Holy crap, content!

zwei2stein

zwei2stein

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Europe

The German Order [GER]

N/

One thing that bothered me with Prohpecies was that many areas were devoid of content: No quests, not even particulary interesting drops or mobs. They felt very, very unfinished. You could just see that there were supposed to be more quests (and there used to be in beta! Slay Rotscale, for example, used to be actual quest.) Just big areas that were there watiting to be mapped and vanquished and then never seen again. At best, player would traverse them once when going somewhere.

Underused was understatement. How different was this from factions or nightfall which made effort to use are reuse each area.

Not only that, game boasted that instacing will allow it to do much more with areas than other games do. But it did not really get used for anything ... interesting. Quests changed spawns, sure, but in the end it felt lackluster and when you were done with quests and storyline, everything was back to original state, nothign really changed. Status quo was the king.

Fast forward five years.

Old and empty area got repurporsed and finished storyline actually impacts its look and feel. It is no longer just token piece of land with some mobs.

Ongoing changes make game feel alive once again.

New and very insteresting mobs got added to rest of areas. Seriously, those monsters are fun to fight! Dual professions? Decentish bars? Weee!

Kudos!

Marty Silverblade

Marty Silverblade

Administrator

Join Date: Jun 2006

Some people, myself to some degree, disagree with you. It was fun to just go out exploring and find yourself in some remote place. I remember in 2005 I started from ToA and explored my way through 4 areas and finally ended up in Fisherman's Haven. Factions and Nightfall don't give you this opportunity.

I'm perfectly happy for Prophecies to have a bunch of areas that have no particular significance. If anything, it's good to go to those places on vanquishes or obscure quests (Titan quests, for example) and get the feeling that no one ever seems to go there or generally care at all.

upier

upier

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

Done.

[JUNK]

Abedeus

Abedeus

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jan 2007

Niflheim

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Silverblade View Post
Some people, myself to some degree, disagree with you. It was fun to just go out exploring and find yourself in some remote place.
Lies, lies and slander!
Quote:
Factions and Nightfall don't give you this opportunity.
Thank God. I mean for Nightfall, Factions is the other extreme - can't progress further without the mission...
Quote:
I'm perfectly happy for Prophecies to have a bunch of areas that have no particular significance. If anything, it's good to go to those places on vanquishes or obscure quests (Titan quests, for example) and get the feeling that no one ever seems to go there or generally care at all.
So you are happy that they wasted a lot of time on useless zones with little to no reason to exist just so there are 1-2 quests available there?

Yeaahh... because making new maps is really easy, compared to new armors or weapons.

Orange Milk

Orange Milk

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

Ganking, USA

Retired

R/

Meh.

I don't think of it as "New content" they have simply changed the mobs in some areas and added some meaningless dialog here and there.

"New Content" would be if they opened up some more zones, there is plenty of blurry map out there to fill in.

Of course if they end up adding extra end game missions with the White Mantle, like Ring of Fire was once added, then maybe we'll have something. Until then I have better things to do then watch NPCs chit chat.

On a side note, it is sad that the Jungle can be bypassed. You can finnish the gtame with out ever setting foot on the western side of the map. Unless you go title hunting you don't need it. They added Totscale and the Totem Axe's to push people that way. That's why I liked Factions, you had to do everything to get tot he end, depending on your Kurz or Lux affiliation that is.

ajc2123

ajc2123

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2007

North of the wall

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by zwei2stein View Post
One thing that bothered me with Prohpecies was that many areas were devoid of content: No quests, not even particulary interesting drops or mobs. They felt very, very unfinished. You could just see that there were supposed to be more quests (and there used to be in beta! Slay Rotscale, for example, used to be actual quest.) Just big areas that were there watiting to be mapped and vanquished and then never seen again. At best, player would traverse them once when going somewhere.

Underused was understatement. How different was this from factions or nightfall which made effort to use are reuse each area.

Not only that, game boasted that instacing will allow it to do much more with areas than other games do. But it did not really get used for anything ... interesting. Quests changed spawns, sure, but in the end it felt lackluster and when you were done with quests and storyline, everything was back to original state, nothign really changed. Status quo was the king.

Fast forward five years.

Old and empty area got repurporsed and finished storyline actually impacts its look and feel. It is no longer just token piece of land with some mobs.

Ongoing changes make game feel alive once again.

New and very insteresting mobs got added to rest of areas. Seriously, those monsters are fun to fight! Dual professions? Decentish bars? Weee!

Kudos!

100% agree. While I DID enjoy the Cartographer/Vanquish titles even in the'useless' instances because I got to see what I never bothered to at all, it would have been more interesting with quests or some storyline.

