Curse

Mordakai · Jun 25, 2009, 10:23 PM // 22:23

I'll be updating this with new info, pics when they become available.

Everything here is conjecture based on different sources, NOT official.

Iron Citadel Charr capital, possible starting location for Charr characters. Built by Iron Legion on the ruins of the human city of Rin.

Divinity's Reach Capital of Kryta, and possible Human starting location.

Arbor Bay Location of the tree that grows the Sylvari race. Called Ventari's Sanctuary or Ronan's Refuge by fans, the island does not have an official name yet.

Ebonhawke Last Ascalon stronghold versus the Charr. Located where the eastern Blazeridge and western Shiverpeak Mountains merge. Probable location of some casual PvP events. Probable outpost that leads to Charr controlled areas of Ascalon.

Confirmed Ebonhawke pic (thanks to pumpkin pie for posting)

Lion's Arch The new "Battle Isles", populated by pirates, mercenaries and the priests of Balthazar. Here will probably be GvG battles, the GW2 version of Hero's Hall, and other PvP events.

Ascalon City Now a literal ghost city, the eternal defenders of Ascalon fight friend and foe alike. (Expect Mission to return legendary swords to their rightful owners to quell the spirit of King Adelbern and his followers).

Corrupted Orr
Orrian Dragon homebase, will probably be end-game or elite area. "Only the greatest of heroes dare venture within the ruined cities of Orr; to adventure there is to face the dragon and its minions directly, and that creature's power is not to be underestimated."

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...6714208&ref=mf

....more to come

EDIT: It's also possible that the actual starting areas will be more like tutorial areas, with Iron Citadel, Divinity's Reach, Rata Sum, etc. being each races capital city that must be traveled to in game. This wouldn't work for the Sylvari.

If anyone has ideas at all about possible Norn "capitals", please post!

Kwith · Jun 25, 2009, 11:06 PM // 23:06

A couple more possibilies:

Rata Sum Above world capitol of the Asura. Possible start for them.

Arbor Bay The supposed birthplace of the Sylvari. Possibly the starting location for them.

Dont Nerf The Perma · Jun 25, 2009, 11:18 PM // 23:18

why not make it simple and have them all start at the same place? it'd b easier if say as a charr cub you're seperated from your pack and rescued by humans and they take you to the place where all charecters meet at a starting point?

Konig Des Todes · Jun 25, 2009, 11:38 PM // 23:38

I would say the beginning of Asura would be at the (in GW1) ruined temple where you end the quest "O Brave New World" - as Rata Sum was a quickly made location, the temple, imo, would make a better home for a bright light-hating race.

And I'd disagree with all the races starting in the same place. For your example, Charr cubs would more than likely be killed off by a majority of humans - especially Ascalonians/former Ascalonians. Would be more likely, lore wise, that a Charr adult left his warband for a guild for fighting in things like the Hall of Heroes. Though, due to the Charr loyalty, that wouldn't make much sense (in a PvE lore sense).

Shewmake · Jun 26, 2009, 12:53 AM // 00:53

I'd rather the starting place be different for each race like LOTRO.

Robbeh The Mad · Jun 26, 2009, 01:06 AM // 01:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dont Nerf The Perma

why not make it simple and have them all start at the same place? it'd b easier if say as a charr cub you're seperated from your pack and rescued by humans and they take you to the place where all charecters meet at a starting point?

Horrible idea based on the fact that if I play a Charr character I want a Charr story. I don't want some goofy rised by humans crap that would in the end leave my character wondering just who the hell he is. Leave my ruthless human hateing future Charr warrior out of your boo-hoo storylines.

Mordakai · Jun 26, 2009, 01:55 AM // 01:55

I agree there will be different starting places. ArenaNet has been careful to build up distinct histories and beginnings for all the "new" races, I doubt they will all start in the same area.

So, I hope all the playable races will all have unique starting areas, with unique quests and stories. It will give players a good reason to try out all the races!

Good ideas on possible Asura starting points, and I agree the Sylvari will start near their tree in Arbor Bay.

Any ideas on Norn starting areas? It would be cool if they started at Droknar's Forge, since the story is they move into the dwarves old territory thanks to the Dragon of Ice and Snow.

