Maybe, every once in a while, especially preceding new expansions, there could be an event that actually changes the world itself. Let me give you an example before you say anything. Lets say, some time, long after the initial release of GW2, they announced an event which would allow all the players of the world to travel to a site outside Arah where they would be able to participate in a mission where they would attempt to take back Arah from the dragon that holds it (probably would involve more than one team of players at a time). We could call it "Remember the True Gods!". For about a month, people would be able to participate in this, and, after that month is over, players would be able to walk through the streets of Arah as a city reclaimed. Players might still be able to participate in the mission by visiting the old site outside of Arah... [show more]

Maybe, every once in a while, especially preceding new expansions, there could be an event that actually changes the world itself. Let me give you an example before you say anything. Lets say, some time, long after the initial release of GW2, they announced an event which would allow all the players of the world to travel to a site outside Arah where they would be able to participate in a mission where they would attempt to take back Arah from the dragon that holds it (probably would involve more than one team of players at a time). We could call it "Remember the True Gods!". For about a month, people would be able to participate in this, and, after that month is over, players would be able to walk through the streets of Arah as a city reclaimed. Players might still be able to participate in the mission by visiting the old site outside of Arah as well.

Then, lets say, about a month later, the Canthan army shows up and starts raiding coastal areas all over Tyria. People would be able to play a series of missions where they the repel Canthan invasion, and after about a month or so of that, Canthan soldiers, who had been appearing in the open areas would start to disappear and the new expansion would come out which would allow us to take the fight to Cantha (I really want to slug it out with this new emperor).

Anyway, that was only an example. Not all of these events need be followed by an expansion, but it would be a great way to add in new content without adding new campaigns. I know it would be hell to program and the devs have already said some things about expansions and campaigns, but I'm just asking if you would like to see these world changing assuming they are possible.

When I first posted this idea in January, there were some really great comments on it that helped elaborate on the idea. You can read them by clicking here
(http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User_talk:Gaile_Gray/Archive_Guild_Wars_2_suggestions/January_2008_Page_2#World_Changing_Events) [show less]

The premise of this idea is fairly simple: combine companions and mounts. Preposterous as it sounds at first, this actually solves several problems posed by incorporating companions and mounts separately. First, let us deal with a few of the problems caused by mounts. Number one is how to deal with the needs of several races, of different sizes and with different cultures who would all need mounts which suited them. Asura are easy, they could ride golems. Humans could ride anything. Sylvari might ride animated plant constructs, but it would be a pity if those couldn’t fight on their own. The Norn, however, are too big to ride just about anything I saw in the original GW games short of a hydra. Not to mention the fact that Norn will be capable of transformations in the next game and will either be forced to choose between using mounts... [show more]

The premise of this idea is fairly simple: combine companions and mounts. Preposterous as it sounds at first, this actually solves several problems posed by incorporating companions and mounts separately.

First, let us deal with a few of the problems caused by mounts. Number one is how to deal with the needs of several races, of different sizes and with different cultures who would all need mounts which suited them. Asura are easy, they could ride golems. Humans could ride anything. Sylvari might ride animated plant constructs, but it would be a pity if those couldn’t fight on their own.

The Norn, however, are too big to ride just about anything I saw in the original GW games short of a hydra. Not to mention the fact that Norn will be capable of transformations in the next game and will either be forced to choose between using mounts or transformations or be force to deal with the sight of a giant bear-man riding a horse.

The Charr have a similar problem. They would look silly riding just about anything other than their siege beasts, and what sense does it make to be toeing around a siege devourer if you can’t lay siege to something with it. That, however would give the Charr an unfair advantage unless all the other mounts were capable of something similar, but if you have that and a companion by your side who also will need a mount to keep up with you, and how is that different from having three companions?

