The Scrying Pool is a Guild Wars 2 column where I simply ask what if? Nothing is off the table as I dive into possible features and future content, looking at what currently exists in Guild Wars 2 before I answer my own what if question with how I think the feature and content could be implemented.

This week I’m going to talk about Heart of Thorn’s launch, specifically the time leading up to it. I feel like we are entering the polish phase. We have seen that the World vs World Desert Borderlands map and the PvP Stronghold map are basically done with just some minor touches needed to make them truly great. This weekend we are getting our hands on the full core Revenant and the first four revealed Elite Specializations. I think that each of these are in their final iteration, with only minor changes coming based on player feedback.

The Scrying Pool is a Guild Wars 2 column where I simply ask what if? Nothing is off the table as I dive into possible features and future content, looking at what currently exists in Guild Wars 2 before I answer my own what if question with how I think the feature and content could be implemented.

Normally that intro holds true, but with the Elementalist’s elite speculation reveal I will be flipping the tables. Instead of looking forward, the Scrying Pool will be looking back as we pick the Specialization series back up. The specialization series focuses on my impressions of each of the Elite Specializations after they get revealed while throwing in some of my previous articles and speculation for flavor.

ArenaNet is going to be at Gamescom next week for the Guild Wars 2 World Tournament Series which will face the top four teams against each other for the first time on a stage in Europe. Those attending Gamecom next week will get an early preview of the first official Beta Weekend Event (BWE) which ArenaNet is today announcing for players that have pre-purchased Heart of Thorns. Players won't have to wait long as the first BWE will launch next weekend starting on Friday, August 7th at Noon Pacific and lasting to the following Monday, August 10th at Noon Pacific.

The Scrying Pool is a Guild Wars 2 column where I simply ask what if? Nothing is off the table as I dive into possible features and future content, looking at what currently exists in Guild Wars 2 before I answer my own what if question with how I think the feature and content could be implemented.

Food in any MMO has an odd place, typically requiring time and resources to level up a cooking profession. The road of this progression is always filled with the leftover remains of lower level foods that remain unused in favor of higher stated nourishment. Guild Wars 2 also falls into this trap, but what could be done to fix the warehouses full of unwanted, non-perishable foods?

The Scrying Pool is a Guild Wars 2 column where I simply ask what if? Nothing is off the table as I dive into possible features and future content, looking at what currently exists in Guild Wars 2 before I answer my own what if question with how I think the feature and content could be implemented.

This week however, we will be looking back at the past weekend that included the Revenant and Stronghold weekend tests as well as the World vs World (WvW) Desert Borderlands stress test. I was fortunate enough to take part in each of these tests, so for this edition of the Scrying Pool wanted to share my thoughts on each test’s content.

The Revenant is a new profession coming in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns and today ArenaNet revealed the last core legend and weapon set that the class will use. The fourth and final core legend that players will be channeling is Shiro Tagachi, the infamous assassin and main antagonist of Guild Wars: Factions. Alongside this legend, the studio announced that dual swords are the final core weapons the Revenant will be wielding.

As of this afternoon our E3 coverage is now complete! Here's a list of everything we covered from the event.

Interviews

• Blade & Soul: Business Plan Revealed
• EverQuest & EverQuest II Progression Servers
• Guild Wars 2: Guild Halls Interview
• Trion Announces Devilian (Post-E3 Interview)
• Warhammer 40K: Eternal Crusade Early Access Coming Soon
• WildStar F2P Update Details

Previews and Features

• Elite Dangerous on the Xbox One
• Rocket League PS4 Preview
• Strike Vector EX Coming to Console
• Sword Coast Legends Dungeon Master Mode
• Torchlight Mobile Coming to iOS and Android
• ZAM Press Conference Recaps

Pictures and Video

• FFXIV: Heavensward Interview with Naoki Yoshida
• Official E3 Wrap-up Video
• ZAM E3 Photo Gallery

ArenaNet has announced the latest feature coming with the new Stronghold PvP game mode coming in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns. Collectively called Mist Champions, this new system will allow players to customize the heroes that they summon during Stronghold matches.

Welcome to the final article of our E3 recap series here on ZAM!

Yesterday's last E3 main event (3 of 3) was the PC Gaming Show. It was a brand-new event, and likely the start of a new E3 tradition.

All Events: Bethesda, Xbox, EA, Ubisoft, Playstation, Nintendo, Square Enix, PC Gaming

During the PC Gaming show at E3, ArenaNet announced that Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns, the upcoming expansion for Guild Wars 2, is now available for pre-purchase! Players can go to buy.guildwars2.com in order to buy one of the three digital versions of the game. For those who have not yet picked up the game, the expansion will come with the base Guild Wars 2 game included with the expansion!