Guild Wars 2>News>Flame and Frost: The Razing

Flame and Frost: The Razing

by The Guild Wars 2 Team on March 26, 2013

Build 3/26/13 March Content Update Release Notes

LIVING STORY

Flame and Frost: The Razing

A hybrid army erupts through fiery portals in the Shiverpeaks. This “Molten Alliance” between dredge and Flame Legion has created an enemy powerful enough to massacre any who stand in their way. One ranch, one homestead at a time, they’re wiping out all resistance. The razing has begun.
In Flame and Frost: The Razing, the third installment in this four-part series, we meet Braham and Rox, two fervent Tyrians who believe in doing what’s right, even if it means putting themselves in danger. They’re defending the people and places they love, and they’ll need your help.

Open World

  • The Molten Alliance has begun spying on the people of Wayfarer Foothills, Diessa Plateau, the Snowden Drifts, the Plains of Ashford, and the Iron Marches. The Vigil have stationed collectors in these areas to reward adventurers who return logs of all data collected by the enemy.
  • Rumor has it that an Order of Whispers operative has been openly seeking assistance in the Black Citadel. As always, details are classified until disclosed.
  • The Molten Alliance has been arming units with what looks like a fused technology—the molten heat of the Flame Legion combined with the iron-forged brutality of the dredge. Adventurers are advised to stay wary when traversing near the Shiverpeak Mountains.
  • Those brave enough to survive against the Molten Alliance have reported seeing charr and dredge utilizing strange and new combinations of technology and magic.
  • More refugees located in all known camps have begun opening up about their experiences.
  • A Durmand Priory scholar named Aiti and her archival golem LOR-748 have moved into Lion’s Arch at the Durmand Dig Site to answer all queries regarding the Flame Legion and dredge.
  • The Consortium has begun construction of their refugee aid project in Southsun Cove.
  • The Molten Alliance’s loot tables have been updated to better reflect their shared resources.
  • One new area and one new point of interest have been added to Wayfarer Foothills. Another new point of interest has been added to Diessa Plateau. Players who have previously finished map completion and the Shiverpeak Explorer achievement will not need to discover these new locations in order to maintain map completion. Players who have not reached map completion in Wayfarer Foothills or Diessa Plateau, or who have not finished the Shiverpeak Explorer achievement, will need to discover these new locations.

Instances

  • Living Story instances telling the stories of both Braham the norn and Rox the charr have been added to the world. In-game mails and achievements have been implemented in order to aid guidance to the relevant locations. These instance locations are marked on the world map with a golden portal marker.
  • After completion, Living Story instances can be experienced again by speaking with the Replay NPCs stationed inside each completed instance location. In the case of Rox and Braham’s combat instances, repeatable rewards can be earned once a day per account.

Achievements

  • The Secret Contact achievement has been added to the Living Story achievement category.
  • The achievements for Braham: Help from the Legions, Braham – Eirsson, Braham – Retake Cragstead, Rox: Critical Mission, Rox – The Hatchery, and Hero’s Aid have been added to the Living Story achievement category in order to track progress in Living Story instances.
  • All prior Living Story achievements can still be earned.

NEW FEATURES AND CONTENT

Leaderboards

  • We’re pleased to announce that Guild Wars 2 leaderboards begin recording data on March 26th.
  • Initially, the leaderboards will feature WvW rankings, PvP player rankings, and total achievement points—something for all player types in GW2.
  • As of March 26th, your existing scores will silently be posted to the leaderboards while we watch for the top leaders to stabilize. These scores will take into account some of your past accomplishments/rating.
  • Once stable, we will display the leaderboards for players. We currently don’t have an exact date for leaderboard public release.

