The final GW2 beta weekend has come and gone, bringing with it new places to explore, new races to play, and new world map collectibles to find. Unsurprisingly, I hunted out a lot of the vistas. I ended up completing both Caledon Forest and Metrica Province with my necromancer. Here are just a few things I saw along the way.
Note that some images have a little “i” in the top right. That means I’ve captioned the photo 
FS switches you into fullscreen mode (recommended). SL puts you into a slideshow. Enjoy!
~Dema
GW2 BWE3
Snapshots from exploring the Sylvari and Asura starter areas during the final GW2 beta weekend event.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw061.jpg]1430Thornelius LaForge, Asura Engineer
I promised myself I’d try out the Engineer some more this beta weekend. Because when I latch onto an idea I go the whole hog, I spent a good 10 minutes trying to make Thornelius as much like Levar Burton’s "Star Trek: TNG" character as I could. With…um…limited success…
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw062.jpg]330Lava Caverns
Hidden in a small passage right next to where you start as an Asura, these caverns offer your very first vista — or your *last* one for Metrica Province, in my case, as I somehow missed it completely while exploring ~_~
As with a lot of things in GW2, the lava looks super cool in motion.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw063.jpg]240Waking Up From A Dream
So when my sylvari Guardian woke up after the tutorial section, I was quite surprised to find she was butt nekkid. Not surprised enough to miss the photo opportunity, however.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw064.jpg]200Riding the Breeze
One of the more beautiful vistas I found.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw065.jpg]120
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw066.jpg]110
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw067.jpg]120I Make Pimping Look Easy
A couple of serendipitous dye drops later, and LaForge is looking even cooler than his namesake.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw068.jpg]110Post Processing Paradise
Some people have been saying that GW2 is a bit heavy on the post processing effects. Clearly they haven’t played "The Secret World".
Whatever the case, without light bloom, this little hidden spot I found simply wouldn’t look so good.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw069.jpg]100Underwater Lighting
Demajen and her minions swimming through god-ray-lit waters.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw070.jpg]50The Great Wall
I can’t remember the actual name for this place. Dominion of the Winds, I think? This vista was particularly epic in scale, as it started off underwater then panned round a fairly large area.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw071.jpg]50The Great Wall 2
A second shot from this panoramic.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw072.jpg]50The Great Wall 3
The final shot from the panorama. You can’t quite see the tengu guards at the door.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw073.jpg]50Hylek Village
I really love the little huts the hylek live in.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw074.jpg]50
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw075.jpg]50
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw076.jpg]50
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw077.jpg]50Sylvari Ranger
By this point in time I was very taken by the sylvari as a race, and remembered that I still hadn’t played the Ranger profession. This was my attempt to redress the balance. Again, in the nud. Ahem.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw078.jpg]40Asura Camp At Night
Strangely enough, I find GW2 looks so much better at night than during the day. The lighting effects are stunning, as demonstrated by the fireflies, golems, and giant floating crystalline structures here.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw079.jpg]40
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw080.jpg]60
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw081.jpg]40Asura Writing
I don’t know who was mainly responsible for writing the Asuran dialogue, but god-damn did it make me laugh out loud a lot. This particular exchange between Doxa and Kazz had me guffawing.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw082.jpg]50
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw083.jpg]40
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw084.jpg]40
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw085.jpg]60Final Moments
In the final moments of the beta, I remembered I hadn’t taken any real screenshots of my necromancer in that outfit I found so appealing last beta weekend. This was right at the end of the Hunger Royale finale, and I was just about to log out to the character select screen when the servers went down. :(
I promised myself I’d try out the Engineer some more this beta weekend. Because when I latch onto an idea I go the whole hog, I spent a good 10 minutes trying to make Thornelius as much like Levar Burton’s "Star Trek: TNG" character as I could. With…um…limited success…
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw062.jpg]330Lava Caverns
Hidden in a small passage right next to where you start as an Asura, these caverns offer your very first vista — or your *last* one for Metrica Province, in my case, as I somehow missed it completely while exploring ~_~
As with a lot of things in GW2, the lava looks super cool in motion.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw063.jpg]240Waking Up From A Dream
So when my sylvari Guardian woke up after the tutorial section, I was quite surprised to find she was butt nekkid. Not surprised enough to miss the photo opportunity, however.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw064.jpg]200Riding the Breeze
One of the more beautiful vistas I found.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw065.jpg]120
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw066.jpg]110
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw067.jpg]120I Make Pimping Look Easy
A couple of serendipitous dye drops later, and LaForge is looking even cooler than his namesake.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw068.jpg]110Post Processing Paradise
Some people have been saying that GW2 is a bit heavy on the post processing effects. Clearly they haven’t played "The Secret World".
Whatever the case, without light bloom, this little hidden spot I found simply wouldn’t look so good.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw069.jpg]100Underwater Lighting
Demajen and her minions swimming through god-ray-lit waters.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw070.jpg]50The Great Wall
I can’t remember the actual name for this place. Dominion of the Winds, I think? This vista was particularly epic in scale, as it started off underwater then panned round a fairly large area.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw071.jpg]50The Great Wall 2
A second shot from this panoramic.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw072.jpg]50The Great Wall 3
The final shot from the panorama. You can’t quite see the tengu guards at the door.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw073.jpg]50Hylek Village
I really love the little huts the hylek live in.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw074.jpg]50
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw075.jpg]50
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw076.jpg]50
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw077.jpg]50Sylvari Ranger
By this point in time I was very taken by the sylvari as a race, and remembered that I still hadn’t played the Ranger profession. This was my attempt to redress the balance. Again, in the nud. Ahem.
