
Eff.
Now get off my porch!
P.S. Wurm-riding is more wonderful than Barrage and Word of Healing put together, and more than makes up for this disappointment. I just felt like a little cane-shaking. Lol, funniest post I seen in ages. Though you're right about ascension. Gotten easier and quicker every chapter.
Lord-UWR
I totally agree, the "fact-paced adventure" slogan of GW is a litte too fast now, and too easy, and suddenly they drop a Elite area, which is now HARD.
Its like going through elementry and middle school without learning anything, and suddenly high school feels like a heavy weight, not the case for me of course, I came to North America in grade 8.
Its like going through elementry and middle school without learning anything, and suddenly high school feels like a heavy weight, not the case for me of course, I came to North America in grade 8.
Jesse
AMEN to that brother. Your my new best friend...ha....they never believed me when i said great minds think alike, and now heres proof of it. PROOF I SAY!!!!!
Paperfly
I had actually assumed Dasha Vestibule was the Ascension mission until I went through with a toon who'd picked the Master of Whispers instead (and found out you could branch the other way).
...Think about it, it makes more sense! You're killing ethereal-type critters, you're answering questions about the nature of the gods, the whole thing has more of a transcendent feel to it...
...Think about it, it makes more sense! You're killing ethereal-type critters, you're answering questions about the nature of the gods, the whole thing has more of a transcendent feel to it...
Fallen Hunter
Just to let you know, nightfall ascension does not count for foreign characters because you have to ascend in your home continent. A canthan char cannot ascend in tyria, a tyrian char cannot ascent in nightfall......
Marth Reynolds
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fallen Hunter
Just to let you know, nightfall ascension does not count for foreign characters because you have to ascend in your home continent. A canthan char cannot ascend in tyria, a tyrian char cannot ascent in nightfall......
Canthan characters can ascend in Tyria but so far they can't ascend in elona,
dunno how it is with Tyrian to elona and vica versa tough
dunno how it is with Tyrian to elona and vica versa tough
Neven15
tyrian chars can ascend in elona ...
Hengis
I remember my first time through Prophecies well. Becoming ascended was a huge milestone in the game.
The three ascension missions seemed SO damn hard! I remember almost quitting after what felt like my 20th attempt at Elona's Reach.
The feeling of achievement when I finally did finish the missions and beat the doppleganger has not been equalled for me since then.
I am currently taking my latest chararacter through Prophecies. An Ele, born and levelled in Cantha, then taken to Elona to get the heros. I finished Nightfall with him already.
Heros just make the Crystal Desert missions seem so simple now, as well as the fact that the routes you need to take and the order to kill the mobs in are now ingrained into my mind LOL.
I agree with one of the previous posters that in chapter 4 it would be nice if we could have some clear milestones during the game.
The three ascension missions seemed SO damn hard! I remember almost quitting after what felt like my 20th attempt at Elona's Reach.
The feeling of achievement when I finally did finish the missions and beat the doppleganger has not been equalled for me since then.
I am currently taking my latest chararacter through Prophecies. An Ele, born and levelled in Cantha, then taken to Elona to get the heros. I finished Nightfall with him already.
Heros just make the Crystal Desert missions seem so simple now, as well as the fact that the routes you need to take and the order to kill the mobs in are now ingrained into my mind LOL.
I agree with one of the previous posters that in chapter 4 it would be nice if we could have some clear milestones during the game.
Grais
Thanks for the answers.
I agreee that its a shame it is so easy, forme as well in Prophecies, Ascending my first couple of toons was a real achievment, even my third toon I felt pretty good when I whipped my Dopps ass, I thought it was a novel way to mark the passage into the later areas of the game.
I agreee that its a shame it is so easy, forme as well in Prophecies, Ascending my first couple of toons was a real achievment, even my third toon I felt pretty good when I whipped my Dopps ass, I thought it was a novel way to mark the passage into the later areas of the game.
