G32: Thank you for answering our questions. Can you please tell us your name, your job and what is it you do for GWEN.

Ben Miller, Game Designer and Expansion Lead for Guild Wars: Eye Of The North and all around creative guy.

 
G32: Please introduce our readers into the Eye of the North. Tell us a bit more about the story, new heroes, new races and other new content that the expansion brings.

Ben: The setting takes place in four major areas that sweep across the original map of Prophecies as well as to previously unexplored areas in the North. For the first time ever, players will get to see the Charr homeland, which is a beautiful, verdant land similar to what they experienced with pre-Searing Ascalon. The Far Shiverpeaks is home to the independent, Viking-like Norn. Everything about the Norn is huge and epic. Players will journey to an area of the southern Maguuma jungle known as the Tarnished Coast, where the magical Asura are coming above ground for the first time in centuries. Finally, players get to delve into the depths of the world itself and explore multilayered dungeons.

 
G32: When Eye of the North was announced, you mentioned that it will link the story from Guild Wars with the one from Guild Wars 2. Can you give us more details?

Ben: The story actually comprises several arcs that can be done at the players own pace and that tie into a much larger overarching narrative. Without giving too much away, I can outline the premise: Violent earthquakes have been shaking the world. This has opened up entrances into previously unexplored underground areas. Being the intrepid hero, the player explores them and gets swept away as a new peril stirs deep below. There are terrible mindless creatures that must be stopped at all costs. Along the way, we will be tying up loose ends with all sorts of previous characters, as well as foreshadowing the events that will set up Guild Wars 2. In many ways this is a prologue to Guild Wars 2. In general, players can look forward to fully voiced cinematics and an engaging, character-driven narrative.

 
G32: As the game grew older, the PvP became a very important part of the game. How do you think the PvP experience will change with this new expansion?

Ben: We used the expansion as an opportunity to help support the 10 professions by introducing 100 new skills that can be used in PvP without shaking up the overall balance of the PvP game. Outside of the expansion we will be supporting PvP quite actively.

 
G32: Why the introduction of PvE only skills? What was the reason behind it and how will this change the players experience for PvE? Can you give us some examples?

Ben: In Nightfall we introduced skills that we're tied to title tracks. We felt it was a really important thing to do that helped extend character profession past level 20. These skills are also more tied in with the PvE story. Moving into Eye Of The North we were able to really have some fun with these skills because they were bound to PvP balance. It really gave us a chance to really make the player feel like they were kickin' ass. A good example is a dwarven skill that gives you a regular bonus when used but its potency is increased while you are drunk. Things that wouldn't have made it onto a PvP skill because it would have been superfluous in competitive play, but its that kind of that helps make the PvE game fun and immersive.

 
G32: The Hall of Monuments is a great addition to the GW universe. What is its purpose and what rewards can players expect from it?

Ben: Its primary purpose is to immortalize, and dynamically reflect all the great things your character has accomplished in Guild Wars 1 in order to carry over those accomplishments into Guild Wars 2. Players can expect to be able to carry over all their accomplishments into Guild Wars 2, unlocking unique items, weapons, companions etc.

 
G32: Considering the time invested in characters, will it be possible to migrate from Guild Wars to Guild Wars 2?

Ben: A direct 1:1 migration is simply impossible due to fundamental technology upgrades and changes in very basic systems. The Hall Of Monuments was established to carry over a player's time investment in Guild Wars.

 
G32: Eye of the North relies heavily on dungeons and instances. How do you think that this will change the player's experience? Gives us some background information regarding the dungeons present beneath Tyria.

Ben: Dungeons provide a refreshing change of pace from questing, or playing mini games, or fighting in explorable areas. They are filled with traps, puzzles, big bad bosses, and world lore. Each one is its own unique experience with its own characters and challenges.

 
G32: Have you made any engine and graphic improvements for Eye of the North?

Ben: We have introduced a ton of new shader technology that makes GW:EN by far our most visually impressive product to date.

 
G32: Is there any chance of another expansion coming until Guild Wars 2?

Ben: So far GW:EN is the only announced product between now and Guild Wars 2.

 
G32: Do you think we left something out? Anything else you would like to tell to our readers?

Ben: Players can look forward to some exciting things on the horizon for GW:EN and Guild Wars in general. We are releasing Hard Mode for GW:EN in the near future as well as the Bonus Mission Pack which enables players to experience some of the most epic moments in Guild Wars lore.

Stay classy, we'll see you online!