The next expansion betting!

[Madraykin]

Since I didn't buy NF when it came out, and now I don't think I will because of time/money, I started wondering what the next one would be like.

What do you think the next expansion setting will be, and what sort of new classes do you think they will add? I'm proposing a bet of 250gp on each guess, and the closest guess wins the lot! (if Anet has said somewhere what it will be then please tell me, and dont cheat )

Post your guesses here, and when the release of a new expansion is announced I will collect the money from all participants and hand it to the winner. I'm sure you can all afford it so get guessing!

[Madraykin]

My bet is that the setting will be something ancient greek/roman... with toga style cloathing and a story line along the lines of something mythical with lots of gods meddling in human affairs.

As for classes, thats harder... I know what sort of classes I would like them to add, but I don't know if they would...
firstly, to go with greece/rome theme, I think a Muse class who has spells to improve individual characters powers for set times. Various enchantments doing things like improving speed, armour, max health, damage, etc. A little bit like monk prot stuff or Rt wep enchantments, but many more. For offensive purposes I suppose a Muse would inspire the monsters to behave in certain ways, run away for example, or switch target, or attack one another. A muse should have a harp for a weapon, and be dressed in cloth robes.
Secondly, I suppose they will add another physical damage class, as it seems to be the trend to add one caster and one fighterish class each time. This is a bit harder to guess, as it seems to me that there could be lots of caster kinds, but not so many fighter kinds... It's also hard to think of one with my theme, as both spartan wariors and roman centaurians are basically the gw W class. I would love a centaur class, but I don't Anet will have non-humans. So I vote for an Avatar. An Avatar will be a warrior who's power relies on calling on the favour of various gods, each of whom gives him different power. Dwayna heals him in battle, for example, and Melanadru sends beasts and plants to help him. He can only call upon one god at a time, and can perhaps call for different forms of help from them. As a weapon an Avatar should probably have some relic of their god, and skills which transform it into a weapon of choice, again according to the invoked god.

Thats my 250gp worth... personally I think the Muse might have a chance but the Avatar I was making up as I went along Would love to play in ancient greece/rome though, and I bet the armours could be awesome from there.

[Sir Smeg]

I see your 250 and raise you 250. Let's make this interesting

I like the idea of the Greco-Roman theme, but it wouldn't be much of a bet if I agreed with you, thus I propose my own idea.
How about a setting inspired by Norse and Celtic mythology... a frozen land of breathtaking fjords, arctic tundra and shifting ice. Murderous beasts roam the unforgiving landscape, kept at bay from the settlements by constantly tended fires. A land where Balthazaar is most fervently worshipped by the rugged natives in their constant cycle of fighting for glory, vengeance or sport. Fallen warriors are carried to the mists by a personal entourage of angelic Valkyries. Yep, that would be pretty sweet.
Another continent might be more devoted to the Celtic side, with dense, dangerous forests and stark, windswept hillsides. Melandru would be the primarily worshipped deity in these lands, though the people are no less warlike for that. The people of this land would be hunters, taking their glory from the felling of dangerous beasts.
Now, classes, classes...

I see the martial class as some form of beserker. Wading into combat swinging a colossal two-handed axe... I realise that maybe he resembles a Dervish somewhat. The way I see it, pain makes him stronger, with conditions or low health boosting his attack and movement speeds. The more you hurt this guy, the more dangerous and unstable he becomes. He would have axe skills, obviously, and possibly skills related to the death of a called target... once the berserker engages someone, he does not stop until one or other of them is dead. This guy has to be big and beardy, clad in furs, simple chain, or daubed with body paint.

In keeping with the setting, I see two potential magical classes, but since a bard might end up being too similar to a Paragon (I was thinking the power of song and throwing knives), I guess some kind of Druid would be the order of the day.
It's surprisingly difficult to be original with a Druid, so until I think of something better I anticipate beast mastery, animal shapeshifting and spirit communing a la Ritualist. Maybe some spells involving berries

[Madraykin]

Well, its not for sure yet, but there are some hints here - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guild_Wars_Utopia - as to what the next chapter will be. If they are right then I suppose I owe Reg 250gp... but then again, the bet isn't over till the fat lady sings the details released by Anet themselves!