ArenaNet:Developer updates/20070802

This is an archive of Developer Updates, originally posted through the official website. It includes semi-official announcements, clarifications, and news from the developers.

[Dev Update] Heroes' Ascent Test Week -- 02 August 2007

As today's news post reported: "As part of our continuing practice of reviewing and refreshing PvP gameplay mechanics, we're launching another test week featuring changes to the Heroes' Ascent area. We'll be looking for your feedback about the HA changes after they roll out this week and as always will give them full consideration in subsequent potential updates and revisions."

Here are details of what will be changed for this play-balance test week:

• Removed Broken Tower from the map rotation.
• Removed Burial Mounds from the map rotation and replaced it with Fetid River, a new 8v8 Annihilation map that has a Priest.
• Removed Sacred Temples from the map rotation and replaced it with the Antechamber, a new 8v8 Control Point map.
• Added Forgotten Shrines, a new 8v8 Control Point map, to the map rotation after Unholy Temples.
• Changed the Courtyard's game type from Kill Count to King of the Hill.

Added Changes for Test Week -- 03 August 2007

• Reduced the time on the Antechamber and Forgotten Shrines from 10 minutes to 6 minutes.
• When a team in the Antechamber or Forgotten Shrines has scored 20 points more than its opponent, the game ends and the high-scoring team wins.
• Players can now only bring a maximum of 2 non-human (Hero or henchmen) players into Heroes' Ascent maps.