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Taken while defending Gunther.
The charge was half way and they got to our green gate that quick.
We won anyway.

Vanguard's Accomplishments

Some of these are minor, some of these even elitists would pat me on the back for. These are in no particular order, just as I think of them.

• My characters:
  • My Dervish: Obviously. When Nightfall came out the Dervish was my first choice. Free AoE, a scythe, what's NOT cool about that? I Capped most the forms myself, that was ALSO an accomplishment in itself. Did this even before there were tomes. Silly kids. I got relatively high-end armor for them that took me months to afford. All in all, My Dervish was my first massive character accomplishment.
  • My Ranger: I wear and tear, delete and remake characters so constantly, I've had one of every class (except for Derv and mesmer) at least five times. I've had about ten warriors, and four rangers. I am finally glad Vanguard Nikki is entirely too accomplished for me to delete her now.
    • First EoTn Armor: I felt so happy when I get Norn armor for Nikki, since it was about my second higher-end armor set I was able to afford. And damn, it must be the best looking armor in the game.
  • Every damn thing about my Warrior.
• First time getting Kurzick armor: I was shooting for this ever since I asked a random guy "wut armor u wear" many years ago. I got black dyed Kurzick armor for my female ritualist and a full set for my warrior shortly after. I just wish more skin was covered on the warrior one, to give it a more intimidating alien feel to it :D
• First (wearable) Title: Sunspear. Kinda pathetic, as it's almost every new player's first title nowadays.
• A GOOD Assassin: Thanks to PvX, I found a pure Pve assassin build that doesn't suck.
• Attaining high levels in low level areas. I've gotten the skill where I can quickly farm, grind, and level in newbie areas to the point I'm overpowered for the missions I haven't even gotten to yet.
  • For Factions, I love doing every SINGLE secondary quests that catapults me into level 11+, and then getting to Minister Cho's estate where everyone else is level 6 or something. Most of the time, I can get to 18 before leaving the island.
  • For Nightfall, I do EVERY quest in SIGHT while at the same time powerleveling in kaineng center (requires ferry). A prime example of this is my level 19 Paragon that just arrived in Blacktide Den, haven't touched the mission yet. Theresa was also level 15 before having to do Jokanur diggings as well (a normally level 1-13 mission). At one point I also had a level 20 Paragon with no secondary for a while. Some people thought this kind of 'noob' (even though I figured it advanced), and got kicked from groups. I had to go ahead and get the secondary.
  • (A killjoy to this that I'm quite aware of, I'm almost pretty sure most non-new players do this when creating PvE characters.)

• The first time I ever got Flesh Golem, thus completing my major MM. I rocked AB's. I rolled through some factions missions. Why did I delete this character months ago? I may never know.
• Beating Nightfall. Doing so got me into the great guild of XoO. It also gave me a character that can acess the entirity of Nightfall. Not to mention the easy vanquish of the first NF zone on every other character.
• Beating Eye of the North. Though it's a bitter victory. The Great Destroyer was strangely easy, even on hard mode.
• Finally beating Factions. Not proud since it was TERRIBLE. Too many of the missions are too annoying. Difficult, eh, sorta. But more annoying than hard.
• Primeval armor on my warrior. With my dervish it's not that serious but Primeval is one of the first major sets I saw in my first few months of playing guild wars and I've been pining over it since.
  • Y'know what? My warrior entirely.
• Being able to fund and sustain a monk for various forms of PvE and PvP, a feat that evaded several monks I've created before.

Vanguard's Guild Wars Opinions

These are random tidbits that have no known organization other than bullets. Enjoy.