World vs. World

  • We are happy to announce the addition of World Ranks. When you participate in World vs. World events and defeat enemy players, you will earn World Experience (WXP). When you earn enough WXP, you’ll unlock World Ranks. Every World Rank earned will come with a World Ability Point, and some ranks can even give you a new World Title. World Ability points can be spent on unique World vs. World abilities. Click here for more information on World Ranks.
  • Server-side culling has been removed from World vs. World. For more on the culling removal, read the blog post here.
  • Added client options for various character representations (high-res, low-res, nameplate only).
  • Added more armor and weapon options to vendors inside World vs. World.

Guild Content

  • A new mission type, Guild Bounty Training, is available in Tier 3 of the Art of War line. Completing guild bounty training earns influence for your guild.
  • Three new Guild Bounty targets have been added.
  • Added new weapon skins to the Guild Commendation vendor and sorted the vendor’s available items into tabs.
  • Guild mission activations, completions, and failures are now logged in the Guild History tab.
  • The maximum number of Guild Merits that a single guild can store is 250. This is now displayed alongside the current count.
  • Guild creation is now limited to two guilds per week.
  • Fixed various small bugs on the existing Guild Bounty targets.

BALANCE, BUG-FIXING, POLISH

World Polish

  • Changed the way guaranteed rare drops are delivered for defeating world mega bosses. See the post about this here.
  • Blazeridge Steppes: Fixed a stalling bug in the Rupek and Porgar event chain.
  • Bloodtide Coast: The Bloody Buccaneer event chain should now restart properly.
  • Caledon Forest: Fixed a stalling bug affecting Talaith in the Soundless event chain.
  • Cursed Shore: Fixed a bug in the Meddler’s Summit Pact event chain that caused Pilot Ripsky to become unresponsive.
  • Cursed Shore: Fixed animation on Captain Rotbeard’s reward chest.
  • Cursed Shore: Fixed a bug in the event “Get Warmaster Chan to Shank Anchorage before the troops’ morale breaks.”
  • Cursed Shore: Fixed a stalling bug in the event “Escort Tactician Almonia and her force to secure a new camp.”
  • Cursed Shore: Helping Tactician Footi set up her cannon will now properly award event participation.
  • Cursed Shore: The Champion Risen Gladiator will now appropriately swap his objective back to his health bar when revived.
  • Cursed Shore: Risen Rotmouth will no longer be under the ground when rescuing Tactician Megill.
  • Fields of Ruin: Fixed a bug that prevented some Separatists from counting for the event “Assist the charr delegation.”
  • Fields of Ruin: Fixed an animation bug which caused skills on the Ogre Maul weapons to not animate for characters of some races.
  • Gendarran Fields: Fixed a stalling bug in the event “Keep Bamm safe while he gathers components for his engineering.”
  • Gendarran Fields: Fixed a stalling bug in the event “Defend the merchant caravan.”
  • Gendarran Fields: Fixed a bug that caused centaurs in the Bloodfields to spawn and immediately die.
  • Iron Marches: Fixed a bug that prevented displaced spirits from rejoining their bodies.
  • Iron Marches: Fixed a stalling bug in the event “Defeat Victurus and his Branded army” that occurred if players tried to pull away the Branded army without killing them.
  • Iron Marches: Sentinel Whiptail will now revive the seige devourer in the event “Defend the siege devourer while it assists the troops.”
  • Malchor’s Leap: Fixed a blocking bug in the event “Escort Pact troops and equipment to Wren.”
  • Malchor’s Leap: Fixed a duplicate tent near the Waste Hollows waypoint.
  • Malchor’s Leap: Adjusted creature levels in and under Lyssa’s temple to better match the region’s level.
  • Mount Maelstrom: The Infinity Coil Commander should no longer spam his taunt over a large distance.
  • Mount Maelstrom: Players will no longer become trapped in Krewe Apprentice Blork’s golem suit.
  • Queensdale: Fixed a stalling bug in the event “Protect the brew shipment” that could prevent the Shadow Behemoth events from running.
  • Sandycove Beach: Fixed a stalling bug in the event “Escort the iron shipment to Cowlfang’s Star.”
  • Snowden Drifts: Ice Raking can no longer die before the Claw tournament.
  • Straits of Devastation: Fixed a stalling bug in the Zho’qafa event chain.
  • Shelter’s Gate: The chopper should no longer attack players.
  • Wayfarer Foothills: Fixed a stalling bug that prevented Rani from building his snowman army at the end of the event.
  • Wayfarer Foothills: Reduced the frequency of grawl attacks on Tor’s supply tent in the Frozen Maw event chain.
  • Tactician Megill has been moved out of the briar patch.
  • Juvenile Pink Moas found in Brisban Wildlands can now be tamed appropriately.
  • Fixed a stalling bug that prevented some players from completing the Keg Brawl Kegmaster achievement.
  • Cursed Shore: Changed the objective for the giant fight at the beginning of the Promenade assault.
  • Angvar’s Trove Waypoint has been added to the Snowden Drifts.
  • Iron Marches: Fixed an issue where players would sometimes be unable to plant emblems or evidence in Sonjaw Redclaw’s event chain.
  • Risen Putrifiers will no longer immobilize themselves when attempting to snare players with their anchor.
  • Champion Risen Drake Broodmothers should now have appropriate stats and nameplate borders.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented players from interacting with the pipe organs in Caledon Forest and the Fields of Ruin.
  • Quaggans will now breathe at a normal rate, and child quaggans will sound appropriate for their age.
  • The volume on the Greatsaw and the Chain Sword weapons has been increased.
  • Contested Lyssa statues in Orr will appropriately stun and daze enemies and should no longer apply a nonfunctional “mesmerized” condition.
  • Enemies in Garden of Ilya have had their levels adjusted.
  • Orichalcum Ore locations in Southsun Cove have been moved to locations reachable by players.
  • The Fire Rocket skill on Charrzooka weapons obtained from karma vendors and events has been updated to inflict burning.

