PC Guild Wars 2

So um, I figured I would mention that I went and bought the two more recent Guild Wars books: 'Ghosts of Ascalon' and 'Edge of Destiny'. I've already finished 'Ghosts' and am probably about halfway through 'Edge'.

I really enjoyed Ghosts, but I think the authors kind of dragged the story at parts and then other parts felt rushed together. However, I still found the book as a whole to be a decent story that included a good look into the world of Tyria that Guild Wars 2 will take place in. Though Ghosts was published in June of 2010, it is actually a tale that takes place 5 years after the events of the newly published book 'Edge of Destiny'.

Edge of Destiny is titled so because it's about a group of legendary heroes called Destiny's Edge. A group that, if anyone has seen the original trailers for Guild Wars 2, you might find familiar. Even checking the GW2 site you can't not see pictures of them, at each race's main page, one of the heroes is the first picture you see since there was one for each race. So far from my reading 'Edge' has been written very well and there's always something happening. The story and plot are moving very fluidly which the previous book, written by different authors, did not do nearly as well. Some of the legendary heroes had brief appearances in the first book, but that story was not about them, 'Edge' is though and I have to say it really puts a depth to these characters that I can appreciate.

I love reading lore about an mmo that I'm interested in and these books are about as official as you can make it besides experiencing it in the actual game, which we won't be able to do until either June or July of this year. If anyone has been curious about the books, I can say, they are worth the money. I am so looking forward to finishing 'Edge of Destiny'.. but that'll take a day or two if not longer if I don't read it on my days off. I've actually managed to find myself laughing at a few of the more amusing parts of the book due to the interactions of the characters. It's great.

One other thing I will mention about the books. Possible hints toward one of the hidden classes but also question arising about one of the races. There is complete mentioning that the main character in 'Ghosts' is basically what I would call a Thief (though he doesn't steal things outside of treasure wrought from adventuring, he does own a lockpicking set and is generally tasked with disarming traps). And so far all the Asurans I've read about do not seem to take on any type of class role like some of the other main characters do. All of the Asuran's, despite their varied personalities, all tend to tinker and create things- be it magical golem constructs or gadgets and potions. It's quite curious.

Classes that I have been able to label on characters for certain, would be: Necromancer (1), Guardian (1), Ranger(1), Warrior (lots of the characters fall under this in my opinion). There's also been mention of Elementalists, though I don't think I've seen any characters with this role. It's possible that as the 3 remaining hidden classes are revealed it could reveal that certain characters I labeled as a warrior may in fact have been something completely different.

Actually now that I realize it, there has been another profession mentioned: Queen Jennah, ruler of the only true human city 'Divinity's Reach', has been called a Mesmer "of extraordinary power" (so apparently there are other mesmers) and apparently they have psychic abilities, amplification abilities and are able to charm things or perhaps cast charms on people. Sounds like a possible magic/buffing class.
 
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I haven't read them yet but Tristam seemed to enjoy them. Thanks for the review!

In related news, GW had a huge update that will make filling up the hall of monuments easier so people can get the rewards for GW2.

Embark Beach

* Added the Embark Beach location to the Battle Isles.
* Added new Zaishen Vanquish quests to Embark Beach.

Heroes

* Mercenary Hero Slots are available for purchase from the In-Game Store and the NCsoft Store.
* Added Mercenary Registrars to the Great Temple of Balthazar, Lion’s Arch, Eye of the North, Kaineng Center, and Kamadan, Jewel of Istan.
* Raised the party maximum on Heroes from three to seven.

Pre-Searing Updates

* New Pre-Searing quests are available from Lieutenant Langmar in Ascalon City.
* Added Kimmes the Historian to Ascalon City.
* Added the skills vendor Halbrik to Ascalon City.

Title Updates

* The Drunkard title now awards points based upon the number and strength of drinks consumed.
* The Survivor title now awards rank based upon the most experience gained between deaths.

UI Updates

* Added an online status drop-down box to the character select screen.
* Added a "Ready" status drop-down box to the party window.
http://www.guildwars.com/support/gameupdates/
 
Figured I would mention I finished up the last little bit of Edge of Destiny on Friday night while at work. I found the book, from beginning to end, to be highly captivating and engaging. My only dislike was the final 9 - 10 pages, aka. the end. I don't want to spoil anything but I will say the book ends on kind of a highly depressing note, leaving a very somber mood that I certainly was not expecting.

And as a correction to an earlier statement - There is finally one Asura main character that is an Elementalist, but seriously, she's the only one I've ever read about in either of the books that fit a class role.

Another thing I'm curious about, but Caithe the Sylvari who could only best be described as a nimble, agile thief (though it was never actually said that any of the main characters were a specific class, you are able to put two and two together) uses stilettos as weapons. When I hear that, specially the way it's described, I can only picture some kind of spiked high heel that's being used as her main weapons, though it's also written that she uses daggers as well. Very curious. That would be an extraordinary unique weapon type if they actually have them in the main game for female characters.
 
I am thinking that this time around, considering the way there seems to be a variety of way to play the classes so far shown based on weapon types. Perhaps thief can play like an assassin. If you consider ranger has some pretty bad-ass looking melee abilities when dual wielding axes, perhaps dual dagger thief types will play more assassin-like and strike at vitals perhaps even have the ability to locate weak points on monsters (lowering defenses).

(after typing the above, I decided to check out the GW2 website and gaze upon the new Thief page)

It looks like a dual wielding dagger thief does play more assassin-like with quick abilities. I have to say, reading that page was very interesting and I really think they're doing a great job with how they're handling making each class have a variety of different play styles while still fitting a basic trend for the class as a whole.

I also did realize that there is a dagger called a stiletto, but it never quite sounded like those were what she was using, yet at the same time I suppose it could be. I did kind of envision her being a total badass killing things with spiked/bladed special high heels while I read the book though, lol. Some of the descriptions of how she would take out an enemy were hard to wrap my mind around but in a way still kind of made sense with that image of her. Oh well.
 
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