• I don't believe people should complain much about nerfs. It forces people to think, and get players to reformat their builds. I say skill updates should be done every 3 months to keep the spice of guild wars. I fear this will be halted on the release of GW2, leaving the same builds for GW for years. Ugh.
• I actually believe "Touch rangers" are a legitamate PvP Build. I have never had one myself and have gotten killed and HAVE killed a few. It's difficult to counter but it's fun to go against. It forces me to think "Okay what can I do to get around this fool's heals?"
• On "gimmicks". My understanding is gimmicks, or cookie cutter builds, are terms that go hand-in-hand but I'm not clear what the difference is. But I believe THESE TOO are legitimate builds that can help a player learn how to work it, and then later on make a slightly more original build later down the road based on the gimmick they learned on.
• People who scream at the other factions annoy me. The "Kurzick versus Luxon" idea was not only a blatant rip from WoW any other MMO with PvP, not only made players almost hate each other, but it birthed a breed of idiots who thinks it's cool to stick with one faction for their entire Guild Wars career. Let me tell you something: It's not what alliance they are that make a crappy person or guild, it's the person or guild that makes themselves crappy!
• Pet Rangers/BeastMasters: You don't do any damage. Quit Rangers. That, or just get rid of the pet.
• PvE Assassins: Go PvP. PvE has no use for you. PvE gives pressure and numbers that is heavily limited on PvP so you can handle more there than you can against PvE. Let's see. AB is 12v12, HA/GvG is 8v8. In PvE, it can be 8vs40. I've seen so many assassins think they can condition spike mob groups that have like 5 healers. Just... Go PvP. Assassins cater to those young anime-lovers who just like the idea of being a ninja. It leads to a misunderstood and stereotyped class. While there is truth to this (which is why I slashed out and didn't erase my previous comment), they can be done right and are perfect single-target killers. If downtime is minimized, they can take down another target (and maybe they don't even have to kill them) right after another. Most PvE assassins do suck, but if they are planned right, there may just be hope for them yet.
• I don't trust those AB war lines. I personally think they just randomly curve somewhere every three hours. I remember when we won ten times in a row (no exaggeration, we counted) with the same team, and other teams were bragging on how good we were doing that day and we STILL got "pushed back."
• Fix hammers you dicks. Decent damage but not decent skills to support them.
• I don't like how people try to flaunt their elitism by making themselves look completely retarded. What I'm referring to is the people who craft and collect and wear every Eye of the North item they can. These people who put on their Destroyer gauntlets and glasses or headbands. Yes. We get it. You're rank 5 in something. Now, please, at least give our eyes the courtesy and make the shit match first. I like to collect these items too but only on characters where it would make sense.

Campaign Opinions

Spoiler alert: The following text contains spoilers relating to the story of Guild Wars.

Also notice how I said opinions and not facts. Keep that in mind.

On Prophecies
I know this is the favorite of most people, but I must say it is aweful. I am usually good with keeping up with storylines, but the Proph one makes no sense.
First, you're in Pre searing ascalon. You do quests for kids, actors, and princes. A hostile army comes alone and bombs the place. So far, so good. A generic "fall of the empire" template storyline. Unoriginal,but it works.
So now you're in post-searing Ascalon, apparently your mission as a band of heroes is to stop the invasion (or at least postpone it some more?) Kill as many Charr as you can, and perhaps even save ascalon.

So far, so good.

Then this is where the game loses me. After the discovery of stormbringer, you make your way into the Shiverpeaks and end up getting all in the dwarves business. I fail to realize why. After Rurik dies, and you make your way to Kryta. Suddenly you're taking orders from a fanatical religious group called the White mantle, for some reason that escapes me. Suddenly, they turn evil (yay for killing innocents?) you escape, and BAM suddenly the undead want to kill you as well, for a reason that escapes me as well.

WHAT THE CRAP?!

Somehow I did make it to the desert, again I have no idea what I'm doing there, only to ascend for some reason. I finally beat the goddamn game still having no idea how we got from Charr to a Lich Lord. I never want to make a prophecies character again due to the nonsense and complete boredom the campaign gives me.

It's pathetic how Prophecies had the worst, yet most creative storyline at the same time.

On Factions
I was extremely excited when I got this. The storyline is most definately a lot more original, but the entire thing is obviously PvP based, as one could get to level 11-15 in a day of gameplay. I honestly don't think Factions is good for new players, even during the tutorial, I bet most of them chat with party members rather than paying attention. And the game pins you against level 8's and 11's in almost no time. (The leveling speed in prophecies to me is a tad slow, but I think it was too speedy in factions. Call me picky.) Which I don't think is healthy for new players, it may even discourage them, "omg level 11's already! I'm only level 7!"