General

  • The point amounts obtainable from existing repeatable achievements have been capped as follows: Hobby Dungeon Explorer—200 points; Agent of Entropy—250 points. This change was made to support competitive PvE leaderboards and to lay the groundwork for a reward structure for total achievement points that is coming in a future update.
  • Fixed a bug where Map Completion tooltips on the world map would sometimes display the wrong map.
  • Global: Increased scaling on several events to support up to 50 players.
  • Automatic camera rotation while defeated will no longer restart after the camera is moved.
  • Lip-flap has been enabled for all voiced lines on Players and NPCs in world.
  • The Special Event UI can now be clicked to open up the relevant Achievement Panel.
  • Added missing families to the Daily Kill Variety achievement.
  • Fixed a bug where a player could be removed from an instance they were exploring without a party.
  • Fixed a bug which allowed players to commune with places of power while downed.
  • Fixed an issue with water movement sounds playing either too many sounds or none at all at the surface for playable races.
  • Players who are alone in an instance will no longer be kicked from it when they are invited to and uninvited from a party.
  • Character selection will now show PvE armor, PvP armor, or town clothes as appropriate, depending on what was worn last.
  • Fixed a bug where equipment would get destroyed when unequipped while encumbered.

Dungeons

Fractals

  • Changed the Imbued Shaman’s Enraged buff icon on the Volcanic Fractal.
  • Parties will no longer be killed if they return to the Hub from the Volcanic Fractal.
  • Players should no longer be downed if they have a reflecting crystal when the Jade Maw dies.
  • Fixed an issue where players could be repeatedly killed if they failed to save the captives during the first part of the grawl boss event.

