Why such a sad ending to such heroic efforts?

Darmikau

Darmikau

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2006

Pun Goes [Here]

P/W

I'll put up a nice *SPOILERS* warning for those who haven't beaten some of the campaigns yet, as some of the things I reference may lead back to parts of other games.

On to the topic: I know the Guild Wars 2 needs a plot, but why so much darkness? Cantha is isolated, Tyria is slowly succumbing to all manner of beasts, and my homeland of Elona is being overrun by Joko's forces. I didn't work my way through the ranks to become a hero who stopped a God only to find that my lands burn from the undead. Why, Anet, must there be such dark times for all Tyria?

It really saddens me to see nothing has become of Ascalon, and while no progress has been made there, Lion's Arch and other cities are slowly sinking into despair, only furthering the harsh times.

How, in (What I believe is) 200 years could all Tyria fall into so much turmoil? This isn't the land we all worked to protect from the forces of darkness, battling our way through the Unseen Darkness and the Fierce Titans, Uniting two warring factions as one and sealing back a malformed envoy bent on revenge, and saving our lands from impending darkness and silencing the most powerful of beings, a god.

All the darkness makes for a great plot, but it just doesn't add up how this land of heroes can be such a land of chaos. Does anyone else feel deeply saddened upon hearing the news of what's to come for our ancestors in Guild Wars 2?

Dreikki

Dreikki

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2006

Kemi, Finland.

Pirates of the Searing [YoHo]

Mo/

Dragons > Heroes.

End of discussion.

street peddler

street peddler

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2007

well, it'll make an interesting game..

Neo Nugget

Neo Nugget

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

It gives us something to fight for eat least

Age

Age

Hall Hero

Join Date: Jul 2005

California Canada/BC

STG Administrator

Mo/

To soon to tell and I am in the present day of GW not the future and there still could be more done for the current game to keep those interested.

freaky naughty

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2007

Mo/N

Well..... I guess all the problems just makes for a longer storyline. First we have to go pwn Palawa Joko then pwn the emperor of cantha, then pwn the 5 dragons guess it's just a space filler maybe.

Stormlord Alex

Stormlord Alex

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Dec 2005

Beyond the Forest of Doom, past the Cavern of Agony... on Kitten & Puppy Island

Soul of Melandru [sOm]

W/E

Because the 'heroes' of today die between now and then. It's really hard to stop impending doom when you're dead.

Besides, we are to blame for the Joko thing.
We did release him.
And get him his lands and army back.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex
Because the 'heroes' of today die between now and then. It's really hard to stop impending doom when you're dead.

Besides, we are to blame for the Joko thing.
We did release him.
And get him his lands and army back.
muahahah we are evil!
anyway...more dragons less random weak bosses!

Toutatis

Toutatis

Walking Wiki

Join Date: Nov 2006

Isle of Medication

Visitors from Aranna [VFA]

Me/E

Heroes are only born in the face of adversity. If Tyria is all sunshine, rainbows and lollipops in the future there would be no need for heroes whatsoever; that would be an incredibly dull game.

The more doom, gloom and despair the better

Vinraith

Vinraith

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2006

Actually the darkness of the story line is one of the few truly encouraging things about GW2. You don't see that in every MMO that comes out, unlike some of the other changes they're proposing.

JeniM

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2007

W/E

Its just a theory like global warming, it may not actually happen

Meat Axe

Meat Axe

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

Brisbane, Australia

R/

It's just a normal plot twist. And I like it. I always hate happy endings, mostly because they're normally done so horribly, and because they're so common. I think it was a really good idea to have the end of each campaign seem like everything is all good in the world once more, only to have that idea completely shattered for GW2.

Also, it opens up the plot for GW2 and the expansions. With Tyria in turmoil, we will be able to send in our children and have them fight to make it a better place. Then the first expansion for GW2 will probably have us going to Cantha to sort out the mess there, and then another expansion will be the Elona catastrophe.

AW Lore

AW Lore

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2006

Ancient Warriors Gaming Clan

W/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Toutatis
Heroes are only born in the face of adversity. If Tyria is all sunshine, rainbows and lollipops in the future there would be no need for heroes whatsoever; that would be an incredibly dull game.

