Eye of the North

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By FinancePortal


What is Eye of the North?

Eye of the North is the first true expansion to the Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) Guild Wars, developed by ArenaNet and published by NCSoft. With over 4 million copies sold so far, the business gamble of charging no monthly fees to play seems to have really paid off.

Guild Wars is available in three standalone campaigns. Eye of the North is an expansion because you need to own one of these campaigns first before you can start playing it.

The campaigns are actually linked, and if you have all three you can move your characters between all three areas of Tyria (the world where Guild Wars is based). Each campaign has some unique character classes, items, weapons and skills, so owning all three is a smart move if you want to get the best from the game.

Guild Wars shares a common theme of breathtaking in game graphics and a very deep and involved story-line. The story-lines from each chapter are interwoven to create a complex narrative, that culminates in Eye of the North.

Eye of the North also introduces several new ideas and features which bridge the gap between the existing Guild Wars campaigns and the forthcoming Guild Wars 2.



Guild Wars Prophecies
Guild Wars Prophecies

Guild Wars: Prophecies

Prophecies is perhaps the longest of all the campaigns, which is only to be expected as it is also the first. Players start in Ascalon, learning how the different character classes work, getting used to the environment and the game mechanics. When players have advanced enough, they join Prince Rurik and fight through the invading Charr.

This triggers a cinematic showing The Searing, a cataclysmic event where giant fireballs are summoned by the Charr Shamen and their dark gods, raining down and destroying Ascalon. For this reason, Prophecies is split into Pre-Searing and Post-Searing.

Post-Searing Ascalon is a very different (and far more challenging) place - this is where the game properly begins. Your character must journey across Tyria, leaving Ascalon and travelling through the Shiverpeaks mountains, and across the undead infested land of Kryta.

There you will uncover the core of the Prophecies plot - a great evil is being summoned by the mysterious Mursaat. Players then travel to the Crystal Desert to complete three very challenging quests, culminating in a final battle against a player doppleganger. This is known as Ascension, and gains you the blessing of the Gods of Tyria. Only players who have reached the maximum level in Guild Wars (Level 20) can attempt Ascension.

Once Ascended, players then travel through the Shiverpeak mountains again, aiding the Deldrimor Dwarves, before finally travelling to the Fire Mountains and taking on the Lich Lord and his Titan army.

Guild Wars: Prophecies cinematic trailer


Guild Wars Factions
Guild Wars Factions

Guild Wars: Factions

Set some years after the events in Tyria, Factions is set in the oriental themed land of Cantha. New players start out in the Shing Jea monastery, which is equivalent to Pre-Searing Ascalon, functioning as a starting area to introduce players to the game, the new character classes and skills. During this time, players team up with the Emperor's advisor, Master Togo, and discover a strange plague is threatening Cantha.

Existing Prophecies players can can travel from Lion's Arch in Tyria to Kaineng Centre, the sprawling city state of Cantha. From here players work with Master Togo to find the source of the mysterious plague.

Once players leave Kaineng, the reason behind the 'Factions' title becomes more clear. There are two main tribes, the Luxon and the Kurzicks, who have been at war for thousands of years. During the story-line missions, players must work with both sides, bringing them together to eventually defeat Shiro Tagachi, who has returned from beyond the Mists of the Afterlife. Shiro is spreading the plague as part of his plan to bring chaos to Cantha and destroy the balance of the universe.

Players gain the aid of the Canthan gods, and after such memorable missions as defeating the mighty dragon Kuunavang, and enlisting the help of Celestial Spirits and Celestial Skills to finally defeat Shiro and his minions.

Once Shiro is defeated, players can still play on, siding with a specific Faction, and completing missions against the other side for faction favour and special rewards. Players can also take over towns and outposts, forming alliances, and engaging in pitched battles to take territory from the opposing faction.

Factions is significantly harder than the other campaigns, and this combined with the extended time players spend wandering around the endless metropolis of Kaineng puts many players off Factions.

Despite the difficulty, Factions is probably my favourite campaign. The oriental ambience, the sweeping story-line, and the constant Faction battles provide some really compelling gameplay.

Guild Wars: Factions trailer


Guild Wars Nightfall
Guild Wars Nightfall

Guild Wars: Nightfall

Nightfall is set in the African-themed land of Elona, which players may remember from the Crystal Desert in Prophecies. New players start off working with the Sunspears, who are the Elite guardians of Elona's different kingdoms. During the course of this beginner area, players discover there is a group within Elona who are worshippers of the dark god Abaddon. By working with demons they hope to return Abaddon to the world and cover it in darkness.

Existing characters from Prophecies and Factions join the game at this point, as the Sunspears travel to the Elona mainland to tackle the Kournans, lead by Varesh, who are behind the Abaddon plot. Varesh summons demons which wipe out the Sunspears, the survivors scattering across Elona.

Players then travel across the three kingdoms of Elona, trying to rebuild the Sunspear's forces, persuade various rulers of the threat Varesh represents, and finding a way to defeat her and her demon armies. Along the way, a secret society is discovered, who have been fighting Abaddon's minions through the ages.

Players are eventually pulled into Abaddon's realm, the Realm of Torment, for a series of showdowns with Abaddon's forces, which includes Titans and Shiro'ken enemies from the first two campaigns. The Lich Lord from Prophecies, and Shiro Tagachi from Factions, make a surprise (and unwelcome!) appearance, providing a series of very challenging missions.

The final showdown with Abaddon results in the evil gods destruction, and the promotion of your Sunspear ally Kormir to a God - the Goddess of Truth and Knowledge.

