Destiny has been hated and loved by fans and haters ever since the game came out. Bungie, after hearing many suggestions (and complaints) have big things in store for their next expansion. The Taken King is a testament that want this to be a 10 year project. Here are some of the highlights (below the video) and the entire Bungie Year Two Social Reveal!
IMPROVEMENTS:
Vault
Double space for General, Weapons and Armor
Light:
As most everyone knows, the "light" system will be going away (not entirely) and a level cap will be instituted at 40. Whatever current light level guardians are, that is level that you will be in The Taken King. Bungie will take account all of the gear guardians have (equipped and unequipped) and come up with the best level for all of your characters.
The light level will be an average of all your gear that is equipped. Higher light score will increase defense and offensive output.
Intellect, Strength, Discipline:
Before, when guardians equipped items with these three statistics on them you would see a percentage number when you scrolled over them in the inventory screen. Now guardians will see exactly how long of a cool down they will have with each catagory.
Everything guardians own will now contribute to your character. This is a much needed improvement to the game. Ghost Shells and all the useless stuff guardians have accumulated over year one will finally produce intellect, strength, and discipline and in some instances other perks.
Class items:
Class items like the Warlock Bonds now have upgradable perks that actually improve the guardian.
Gear:
All the year 2 gear will have new perks that are highly valuable in certain situations. It will allow guardians to customize their character the way they want to. For instance, the nightfall has a Solar Burn and guardians can equip gear that has Solar perks. It will also allow them to choose defensive or offensive perks.
Cryptarch
The Cryptarch will now sell legendary engrams!! They will be available for purchase with the new currency called legendary marks. Legendary marks are obtained in all activities and by dismantling legendaries. Bungie promises that shards won't drop when using the Cryptarch... AWESOME!
Bounties:
All of the bounties have been upgraded to enhance the gaming experience. It is the experience of doing what you want to do, instead of what you have to do. For example, a lot of the current bounties state go here and kill this guy. The new bounties (examples not actual bounties) are more like kill X amount of guys, get 15 head-shots with a handgun etc.. You can accomplish them wherever the guardian is.
Guardians can also track up to four bounties on your ghost screen (where you summon your sparrow) and see exactly what you need to do to finish the bounty or quest.
There is also no need to go to the tower to turn in the bounties! Finally! You can turn them in anywhere just click on the finished bounties and turn them in!
There are new PVP bounties that can be done in the crucible. The Crucible handler has weekly bounties and if guardians manage to complete all six bounties in the week. Nightfall tier gear will be rewarded!
WHAT'S NEW
Quests
Guardians can receive quests from just about any vendor. They are not just meaningless either. . . Bungie states that the quests relate to the story line in The Taken King. No matter where you get them from.
An actual example from the stream:
Stop a Cabal assault team from detonating the Dreadnaught's core. Complete strike "Shield Brothers."
The quests also show the rewards that will be given upon completion. This is were guardians will learn their NEW SUBCLASSES! Bungie stated that these quests will hopefully eliminate the need for a loot caves. It will give guardians a more meaningful way of obtaining legendaries.
Those who are really into PVP will also have plenty of new quests that can be achieved in the crucible.
Spark of Light
Everyone who purchases The Taken King will get this. It will give a one time boost of a guardian to level 25.
Pick your weapon
You can now show off whatever weapon you want to in social spaces. Change your weapon just like anywhere else and show of that NEW sparkly Gjallahorn! The one that is earned and not purchased! Calling out Gamefragger insider Daltgeezy1212!
Ghost Shells
You can now go to the speaker and acquire rare ghost shells. These ghosts give intellect, discipline or strength and also help detect harvest-able items like spirit bloom inside the game. One will detect spirit bloom and another detects helium filaments.
Those who participate in PVP can purchase legendary ghost shells to help them achieve more in PVP.
Collection Terminals:
There are new terminals spread across the social spaces that guardians can now keep tabs on the emblems and other things they've been collecting in year one and two. It will show the emblems that guardians currently have and those that they don't. It will show where guardians need to go and do in order to collect certain emblems. The same goes for ships, shaders and vehicles.
Exotic Blueprints
Start replicating those exotic G-Horns (possibly) and upgrading them to The Taken King Versions on 9-15-15. Using another collector terminal guardians can now replicate all of their favorite weapons and gear. No more switching the weapons between characters for nightfalls and other missions. Once you acquire an exotic it will be added to the blueprint collection. Sadly there are only a few that will be available to upgrade to The Taken King versions.
Faction Alignment:
This is no longer an exclusive thing where you have to where their bond in order to gain reputation with a faction of the guardians choosing. Guardians simply go to the faction vendor of their choice and accept an alliance with that group. Guardians will simultaneously gain reputation with them and the vanguard.
Alliances will cost 2500 glimmer each time someone aligns themselves with a different faction. Guardians can change to a new faction every week.
Gunsmith
Guardians can now earn reputation with the gunsmith by using his test weapons. Equip those weapons and kill everything in sight is the name of the game! Once guardians have earned enough reputation with the gunsmith they can pick up foundry orders. These orders give guardians new weapons (shipments come in on Wednesday's), the best part is guardians get to pick what they want!