Personal Story

  • “Bad Blood”: Reduced difficulty of spike traps; other minor polish changes made.
  • “Containment”: Fixed a stalling bug that occurred if players talked to Sieran immediately after the cinematic.
  • “Hazardous Environment”: Fixed a stalling bug that occurred if players rushed ahead of Krasso.
  • “Intercepting the Orb”: The head slaver no longer has the ability to summon.
  • “Retribution”: Reduced some enemy levels to make them consistent with the story step’s level.
  • “Ships of the Line”: Fixed a stalling bug on the event “Regroup with the team and assess the situation.”
  • “The Steel Tide”: Improved the tank so it won’t kick players off repeatedly.
  • “The Tribune’s Call”: Fixed a possible stall caused by skipping the cinematic.
  • “The Battle of Fort Trinity”: Upon completion of this story, players can now use the asura gates in any of the order headquarters.
  • “Fixing the Blame”: Players can now speak to Warmaster Gurnn regardless of which events are running.
  • “The Battle of Fort Trinity”: Fixed bug that caused some undead at the end to display as nonhostile.
  • “Tower Down”: It’s no longer necessary to make sure the pack marmox approaches each tower before Tonn can blow it up.
  • “A Grisly Shipment”: Fixed a potential blocking bug that occurred after placing the ghostfire charges.
  • “Twilight of the Wolf”: Reduced Ormi’s level to match the story step’s level.

Items

  • Added a 20-second recharge to the Stunning Strike skill on the Broken Prison Bar.
  • Fixed a bug that caused several pieces of gear to not apply their bonus boon or condition durations.
  • Weapons sold by vendors are no longer salvageable.
  • Transformation tonics cannot be used when already transformed, and leaving transformations has a 3-second cooldown.
  • Removed nonfunctioning sigils from several jewelry and accessory items sold by karma vendors in the Iron Marches.
  • Removed the streaks from the stowed state of Mystic Forge weapons, while ensuring the glow and strobe remained. Streaks should only be visible while swinging the weapon.
  • Updated icons for the Duelist armor set.
  • Updated the miniature siege golems to be account-bound instead of soulbound.
  • Updated Mystic Guardian Weapons with a material with a low depth fade and a slight strobe so they remain visible while stowed.
  • Reduced the range and damage of the Sentinel Rifle obtained in Blazeridge Steppes.
  • Fixed the size and location of the chains of Foefire’s Essence so it is properly hanging from the hilt.
  • Rune of Speed: Updated the 6-piece effect to display its actual constant effect: +5% to movement speed.
  • The totem offerings that can be purchased at the shrines in Wayfarer Foothills now give the same benefits as other food consumables.
  • The “Weapon – Axe” PvP collections tab has been updated to no longer be out of order with the “Cultural Armor – Heavy” PvP collections tab.
  • The PvP Commando’s Helm item has been updated to use the correct model.
  • The PvP Gargoyle Scythe has been updated to now have staff weapon skills.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented players with high amounts of Hall of Monuments points from seeing the PvP Fiery Dragon Sword skin on the Hall of Monuments vendor.
  • Etched Wartorches and Orrian Torches no longer use trident icons.
  • New ascended rings from the February build now have Mystic Forge infusion recipes available.
  • Disabled the use of some consumable items in dungeons.
  • Fixed a bug with the one-time purchases on the laurels vendor that prevented some players from being able to buy these items.
  • Transmuting a legendary item before equipping it will no longer prevent players from getting the achievement.
  • Fixed a bug that caused several Half-Eaten weapons to give an inappropriate amount of bonus attributes for their level.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented some weapon sigils from functioning underwater.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented the Skale Venom consumable from working with projectile attacks.
  • Changed the Commander’s Compendium to not be consumed if used by a character who is already a commander.
  • Updated Ash Legion and Order of Whispers spy kits to work while underwater.

Profession Skills

General

  • Endurance can no longer be negative.
  • Conditions can no longer be transferred to creatures immune to them.
  • Stealth: The duration of Revealed has been increased to 4 seconds when coming out of stealth via an attack.
  • Added evasion duration skill facts to skills.
  • Pets now benefit from their owner’s agony resistance.
  • Reduced quickness from 100% attack speed to 50%.
    As we push to improve balance in both PvE and PvP, a few mechanics in the game will be receiving updates to promote fun and balanced play. In the past, quickness has granted double the action speed normally available to players. In PvP, this speed gives most players almost no chance to react to incoming abilities and allows for massive spike damage in extremely short periods of time. In PvE, the increased attack speed can trivialize a lot of content that would otherwise provide a good challenge. Therefore, we are reducing the speed that quickness allows by half of its current potential while slightly increasing the duration on player-activated skills.