All in all, the storyline is decent and it flowed throughout the whole game. In prophecies the main enemy shifted way too much for me to keep up. Charr? No wait, the stone summit! Damnit no, it's the mantle! CRAP NOW THE UNDEAD? At least in Factions you knew who the enemy was the entire time. Shiro. IT was just sad the enemy diversity as mob-killing goes was lacking.

On Nightfall
I do believe, they finally figured out what they're doing.
The storyline flows, a central enemy is established while still giving you plenty of side-enemies to worry about. The storyline is a political war-time debate that everyone of all ages can relate to. Are you, as a sunspear, working for the greater good? Or have you just taken orders from a mad leader who wants a war? It's hard to tell, which I think is brilliant. It's great because Nightfall gives you characters you WANT to help and WANT to hate.
Although the question shifts quickly when you discover the famous Warmarshal Varesh want's to, uh, for lack of a better way of saying it, end the world in this event called "Nightfall" And thus revealing the source of the expansion title. Short, simple, to the point. Awesome storyline.

Nightfall also introduced heroes, which are basically henchmen on crack. Which is good, mind you. Each player/party member can equip 3 heros each of their choice (within the party limit, duh), which are generally unlocked as you progress through the storyline. You can equip weapons of your choice, customize their skill bar, edit their attributes, and install runes into their armor. You can order them around making them attack, guard, or avoid combat altogether. You can order them and the heros to stop and stay in a certain area, too, untill you cancel the order. BRILLIANCE?

Let me take a second to comment on the armor that Nightfall gives. In prophecies, the armor was relatively bland, and only the best looking armor went to the high levels who are deep into the island of fire and farm a hundred ectos a day or something. And in factions, you had a couple more creative types, but you were stuck with one style or another throughout most of the same (That much I didn't like.) In nightfall, you almost WANT to end the game with starter-styled armor. The armor is just beautifully crafted.

The nightfall storyline is so innovative and fast paced, that I've progressed farther in the NF campaign in a week or two than I have in any others over the course of 6 months.

On Eye of the North
Could have done better but could have easily done worse, too. I've only had it for a week or so but I pretty much cleared the whole first part with "Bring these races together" series of quests. I love the armor, I love the new zones but I hate the PvE lovefest (gasp! This coming from a PvE player!) that this expansion offered. Title hunting? Come on. PvE only skills? Horseshit.
PC-Gamer said the "bring 3 races together to fight for the common good!" was an overused storyline, but I personally haven't seen it as often. I mean, what else can you do with a "Human, Dwarves, Elves (in this case Asura and Norn)" storyline? They can't be seperated for fucking ever, y'know? They have to unite sometime and that's what Eye of the North Explains.

I appreciated the re-introduction of the character "Gwen" as a hero, but some of it didn't make sense. It seemed like a last-minute addon, as Post-Searing Prophecies insinuated(sp?) that she died. She healed you in pre-searing so I would like to know what part of her life made her persue the mesmer profession. With her anger, she might as well be a goddamn warrior.
I also loved the idea of introducing the Charr as possible allies. While they weren't the major players in the "Let's unit and kill the Destroyers" plan, they served quite a neat purpose in the Ebon Vanguard quest line. (Quite personally I don't know how such a broken army can do much good against the destroyers.)

That's nearly all I can say. The armor is beautifully crafted and the zones are wonderful, even though some of the mobs are annoying to screw around with. I'll add more when I finally finish the damn thing.

