A Guardian's Tale: Part Two Defending Shaemoor

Written by: Scott Hawkes (Twitter @jarimor - Google+) | April 2, 2012 12:40 pm

67 Comments

Beware bow-crazy centaurs.

Last time I had a look at creating a human character and the choices that form personal story in Guild Wars 2. In this installment, I’ll show you the very first event that human characters will stumble into as soon as they enter the game proper.

Along the way, you’ll get to see me make a prat out of myself, as well as taking a look at the first mace skills and the general mayhem and splendor on offer at the outset in GW2.

WARNING: If you want to approach the game with completely fresh eyes, please be aware this video will be spoiler-heavy for the beginning experience.

A Guardian's Tale: Part Two Defending Shaemoor

7:17

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http://twitter.com/WaylandX JB

Great Info Scott!! Keep the GW2 info flowing !
- ScottHawkes
  
  Thanks JB, this week should see some structured PvP and the next part of this series.
Scyfo

I’ve not watched it yet (lol) But thank you for making this series
- ScottHawkes
  
  Heheh thanks
Scyfo

Thankyou for making this series
- ScottHawkes
  
  You’re welcome Scyfo, thanks for taking the time to comment.
http://twitter.com/coreyctom Corey

awesome! so amazing to see an MMO making the beginning of the game exciting and epic. btw, starting from the point you get knocked out by the exploding boss, it’s all a dream……..sorry, had to say it. lol. NINE DAYS!
- ScottHawkes
  
  Hmm that explains why my mother is in the next chapter. Thanks Corey.
Cyclops07

Nice video Scott! Looked so fun, I’m jealous that I didn’t get in to try my hand at it, but thanks for posting these vids so we can get a feel for what we will experience in game
- ScottHawkes
  
  Thanks Cyke, it was a lot of fun, have no doubt.
http://twitter.com/Broadcastorm Vladislav Perge

Cool stuff- but I will keep throwing donations because GBTV needs to get you better microphone ASAP!
http://twitter.com/borded nathan law

psh, captain thackery never failed divinity’s reach my ass. captain thackery failed the entire god damned world.
- JJGlyph
  
  I would have left those Destiny’s Edge scrubs in mortal danger to go see my woman too.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=607995600 David Andrew Sills

Great video and nice commentary! Are you a fellow Englishmen or am I getting confused?
- ScottHawkes
  
  Nope I am a fellow Englishman. And usually I’m confused.
http://twitter.com/dularr the Resto Druid

Thanks Scott, great video. Very enjoyable. Answered several questions about questing, you just have to be very aware about whats happening around you. Loved the event, but so many questions. How did the event get triggered? How many players did it take? How long did it take to trigger the event? Can you fail at the event? Can you skip the event? Was there a mix of classes in the event? How did you learn about your abilities? The event is reminiscent of Rift, but seems much more integrated into the story.
- JJGlyph
  
  This event is not representative of the system as a whole. It is basically a starter area for new players. Once you beat the Elemental boss you will be thrust out into the world that is full of pass/fail events.
  
  There are also renowned events which can’t be failed. They are often confused with dynamic events since they can also be a co-operative effort.
  - http://twitter.com/dularr the Resto Druid
    
    Thank you, it kept getting compared to a raid boss. Instanced raids require significant preparation, effort and coordination. Loved seeing a great story encounter so early in the starting zone.
JJGlyph

Nice to see a press member taking the time to fill out the beta feedback. I agree with your rating the difficulty so low. Even for a new character area that was too much of a faceroll fest. Then all of a sudden you get 1 shotted. Seems like their balance is a mess right now.

