Game updates/20091022

Update #2 - Thursday, October 22, 2009

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that prevented the Priest of Balthazar from offering services to PvP characters.

Update - Thursday, October 22, 2009

Halloween 2009

When the harvest is in and the moon sails high

And the shadows begin to lengthen

Mad King Thorn’s games begin! His minions ride!

His grip on the land will strengthen

But all is not well on this Halloween

It stirs in the Underworld’s gloom

An ancient evil, long unseen

If awakened, it spells our doom

Do partake in the Mad King’s revelry

But take care in the jack o’ lantern glow

For this is the season of devilry

And something wicked lurks deep below

Halloween Event

• Preparations have been made for Halloween 2009.
• A number of new quests will become available throughout the course of the event, starting on Monday.

Codex Arena

• The Codex Arena is officially open.
• The new Codex title track is available for competing in the Codex Arena. This title track is not cumulative with the Commander title track.
• Team Arena[sic] and Hero Battles are officially closed.
• Winning matches is no longer required to unlock PvP outposts.
• Progress made in the Commander title track will be saved and cannot advance any further.

Henchmen

• PvE henchmen Skill Bars have been rebalanced.

Prophecies

• Devona now has Balanced Stance, "To the Limit!", and Earthshaker; removed "Charge!".
• Stephan[sic] now has "Watch Yourself!", Thrill of Victory, Galrath Slash, Savage Slash, and Skull Crack; removed Griffon's Sweep, Power Attack, and "Charge!".
• Little Thom now has Cleave, Cyclone Axe, Dismember, Penetrating Blow, Shield Bash, and Sprint; removed Balanced Stance, Executioner's Strike, Swift Chop, Wild Blow, and "Charge!".
• Aidan now has Incendiary Arrows, Determined Shot, Dryder's Defense, Read the Wind, and Distracting Shot; removed Kindle Arrows, Power Shot, and Practiced Stance.
• Reyna now has Poison Arrow, Hunter's Shot, Determined Shot, and Dryder's Defenses; removed Power Shot and Practiced Stance.
• Cynn now has Elemental Attunement, Rodgort's Invocation, Immolation,[sic] and Aura of Restoration; removed Fire Storm, Incendiary Bonds, and Mind Burn.
• Orion now has Glyph of Renewal and Meteor; removed Mind Burn.
• Alesia now has Dwayna's Kiss and Divine Healing; removed Healing Touch.
• Lina now has Aura of Faith, Mend Ailment, and Divine Healing; removed Shield of Regeneration.
• Mhenlo now has Dwayna's Kiss, Divine Healing, and Vigorous Spirit; removed Healing Touch.
• Claude now has Soul Leech and Strip Enchantment; removed Grenth's Balance.
• Eve now has Life Transfer and Strip Enchantment; removed Grenth's Balance.
• Dunham now has Power Block, Hex Breaker, Leech Signet, and Ether Feast; removed Crippling Anguish and Distortion.

