Curse

pumpkin pie · Jan 30, 2008, 05:45 AM // 05:45

for Arena Net in making the decision of choosing Gwen as the focus point for Eye of the North. was it because the Name of the product that made them decide to spin a story from the Gwen character? was it by popular deman?

Because Gwen wasn't who I would focus on, (sorry a little self centered there,) but seeing that there are so many other potentially good story that could have been better if they were to be focus on. Especially those revolving around Aidan, Cynn and Devona, (i am thinking of the cinimatic that comes with the game) its especially tale telling from those little snipet.

Could have been story of Althea, how her death have affected the action of Rurik in leading his people into Kryta against his father's will.

Could have been anyone of the npc, so the question is why Gwen?

EmptySkull · Jan 30, 2008, 05:50 AM // 05:50

I don't know for sure. But I think it was a nice tie in from the begining back in pre-sear. Finished it all up since it was the last big thing for GW1. Kinda like the dot on the i. Plus all the questions of whatever happened to Gwen. I also think the acronym came after the decision it would be based on her.

Craywulf · Jan 30, 2008, 05:52 AM // 05:52

I've always wondered why we don't have Aiden, Cynn, Devonna and Menhlo as heroes to enhance the story. Instead we get Koss and bunch odd characters that pop up along the way.

As for Gwen, I hadn't realized there was more than 5 to 7 years between pre-searing to the Eye of the North campaign. How did she age from little girl to a young woman in 2 years?

Vitas · Jan 30, 2008, 06:01 AM // 06:01

You're right - there are a ton of thematic options that could have been used for EotN.

But think about the run-up to the release of GWEN from the earliest days to the week before release.

After Prophecies there was a gradually increasing player interest in "What happened to Gwen??" as subtle and not-so-subtle clues are dropped by ANet. To intensify that interest we even meet Gwen's mom in UW; where she is plaintively asking about and worrying about Gwen.

Since EotN is "it" for GW1 (for the most part) there was certain to be some loose ends tied up and Gwen was one that ANet kept alive. The storyline and the connection between Gwen and the Vanguard was a great way to wrap up that chapter of the GW1 volume in my opinion.

I don't think I'd have been disappointed in some other theme, but I thought it was a very satisfying answer to the Gwen question that worked well with the story.

.

RedNova88 · Jan 30, 2008, 06:01 AM // 06:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craywulf

I've always wondered why we don't have Aiden, Cynn, Devonna and Menhlo as heroes to enhance the story. Instead we get Koss and bunch odd characters that pop up along the way.

Same here. I always thought they would be more appropriate heroes. I don't mind the other heroes but it is a good point to raise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craywulf

As for Gwen, I hadn't realized there was more than 5 to 7 years between pre-searing to the Eye of the North campaign. How did she age from little girl to a young woman in 2 years?

About a 10 year difference I believe, since I think the manual says she's 17-18 but I'm quite unsure. It is quite strange how she ages and everyone else is frozen in time xD

EmptySkull · Jan 30, 2008, 06:09 AM // 06:09

Quote:

Year GW:EN takes place?
Hi, Gaile. I was wondering when GW:EN takes place. It's said that it's six years after Prophecies. Is that six years after the Searing (1070 AE) or six years after the bulk of Prophecies (1072)? --Heelz 15:43, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

I'm fairly sure it's 6 years after the searing. Let me check on that for you. --Gaile 21:11, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
According to the trailer it is 6 years after Gwen's "world burned" so I would guess it is after the searing. --Rainith 22:02, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
It took a little bit of running around because there have been some inconsistencies but the word is that GW:EN takes place 3 years since Nightfall, 6 years since the bulk of Prophecies and 8 years since the Searing itself. - Linsey talk 00:55, 2 August 2007 (UTC)
Cool, thanks! --Heelz 03:49, 3 August 2007 (UTC)

Source

So I guess she was 9 or 10 in presear. Maybe 12 at the oldest.