Hanging Man · Jun 26, 2009, 01:55 AM // 01:55

Cool thanks for posting this.
i like the idea that each race has its own starting point.
specially since it gives you diff point of views each time

Helix Dreadlock · Jun 26, 2009, 02:48 AM // 02:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dont Nerf The Perma

why not make it simple and have them all start at the same place? it'd b easier if say as a charr cub you're seperated from your pack and rescued by humans and they take you to the place where all charecters meet at a starting point?

Yes, because Vanguard love the charr so much, they decide to capture it and make it their own pet.

I'd like to see some of the races fight each other, i.e. in the charr storyline, you fight humans, mursaat, titans, ect.

Oh, and Kwith.....Mursaat isn't a play-able race.

Gmr Leon · Jun 26, 2009, 05:13 AM // 05:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordakai

Any ideas on Norn starting areas? It would be cool if they started at Droknar's Forge, since the story is they move into the dwarves old territory thanks to the Dragon of Ice and Snow.

The Dredge have taken over the Dwarves' old territory, and now the Norn are stuck between the Northern Shiverpeaks and the Far Shiverpeaks. A minor mix-up.

Neo Atomisk · Jun 26, 2009, 05:51 AM // 05:51

I'd say that the Norn will just start in the northern shiverpeaks, as leon said.
We really need a GW2 speculation subforum..

Thor Brackenstall · Jun 26, 2009, 06:36 AM // 06:36

While I understand that there are many problems with the single-start idea, i kinda wish that were true so there would be another 'pre' for gw2 (assuming that its before then after the dragons awaken).

If there are separate starting locations, an easy way out would be somthing like the quest that led us to eotn. Every race would have their own little quest to lead into the 'tunnels', (or in this case maybe an asura gate?) to the eye.

Mordakai · Jun 26, 2009, 06:48 AM // 06:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor Brackenstall

While I understand that there are many problems with the single-start idea, i kinda wish that were true so there would be another 'pre' for gw2 (assuming that its before then after the dragons awaken).

If there are separate starting locations, an easy way out would be somthing like the quest that led us to eotn. Every race would have their own little quest to lead into the 'tunnels', (or in this case maybe an asura gate?) to the eye.

Well, a 'pre' idea could still have separate "home cities." Or, each race could have it's own pre.

Based on Anet history, I feel pretty strongly there will be a tutorial area. And since pre-searing is so special to many fans, we can only hope the area can somehow capture that magic again.

Gmr Leon · Jun 26, 2009, 08:22 AM // 08:22

I'm kind of hoping that it won't start out in any major location though. That is to say, I would hope the tutorial wouldn't happen, with humans, in Divinity Reach or Durmand's Priory, rather, I would prefer it to start in a neutral area, Lion's Arch. Not to mention, that location is perfect for humans to start out in, outcast, mercenary, adventurer, and what-have-you, would be bound to begin there. Matter of fact, could say the same for any of the other races, assuming it has regained its constantly beaten path status. That is, major trade location, or just general gathering point.

In fact, it seems possible, considering it becomes the central nexus for all the guilds of the world. (Odd, considering Tyria's cut off from the rest of the world. Guess Tyria then becomes THE world to them.)

Nature Loves Me · Jun 26, 2009, 09:37 AM // 09:37

Maybe since we're supposedly the Children of the Legends(our selves currently), we could end up starting off as a child/teenager.

FYI: Don't wanna elaborate anymore than that since I really dunno what's gonna happen lol.

As for starting area... I don't know...

Konig Des Todes · Jun 26, 2009, 02:40 PM // 14:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by GmrLeon

The Dredge have taken over the Dwarves' old territory, and now the Norn are stuck between the Northern Shiverpeaks and the Far Shiverpeaks. A minor mix-up.

I don't recall the Norn ever being said to be in the Northern Shiverpeaks. Nor that the Dredge took over all of the dwarven areas in the southern shiverpeak. Even though it makes more sense for the Norn to be in the Northern/Middle shiverpeaks, if that is the case, I don't see where there is an issue between the Norn and the Dredge in their conflict! Two large enough areas, one would think the Norn wouldn't need to travel to the Southern Shiverpeaks if they were only pushed to the Northern.