Factions

• Devona now has Enraged Smash, Yeti Smash, and Balanced Stance; removed Irresistible Blow and "Charge!".
• Lukas now has Quivering Blade, Standing Slash, Jaizhenju Strike, "Watch Yourself!", and Sprint; removed Hamstring, Protector's Defense, and Dragon Slash.
• Seaguard Eli now has "Coward!", Standing Slash, Leviathan's Sweep, "Watch Yourself!", and Sprint; removed Hamstring, Protector's Defense, and Dragon Slash.
• Talon Silverwing now has Dragon Slash, Seeking Blade, and "For Great Justice!"; removed "Charge!".
• Aidan now has Glass Arrows, Splinter Shot, Determined Shot, and Lightning Reflexes; removed Kindle Arrows, Power Shot, and Practiced Stance.
• Daemon[sic] now has Read the Wind and Determined Shot; removed Choking Gas.
• Yuun now has Melandru's Shot (in Hard Mode).
• Zho now has Determined Shot; removed Power Shot.
• Argo now has Smoldering Embers and Lava Arrows; removed Bed of Coals.
• Cynn now has Elemental Attunement, Immolate, Lava Arrows, and Teinai's Heat; removed Fire Storm, Incendiary Bonds, and Mind Burn.
• Headmaster Vhang now has Lightning Surge, Shock Arrow, and Glyph of Lesser Energy; removed Teinai's Prison and Energy Boon.
• Kai Ying now has Unsteady Ground; removed Second Wind.
• Kisai now has Gust (in Hard Mode) and Shock Arrow.
• Danika now has Healing Burst, Remove Hex, Heaven's Delight, and Signet of Rejuvenation; removed Healing Touch, Jamei's Gaze, Signet of Devotion, and Blessed Light.
• Jamei now has Empathic Removal, Heaven's Delight, and Signet of Rejuvenation; removed Healing Touch, Orison of Healing, Signet of Devotion, and Blessed Light.
• Redemptor Karl now has Boon Signet and Resurrection Chant; removed Rebirth and Life Sheath.
• Seaguard Gita now has Remove Hex, Shielding Hands, and Resurrection Chant; removed Draw Conditions, Mend Ailment, Reversal of Fortune, and Rebirth.
• Sister Tai now has Heaven's Delight and Signet of Rejuvenation; removed Healing Touch and Signet of Devotion.
• Taya now has Healing Light (in Hard Mode).
• Brutus now has Lifebane Strike and Unholy Feast; removed Rising Bile.
• Eve now has Vampiric Spirit and Strip Enchantment; removed Grenth's Balance.
• Sheena now has Weaken Armor and Parasitic Bond; removed Soul Feast and Vile Touch.
• Su now has Animate Flesh Golem, Animate Vampiric Horror, Vile Miasma, and Taste of Death; removed Soul Feast, Vile Touch, and Lingering Curse.
• Erys Vasburg now has Psychic Instability; removed Power Leech.
• Lo Sha now has Lyssa's Aura and Power Return; removed Power Leech.
• Seaguard Hala now has Shared Burden, Accumulated Pain, Images of Remorse, and Power Drain; removed Arcane Conundrum, Clumsiness, Hex Eater Signet, and Power Leech.
• Emi now has Temple Strike, Golden Lotus Strike, Nine Tail Strike, Exhausting Assault, Way of Perfection, and Signet of Malice; removed Entangling Asp, Jagged Strike, Return, Viper's Defense, and Beguiling Haze.
• Mai now has Siphon Strength (in Hard Mode), Fox Fangs, and Nine Tail Strike.
• Panaku now has Seeping Wound, Fox Fangs, and Critical Strike; removed Entangling Asp, Return, and Beguiling Haze.
• Nika now has Mark of Instability and Black Mantis Thrust; removed Jagged Strike.
• Aeson now has Spirit Channeling, Pain, Union, Disenchantment, Shadowsong, and Boon of Creation; removed Mend Body and Soul, Shelter, Soothing Memories, Spirit Light, Weapon of Warding, and Attuned Was Songkai.
• Chiyo now has Signet of Spirits, Vengeful Weapon, Spirit Siphon, Essence Strike, and Protective Was Kaolai; removed Shelter, Spirit Light, Weapon of Warding, and Attuned Was Songkai.
• Professor Gai now has Union.

