Factions Backstage Pass Report...

I was one of the lucky 12 selected to attend the Factions Pre-release party. While it's late, I thought I'd post my thoughts. Any others that attended can fill in their own impressions...

First, the party was held at the Sci-Fi Museum in the Experience Music Project located in downtown Seattle. It's a nice place, I think one of these days I'll go back to explore it a bit more.

The party was upstairs in a VIP section. There was food and drink for everyone (I'd estimate probably 300 or so folks attended). There was a live band called "Hells Belles" - a all women AC/DC cover band. They rocked pretty hard.

Anyway, after we got checked in, we got to meet Gaile Gray and Isaih Cartwright. There was a total of 12 "winners" and each brought a guest. just about everyone were GW players which was neat.

There was a small section where ANet had set up a couple of tables and arranged 8 computers in 2 rows of 4 facing each other. We divided up into two "teams" and were told we were going to preview a new "gametype".

The "gametype" was each group was handed a thick stack of cards. These cards were skill cards, 25 skills, and all 8 professions (yeah, the stack was pretty big).

Each team picked out a team of four, using the stacks of cards to build a skill bar for each team player. The 25 skills in each profession were a mix of old and new skills (mostly old) and while they normally contained some basic skills everyone uses every day, there were quite a few "missing" cards normal teams use in PvP (gale and arcane echo, for example, weren't in the stack).

Each group picked 4 players, and 4 skill bar "builds" and that faced off in a simple 4v4 arena game. Each player had to utilize the skills in his 8 skill group, he couldn't pick and choose if they didn't like how it was set up. We were also given only a few minutes to sort the cards, examine the skils, and build 4 working professions.

Then we were herded back upstairs to the computers, and played a couple of rounds. Our team won flawless victories both times btw.

So, to get more info out to you guys from what I saw of the game:

The map is at least as big as Prophecies, with at least as many towns and outposts to visit.

On the main map, there was a red/blue line that snaked through it. This line was the "faction" line, which shifts back and forth depending on how much faction your side has built up and what territories you're granted access to. We didn't see this in action, but it was visible on the map.

The graphics are standard GW fare, which means very nice. Parts of it appeared to be very "pre-searing", lush green rolling hills and colorful trees (mostly pinks (think cherry blossoms) and green. There was also some snowy areas we got to play in a bit later.

There was one interesting tidbit - I saw a "dev arena 1v1" pvp map. I don't know if this will actually be int he final game, but at least in the build we had, there was yes, an area where you could go fight mano on mano.

I didn't get to spend a lot of time playing the game, after a couple of rounds of 4v4 the band started up and you couldn't hear yourself think. I did watch some of the folks play a sample mission that involved escorting a convoy of giant turtles and their babies to some destination. The giant turtles had massive cannons strapped to their backs. Some of the enemy mosnters they fought were pretty intimidating. I can't tell you much else, hopefully someone that did get a chance to play can provide more details.

At the end we all got nice GW t-shirts.

It was a pretty cool time, all in all.

So thanks to Gaile, and the rest of the folks for inviting us, I know I had a good time, and I think everyone else did too.

As far as pics, I might have some later, they are currently stuck in my cell phone, and I don't have a way of pulling them off. My guest took a lot, if he gets his uploaded, I'll link to them at that time.

I agree, the event was very well put-together and the new areas look amazing.

Alesia gets new armor and a new face and there appears to be even more cities or destinations in factions than in prophecies.

My guest took a few pictures of the band, Hell's Belles, as well as some of us who were playing in the tournament so I'll upload those to flickr and provide the link either later today or tomorrow.

Very fun event and the new Factions looks fantastic!

Joe

I've put up the 33 pictures that I had access to. They aren't the greatest pictures but they are better than nothing

http:[email protected]/

Joe

without further ado:
I sticked them together, if you had more I'd.....

Nice posts. Thanks.

Looked the outposts in the big city, like a real part of a city, or was it just as a place looking like Lion Arch or Ascalon, with a small place, do not looking like a town?

Looks like there's some more from gwonline as well:

Thank you to my friend for inviting me along.

Review:

First off, (everyone knows already) but Gaile Gray is so nice. She was a wonderful hostess. We showed up for the event and after getting our passes walked up the stairs to the main party. There was a station of computers set up for us to try out the game (extended PvP) section. Of the people that came, we divided into two groups and went at it. The environments are still blowing me away. Unfortunantly my team got wasted (probably due to me ;p), but it was fun. After that we tried a group mission. There was a lot to fight.

PvP 1v1 is a lot of fun. You get pitted in a seperate map and go at it. The asssassins did do a good job at carving people up.

~Guild storage (as mentioned in recent Gaile Talk) is not up yet.
~Storage size is still the same as is inventory space.
~The assassins still run all the time (this thing is still in Betta).
~There were no Superior Runes of Holding that I saw.
~Didn't see anything about Saphires and Rubies

The map seems small, but it is so condensed with cities (forgot to take a picture of that...). It has a lot of content to say the least.

