GW2 ascalon

[Kyshen]

so, we're told GW2 is 100 years in the future, and it's only an assumption that ascalon will be in there somewhere..

but given Anet and the Player's affinity for pre searing, should we expect Ascalon to be all happy and green again? I'd like to think so..

how long does it take foliage like that to grow back anyway? I heard ash is good for plants.. maybe Melandru will have to work hard to get it all fixed up in time..

[Karn the Betrayer]

foliage can grow back quickly over 5 years i guess ... in the real world at least.. but searin gcould mean the roots of the plants were killed too

[Nanashi]

I wouldn't mind seeing it again. Perhaps keep the stones there for lore references. Talk to some guy whoes father's father participated in the war and relayed the story. Still, I too would like to think that the land would return to a much more harmonious state. Maybe bits and pieces still scarred and forever unable to regrow. Other than that yeah, it would be nice to see most of the old cities and how much they have grown... how much we'll actually get to investigate as well.

[Brainbasher]

It depends on the stage ascalon is kicked into. If the biomass is somehow gone it can take about a decade before you have some low foilage and small trees, if the biomass is still there plants have a thing to feed on and it could happen a lot faster. I think that in a hundred years everything will be back to normal.

EDIT: look at yellowstone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_Fire_of_1988)

[Nanashi]

Yellowstone and Crater Lake (Lake off of Mt. Saint Helens.)are good examples. That being said though this is a Fantasy Story... maybe Melandru could bestow some natural goodness on Ascalon and help revitalise the land except for random spots (IE: The actual sites of where the projectiles used in the Searing had landed - those big crystal things.) In fact it is theorised, by Gmr, that the Grawl are worshiping Melandru, as well as Lyssa, to heal damage done as they were manipulated by the Charr and fooled to do certain tasks. While still they hate us, they seem to have two factions one worshiping Melandru and the other faction on Lyssa. Perhaps Melandru could answer the calls and replenish the land?

Either way I would like to see some historical references to what we have ran through AND seeing the original Pre-sear we all knew and loved.

[terakhan]

Actually, Crater Lake is somewhere in the south side of Oregon, while Mount St. Helens is in southern Washington. You meant Spirit Lake.

Anyway, I hope they do keep the landmarks and general terrain the same. I can find my way around Ascalon in a heartbeat, as long as my landmarks are there to tell me where to turn.

[Goldfish God]

Maybe we'lll get all the wonky earthquakey sloped areas of post-sear, but covered in nice green grass and stuff.

Those searing crystals will probably still be around at least.

[Смерть]

Nah, there are going to be spaceships, aliens, and lasers. Rurick is going to come back as a talking head like in Futurama.

_________

I would love to see Post-Ascalon green. What I am really interested in is (well right now the maps are so well known and compact), is Ascalon as we know it going to get a whole brand new "bigger" map? Without the instancing and whatnot, its going to feel pretty crowded unless they do something.

[retromullet]

Forests that are burnt up sometimes take a LONg long time to replenish, sometimes it's a little quicker. We'll just have to wait and see!

[Arkhan The Black]

Well we don't know what effect on nature the crystals will have in the future. I recall some monsters had been altered by their presence.

[Zaxares]

Generally, tropical regions can reclaim a region at an astounding pace, given suitable conditions. A clearing in a tropical jungle, for example, can completely vanish in under 2 weeks.

Temperate forests, which is what Ascalon's terrains to be, generally take longer to reclaim a region. However, 100 years should be plenty of time for flora and fauna to return to a blighted region, if the Searing crystals (which appear to be keeping the region hot and mostly uninhabitable) can be removed or destroyed.

[Quintus Antonius]

I also think we are oversimplifying what was said. It didn't say "a hundred years" in the future, it said "hundreds of years". That could be 100 to 1 million years.

[Kyshen]

I also think we are oversimplifying what was said. It didn't say "a hundred years" in the future, it said "hundreds of years". That could be 100 to 1 million years.

my mistake, I haven't read the official articles and was going off what I'd heard, either way.. just gives us longer for the foliage to come back :D

I'd hope the ascalon maps were scaled up.. bigger distances between outposts and such, but with same layout.

I'd not heard anything about the crystals having a constant effect on the environment, if Ascalon can be brought back to it's former glory without destroying them I'd like to see vines and foliage slowly growing over them, giving passive hints of their presence whilst artfully using them to enhance the scenery around them

[Arkhan The Black]

Erudine in Serenity Temple: "These giant crystals brought down from the heavens by the Charr seem to have had a drastic effect on the local wildlife. It's fascinating."