Elementalist

  • Arc Lightning skill: Now strikes enemies that it passes through.
  • Conjured weapons:
    • Now stop autoattacks and cannot be autocast.
    • Now properly appear in the player’s hands upon casting.
  • Signet of Air skill: Updated the passive buff’s description to appropriately indicate the movement speed granted.
  • Elementalists can no longer use the Mist Form skill to instantly rally if they go down exactly at the end of the Tornado skill.
  • Changing attunements no longer causes players to start autoattacking.
  • The Sunspot, Electric Discharge, and Earthen Blast traits no longer trigger when changing attunements while out of combat.
  • Evasive Arcana trait: Plays an effect if the elementalist dodges while in water attunement.

Engineer

  • Packaged Stimulants trait:
    • No longer increases the recharge time on the Drop Bandages skill.
    • No longer reduces the recharge time on the Drop Stimulant skill.
    • No longer applies incorrect fury and swiftness durations to the Drop Stimulant skill.
    • No longer prevents acquisition of the Drop Stimulant pick-up while the player is under the effect of swiftness or fury.
  • Rifled Barrels trait:
    • No longer applies incorrect bleed and weakness durations to the Tranquilizer Dart skill.
    • No longer reduces the recharge time on the Elixir F skill.
  • Forceful Explosives trait: No longer reduces the radius on bombs dropped by the Evasive Powder Keg trait.
  • Fireforged Trigger trait:
    • Correctly lowers the recharge on Elixir F and Super Elixir if the Rifled Barrels trait is also equipped.
    • Correctly lowers the recharge on Acid Bomb.
  • Grenadier trait: No longer removes the recharge when the player stows the Grenade Kit.
  • Super Elixir skill: Displays the correct tooltip information when the Rifled Barrels trait is equipped.
  • Toss Elixir H skill: Displays the correct boon duration on the tooltip while the player is underwater.
  • Throw Mine skill: Correctly turns off the Detonate skill if the mine times out.
  • Automated Response trait: Grants immunity to conditions when the inflictor has over 100% duration.
  • Elixir U:
    • Removed Quickening Zephyr from the base elixir.
    • Removed Veil from the toss mechanic.
    • Now casts instantly and breaks stuns.
  • Stabilized Armor trait: Reduces incoming damage by 5% while endurance is full.
  • Super Elixir skill:
    • Increased both impact base healing and scaling with healing power by 100%.
    • Increased base heal multiplier by 50% and healing power scaling by 100%.
  • Tool Kit skill: Increased potency of skills that heal turrets by 100%.
  • Acidic Coating trait: Now has its intended 10-second cooldown.
  • All utility turrets now detonate after 5 minutes.
  • Thumper Turret skill:
    • Damage from base attacks increased by 66%.
    • Base attacks now cripple for 3 seconds.
    • Self-destructs after 5 minutes.
  • Shockwave skill:
    • Increased damage by 66%.
    • Cooldown reduced from 90 seconds to 45 seconds.
  • Rifle Turret skill: Increased damage from this turret’s base and overcharged attacks by 50%.
  • Surprise Shot skill: Increased damage by 50%.
  • Rocket Turret skill: Reduced recharge from 60 seconds to 50 seconds.
  • Net Turret skill: Increased turret’s health by 25%.
  • Net Attack skill: Reduced cooldown from 60 seconds to 45 seconds.
  • Flame Turret skill:
    • Reduced recharge from 40 seconds to 25 seconds.
    • Increased main attack’s arc from 30 degrees to 60 degrees.
  • Throw Napalm skill: Reduced cooldown from 60 seconds to 30 seconds.
  • Flame Blast skill:
    • No longer double-detonates when the projectile expires naturally.
    • Turns off Detonate after the flame blast ball is gone.
  • Grenade Kit skill: Grenades no longer require the player to have line of sight of the target area to throw them.
  • Kit Refinement trait: Reworked kit skills to balance their effectiveness. All kit skills are now on a static global recharge (20 seconds). The changes are as follows:
    • Med Kit: Equipping this kit applies Magnetic Aura.
    • Bomb Kit: Equipping this kit creates a Magnetic Bomb that pulls enemies toward the center after a brief delay.
    • Elixir Gun: Equipping this kit activates a Glue Trail that follows the player for a short time. Enemies that step in the glue are briefly immobilized.
    • Tool Kit: Equipping this kit grants the user Super Speed for a brief duration.
    • Flamethrower: Equipping this kit grants the player Flame Aura for a time.
    • Grenade Kit: Equipping this kit drops a mine at the player’s location that deals damage and removes a boon.
    • Skills that activate this trait can now activate in midair.
  • Blowtorch skill: No longer displays “miss” on attacks that connect at medium and far distances.