RPGmaniac
Seeing this post reminds me just how long I've had my ranger (18 months now). I also agree with every bit of it too. It took me forever to find the 3 ascension missions (he's right, there were NO primary quests at all). If I didn't get a run to the town in between them actually, I probably never would've found them. It also took me a while to figure out how to beat that stupid dopple going through the first time, but when I figured it out, I was so happy. I was happy to because I felt like I was getting a reward. I could finally get the last 15 attribute points I was missing, and I could finally get my max armor. Even going through on other characters is still a challenge somewhat because it requires different strategies each time. It also reminds me about this thread I saw a while ago about how easy the newer players had it, like a time before balthazar faction and before switching attributes was free (remember attribute refund points?). Thank you for posting this.
Valshia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neven15
tyrian chars can ascend in elona ...
No, they can't. I've done Hunted! and the Command Post quests before reaching the desert, and the prof changer told me to get lost cause I wasn't Ascended.
Dougal Kronik
Attribute Refund Points, ah...the good ol' days.
GloryFox
Quote:
Why, when *I* was raising up a monk, we had to run all over a desert infested with horrible burrowing scarabs, hordes of flying mesmer-things, and meteor-summoning three-headed lizards! We didn't even have primary quests to point the way! We had to pander to the endless bizarre requests of a ghost with all the movement AI of a slug! I - a healer by trade - had to find a way to kill something equipped with my own unlocked skills, and boy hecky that was no picnic. And we did it all without anywhere NEAR maximum-strength armor. It just goes to show that Elonian made characters have it easy at best. Ascension meant something then, as it was a test of courage and a badge of honor. Now it has been reduced to a cave of bugs.
There needs to be three new titles
“Ascended”
“Closer to the Stars”
and
“I Bug Stomped”
CyberMesh0
Quote:
Originally Posted by GloryFox
There needs to be three new titles
“Ascended”
“Closer to the Stars”
and
“I Bug Stomped” I lol'd at that one.
Seriously, Prophecies made me think I actually accomplished something, with both the ascension and the 15 attrib points quests. The only annoying one was where you had to visit the three desert towns after ascending. (this was pre-desert runs btw :-p) Cantha and Elona have it so much more dumbed down, I didn't feel nearly as special when getting there, hell I didn't know until way after my first play-through of Elona where exactly I had ascended. Please, for the love of Dwayna, at least have us ascend before the 15 attribute point quests in Chapter 4.
“Ascended”
“Closer to the Stars”
and
“I Bug Stomped” I lol'd at that one.
Seriously, Prophecies made me think I actually accomplished something, with both the ascension and the 15 attrib points quests. The only annoying one was where you had to visit the three desert towns after ascending. (this was pre-desert runs btw :-p) Cantha and Elona have it so much more dumbed down, I didn't feel nearly as special when getting there, hell I didn't know until way after my first play-through of Elona where exactly I had ascended. Please, for the love of Dwayna, at least have us ascend before the 15 attribute point quests in Chapter 4.
noir0
Mmmm not to be a party pooper but from a lore perspective it makes sense to not have actual ascension in elona. I mean if there was ascension in elona why did the ancient elonians travel all the way to the crystal desert to be.. ehm.. ascended? Doesn't make sense if they could just go to moddock crevice and bobs your uncle become ascended. :/
GloryFox
Quote:
GranDeWun
Ascension isn't what it used to be...I went back to Tyria and ascended my assassin with heroes and henchies, and was amazed at how easy the three missions were. (And I didn't even change skills to beat my doppleganger...)
Taala
I think people shouldn't even compare ascension with becoming closer to the stars etc..
Ascending in Prophecies is great fun and goes with the story. Closer to the stars in Factions, still goes with the story. But just because it and ascending both are used as a trigger for secondary change and access to UW/FoW, they are compared with each other. This makes becoming closer to the stars feel a bit silly and it seems like it was made a bigger deal than it actually is in the game.
