Feedback:Game updates/20100521

Bug Fixes

 * Fixed a bug that caused the Guild Lord to have the improper amount of health.
 * Fixed a bug that removed the PvP version of Signet of Judgement. [sic]

Guild Wars Wiki notes

 * Stealth update, or went undocumented before update 3.

Skill Balance
For more information on these changes, please see the Developer Updates page.

Fast Casting

 * Fast Casting: functionality of this attribute changed to: "Fast Casting decreases the activation time of your Spells and Signets. (No effect for non-Mesmer skills with an activation time less than 2 seconds.) In PvE, each rank of Fast Casting decreases the recharge time for your Mesmer Spells by 3%."

Activation Time Cap

 * Items and skills that improve skill activation time can no longer stack higher than 25%. Single effects that improve skill activation over 25% can exceed this cap. (Fast Casting is not included in this cap.)

Assassin

 * : increased Energy cost to 15; increased recharge to 12 seconds; reduced movement-speed decrease to 33%.

Elementalist

 * : increased recharge to 6 seconds.
 * : increased recharge to 6 seconds; increased blind duration to 3...7...8.
 * : changed duration to 36...55...60 seconds; duration is no longer affected by Energy Storage.

Mesmer

 * : added the following functionality: "When this hex ends, you gain 1...6...7 Energy."
 * : added the following functionality: for each point of Energy gained by the target foe, all adjacent foes lose 1 Energy (maximum 1...24...30).
 * : changed functionality to: "Spell. Create a Chaos Storm at target foe's location that lasts for 10 seconds. Each second, foes adjacent to this location take 5...21...25 damage and lose 0...2...2 Energy."
 * : reduced recharge to 8 seconds.
 * : changed functionality to: "Spell. If target foe is using a skill, that skill is interrupted and disabled for target foe and all foes in the area for an additional 5...11...12 seconds."
 * : increased damage to 15...63...75.
 * : reduced Energy cost to 5; reduced recharge to 15 seconds.
 * : increased recharge to 10 seconds; the Dazed condition is now applied both at the time this hex is cast—if the target has 2 or more conditions—and whenever the target receives 2 or more conditions.
 * : reduced recharge to 7 seconds; updated description to reflect its actual behavior.
 * : reduced recharge to 15 seconds; now also hexes adjacent foes.
 * : changed attribute to Fast Casting; reduced recharge to 15 seconds; changed functionality to: "Elite Signet. All of your signets except Keystone Signet are recharged. For 20 seconds, the next 0...5...6 times you use a signet that targets a foe, all other foes adjacent to your target are interrupted and take 15...51...60 damage."
 * : reduced recharge to 20 seconds.
 * : reduced duration to 5...21...25 seconds; reduced recharge improvement to 10...34...40%.
 * : reduced duration to 5...21...25 seconds, reduced Energy cost to 5; reduced hex duration increase to 10...34...40%.
 * : increased recharge to 30 seconds.
 * : reduced recharge to 15 seconds.
 * : changed duration to 5...33...40 seconds; increased damage to target at 0 energy to 15...83...100; added the following functionality: "Whenever that foe is the target of one of your Mesmer skills, that foe loses 1 Energy and takes 5...21...25 damage per point of Energy lost."
 * : increased recharge to 4 seconds; changed functionality to: "Spell. Target foe takes 5...33...40 damage. If that foe is using a skill, you deal +5...41...50 damage to that foe and all adjacent foes."
 * : reduced Energy cost to 10; increased recharge to 15 seconds; changed functionality to "Elite Hex Spell. For 1...8...10 seconds, target foe and all nearby foes are hexed with Panic. When a foe hexed with Panic successfully uses a skill, all other nearby foes are interrupted."
 * : reduced Energy cost to 5; increased Health degeneration to 1...3...4.
 * : reduced Energy cost to 5.
 * : increased recharge to 7 seconds.
 * : reduced recharge to 20 seconds.
 * : reduced recharge to 15 seconds.
 * : reduced recharge to 15 seconds.
 * : changed functionality to: "Signet. Target foe and all nearby foes lose 3...7...8 Energy and suffer from Weakness for 1...8...10 seconds."
 * : increased recharge to 8 seconds.
 * : increased recharge to 8 seconds.
 * : reduced duration to 1...8...10; increased speed reduction to 33%.
 * : increased duration to 36...55...60; increased Energy cost to 15; increased recharge to 30; changed functionality to: "Enchantment Spell. For 36...55...60 seconds, all of your signets use your Fast Casting attribute instead of their normal attributes."
 * : changed functionality to: "Elite Spell. If target foe is using a skill, that foe and other foes in the area are interrupted and you steal 0...4...5 Energy from all foes in the area."
 * : now also deals its damage to all adjacent foes.
 * : reduced Energy cost to 5.

