I wanted to try something different and it didn’t work for a lot of people. I’ve also learned that most players don’t like a subdued main theme when they log in! Believe me, I’ve seen all those comments over the years about the Path of Fire theme. Players loved it, though! It kind of set a good precedent for some of the more experimental sounds we tried with End of Dragons, not being afraid to bring more “modern” or electronic elements to the forefront. When I wrote Rata Novus for the Heart of Thorns soundtrack, I was really concerned it would be too much for most people because at the time there was nothing else that sounded like that in the game. I’ve also learned that you can often go in unexpected directions and players will go along with you.
Keep it pretty, and in general it works well for what’s happening in the game. Fortunately, I like writing pretty music, so it’s been a good fit (in my opinion). That goes for the visuals as well as the music. The world of the game is always founded on it being beautiful. What lessons have you learned in your 10 years of writing Guild Wars 2 soundtracks that you think informed the music for End of Dragons? After that, they kind of just let me go nuts, which I’m very grateful for! I’ve been writing music for the game for 10 years now, so in general I have a good sense of what is “ Guild Wars‑y” and what isn’t, even when we’re stretching things further than we’ve ever gone before like with End of Dragons. Then we’ll have regular meetings to discuss any changes to the story or key moments the team wants to highlight. Now I work on a freelance basis, so for security purposes it’s not as easy, but my relationship with the studio is still very strong and I’ll ask for in-game video captures, concept artwork, and any kind of design and narrative documentation they can share with me. There was a time when I was on staff where I could access builds in progress and just fly around to see things for myself. It’s generally a mix of all of the above. What is the process of scoring a Guild Wars 2 release like? Are you able to get in and look at early builds of the maps and encounters for inspiration, or do you have to start working while there is nothing produced but concept art and storyboards? So it would either be Kaineng Riverways or A Future Carved in Jade, but that’s just how I’m feeling in the moment and I’m reserving the right to change my mind at any time. I would say it’s probably one of the tracks that plays in New Kaineng, just because that’s where the three major elements of the soundtrack (orchestra, traditional Korean music, and electronic sounds) really get to shine. I hate to give such a cliche answer, but I don’t know if I can pick a favorite track. I’m glad you like that one! I do too, and it kind of stands on its own compared to everything else. What is your favorite track in End of Dragons? Mine is the Tengu Village theme. Things really picked up in the fall of 2020 and got increasingly busy pretty much right up until a month or so before the game launched!
Maclaine Diemer: I started working on it in earnest in March of 2020, doing some initial sketches of ideas to get a feel for what this new version of Cantha would sound like. How long did producing this soundtrack take altogether? MassivelyOP: Clocking in at 2 hours 20 minutes and 58 tracks, End of Dragons’ soundtrack is the longest soundtrack ever released for a Guild Wars 2 expansion. Play Guild Wars 2 End of Dragons’ soundtrack was one of the things we noted as being particularly excellent in our early impressions of the expansion, so we are excited to have a chance to chat with Maestro Maclaine himself!
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