BA7 Research Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 is a MMORPG (Massive, Multy play, online, role playing game) based in a fantasy world, where you create your own character from a wide selection of choices. You have the choice of five different races to play as and many customizable options to truly make the character unique.

Asura

(In game description) “These alchemical inventors may be short in stature, but they’re intellectual giants. Among the Asura, it’s not the strong who survive, but the clever. Other races believe they should rule by virtue of their power and strength, but they are deluding themselves. In due time all will serve the Asura.”

These small creatures used to live underground for thousands of years, developing their technology and wisdom then 250 years before the game begins they are driven out of their home by someone known as “The Great Destroyer”, now they have got used to living on the surface they are making a name for themselves amongst the other races.

Charr

(In game description) “The Charr race was forged in the crucible of war. It’s all they know. It defines them, and their quest for dominion drives them ever onward. The weakling and the fool have no place among the Charr. Victory is all that matters, and it must be achieved by any means and at any cost.”

The Charr are large and somewhat savage, they are very feline in appearance and live mostly in the west of the game world. They are very cynical and disregard all religion and gods. They are raised as warriors from birth.

Human

(In game description) “Humans have lost their home land, their security, and their former glory. Even their Gods have withdrawn. And yet, the human spirit remains unshaken. These brave defenders of Kryta continue to fight with every ounce of their strength.”

Humans used to be very successful and be the most commonly found species in Tyria (the game world) but in the last few years their kingdoms have been whipped out and now they only live in one small area of the world that they guard at all costs.

 

Norn

(In game description) “This race of towering hunters experienced a great defeat when the Ice Dragon drove them from their glacial homeland. Nevertheless, they won’t let one lost battle- however punishing- dampen their enthusiasm for life and the hunt. They know that only the ultimate victor achieves legendary rewards.”

They are a nine feet tall Nordic-like race of warriors. They live for the hunt, so there tracking, stealth and killing skills are very good, despite their size. They have the appearance of humans apart from being nine feet tall but can however take the form of were- creatures.

Sylvari

(In game description) “Sylvari are not born. They awaken beneath The Pale Tree with knowledge gleaned in their pre-life dream. They struggle to balance curiosity with duty, eagerness with chivalry, and warfare with honor. Magic and mystery entwine to shape the future of this race as it has so recently appeared.”

The Sylvari are plant-like humans but with some Elfish features like pointed ears and slanted eyes. They have plant-like features like having a hard wood bone structure, leaves for hair and skin etc. and also have sap for blood. They have some sort of connection to the tree they are born from. 

 I chose to look at guild wars not only for the art style but also for the different races, as that is a key feature to our game idea. The races are diverse and very different from each other, all of them having key character features that make them completely different from the others. The style the artwork for the races has been painted in is the same as the opening scene to the game that is almost an animated comic; the static images are made to move slightly to hint at movement in the scene. The style is quite simple in appearance but also have a lot going on in them, with all the splatters and brush like strokes. It appears that the images have been drawn in black and grey tones first and then splashes of colour have been added after. They almost seem like they have been painted with ink or water colour, especially the way the sort of fade out around the edges.