Did not have time to write down everything from all classes, but necro being my favorite class, here are the new skills for Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: Factions will blow you away! PvE is going to be awesome, as is PvP. We were only privlidged to see PvP in more depth, the areas and scenery is just amazing! You will have to excuse some parts (I couldn't make out my handwritting).


BLOOD:

Blood Bond
Enchantment Spell. For 12 seconds, target other alley gains +2 health regeneration and you fuffer -2 health degeneration.
Mana Cost: 5
Cast Time: 1
Recharge: 2

Jaundiced Gaze
Spell. Sacrifice 10% health. If target foe has more health than you, you steal up to 20 health. Otherwise, you deal 29 damage.
Mana Cost: 10
Cast Time: 1
Recharge: 2

Lifebare Strike
Spell. Target foe takes 29 shadow damage. If that foe's health is above 50%, you steal up to 29 health.
Mana Cost: 10
Cast Time: 2
Recharge: 8

Whilsts (<--not spelled correct) Fervor
Enchantment (Elite). Spells cost -7 energy to cast, but you sacrifice (Unsure)-->[15-30%] health each time you cast a spell.
Mana Cost: 3
Cast Time: 1
Recharge: 30

CURSES:

Reckless Haste
Hex Spell. For 19 seconds, target foe and all adjacent foes are hexed, they attack 25% faster, but have a 48% chance to miss with attacks.
Mana Cost: 10
Cast Time: 2
Recharge: 15

Shivers of Dread
Hex Spell. for 38 seconds, whenever target foe is struck for cold damage while using a skill, that foe is interupted, and you lose [5](<--unsure also) energy and Shivers of Dread ends.

Well of Weariness
Spell. Exploit target corpse to create a Well of Weariness for 52 seconds. Enemies within the Well of Weariness suffer -1 energy degeneration.
Mana Cost: 10
Cast Time: 1
Recharge: 5

Order of Apostasy
Enchantment Spell (Elite). Whenever a party member hits a foe, that foe loses one enchantment. For every Monk enchantment removed, you lose 11% health.
Mana Cost: 25
Cast Time: 2

DEATH MAGIC:

Animate Vampiric Horror
Spell. Exploit nearest target corpse to animate a level 2 Vampire Horror you control deals damage and you gain the same amount of health.
Mana Cost: 25
Cast Time: 3
Recharge: 5

Taste of Pain
Spell. If target foe is below 20% health, you gain 60 health.
Mana Cost: 5
Cast Time: 1/4
Recharge: 10

NO ATTRIBUTE:

Gaze of Contempt
Spell. If target foe has more then 50% health, that foe loses all enchantments.
Mana Cost: 15
Cast Time: 2
Recharge: 30

Here is a screen of the Chapter 2 map:



Here are links to the new dances:

Assassin
http://files.filefront.com/AMOV/;486.../fileinfo.html

Ritualist
http://files.filefront.com/RtMOV/;48.../fileinfo.html

~CMEPTb

(As far as I understood, we were given permission to share all that were able to capture from the party.)

As one of the lucky 12, I got to play alot of Factions. We got to run one of the new Missions that took place on top of the Jade Sea itself. I was able to get 11 Vamperic Minions out at one time, despite the limited skill selections. Also despite the fact I ended up with pure Necro, when we went 1:1 PvP later in the evening I killed even the strongest worrior they had on thier team. It felt good geting a little bit of dignity back after being the leader or the team who got slaughtered. I knew we were doomed when I asked my team mates which ones were PvP gods an only two people said they were "fair". I do not regret the defeat. I got alot of kick ass pictures and even some video. I have a great clip that I need to get permision to post first of a bunch of the guild wars characters rocking out to the live rock concert, being projected on the wall behind the band!!

I will post a bunch of stuff later as I have time.

The skill said sacrifice, but it registered as damage during play and not as a sactrifice. Not sure if it was a bug or just that the skill is still being tweaked. But for a Pure Necro MM with Vamp Horrors, life loss reguardless of the flavor, was irrelivent.

Nice stuff, keep it coming. Very interesting.

My guest, Dion Star (if you play PvP you may know of him, guild officer in our guild The Second Foundation, TSF). Note the "skill bar" cards in front of him.


A shot showing how the computers were arranged. Each 4v4 team had voice comms, but was pretty useless it was pretty noisy even without the band playing. The team on the left side (including Dion Star) was the winning team both times, with flawless victories in each win. Dion played the first round as a healer monk, I played the 2nd.


A shot of the big screen, which was linked to the laptop Dion and I used during the evening. While the band was playing the 8 computers were playing a PvE mission but eventually they stopped and jammed with the band. It was pretty cool, during some songs the necro was just HEADBANGING and going nuts in time with the music, it was great!


