Game updates/20070201

Update 2 - Thursday February 1, 2007

 * Reverted several unintended skill balance changes that were part of the previous update but were not included in the update notes.

Broken Tower and Courtyard
The winning team is no longer decided by who is holding the altar when time runs out. The new win condition is based on points earned by killing members of the opposing teams.


 * Every time a team kills an opposing player, that team is awarded one point.
 * Killing a Ghostly Hero awards double points.
 * The first kill of a match awards double points.
 * Players may still capture the altar, but this is now done through the use of capture points similar to the control points used in Alliance Battles. The team with the most players in range of the capture point begins capturing the altar. The Ghostly Hero counts as 4 players.
 * The team holding the altar receives a 10% damage boost.
 * When the timer hits zero, the team with the most points wins. In cases of a tie, the team that scored the last kill wins the match. If no teams have scored a kill, there is no winner.
 * Teams resurrect every minute on these maps.
 * Added resurrection shrines to the Broken Tower map.
 * Players no longer incur a death penalty (DP) on these maps.
 * Increased the time limit to 7 minutes.

Hall of Heroes

 * Increased the time limit to 8 minutes.
 * Players no longer incur a death penalty (DP) on this map.
 * Updated the Hall of Heroes map so that it is more open.
 * The contents of the reward chest have been updated, and its location has been moved. All players now need to click on it to receive a reward for winning a battle in the Hall of Heroes. To give players time to do this, the wait time between matches has been increased.
 * When players enter the Hall of Heroes, the win condition and match objectives are randomly decided from four options. These four options are described below.

Kill Count

 * Every time a team kills an opposing player, that team is awarded one point.
 * Killing a Ghostly Hero awards double points.
 * The first kill of a match awards double points.
 * Players may still capture the altar, but this is now done through the use of capture points similar to the control points used in Alliance Battles. The team with the most players in range of the capture point begins capturing the altar. The Ghostly Hero counts as 4 players.
 * The team holding the altar receives a 10% damage boost and gains a morale boost for every 2 minutes they hold that altar.
 * Teams resurrect at their shrine every minute, along with their Ghostly Hero. The team holding the altar resurrects upon the altar every minute, along with their Ghostly Hero.
 * When time runs out, the team with the most points wins. In cases of a tie, the team that scored the last kill wins the match. If no teams have scored a kill, the defender wins.

Murder Ball

 * Three relics are spawned, one for each team, at equal distances from the altar.
 * Players bring their relic to the central altar to score a point.
 * A relic returns to its start point if an opposing team member picks it up.
 * Teams resurrect at their shrine every minute.
 * When time runs out, the team with the most points wins. In cases of a tie, the tying team that last captured a relic is awarded the win. If no relics have been captured, the defending team wins.

Capture Points

 * There are 4 capture points on the map: one on the altar and one at each team's resurrection shrine.
 * Teams begin capturing a point when they have more players within range than any other team. The Ghostly Hero counts as 4 players.
 * Every 30 seconds, teams are awarded one point for each capture point they are holding.
 * Teams resurrect at their shrine every minute, along with their Ghostly Hero.
 * When time runs out, the team with the most points wins. In cases of a tie, the tying team that last scored a kill wins the match. If no kills have been scored, the defending team wins.

King of the Hill

 * Bring your Ghostly Hero to the central altar. Once he is in range of the central altar, he will attempt to claim it. When he has done so, he moves to the center to hold it.
 * Every 30 seconds, the team holding the altar receives one point.
 * When time runs out, the team with the most points wins. In cases of a tie, the team to have held the altar last wins.
 * Claim Resource: casting time reduced to 2 seconds, Energy cost reduced to 0.

Other Maps

 * Fixed a bug in the Isle of Solitude map that allowed the defending team to enter the attacking team’s guild hall without their Guild Thief.

General

 * Updated Trap skill descriptions to match the damage they do in-game.
 * Fixed a bug that prevented players from seeing the damage caused by their own Traps.
 * The "evade" mechanic has been removed from the game. All skills that used this mechanic have been changed to use "block" instead.
 * Weakness now causes -1 to all attributes.

Assassin

 * : decreased duration to 4..10.
 * : decreased duration to 10..40, increased recharge time to 45 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 2 seconds.
 * : now causes a Deep Wound.
 * : increased Energy cost to 15, increased recharge time to 20 seconds. Functionality changed to: "Shadow Step to target foe. That foe is interrupted and becomes Dazed for 1..7 second[s]."
 * : decreased recharge time to 4 seconds.
 * : now causes a Deep Wound.
 * : fixed a bug that caused this skill to affect Assassin Stances.
 * : decreased recharge time to 2 seconds.
 * : now gives 1..3 Energy per critical hit, based on the Critical Strikes attribute.
 * : increased damage per recharging dagger attack to 5..16, up to a maximum bonus of 65.
 * : must now follow a lead attack.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * : decreased damage to 5..50. Functionality changed so that it cannot be blocked and now always does the bonus damage, regardless of whether or not Enchantments are removed.
 * : changed block rate to 75%. Duration now scales 4..10 based on the Critical Strikes attribute.
 * : increased block rate to 75%, increased duration to 5..30, and increased recharge time to 30 seconds.
 * : increased block rate to 75%, increased recharge time to 45 seconds, increased duration to 30..60.
 * : increased critical strike bonus to 3..15%.
 * : changed duration to 30 seconds. This Spell now works on the next 1..7 attack skills.
 * : changed duration to 30 seconds. This Spell now works on the next 1..7 attack skills.
 * : increased the chance to double strike to 50%.
 * : decreased cast time to .25 seconds.
 * : increased damage to 10..25.
 * : increased healing to 30...150.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased casting time to .25 seconds.