Laughing Bat · Jan 30, 2008, 06:12 AM // 06:12

I thought gwen was a good choice to center the expansion around, it reminded me of when I first started playing gw witch is fitting since eye of the north seems to be the end of gw1. Besides the heroes of ascalon were always kinda bland anyways. The only one you get to see much of is Rurik and most of the people I've talked to wish they had seen less of him.

Kyrein · Jan 30, 2008, 06:27 AM // 06:27

gwen was 10 when the searing hit.........the searing hit on the same day as you create your character

Numa Pompilius · Jan 30, 2008, 06:37 AM // 06:37

Gwen was an iconic character in early guildwars history, far, far, more so than any of the henchmen. She got this status partly because she didn't start out hidden behind the res-shrine in pre-searing, but was much more in-your-face, inspiring both a lot of hate and love from players, but also because she was the one who ended the beta by attacking Ascalon and killing all gamers.

Adding to her mystery was the fact that there were several broken quests associated with her, so that players could find quest items or get dialogue which referenced Gwen, but never the quests themselves.

Due to constant speculation and complaints, ANet said that Gwens story would eventually be told. And it was.

The only npc's of comparable stature to Gwen in the early days were The Frog in Ascalon, and Oink, both unlikely candidates for central roles in future expansions.

Bryant Again · Jan 30, 2008, 06:37 AM // 06:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craywulf

I've always wondered why we don't have Aiden, Cynn, Devonna and Menhlo as heroes to enhance the story. Instead we get Koss and bunch odd characters that pop up along the way.

That's a damned good question. Thinking about it, I am now a bit disappointed with the way things are in that regards.

Kyrein · Jan 30, 2008, 08:00 AM // 08:00

because those people listed are for all campaigns......heroes were added in nightfall.......you want to have 2 of them (hero/henchie) at once?

Longasc · Jan 30, 2008, 08:07 AM // 08:07

As Numa said, GWEN was an iconic character. Plus GW:EN makes for a supercool abbreviation, and Gwen is in fact part of the Vanguard Storyline.

This said, many Prophecies Henchmen would have been Heroes nowadays.

Devona, Cynn, Mhenlo, Aidan... -> Hero Chars
Stefan, Thom, Alesia, Lina ... -> Henchmen

What always wondered me in Prophecies was how much absent all of them were during the Kryta/Maguuma parts of the story, in the end we had them as Heroes. Thus I never ever felt connected to them.

We all know who was Henchman no.1 in Prophecies, Alesia, in case no human monk was at hand.

Estic · Jan 30, 2008, 08:08 AM // 08:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyrein

because those people listed are for all campaigns......heroes were added in nightfall.......you want to have 2 of them (hero/henchie) at once?

If I leave a town with a guildie with 2 kosses, one is called Sunspear warrior. Could have been the same for Menhlo etc.

pumpkin pie · Jan 30, 2008, 09:12 AM // 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

Gwen was an iconic character in early guildwars history, far, far, more so than any of the henchmen. She got this status partly because she didn't start out hidden behind the res-shrine in pre-searing, but was much more in-your-face, inspiring both a lot of hate and love from players, but also because she was the one who ended the beta by attacking Ascalon and killing all gamers.

Adding to her mystery was the fact that there were several broken quests associated with her, so that players could find quest items or get dialogue which referenced Gwen, but never the quests themselves.

Due to constant speculation and complaints, ANet said that Gwens story would eventually be told. And it was.

The only npc's of comparable stature to Gwen in the early days were The Frog in Ascalon, and Oink, both unlikely candidates for central roles in future expansions.

Hey Numa, seem like you've been around since the early early early stages of gw, may I ask, what is it regarding gwen attacking Ascalon and killing all gamers?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longasc

As Numa said, GWEN was an iconic character. Plus GW:EN makes for a supercool abbreviation, and Gwen is in fact part of the Vanguard Storyline.

This said, many Prophecies Henchmen would have been Heroes nowadays.

Devona, Cynn, Mhenlo, Aidan... -> Hero Chars
Stefan, Thom, Alesia, Lina ... -> Henchmen

What always wondered me in Prophecies was how much absent all of them were during the Kryta/Maguuma parts of the story, in the end we had them as Heroes. Thus I never ever felt connected to them.