Nightfall

• Devona now has Magehunter's Smash, Mokele Smash, Balanced Stance, and Lion's Comfort; removed Healing Signet and "Charge!".
• Timera now has "You're All Alone!" (in Hard Mode), Soldier's Strike, Barbarous Slash,[sic] and Gash; removed Griffon's Sweep, Power Attack, Seeking Blade, and Sprint.
• Abasi now has Expert's Dexterity (in Hard Mode) and Crossfire.
• Aidan now has Prepared Shot, Arcing Shot, Keen Arrow, and Antidote Signet; removed Heket's Rampage, Power Shot, and Practiced Stance.
• Cynn now has Searing Flames, Glowing Gaze, and Glyph of Lesser Energy; removed Fire Storm, Incendiary Bonds, and Mind Burn.
• Herta now has Ebon Hawk and Glowstone; removed Stone Daggers and Glyph of Lesser Energy.
• Kihm (Level 3-15) now has Word of Healing (in Hard Mode) and Remove Hex; removed Shatter Hex.
• Mhenlo now has Watchful Healing and Divine Intervention; removed Healing Touch.
• Eve now has Ravenous Gaze, Signet of Lost Souls, and Strip Enchantment; removed Grenth's Balance.
• Odurra now has Mistrust.
• Sogolon now has Spear of Lightning, Hexbreaker Aria, and Signet of Return; removed Mending Refrain and Resurrection Signet.
• Gehraz now has Victorious Sweep, Heart of Holy Flame, Conviction, Attacker's Insight, and Mystic Regeneration; removed Dust Cloak, Eremite's Attack, Reap Impurities, Signet of Pious Light, and Vital Boon.

Eye of the North

• Devona now has Crushing Blow, Lion's Comfort, and Plague Touch; removed Irresistible Blow and Healing Signet.
• Talon now has Symbolic Strike and Poison Tip Signet; removed Protector's Defense and Silverwing Slash.
• Aidan now has Determined Shot, Conjure Lightning, and Lightning Reflexes; removed Debilitating Shot, Volley, and Whirling Defense.
• Zho now has Hunter's Shot and Attacker's Insight; removed Penetrating Attack.
• Cynn now has "Never Surrender!".
• Herta now has Glowstone, Ebon Hawk, and Renew Life; removed Stone Daggers, Ward Against Elements, and Resurrection Signet.
• Mhenlo now has Cure Hex and Balanced Stance; removed Healing Touch and Deny Hexes.
• Lina now has Return; removed Shielding Hands.
• Eve now has Accumulated Pain and Mark of Fury.
• Lo Sha now has Shadow of Fear; removed Soothing Images.

AI Updates

The following AI updates apply to Heroes, Henchmen, and Hard Mode NPCs.

Assassin

• Heroes will now use Wastrel’s Collapse more frequently.
• Heroes will now use Death’s Charge to close in on enemies even if the heal effect isn’t needed.
• Improved the AI’s ability to quickly perform Combo Attacks.

Elementalist

• Heroes will now be more cautious about becoming Exhausted when using Gale.
• Heroes will now use Stoning less frequently when the target is not Weakened.
• Heroes will now use Glyph of Lesser Energy more efficiently.
• Heroes will now use Rust more frequently.
• Heroes will now be more cautious about becoming Exhausted when using Shock.

Mesmer

• Heroes will now favor allies who are nearby with Hex Eater Signet.
• Heroes will now choose targets more intelligently when using Empathy.
• Heroes will now choose targets more intelligently when using Backfire.
• Heroes will now choose targets more intelligently when using Signet of Humility.

Monk

• Heroes will now target knocked-down allies with Aura of Stability.
• Heroes will now use Healer’s Boon more frequently.
• Heroes will now use Heal Party more efficiently.
• Heroes will now be more careful about casting Infuse Health, but react faster to endangered allies.

Paragon

• Heroes will now use "Brace Yourself!" less frequently when enemies are not using knockdown skills.
• Heroes will now use Anthem of Weariness more frequently.

Ranger

• Heroes will now use Rampage As One more frequently.
• Heroes will now use Bestial Mauling less frequently against non-knocked down enemies.
• Heroes will now use Debilitating Shot less frequently against non-caster enemies.
• Heroes will now use Comfort Animal less frequently as a heal during combat when they have low energy.
• Heroes will now use Lightning Reflexes more frequently.

Ritualist

• Heroes will now use Siphon Spirit more frequently.
• Heroes will now use Wielder’s Boon less frequently on allies not affected by a Weapon Spell.
• Heroes will now use Ghostly Haste more frequently.
• Heroes will now be more cautious about attacking while under the effect of Weapon of Warding (PvP).

