Is the world of Tyria flat or spherical?
Aggravaar
Seriously, I don't know. Which is it? What do you think?
Mournblade
Why limit it to that? It could be disc shaped or oblong. It could be convex! =)
I would argue that it was flat because nobody has gone from one end to the other yet, and because there doesn't seem to be a consistant ring of zones (temperate, tropical, etc)
I would argue that it was flat because nobody has gone from one end to the other yet, and because there doesn't seem to be a consistant ring of zones (temperate, tropical, etc)
Silly Warrior
Theres no real evidence, because the people living on it don't know.
But it's obviously going to be a round-ish shape
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But it's obviously going to be a round-ish shape
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Sophitia Leafblade
Im sure its flat! thats the way the world should be 
(jk)
(jk)
Cebe
Clearly it's flat.
it's like...obvious.
Unless your monitor has a slight curve of course...
it's like...obvious.
Unless your monitor has a slight curve of course...
fenix
Obviously it'll be a globe, like all other planets...
GranDeWun
Flat. That's why it's always daylight.
Onarik Amrak
It's a dodecahedron, sheesh, isn't it obvious?
Seriously, the GW2 Logo seems to imply that it's a sphere.
Seriously, the GW2 Logo seems to imply that it's a sphere.
storm of daeth
its a rhombus nuff said
Skyy High
There's gravity, the planet must be round, or at the least a slightly bulgy globe (like Earth).
Mournblade
Gravity is a myth. Tyria sucks.
Eldin
Tyria has ultra strong gravity.
I know what you're thinking - what about those cinematics when something explodes or collapses? Well, EVERY building/structure on Tyria is magically and invisibly chained to...umm...ever OTHER building/structure on Tyria to stop them from being pulled down until the cinematic triggers the destruction of a chain.
What stops them from all caving inward from being chained? Well, the chaining process is very organized. IE, objects are chained together until they can't be chained much more without a massive cavein. This cluster is chained to a giant monolith.
In GW:EN, the Great Destroyer seeks to destroy the ULTIMATE monolith chained to the lesser monoliths. If destroyed, everything will be pulled down by Tyria's powerful gravity and it will be utter chaos.
How do we /jump? Special effects and all that.
I know what you're thinking - what about those cinematics when something explodes or collapses? Well, EVERY building/structure on Tyria is magically and invisibly chained to...umm...ever OTHER building/structure on Tyria to stop them from being pulled down until the cinematic triggers the destruction of a chain.
What stops them from all caving inward from being chained? Well, the chaining process is very organized. IE, objects are chained together until they can't be chained much more without a massive cavein. This cluster is chained to a giant monolith.
In GW:EN, the Great Destroyer seeks to destroy the ULTIMATE monolith chained to the lesser monoliths. If destroyed, everything will be pulled down by Tyria's powerful gravity and it will be utter chaos.
How do we /jump? Special effects and all that.
Crowell The Fallen
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Originally Posted by fenix
Obviously it'll be a globe, like all other planets...
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And gravity is a poor excuse for it being a sphere... a universal magic would work just as easily.
Sophitia Leafblade
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Originally Posted by GranDeWun
Flat. That's why it's always daylight.
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Mournblade
The horizon line is flat too, which supports the Flat Tyria theory. =)
viper11025
It's the first game...could be flat.
Maria Moon
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Originally Posted by Sophitia Leafblade
Seems to make sense to me, also explains why the weather never changes too, obviously there is no wind in Tryia either else projectiles etc. would stray a lot more.
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eg, Vehtendi Valley
Hobbs
And it rains in Nolani. But i'm hoping for a flat world, they ownz.
Aggravaar
This is what I found in the game:
The celestial monuments in Nahpui Quarter suggest that Canthans have, at least, considered the idea of spherical celestial bodies and orbits.
Since I could find no recognisable patterns engraved on the spheres (Tyrian continents) they might not actually represent the world of Tyria but, for example, other planets or stars. Notice that the “lights” in the mechanism (which seem to represent stars) are much smaller than the planets they orbit. If all the stars in the GW universe are gigantic balls of burning gasses it means that the Canthan idea of astrology is fundamentally flawed.