[Heavens Angel]

we might see a pre searing type area in gw2. from the ATS test thing, gaile was there, and asked if we was to ask your favortie area what would it be. ( was over all games ). everyone said pre sear ^^. she then said if we said that to designers that you love pre sear would it be fair to see it in gw2 in such an area. ^^ i logged her chat and i have posted it to hehe

[Kailden Jera]

It will be either one of the following.

1) - A pile of rumble and stone.
2) - A futuristic city with the latest technology.
3) - An interracial advanced outpost used by all 5 races.

I like number 3 more...

[Natalie Black]

I would like to see something that looked familiar in GW2

[lavenbb]

Why are people talking as if Ascalon is already healing? Where's the earthquake-that-splits-the-earth-across-all-lands that's suppose to happen?

[Skyy High]

I'm thinking, considering the Charr homeland north of Ascalon is still green and presearing-esque in GW:EN, it really shouldn't be that difficult for the destroyed foliage to migrate south back into Ascalon lands in a hundred years (or more, whenever GW2 takes place).

So, yes, I expect Ascalon to be green again, and I wouldn't expect the landscape to be the same either. Earthquakes + massive reinvasion of plant species + couple hundred years of erosion = landscape should get smoothed out quite a bit. Buried crystals and the like should be scattered around.

The big question I have is, where will water come from? All the lakes and rivers seem to have become tar-filled, so I would imagine a lot of rain or running water would be needed to arrive before Ascalon could become green again. That's it, one of the quests in GW:EN is going to be to restore the aqueducts of Ascalon to siphon water from the Charr homeland =D

[Tide to Go]

i think it will be just like pre, but then add big, deep, brown spots into the picture, btw when they are repairing, id love to ee them get Atheas stage out of the ground, have you seen it, the whole this is almost standing up straight!

[Matahc Wu]

I'm curious to know why the sky in ascalon seems to be permanently red and

menacing when the searing already occurred. I mean wouldn't it have

dissipated gradually? And if we are expecting the plant life to return I would

think the smog-filled skies would make it more difficult. :undecided:

[Arkhan The Black]

Oh the sky will return to normal if it is only dust still remaining in the air.

[False Visage]

I would say it depends. Consider the Echovald Forest, it's just seeing some green and it's been 200 years. Granted the Searing and the Jade Wind were different calamities, they both saw their source in Abbadon.

I'd hazard that it'll have been fixed up, but I wouldn't say 100 years would see a "Green Ascalon". But, ANet hasn't given us a fixed timeline for GW2 yet anyway.

[Gmr Leon]

Actually, if you look around certain parts of Ascalon where the Charr aren't occupying the area you can see splotches of recovery. For instance near the entrance to the Breach around the mural of Lyssa, grass and flowers are starting to sprout up again there. I think the recovery of Ascalon may happen a bit faster than we're guessing, trees however will take longer to regrow of course.

[Avoc]

I thought that, according to the article, the human race is almost extinct.

[Gmr Leon]

Er..It says that they're nearly extinct, but can it not be just on a specific continent? I'm very much expecting and assuming a no.

[Tikotiko Voo]

I hope to see Ascalon as it was like in pre-searing except even more colourful with lots of lush green landscapes!

Sorry for the goob talk: It usually takes a mature forest to reach old growth within 50 years...natural plant succession is quite rapid and ash is rich in nutrients for this rapid plant growth...also certain pine species need really hot temperatures to open the cones...I hope we see more pine forests in GW2!

[kerinad]

Guessing from what was in and around Ascalon in pre-searing I'm guessing that by the time we get to GW2 the grass will have at least grown back over most of the area, the biggest problem will be that the crystals will prevent growth due to the massive amount of energy they seem to still be channelling out into the land and the other massive problem is that all the water seems to have been replaced with tar. We'll have a semi-rejuvenated landscape that's still very dry and coarse. The Charr will be everywhere apart from Ascalon City where the spirits of the last defenders are still wandering around killing anything that comes close to them.

[rex silverbane]

gw2 is 250 years after eye of the north. but due to the nature of the searing i doubt that ascalon will ever grow back to what it was. maybe in ebonhawke there will be growth and life but i dont think the rest of ascalon will be green.