Dion made absolutely sure his character name was up on the big screen more than once. What a media (gah, I can't say the more colorful word for a prostitute? lame!)

Some speculation about the "faction line" which I discussed earlier.

We saw one of the dev team members "move" the faction line around to show how it acts. If you've ever playing civilization IV, it reacts much like a particular player's "influence" as it invades and retreats based on how much faction your side has gained.

But what was interesting to note - towns could be behind enemy lines and cut off, much like Bastone in WW2. (pure speculation here) I would imagine that in order to retake cities, either a PvP or PvE alliance must hold it, or mount attacks to retake it. I'm guessing a PvP challenge.

One of the dev team members made a comment that PPvE would have a MAJOR influence on the faction line, while PvP play would be a factor, but not a deciding one. Like it or not, most people play GW via PvE, not PvP, and the dev team needs to cater to that style of play. It is interesting how they are attempting to incorporate some PvP aspects to "draw" more PvE players into that aspect of the game.

Again, most of this is simply empirical, without seeing the faction "in action" it's hard to say how the overall mechanics will play out.

Some MORE notes:

Was relayed by Izzy (Isaiah Cartwright) that:

Guild Storage would be a REWARD to guilds in chapter 2.

In chapter 3 they are planning on allowing players to have custom preset "builds" saved for quick PvP configuring of a character.

This is second hand info, Dion Star is passing this along to me from conversations he had with Izzy at the party.

I would also like to add. Izzy, man, when you built that Rit you did not give me any Runes..(/cry's like a spoiled brat) The elite you gave me was one where I hold an urn and I won't lose life on skills that sac.. Umm... None of the skills except the res you gave me Sac. :P I know your boss was hounding you to make her look hot but come on man, give a gamer a break!

To whomever it was from Anet (Jeff Strain??) that came back to thank me for running the laptop and showing off the game on the big screen during the missions. It was my pleasure. I loved hamming it up for everyone at the same time trying to keep our poor turtles alive, with a build that sucks.. Izzy is to blame j/k.. :P I didn't mention this to you during the event, I felt it would have been weak sauce. If you see this on the forum and you're ever looking for new employees look me up.Ill submit as résumé. It would be awesome to get paid for something all of us are so passionate about.

-Dion Star
The Second Foundation

Hi! I was also one of the lucky contest winners - I just finished part one of my report up at my blog.

Nice job monking Dion - I was the Necro in round 1 on our team and came up with the Assassin build. I don't suppose you happen to remember the skillbar on the Monk? I didn't get to see it before it was replaced with the Ritualist.

Wow, thanks for the screens guys!

I cant view the videos x_x

/nice read/screens.

anyone have pics of the new dances by any chance?

YOU'RE the one that took the monk cards off the table, eh? That wasn't particularily cool of you to go and take them off the tables without asking if we wanted them ourselves, or sharing. Did you happen to ask everyone else if you could take them all so selfishly?

Sorry for sounding like a jerk, but that was pretty lame. Dion (as well as I) were pretty bugged someone walked up and took them off the table while he was playing.

I did ask several people and they said no. If you want all the monk cards I have, PM me your address and I'll mail them to you. My apologies for upsetting you, it really wasn't intended. I just wanted to type up the flavour of the new skills after I asked Gaile and she said it would be ok.

I'll extend that offer to any of the other winners who were there - if you built one of the characters and weren't one of the people who said ok, I'm very sorry. Let me know and if I have any of those cards I'll send them to you as soon as I can.

Thanks for the write up. I was especially intrigued by this:

I wonder if Tiger Stance will be popular. Signet of Strength and Triple Chop seems like no brainers. Was Triple Chop an Elite?

No picture of Gaile Gray?

Very nice stuff guys.

I'm particularly interested in the map you've put together and some of those screenshots of the city. Amazing. I think this is quite a large addition to the Factions information 'jigsaw' building up

EDIT: I'm only guessing, but I'm thinking one of those pictures SoloMio got up could be her.

I don't have the cards to remember the skills I picked BUT I can tell you what I was thinking when I built the monk..

Currently in GW's For PVE or PVP you don't see to many full on heal monks.. You see more of the Boon Healers because healing efficiently is not as important as healing speed. This is very true in PVP. Skills like reversal and Mend condition have vary fast cast and cool down times making the heal monk able to heal allot of high damage attacks i.e. a spike of any type.

The skills they gave us where mostly new when it comes to the monk. And they did not have the current boon, or Mantra of Recall (Mesmer Skill). The elite I chose was a new one that heals around 100 HP with a bonus of +3 energy for every enchant the target has.

