The fantasy MMO Guild Wars 2 will never raise the maximum level or introduce new gear tiers into the game. But the new specializations that come with Heart of Thorns are just the beginning.
Guild Wars 2 is determined to forge its own path, not focusing on upward growth and not trying to keep stacking stones on the pyramid. This was made clear at the announcement of the Heart of Thorns expansion in Texas over the weekend. It was stated that the expansion will not bring a new maximum level or “better” item tiers. Such a “power creep” or “vertical progression” is not the way of Guild Wars 2.
In an interview with eurogamer, game director Colin Johanson was even more explicit: “We will NEVER add new levels and we will NEVER introduce a new gear tier. As long as Guild Wars 2 exists, the current level cap will remain the level cap.”
“We will never add more levels to the game, we will never add more tiers of gear to the game. The tiers and levels we have today will be the tiers and levels we have for the rest of the life of Guild Wars 2.”
After Heart of Thorns, more specializations are expected
With the specializations introduced with Heart of Thorns, things look quite different. Each base class will now receive a specialization and effectively become a secondary class, a kind of prestige class. The ranger, for instance, can become a druid. This specialization will include mastery of another weapon type, in this case the staff, new traits, skills, including a heal and an elite talent.
This first round of specializations is just the beginning. According to Johanson, there could be more in the future, providing players with more options.
“is the framework we’re going to use to grow every progression in the future, so we’re going to continue to add more Specialisations to professions after the expansion, and give you the ability to select between more and more of these.”
New details about the Revenant in Guild Wars 2
Johanson also mentioned details about the new class Revenant in the interview. He will be able to channel the legends of the past and depending on whom he summons, the entire back half of his hotbar will change and acquire new abilities.
Instead of vertical progression, a diagonal one?
Mein MMO says: If every expansion or content update brings new “specializations”, essentially “bonus” levels, there is actually no need to raise the base level. Although, in GW2, that wouldn’t be a problem since the areas adapt to the hero’s level anyway.
The decision regarding gear tiers… certainly an interesting one; they want to motivate players to engage with the content through masteries and “new skills”. This isn’t exactly a revolution, but rather a consistent continuation of a path that, of course, has also brought difficulties.
It is indeed a “new” way, but not tremendously innovative or risky. Whether players are referred to as level 90 or level 80+ with masteries doesn’t make much of a difference… At least a AAA game is doing something distinctly different here.
For more information about Guild Wars 2 and the Heart of Thorns expansion, visit our GW2 theme page.