In Astralarium (btw, it's interesting that the sky above that area is black and the stars are clearly visible even though the sun is above the horizon) I found statues of a person holding what appears to be the moon. This means that the moon round (not necessarily Tyria itself).
On the pillars there are instruments that resemble the astrolabe. Astrolabes in the *ahem* real world were used for monitoring the movements of the sun, the stars and other celestial bodies. It's safe to assume, I think, that there is a night and day cycle in Tyria. The stars are either moving around Tyria or Tyria is constantly rotating.
Last but not least: there is a compass rose on the map. This indicates the existence of magnetic poles or, at least, a constant magnetic field (if Tyria is a flat disc the source of this field could be in the centre of the world).
My conclusions so far: There is a night and day cycle and there is some rotation involved in the tyrian planetary/solar/celestial system. I found hints that Tyria is round but no definite yet.
I hope it's flat, I wanna see some nice location on the rim, hanging over the cosmic void, with a huge waterfall in the background.
The celestial monuments in Nahpui Quarter suggest that Canthans have, at least, considered the idea of spherical celestial bodies and orbits.
Since I could find no recognisable patterns engraved on the spheres (Tyrian continents) they might not actually represent the world of Tyria but, for example, other planets or stars. Notice that the “lights” in the mechanism (which seem to represent stars) are much smaller than the planets they orbit. If all the stars in the GW universe are gigantic balls of burning gasses it means that the Canthan idea of astrology is fundamentally flawed.
In Astralarium (btw, it's interesting that the sky above that area is black and the stars are clearly visible even though the sun is above the horizon) I found statues of a person holding what appears to be the moon. This means that the moon round (not necessarily Tyria itself).
On the pillars there are instruments that resemble the astrolabe. Astrolabes in the *ahem* real world were used for monitoring the movements of the sun, the stars and other celestial bodies. It's safe to assume, I think, that there is a night and day cycle in Tyria. The stars are either moving around Tyria or Tyria is constantly rotating.
Last but not least: there is a compass rose on the map. This indicates the existence of magnetic poles or, at least, a constant magnetic field (if Tyria is a flat disc the source of this field could be in the centre of the world).
My conclusions so far: There is a night and day cycle and there is some rotation involved in the tyrian planetary/solar/celestial system. I found hints that Tyria is round but no definite yet.
I hope it's flat, I wanna see some nice location on the rim, hanging over the cosmic void, with a huge waterfall in the background.
Eldin
Very nice research, Aggravaar. The flat world idea is still possible, and in some ways I'd prefer it due to it being unique. Kind of like in that animated Sinbad movie. At the end of the world, the ocean endlessly flows off the edge like a massive waterfall (and other realms and parallel dimensions are seem floating across the gap between themselves and the Earth). The concept of realms and other worlds can still be done with a globe, but we'd have to go with magic or LOLZORZSPACETRAVL! Magic works better. In a flat world scenario, it's used to bridge gaps in space and time, which is cooler than just "TELEPRT OUTTA DIS UNIVERSE".
About it being flat due to a lack of weather/time, that is simply due to engine limitations. If Guild Wars was real, there would be a day/night cycle and wind. You cannot expect a MMORPG to double as a planet simulator.
The global appearance of Tyria for the GW2 logo is probably an effect. If you look at that image, you can see the full curves of the globe and you can't even see all of Tyria. If Tyria was a globe and followed the size rules in the GW2 logo, then Tyria takes up more than half the globe, leaving little room for Cantha, Elona, and possible other continents.
Then again, Elona could be scaled a bit, and Cantha could be on the other side of the globe. The maps in Guild Wars think 2 dimensionally, with "south south south" equalling Cantha. In real life "south south south" equals through Antarctica and then to the other face of the planet. Though if that was the case, we'd see considerable climate change, especially around the Battle Isles since it is sort of the halfway mark (with it leaning a bit closer to Cantha) between Tyria and Cantha.
About it being flat due to a lack of weather/time, that is simply due to engine limitations. If Guild Wars was real, there would be a day/night cycle and wind. You cannot expect a MMORPG to double as a planet simulator.