While there are no quests out 'yet' for guild wars beyond, I enjoyed just going to all the areas where something new was, and watching them. Having peacekeepers ask for toll's only to be slaughtered/ran away from, etc etc. I enjoyed it very much. Granted I still long for some quests (even if the rewards are crap), but I will be happy either way.

Test Me

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2008

E/

I see "content" is loosely used here.

My quest log has yet to change, I see no new mission or area just some new random mobs and sometimes (really randomly I can't tell exactly how this happens) some dialogs pop up that don't require my intervention as a player at all. Oh and the two costumes.

I wouldn't call that "new content". Sorry. There is nothing to play with, just some new random mobs to kill that die same way to discord as all other mobs there.

zwei2stein

zwei2stein

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Europe

The German Order [GER]

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Orange Milk View Post
"New Content" would be if they opened up some more zones, there is plenty of blurry map out there to fill in.
Actual new explorable seems to be out of question due to manpower required to design, implement and test them, but ...

... they could open mission (and bmp) areas as explorables or as alternative missions (think of Gain Olias style mission that neatly reused Wilds mission map.)

R_Frost

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

California

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by upier View Post
Reusing areas means you get more bang for your buck. And considering the plan was to throw out a campaign ever few months - I guess that's what made them do it.
i'll bet if Anet wasnt worried about giving us new professions or skills with every release they could of kept to their original plans of a new release every 6 months to 1 year range.

instead of making use of areas in the current games to start the merge to GW2, i think the thing to do would of been to do an EoTN style of release of how the 3 contents are say 125-150 years into the future as a build up to GW2. that way none of the current content has to be changed and the original story line of the game isnt affected.

Neo Atomisk

Neo Atomisk

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2008

State College, Pennsylvania, United States

Zealots of Shiverpeak [ZoS]

W/

I wish they would just make PvE HARDER
It pains me not being able to go all out with hero builds and micros and still struggling. Yes, you heard me, I want a challenge.

erikaries

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2010

Bald Fat Lazy And Proud [WIMP] & OurTurtles Know True [LOVE]

E/

A challenge would be nice. Seems every update PVE is get easier and easier. Other than the Odd mission Here or there where live bodys make it faster Nothing is REally a challenge unless you are trying to solo Elite areas or something like that.

damkel

damkel

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

W/

Perhaps change the thread title, it's a bit misleading. Especially with the 5th anniversary content coming this week. My heart sank a little.

On topic: agree with previous posters, Prophecies was fun to explore and just take a walk about in. The closed gates and doors that started in Factions were kinda annoying. "Oh yes!! I've finally got to an outpost after all those mobs and near-wipes with 60% DP....oh...wait.."

NovaZero

NovaZero

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2007

Honeypot.

W/

Prophecies is the best campaign ever.

Test Me

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2008

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Neo Atomisk View Post
I wish they would just make PvE HARDER
It pains me not being able to go all out with hero builds and micros and still struggling. Yes, you heard me, I want a challenge.
So I get it you're a master of the new UW?

Infanta

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Silverblade View Post
Some people, myself to some degree, disagree with you. It was fun to just go out exploring and find yourself in some remote place. I remember in 2005 I started from ToA and explored my way through 4 areas and finally ended up in Fisherman's Haven. Factions and Nightfall don't give you this opportunity.

I'm perfectly happy for Prophecies to have a bunch of areas that have no particular significance. If anything, it's good to go to those places on vanquishes or obscure quests (Titan quests, for example) and get the feeling that no one ever seems to go there or generally care at all.
I agree completely. This is the reason I really loved prophecies and never liked the other campaigns very much. In prophecies not everything is a pointer, to really see some zones you had to just want to go out and explore.

I remember stumbling upon tears of the fallen and feeling like I had discovered something special. The sense of exploration and wonder is something really special about prophecies that the other campaigns didn't have.

robmdq

robmdq

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Infanta View Post
I agree completely. This is the reason I really loved prophecies and never liked the other campaigns very much. In prophecies not everything is a pointer, to really see some zones you had to just want to go out and explore.

I remember stumbling upon tears of the fallen and feeling like I had discovered something special. The sense of exploration and wonder is something really special about prophecies that the other campaigns didn't have.
Agree with this and to the previous post of the same tone. An RPG is about adventure, and the ultimate adventure has always been and will alwas be exploration. When i played my first character i walked the whole continent at the point that when the titles were releasded i already had over 90% explored. The freedom of just going anywhere without any particular reason is one of the main components of the prophecies campaign own magic.

The later expansions only took you from the nose into a one-way-only game, efficiently cutting off your wings to go exploring.

