Enjoy.

With SotO’s launch day just around the corner, all of us here at ArenaNet are counting the hours until we can welcome you to the newest expansion. I asked members of the development team to share what they are most excited for all of you to experience, and here’s what a few of them had to say:

• Matthew Medina, Narrative Team: I can’t wait for players to meet the members of the Astral Ward, especially my favorite new character, R’tchikk. She’s a very unique skritt scout who is being voiced by the amazing Julie Nathanson, and I think you’ll all fall in love with her as much as we on the dev team did.
• Chloë Mills, Design Team: I am excited for players to see all of the vistas I made that showcase the INCREDIBLE scenery that the map artists have created! I am also so excited for players to find all of the lore tidbits and loving touches added to really make the maps come alive ^_^
• Hoelbraks Dohtar, Localization Team: As a localization editor, I am excited about bringing GW2 to non-native English-speaking players to give them the opportunity to enjoy the game with its beautifully written stories and characters. Also, the weapon master bit is super exciting!
• Robert Neckorcuk, Platform Team: My launch day will be spent staring at graphs - but I love the new artwork for map loading screens, web media, and more. I’ve already got a piece hanging up in my office!
• Kent Benson, QA Team: There are some unique character-focused collections with cool rewards that I’m excited for folks to see. Happy adventuring!
• Pax, Design Team:  Of all of the hard work that I know every one of us put in, I’m really excited for the players to experience our story, and all of the small winks and enjoyable moments that were worked into it. I cannot wait to see their reactions!
• James Richter, Production Team: Skyscales with frickin’ fireballs!
• Lee (it/they) QA Team: There is a nostalgic ache in my heart for a flying castle with stars on the ceiling, and seeing the wizard’s tower for the first time took my breath away. If you’re looking for some great high-fantasy wizard school adventure with a diverse group of interesting new characters, you may find a home with the Astral Ward.
• Roy “Roy” Marks, Rewards/WvW Team: Gathering nodes.
• Taylor “Trig” Brooks, Skills and Balance Team: I’m going to wear a really big wizard hat.
• Kirk Williford, Design Team: I’m super excited to discover all of the “Secrets” that the Wizard’s Court have been hiding from us for so long, and being able to soar through the skies on my Skyscale whilst discovering all “of the Obscure” hidden goodies waiting to be found. Stepping into the Wizard’s Tower for the first time is going to be an amazing moment for myself and many others who have wondered for more than a decade what was going on up there.
• Casey, Narrative Team: I would say I’m excited for players to meet our towering cast of new friends and foes, but I’m trying to better myself—and starve my enemies—through mastery of my emotions.
• Javier, Design Team: Demons and wizards sound like incredible fashion! Can’t wait to see the reactions to the new items from our roleplaying communities!
• Aaron Roxby, Design Team: The details hidden in some of the base spawns!
• Matthew Burke, Design Team: I’m thrilled for players to experience some of the events I’ve created for Amnytas, especially the one where players may have to fight something very personal.
• Megan, Design Team: I’m excited for everyone to get to explore the new areas!
• Emily, Design Team: If you meet a deer in Secrets of the Obscure, there’s a good chance I was the person who put it there! Oh, and flying around on your Skyscale is pretty amazing, too.
• Chris (he/they), Design Team: I am excited for Weaponmaster Training so that all my characters have new possibilities with their builds, and my Skyscale is excited to be riding updrafts and ley lines! 🐉
• Tim Cobb, Design Team: I’m excited for players to get in and traverse the maps with some new movement capabilities!
• Richie Miranda, QA Team: I had always wondered what the deal was with that floating tower in Kessex Hills. Imagine my surprise when I found out the next expansion would feature it! I’m excited for players to become part of a side of Tyria that has been kept a secret for so long!
• Sarah, Engineering Team: I’m looking forward to seeing our daring aerial aces zooming around in the new maps.
• Elizabeth, Design Team: I’m excited for everyone to perform lasik eye surgery on the Kryptis.
• Chris Grant, Production Team: Can’t wait to see everyone else die in the strikes as much as I have!
• Brian Gilmore, Design Team: I’m excited to have our players come to grips with the demonic army of the Kryptis!
• Cole, Platform Team: I’m excited to see players zip around the new maps with new flying mount masteries! Fluid movement across beautiful landscapes has always been one of my favorite parts of Guild Wars 2.