[La Jaffa]

I Think there will be little green hills but there will be much scars of battle in Ascalon i think..
and the crystals are being used by the Asura for expiriments for new wapons for the humans of ebonhawk ... for a fair price i think..

[La Jaffa]

Sorry for the dubble post but i fount something:
The years have not been kind to Tyria. Even so, as green plants grow over the scorched rocks of Ascalon and the waters recede from Lion's Arch, a new city rises and the shattered coastline gives way to new life. New adventures lurk around every corner, and ancient places beneath the surface push up, their doors opened to reveal lost secrets.

However, the massive power of the dragons has been unleashed, spilling across the land like a disease that twists everything in its wake. Unless they can be stopped, the dragons will change the face of Tyria irrevocably, eradicating the sentient races . . . to what end, we can only guess.

Time and tide have changed the world. The races of Tyria now stand on equal ground, fighting for superiority even as dragons far older than history—truly primal powers—awaken to claim the world in their bloody claws. If there are heroes left in these lands anywhere among the races, it is time for them to step forward, if the world is to be saved.

Someone must rise to seize glory, offer a moment of hope, and perhaps give the world one last chance for peace. If those who would be heroes are listening . . .

. . . Now is your time!

[Trueblade]

I think that Ascalon will be lush and beautiful again...250 years is a long time. Unfortunately, If I remember right, the Charr pushed farther south and control just about everything outside of Ascalon City itselft...which is now inhabited by the wandering spirits of the King and his men. So, I think it will be back the the beauty of pre-searing, unfortunately, I don't think we'll get to enjoy it like many are hoping for...that is, of course, unless you roll a Charr in GW2.

[Karn the Betrayer]

As i read the Charr totally take over Ascalon besides Ascalon city, so i read it on the wiki... but who knows it could change by the time its released

[Nanashi]

During the attack of the searing, yes they did take much of Ascalon.

In any case I'm expecting differences as opposed to Pre-sear but other wise, as the description states, life has returned. I'm just assuming we'll see those crystals still around.

[La Jaffa]

You Can count on that.
they will be overgrowth with plants

[Black]

Ascalon region will indeed be green and bountiful, unfortunately Ascalon will no longer be under human rule. The Char will reign supreme in the region that was once Ascalon. How far the Char will rule is unknown, since I believe they conquered all of the southern lands and possibly near the Krytan region. It is possible that the Char is at war with Joko and the undead army, since they have manage to push themselves north, conquering all of Elona.

I think I read somewhere that Kryta too have long perished under the constant civil war between the Shiny Blade and the White Mantle, however; it is unknown how the fledgling human colony (The survivors of the Searings) faired. It is most likely they were annihilated and any remaining survivors now reside in the extreme north near the eye of the north, possibly taking refuge under Norn rulership.

Keep in mind that I believe Joko's evil grasp has reached the shores of Kryta as well, the last remaining human haven. In reality we will possibly see the near extinction of every human being in Tyria. One thing for sure the humans are scattered abroad throughtout the land. Many I believe residing in the extreme north, possibly Krytan's have migrated along with the human remnant.

[Gmr Leon]

Ascalon region will indeed be green and bountiful, unfortunately Ascalon will no longer be under human rule. The Char will reign supreme in the region that was once Ascalon. How far the Char will rule is unknown, since I believe they conquered all of the southern lands and possibly near the Krytan region. It is possible that the Char is at war with Joko and the undead army, since they have manage to push themselves north, conquering all of Elona.

I think I read somewhere that Kryta too have long perished under the constant civil war between the Shiny Blade and the White Mantle, however; it is unknown how the fledgling human colony (The survivors of the Searings) faired. It is most likely they were annihilated and any remaining survivors now reside in the extreme north near the eye of the north, possibly taking refuge under Norn rulership.

Keep in mind that I believe Joko's evil grasp has reached the shores of Kryta as well, the last remaining human haven. In reality we will possibly see the near extinction of every human being in Tyria. One thing for sure the humans are scattered abroad throughtout the land. Many I believe residing in the extreme north, possibly Krytan's have migrated along with the human remnant.

Er..Black, I take it you haven't read the Movement of the World, right? There is still a human kingdom in Kryta, along the Divinity Coast there is a city called Divinity's Reach. Basically the last bastion of humanity in the Krytan region.

