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Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns Expansion Confirmed

SBFordSBFord Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
in News & Features Discussion

ArenaNet has confirmed that Heart of Thorns is indeed an expansion for Guild Wars 2. The confirmation came during this weekend's PAX South convention. We are live blogging the event.

Official Site is Up! - https://heartofthorns.guildwars2.com/en

A few things of interest:


  • A new profession, The Revenant. Rytlock is the first one and brings the skills back with him from the Mists

  • Mastery System is basically account based alternate advancement for level 80 characters. Continual and ongoing for all characters. Basically GW2's version of AA, but account wide.

  • New specializations for each profession.  Example: Ranger can learn to become a Druid. 

  • New weapons for professions: Necromancer gets its Greatsword, Engineers getting Hammers. More to come.

  • Guild Vs. Guild finally coming to GW2! How's it changing? Guild Leaderboard, and set Guild Teams.

  • Guild Halls coming in Heart of Thorns too! Home base for you and your guild to grow, build, and relax in.

  • Legendaries are about to get more awesome, as Precursors can now be obtained through the Mastery system. Along with new precursors and new legendaries as well.

  • New Stronghold game mode for SPVP.

  • New WvW Borderland!

Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns features

Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is the first expansion for Guild Wars 2. Founded on the idea that the journey is the goal, the Heart of Thorns expansion continues the Guild Wars 2 tradition of challenging the conventions of MMOs to fulfill the promise of what online worlds should be.

The Heart of Maguuma

New adventures await you in the heart of the Maguuma Jungle. Confront the growing hordes of Mordremoth’s minions, discover allies from ancient civilizations, and battle new enemies.


  • Tackle challenging group content.

  • Explore new open world jungle maps.

  • Experience new events and storylines.

  • Test your mettle in new boss battles.

The Mastery System

We’re reimagining progression with our new Mastery system. Explore new training opportunities for your character beyond level 80 and master abilities like hang gliding in the jungle, tearing the bark off of heavily armored Mordrem, or building new collections that earn precursors to a legendary weapon.

New Profession: Revenant

Channel legendary powers to slaughter foes and unleash chaos on the battlefield with our brand new profession: the revenant. Enter the field of battle heavily armored and equipped with the otherworldly powers of the Mists.

Specializations

Evolve your gameplay. With profession specializations, you’ll unlock access to a weapon previously unavailable to your profession as well as new traits, skills, and unique mechanics – all of which will transform your profession into something new.

PvP: New Stronghold Game Mode

Gather supply to hire soldiers. Battle for control of heroes. Man the trebuchet to defend your stronghold, and storm the enemy gates to defeat the guild lord! Use our new guild team feature to team up and battle to the top of the leaderboards. Stronghold offers an entirely new way to play competitive PvP in Guild Wars 2!

WvW: New Borderland

Experience epic battlefield combat like never before in World vs. World’s latest core addition, the new Borderlands map. Navigate treacherous heights with traps that blow your foes to the depths below and ferocious defenders to help keep the enemy at bay. Map objectives will be more important than ever before, as they’ll unlock new strategies, tactics, and play mechanics that you’ll want to use to your world’s advantage!

Guild Halls

Your guild has roamed the world together. Now, it’s time to claim a piece of it. Work with fellow guild members to claim and grow your own guild hall in the heart of Maguuma.


¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 


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Comments

  • BeanpuieBeanpuie Member UncommonPosts: 812
    Guild Halls confirmed
  • BloodaxesBloodaxes Member EpicPosts: 4,662

    I'm still sceptical until I see some of those new abilities.

    He was kinda vague.

    I really REALLY hope they add more abilities to the weapons itself not the traits.


  • SaluteSalute Member UncommonPosts: 795
    Hallelujah!!!

    All Time Favorites: EQ1, WoW, EvE, GW1
    Playing Now: WoW, ESO, GW2

  • Unknown

    Engineer with hammer and drone pets

    Ranger with staff called DRUID

    Necromancer with greatsword

    Mesmer with sword and shield(probably)

    New class

    New pvp mode

    New borderlands

    GvG and Guild Halls

    Mastery System

    New maps and pve content

    image

  • meonthissitemeonthissite Member UncommonPosts: 917
    Originally posted by Bloodaxes

    I'm still sceptical until I see some of those new abilities.