The missions in Nightfall branch repeatedly, meaning that a player's choice can have an effect on the events within the game. Nightfall also introduces Heroes, NPC characters which are under your control. Heroes can have customised armour, weapons, and skills. Combined with the ability to control them and direct them in battle, Heroes become powerful allies that greatly add to the complexity and involvement of the game.

Nigthfall pulls together story elements from the first two campaigns and wraps them up in a final, epic confrontation. Although all campaigns can be played on their own, there's a sense of continuity and of taking part in a truly epic tale when you create a character in Pre-Searing Ascalon, and take them through Prophecies, Factions and Nightfall.

Guild Wars: Nightfall trailer


Guild Wars Eye of the North
Guild Wars Eye of the North

Guild Wars: Eye of the North

Eye of the North pulls together story elements from the first three campaigns, so it pays to be familiar with all of them. New Heroes are introduced who have classes, weapons and skills from each campaign.

The Eye of the North expansion can be accessed via a mission from any of the major towns from each campaign. Players discover the Deldrimor Dwarves in caves underneath the city, an event which reveals the existence of a new evil, the Destroyers.

Players travel to the Eye of the North citadel, meeting members of the two new races (the Asura and the Norn) along the way. The story-line then splits in to three main parts, requiring the player to work through a mini story-line of missions for the Asura, the Norn, and the Ebon Vanguard from Ascalon.

Once completed, the players then team up with the Deldrimor Dwarves, retrieving the Hammer of the Great Dwarf, and commencing the assault on the Great Destroyer.

Once the Great Destroyer is defeated, players gain several unique items, and a cinematic sequence plays showing what happens to the main characters and their races, as well as setting up the story-line for Guild Wars 2.

Many new features in Eye of the North make it a really worthwhile expansion. All of the missions can be replayed, with your successes recorded in Books, which can be exchanged for faction rewards.

Players can also personalise their own Hall of Monuments, which allows them to record their achievements from all Guild Wars campaigns. The Hall of Monuments is the bridge between the Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 story-lines - achievements that are recorded there will be recognised in Guild Wars 2.

Guild Wars: Eye of the North in-game trailer


The Unofficial Eye of the North blog

  • The latest Guild Wars update

    Normally I don’t post about Guild Wars game updates, but today’s one fixes some long standing AI issues with heroes, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s been driven mad by some of these. From the changes log: Assassin Heroes are more likely to use offensive Shadow Step skills before their Health reaches 50%. Heroes will now [...] - 2 weeks ago

  • Six million copies sold!

    Just in time for the fourth anniversary celebrations, ArenaNet have announced they have sold six million copies of Guild Wars. Pretty impressive, and shows just how well the casual “pay once, play online forever” model can work when twinned with a slick, compelling game. With the run away success of Guild Wars here’s hoping that we’ll continue [...] - 2 months ago

  • Huge content update is now live

    You may have noticed the extra download time when starting your client, but if you haven’t logged in today yet, now is the time to fire up Guild Wars. The extra content to celebrate Guild Wars‘ fourth anniversary is now live, and it’s pretty impressive. The first thing you’ll want to do is claim your free [...] - 2 months ago

  • Guild Wars 4th anniversary: lots of goodies coming

    We’re quickly approaching the fourth anniversary of Guild Wars. ArenaNet took a bit of a risk at launch - an MMO with no monthly fees? Buy once and play free forever? Regular new content updates and expansions? Committed support from the developer for the future? Madness. But they made a great game, and not only is [...] - 3 months ago

  • Double Faction points this weekend

    If you’ve got a copy of Guild Wars: Factions you’ll be wanting to login from 7pm GMT this Friday. All competitive battles will award double Faction points throughout the weekend - this is a great chance to boost your Kurzick or Luxon Title Tracks, and to claim some of the great items that will bring. The [...] - 3 months ago

  • February tournament results are in

    The results for the Guild Wars February automated tournaments are in. It looks like Rebel Rising are continuing their domination of the GvG tournaments, this time round defeating Seppo Hovi Action Team. In the 1v1 tournament, Saint Luvs Hero defeated Romain Kaiser to take the title. Full tournament results and more information can be found here. [...] - 4 months ago

  • Guild Wars storybook - Shiro’s Return

    The Guild Wars storybook Shiro’s Return covers the missions from Guild Wars: Factions, from when your character leaves the Shing Jea Monastery with Master Togo, through to the final climatic battle with Shiro. Again - sadly - if you’ve already completed the missions, you’ll need to go back and do them again. However, just as with [...] - 5 months ago

  • Cantha New Year - this weekend

    Celebrate the Year of the Ox with the Canthan New Year! Starting this Friday 30th January at 8pm GMT, and carrying through until 8pm GMT on Monday 2nd February, the Canthan New Year celebrations will be kicking off in Shing Jea Monastery. The traditional Shing Jea Boardwalk returns, with Rollerbeetle Racing and the Dragon Arena. Special [...] - 5 months ago


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Let me know what you think about Guild Wars: Eye of the North

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bamdet  says:
14 months ago

Glad to see the Guild War franchise is well and good. Great Hub...lovd the video's and all of the articles. Yes and good bye Gaile Gray!

reiki2  says:
14 months ago

Great hub with lots of information and instructions

craigan profile image

craigan  says:
14 months ago

Eye of the North is awesome for Guild Wars !!

colin mcdermott profile image

colin mcdermott  says:
14 months ago

Looks like an interesting game. Notice you do Unix... Rather you than me haha, I'm a web designer / SEO, my colleague looks after all my server goings on... we are starting upa UK web hosting company at the moment - should be fun!

Invid  says:
13 months ago

Very nice review of the series and what to expect. I have Nightfall and Eye of the North and so far it's beyond WoW in many ways.

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