Class Opinions

• Dervish: As a main dervish player, obviously this will be my first one on the list. Yes they are overpowered, but have suffered just as many nerfs as Paragons. A good class that doesn't deserved to be bitched at just because you got slaughtered by one in AB (on the flip side, no need to bitch at them if you slaughter them easily.)
• Paragons: ALSO don't need to be bitched at. I find it apalling how people think paragon's are overpowered. Their buffs are nothing compared to what a monk can give. To my understanding they don't stack (for 2+ para teams), but end up overlapping instead. I like paragons. I had one at one point and I don't now, but some day I'll afford to buy an extra slot or.. ten.. and recreate the spear-para I had. Otherwise, it's a fair class that could use some help.
• Monks: Don't deserve to get blamed for team deaths/whipes. They can only handle so much. Unless it's blatant idiocy, (monk using a sword for some reason, smite/heals on the same build, or general "do nothing" attitude), they really try. No class can outheal a monk, in my opinion (I'm looking at you, healer ele's).
• Elementalists: If anything is overpowered, it's these. Ele's are typically one-sided, as in I rarely ever see anything but nukers or blindbots, but it is still a powerful class in itself.
• Rangers: I can never seem to do a decent amount of damage with a bow, but they are fun to play and can be difficult to kill. Versatile, can do many things. Might become expensive when you're going for multiple builds on one character. It seems rangers *have* to have multiple builds in order to be respected.
• Mesmer: I've *tried* this class time and time again and even though I love stacking degen, they don't do enough raw damage to be that much fun. Playing a mesmer is too much work for a casual player like me. And yet they can definately bring a seemingly unkillable warrior to their knees. Mesmers, if done right (and thoroughly covered by teammates), can take on any class.
• Necromancer: One of the more fun classes by far, but not nearly versatile enough. They're very run of the mill, you're either one thing or not. I rarely see cross-attribute builds, it's often one or the other. A good class, and balanced! What a concept. I wish.
• Assassins: Severely misunderstood and underestimated if you catch a good player. I personally feel that this class caters to those idiot 10-year olds that just want to play a ninja, which is why most PvE assassins suck uncountable amounts of ass.
• Ritualists: Spirit spamming is fun but I don't like the casting times. Too easily spiked with or interrupted. While gimmicking isn't looked well upon, the Ritualist is one of the better classes that can easily mimic another whilst not sucking at the same time. Many kudos to those who go this route. I made a new one. She's awesome.
• Warrior: Simplest class to be sure. Fun to play, to date I've had more warriors than anything else. I guess I get bored of it and delete, only to remake later. Could use some buffs for the hammer line. Perhaps a couple points extra damage, more skills that look like the sword mastery line maybe. But otherwise, Warriors are fun and simple to use, definately a beginners class. Warriors are generally a first class choice for any new RPG, just to get the feel for the game, then dive into the more complex casters.

Wikiwork

Ever since I discovered the "undo" button I've been quite proud of myself when removing vandalism (before I just went back and erased it) and useless content. I fix it when I see it. I'll be reading a lot more articles in hopes to add or remove letters, works, etc. Normal Journalism editing, html and code debugging type stuff that I can get into.

Notes: Wammo
Vandalism(multiply this about ten times)
Ice Caves of Sorrow (No undo button here, actually had to do some work to get the last version before the vandal)
Vanguard's Navbar - Methinks someone else could edit and use this. Just make sure to copy it into your own sandbox or /Navbar link, plz :(
Vanguard's Character bar Coming soon. Basically just gonna use the above template.
"It's not a Freaking Reference!"
Avatar of Abaddon. I love this idea, quite proud of it. Not entirely too powerful while not doing as much as adding health and being immune to conditions. It's like the Ursan Blessing for Dervishes.

For a little bit of humor, I also created a skills page.

Concepts

User:Vanguard/Concepts/Matthias_Swan

Skills

• Pulse
• Duplicate
• Swordspike
• Enflame
• Summon Tendrils
• Envelope Shadow

Quests

Wrath of a God
Ebb His Advance
To Kill a God
Mend the Broken

Favorite Song Lyrics

Matisyahu Ft. Akon - One Day

See everybody that's existing
Got a mind of their own
we´re all kings and queens
with a throne of our own
Tryin to raise a family
in another big home
We got to learn to stick together
Hate to be here alone
Cause the world is a place
That will eat you alive in one day
Said the world is a place
That you can't survive without faith

Sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know some day it´ll all turn around because

All my life I've been waiting for
I´ve been praying for
For the people to say
That we don´t wanna fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play
One day

it´s not about win or lose
We all lose when they feed on the souls of the
innocent blood drenched pavement
Keep on moving though the waters stay raging
In this maze you can lose your way (your way)
It might drive you crazy
But don´t let it faze you no way (no way)

Gotta hold on
Livin life day by day
Gotta hold on
Put your focus on that one day

All my life I've been waiting for
I´ve been praying for
For the people to say
That we don´t wanna fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play
One day

One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence
Down with the hate
One day we'll all be free
and proud to be
under the same sun
singing songs of freedom like

Gotta hold on
Livin life day by day
Gotta hold on
Put your focus on that one day

All my life I've been waiting for
I´ve been praying for
For the people to say
That we don´t wanna fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play One day

Skillet - Monster

The secret side of me
I never let you see
I keep it caged, but I can't control it, so stay away from me, the beast
Is ugly, I feel the rage, and I just can't hold it

It's scratchin on the walls
In the closet, in the halls
It comes awake, and I can't control it
Hidin' under the bed
In my body, in my head
Why won't somebody come and save me from this? Make it end!

[Chorus]
I feel it deep within
Just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster!

I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster!

I feel like a monster!

My secret side I keep
Hid under lock and key
I keep it caged, but I can't control it, 'cause if I let him out,
He'll tear me up, break me down
Why won't somebody come and save me from this? Make it end!

It's hidin' in the dark
Its teeth are razor sharp
There's no escape for me
It wants my soul, it wants my heart

No one can hear me scream
Maybe it's just a dream
Or maybe it's inside of me
Stop this monster!

Linkin Park - Hands Held High

Turn my mic up louder I got to say somethin'
Lightweight step it aside when we comin'
Feel it in your chest the syllables get pumpin'
People on the street they panic and start runnin.'

Words on loose leaf sheet complete comin'
I jump on my mind, I summon the rhyme of dumpin.'
Healing the blind I promise to let the sun in
Sick of the dark ways we march to the drummin.'

Jump when they tell us they wanna see jumpin'
Fuck that I wanna see some fist pumpin'
Risk somethin', take back what's yours
Say somethin' that you know they might attack you for.

'Cause I'm sick of being treated like I have before
Like I'm stupid standin' for what I'm standin' for
Like this war's really just a different brand of war
Like it doesn't cater the rich and abandon poor.

Like they understand you in the back of the jet
When you can't put gas in your tank
These fuckers are laughin' their way to the bank and cashin' the check
Askin' you to have compassion and have some respect.

For a leader so nervous in an obvious way
Stutterin' and mumblin' for nightly news to replay
And the rest of the world watching at the end of the day
In their living room laughin' like "what did he say?"

In my living room watchin' but I am not laughin'
Cause when it gets tense I know what might happen
The world is cold, bold men take action
Have to react or get blown into fractions

Ten years old it's something to see
Another kid my age drugged under a jeep
Taken and bound and found later under a tree
I wonder if he had thought the next one could be me.

Do you see the soldiers that are out today
They brush the dust from bullet proof vests away
It's ironic at times like this you pray
But a bomb blew the mosque up yesterday

There's bombs in the buses, bikes, roads
Inside your market, your shops, your clothes
My dad he's got a lot of fear I know
But enough pride inside not to let that show

My brother had a book he would hold with pride
A little red cover with a broken spine
On the back, he hand-wrote a quote inside
When the rich wage war it's the poor who die

Meanwhile, the leader just talks away
Stutterin' and mumblin' for nightly news to replay
And the rest of the world watchin' at the end of the day
both scared and angry like "what did he say?"