Necromancer

 * : reduced duration to 3...13...15.

Mesmer

 * : reduced Energy cost to 5; reduced recharge to 12 seconds; increased damage to 15...63...75.
 * : increased duration to 3...20...24 seconds; reduced Energy cost to 5; reduced recharge to 7 seconds; changed functionality to: "Hex Spell. For 3...20...24 seconds, target foe's attacks do +10 damage, but there is a 50% chance that the damage from each attack will be done to that foe instead. (Maximum 15...100 damage.)"
 * : reduced Energy cost to 5; reduced recharge to 12 seconds; increased Health degeneration to 1...7...8; changed duration to 5...17...20; added the following functionality: target foe attacks 50% slower.
 * : increased recharge to 15 seconds.
 * : added the following functionality: target foe deals 1...12...15 less damage with attacks.
 * : reduced recharge to 10 seconds; increased casting penalty for enchantments to 100...180...200%; changed functionality to: "Elite Hex Spell. For 10 seconds, target foe casts enchantments 100...180...200% slower. If target foe is not under the effects of an enchantment when this hex is applied, that foe and all adjacent foes take 10...82...100 damage."
 * : increased recharge to 30 seconds.
 * : increased recharge to 30 seconds.
 * : increased recharge to 25 seconds.
 * : reduced recharge to 7 seconds; this skill now deals double damage whenever a skill is interrupted.
 * : added the following functionality: you have +5 armor for each Illusion Magic skill you have equipped.
 * : reduced cost to 5 Energy; reduced recharge to 20 seconds; changed functionality to: "Stance. For 10...34...40 seconds, you have +3 armor for each signet you have equipped. Whenever you use a signet, 5...49...60 Health."
 * : increased Health degeneration to 1...7...8; reduced recharge to 12 seconds; changed functionality to: "Elite Hex Spell. For 5...17...20 seconds, target foe suffers -1...7...8 Health degeneration and takes 100% longer to activate skills."
 * : reduced Energy cost to 5; reduced recharge to 15 seconds.
 * : reduced recharge to 12 seconds; increased damage to 30...114...135.
 * : increased recharge to 12 seconds; changed functionality to: "Elite Spell. Interrupts the target foe's action. If that action is a skill, that foe and all nearby foes are knocked down for 2...4...4 seconds. (50% failure chance with Fast Casting 4 or less.)"
 * : reduced Energy cost to 5; reduced recharge to 15 seconds; increased slow percentage to 50%.
 * : reduced recharge to 6 seconds; now deals damage to adjacent foes.
 * : reduced recharge to 8 seconds; changed functionality to: "Signet. If target foe is attacking, that foe and all adjacent foes are interrupted and take 15...51...60 damage. Any foes using attack skills are knocked down."
 * : reduced Energy cost to 5; reduced recharge to 7 seconds; changed functionality to: "Spell. Target foe takes 15...63...75 damage. All hostile summoned creatures in the area of that foe take 25...105...125 damage."
 * : increased recharge to 12 seconds; changed functionality to: "Elite Hex Spell. For 1...8...10 seconds, spells cast by the target foe and all adjacent foes take 100% longer to cast. Spells targeting these foes that are cast by you or your allies take 50% less time to cast."
 * : reduced recharge to 10 seconds; changed functionality to: "Signet. Target foe takes 15...63...75 damage. If that foe is under the effects of a hex or enchantment, foes adjacent to your target take 5...41...50 damage."
 * : reduced Energy cost to 5; increased recharge time to 12 seconds; increased damage dealt to 30...94...110.

Common Skills

 * : reduced spell activation time decrease to 20%.

Consumable Items

 * Blue Rock Candy: reduced skill activation time decrease to 20%.
 * Pumpkin Pie: reduced skill activation time decrease to 15%.
 * Red Rock Candy: reduced skill activation time decrease to 25%.

Elementalist

 * : merged with PvE version; this skill now functions the same in PvE and PvP.