The global appearance of Tyria for the GW2 logo is probably an effect. If you look at that image, you can see the full curves of the globe and you can't even see all of Tyria. If Tyria was a globe and followed the size rules in the GW2 logo, then Tyria takes up more than half the globe, leaving little room for Cantha, Elona, and possible other continents.
Then again, Elona could be scaled a bit, and Cantha could be on the other side of the globe. The maps in Guild Wars think 2 dimensionally, with "south south south" equalling Cantha. In real life "south south south" equals through Antarctica and then to the other face of the planet. Though if that was the case, we'd see considerable climate change, especially around the Battle Isles since it is sort of the halfway mark (with it leaning a bit closer to Cantha) between Tyria and Cantha.
Onarik Amrak
Have you seen those "edge of the world" bugs?
Like the one in Talus Chute or that Ascalon mission.
I've seen a few while exploring.
Like the one in Talus Chute or that Ascalon mission.
I've seen a few while exploring.
Eldin
Yeah. In Talus Chute you can uncover a bit for the exploration title by going up some steep hills and to the edge.
Here's a first person view of me looking out from Talus Chute and into...The Twilight Zone.
I'm sorry, does this remind anyone else of The Twilight Zone? It really seems like it to me. Or at least, the border between The Twilight Zone and our world (as described in the opening sequence) seems like it'd be like this.
Here's a first person view of me looking out from Talus Chute and into...The Twilight Zone.
I'm sorry, does this remind anyone else of The Twilight Zone? It really seems like it to me. Or at least, the border between The Twilight Zone and our world (as described in the opening sequence) seems like it'd be like this.
Operative 14
You're all partially wrong, but partially right.
The world of Tyria is indeed flat. It is suspended in space on the backs of 4 unimaginably large elephants, who are in turn standing on the back of an even unimaginably larger turtle. The turtle swims through the void of space for unkown reasons, but most theroists believe that he is heading towards a mating frenzy.
And if no one on this forum gets this reference, then I have lost all faith in mankind.
The world of Tyria is indeed flat. It is suspended in space on the backs of 4 unimaginably large elephants, who are in turn standing on the back of an even unimaginably larger turtle. The turtle swims through the void of space for unkown reasons, but most theroists believe that he is heading towards a mating frenzy.
And if no one on this forum gets this reference, then I have lost all faith in mankind.
Shuuda
Erm, it might be nothing, but....
from one of the tablets of Janthir, seeming claiming the world to have an edge, so possibly flat.
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A man once climbed to the top of the tallest mountain to find out how far he could see. Upon arriving, he looked out on what he believed to be the edge of the world. The thought of what lay beyond so frightend him that he climbed back down, never to return -- Journal of Abbot Catos |
Mournblade
I've never read Discworld but I get the reference Operative14. Crisis averted.
Eldin
Each continent floats on a different plane of existence, with each plane above the other.
Those ships, ever wonder why they transport you instantly? They're not real ships, they're interdimensional portals that take you to a plane above or below.
Those ships, ever wonder why they transport you instantly? They're not real ships, they're interdimensional portals that take you to a plane above or below.
Solaufyn
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Originally Posted by Shuuda
Erm, it might be nothing, but....
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So he didn't actually see any galactic vortex beyond, he just thought of what could be there.
-Speaking of World's End... Sol thought it was pretty awesome.
ropes782
sphere...
anyone who has had highschool physics should know enough about gravity to know that the gravitational force surrounds one focal point (just like earths core). Now, it is possible for the world to be semi flat right now, but I would imagine that erosion over time has made the land of tyria into a spherical shape.
In terms of climates/weather/night/day, GW is a video game...seriously programing in actual days and climate changes and crap like that would make the programmers go crazy! its just alot of work.
anyone who has had highschool physics should know enough about gravity to know that the gravitational force surrounds one focal point (just like earths core). Now, it is possible for the world to be semi flat right now, but I would imagine that erosion over time has made the land of tyria into a spherical shape.
In terms of climates/weather/night/day, GW is a video game...seriously programing in actual days and climate changes and crap like that would make the programmers go crazy! its just alot of work.
Anarion Silverhand
If we assume that Tyria, Cantha and Elona are on a planet, it must be spherical, as a requirement to a planet is that the gravity is so strong it has formed the planet spherical.