The skills I used that are currently in the game where Drain Enchant, Remove Hex, Healing Touch, Orison of healing, Res Sig. That new Elite, and 2 other new heal skills. My problem with the new skills is the problem I have with the current heal skills. Most skills have a long 1 second or more cast time, And a long cool down of 4 or more seconds. The laptop I was on had the full skill list for the Rit unlocked and after going over the skills I think at least for chap 2 Boon prot healers will still be the way to go.

To sum up what we all must do before we can "Grok" Factions I end this with a quote.

"Waiting always fills" -Valentine Michael Smith, Stranger in a Strange Land

Dion Star
The Second Foundation

PS It would make me happy if you sent the monk cards Thank you.

PPS I personally am not to concerned with examining all the new skills just yet. I am sure the game will go through at the very least 2 more big skill balances and who knows what skills will be left in once the dust settles. *I* am more into the new factions concept then the two new classes and skills coming out, and let's not forget the new in game eye candy.

Don't make your mind up quite yet. I raised this issue with Izzy and he's more than aware of the advantages of the fast Prot spells. We do know for sure that a lot of the new skills will be rebalanced - and there's a big difference just between a 1s and 1/2s cast time. Also, as I noted in my writeup, it's very hard to discern the difference between a good skill and a mediocre skill by reading the description - some of those Ritualist skills you're writing off may well be amazing in practice.
Different strokes for different folks. I'm a game mechanics geek so I'm all about the new skill themes. Don't get me wrong - the new areas were amazingly beautiful - it's just not as important to me as gameplay.

Yes, Triple Chop was an Elite. I forgot to say that, I'll update.

Sounded like a great time. Next time Mimi or Dion, pick me and let me crash at your house. I need in on some of the fun too. Can't have all the good times now

I just watched the male 'sin's dance... ....utter hilarity....cant wait to see backup-dancers for it.

added: Scratch that. the female rit has an "interpretive dance" that boggles the mind...awe-inspiriing...

thx for the vids. (too bad there's no music.)

/cant wait for the fem 'sin's and the male rit's.
/Collector's fursure.

Hmm, well, that makes it less of a no-brainer, then.

But as Dion said, way to early to really be commenting on skills yet, I suppose.

I like the Boon healing /necro/Mesmer for energy/Hex/Condition management. CoP makes a weak position Hex and Condition free. When Izzy and I where chatting as he built the Rit his exact words where the Rit can make a great support healer. From what I saw and felt during our turtle map he is correct there is 4 nice slower then I would like heal skills along with a few spirits.

BUT like I said in my post no need to even get my panties in a bind over the skills, who knows what will be in or how they will read until we have the full game in our hands.

THIS time around I am going to keep my eyes open for the next +5 energy long sword of GW's

I still have not gotten a responce on wherer or not I can post video clips than I took with the live band and the hughe GW projection behind them. But I will take that as good news so far. Usually I get an instant NO and some BS reason reguarding rights and such. I think the hold up is with the bands permission. I watched a bunch of the video clips I took and some included game play. I also have pictures of most of the ArenaNet staff members. I will be posting all my stuff this weekend.

I don't remember who it was that talked to Gail but SHE told him it was ok to post Pictures on his fan site. I don't know about the video but I posted all my video on our forum to share with my guild mates. It is a Private forum so I see no harm in it.

Just watched those two vids of the dances of the Assasin and the Ritualist..

The assasin one is just hilarious.. but I actually kinda like the Ritualists ones.. Noticed they are very agile (dance is mix of belly dance + gymnastics show off)

Hey, there. I don't see a request about video clips in my in-box. Please send it to me again. Thanks!

I wanted to answer this one, too: The 1v1 map is for testing purposes only. For instance, if we're checking on a reported skill bug, we have this area to be able to test in a limited setting. That's not to say we won't someday offer scrimmage areas, but as I was telling the guests last night, Guild Wars isn't a duelling-based game but a game of strategy and group gameplay. I think it's unlikely that we'll have serious PvP in a 1v1 setting.

Oh, and we're glad you have a nice time!

Gaile,

What about some form of Heroes accent but 4v4. Don't get me wrong I love TA but once you hit around 120 wins on the same maps over and over and over, only gaining faction, well it can get a tad boring. Some sort of HOH with a prize for holding the top, I feel would be a VERY kewl addition to the game. I am sure many O' people have suggested this before now and I apologize. I am not much of a forum guy. I leave the posting to Glenn.

isn't this the same as shadow strike?

No, Shadow will do an additional 50 damage, not steal..

Re-sent Request

no, pretty sure it steals health..wait it steals health both times. Well I can't see a difference between these skills

no, look...

Shadow Strike - Spell
Target foe takes 12-41 shadow damage. If that foe's health is above 50%, you steal 12-41 health.

No stealing in this skill.. The new skill is like a hybrid of Shadow and vamp gaze.

Time to head home from work

interesting stuff here. was there anything you found about the new pets or anything like that?

We did not do any pet testing... If we had thought about it, we would have.