GuildWars.com news/Archives/200701

The following lists the January 2007 news from the official GuildWars.com site.

January 31st, 2007

 * PvP Primer: Clarifying Obscure Mechanics

This week, the PvP Primer delves into some of the more esoteric or obscure mechanics underlying PvP, and instructs on how to use the information that you learn to your advantage while playing. Find the first of multiple articles on this topic here.

January 30th, 2007

 * Testing Weekend #2

This weekend, starting around Noon PST on Friday, you'll have another opportunity to test updates for Guild Wars. We're rolling in a significant number of skill changes along with updates to Heroes' Ascent, as well. We'll be leaving the changes in place this time, but will assess player feedback to help formulate future balance changes and updates, so we hope you'll try out these changes and provide your feedback on the fan forums.


 * Guild of the Week: SFK

This week's featured guild, Sacred Forge Knights, got an early start in Guild Wars Prophecies, after having been a significant presence in another game. You can read about SFK, meet the members, and pick up a few tips on building a successful guild here.

January 29th, 2007

 * State of the Game: Guild Hall Tour

This week, you can explore the various guild halls, read a summary of the unique features of each, and learn how those features impact GvG battles. Check out the newest SotG for your tour of the guild halls.

January 24th, 2007

 * Community Day at ArenaNet

This week, ArenaNet welcomes representatives from six of our Elite Fansites. The guests will be visiting ArenaNet this Friday, and they will post their impressions and articles over the course of the next week or two. We will link to those features from the Community Day Events Page as the articles are posted.


 * PvP Primer: Templates

Our weekly starter guide to PvP play covers build templates. It instructs on how to transfer templates and provides a archive of all prior PvP primer builds, as well. Find this informative article here.

January 23rd, 2007

 * Guild Wars: Game of the Year

In a recent announcement, MMORPG.com recognized Guild Wars as recipient of their Game of the Year editorial award. They say, "Guild Wars is innovative and entertaining while continuing to grow and please their fans. That’s enough to make this game the Best of 2006."


 * Canthan Triple Green Weekend

This weekend, starting at Noon PST on Friday, all bosses in Cantha will be three times as likely to drop a green item. The triple goodness will run through 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, January 28, so get ready to go green hunting!


 * Guild of the Week: boat

This week's featured guild is a group well known to those in the game and on the fan forums, as well. The Boat Crew formed in Lion's Arch, but has extended its reach, via events and other good deeds, throughout the game world and beyond. Jump on board for this week's GotW.

January 22nd, 2007

 * State of the Game: Surging Melandru

This week's update on the state of the game discusses another 8v8 build for GvG. Discover the details and learn the template codes for the "Surging Melandru" build in this week's article.

January 18th, 2007

 * The Scribe #31

Our meandering messenger has just penned this week's issue of The Scribe. You can get a little insight into the upcoming Testing Weekend, find out about the wintergreen item distribution, and learn who has been caught in the act of behaving nicely by picking up your copy of The Scribe today.

January 17th, 2007

 * Wintersday Movie

The decorations are tucked away for a year, the snow has receded to the Shiverpeaks, and the towns, and townsfolk, have returned to normal. Let's take a look back at the wonderful Wintersday Festival in a memento of the holiday, the official Wintersday 2006 movie. Download it here.


 * PvP Primer: Alliance Battle Builds

As discussed last week in an earlier issue of the PvP Primer, Alliance Battles furnish a great learning ground for PvP combat, providing lessons that can be applied to many other forms of competitive play. Read this week’s article for ideas on builds that have AB variants which offer that broader application.

January 16th, 2007

 * Test Weekend Coming!

This weekend, you are invited to test a number of skill balance changes and alterations to the Heroes' Ascent area. Join us on Friday, January 19, around Noon PST and try out the changes to the PvP area and to a number of skills. During the test and after, we encourage you to share your thoughts with us via our many fansite forums. The testing weekend will run through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 21 (7:59 GMT on January 22.)


 * Guild of the Week: MU

This week, you can meet another long-time guild, The Mutants. Formed 3.5 years ago and spanning several decades in age and at least three continents, MU is happy to share a bit about their guild and guild members in this week’s GotW.