The more doom, gloom and despair the better
QFT

and i agree, while it saddens me to see the tyria (not only tyria, but all the continents) i fought to protect so hard, get so devastated like that, it only makes me the more decided to go in and kick butt to make things right again.

Keifru

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2007

[Meep] Biscuit of Dewm

D/

I love the evil dragons rising for the depths.

I wanna know how glint and kuuna will fit into this; will they ally themselves with one of the dragons (maybe one is their dad? ._. ) or will they continue helping us? And why did all the dragons go to sleep (for the same reason they did in Reign of Fire?)

And dragons are like the epitome of human rivals. =D

bamm bamm bamm

bamm bamm bamm

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

I love the idea that Joko's back, mainly because he's awesome. I'm glad they're making an effort to make it a new game, and not an expansion with better graphics. Demolishing the world must be a part of that. It's for the greater good!

wetsparks

wetsparks

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2006

Ascalon is screwed because we helped take a lot of fighters out of the country to Kyrta, so they had depleted forces trying to hold back the charr, and lost. We never ended the civil war in Kryta, just probably made it worse. The Kurzicks and Luxons fought each other for generations and were unable to fight back the emporer when he decided to invade and we set Palawa Joko free into Elona. What else could have happened when we save the world from one evil just to set free another.

sindex

sindex

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2006

California

Swords of Night & Day [SWRD]

Palawa and Emperor Palpatine duplicate I can take, but dragons feel a bit cliché though. Especially since practically every fantasy story has a dragon that plays some sort of a main role. Unless these dragons have something truly unique about them, or their not actually dragons at all, then it’s going to be a disappointment. The Destroyers in EotN were so very disappointing as a plot element.

arcanemacabre

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

Since you're talking lore here, we'd have to see it from our character's perspective, not our own. So, in that regard, our characters are dead by then, so it's not like they'd know or care.

For our future characters, it's like Toutatis said, without doom and gloom, there'd be no need for heroes to rise up again. The good news is, this is 200 years later. That means there was no need for any real heroes for those 200 years. That's a pretty good span of generic conflict and generic peace to mold and shape the world after our current characters. I think they did pretty good (except maybe the Palwa Joko bit...).

HawkofStorms

HawkofStorms

Hall Hero

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Neo Nugget
It gives us something to fight for at least
Exactly. What's the point if the world of GW is full of sunshine and rainbows? The world needs conflict.

Shakti

Shakti

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2006

Home...

Vier Reiter [Vier]

Because if it was all full of fluffy bunnies and cotton candy.....what the hell would we do (besides have rabbit stew and sugar coma for days )

Besides...alot of this conflict is OUR fault. Joko etc as covered above ^^

Yeah, we've saved the world a few times but apparently, we also kinda mucked things up lol. Our kids get to get all heroic and mop up after Mom. Circle of life.

Lagg

Lagg

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

W/

We should have C-spaced MOAR.

Esan

Esan

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2007

Wars

This is a game. A game needs conflict -- the more, the better. This is why almost every game is set in a dystopia.

ensoriki

ensoriki

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

Canada bro.

A/D

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lagg
We should have C-spaced MOAR.
QFT

1 thing I dont want is for the game to end like GW1

When I beat the game I want to actually see the damn progress

You beat Shiro in GW1, you get praise once, but who the hell is bowing at my feet whenever I pass? No one.

Hyper Cutter

Hyper Cutter

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2006

Knights of the White Eye [HINA]

My primary problem with Movement of the World was how damn fast everything goes to hell on us.

Also, Anet sure loves beating that dead horse that is Ascalon.

Terraban

Terraban

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hyper Cutter
My primary problem with Movement of the World was how damn fast everything goes to hell on us.

Also, Anet sure loves beating that dead horse that is Ascalon.
Ascalon is the prison bitch of guild wars.

Redfeather1975

Redfeather1975

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Apartment#306

Rhedd Asylum

Me/

I would have prefered it if in GW2 everything was smiles and sunshine.
And the characters we make are horrible people bent on ruining everything.