We all know who was Henchman no.1 in Prophecies, Alesia, in case no human monk was at hand.

Agree GW:EN is a supercool abbreviation. and you are also very obeservant regarding the kryta/maguuma part of the story. if you haven't mention i would not have know.

JeniM · Jan 30, 2008, 09:16 AM // 09:16

They did it because of the horny Asian business men that were obsessed with the little girl in pre-searing

Kale Ironfist · Jan 30, 2008, 09:34 AM // 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin pie

Hey Numa, seem like you've been around since the early early early stages of gw, may I ask, what is it regarding gwen attacking Ascalon and killing all gamers?

At the end of the beta, players were killed (via a monster skill named Spontaneous Combustion) while multiple Gwens danced around talking like a pyromaniac/arsonist.

Vilaptca · Jan 30, 2008, 09:39 AM // 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin pie

Hey Numa, seem like you've been around since the early early early stages of gw, may I ask, what is it regarding gwen attacking Ascalon and killing all gamers?

Nobody attack me if I mess any of this up, its been a few years, and I've since reformatted my computer multiple times and lost any copies of screenshots and such of the events

Back in beta, when they were doing weekend beta tests, they'd do weird things the last bit of the beta, I think it was probably like the last 15 minutes or so before they shut off the servers until the next beta weekend

One such weekend, they ended it with a whole bunch of Gwens spawning and casting fire storm. Of course this was in towns too, so you couldn't fight back, you could try to run, but it wasn't just one Gwen there were a bunch. I bet you could find a video of it on Youtube if you searched.

The only time I ever stayed up late enough to see one of these type of things, there were devs in different districts of Ascalon using some function to make people incredibly tiny or gigantic. they could also make us all do the same emote at the same time. It was weird.

JeniM · Jan 30, 2008, 09:46 AM // 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vilaptca

Nobody attack me if I mess any of this up, its been a few years, and I've since reformatted my computer multiple times and lost any copies of screenshots and such of the events

Back in beta, when they were doing weekend beta tests, they'd do weird things the last bit of the beta, I think it was probably like the last 15 minutes or so before they shut off the servers until the next beta weekend

One such weekend, they ended it with a whole bunch of Gwens spawning and casting fire storm. Of course this was in towns too, so you couldn't fight back, you could try to run, but it wasn't just one Gwen there were a bunch. I bet you could find a video of it on Youtube if you searched.

The only time I ever stayed up late enough to see one of these type of things, there were devs in different districts of Ascalon using some function to make people incredibly tiny or gigantic. they could also make us all do the same emote at the same time. It was weird.

Nice April Fools idea for this year? would stir up nostalgia for the old players

Saelis Scarfang · Jan 30, 2008, 10:04 AM // 10:04

I think it was Gwen's voice in the narration at the start of Prophecies, "The last day dawns on the kingdom of Ascalon" etc.

She just seems like the one character people just can't stop asking questions about, especially with all the stuff like the broken flute, her mom in the Underworld, etc.

If only I didn't know that she'd return in Eye of the North, there would've been a little more kick to the cinematic when she said, "My name is Gwen."

Had I not known about her reappearance I probably would've fallen off my chair. ><

Necrotic · Jan 30, 2008, 10:34 AM // 10:34

If I wasn't on dial-up atm....I would load up some of the screenies I saved of those days. Fond memories....I would actually let the Main Title theme music play out completely before logging in to play

But yeah....it was the Final Beta weekend before release that we had dozens of Gwens running around saying things like "Mommy told me to not play with fire but mommy's dead", "Don't touch me there <random player's name>" and "I don't like you <your name>" usually followed by a renamed version of Inferno catching you for 1000 damage I think it was.....instant death. Oh and there were Wurms too. Fireworks.....can't forget the fireworks.

Funny thing about the whole "death by Gwen" thing....I'm fairly certain that we (the Guru community) asked for it in the forums. I remember thinking to myself "Could this mean that the devs will actually read the forums and listen to what the players want???"

Edit: No Saelis that was not intended to be Gwen.....though the voice actor may be the same....after all several talents from popular Anime gave life to the characters.