Now Nightfall is improvement to this. The trigger for secondary changes just happens along while progressing in the story. Such trigger does not require legendary heroic feats. We already got to save three continents and probably the world three times already and having "an ascension" three times over would just feel like silly copying of Prophecies.
As it is in the lore: if you want to ascend, go to the Crystal Desert.
Ascending in Prophecies is great fun and goes with the story. Closer to the stars in Factions, still goes with the story. But just because it and ascending both are used as a trigger for secondary change and access to UW/FoW, they are compared with each other. This makes becoming closer to the stars feel a bit silly and it seems like it was made a bigger deal than it actually is in the game.
Now Nightfall is improvement to this. The trigger for secondary changes just happens along while progressing in the story. Such trigger does not require legendary heroic feats. We already got to save three continents and probably the world three times already and having "an ascension" three times over would just feel like silly copying of Prophecies.
As it is in the lore: if you want to ascend, go to the Crystal Desert.
Heelz
I feel that the 15 attribute quests should have been more meaningful for Factions and Nightfall. In Prophecies, they were so epic. I remember praying that I wouldn't get ambushed by a sand wurm while exploring the desert for my points. Then, in the Shiverpeaks, you have to slay a demon after fighting hordes of Stone Summit. Not to mention, you actually had to walk a bit and zone through a few explorable areas before getting there. Those 30 attribute points are well earned in Tyria.
What did we get in Factions? You help some dude find his gf. The Zunraa quest was kind of meaningful, though.
In Nightfall, you pretty much get them automatically while following the story.
What did we get in Factions? You help some dude find his gf. The Zunraa quest was kind of meaningful, though.
In Nightfall, you pretty much get them automatically while following the story.
Commander Ryker
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dougal Kronik
Attribute Refund Points, ah...the good ol' days.
OMG, remember what a pain in the ass that was? You had to really have a good reason to change your attributes. And if you didn't have enough points, you were stuck. I was so glad when they finally changed that. Maybe that was the first time anet listened to us?
KANE OG
Yeah, when I was raising my Warrior, it was "across the desert and back"..... uphill! Both ways! Man, what a great post! Thanks for making my day. 
strcpy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Commander Ryker
OMG, remember what a pain in the ass that was? You had to really have a good reason to change your attributes. And if you didn't have enough points, you were stuck. I was so glad when they finally changed that. Maybe that was the first time anet listened to us?
However, if you used a fairly balanced build that would work pretty much everywhere (thus you didn't need the points) you could change attributes *anywhere*. I know I completed a few missions at a fairly early level by letting the hench tank while I (temporarily) maxed a damage attribute to kill the mob. Of course, you better have enough refund points to change back 
. It also made PvP characters much more desirable as they could be rebuilt all they wanted. I do prefer the current system, especially with build templates.
Ahh, prophecies still has the "grander" feel to the story line simply because of the slow build up to the end. You go from nobody to savior of the world. For most of Nightfall you are "The Hero" and everyone knows it. Not bad - I find Nightfall to be a close second to Prophecies in long term playability - but I would still prefer a little slower build up to level 20 and being "The Hero".
I still remember the first time I ascended, there is no real point in the other games that this occurs. Not only was it hard to do the first time, but even now the story really changes there. Closer to the Stars was just a waypoint on the map. Nightfall has the entry into the Real of Torment to somewhat feel that way, the cinematics to some of those missions were every bit as good as ascension. But since ascension also meant the last 15 point quest and changing professions it felt "grander".
Ah well, I like both Prophecies and Nightfall quite a bit. Six of one, half a dozen in the other.
Ahh, prophecies still has the "grander" feel to the story line simply because of the slow build up to the end. You go from nobody to savior of the world. For most of Nightfall you are "The Hero" and everyone knows it. Not bad - I find Nightfall to be a close second to Prophecies in long term playability - but I would still prefer a little slower build up to level 20 and being "The Hero".