Ascalon Runner

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2006

Faction Factory [FF]

W/Mo

I wish they didn't set Guild Wars 2 quite so far into the future. If it were 60-80 years into the future, they could have a few of the youngest characters from GW1 in the story. I would have liked to have seen an elderly Gwen in the game, succumbing to old age about a quarter of the way through the first GW2 campaign. I sure hope Ascalon is green and full of life, even if the Charrs are in charge.

TaCktiX

TaCktiX

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2006

The Order of Chaos Reborn [ToC]

Just based on the description of each of the dragons, I'm pretty sure each will have wings, a tail, and be freakishly huge. Other than that, ANet's art department will surprise the dickens out of us in how well they can re-imagine a dragon (hey, they've yet to disappoint me except with art reuse).

As for the doom and gloom, bring it on! It's humanity's darkest hour, evil is encroaching on all fronts, and my characters' great-grandchildren are going to be doing something about it. Thing about the entire setting is it has so many different factions, sides, involvements that crafting uber stories will be a cinch.

That's what made the Prophecies story so strong, there were so many groups and regions to tie in together and weave a plot through. Factions, you had half-realized groups and regions (the Luxons and the Kurzicks were sore affected by horrid voice-acting). Crap story. Nightfall, it was pretty good realization of each region, and the constant "oh crap, gotta stop Nightfall without getting ourselves killed" thought was good...the first time. Then it was lukewarm the other times.

Operative 14

Operative 14

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2006

Arizona, USA

[OOP] Order of the Phoenix I

I have to agree with the OP on this, and I have to say I've nearly started a thread on this very same topic several times in the past week.

I understand that Guild Wars is a game, and to be entertaining in this genre there has to be some sort of titanic force to overcome. However, it really is a shame to see all the 'hard work' we put into this world be put to waste in such a short time.

One of the neat things about GW:EN was that you got all of the great forces to work together, Human, Char, Norn, Dwarf, and Asura. And, quite frankly, it seems like the other races might show a bit of respect towards the humans for saving the world on four seperate occassions. They could at least help a bit in humanities struggles.

I suppose, if nothing else, it boils down to why does everything have to be so dire for the Humans, but for all the other races things are the same if not better? They have to make way for the playability of the new races, I know, but why can't Humans get a break?

Vinraith

Vinraith

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Redfeather1975
I would have prefered it if in GW2 everything was smiles and sunshine.
And the characters we make are horrible people bent on ruining everything.
That'd be awesome, but I suspect you, I, and a dozen or so others would be the only ones playing it.

Kashrlyyk

Kashrlyyk

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex
Because the 'heroes' of today die between now and then. It's really hard to stop impending doom when you're dead.

Besides, we are to blame for the Joko thing.
We did release him.
And get him his lands and army back.
No, the really bad script and story writer/s did that, not me!! If they had a quest to kill him, and you choose to not do the quest, then it would have been you!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Operative 14
...
I understand that Guild Wars is a game, and to be entertaining in this genre there has to be some sort of titanic force to overcome. ...
BG2 is more about a personal journey, then about saving the world. that comes really late in the story and even than it has a marginal influence. Practically saving the world and the personal adventure run parallel with each other, you solve the one, you solve the other, too.

Meat Axe

Meat Axe

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

Brisbane, Australia

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Operative 14
I suppose, if nothing else, it boils down to why does everything have to be so dire for the Humans, but for all the other races things are the same if not better? They have to make way for the playability of the new races, I know, but why can't Humans get a break?
Simply because humans are weak and pathetic. We require technology to actually achieve anything. In GW, we don't have it. All the other races have some kind of skill that makes them stronger. The Norn have their bear form, the Asura have awesome technology, and the Charr are just huge and savage.

Sure, there are some humans that are actually very strong, and very successful. All of our characters are an example of that, as well as historical examples such as Turai Ossa and Master Togo. But the majority of humans in the GW universe die too easily, which is why, after all the heroes are gone, the world gets completely overrun by all the other races. The exception, of course, being Cantha, which is controlled by a horrible tyrant, but a human nonetheless (that actually makes me wonder about the Tengu. Are the Tengu now enslaved by the humans of Cantha, or do they fight the new rule, or did they escape? I guess we'll find out if they do an expansion to GW2 that focuses on resolving the Canthan issues).