(I was quite surprised to find that Rangers actually begin with an axe rather than the more archetypical bow.)
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw078.jpg]40Asura Camp At Night
Strangely enough, I find GW2 looks so much better at night than during the day. The lighting effects are stunning, as demonstrated by the fireflies, golems, and giant floating crystalline structures here.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw079.jpg]40
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw080.jpg]60
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw081.jpg]40Asura Writing
I don’t know who was mainly responsible for writing the Asuran dialogue, but god-damn did it make me laugh out loud a lot. This particular exchange between Doxa and Kazz had me guffawing.
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw082.jpg]50
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw083.jpg]40
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw084.jpg]40
[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw085.jpg]60Final Moments
In the final moments of the beta, I remembered I hadn’t taken any real screenshots of my necromancer in that outfit I found so appealing last beta weekend. This was right at the end of the Hunger Royale finale, and I was just about to log out to the character select screen when the servers went down. :(
About the Author
More articles by demajen »
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw061.jpg]1430Thornelius LaForge, Asura EngineerI promised myself I’d try out the Engineer some more this beta weekend. Because when I latch onto an idea I go the whole hog, I spent a good 10 minutes trying to make Thornelius as much like Levar Burton’s "Star Trek: TNG" character as I could. With…um…limited success…](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw061.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw062.jpg]330Lava CavernsHidden in a small passage right next to where you start as an Asura, these caverns offer your very first vista — or your *last* one for Metrica Province, in my case, as I somehow missed it completely while exploring ~_~ As with a lot of things in GW2, the lava looks super cool in motion.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw062.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw063.jpg]240Waking Up From A DreamSo when my sylvari Guardian woke up after the tutorial section, I was quite surprised to find she was butt nekkid. Not surprised enough to miss the photo opportunity, however.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw063.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw064.jpg]200Riding the BreezeOne of the more beautiful vistas I found.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw064.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw065.jpg]120](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw065.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw066.jpg]110](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw066.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw067.jpg]120I Make Pimping Look EasyA couple of serendipitous dye drops later, and LaForge is looking even cooler than his namesake.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw067.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw068.jpg]110Post Processing ParadiseSome people have been saying that GW2 is a bit heavy on the post processing effects. Clearly they haven’t played "The Secret World". Whatever the case, without light bloom, this little hidden spot I found simply wouldn’t look so good.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw068.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw069.jpg]100Underwater LightingDemajen and her minions swimming through god-ray-lit waters.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw069.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw070.jpg]50The Great WallI can’t remember the actual name for this place. Dominion of the Winds, I think? This vista was particularly epic in scale, as it started off underwater then panned round a fairly large area.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw070.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw071.jpg]50The Great Wall 2A second shot from this panoramic.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw071.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw072.jpg]50The Great Wall 3The final shot from the panorama. You can’t quite see the tengu guards at the door.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw072.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw073.jpg]50Hylek VillageI really love the little huts the hylek live in.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw073.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw074.jpg]50](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw074.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw075.jpg]50](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw075.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw076.jpg]50](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw076.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw077.jpg]50Sylvari RangerBy this point in time I was very taken by the sylvari as a race, and remembered that I still hadn’t played the Ranger profession. This was my attempt to redress the balance. Again, in the nud. Ahem. (I was quite surprised to find that Rangers actually begin with an axe rather than the more archetypical bow.)](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw077.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw078.jpg]40Asura Camp At NightStrangely enough, I find GW2 looks so much better at night than during the day. The lighting effects are stunning, as demonstrated by the fireflies, golems, and giant floating crystalline structures here.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw078.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw079.jpg]40](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw079.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw080.jpg]60](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw080.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw081.jpg]40Asura WritingI don’t know who was mainly responsible for writing the Asuran dialogue, but god-damn did it make me laugh out loud a lot. This particular exchange between Doxa and Kazz had me guffawing.](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw081.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw082.jpg]50](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw082.jpg){kind=link}
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![[img src=http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/thumbs/thumbs_gw085.jpg]60Final MomentsIn the final moments of the beta, I remembered I hadn’t taken any real screenshots of my necromancer in that outfit I found so appealing last beta weekend. This was right at the end of the Hunger Royale finale, and I was just about to log out to the character select screen when the servers went down. :(](http://demajen.co.uk/blog/wp-content/flagallery/gw2-bwe3/gw085.jpg){kind=link}
[...] Demajen — Beta Weekend #3 – The Things I Saw. “The final GW2 beta weekend has come and gone, bringing with it new places to explore, new races to play, and new world map collectibles to find. Unsurprisingly, I hunted out a lot of the vistas. I ended up completing both Caledon Forest and Metrica Province with my necromancer. Here are just a few things I saw along the way.” [...]