January 15th, 2007

 * State of the Game: Shaking Things Up

If you’ve ever craved something new, a different challenge in the game, then this week’s SotG is for you. For in it, our tournament writer suggests several means to break out of the doldrums, from build change-ups to trying out new gameplay modes. Catch it here.

January 11th, 2007

 * The Scribe #30

Take a look at this week’s RP periodical for news about a splendid new opportunity offered by the Priests of Balthazar. Also check out a few words on the conclusion of the Wintersday Festival and of course note with approbation those citizens called out in the Random Acts of Kindness section. Find the newest issue here.

January 10th, 2007

 * Wintergreen Prizes Coming

Watch for the return of the Xunlai Tournament Agent this Thursday, January 11th. This character will appear in Lion’s Arch, Kamadan, and Kaineng Center. If you earned any Wintergreen Weapons by predicting playoff results in the Xunlai Tournament House, or if you won them in the Winterfest Playoffs, you will be able to collect your choices from this NPC. Please make sure that you have given us the correct information for your account, as explained here, or you may miss out on collecting your prizes.


 * PvP Primer: Alliance Battles

In addition to being a fun and challenging way to play Guild Wars, Alliance Battles can offer excellent training for other types of PvP combat. Read today's PvP Primer article for details, player tips.

January 9th, 2007

 * Double XP for Elite Skill Captures

This coming weekend, you will receive twice the normal number of Experience Points for every Elite Skill that you capture in Tyria, Cantha, and Elona. So join us this weekend—with existing characters or perhaps with a new one—and double up on the XP! The event starts at Noon PST on Friday, January 12 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, January 14.


 * State of the Game: "Alone with Grenth"

This week's State of the Game article details a Guild Wars build, with information on how to play the build, what skills to use, skill selection criteria, and equipment choices. Find the weekly SotG here.

January 8th, 2007

 * Wintersday Event Breaks Records

ArenaNet announced today that this season's Wintersday Event broke all records for player participation. As you may be aware the event was extended until Thursday of this week, due to popular demand. Read the press release for information about the event.

January 5th, 2007

 * Wintersday Event Extended!

We are happy to announce that the Wintersday Event will be extended until Noon PST (20:00 GMT) on Thursday, January 11th. You can use these days to enjoy more PvP battles in the Snowball Arena, to join the holiday quests and missions, and to redeem your collected Candy Cane Shards for Wintersday Gifts. Find out more here.


 * Wintersday Wallpaper #2

In response to player request, and in celebration of the extension of the Wintersday Festival, we offer a new wallpaper image based on last week's Wintersday card. This wallpaper is available in your choice of ratios and resolutions, and can be found here.


 * Xunlai Tournament House Prize Info

All of you who participated in the Xunlai Tournament House Winterfest Predictions should make sure that your account information is accurate and up to date. The Xunlai Tournament House Representative will be reappearing in late January to give out the Wintergreen awards to everyone who earned them, but that can only take place if we have your correct information. Click here for details.


 * PvP Primer: Finding a Group

This week's PvP Primer article offers several tips to aid you in getting into group play, from selecting a guild to using community resources to acquiring tools for better team play. Check out this week's PvP Primer and party on.

January 4th, 2007

 * The Scribe #29

Our roaming reporter this week recounts the stories of many gracious participants in the Wintersday Festival, citing nearly two dozen players who showed the very best of the holiday season. He also shares valuable information about the duration of the event, as well. Could that be an icicle lengthening on the eaves? Find out in this week's issue of The Scribe.

January 3rd, 2007

 * PvP Primer: Fort Aspenwood

Fort Aspenwood in Cantha offers new players an excellent opportunity to break into competitive play. With its automatic party formation system and its lack of Death Penalty, Fort Aspenwood is a great environment in which to learn lessons that apply to all forms of PvP.


 * State of the Game: GvG Ladder

There are many changes on the horizon for the Guild Wars Ladder. Read today's State of the Game article to find out about the upcoming ladder overhaul and the goals behind that change, as well as many other facets of interest that are coming in the new year.