EDIT: Okay, just reread the article, and it said the new emporer drove all the non-humans out. But I'm assuming that the Tengu wouldn't just give up their homeland.

Lord Sojar

Lord Sojar

The Fallen One

Join Date: Dec 2005

Oblivion

Irrelevant

Mo/Me

I <3 Evil. Go darkness, go burning, go famine, plague, destruction, and suffering! w00t.

Operative 14

Operative 14

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2006

Arizona, USA

[OOP] Order of the Phoenix I

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kashrlyyk
BG2 is more about a personal journey, then about saving the world. that comes really late in the story and even than it has a marginal influence. Practically saving the world and the personal adventure run parallel with each other, you solve the one, you solve the other, too.
Very interesting, I've never heard of that game before but that's a good point. I suppose not all fantasy games (or any other media for that matter) neccessarily need a titanic force to overcome, it's just that that's become the overused cookie cutter story basis, if you will.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Meat Axe
Simply because humans are weak and pathetic. We require technology to actually achieve anything. In GW, we don't have it. All the other races have some kind of skill that makes them stronger. The Norn have their bear form, the Asura have awesome technology, and the Charr are just huge and savage.

Sure, there are some humans that are actually very strong, and very successful. All of our characters are an example of that, as well as historical examples such as Turai Ossa and Master Togo. But the majority of humans in the GW universe die too easily, which is why, after all the heroes are gone, the world gets completely overrun by all the other races. ...
Fair point I suppose. However, I'm not sure that that is entirely applicable in the GW world; Humans don't gain their strength from technology alone, they gain their strength from magic as well. Even the simplist of farmers and NPC's in the game seem to know a skill or two. And, really, it seems like the main strength that humans in the game have is an indomitable spirit that shines through in the darkest of times. It would have been nice if the script writers had taken that spirit they have fostered throughout four campaigns into account when coming up with the story basis for GW2.

Perhaps one of the issues is that the only information we have about this subject are the early sketchups of a game more than a year and a half away from release. Between now and then, many things might happen to the storyline. And even now, it might just be a matter of things looking worse on paper than they do in experience.

This thread brings up another good point -

Let us kill Joko while there is still time!

...Or join him at least

Winterclaw

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

I have to agree with the OP to a degree. I think that the events of GW1 should have been tied up in GWEN and GW2 was a blank slate more or less. It didn't have to be total roses but if our chars can take out exiled gods and great destroyers, polo joker and a few charr should have been easy to wipe out.

EPO Bot

EPO Bot

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2006

Mo/N

The darker things get, the more people will like monks.

If we get to fight Palawa Joko, i better be a monk too.

blue.rellik

blue.rellik

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2007

Melbourne, Australia

None

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by EPO Bot
The darker things get, the more people will like monks.

If we get to fight Palawa Joko, i better be a monk too.
Warriors is the best profession against Palawa

Etta

Etta

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mancland, British Empire

I like bad, dark ending. It's a reminder of the real world. I hope at the end of GW2, the heroes will finally blow up tyria (the planet), and get the F of the planet to seek out a new home among the stars. Wammo in space ftw.

Happy ending is a lie.

BoredJoe

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

On the bright side it means there will be a lot of areas that need vanquishing in Hard mode for titles.

Sheena Inverse

Sheena Inverse

Academy Page

Join Date: Sep 2007

Thats for me to know... and for you.../stab

[Myth]

E/Mo

Peace is born out of conflict, strength is derived from struggle, and in everything there is balance. As one power fades another grows to replace it. The ancients were weakend by the humans, the mursatt were eventually laid low by the younger races, the dwarves too fell to time, and now the humans are on the edge of decline, could still go either way for ones so adaptable, only time will tell. But we now see the emergence of a new race, and the surfacing of others who previously hid in the shadows, and the growth of some that now boast their strength to the world. Its a never ending cycle, no sad ending, no happy ending, no true ending at all. As long as there is life, there will be conflict, but out of that conflict advancements are made and time trudges on, and there will always be the need... for heros...

(voice from the next room) "ohh stfu, your no scholar"
>.>