Feedback:Game updates/20091217

Update #2 - Thursday, December 17, 2009

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a crash bug related to the item template code system.

Update - Thursday, December 17, 2009

Wintersday 2009

Can you feel that crisp chill in the air? It's that time of year when the cities of Tyria shine like beacons with festive decor, and the gods Dwayna and Grenth fight over who will control the weather during the coming months. Holiday vendors sell seasonal treats, and the air is full of snowballs and the sound of laughter. Wintersday is almost here!

Wintersday Event

• Preparations have been made for Wintersday 2009.
• Holiday quests are now available throughout the land.
• Players can enter PvP Snowball Fights by speaking with Wintersday Priests.
• 8v8 ATS-style Snowball Tournaments are accessible through guild halls.

Costumes

• Grenth and Dwayna costumes are available for purchase from the In-Game Store and the NCsoft Store.
• Costume slots have been added to the Character panel.
• Hats given by Festival Hat NPCs have been updated to work with the new costume slots.
• For more details about costumes and costume slots, see the costume gameplay article.

Snow Fighting Skill Updates

• Avalanche (skill): reduced activation time to 3/4 second; reduced Cripple duration to 7 seconds.
• Avatar of Dwayna (snow fighting skill): increased Health gain to 30 per skill; reduced activation time to 1 second.
• Avatar of Grenth (snow fighting skill): increased Health stolen to 15 per skill; reduced activation time to 1 second.
• Flurry of Ice: increased damage to 50 per snowball.
• Holiday Blues: reduced Health sacrifice to 50%; reduced effect duration to 30 seconds; increased activation time to 1 second; increased recharge time to 45 seconds.
• Icicles: increased recharge time to 25 seconds.
• Side Step: increased Health gain to 250; increased recharge time to 25 seconds.
• Steady Aim: this skill is now a Shout; removed activation time; reduced recharge time to 5 seconds.
• Yellow Snow: this skill is now a Preparation; reduced casting time to 3/4 second; increased recharge time to 12 seconds.
• Side Step has been removed from the following creatures and character:
  • Dodgy Grentch now uses Hidden Rock.
  • Playful Snowman now uses Hidden Rock.
  • Vael (Snowball Dominance quest only) now uses "Let's Get 'Em!"

Snowball Fight Updates

• Dwayna vs Grenth 4v4: increased Gamer point reward to 15 per win.
• Dwayna vs Grenth 8v8 (Automated Tournament): increased Gamer point reward to 40 per win; increased Candy Cane Shards to 7 per win.

Guild Wars Wiki notes

• Costume maker NPCs have been added to Great Temple of Balthazar, Kamadan, Lion's Arch, and Shing Jea Monastery.
• Guild registrar and Guild Emblemer have been added to Lion's Arch International District.
• Even though it states that "Holiday quests are now available", the holiday quests actually weren't available until Wintersday began on December 18th.
• This update added a new animal companion, the White Jingle Moa.