https://massivelyop.com MMORPG news and opinions Sat, 04 Mar 2023 20:39:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-what-lies-beneath-the-next-end-of-dragons-story-has-launched/ https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-what-lies-beneath-the-next-end-of-dragons-story-has-launched/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=428441 Happy anniversary to Guild Wars 2‘s End of Dragons expansion! Can you believe it has been a whole year? In some ways I feel like I’m still learning what End of Dragons has to offer, but in other ways it feels like it’s been ages, given the lack of new content in the game; the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2023/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-what-lies-beneath-the-next-end-of-dragons-story-has-launched/feed/ 19 https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/09/flameseeker-chronicles-how-the-elementalist-saved-guild-wars-2-for-me/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/09/flameseeker-chronicles-how-the-elementalist-saved-guild-wars-2-for-me/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=413204 First off, I know I’m not the usual writer for Flameseeker Chronicles, and I’m not ousting Colin or Tina from their spot; in fact, Colin just delivered impressions of the The Battle for Lion’s Arch yesterday if you’re curious about the latest content release. However, I wanted to offer up some Guild Wars 2 thoughts […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/09/flameseeker-chronicles-how-the-elementalist-saved-guild-wars-2-for-me/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/08/flameseeker-chronicles-wrapping-up-guild-wars-2s-s1-reboot-with-episode-5-the-battle-for-lions-arch/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/08/flameseeker-chronicles-wrapping-up-guild-wars-2s-s1-reboot-with-episode-5-the-battle-for-lions-arch/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=413472 It’s finally here! The most memorable, most important part of Guild Wars 2’s Living World Season 1 story. The moment we’ve all been waiting for: the introduction of Taimi! Oh, and the battle for Lion’s Arch or whatever. But also Taimi! Yes, Guild Wars 2’s Season 1 reboot reaches its conclusion today with the release […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/11/08/flameseeker-chronicles-wrapping-up-guild-wars-2s-s1-reboot-with-episode-5-the-battle-for-lions-arch/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/13/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-restored-s1e4-tower-of-nightmares/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/13/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-restored-s1e4-tower-of-nightmares/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=405096 Here we are at the penultimate episode of Guild Wars 2’s restored and retooled Season 1 content! The pieces are finally starting to fall into place, as Scarlet gathers more allies and monologues more of her evil plot at us. The titular tower plays host to an instance that’s an interesting artifact of Guild Wars […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/13/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-restored-s1e4-tower-of-nightmares/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2022/09/01/the-stream-team-dungeons-dragons-onlines-dragonblood-prophecy/ Fri, 02 Sep 2022 01:00:11 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=403676 With a game called Dungeons & Dragons Online, you expect there to be dragons. And there are! Massively OP’s MJ is embarking on an adventure where she’ll be searching for lost dragons. In Dragonblood Prophecy, her task is to help the Agents of Argonessen (a distant continent ruled by dragons) find out what happened to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/30/flameseeker-chronicles-standout-moments-from-10-years-of-guild-wars-2/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/30/flameseeker-chronicles-standout-moments-from-10-years-of-guild-wars-2/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=403165 Time sure flies when you’re slaying Elder Dragons, doesn’t it? Is it really possible that it has been a decade since our characters first set foot in locations like The Grove, Rata Sum, and The Black Citadel? I thought I would take this opportunity to reminisce about some of the highlights (and some lowlights) from […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/08/30/flameseeker-chronicles-standout-moments-from-10-years-of-guild-wars-2/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/19/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-s1e3-clockwork-chaos/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/19/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-s1e3-clockwork-chaos/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=396895 Ask veteran MMO gamers who the star of Guild Wars 2’s first living world season was, and you’re not likely to hear names like Braham, Marjory, or Mai Trin. The most memorable character from Season 1 was definitely Scarlet Briar. She has, thus far, been absent from the story, but with today’s release, Clockwork Chaos, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/19/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-s1e3-clockwork-chaos/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/12/flameseeker-chronicles-what-could-guild-wars-2s-fourth-expansion-be-about/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/12/flameseeker-chronicles-what-could-guild-wars-2s-fourth-expansion-be-about/#comments Tue, 12 Jul 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=395816 Ever since