Guardian

  • Wrath skill: Now strikes enemies that it passes through.
  • Symbol of Protection skill: Now correctly hits five maximum targets and applies boons to five allies.
  • Symbol of Faith skill: Now correctly hits five maximum targets.
  • Virtue of Courage skill: Aegis correctly reapplies when stripped.

Mesmer

  • Spatial Surge skill: Now strikes up to two enemies that it passes through, in addition to the primary target.
  • Confusing Images skill: Now strikes enemies that it passes through.
  • Magic Bullet skill:
    • The traited version is now a projectile combo finisher to match the base skill’s functionality.
    • No longer hits targets beyond maximum range.
  • Blade Training trait: Properly reduces the recharge of Illusionary Leap.
  • Illusionary Duelist skill: Reduced the range to 900, matching its current listing.
  • Arcane Thievery skill: Now has the correct range when the Far-Reaching Manipulations trait is equipped.
  • Confounding Suggestions trait: Reduced the frequency of stunning targets when Diversion is used from 100% of the time to 50%.
  • Dazzling trait: Now functions with Chaos Storm and Illusionary Riposte’s secondary attack.

Necromancer

  • Bone Fiend: This creature now properly fires two projectiles while underwater.
  • Dark Path skill: Now unblockable.
  • Epidemic skill: Now requires line of sight of the main target to spread conditions to nearby enemies.
  • Spiteful Talisman trait: Properly grants bonus damage to Spinal Shivers for each boon removed.
  • Staffs now correctly play the visual effects of necromancer staff skills at the tip of the staff rather than at the player’s hands.
  • Life Siphon skill: Updated skill facts.
  • Death Shroud skill: No longer uses a custom skill bar interface, thereby allowing players using Death Shroud to see buffs, health, and endurance. The screen and sound effects are unchanged.
  • Necromancer trait: Now allows life-stealing on walls in World vs. World.

Ranger

  • Black Widow Spider pet: Now has the correct amount of vitality.
  • White Raven pet: Now has the correct amount of vitality.
  • Drake pet Chomp attack: This skill no longer heals enemy targets.
  • Maul skill:
    • Increased bleeding duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds.
    • Increased base damage by 26%.
  • Counterattack skill: Reduced recharge from 20 seconds to 15 seconds.
  • Hilt Bash skill: Reduced recharge from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.
  • Ranger pet cooldowns are now properly preserved when stabled.
  • Feline pets: Maul now applies consistent critical hits.
  • Quickening Zephyr skill: Now breaks stun. Increased duration from 4 seconds to 5 seconds.
  • Pet-revive skills no longer fail to heal their target.