Logic is failing me on this.

Here is the passage on the Norn going south:

Quote:

An elder dragon of ice and snow arose in the farthest northern peaks, driving even the most stalwart hunters south into Dwarven lands. There they found abandoned Dwarven forts and a new challenge in the form of the Dredge, the old nemeses of the Dwarves, now almost unrecognizable from the primitive, frightened creatures of the past.

I'd think the Norn now occupy from the Iron Mines/Yak's (if not slightly lower) to around Snake Dance (would be plenty close enough to Sorrow's Furnace for the Dredge. Unless the Dredge don't occupy all the Southern Shiverpeak dwarven locations (which would be from Dreadnought's drift to Droknar's Forge, to Thunderhead Keep, to Tasca's Demise - too big, imo, for such a seemingly small race that would rather be underground).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor Brackenstall

While I understand that there are many problems with the single-start idea, i kinda wish that were true so there would be another 'pre' for gw2 (assuming that its before then after the dragons awaken).

Pre cannot happen, as the first dragon to wake up (Primordus) does so about 40 years after EN - the Orrian dragon does so at least 100 years prior to GW2 starts. The only "pre dragon awakening" that can happen would be the Grothmar Dragon awakening.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor Brackenstall

If there are separate starting locations, an easy way out would be somthing like the quest that led us to eotn. Every race would have their own little quest to lead into the 'tunnels', (or in this case maybe an asura gate?) to the eye.

Or the storyline starts from 5 different areas (racial starting) and eventually goes into 5 different storylines (dealing with the different dragons) which are like the EN storyline - can choose your order, but all must be done - then you go to the final dragon (either Orr or Primordus, I'd assume). That, of course, is assuming we kill all the dragons in GW2 and not letting some live/escape. Though the former would give reason for an expansion without making an entirely new enemy ("Malchor" and the Deep Sea Dragon escape and head to Elona/Cantha respectively!)

Mordakai · Jun 26, 2009, 03:06 PM // 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by GmrLeon

I'm kind of hoping that it won't start out in any major location though. That is to say, I would hope the tutorial wouldn't happen, with humans, in Divinity Reach or Durmand's Priory, rather, I would prefer it to start in a neutral area, Lion's Arch. Not to mention, that location is perfect for humans to start out in, outcast, mercenary, adventurer, and what-have-you, would be bound to begin there. Matter of fact, could say the same for any of the other races, assuming it has regained its constantly beaten path status. That is, major trade location, or just general gathering point.

I'm not sure a PvP hub would be the greatest place to start playing a MMORPG. I agree it will be a great meeting place for all the races at some point, but probably not the beginning.

I also don't think the capital cities will be a good place to start, they would be very hectic and overwhelming to new players. (I edited the top post to reflect that). It will be interesting to see what happens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GmrLeon

In fact, it seems possible, considering it becomes the central nexus for all the guilds of the world. (Odd, considering Tyria's cut off from the rest of the world. Guess Tyria then becomes THE world to them.)

Well, Cantha is even more cutoff than Tyria at the moment, and Elona is having it's own problems. It sounds to me like Tyria is the most open of all lands...

Nodakim · Jun 26, 2009, 03:09 PM // 15:09

Actualy we dont know if Tyria will be the only continent on which you will play.
By the GW logo i would think that you could explore the whole wrold of Tyria,not just the continent.
Also I am interested in those northern parts of Tyria.

Mordakai · Jun 26, 2009, 03:26 PM // 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nodakim

Actualy we dont know if Tyria will be the only continent on which you will play.
By the GW logo i would think that you could explore the whole wrold of Tyria,not just the continent.
Also I am interested in those northern parts of Tyria.

Very true, but I think you will at least start in these areas, then branch out.

Does anybody know of a fan-made theoretical GW2 map? I'd like to see all these possible capitals mapped out, and see how far they are from one another...

wow, did a google search for Divinity's reach, and found this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bldgblog/2438141799/

Konig Des Todes · Jun 26, 2009, 03:33 PM // 15:33

@the logo - that is just the center most portion of the continent of tyria.

A GW2 map? None that I know of.

And that concept art/page - old. It's just a work presumed to be Divinity's Coast.