Palawa Joko has shown that he rules Elona, but he has taken only Vabbi. Kourna and Istan remain his vassal factions. And actually, he hasn't shown to be a corrupt evil ruler. He hasn't turned hordes of humans into undead, and in fact has enlisted some in an army alongside his own. That army being made up of the descendants of the Ossa line. Another army, to hunt down the Sunspears, made up of converted Sunspears, is called the Mordant Crescent.
Oh, and also, we don't know how far Palawa's power goes from Elona, other than that the seat of his kingdom is somewhere in the Crystal Desert.

The Norn were driven out of the Northern Shiverpeaks into the now abandoned region the Dwarves once occupied and are at war with the Dredge. The Charr have not been observed going into the Crystal Desert, and remain in the Northlands and the Ascalon region. They still fight a war with the Ascalonians at Ebonhawke Fortress where the Blazeridge Mountains and Shiverpeaks merge.

And there's your lore lesson for the day. :grin:

[Windw]

It depends since it only has patches of grass and the unknown timing effect of the searing crystals it maybe just a little greener and thats it, with of course the possiblity of the whole geography of tyria to change we just don't know.

[Karn the Betrayer]

civil war between the Shiny Blade and the White Mantle,

XD that sounded something from a kiddy show lol

anyhow maybe by GW2 Charr and Human have established a truce, although the charr have taken over I think the charr would allow them to at least have some freedom

[Canter]

I don't think so, the Ascalonians ain't most likely too happy with the Charr. King Adelbern raised an army of spirits simply to keep Ascalon out of Charr hands... and given their long history of Charr and the humans, I doubt they're gonna be peaceful negihbours.

There's still a war, maybe not as intensive as in the olden days but not peace either (my guess).

[mocax]

Adelbern didn't raise an army of spirits. They just didn't move on after they died.
It's like Ju-on in a city, the mother of all Grudges.

[Canter]

Accoring to the article (The Movement of the World I believe), Adelbern used the last magical power of his sword and raised the fallen soldiers.

[shalelord]

im assuming that ebonhawke would be fort ranik because according to lore ebonhawke is the last fortress located at south western tip of ascalon and there's no other fort at that area only fort ranik and were just renamed by the soldiers, specially the ebon vanguard holed up there.

[captain lucky]

im assuming that ebonhawke would be fort ranik because according to lore ebonhawke is the last fortress located at south western tip of ascalon and there's no other fort at that area only fort ranik and were just renamed by the soldiers, specially the ebon vanguard holed up there.

I thought Ebonhawke was either a newly built fort or a fort we never saw During GW1.

[Gmr Leon]

Ebonhawke is located where the Blazeridge Mountains and the Shiverpeak Mountains meet. The southwestern corner of the Ascalonian region. Whether it was always there or it is newly built was never mentioned. Also, it is being supplied via the Asura gates.

[Karn the Betrayer]

It's like Ju-on in a city, the mother of all Grudges.

? I dought it then the sprits would kill everyone who entered the city then all the charrs

oh remember even 2 years after the searing places are having green return cause i've seen patches of grass growing


Ebonhawke is located where the Blazeridge Mountains and the Shiverpeak Mountains meet. The southwestern corner of the Ascalonian region.

could you show us on a map plz XD

[Gmr Leon]

See the corner that forms where the Shiverpeak Mountains and that southern mountain range bordering the Cystal Desert? That's where Ebonhawke would happen to be.

Adelbern didn't raise an army of spirits, but he used his sword's spell right as the Charr were about to take the city and it burnt up the occupying Charr forces and what was left of his forces. The magic of the sword basically turned the Ascalonians into spirits, never to be brought into the Underworld.

[Karn the Betrayer]

wouldn't it be cool if ascalon could look like the charr homelands in 100 years?

just a thought since Eotn is like 8 years after prophecies, would it be nice to see some green returning to ascalon

[Canter]

Gmr: That's what I said... or maybe I misunderstood somenthing :p

[mocax]

it'll be cool if ascalon get covered over by another city.
Archaeologists of the new city would "discover" ascalon and unleash the unthinkable horrors of adelbern's ghouls.

I guess that'll be in GW3.

[Gmr Leon]

Gmr: That's what I said... or maybe I misunderstood somenthing :p

You said that he had raised them up as ghosts, when technically speaking that wasn't the case. I was basically saying what you said, but elucidating it with the rest of the details.

[Karn the Betrayer]

It's like Ju-on in a city, the mother of all Grudges.

that movie scared the bejeezus out of me XD

you talking about the undead?