I actually wish the game had more explorable areas to go there without a reason except for the sake of knowing a new place.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

About challenges, well, play prophecies in a prophecies only character, play factions in a factions only character, and so on, and you will see that they can even be harder than they were in several aspects, but i have to agree that after NF, specially after the heroes addition, they've made the game too easy, particulary if you get one of those characters into the previos campaigns. Maybe one simple way to feel a bit better the older campaigns would be not using heroes there, these campaigns were never meant to be played with them after all.

vader

vader

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

P/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Orange Milk View Post
Meh.

I don't think of it as "New content" they have simply changed the mobs in some areas and added some meaningless dialog here and there.

"New Content" would be if they opened up some more zones, there is plenty of blurry map out there to fill in.

Of course if they end up adding extra end game missions with the White Mantle, like Ring of Fire was once added, then maybe we'll have something. Until then I have better things to do then watch NPCs chit chat.
Ring of Fire was added? I didn't start playing right when the game was released but a couple months later and I always remember Ring Of Fire being there. It wasn't there at the game's release?

Arduin

Arduin

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

The Netherlands

Limburgse Jagers [LJ]

R/

Probably meant Titan Quests.

Alleji

Alleji

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Silverblade View Post
Some people, myself to some degree, disagree with you. It was fun to just go out exploring and find yourself in some remote place. I remember in 2005 I started from ToA and explored my way through 4 areas and finally ended up in Fisherman's Haven. Factions and Nightfall don't give you this opportunity.
This.

I also liked the freedom of prophecies, that I could go wherever I wanted. Factions/NF felt more like a linear single player RPG than an open world.

Daesu

Daesu

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by NovaZero View Post
Prophecies is the best campaign ever.
Unless you are a title chaser, then Prophecies is the worst campaign ever. Factions is a lot better. It all depends on how you want to play.

robmdq

robmdq

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arduin View Post
Probably meant Titan Quests.
I too think he must have been referring to them, specially since the ring of fire was there from the very first day when the gamne came out and it is where the prophecies campaign ends.

Winterclaw

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daesu View Post
Unless you are a title chaser, then Prophecies is the worst campaign ever. Factions is a lot better. It all depends on how you want to play.


A lot of people hated factions.

JDRyder

JDRyder

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2007

Great temple of Balthazar

Mo/Me

I actually liked Proh the best, It doesn't really feel empty to me, matter of fact it feels fuller. I think the reason you think its more empty is due to Proh doesn't guide you where to go like factions and NF do.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daesu View Post
Unless you are a title chaser, then Prophecies is the worst campaign ever. Factions is a lot better. It all depends on how you want to play.
Im far from a title chaser and Proh is my favorite out of all of them

Phineas

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

UK

What he meant was... If you are a title-chaser then Proph is a beast because of its size. It takes a fair bit more work to vanq and obtain guardian.

Daesu

Daesu

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phineas View Post
What he meant was... If you are a title-chaser then Proph is a beast because of its size. It takes a fair bit more work to vanq and obtain guardian.
Correct.

Also it is a pain capturing some of the elite skills from Prophecies given some of the random boss spawns. Doesn't help the skill hunter title even though there are fewer elite skills in Prophecies than in Cantha, the random boss spawning makes it more of a pain to obtain the Tyrian skill hunter title than its Cantha equivalent.

If you note the recent buffs, Ritualists need Factions to be effective, not to mention the ever favorite Disco for the necros. Prophecies also have no PvE skills whatsoever. This means a more effective vanquisher as a Factions-only character than a Prophecies-only character.

Yes, yes, I am speaking from the perspective of a title chaser and it all depends on how you want to play the game.

FengShuiDove

FengShuiDove

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2007

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA]

A/

To be honest, my initial reaction to this thread sort of describes my feelings. When I saw the thread title, I opened it immediately and thought I'd find something new.

I appreciate and enjoy the content we've gotten so far, and I think it leads very well into what's forthcoming. But now, I don't really consider what we've got to be exciting, heavy new content. I believe it's on the way, but it hasn't revolutionized the game for me just yet.

Snow Bunny

Snow Bunny

Alcoholic From Yale

Join Date: Jul 2007

Strong Foreign Policy [sFp]

Wait, so if you haven't played since September, is there something new to do?

I'm confused.

Phineas

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

UK

AFAIK, there are various NPC chit-chats to observe, and a somewhat unrewarding scavenger hunt to 'do'. There are new mobs in some maps, but none that are yet linked to a quest, or that need to die unless you are vanquishing said maps.

jazilla

jazilla

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2006

Guernsey Milking Coalition[MiLk]

E/Me

I like Prophecies for the reasons that the OP stated. I also like Nightfall for the exact opposite reasons. They were able to make explorable areas also double as missions. Which meant to do your cartogtraphy, you didnt need to do the cart. in a mission. I thought that was really great. Same for VQ's. I think all the campaigns have their + sides.