Mournblade
Science has no place in this thread! Tyria is a land steeped in magic, so you cannot assume that the normal laws of physics will apply in the same way.
In other words - have some fun with it. Use your imagination. :P
In other words - have some fun with it. Use your imagination. :P
MrTumnus
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Originally Posted by ropes782
In terms of climates/weather/night/day, GW is a video game...seriously programing in actual days and climate changes and crap like that would make the programmers go crazy! its just alot of work.
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vergerefosh
Tyria's Octagonal! problem solved
Pericles
This thread should be closed already as the arguments Agravaar gave were incredibly good and at least he did some research. A flat world would make no sense if the canthans already knew about spherical forms.
Operative 14
Thank you Mournblade
Now, back on topic-
I would say spherical just simply becuase that's how planets are, and there's no reason to assume the Devs would think differently.
Now, back on topic-
I would say spherical just simply becuase that's how planets are, and there's no reason to assume the Devs would think differently.
Lexar
Also, the guildwars world could be flat and move upwards causing everyone and everything to be experiencing roughly 1g of gravitational pull to the ground. Okay so it's not exactly the same thing as gravity but there's lots of physics that don't work because it's a game set in a fantasy world after all.
Although the sky and the stars would also have to move up along with the world so it doesn't look completely freaky.
My guess would be spherical because elona is more southwards (and assuming tyria is sort of based on a european medieval world) it would be on the upper hemisphere, so elona is closer to the equator. Sure there are some inconsistencies such as pre-searing ascalon being rather warm yet somewhere up north, but as a general rule of thumb the more south you go (or the further away from the north), the warmer it seems to get (also looking at clothes people wear in elona as opposed to tyria). This seems to be consistent with a world that follows the same basic physical rules as ours.
Although the sky and the stars would also have to move up along with the world so it doesn't look completely freaky.
My guess would be spherical because elona is more southwards (and assuming tyria is sort of based on a european medieval world) it would be on the upper hemisphere, so elona is closer to the equator. Sure there are some inconsistencies such as pre-searing ascalon being rather warm yet somewhere up north, but as a general rule of thumb the more south you go (or the further away from the north), the warmer it seems to get (also looking at clothes people wear in elona as opposed to tyria). This seems to be consistent with a world that follows the same basic physical rules as ours.
borik oakwood
anyone seen the guild wars 2 logo umm i see a planet.
problem solvedme thinks
problem solvedme thinks
Aggravaar
Tyria is flat. I'm certain of it now, there can be no other possibility.
Canthans are wrong. Anyway they're either huggin trees, cleaning turtle poo or fighting in gang wars, what do they know?
Here is the decisive and ultimate proof, so trivial and simple, yet so beautiful and profound:
The Map.
Yes, the map.
Why? Take the Prophecies map for example. It doesn't really look like a map at all, it's not hand-drawn and you can see the clouds moving. It's more like some sort of satellite view (with a huge compass rose stuck to it) than a map. Now if it's not a map you should be able to spot the curvature of the planet.
If it IS a map the curvature should be expressed in a different map-like way: if you were to place two points on some latitude the distance would present the same distance ingame as the distance between two points graphically placed on any other latitude. Well, if it's a real map, they shouldn't. But they do. Some maps work differently but,. In order to be 100% faithful to reality the curvature should be take into consideration in some way.
Such a map (or some magical satelite-ish picture) can only make sense if the mapped object is flat. Thus and therefore Tyria is as flat as an (enormous) pancake.
How is gravity achieved? I don't know, there might be some ultra-dense material underneath that generates a stable field or some cosmic anomaly. Tyria might as well be a disc resting on the backs of four gigantic pygmy hippos which, in turn, stand on the shell of the cosmic space crab (Callinectes Galactica) Rodney for all I care. Anyway it's all probably done by magic.
The logo lies. BTW, Eldin did point out that you can only see the Tyrian continent on the so-called globe. That and the logo looks a bit like a let's-make-some-quick-logo-for-PCGamer type of logo.
Canthans are wrong. Anyway they're either huggin trees, cleaning turtle poo or fighting in gang wars, what do they know?