They’ve been showing off this elemental boss for over a year now. I trust Anet will balance the event scaling, but so far it’s not looking so hot.
- ScottHawkes
  
  Tbh the one shot is simply a script aspect to introduce you to the revive mechanic, hence Thackeray’s shield and being given the time to get up in a way that is a bit more forgiving than in the regular encounters.
  Remember this is an event that goes off in the first 15 minutes of the game, so it’s an introductory phase.
  - JJGlyph
    
    I’ve seen a few videos where the events have broken balance when you get more than 2 people doing them. Did you experience any others?
    - ScottHawkes
      
      Not really to be honest, the events where it was easy because there were gangs of people weren’t really designed to be focused on the challenge anyway, particularly the opening events in the starter area. I could have completed them solo with ease and it was more about just pitching in and having fun.
      The events that took place in enclosed locations (such as caves) could still be challenging even with a group.
      To do a comparison to WoW, it’s like comparing the balance of an heroic to the first quests your character gets in the newbie area, because the events look like a raid/dungeon it can be confusing when observing because many of them aren’t there for that kind of experience.
      - ArcherAvatar
        
        This looks SO much better than the starter/tutorial areas of other games, I think folks can be forgiven for getting the wrong idea… on a related note: hopefully folks QQing about “end game” will come to realize that the most interesting, and challenging content in GW2 isn’t walled off behind hideous grinds for xp or gear – it’s available right at the beginning, and continues throughout each stage of progression.
        Can’t wait to see the next part in this series.
      - ScottHawkes
        
        I think the approach ArenaNet is taking is atypical, there are a number of aspects of Guild Wars 2 which will take a little getting used to, including not being used to a starter quest looking like it was produced by Peter Jackson.
        I know I kept having to remind myself that I could move while casting. You’ll also see how I make great use of dodge. But only if you close your eyes and imagine it…
      - ArcherAvatar
        
        You know… one of the first things folks should do is re-map Dodge to the spacebar and Jump to whatever Dodge was on… or ANet should just go ahead and do it for them as the default setting.
        .
        (I say Dodge on the spacebar because you want it on the left thumb so it can be used during movement in any direction.)
        .
        I realize folks are very happy about Jump… but it’s not likely to save you the way Dodge will…
http://twitter.com/Nvrdie666 Nvrdie

The recording is very clear, is this Fraps at work?

You do realize (damn I hate American spell checkers) that you are the only content producer who didnt release a joke on April 1st.
- http://twitter.com/Coldsnap187 James Vermilling
  
  America is always right!!!!!!!
- ScottHawkes
  
  Yep it’s Fraps Nvr.
http://www.kaiketsu.enjin.com/ Corey Jenkins

This is actually one of the first times in any recent GW2 gameplay vid that I’ve really been able to hear the BGM this clearly, and I have to say its pretty epic! Along with all the other elements of the game, Arenanet has done a great job of making you actually feel heroic, which I think is an element that has been missing from more recent rpg’s, so once again hats off to arena net and thanks for the great video’s and commentary as always Scott.
- ScottHawkes
  
  Thanks very much Corey, I also think the score is fantastic. The thunderstorm sounds so close too it really adds to the sense of imminent danger. Great stuff.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Hamilton/1150725720 Ryan Hamilton

Oh wow, that’s some crazy AoE you’ve got already. Makes it seem even more epic. I like the way the quest dialog happens too. Awesome stuff.
- ScottHawkes
  
  Thanks for commenting Ryan, yeah it all combines to be a pretty superb experience.
http://twitter.com/zoucat07 Tyler Huffman

That looks amazing Scott. I’m very envious.
- ScottHawkes
  
  Won’t be long and everyone can jump in Tyler, thanks for the comment.
tommythepower

The VO for your character is the same guy who have the VO for the jedi consular in swtor.
- http://twitter.com/Naqaj Naqaj
  
  It’s Nolan North. Check his IMDB page, he has done one or two other games …
Senatic

Seen this part so many times but it was still interesting to watch with your commentary, good job on that! One small criticism, it was a bit hard to hear what you were saying at times while the fighting was going on. Other then that excellent video, eagerly awaiting more!
- ScottHawkes
  
  Thanks Senatic, still working on sound, sorry about that hopefully I’ll have it sorted for the next vid.
http://www.facebook.com/K0oty Samuel Koty Kotula

Thanks for new fresh GW2 content Scott ! I hope you have a lot of content to show us, because next Beta weeked is so far away.
- ScottHawkes
  
  Plenty more to come Samuel: several dynamic events, the whole of the first arc of the personal story and some PvP.
  - http://www.facebook.com/K0oty Samuel Koty Kotula
    