ArenaNet’s studio leadership came out early in the year and confirmed that planning has begun on a fourth expansion, players have no doubt been mulling over in their heads what that expansion could look like. Thus far, every Guild Wars 2 expansion has, in some way, revolved around Elder Dragons, and now that […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/07/12/flameseeker-chronicles-what-could-guild-wars-2s-fourth-expansion-be-about/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/24/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-guild-wars-2s-restored-living-world-season-1-sky-pirates/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/24/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-guild-wars-2s-restored-living-world-season-1-sky-pirates/#comments Tue, 24 May 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=389203 Ready for another trip down Guild Wars 2’s memory lane, or, perhaps, to experience more of the game’s long-lost stories for the first time? Chapter 2 of Living World Season 1 Returns is now available, and this time it’s all about pirates! And not just boring old water pirates; we’re talking sky pirates, the best […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/05/24/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-guild-wars-2s-restored-living-world-season-1-sky-pirates/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/20/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-restored-living-world-season-1-flame-and-frost/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/20/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-restored-living-world-season-1-flame-and-frost/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=384564 Where were you nine years ago? I don’t know about you, but my life looked very different in 2013 when Guild Wars 2 first released Flame and Frost, its first official Living World update. The game has been through a lot as well, and, while future Living World releases became a part of the game, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/20/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-restored-living-world-season-1-flame-and-frost/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/30/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-open-world-is-not-the-place-for-hardcore-content/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/30/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-open-world-is-not-the-place-for-hardcore-content/#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=380917 If you’re paying any attention to Guild Wars 2, you have, by now, no doubt heard the debate over the Battle for the Jade Sea meta event. On paper, it seems like a fairly standard meta event: It runs every two hours, requires a significant number of players who need to split up into groups […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/30/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-open-world-is-not-the-place-for-hardcore-content/feed/ 54 https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/29/flameseeker-chronicles-unpacking-guild-wars-2s-post-end-of-dragons-producers-letter/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/29/flameseeker-chronicles-unpacking-guild-wars-2s-post-end-of-dragons-producers-letter/#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=380072 Last week, we got a tsunami of good news from Guild Wars 2 studio ArenaNet. Studio directors Colin Johanson and John “JT” Taylor, along with executive producer Amy Liu and game director Josh “Grouch” Davis, penned a letter letting players know what is coming for Guild Wars 2. And let me tell you, it is […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/29/flameseeker-chronicles-unpacking-guild-wars-2s-post-end-of-dragons-producers-letter/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/09/interview-talking-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-soundtrack-with-lead-composer-maclaine-diemer/ Wed, 09 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=378316 Maclaine Diemer is the long-time lead composer for Guild Wars 2, with soundtrack credits going as far back as the very first Living World season, and most recently for the gorgeous score of End of Dragons. Music is an incredibly important part of setting the tone for a world like Tyria, and it adds so […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/01/flameseeker-chronicles-spoiler-free-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/01/flameseeker-chronicles-spoiler-free-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=377104 Remember when “Cantha confirmed” was a Guild Wars 2 meme? I, along with many other players, never thought we’d actually see Cantha in the sequel. And yet, End of Dragons is here and we can finally visit Cantha for ourselves! ArenaNet recently offered press the chance to play the expansion early, so of course I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/01/flameseeker-chronicles-spoiler-free-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons/feed/ 26 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-what-to-do-first-in-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-what-to-do-first-in-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons/#comments Mon, 28 Feb 2022 17:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=377099 Happy launch day! Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons is finally here! A big, meaty chunk of content the likes of which we haven’t seen since 2017. Guild Wars 2 plays host to a wide variety of content types and numerous playstyles, and just about everyone should have something to look forward to in this […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-what-to-do-first-in-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/25/the-most-important-reveals-from-the-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-influencer-sneak-peak/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/25/the-most-important-reveals-from-the-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-influencer-sneak-peak/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=376771 Guild Wars 2 fans are so close to Cantha, they can practically smell the incense wafting out of Shing Jea Monastery. And yet there are still many unanswered questions in many fans’ minds. The gates to Cantha – and the formal media embargo – won’t open for most players until February 28th, but ArenaNet is […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/25/the-most-important-reveals-from-the-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-influencer-sneak-peak/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/23/flameseeker-chronicles-everything-youve-missed-if-you-havent-played-guild-wars-2-since-path-of-fire/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/23/flameseeker-chronicles-everything-youve-missed-if-you-havent-played-guild-wars-2-since-path-of-fire/#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=376381 There are a lot of great MMORPGs out there, and even if you enjoy Guild Wars 2, maybe it’s not your main game. Maybe you got excited for the expansions but haven’t found time for every Living World release, perhaps even not any of them. Now the siren call of End of Dragons has drawn […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/23/flameseeker-chronicles-everything-youve-missed-if-you-havent-played-guild-wars-2-since-path-of-fire/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/08/hands-on-with-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-newly-unveiled-jade-bots-mastery/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/08/hands-on-with-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-newly-unveiled-jade-bots-mastery/#comments Tue, 08 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=374172 With the launch of Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons less than a month away, and the release date finally revealed, ArenaNet has held out one last secret to unveil before launch day, and that is its final mastery track. ArenaNet recently invited us to take a tour of New Kaineng City and get a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/02/08/hands-on-with-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-newly-unveiled-jade-bots-mastery/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/19/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-guild-wars-2s-end-of-dragons-guild-hall-echovald-wilds-and-strike-mission/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/19/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-guild-wars-2s-end-of-dragons-guild-hall-echovald-wilds-and-strike-mission/#comments Wed, 19 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=370982 With Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons expansion set to launch some time in February and the beginning of that month looming on the horizon, excitement from the Guild Wars 2 community is building. Cantha has been a long-requested destination, and it’s almost here! Earlier this month, ArenaNet invited us to take a guided tour […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/01/19/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-guild-wars-2s-end-of-dragons-guild-hall-echovald-wilds-and-strike-mission/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/02/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-siege-turtles-and-updated-end-of-dragons-elite-specs/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/02/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-siege-turtles-and-updated-end-of-dragons-elite-specs/#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=365309 We are finally in the home stretch for Guild Wars 2’s upcoming End of Dragons expansion! With less than three months to go, ArenaNet is currently treating us to one last beta to try out all of the elite specs, as well as the two-seat, hovering, cannon-toting siege turtle mount. I’m a little disappointed we […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/02/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-siege-turtles-and-updated-end-of-dragons-elite-specs/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/09/flameseeker-chronicles-should-guild-wars-2-delete-leveling/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/09/flameseeker-chronicles-should-guild-wars-2-delete-leveling/#comments Tue, 09 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=361446 Leveling is one of those things that you just have to have to count as an RPG, right? It’s expected. At this point, the concept of XP and levels has pervaded virtually every genre of games, from shooter to strategy. You may even encounter it at your job if you have a supervisor who’s into […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/09/flameseeker-chronicles-should-guild-wars-2-delete-leveling/feed/ 34 https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/28/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-specter-untamed-and-mechanist/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/28/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-specter-untamed-and-mechanist/#comments Thu, 28 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=359949 It seems like just yesterday that we were getting hyped for the Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons’ reveal stream. While we still have a few months to wait and likely a few more surprises in store for us before the expansion finally releases, the theorycrafting and character planning can begin because the third elite […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/28/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-specter-untamed-and-mechanist/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/04/fight-or-kite-guild-wars-2s-bladesworn-catalyst-and-vindicator-walk-into-an-arena/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/04/fight-or-kite-guild-wars-2s-bladesworn-catalyst-and-vindicator-walk-into-an-arena/#comments Mon, 04 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=356454 No, there’s no joke there. I just wanted to know if anyone actually saw this happen during the Guild Wars 2 beta test a couple of weeks ago. I certainly did my best to get some game time in with these different specializations, but it can be tough to really do each of them justice. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/10/04/fight-or-kite-guild-wars-2s-bladesworn-catalyst-and-vindicator-walk-into-an-arena/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/29/why-i-play-returning-to-guild-wars-2-and-exploring-elite-specs-after-nine-years/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/29/why-i-play-returning-to-guild-wars-2-and-exploring-elite-specs-after-nine-years/#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=355264 I have a strange history with Guild Wars 2. I fell hard for the pre-launch hype, and when it finally arrived, I loved it and played heavily… for a couple weeks. Then I lost interest, feeling aimless in a game where I wasn’t invested in the story or the world. I’ve poked my head in […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/29/why-i-play-returning-to-guild-wars-2-and-exploring-elite-specs-after-nine-years/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/22/flameseeker-chronicles-test-driving-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-vindicator-bladesworn-and-catalyst-elite-specs/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/22/flameseeker-chronicles-test-driving-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-vindicator-bladesworn-and-catalyst-elite-specs/#comments Wed, 22 Sep 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=354762 It’s time again for another End of Dragons elite specialization beta! It’s an exciting time for Guild Wars 2 players, who are learning what elite specs they will be playing as and alongside in this highly anticipated expansion. This time around we have the Revenant’s damage-support hybrid Vindicator spec, the Warrior’s totally-not-a-Final-Fantasy-XIV-Gunbreaker Bladesworn spec, and the Elementalist’s […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/22/flameseeker-chronicles-test-driving-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-vindicator-bladesworn-and-catalyst-elite-specs/feed/ 18 https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/14/flameseeker-chronicles-everything-we-learned-about-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-fishing-and-skiffs/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/14/flameseeker-chronicles-everything-we-learned-about-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-fishing-and-skiffs/#comments Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=353668 Fishing is one of those weirdly ubiquitous RPG systems. Nobody picks an MMO based on how good its fishing skill is, and nobody complains when a new MMO launches with no fish to catch. Yet, with the launch of End of Dragons, all of the “big five” MMORPGs will have it, and countless other MMORPGs, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/09/14/flameseeker-chronicles-everything-we-learned-about-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-fishing-and-skiffs/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/23/fight-or-kite-how-guild-wars-2s-harbinger-willbender-and-virtuoso-stack-up-in-pvp/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/23/fight-or-kite-how-guild-wars-2s-harbinger-willbender-and-virtuoso-stack-up-in-pvp/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=350755 Guild Wars 2 has always been my go-to home for MMOs. There’s just so much the studio did right when designing the game. But over the last few years, my time in game began to fall off. I just wasn’t super interested in a lot of what ArenaNet was doing. The hype had faded – […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/23/fight-or-kite-how-guild-wars-2s-harbinger-willbender-and-virtuoso-stack-up-in-pvp/feed/ 26 https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/18/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-new-harbinger-virtuoso-and-willbender-elite-specs/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/18/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-new-harbinger-virtuoso-and-willbender-elite-specs/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=350197 One of the most anticipated features of any Guild Wars 2 expansion is unquestionably the addition of new elite specializations. We got our first peek at the first elite spec for End of Dragons, the Mesmer’s Virtuoso, less than a month ago, with teases and details for Harbinger and Willbender in the intervening weeks. ArenaNet […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/18/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-new-harbinger-virtuoso-and-willbender-elite-specs/feed/ 22 