Warrior

• Heroes will now use Flail more appropriately to avoid slowing down when chasing an enemy.
• Heroes will now use Enraging Charge to gain adrenaline even if already within attack range.
• Adjusted the conditions under which the AI will cancel Primal Rage with another stance.
• Adjusted the conditions under which the AI will cancel Frenzy with another stance.
• Heroes will now use Disrupting Chop more frequently.
• Heroes will now use Balanced Stance more frequently when battling foes using knockdown abilities.
• Heroes will now use Sever Artery slightly more frequently.
• Heroes will now use Gash less frequently against Deep Wounded enemies.
• Improved adrenaline management when using skills that remove all adrenaline.

Underworld

Something stirs deep in the Underworld, slowly making its presence known.

• Made numerous adjustments to NPC and monster locations.
• Ghosts and Reapers no longer have collision.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes caused a group of Smite Crawlers to fight other Smite Crawlers.
• Reapers will now appear in the party window until their quests have been completed.
• Tortured Spirits in the quest "Imprisoned Spirits" will now appear in the party window until the quest is complete.
• New Souls in the quest "Escort of Souls" will now appear in the party window until the quest is complete.
• Fixed a bug which sometimes caused the quest "Imprisoned Spirits" to not fail when all of the Tortured Souls are killed.
• Streamlined the Tortured Spirits' pathing in the quest "Imprisoned Spirits".
• Streamlined the holdout timing and pathing of the Terrorweb Dryders in the quest "Imprisoned Spirits."
• Streamlined The Slayer and Terrorweb Dryders' pathing in the quest "Demon Assassin."
• Streamlined the locations, timing, and pathing of the Terrorweb Dryders in the quest "Servants of Grenth."
• Fixed a bug that sometimes caused the quest "Servants of Grenth" to complete before all waves of Terrorweb Dryders have appeared.
• Adjusted the spawns around the Reaper of the Forgotten Vale and the Reaper of the Bone Pits so that they are less likely to appear when the area is unsafe.
• Moved the Lost Soul out of aggro range of the Aatxes.
• Fixed a bug that caused Vengeful Aatxes to not die when their Keeper of Souls is killed in the quest "Unwanted Guests."

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that caused Deadly Paradox to increase casting speed by 66% rather than 33%.
• Fixed a bug that caused Ether Prism to reduce damage by 25% rather than by 75%.
• Fixed the description for Signet of Deadly Corruption to no longer reference itself as an attack.
• Fixed a bug that allowed players to target others when using Spirit Siphon.
• Fixed a bug that prevented Wastrel's Demise from turning the health bar purple.
• Fixed a bug that caused the henchman Sogolon to have less armor than Paragons of an equivalent level.

Miscellaneous

• Upon reaching 25 consecutive wins in Random Arena,[sic] a team will be awarded additional Gladiator points and returned to the outpost.
• The trophies in the Great Temple of Balthazar have been updated and their location moved.
• Tolkano now offers the Eye of the North and Bonus Mission Pack weapon and armor skins for sale.
• Tolkano has begun accepting Zaishen Coins for his weapon and armor skins.
• Tournament Reward Point cost for all PvP weapon and armor skins has been drastically reduced.
• Updated the Daily Automated Tournament times for GvG.
• Festival map decorations no longer require a build and will automatically switch when the festival begins.

Guild Wars Wiki notes

• Tyrian characters that stood in the Hero Battles or Team Arenas outposts prior to this update have been moved to Ascalon City, Canthan to Shing Jea Monastery and Elonian to Chahbek Village. PvP characters were moved to Great Temple of Balthazar.
• Players must have Tournament Reward Points in order to unlock equipment via Zaishen Coins from Tolkano.
• Devona will still use "Charge!" in the Raisu Palace and Imperial Sanctum missions.
• The NPC Ice King has been renamed to King Frozenwind.
• Despite offering PvP reward skins for Zaishen Coins in addition to Tournament Reward Points, Tolkano wouldn't let you enter that portion of his dialogue if you had no reward points. This was fixed in a subsequent update.
• The Eye of the North version of Cynn seems to have lost Glyph of Lesser Energy.