Hollywood Undead - Young

(Video isn't impressive, so watch for the lyrics)

I see the children in the rain like the parade before the pain
I see the love, I see the hate, I see this world that we can make
I see the life, I see the sky, Give it all to see you fly
Yes, we wave this flag of hatred, but you're the ones who made it
Watch the beauty of all our lies passing right before my eyes
I hear the hate in all your words. all the wars to make us hurt
We get so sick of so sick, we never wanted all this
Medication for the kids with no reason to live

So we
March to the drums of the dammed as we come
Watch it burn in the sun - we are numb

As we walk among these shadows, in these streets, this field of battle
Take it up, we wear the medal, raise your hands with burning candles
Hear us whisper in the dark, hear in the rain you see the spark
Feel the beating of our hearts, fleeting hope as we depart
All together, walk alone against all we've ever known
All we've ever really wanted was a place to call our home
But you take all we are; the innocence of our hearts
Made to kneel before the alter as you tear us apart

So we
March to the drums of the dammed as we come
Watch it burn in the sun - we are numb

Nightwish - The Islander

Sea without a shore for the banished one unheard
He lightens the beacon, light at the end of world
Showing the way lighting hope in their hearts
The ones on their travels homeward from afar

This is for long-forgotten
Light at the end of the world
Horizon crying
The tears he left behind long ago

Nightwish - Over The Hills and Far Away

(This sounds a little better in sound than it does written)

Over the hills and far away,
for ten long years he'll count the days.
Over the mountains and the seas,
a prisoner's life for him there'll be.

Disturbed - Indestructible

Indestructible
Determination that is incorruptible
From the other side
A terror to behold
Annihilation will be unavoidable
Every broken enemy will know
That their opponent had to be invincible
Take a last look around while you're alive
I'm an indestructible
Master of war

Hollywood Undead - The Diary

I fuckin' swear that I care
But it's hard when you stare
Into the bottom of a bottle
That is empty and bare
All my desolate soul
in my desolate home
It's my desolate role
Yeah I'm here all alone
I can't think of a reason
To get the fuck out of bed
Curtains closed, lights are off
Am I alive or dead?
I haven't shaved in a week
I always slur when I speak
Tolerance at its peak
Another fit just to sleep
Oh woe is me, woe is me
I guess I need love
hoes ya see hoes ya see
I'm just in a rut
and I swear I'm tryin baby please
Baby don't leave
God-damn I'm a fuck-up
But I guess that's just me
So I sit in my room
And I'll cry in my bed
Thinkin about all the shit
That made me wrong in my head
I keep tryin to climb
But it seems so steep
Pour myself a fuckin' whisky
And go back to sleep...

Cool People

I don't hate people easily. More coming later. Reasons will come later once I figure out WHY I like these people.

Ebany Salmonderiel -- For being a Morrowind player
Cursed Angel -- For not taking anyone's crap
Auron -- For not taking anyone's crap
ク Eloc 貢 -- For being hilarious sometimes.
Kakarot -- His userpage is so much cooler than mine. I'll never be able to get mine to look halfway decent because I talk too much. Most organized pages don't have as much text.
Izzy -- for putting up with people's shit after skill updates. I could never have such patience.
Tyloric. Long time in-game friend of mine. Trying to coax him to be on the wiki moar but he has a "thing" about posting things about him. Sad.
Unendingfear . My own personal groupie. The guy loves every damn thing I do. And that's admireable I s'pose, in a creepy sort of way.
Horrendous - Another groupie. They even told me they wanted to be listed as one.

Event Templates

For future use:

[[Image:User_Vanguard_Birthday.PNG]]<BR>~~~~

[[Image:User Vanguard Welcome.PNG]]<BR>~~~~

[[File:User Ezekial Riddle Show Preview.jpg|670px]]<BR>~~~~

Gallery

A nice shot of Caroline aiding her fellow Kurzicks.

Nikki being all 'deep' n' shit.

Despite Namuen spending a lot of time with the Norn, she never really got used to the cold. Though, it could be her past she's thinking about right now.

This is only version 1. That armor+wings combination will look much better in Realm of Madness areas, which I'll do at some point.

Action shot. Almost perfect, except I missed a part of her foot (and yet that somehow adds to the cinematic effect) and the glittering loot. Still, very nice shot. I do plan on retrying it in the future.

Nikki, contemplating her new life of comfort.