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When does the ongoing event end, btw? End of summer?

Living Story season 2 begins June 1st July 1st. It's assumed the Corwn Pavillion and Zephyr Sanctum will be closed then.

Err, it's June 8th.

 Melissia wrote:
Err, it's June 8th.

That's what the Commies want us to think.

Hah. I meant July 1st, pardon.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/get-ready/

We’re happy to announce that the first episode of Living World Season 2 will kick off on July 1! The Festival of the Four Winds will continue until that date, so enjoy the festivities while they last!

Apparently season 2 content will be replayable to those that logged in while it was active.

...and if you missed it completely, you can just 'unlock' episodes with 200gems.

I picked up a hentai tentacle backpack... which seemed like a good idea at the time, since I missed the event that featured it. But now I realize I don't have anyone it would look good on.

Then I ground out enough tokens to buy 250 of those scrap metal bits to get the scrap shoulder piece because I missed the event that featured it. But now I realize I don't have anyone it would look good on.

So I ground out enough tokens to buy a dragon head hat, because that looks epic on my warrior. Finally a purchase I don't regret!

My Necromancer has the tentacle backpiece and I've pretty much shelved the Watchwork shoulderpiece because there are things that look much better.

Surprisingly, I'm not a fan of the dragon head. It looks too feral and cliche for me.

Regardless, it's nice to have choices and differences in tastes.

If anyone is still interested in this game - the first expansion pack has been finally revealed, Heart of Thorns.

Expands into the deeper Maguuma
Introduces Mordramoth, the forest dragon
Adds the Revenant class. Sounds like a melee Elementalist. Heavy armour, shifts between power types.
Adds Guild Halls
Adds a new PvP type, Stronghold, which sounds a lot like the Alliance Battles in Factions or the original Guild matches - each side has a base that you need to capture
New WvW map

Just started playing thanks to a little sale they were running. Got the "Heroic" digital edition for $15. I'm running around a little with a Nord Hunter, Sylvani Necromancer and a Human Warrior on Stormbluff Isles.

StalkingWolf.5478 if any one's around

I play, got every profession to max level and currently enjoying trying to clear the entire world with my main character. Long time GW player, so getting into GW 2 was kinda automatic. Great game, very relaxed, not monthly fee, it's actually fun to play and not grindy in the slightest.

Yeah it's surprisingly grind free. The exploration factor however has a disturbingly addictive quality to it.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
Yeah it's surprisingly grind free. The exploration factor however has a disturbingly addictive quality to it.

I also have one of each class of character, but I actually feel the opposite. Personally, I feel that the story missions are kind of spread out and leave you grinding in between. Even though each story is different, it just feels like once I did one story, I'm "grinding" everyone else's story. Plus they changed to the season system and I have no idea what most of my characters are doing anymore, lol.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
Yeah it's surprisingly grind free. The exploration factor however has a disturbingly addictive quality to it.

As someone who hates jumping puzzles, let me tell you, I actually do them. It's quite odd.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
Yeah it's surprisingly grind free. The exploration factor however has a disturbingly addictive quality to it.

I also have one of each class of character, but I actually feel the opposite. Personally, I feel that the story missions are kind of spread out and leave you grinding in between. Even though each story is different, it just feels like once I did one story, I'm "grinding" everyone else's story. Plus they changed to the season system and I have no idea what most of my characters are doing anymore, lol.

Yeah I have yet to figure out the living world program, but it doesn't really matter till I can hit dungeon running level as far as I know. I'm getting the primary story stuff pretty regularly. Looks like every ten levels or so that that content pops up, but I was more talking about the work a day activities of the game. Running an area can take some initial backtracking on your first toon so you can run back and snag Vistas, POI and Skill Challenges you've missed, but otherwise, clearing a map is really quite enjoyable. No running back for quest turn ins, diversity across single zones, plenty of opportunity for doing things like taking down giant monsters.

Combat is nicely varied, and a weapon swap can completely change up your play style and tactics for a breath of fresh air.

Compared to say WoW or even Final Fantasy where you might just have to wander around killing things to get sufficiently leveled for something, and the goddess cursed fetch quests in the former.

So GW2 is certainly not grind free, but it FEELS a lot less grind filled to my experience so far.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:

So GW2 is certainly not grind free, but it FEELS a lot less grind filled to my experience so far.

TBH, it feels like I'm actually playing a game and not a second job at all. The auction house is very easy to use, information is available on the wiki, professions are varied, areas and their contents are different enough, its the PvE dream. I haven't done anything PvP except Edge of the Mists, which is a lot of fun and a good experience source.

Still can't get over the lack of a monthly fee. Goes to show you a monthly fee does nothing.

Yeah it blows my mind how much high quality and stunning content they've delivered for a relatively low initial investment from the players. I got my copy of the Heroic Edition for $15 this weekend on a sale, but it would have been well worth full retail and I'm just ankles deep on this game so far.

Edit:

Side note, is the Goth dress texture actually available in game at all? I know it shows up on the start screen, but I don't think it's the actual starting gear for a human female necromancer.

I'm not sure. Check the wiki; it has pictures of all the armor sets on each of the races. It looks very similar to some of the things I can craft as a tailor, just with colors that I don't have/use.

Although that scarf-lookin' bit might be something out of the gem store... a shoulder skin or something...

Looks like Cabalist loot gear:

https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/File:Cabalist_armor_human_female_front.jpg

I play off and on. Its fun, but i don't love a lot of the things they've done in the last 3-6 months.

 Haight wrote:
I play off and on. Its fun, but i don't love a lot of the things they've done in the last 3-6 months.

Are you referring to the Living World storyline? Because that seems to have left a lot fo people feeling kind of cold. I mean, the two new areas to play in are fun, but the storyline itself doesn't seem to ring many peoples' bells. Although, if we're going to be honest, the Scarlet storyline didn't start getting interesting until the Toxic Tower showed up.

I play all the time, mostly WvW, and I'm on Blackgate so there is always action. I have all characters up to 80 now too.

I agreed a lot of the Story crap does drag...

Got an interesting e-mail the other day. Apparently they're handing out beta test slots for the upcoming expansion via rare drops.

Yep. Someone got one on my map earlier.

Base Game is now free:

https://welcome.guildwars2.com/en/Play-For-Free

Nice. Should help get new blood in to the game.

...wait, the ENTIRE basic game is free now with no limitations?

 Sigvatr wrote:
...wait, the ENTIRE basic game is free now with no limitations?

Yep. They're making money off of the expansions and the in-game cosmetic items market now.

No. The entire base game is there for free, but it has limitations.

First, it has to be tied to a mbile phone account with mandatory SMS verification. I assume this is to try and control bot farming.

The other limitations include
WvW gated until your character reaches level 60
No daily login rewards (so no laurels)
Limited item Trading Post access
No map chat, whisper only works on the same map unless it's a mutual friend, Squad chat gated at level 30
Only 2 character slots
Only 3 bag slots in your inventory
Starter maps gated after you reach level 10
Lions Arch access gated at level 35
Mail can only be sent to mutual friends, and can't include gold or items
No Guild Bank access
No Gold to Gems conversion
No free Gem Store items