https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/03/flameseeker-chronicles-the-end-of-dragons-reveal-didnt-wow-people-and-thats-ok/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/03/flameseeker-chronicles-the-end-of-dragons-reveal-didnt-wow-people-and-thats-ok/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=348096 We finally have our first real peek at the features and story of Guild Wars 2’s third expansion, End of Dragons. It has been a long time since this game got a proper expansion, and hopes were high for what was in store. Could we be getting a new class? A new race? Housing? A […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/08/03/flameseeker-chronicles-the-end-of-dragons-reveal-didnt-wow-people-and-thats-ok/feed/ 14 https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/20/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-outage-analysis-simplified/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/20/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-outage-analysis-simplified/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=345601 For my day job, I’m a software developer, and all of my previous jobs have been IT related in some fashion. I still remember some advice that my supervisor at my first tech-related job gave me: “If we’re doing our job right, no one will know we’re here. When something does break, whether it’s your […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/20/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-outage-analysis-simplified/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/08/flameseeker-chronicles-three-better-ways-guild-wars-2-could-have-wrapped-up-the-icebrood-saga/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/08/flameseeker-chronicles-three-better-ways-guild-wars-2-could-have-wrapped-up-the-icebrood-saga/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2021 15:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=339616 It’s easy to be critical of a game when it lets us down. In some ways, it’s equally easy to fall into the trap of denying the flaws in a thing you love. As much as I love Guild Wars 2, I always want to be honest about its missteps, but I also want my […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/08/flameseeker-chronicles-three-better-ways-guild-wars-2-could-have-wrapped-up-the-icebrood-saga/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/18/the-stream-team-hatching-guild-wars-2-griffon-eggs/ Tue, 18 May 2021 23:55:19 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=336683 After scouring the lands for griffon eggs in Guild Wars 2, Massively OP’s MJ is ready to deliver them to the roosting griffons so they can be cared for and hatched. And once all that is completed, she’ll be able to glide through the skies with her own feathered friend. Join us live at 8:00 […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/18/flameseeker-chronicles-the-disappointing-second-half-of-guild-wars-2s-icebrood-saga/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/18/flameseeker-chronicles-the-disappointing-second-half-of-guild-wars-2s-icebrood-saga/#comments Tue, 18 May 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=336404 Welcome to part two of this overview of Guild Wars 2’s The Icebrood Saga. Last time, I talked about how the first half of this Saga was largely about readjusting expectations. Not so much about disappointments, but about feeling out what was and wasn’t going to be included in this new brand of Living World […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/18/flameseeker-chronicles-the-disappointing-second-half-of-guild-wars-2s-icebrood-saga/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/04/flameseeker-chronicles-recapping-the-entire-guild-wars-2-the-icebrood-saga/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/04/flameseeker-chronicles-recapping-the-entire-guild-wars-2-the-icebrood-saga/#comments Tue, 04 May 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=334661 When looking back on Guild Wars 2’s The Icebrood Saga, I think the most noticeable feature was its many ups and downs. If I’m really honest with myself, those ups and downs have been largely about adjusting expectations. I hesitate to use the word “lowering” because in a lot (but not all) of these instances, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/04/flameseeker-chronicles-recapping-the-entire-guild-wars-2-the-icebrood-saga/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/27/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-judgment-world-boss-dragonstorm/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/27/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-judgment-world-boss-dragonstorm/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=333612 Judgment is upon us, friends, in this edition of the Flameseeker Chronicles: The fourth and final chapter of Guild Wars 2’s The Icebrood Saga: Champions drops today! Eighteen months of living, breathing content culminates in a whirlwind of a world boss encounter – Dragonstorm – and one of the highest stakes showdowns we’ve seen in […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/27/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-judgment-world-boss-dragonstorm/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/20/flameseeker-chronicles-possible-futures-for-guild-wars-2s-strikes-and-dragon-response-missions/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/20/flameseeker-chronicles-possible-futures-for-guild-wars-2s-strikes-and-dragon-response-missions/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2021 16:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=332250 Guild Wars 2’s Icebrood Saga gave us a new type of endgame group content starting