[mocax]

NPC1 in GW3: Hey look, I found something. It's an ancient sword. The design is unmistakably Ascalon.
NPC2: oooh... aaah....wait, is that a face on your back?
Adelbern: aaarrrrr..... (croaking sound)
NPC's: aaaiiieee......
*slash* *crunch* *pop*

[Jair of the Forest]

I think Ascalon will look very much like it used to look (Pre-Searing). But than without human settlements and (of course) full of Charr settlements. Ascalon City becoming some kind of haunted place that no Charr ever dares to enter (a bit like the Temple of the Damned now), and that Ebonhawke will be under constant siege by the Charr Legions.

- off topic, I see some kind of AB'ish thing happening in Ebonhawke with humans fighting on the one side and Charr on the other, but that doesn't fit in the PvP picture of GW2 that Anet gave us -

[Karn the Betrayer]

personally i think it would look more like charr homelands jair, ebonhawke like the EoTN location XD

maybe in GW2 we can have a full scale war with charr like ab but with XX amount of players on one side and hostile npc charrs, just imagine it catapults going off like every 20 secs random explosions and instead of you picking up loot there is some kind of real endless box that any loot just drops into it (regardless if you are dead or not) and auto rez incase lamo leechers try to camp near valuble items assigned to you incase the auto pickup is not implimented... then you get rage-leech quitters lol

[FourthVariety]

their spirits animated by the power of Adelbern's sword. In the face of this spectral resistance
Origin of Quote (http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2007/09/92407_-_ultimat.html)
Spectral resistance = you will get hurt by ghosts


Quarreling aside, the storyline of Gw2 is most likely one of how the five races unify to smite down the Dragons. Much like the Factions storyline, regional conflicts may be incorporated to be "timeless" in nature and offer some PvP aspects.

The announced open PvP where players just play the way they are and not on max level is the best candidate. I guess that there are either rewards involved leading to exploiting and farming, or no rewards are involved leading to Jade Quarry syndrome. If the battle was to happen like in Cantha, then it will be a short fight, as human players and Charr hating players far outnumber the Charr fans.

Ascalon itself sounds more like a raiding Dungeon with the ghosts there attacking EVERYBODY. So it is easy to group up across all races and keep the integrity of the storyline.

Maybe we know more by next (birthday) weekend. Emotional timing of promotion maybe.

[Karn the Betrayer]

Charr hunting is the best (for me that is) with Gwen as a Me/E cause she can use her fiery revenge on them. it'll be cool in GW2 you could be able to like in the titan quests wipe out entire armies of charr which then in turn effect the storyline of the game

I was thinking: The Battle of Ebonhawke circa 14** - the valiant Ebon vanguard led by captain Kais, descendant of Gwen held out and defeated a force of 300 charr besieging the fortress of Ebonhawke XD

[Age]

See the corner that forms where the Shiverpeak Mountains and that southern mountain range bordering the Cystal Desert? That's where Ebonhawke would happen to be.

Adelbern didn't raise an army of spirits, but he used his sword's spell right as the Charr were about to take the city and it burnt up the occupying Charr forces and what was left of his forces. The magic of the sword basically turned the Ascalonians into spirits, never to be brought into the Underworld.
It is some where in that General area but more closer to Fort Ranik and if you venture out there you can see wht lies a hidden portal.I doubt though Ascalon will look anything like it did in presearing.

[Windw]

wouldn't it be cool if ascalon could look like the charr homelands in 100 years?

just a thought since Eotn is like 8 years after prophecies, would it be nice to see some green returning to ascalon

Green is returning to ascalon! Check ascalon again.

[mulinex]

Green is returning to ascalon! Check ascalon again.

It does? Where? All changes I could find in Ascalon after EotN were the Moa nests...

[captain lucky]

Green is returning to ascalon! Check ascalon again.


I wouldnt be suprised if the majority of Ascalon now looks like it has reverted to a pre-searing state.

[kate sullivan]

i hate to burst your bubbles but ascalon is charr territory in GW2 there wont be green grass and there will be only 1 ascalon city left in gw 2 Ebonhawke so be happy and deal with it...

[stoudacz]

i hate to burst your bubbles but ascalon is charr territory in GW2 there wont be green grass and there will be only 1 ascalon city left in gw 2 Ebonhawke so be happy and deal with it...

why there cant be green grass?..just look at charr homelands

[captain lucky]

why there cant be green grass?..just look at charr homelands

Exactly, I never said Humans would have control of ascalon and the Charr Homelands look like Pre-Searing.