The End Begins Today! Check out our exclusive Q&A about today's patch.

The End Begins today with the release of The Origins of Madness content patch for Guild Wars 2. Last week ArenaNet teased the patch with a new trailer showing off a few glimpses of the Twisted Marionette and Great Jungle Wurm bosses. We had a chance to follow up with Mike Zadorojny to find out more about today’s patch.

Last week's teaser trailer:

Both of the bosses coming in this patch might remind players of the revamped Tequatl fight that was updated last September, so we started off comparing the two. The Wurm is much like Tequatl in terms of it being a permanent addition to game, but also in its difficulty and rewards. I tried to get the inside info on the Wurm’s mechanics and what unique rewards it would have, but the team at ArenaNet is set on letting the players discover both of these out for themselves.

The Twisted Marionette is similar, but is designed to be more approachable for players. The Marionette will not be as difficult as either the Wurm or Tequatl encounters, but still designed to give the epic feel that the major events have to offer. New, or returning, players will be able to jump into these epic fights without the overwhelming difficulty and coordination that players face with the Tequatl encounter.

The lower difficulty also fits the Marionette being a temporary addition to the Living World. We asked how long the Marionette would stay around for, thinking that it might just be for two weeks, and ArenaNet replied in a very cryptic “when it makes sense within the Living World.” Apparently the Marionette, or perhaps the interesting craft supporting her, is part of a future patch and revealing when the Marionette leaves would also spoil when Scarlet is up to something more sinister. You won’t be able to board it, but it is another example of the machinations that Scarlet has been able to make through her collection of alliances.

As you might have witnessed in the teaser trailer, there is a siege golem fighting amidst players during the Marionette fight. Mike confirmed that players will be able to use siege equipment during the fight including golems, ballista and arrow carts, but that players wouldn’t be building these. When players arrive for the fight, the golems and other siege will be pre-built and ready for them to use.

Sad that your building itch isn’t going to get scratched? In addition to the pre-built siege, players will be able to use hammers located around the fight to build barricades at specified construction sites. These barricades will help funnel the Twisted Nightmares into the players’ kill zone. In addition to the lanes, players will need to be on the lookout for more enemies that will spawn from the sides and drop down out of airships. These additional forces could wreak havoc to those precious defenses if not dealt with.

Something I personally was concerned with was the spawn times for the bosses, specifically if they were going to overlap with each other as well as existing bosses. ArenaNet has set up both the Twisted Marionette and the Great Jungle Wurm so that neither will ever spawn at the same time. They didn’t want to create a scenario where players were having to pick between one and the other during this Living World release. As for other bosses such as Tequatl, there was no special consideration given. So the Wurm could potentially spawn at the same time as Tequatl.

Players who have been unsuccessful in defeating Tequatl will know the dangers that defeat brings to the area. We asked if these new bosses would also cause the environment to be more dangerous after a defeat. The answer was yes. The Marionette’s is more immediate, with everyone in Lornar’s Pass being instantly killed by the boss’s Aether-cannons. On the other hand, the Wurm has a lasting effect much like Tequatl’s. Instead of exploding fish heads however, one of the three Wurms will randomly pop-up and use their signature move on players traveling across the map.

While ArenaNet is keeping their mouths sealed on what these signature moves are, we decided to ask about the other Great Jungle Wurm that players have fought since launch in Caledon Forest. The Caledon Wurm boss isn’t going to be receiving any upgrades in this patch. ArenaNet likes where this Wurm is at and serves as a good entry point for characters, which fits its location in a low level zone. As for any confusion in the names, ArenaNet isn’t worried as players will soon find out how different the two Great Jungle Wurms are.

Check out The Origins of Madness content when it launches later today. However be wary, as the Great Jungle Wurm only proves that there is always danger lurking below.

Matt "Mattsta" Adams

Follow me @MattstaNinja

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