Thief

  • Corrosive Traps trait:
    • Applies the correct vulnerability duration with Shadow Trap.
    • Now applies vulnerability with Ambush Trap.
  • Healing Seed skill:
    • Increased radius slightly.
    • Now displays the combo field ring.
  • Caltrops:
    • Reduced duration from 15 seconds to 10 seconds.
    • Now indicates its radius.
  • Steal skill: No longer initiates autoattacks.
  • Uncatchable trait:
    • Now displays an active combat area to both allies and enemies.
    • Increased effective radius by 50%.
  • Basilisk Venom skill: No longer immobilizes targets in addition to stunning them.
  • Haste skill: Increased duration from 4 seconds to 5 seconds.

Warrior

  • Kick skill: Now lunges toward the target slightly, extending the range.
  • Rampage skill:
    • The Kick skill now lunges towards the target slightly, extending the range.
    • Players can now use the Throw Boulder skill while moving.
  • Banner of Defense skill: Increased toughness and vitality granted to allies from 90 at level 80 to 170.
  • Banner of Discipline skill: Increased precision granted to allies from 90 at level 80 to 170.
  • Banner of Strength skill: Increased power and condition damage granted to allies from 90 at level 80 to 170.
  • Banner of Tactics skill: Increased healing granted to allies from 90 at level 80 to 170.
  • Bladetrail skill: Can no longer be fired at enemies behind the player.
  • Frenzy skill: The duration of quickness and its debuffs are now 5 seconds and 6.25 seconds when the player is affected by the Sure-Footed trait.

Racial Skills

  • Charr: The Charrzooka elite skill no longer consumes ammunition when the player uses healing and utility skills.
  • Norn: Players in raven form are no longer prevented from using skills after using Wind Blast.

Structured Player vs. Player

  • Disconnecting from the game removes you from your roster before a match has started.
  • Rosters that lose their submit status opens the roster UI.
  • Scoreboard refreshes when players join, leave, or change teams.
  • Disconnecting gives kill credit to opponents.
  • Daily and monthly laurels can be obtained through either PvP or PvE achievements. You cannot earn additional laurels from doing both, players can simply chose to do one or the other. They will still receive all other normal daily/monthly rewards should they chose to do both PvE and PvP achievements.
  • Party members now show on the map while in the Heart of the Mists.
  • Spirit Watch:
    • Personal points awarded from scoring the orb have been increased from 10 to 15.
    • Updated the voiced line that plays whenever the orb resets.
    • Commune no longer interrupts itself if you interacted multiple times in a row.
  • Temple of the Silent Storm:
    • Updated the voiced lines that play whenever a meditation appears.
    • Commune no longer interrupts itself if you interacted multiple times in a row.
  • Raid on the Capricorn:
    • Updated the scoreboard to include a statistic for cannon hits.
    • Fixed the cannon to reduce camera issues that could occur while a player is operating it.
  • Heart of the Mists: Disabled the Wall of Champions.

World vs. World

  • Updated World vs. World UI screen to include a new ranking system and score breakdowns by map.
  • Updated Outmanned bonus to increase World XP, receive no armor damage on death, and increase experience.
  • Fixed areas where terrain could be exploited to gain access to World vs. World objectives by unintended means.
  • Aldon’s Ledge siege upgrade now successfully completes.
  • Ballista bonus damage to siege no longer has the chance to apply to players.
  • Armor and weapon vendors
    • Updated their positions slightly.
    • Updated the items and their costs for some merchants.
  • Sigil of Leeching no longer affects gates.
  • Catapult damage no longer affects rams through gates.