Ritualist

 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased casting time to 3 seconds, decreased recharge time to 30 seconds. This Skill now falls under the Channeling attribute.
 * : increased Energy gained to 30.
 * : decreased casting time to 1 second, decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased casting time to 1 second, increased recharge time to 20 seconds, increased area-of-effect to "nearby."
 * : decreased casting time to 1 second, decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
 * : now adds 24 armor when held, and heals the party for 10..85 when dropped.
 * : decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * : increased regeneration to 3 per Hex or Condition suffered.
 * : decreased casting time to 3 seconds, decreased recharge time to 30 seconds, increased Energy cost to 15.
 * : holding this item now causes Ritualist damage spells to have 10% armor penetration.
 * : now works on the next 1..5 attacks.
 * : increased Blindness duration to 5 seconds, decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
 * : decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * : decreased recharge time to 2 seconds, increased duration to 15..45 seconds.
 * : increased amount healed to 1..15 Health per second, and an additional 1..15 Health if within earshot of a Spirit.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * : increased duration to 5..35.
 * : reduced recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * : increased recharge bonus to 33%.
 * : now works on the next 3 attacks.
 * : increased duration to 5..20.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 10.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased recharge time to 15.
 * : decreased block rate to 75%.
 * : decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, increased duration to 90.
 * : decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, decreased duration to 20 seconds, increased healing-per-second that the Spirit was alive to 1..7.
 * : decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
 * : you now gain 3..12 Energy if you are within earshot of a Spirit.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 10, decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * : increased damage to 30..130.
 * : increased Energy gained to 8..17.
 * : increased healing to 60..180.
 * : decreased casting time to .25 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 4 seconds.
 * : increased damage done to 20..75, decreased healing to 5..50, decreased Energy gained to 5.
 * : increased damage to 5..35.
 * : decreased the amount of Heath lost to the nearest Spirit to 5..50, increased the amount healed per Health lost to 5.
 * : decreased the amount of Health lost to 10..30%, increased damage done per Health lost to 4.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * : functionality changed to: "For 10 seconds, you gain +1..6 Energy regeneration but suffer -5 Health degeneration. When Spirit Channeling ends, you gain 100 Health if you are within earshot of a Spirit."
 * : decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
 * : functionality changed to: "Resurrect target party member with your current Health and Energy. If that party member dies within 120 seconds, so do you."
 * All spells that had a requirement of being "near a Spirit" or "in the area of a Spirit" have been changed to "within earshot of a Spirit."
 * : decreased casting time to 4 seconds.

Paragon

 * : decreased Energy gained to 1..6.
 * : decreased healing to 15..75.
 * : decreased healing to 30..90.
 * : decreased healing to 30..90.
 * : decreased healing to 30..90.
 * : increased casting time to 2 seconds.
 * : now only effects party members, Energy cost increased to 15.
 * : increased damage to 5..25.
 * : decreased Weakness duration to 5 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 4 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 4 seconds, increased damage to 5..30.
 * : decreased casting time to 5 seconds, increased recharge time to 20 seconds.

Dervish

 * All avatar forms: increased recharge time to 30 seconds, decreased duration to 10..70 seconds.
 * : increased maximum Energy to 20.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, increased amount healed to 15..60 Health.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 10.
 * : increased Energy cost to 15.
 * : adjusted duration to 5..35, increased energy cost to 10.
 * : adjusted duration to 5..25.
 * : decreased recharge time to 5 seconds, increased movement speed to 33%.
 * : Increased recharge time to 4 seconds.

Mesmer

 * : reduced area-of-effect to "nearby."
 * : functionality changed to: "Target foe takes 15..75 damage. If this Spell hits a Spirit, all nearby foes take 15..75 damage, and this Spell recharges instantly."
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * : decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, decreased duration to 4..10 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, decreased duration to 4..10 seconds.
 * : decreased the amount of healing applied when this Hex ends to 15 per point of degeneration.
 * : now does double damage to summoned creatures.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased recharge time to 8 seconds, decreased Energy loss to 1..7.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 10.
 * : decreased recharge time to 10 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 0 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 0 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 0 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 10 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 15, decreased Energy loss to 5..20.
 * : decreased recharge time to 20.
 * : decreased recharge time to 10.
 * : Increased casting time to 1 second.