Phaern Majes

Phaern Majes

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2005

Anywhere but up

The Panserbjorne [ROAR]

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by jazilla View Post
I think all the campaigns have their + sides.
This

I used to hate Factions, but now I actually enjoy it. Nightfall & Prophecies I've always enjoyed. When titles came out my Ranger had 93-94% of the Tyrian Cartographer already, I enjoy the big pointless maps, there are a lot of hidden temples/villages and what not throughout the maps. Granted I'd always hoped they get implemented fully into the game, but eh.

slowerpoke

slowerpoke

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2007

Cuba

Its a weak attempt at linking GW1 to its sequel, funded by micro transactions. I certainly wouldn't call a few dialog set pieces 'content'. The so called viral campaign hasn't reached out beyond the hardcore left who still play.

JDRyder

JDRyder

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2007

Great temple of Balthazar

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daesu View Post
Prophecies also have no PvE skills whatsoever.
Thats probably a large part of why I like it so much

Daesu

Daesu

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by JDRyder View Post
Thats probably a large part of why I like it so much
I don't see why that should matter to you because people still play in prophecies from the other campaigns bringing all sorts of PvE skills with them. How is that situation better?

The only thing this affects are the few people who have bought Prophecies-only getting weaker PvE characters than the few who have bought Factions-only. Although I dont see how that would impact you or make you any happier or sad either.

FengShuiDove

FengShuiDove

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2007

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA]

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daesu View Post
I don't see why that should matter to you because people still play in prophecies from the other campaigns bringing all sorts of PvE skills with them. How is that situation better?

The only thing this affects are the few people who have bought Prophecies-only getting weaker PvE characters than the few who have bought Factions-only. Although I dont see how that would impact you or make you any happier or sad either.
Because a lot of people consider PvE only skills to be broken and a complete mockery of the balance of the game. And, in certain situations, that's been the truth. 8 people with 3 PvE skills each can faceroll almost anything without much skill. It removes the fun of coordinating and actually completing a hard task.

JDRyder

JDRyder

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2007

Great temple of Balthazar

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by FengShuiDove View Post
Because a lot of people consider PvE only skills to be broken and a complete mockery of the balance of the game. And, in certain situations, that's been the truth. 8 people with 3 PvE skills each can faceroll almost anything without much skill. It removes the fun of coordinating and actually completing a hard task.
This, tbh I actually choose builds to make things harder a lot of times when I'm H/Hing. For example recently I've been doing SF Prohs skills only. I don't find using iWin builds fun, I get much more enjoyment out of making my own builds ect and setting challenges for myself. Probably why I haven't felt Proh is empty and I haven't felt title grinding is the only thing to do after beating the game.

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

Prophecies has plenty of PvE only skills now. Ether Renewal, Strength of Honor, Unyielding Aura, Aegis, FGJ, Enfeebling Blood, Warriors Endurance...

The time for "title skills are ruining the game" attitudes is long past. The problem is much bigger now and virtually unavoidable.

JDRyder

JDRyder

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2007

Great temple of Balthazar

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxBat View Post
Prophecies has plenty of PvE only skills now. Ether Renewal, Strength of Honor, Unyielding Aura, Aegis, FGJ, Enfeebling Blood, Warriors Endurance...

The time for "title skills are ruining the game" attitudes is long past. The problem is much bigger now and virtually unavoidable.
A, Pve skills is where it started
B, most of those skills have been the same for a good long while, they've just been nerfed to balance GvG

Chronos the Defiler

Chronos the Defiler

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

W/

Give Dry Top some love....it is the prime area to add a big bad boss to encounter.

The area is out in the middle of nowhere, and the area is basically circular and almost seems designed to have something menacing right in the middle of it.

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Dry_Top

I never even knew it existed until I went vanquishing a long long time ago

Bryant Again

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

I agree with Zwei that giant areas devoid of nothing but monsters is a bit lame. But it is still pretty awesome to happen around an area that doesn't serve much purpose besides looking cool. Some of the most fun I had in WoW was going with friends to find places that are really hard to find an also really cool: old Ironforge is a good example, and so is the old Outlands. In Guild Wars it was fun bumping into the secret garden-esque area in Proph and finding the Temple of Balthazar in the Wilds.

I'm really looking forward to doing this in GW2 : )

Infanta

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chronos the Defiler View Post
Give Dry Top some love....it is the prime area to add a big bad boss to encounter.

The area is out in the middle of nowhere, and the area is basically circular and almost seems designed to have something menacing right in the middle of it.

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Dry_Top

I never even knew it existed until I went vanquishing a long long time ago
I forgot about this zone! I think I've only been there 2-3 times.