Then there are even worse problems caused by companions. Firstly, we can’t have 3’000 Dunkoros running around in a continuous world. That’s just ridiculous. We could be capable of customizing their appearance, but that still leaves us with the other problems. Another problem is the question, “Why can we only have one companion?” It really doesn’t make a lot of sense to have a party of just two. More than that, why should they not count as part of our party but rather as part of our character? That would mean parties of sixteen, and if mounts can fight then that would turn a party of eight players into a party of forty-eight combatants roving the plains. Lastly, why would we be compensated for not using a companion? It makes no sense. Do companions suck the life force out of our characters to sustain themselves?

Granted, many of these problems do not need to be fixed in order to have a running game (technically, you could have 3,000 Dunkoros roaming the plains) but why put up with a problem when there is a simple way to fix it: combine companions and mounts.

This is all based off if the idea that there is no real difference between a mount that can fight while you’re not riding on it and a companion. Besides that, it answers all of the aforementioned questions and problems. No one will ask questions if 3’000 mounts who look alike are roaming the field. It makes sense that you would not be able to bring more than one mount wherever you go, and of course they wouldn’t count as part of our party: they’re mounts. Their ability to combine with your character as well as their sub-par fighting capabilities could compensate for their propensity to double the size of your party. Finally, the benefits lost by bringing a mount could be seen as a representation of the extra energy needed to maintain control of a mount in battle.

It is perfectly natural to assume that Charr would both fight alongside their siege beasts and use them as mounts. As for the Norn, they would need neither mounts nor companions. They would need to be compensated for their lack of a companion, but it makes sense that the Norn would travel alone. Also, they are a bit too large for any mount and they could be made capable of running at increased speeds over set distances on account of their superior physique. Their transformations would also compensate for the combat abilities denied them by their lack of mounts.

The unique nature of mounts made for each race would add variety to the game and could be used as part of the race advantages system. As each mount would be different, each could have different abilities. All of them would need to be capable of equitable speed so that parties could stay together, however, their combat and defensive capabilities could vary widely.

Each should complement the advantages and disadvantages of each race and be suited to each races attitudes and customs. For example, the Asura, being magically adept, would probably need their golems to protect or heal them in battle while they cast spells. Some golems might also augment the strength of Asura warriors in battle, compensating for their physical weaknesses.

I will shortly post links to pages proposing more specific ideas for each race both here and on my personal suggestions page if you are interested in finding out more.

Norn: Transformations
(http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User:Shai_Halud/Norn:_Transformations)

Asura and Sylvari: Golems and Jagganathen
(http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User:Shai_Halud/Asura_and_Sylvari:_Golems_and_Jagganathen)

Humans and Charr: Calvary and Siege Beasts
(http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User:Shai_Halud/Humans_and_Charr:_Calvary_and_Siege_Beasts)

As for Those Who do not Wish to Bring Companions...
(http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User:Shai_Halud/As_for_Those_Who_do_not_Wish_to_Bring_Companions...) [show less]

Battle can take place in many environments, and each can produce it's own experience if the environments are interactive enough and disticnt in challenge and situation. But few are as unique or interactive as a moving environment, instead of simply battling on the land, battles could take place on moving ships on the sea. With Guilds comes the opportunity to have guild owned ships instead of just Guild Halls, with this customizable and player controlled vessel, Guilds could explore the open seas, visit new locations for exploration and conquest, and most of all, engage in open combat on the sea, naturally brining together two mobile environments on a liquid plain. The ability to steer your ship, operate it's propultion and armament, attack ship to ship, or board eachothers ships and fight directly in normal combat fashion... [show more]

Battle can take place in many environments, and each can produce it's own experience if the environments are interactive enough and disticnt in challenge and situation. But few are as unique or interactive as a moving environment, instead of simply battling on the land, battles could take place on moving ships on the sea.

With Guilds comes the opportunity to have guild owned ships instead of just Guild Halls, with this customizable and player controlled vessel, Guilds could explore the open seas, visit new locations for exploration and conquest, and most of all, engage in open combat on the sea, naturally brining together two mobile environments on a liquid plain.

The ability to steer your ship, operate it's propultion and armament, attack ship to ship, or board eachothers ships and fight directly in normal combat fashion allows this means of battle to be deeply original from most games as well as adding exponentially more activities than in the normal combat structure. [show less]