Necromancer

 * : decreased duration to 5..20 seconds.
 * : decreased Energy return to 5..15, decreased Health degeneration to 1..5.
 * : increased damage to 30..90.
 * : decreased recharge time to 2 seconds.
 * : increased Conditional damage to 5..50.
 * : decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * : Increased damage to 30..110.
 * : decreased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 10, decreased casting time to 1 second, increased recharge time to 25 seconds.
 * : Increased Recharge time to 15 seconds.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * : decreased sacrifice to 30..10% of maximum Health.
 * : increased damage to 1..15.
 * : decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * : increased duration to 5..35 seconds, decreased sacrifice to 10% of maximum Health.
 * : decreased cast time to 2 seconds, increased damage dealt to 15..45.
 * : decreased recharge time to 5 seconds. The created minion does not exploit the corpse.
 * : decreased recharge time to 12 seconds.
 * : functionality changed to: "For 5..35 seconds, target foe suffers -1 Energy degeneration and you suffer -2 Health degeneration. Malaise ends if target foe's Energy reaches 0. When Malaise ends, that foe takes 5..50 damage."
 * : functionality changed to: "For 5..35 seconds, target foe suffers -2..4 Health degeneration and -1 Energy degeneration. Wither ends if target foe's Energy reaches 0. When Wither ends, that foe takes 15..75 damage."
 * : decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, increased damage done per second to 1..6, decreased duration to 20 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 10 seconds. This Hex now does -4 Health degeneration, but only to Bleeding foes.
 * : decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased Energy loss to 1..5.
 * : decreased casting time to 1 second, decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, increased duration to 5..35.

Elementalist

 * : increased Energy cost to 10.
 * : decreased Burning duration to 1..5 seconds.
 * : increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * : decreased knock down duration to 2 seconds.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 15, increased damage to 10..40.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 10, increased damage to 5..35.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, increased damage to 10..40.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 10.
 * : reduced unconditional damage to 10..30, increased recharge time to 30 seconds.
 * : increased damage to 10..40. This spell now causes Blindness on each pulse.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 10, increased damage to 10..40.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 15, increased damage to 10..40.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, increased recharge time to 25 seconds.
 * : increased Conditional damage to 15..60.
 * : decreased recharge time to 4 seconds.
 * : increased Conditional damage 5..50.
 * : increased duration to 1..10.
 * : decreased recharge time to 5 seconds, decreased damage to 10..85.
 * : increased damage to 10..85.
 * : increased projectile speed by 25%.
 * : decreased recharge time to 2 seconds.
 * : decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * : increased recharge time to 12 seconds, decreased duration to 4..10, functionality changed to: "Target foe's movement is slowed by 66%. If that foe is under the effects of an Enchantment, target's movement is slowed by 90% instead."
 * : decreased recharge time to 3 seconds.
 * : increased damage to 20..65.
 * : increased area-of-effect to "nearby."
 * : increased area-of-effect to "nearby."
 * : reduced casting time to 2 seconds.
 * : increased Energy cost to 10, increased casting time to 2 seconds, decreased recharge time to 7 seconds, and increased damage to 7..112.
 * : increased damage to 20..65.
 * : decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, increased duration to 5..20 seconds.
 * : increased damage to 15..105.
 * : increased damage to 8..33.
 * : no longer adds armor to targets.
 * : increased damage to 15..60.

Monk

 * : increased casting time to 1 second.
 * : decreased damage to 100 maximum.
 * : decreased casting time to .25 seconds, decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * : Conditional healing increased to 15..100.
 * : reduced casting time to 1 second.
 * : decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased duration to 8 seconds.
 * : decreased casting time to .25 seconds, increased duration to 1..7 seconds, changed block rate to 75%.
 * : increased area-of-effect to "nearby."
 * : decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * : decreased casting time to 5 seconds, increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * : decreased casting time to 5 seconds.
 * : decreased casting time to 6 seconds, increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * : decreased casting time to 6 seconds, increased recharge time to 15 seconds.
 * : decreased casting time to 6 seconds, increased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * : now adds a 15% damage buff to the target.

Warrior

 * : increased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased damage to 5..20.
 * : decreased Condition durations to 7 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased duration to 1..8 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased duration to 1..8 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased duration to 1..6 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased duration to 1..6 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased duration to 1..8 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased duration to 1..8 seconds.
 * : increased duration to 8 seconds.
 * : now only effects party members, armor bonus applies versus all projectiles.
 * : increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * : increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * : decreased recharge time to 3 seconds, increased damage to 10..40.
 * : increased recharge time to 6 seconds, increased damage to 5..35.
 * : increased damage to 10..40.
 * : increased damage to 15..45.
 * : increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * : increased recharge time to 6, reduced Energy gained to 1..6.

Ranger

 * : decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased duration to 3..15.
 * : decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
 * : decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * : increased Cripple duration to 3..25 seconds.
 * : increased duration to 3..15 seconds.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased recharge time to 12 seconds, increased damage to 5..20.
 * : increased duration to 5..20 seconds.
 * : increased Conditional damage to 5..35.
 * : decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * : increased duration to 36 seconds.
 * : increased duration to 5..30.
 * : increased Bleeding duration to 5..25.
 * : decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
 * : increased duration to 30..90 seconds.
 * : increased level to 1..10.

Guild Wars Wiki notes

 * already had a conditional healing range of 15...100 prior to this update. The update actually increased the unconditional healing to 15...100.