    He was kinda vague.

    I really REALLY hope they add more abilities to the weapons itself not the traits.

    I am too and seeing the advancement you see they promised us before that there wouldn't be a grind and then they added ascended grinding to the mix so we'll see.

  • YaevinduskYaevindusk Member RarePosts: 2,094

     

    Was disappointed in the location of the expansion and lack of a new race... though the Plate wearing Ritualist (Revenant) that can channel the spirits of GW1 characters is interesting.

     

    Glad to see secondary professions of sorts with the existing professions.  Guild Halls are nice, but I'm still waiting for personal housing.

     

    Gives me hope we'll see other locations in the future, such as Cantha and Elona.  In addition to new professions or races.

    Due to frequent travel in my youth, English isn't something I consider my primary language (and thus I obtained quirky ways of writing).  German and French were always easier for me despite my family being U.S. citizens for over a century.  Spanish I learned as a requirement in school, Japanese and Korean I acquired for my youthful desire of anime and gaming (and also work now).  I only debate in English to help me work with it (and limit things).  In addition, I'm not smart enough to remain fluent in everything and typically need exposure to get in the groove of things again if I haven't heard it in a while.  If you understand Mandarin, I know a little, but it has actually been a challenge and could use some help.

    Also, I thoroughly enjoy debates and have accounts on over a dozen sites for this.  If you wish to engage in such, please put effort in a post and provide sources -- I will then do the same with what I already wrote (if I didn't) as well as with my responses to your own.  Expanding my information on a subject makes my stance either change or strengthen the next time I speak of it or write a thesis.  Allow me to thank you sincerely for your time.
  • Unknown
    all that and not even an estimated release date.
  • ion2089ion2089 Member UncommonPosts: 1
    I'm hoping for a cantha expansion.... meh. This is non-sense mate.
  • observerobserver Member RarePosts: 3,685
    The most disappointing thing is that only 1 region will be released.  Basically just 1 zone added, or several of them such as the shiverpeaks or orr.
  • MikehaMikeha Member EpicPosts: 9,196
    This looks like a really good expansion.
  • uggeh12uggeh12 Member UncommonPosts: 44
    Originally posted by jonesing22
    all that and not even an estimated release date.

    If it's anything like the GW1 expansion releases I would say 3-4 months. That was kind of ArenaNet's standard time between announcement and release of expansions.

     

    I like what they showed so far and I'm excited to see more info come out over the next few months.

  • iGumballStariGumballStar Member UncommonPosts: 106

    They said that it is going to be the most complex region with three different floors. Hopefully, it is bigger than what people are imagining.

  • uggeh12uggeh12 Member UncommonPosts: 44
    Originally posted by observer
    The most disappointing thing is that only 1 region will be released.  Basically just 1 zone added, or several of them such as the shiverpeaks or orr.
     

    They said its going to be the biggest zone in game. They also said it will have three seperate tiers, Ground level, Root level and Canopy. So it should be sort of be like 3 huge zones in 1.

  • cheyanecheyane Member LegendaryPosts: 9,386
    Well,well it looks like a good expansion. 
    Garrus Signature
  • HarikenHariken Member EpicPosts: 2,680
    Ranger's can turn into druids and use a staff. I don't get it. It just sounds to strange.
  • SeariasSearias Member UncommonPosts: 743
    Kind of excited about the flying mounts (gliders), the new profession, and guild vs guild pvp, but other than that it didn't really impress me much. However, I am sure they will announce more stuff later on. Only problem now is I can't remember my password for guildwars 2, I guess it's time for me to reset my password again :P.

    <InvalidTag type="text/javascript" src="http://www.gamebreaker.tv/cce/e.js"></script><div class="cce_pane" content-slug="which-world-of-warcraft-villain-are-you" ctype="quiz" d="http://www.gamebreaker.tv"></div>;

  • azzamasinazzamasin Member UncommonPosts: 3,105
    Hopefully the Revenant is the Hybrid Magic/Melee heavy armor the game desperately needs.