Mesmer

 * : reduced energy cost to 5; reduced recharge to 15 seconds.
 * : increased duration to 3...10...12 seconds; increased recharge to 12 seconds, changed functionality to: "Hex spell. (3...10...12 seconds.) Target foe deals +10 damage. Whenever target foe hits with an attack, there is a 50% chance the damage will be redirected to that foe (maximum 10...60)."
 * : increased health degeneration to 1...7...8; changed duration to 5...17...20; added the following functionality: target foe attacks 50% slower.
 * : increased casting penalty for enchantments to 100...180...200%; changed functionality to: "Elite Hex Spell. For 10 seconds, target foe casts enchantments 100...180...200% slower. If target foe is not under the effects of an enchantment when this hex is applied, that foe and all adjacent foes take 10...100 damage."
 * : split for PvP; retains original functionality.
 * : merged with PvE version; this skill now functions the same in PvE and PvP.
 * : merged with PvE version; this skill now functions the same in PvE and PvP.
 * : split for PvP; retains original functionality.
 * : split for PvP; retains original functionality.
 * : merged with PvE version; this skill now functions the same in PvE and PvP.
 * : reduced cost to 5 energy; reduced recharge to 20 seconds; changed functionality to: "Stance. For 10...34...40 seconds, whenever you use a signet, you gain 5...49...60 Health."
 * : reduced recharge to 12; increased health degeneration to 1...7...8; reduced duration to 3...10...12 seconds; changed functionality to: "Elite Hex Spell. For 3...10...12 seconds, target foe suffers -1...7...8 Health degeneration and takes 100% longer to activate skills."
 * : split for PvP; retains original functionality.
 * : increased damage to 10...90...110.
 * : increased recharge to 12 seconds; changed functionality to: "Elite Spell. Interrupts the target foe's action. If that action is a skill, that foe and all adjacent foes are knocked down for 2...3...3 seconds. (50% failure chance with Fast Casting 4 or less.)"
 * : split for PvP; retains original functionality.
 * : now deals damage to adjacent foes.
 * : reduced recharge to 12 seconds; changed functionality to: "Signet. If target foe is attacking, that foe and all adjacent foes are interrupted and take 15...51...60 damage. Any foes using attack skills are knocked down."
 * : reduced Energy cost to 5; reduced recharge to 20 seconds; changed functionality to: "Spell. Target foe takes 15...63...75 damage. All hostile summoned creatures in the area of that foe take 25...105...125 damage."
 * : increased recharge to 12 seconds; changed functionality to: "Elite Hex Spell. For 1...8...10 seconds, spells cast by the target foe and all adjacent foes take 100% longer to cast. Spells you cast that target these foes take 50% less time to cast."
 * : reduced recharge to 20 seconds; changed functionality to: "Signet. Target foe takes 15...63...75 damage. If that foe is under the effects of a hex or enchantment, foes adjacent to your target take 5...41...50 damage."
 * : increased recharge to 12 seconds.

Skill-Related Changes

 * Hard Mode no longer affects monsters' activation speed for skills with default activation times under 2 seconds.
 * Monsters in the Underworld, Tomb of the Primeval Kings, and Fissure of Woe now have innate health regeneration in Hard Mode only.
 * Monsters in the Underworld, Tomb of the Primeval Kings, and Fissure of Woe now have reduced health totals in Hard Mode only.
 * Improved the durability of King Frozenwind and his Ice Elemental allies in the quest "Servants of Grenth."
 * Improved the skill bars of King Frozenwind and his Ice Elemental allies in the quest "Servants of Grenth."
 * Reduced the number of Skeletons of Dhuum in the quest "Servants of Grenth."
 * Reduced the number of Terrorweb Dryders in the quest "Four Horsemen."
 * Improved the skill set used by Mindblade Specters in the Underworld.
 * Improved the skill set used by Spectral Vaettir in Jaga Moraine.
 * Improved the skill set used by Wind Riders in the Maguuma Jungle.

Bug Fixes

 * Fixed a bug that caused Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support (NPC) to summon an incorrectly named Assassin.
 * Fixed a bug that allowed characters with Shadow Form to exceed its damage cap with some skills.
 * Fixed a bug that caused Sliver Armor to always deal damage to the same foe.
 * Fixed a bug in the description for Symbol of Wrath by removing the reference to double damage.
 * Fixed a bug that prevented Lawrence Crafton from using his custom skill.
 * Fixed a bug that caused Shining Blade allies to occasionally use incorrect dialogue.

Miscellaneous

 * Improved the visual feedback for some Mesmer skills.
 * The AI now uses Koro's Gaze more intelligently.
 * Added a skill icon for Snaring Web.
 * Koro Sagewind now uses Vigorous Spirit instead of Resurrection Chant.

Guild Wars Wiki notes

 * This update introduced a bug that removed Discord (PvP) and Signet of Judgment (PvP). Because of this, players were able to equip and use the PvE versions of these skills in PvP. Discord (PvP) and Signet of Judgment (PvP) were readded in subsequent updates.
 * This update introduced a bug that changed Sliver Armor damage to armor-ignoring damage. This was fixed in the May 24, 2010 update.
 * This update introduced a bug that caused Bone Horrors to be double size, and Flesh Golems smaller.
 * This update added the Wanted by the Shining Blade quest giver.
 * This update added skill animations to Accumulated Pain, Symbolic Celerity, and Recurring Insecurity.
 * After this update, the War in Kryta versions of White Mantle and the Peacekeepers began dropping unique items.