Tyria has been through a great deal over the last 250 years since the days of the first Guild Wars game. The landscape has greatly changed, and that isn’t just because of the massive jump in graphics technology. Since the days of Guild Wars Charr have reclaimed Ascalon as their own, Kralkatorrik has created the Brand, and most recently Scarlet Briar has devastated Lion’s Arch and many more locations around Tyria after Mordremoth woke.
While waiting for Heart of Thorns to drop I decided to take a short tour of Tyria to document the changes that have happened between games. ArenaNet has done a fantastic job of putting in ruins where great cities once stood. Iconic places from Guild Wars are now nothing but a pile of ruins in Guild Wars 2. For this reason I started my tour in Ascalon, the region in Tyria that has to date seen the most changes. In Guild Wars 2 Ascalon has ruins scattered throughout, and in a move that would make the Durmand Priory jealous I’ve travelled back and forth through time to see the what the ruins once were.
What was once the capital city of Ascalon, the city was turned to ruins like most places in the first Charr invasion. And time has not been kind to ruins of Ascalon City.
After Ranik fell during the Searing it quickly become an outpost from which the counter assault against the Charr took form. Now it is a forgotten memory completely wiped from Tyria.
A place of worship that was destroyed by the Elder Dragon Kralkatorrik. While the temple is but ruins today, some of its mystic powers remain.
This was once an institution where all of the Ascalon Army did they military training, it fell during the Searing. While the ruins stand tall, they are now filled with hostile creatures instead of humans in training.
Duke Barradin’s family estate was well know all over Ascalon, the one place we used a photo from before the Searing because of how highly infested it was with Charr after. The once grand estate now lies in ruins filled with spirits from the past.
After the searing this was a place for healing, where trainers from before the Searing gathered and helped people suffering from the Searing. While the ruins still remains it is now haunted by those who died at that time.
The one last defense against the Charr has now fallen into further ruins. While it still reaches for the sky, there is not much left of the once huge wall.
The once busy market fell during the first Charr invasion, was then used as an outpost for humans trying to survive and fight back. While the ruins can still be found, there is not much to be found there today.
The ruins of the great culture center of Ascalon has kept its form over the last 250 years. Even if it at some time have been reinforced below to not completely fall.
This is where the invasion started over 250 years ago, the part of the wall where the Charr broke through and started their invasion. While the ruins of it can still be found, most of it lies under water today.
The once great seat of laws and juridical power turned to ruins in the Charr invasion. While the ruins have crumbled even more since then, you can still feel something in the air around here, whether it is old laws or ghost from the past.
It’s amazing how much Ascalon has changed over the years. As a fan of both Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 it delights me to know that I can visit the same locations in both games. This is something that never comes up for most MMOs and is a rare treat indeed. I can’t wait to continue my tour. Check back next week as I journey deeper into Tyria.
What Will You Do First in Everquest Next Landmark?
[Ended] Neverwinter Owlbear Mount Giveaway .
Neverwinter Underdark Interview with Producer Lindsay Haven .
What MMO Would You Most Like to Get a Beta Code For?
Beta Data: May 1, 2015 .