The latest ArenaNet blog update comes from Jeff Grubb who discusses the different story types in the game that make up the whole Tyria experience. While many focus on the personal story, there are also the global stories and iconic stories to think about and without all these pieces Tyria would feel a  lot emptier.
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ArenaNet’s developer blog has received another update and in this instalment they take a look at the race of giants called the Jotun. The blog comes with a stack of lore as well as some developer notes on the Jotun.
Read more & comment >>Even though we had established the jotun in the original games, we wanted to really bring them to life in Guild Wars 2, particularly for the norn areas of the world. We wanted them to be more than “nasty customers with big clubs,” and the way we chose to do that was to give them a long history—but a tragic one. We wanted to make the ogres an old race and follow that with the jotun, since the two species are interlinked. Giving the jotun a history that had been lost—ruined by their own flaws—gives them a lot of depth and plays into the overall story of Guild Wars 2.
The new jotun art depicts the race as being taller and more intelligent looking than the art from the original Guild Wars, which helps to better illustrate the race’s history and the fact that they are sentient, smart creatures—not rock-tossing droolers. The primitivism we see in their clothing and weapons is a sharp contrast to the magical monuments located at their camps—and that, too, is deliberate. Showing the decline of a race from power and civilization into primitivism, all because they could not stop fighting amongst themselves, is important to the game’s theme. It illustrates what might happen if the player character races can’t give up their old arguments and unite against the threat of the Elder Dragons.
A Grawl shaman at work.
A new minor races blog post, penned by Jeff Grubb, was just published over at the ArenaNet blog. The topic of the day is the Grawl, simian creatures living on the edge of civilization. Jeff tells us about Grawl society, their customs and religious beliefs, as well as how they are looked upon by the other races.
Of all the races of Tyria, the apelike grawl are the most underappreciated and underestimated. A race of furry simian bipeds, the grawl can speak and use tools and weapons. They even have a fair approximation of clothing, but they lack most of the trappings of advanced society. They make their homes in caves on the edge of civilization and are considered a lesser race of raiders and bandits by the more developed cultures around them. While many grawl do resort to banditry, just as many seek nothing more than to be left alone.
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Asura in Rata Sum
In honor of Asura Week, PCGamer has put together a two-part interview. In the first part, Game and Content Designers Jeff Grubb and Ree Soesbee get some questions about the asuran capital Rata Sum, and how the architecture mirrors the asuran society. They also talk colleges, golems and more. In the second part, named Love and Inquest, Ree and Jeff talk asuran society, asura relationship with the other races of Tyria, and the Inquest.
Also, as an added bonus, Game Designer Jon Peters answers some questions about the asuran battle suits!?
Read more & comment >>At the first day of Asura week, ArenaNet spoiled us with not one, but two blog posts.
First out was Matt Barret, who gave us a glimpse on what went into designing the Asura. From an almost Skritt-like creature to the Asura we love-hate today. He then ends the blog post with an absolutely breathtaking narrated film where he shows us how he draws an Asura, from rough sketch to finished arrogant face.
The second blog post of the day was a short story of an Asura named Flummox and his Sylvari assistant and their run-in with some highway Jotuns. And one Mr. Sparkles. The story is penned by the always excellent Jeff Grubb.
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Artistic Picture of The Grove
In the last part of the Sylvari week, Ree Soesbee gives us insights into the origin, culture, the biology, and dreams and nightmares of the Sylvari race, and the Pale Tree. It starts like this:
The sylvari are the youngest race in Guild Wars 2, awakened with the rise of the new age in Tyria. They may be unfamiliar with the world, but they have dreamed of it, and they share a rich and compelling vision that guides their path. From the day of their awakening, each sylvari feels called to defend the land and fight the Elder Dragons. They are united in this purpose beneath their mother, the Pale Tree.
Interspersed are glimpses of beautifully written narration. Head on over to the blog post to read the rest.
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The New Sylvari
The second article covering the Sylvari has been released. Angel McCoy gives an insight into design of the lore for the Sylvari. In the process, we learn about the life style and culture of the Sylvari. The article is supplemented with Sylvari audio clips giving a glimpse into the way the Sylvari think.
Head on over to the article to catch the details, and be prepared for tomorrow’s article!
Thanks goes to shawn this time who first spotted the article and shared the link with us here today!
Jeff Grub has just released a lot of lore information on the Quaggan who are intelligent, benign, amphibious beings who originally made their homes in the depths of the Unending Ocean. They have recently moved into the shallower waters along the Tarnished Coast and the Sea of Sorrows, as well as inland to the freshwater lakes. The post covers topics ranging from their biology, to their culture and religion, and gives some other behind the scenes tid-bids.
To read more about about the Quaggan go here.
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