I still remember the first time I ascended, there is no real point in the other games that this occurs. Not only was it hard to do the first time, but even now the story really changes there. Closer to the Stars was just a waypoint on the map. Nightfall has the entry into the Real of Torment to somewhat feel that way, the cinematics to some of those missions were every bit as good as ascension. But since ascension also meant the last 15 point quest and changing professions it felt "grander".
Ah well, I like both Prophecies and Nightfall quite a bit. Six of one, half a dozen in the other.
sevendash
My Elonian Wintersday Survivor ascended in Tyria for the 50k xp. That and I started out playing Factions, so I really can't relate to you at all.
Maxiemonster
Quote:
Originally Posted by Taala
Challenges? Prophecies felt like a dragged on tutorial until Crystal Desert, even on my first time through the game. It was just so damn easy.
I totally agree. I never had much problems in Prophecies. Like everyone, I had a hard time with THK the first time, and the fire island took me longer then it should've, but it definitly wasn't a challenge all the way. I'm already glad that Factions and Elona both gave us more challenge then the previous chapter, even though they're a stand alone game as well.
Don Crossifixio
Nightfall was too bloody easy. I'm a necro by trade and I ended up casting SS on the mob, ALT+TAB to "youtube" while koss and his gang did their thing.
While back in Prophecies, the game had me glued to the screen start to finish.
Faction managed to make PVE abit challenging with sins that target casters.
The feeling of achievement back in Prophecies never came again. my party killed a "god" abadon and its not even as hard as the dragon "glint" after ascension.
While back in Prophecies, the game had me glued to the screen start to finish.
Faction managed to make PVE abit challenging with sins that target casters.
The feeling of achievement back in Prophecies never came again. my party killed a "god" abadon and its not even as hard as the dragon "glint" after ascension.
wetsparks
In factions you needed to become closer to the stars to see shiro and some of his minions. i dont remember to much about ascending in prophecies but i think it has to do with being able to kill the mursaat. and then nightfall there was no ascending type thing and no reason to, your just a person going for a walk across elona that kills a god at the end.
CyberMesh0
Oh, you just kill a god at the end. I see. I understand the whole thing about ascension being in the crystal desert according to the lore, but there still should be some kind of significant test or mission that you need to do. For the entirety of Nightfall you're labeled as a Hero but you don't ever have to really do anything difficult to attain that rank. All you have to do is start the game.
vegel
Back in Proph I was dying to ascend, and the "Desert" is THE place to be...
But yea, ascending back then was so much fun and that 30 points are hard earned. Greats posts
What I wanted to add is that I think NF too need some kind of "Ascend" equivalent, eg like taking a quest before gaining a sunspear rank, not just getting ranks like level/exp
But since they had toned down the "Ascend" aspect so much, it isn't likely they would push up the standard again. Just like the EXP gaining curve, Faction level much faster than proph, NF is about the same. Both of these could give you enough exp level 20 very soon after you left "noob" island. Back in Proph days a quest give you what... 500exp?
But yea, ascending back then was so much fun and that 30 points are hard earned. Greats posts
What I wanted to add is that I think NF too need some kind of "Ascend" equivalent, eg like taking a quest before gaining a sunspear rank, not just getting ranks like level/exp
But since they had toned down the "Ascend" aspect so much, it isn't likely they would push up the standard again. Just like the EXP gaining curve, Faction level much faster than proph, NF is about the same. Both of these could give you enough exp level 20 very soon after you left "noob" island. Back in Proph days a quest give you what... 500exp?
lennymon
The only issue I've noticed with the easier ascending/leveling/attributes in Factions and Nightfall are that when forming pugs of level 20 players in PVE you have even LESS assurance of any competence or player skill or decent builds. Sure its more difficult in Prophecies and yes we earned it back then, but do you who have earned it that way really want to go through all that (or something equivalently involved) every time? I know I don't. I think of it like titles, meaningless on display but the harder it was earned the more *I* appreciate it.