Here is the decisive and ultimate proof, so trivial and simple, yet so beautiful and profound:
The Map.
Yes, the map.
Why? Take the Prophecies map for example. It doesn't really look like a map at all, it's not hand-drawn and you can see the clouds moving. It's more like some sort of satellite view (with a huge compass rose stuck to it) than a map. Now if it's not a map you should be able to spot the curvature of the planet.
If it IS a map the curvature should be expressed in a different map-like way: if you were to place two points on some latitude the distance would present the same distance ingame as the distance between two points graphically placed on any other latitude. Well, if it's a real map, they shouldn't. But they do. Some maps work differently but,. In order to be 100% faithful to reality the curvature should be take into consideration in some way.
Such a map (or some magical satelite-ish picture) can only make sense if the mapped object is flat. Thus and therefore Tyria is as flat as an (enormous) pancake.
How is gravity achieved? I don't know, there might be some ultra-dense material underneath that generates a stable field or some cosmic anomaly. Tyria might as well be a disc resting on the backs of four gigantic pygmy hippos which, in turn, stand on the shell of the cosmic space crab (Callinectes Galactica) Rodney for all I care. Anyway it's all probably done by magic.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by borik oakwood
anyone seen the guild wars 2 logo umm i see a planet.
problem solvedme thinks |
TurinPT
I just tried looking out from Lion's Arch to the Shiverpeak mountains, the mountains are pretty big and the weather is clear, no fog or anything.
If Tyria is really flat then you should see something right? nope, only ocean, the curvature of the land is hiding the mountains.
If Tyria is really flat then you should see something right? nope, only ocean, the curvature of the land is hiding the mountains.
anshin
you are not seeing a planet... if you would make a spherical map of all three continents you would have something the size of Pluto or smaller... GW:EN will add, i think, quite a bit to the shiverpeaks...
since we are talking about a game and i bet not even the developers thought that this issue would come up, i think its spherical simply because human intelligence can't create good enough arguments to say a planet is flat...
since its a magical world.... why do people still rely on crippling, on using swords, on using BOWS? the Australarium and it seems cantha has also, have the capacity to uncover what we understood a long while back...
besides... time would work the same way for a flat world as for a round world... at least the COMPREHENSION of time... sun would rise and drop and the moon would rise and drop making this what we have today called as days... since they DO HAVE a callendar with seasons... they HAVE to have a notion of time so sun rises and drops... so... i can't even remember why would someone doubt about this issue...
the world of GW is the same as the world of Lord of the Rings... we simply haven't any knowledge of what lays beyong the horizon... Arenanet will probably create another continents with GW2 to prove we are playing on a planet world and not a flat world...
P.S.:in comparison to another game... Final Fantasy 12 mentions several natural philosophers, i can't remember accuratly if i read something like that on GW, but these philosophers were in Ancient Greece what we nowadays call Physics Researchers... if FINAL FANTASY has this kind of notes... why can't GW?
since we are talking about a game and i bet not even the developers thought that this issue would come up, i think its spherical simply because human intelligence can't create good enough arguments to say a planet is flat...
since its a magical world.... why do people still rely on crippling, on using swords, on using BOWS? the Australarium and it seems cantha has also, have the capacity to uncover what we understood a long while back...
besides... time would work the same way for a flat world as for a round world... at least the COMPREHENSION of time... sun would rise and drop and the moon would rise and drop making this what we have today called as days... since they DO HAVE a callendar with seasons... they HAVE to have a notion of time so sun rises and drops... so... i can't even remember why would someone doubt about this issue...
the world of GW is the same as the world of Lord of the Rings... we simply haven't any knowledge of what lays beyong the horizon... Arenanet will probably create another continents with GW2 to prove we are playing on a planet world and not a flat world...
P.S.:in comparison to another game... Final Fantasy 12 mentions several natural philosophers, i can't remember accuratly if i read something like that on GW, but these philosophers were in Ancient Greece what we nowadays call Physics Researchers... if FINAL FANTASY has this kind of notes... why can't GW?
Arduin
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Originally Posted by Pericles
This thread should be closed already as the arguments Agravaar gave were incredibly good and at least he did some research. A flat world would make no sense if the canthans already knew about spherical forms.
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