    Awesome ! Thanks again
http://www.facebook.com/people/Robbert-de-Wilde/1806039882 Robbert de Wilde

Looking forward to the rest of your journey
- ScottHawkes
  
  Thank you Robert, more to come this week.
STORM-GUILD

I’m loving the gameplay vids, but would love to know every now and then what spec system it is being tested on.
- ScottHawkes
  
  Good point Storm, I’ll mention that in the next vid. Thanks.
http://twitter.com/c3o5nnect J

Nice work Scott, u have a good voice for commentary. The guardian pic you used for the preview is a beaut… gotta love ANet concept art.
- ScottHawkes
  
  Thanks J much appreciated. And yes ANet have some tremendous artists.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Steve-Lazarowitz/100000420795554 Steve Lazarowitz

A really good intro. Good to see you guys are on the band wagon now. I remember watching some shows a while back, and some of the guys treated GW 2 with a good deal of skepticism. Rightly so, I might add. To see guys like Mike B and Gary jump on the bandwagon is well worth the time I’ve spent watching you guys.
http://twitter.com/SneakyFatKid7 Elias Yannopoulos

Scott went to a noob zone and a raid broke out
- ScottHawkes
  
  I’m just a trouble maker
Revanhavoc

I’m telling you right now, I had never been more excited for a game then with SWTOR, and yet none of the videos they put out of actual gameplay had me as enthralled as this walkthrough.

Bioware knows how to make a trailer, that’s for sure. But the pure gameplay didn’t live up to the trailer set-pieces. In GW2 they have epic fights right off the bat, with the Battle of Helm’s Deep kind of camraderie, with enemies at the gates - and that was only the starting zone.

I don’t think I was this excited after seeing the Black Talon video, but I’ve been so heartbroken by that game it’s tough to remember the good times, only the arguments, the slammed doors, the tears…

But of course there was always the great make-up se-…Nevermind.
http://twitter.com/Thaguf Thaguf

Another great video, you should consider doing more in other betas.
- ScottHawkes
  
  Thanks Thaguf, that’s a distinct possibility.
Krzysztof Kotarba

don’t you dare to make nord or charr story quest… i don’t want spoilers… continiue your guardian. I think this might be first ever paladin kind class that is not sparkly gay
- ArcherAvatar
  
  You do realize you can choose to watch, or not, whether they make videos about the norn, or charr, or any of the other races… right? If you don’t want spoilers, here’s a suggestion: don’t watch videos clearly labelled with spoiler warnings, or which indicate they are going to directly show storyline.
  Also, how about not using racial or sexual slurs? In addition to being offensive to most folks, they also make you appear ignorant.
  - http://twitter.com/c3o5nnect J
    
    Oh the irony of your comment… He was obviously joking. Try not to be so uptight.
    - ArcherAvatar
      
      First, look up the definition of the word “irony.”
      Second, it wasn’t obvious to me.
      Third, when folks use abussive slurs (racial or sexual) then any “humor” they were attempting is completely lost on me.
      - http://twitter.com/Happykitsune Happykitsune
        
        J means it’s ironic that you’re telling someone else they look ignorant when you’re misspelling words and look ignorant as well… oh the irony. Lighten up!
      - Jay
        
        Thanks, I’m glad I’m not the only one who saw it.
JJGlyph

Is it possible you guys could include an option to turn autoplay off? Gets annoying when commenting^^
Brandon Carpenter

Wow very entertaining, hope to see more!
- ScottHawkes
  
  Your wish is my command Brandon. Except that one about the cash, can’t do much about that sorry,
http://twitter.com/brockmcclure Brock Mcclure

moar! please
- ScottHawkes
  
  Moar coming soon!
http://www.facebook.com/duanedkinney Duane David Kinney

I like how you hang out a lot longer in the starter area than most people. I plan taking things slow and leveling as much as I can in each area so I can be the appropriate level for each personal story chapter.
- ScottHawkes
  
  Yeah I like to take my time Duane, particularly when there’s a lot to experience. I don’t think rushing past content in Guild Wars 2 makes much sense.
http://twitter.com/Shiandi_85 Helen Pomfret

Thanks for making these Scott, I’m really looking forward to the personal story aspect of the game.