with its prologue chapter: Strike Missions. Each episode introduced one or more of these mini-raids, up until the release of Champions, which in turn introduced us to dragon response missions, which became the new formula for delivering both new instanced, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/20/flameseeker-chronicles-possible-futures-for-guild-wars-2s-strikes-and-dragon-response-missions/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/23/flameseeker-chronicles-lessons-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-can-learn-from-previous-expansions/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/23/flameseeker-chronicles-lessons-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-can-learn-from-previous-expansions/#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=328031 Any expansion announcement for any MMO is always a cause for excitement, but it’s been four years since Guild Wars 2 shipped a new expansion, so the announcement of End of Dragons is especially worth celebrating. Can you believe that more time will have passed between the launch of Path of Fire and the launch […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/23/flameseeker-chronicles-lessons-guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-can-learn-from-previous-expansions/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/09/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-balance-chapter-launching-today/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/09/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-balance-chapter-launching-today/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=326246 Another month, another round of Dragon Response Missions. Balance is part three of four chapters in Guild Wars 2’s Icebrood Saga, and things are starting to heat up (no conflagration dragon pun intended). With two elder dragons actively assaulting Tyria, and Aurene, her champion, and their ever-growing alliance caught in the middle, the stakes have […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/09/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-balance-chapter-launching-today/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2021/01/19/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-icebrood-saga-power/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/01/19/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-icebrood-saga-power/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=318992 2021 promises to be an exciting year for Guild Wars 2 fans, with an expansion looming on the horizon. Before we head to Cantha, though, we need to wrap up the story of the Icebrood Saga, which has been with us since the end of 2019. The second of four chapters in the Champions episode, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/01/19/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-icebrood-saga-power/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/29/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-2020-year-in-review/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/29/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-2020-year-in-review/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=316387 2019 was a rough year for Guild Wars 2. Its studio, ArenaNet, suffered sizable layoffs, and lost game directors Mike O’Brien and Mike Zadorojny. I was a little worried, but cautiously hopeful, for the future of the game last year. Well, it turned out 2020 was a terrible year for everyone, but all things considered, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/29/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2s-2020-year-in-review/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2020/11/17/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-icebrood-saga-truce/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/11/17/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-icebrood-saga-truce/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=310520 So here we are, we’re finally entering the home stretch of the Icebrood Saga. Today sees the release of the first chapter of Champions, the four part finale of this saga. Typing Guild Wars 2 release titles is starting to become exhausting, so rather than the verbose and overly punctuated title “Guild Wars 2: Icebrood […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/11/17/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-icebrood-saga-truce/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2020/10/13/flameseeker-chronicles-tips-and-tricks-for-guild-wars-2s-roller-beetle-racing/ Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=304925 I’m not a big racing game person. Sure, I played my fair share of Mario Kart 64 back in the day, but beyond that, I’m just not that into that kind of high-speed, track-memorizing gameplay. So when Guild Wars 2 introduced roller beetle racing back in 2018, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Recently, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/15/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-new-sunqua-peak-fractal-live-today/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/15/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-new-sunqua-peak-fractal-live-today/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=300627 While Guild Wars 2’s Cantha-centric End of Dragons expansion may not be coming until next year, players eager to visit The Empire of the Dragon can get a taste of things to come with the new fractal of the mist, Sunqua Peak. You could be forgiven for forgetting about this fractal’s announcement during the anniversary […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/15/flameseeker-chronicles-hands-on-with-guild-wars-2s-new-sunqua-peak-fractal-live-today/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/01/flameseeker-chronicles-breaking-down-guild-wars-2s-end-of-dragons-expansion-teaser-trailer/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/01/flameseeker-chronicles-breaking-down-guild-wars-2s-end-of-dragons-expansion-teaser-trailer/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=298723 Last, after a lot of build-up, during a stream dedicated to the 8th anniversary of the launch of Guild Wars 2, ArenaNet finally released its teaser trailer for the game’s third expansion, called End of Dragons. As we had already surmised from the single piece of concept art, this expansion is indeed going to be […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/01/flameseeker-chronicles-breaking-down-guild-wars-2s-end-of-dragons-expansion-teaser-trailer/feed/ 22 https://massivelyop.com/2020/08/11/flameseeker-chronicles-how-guild-wars-2-can-improve-underwater-combat/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/08/11/flameseeker-chronicles-how-guild-wars-2-can-improve-underwater-combat/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=295584 Way back in the lead up to Guild Wars 2’s launch in 2012, I remember the community being all abuzz about the addition of aquatic combat to a franchise where players had previously been landlocked. After the game launched, players quickly became disillusioned with moving and fighting underwater, and, for the most part, new content […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/08/11/flameseeker-chronicles-how-guild-wars-2-can-improve-underwater-combat/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/28/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-jormag-rising-live-today/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/28/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-jormag-rising-live-today/#comments Tue, 28 Jul 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=293451 Just two short months ago, Guild Wars 2 introduced us to the Drizzlewood Coast, flashpoint of the civil war between the Charr United Legions and Bangar Ruinbringer’s Dominion forces. Over the course of the story, the added support from the Seraph and the commander, the United Legions were able to turn their near defeat into […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/28/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-jormag-rising-live-today/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/07/flameseeker-chronicles-how-guild-wars-2-keeps-meta-maps-relevant/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/07/flameseeker-chronicles-how-guild-wars-2-keeps-meta-maps-relevant/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=290354 Lately I’ve been spending a lot of my time in Guild Wars 2 running through the Drizzlewood Coast meta event (be sure to check out our impressions of No Quarter and the Drizzlewood Coast map if you haven’t already!). It’s a lot of fun, and the rewards are pretty good. I’m especially fond of the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/07/flameseeker-chronicles-how-guild-wars-2-keeps-meta-maps-relevant/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/26/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-no-quarter/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/26/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-no-quarter/#comments Tue, 26 May 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=283996 After March’s relatively lightweight release, Steel and Fire, a lot of Guild Wars 2 players were expecting something big from this month’s release, entitled No Quarter. The Charr civil war is really starting to heat up, and this episode promises to give us some of the fiercest fighting. Does this episode deliver on those hopes? […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/26/flameseeker-chronicles-first-impressions-of-guild-wars-2s-no-quarter/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/28/flameseeker-chronicles-reviewing-arenanets-complete-art-of-guild-wars-20th-anniversary-edition-book/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/28/flameseeker-chronicles-reviewing-arenanets-complete-art-of-guild-wars-20th-anniversary-edition-book/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=279708 Talk long enough to Guild Wars fans about their favorite franchise, and chances are that sooner or later, they will start gushing about the game’s gorgeous art. And they should; these games still look beautiful even when placed next to many newer games with much higher graphical fidelity. The importance that ArenaNet places on its […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/28/flameseeker-chronicles-reviewing-arenanets-complete-art-of-guild-wars-20th-anniversary-edition-book/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/31/flameseeker-chronicles-speculating-on-guild-wars-2s-cantha-expansion-features/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/31/flameseeker-chronicles-speculating-on-guild-wars-2s-cantha-expansion-features/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=275670 I never thought I’d be saying this with a straight face, but yes, Guild Wars 2 is finally going to Cantha! This fan-favorite locale from the original Guild Wars’ Factions campaign has long been requested, but its inclusion has supposedly been complicated by Korean publisher NCSoft’s feelings about the mingling of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/31/flameseeker-chronicles-speculating-on-guild-wars-2s-cantha-expansion-features/feed/ 18