BLACK LION TRADING COMPANY GEM STORE

New Items and Promotions

  • Until April 1, 2013, it is free to transfer to all Medium population worlds! Players are still restricted to one world transfer per week, so choose wisely.
  • Added the Name Change Contract to the Gem Store. Each Name Change Contract can change one character’s name once. Place the Name Change Contract in the inventory of the character whose name you want to change and then double-click to activate it. Name Change Contracts are available in the Service category of the Gem Store for 800 gems each.
  • Added the Communal Boost Bonfire to the Gem Store. Place the Communal Boost Bonfire in the world and choose a boost to experience, karma, or magic find. Once the fire is fully stoked, anyone can interact with the bonfire to receive the chosen boost. You can increase the speed at which the fire is stoked by throwing more firewood onto it. Firewood spawns automatically when the boost type is selected. The Communal Boost Bonfire is available in the Boost category of the Gem Store for 300 gems each or 5 for 1200 gems.
  • Added Fused weapon skins to the Black Lion Chest. Each Black Lion Chest has a rare chance to give a Fused weapon claim ticket. Take this ticket to Evon Gnashblade in Lion’s Arch or to the Vigil Weapons Specialist at the refugee camps in Hoelbrak and the Black Citadel. Trade the ticket for one of 16 new weapon skins inspired by the fiery alliance between the dredge and Flame Legion. All Fused weapon skins are account-bound. You can preview the weapons at the Vigil Weapon Specialists even if you do not have a ticket. Open a Black Lion Chest with a Black Lion Key, available in the Consumable category of the Gem Store for 125 gems each or 5 for 450 gems.
    • Fused Axe
    • Fused Dagger
    • Fused Focus
    • Fused Greatsword
    • Fused Hammer
    • Fused Longbow
    • Fused Mace
    • Fused Pistol
    • Fused Rifle
    • Fused Scepter
    • Fused Shield
    • Fused Short Bow
    • Fused Staff
    • Fused Sword
    • Fused Torch
    • Fused Warhorn

Improvements

  • Replaced the Hot and Featured item sections on the front page of the Gem Store with a single item carousel that shows all featured items. To scroll the carousel right or left, click the arrows on either side. To select a specific page, click its gray dot at the bottom of the carousel.
  • The banner carousel on the front page of the Gem Store now has page indicators at the bottom of the banners. To select a specific banner, click its gray dot at the bottom.
  • Selecting an item from the featured item carousel or the banner carousel will take you to that item’s category, automatically scroll down to that item, and highlight it.
  • In item preview, a red exclamation point now appears on an item that your character cannot equip.
  • Costume Brawl now stays on players up to 5 minutes when they exit a transformation to allow them to switch transformations while brawling.
  • Renamed the following items for clarity:
    • “Black Lion Key” is now “Black Lion Chest Key”
    • “Evon Gnashblade’s Box of Fun” is now “Box of Fun”
    • “Black Lion Merchant Express” is now “Merchant Express”
    • “Personal Black Lion Merchant Express” is now “Personal Merchant Express”
    • “Black Lion Trader Express” is now “Trading Post Express”
    • “Personal Black Lion Trader Express” is now “Personal Trader Express”
    • “Fine Transmutation Stone” is now “Transmutation Crystal”
    • “Basic Transmutation Stone” is now “Transmutation Stone”
    • “Permanent Trading Post Pick Up Contract” is now “Permanent Trading Post Express Contract”
    • “Plush Charr Backpack Cover” container is now “Plush Charr Backpack Set”
    • “Tiger Charr Backpack Cover” container is now “Tiger Charr Backpack Set”
    • “Plush Quaggan Backpack Cover” container is now “Plush Quaggan Backpack Set”
    • “Pink Quaggan Backpack Cover” container is now “Pink Quaggan Backpack Set”

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed some display and clipping issues with shields and back items in item preview.
  • Traits are no longer active during Costume Brawl.
  • While players are in Costume Brawl, the right-side skills are now replaced by a time-out brawl skill so players can always exit Costume Brawl.
  • The autocomplete drop-down no longer gets stuck on the Trading Post search bar.

GUILD WARS 2 USER AGREEMENT

The Guild Wars 2 User Agreement has been updated. As of March 26, 2013, each player is required to accept the amended agreement upon logging in to the game.

The amended content is as follows:

  • Changed “NCsoft” to “NCSOFT” throughout.
  • Added content to indicate whether the specific agreement applies to an EU or Non-EU player.
  • Added link to the second regional User Agreement.
  • Added definition of Guild Wars 2 Account Display Names in Section 1c.
  • Added references to Guild Wars 2 Account Display Names where relevant.
GuildWars2.com