    Sandbox means open world, non-linear gaming PERIOD!

    Subscription Gaming, especially MMO gaming is a Cash grab bigger then the most P2W cash shop!

    Bring Back Exploration and lengthy progression times. RPG's have always been about the Journey not the destination!!!

    image

  • LudwikLudwik Member UncommonPosts: 407
    We'll see.

    We may not see this expansion till 2017 or far more likely, we'll see it at the end of 2015 without 85% of the cool features mentioned.

    ANet has always been the king of the hype train.
  • iGumballStariGumballStar Member UncommonPosts: 106
    Originally posted by Hyanmen
    Originally posted by jonesing22
    all that and not even an estimated release date.

    The game released a year before FFXIV, yet is releasing its first expansion potentially a year after FFXIV's?

    I'm sorry for you GW2 fanbase, I truly am.

     

    When GW2 gets bashed to the ground and re-releases, maybe they would release an expansion faster after sucn an incident.

  • mrneurosismrneurosis Member UncommonPosts: 314
    [mod edit]
  • HyanmenHyanmen Member UncommonPosts: 5,357
    Originally posted by mrneurosis
    Originally posted by iGumballStar
    Originally posted by Hyanmen
    Originally posted by jonesing22
    all that and not even an estimated release date.

    The game released a year before FFXIV, yet is releasing its first expansion potentially a year after FFXIV's?

    I'm sorry for you GW2 fanbase, I truly am.

     

    When GW2 gets bashed to the ground and re-releases, maybe they would release an expansion faster after sucn an incident.

    Don't mind him this is all he does. Jump from one MMO forum to another beating drum of how awesome FFXIV is.

    Just hit report button and mods will take care of these foolish attempts to start flame wars.

    Yes, it's not like my point is extremely valid, heh.

    Using LOL is like saying "my argument sucks but I still want to disagree".
  • mrneurosismrneurosis Member UncommonPosts: 314
    Originally posted by Hyanmen
    Originally posted by mrneurosis
    Originally posted by iGumballStar
    Originally posted by Hyanmen
    Originally posted by jonesing22
    all that and not even an estimated release date.

    The game released a year before FFXIV, yet is releasing its first expansion potentially a year after FFXIV's?

    I'm sorry for you GW2 fanbase, I truly am.

     

    When GW2 gets bashed to the ground and re-releases, maybe they would release an expansion faster after sucn an incident.

    Don't mind him this is all he does. Jump from one MMO forum to another beating drum of how awesome FFXIV is.

    Just hit report button and mods will take care of these foolish attempts to start flame wars.

    Yes, it's not like my point is extremely valid, heh.

    There is difference between making a valid point and rubbing into everyones face just to be obnoxious. You have been doing this  a lot lately.

    Anyways you are not baiting me into FFXIV vs GW2 nonsense. So i will just pay no attention to you.

  • HyanmenHyanmen Member UncommonPosts: 5,357
    Originally posted by mrneurosis

    There is difference between making a valid point and rubbing into everyones face just to be obnoxious. You have been doing this  a lot lately.

    Anyways you are not baiting me into FFXIV vs GW2 nonsense. So i will just pay no attention to you.

    I am not baiting anyone. I simply stated the facts. GW2 players deserve better. That is my opinion.

    There's no need to be upset.

    Using LOL is like saying "my argument sucks but I still want to disagree".
  • bcbullybcbully Member EpicPosts: 11,843
    All classes get to use one other weapon, 1 elite skill, 1 heal, and couple utilities. I'm kinda disappointed here. The lack of player customization/skills is what turned me off GW2 to begin with. I was hoping for a lot more here. Especially because this will be all you get for 2 1/2 years or so... image
  • GwapoJoshGwapoJosh Member UncommonPosts: 1,030
    There will be a playable beta at Pax East in 6 weeks.. Just announced.

    "You are all going to poop yourselves." BillMurphy

    "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone."

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