Winds of Change
Winds of Change is a Guild Wars Beyond storyline telling the events in Cantha seven years after the end of the Factions storyline. Winds of Change takes place in three phases: the first phase was released on July 7, 2011; the second on September 29, 2011; the final phase was released on February 9, 2012.
Getting started[edit]
To begin the story, speak with the Ministry of Purity's Initiate Zei Ri, who can be found on the lower level of Kaineng Center. (See also: the walkthrough.)
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Foe changes: As soon as you complete the first quest, spawns of some areas in Cantha will change to fit the new story:
For details, see: Changes to explorable areas |
Lore background[edit]
Setting[edit]
“The defeat of Shiro Tagachi ended the plague that had afflicted Cantha. However, it took adventurers and members of the imperial guard a few grueling years to track down all of the Afflicted and the remnants of the Shiro'ken army that the Betrayer had unleashed in his final attempt to destroy the empire.
Over the past few years, life has begun to spring up in Echovald Forest as many areas have seen new growth take hold. Some even claim to have seen a change in the Jade Sea—small pools of water forming or even waves moving beneath the frozen surface—but these reports are unsubstantiated rumors at best.
Life has returned to normal for most Canthan residents. Kaineng still struggles under the burdens of bureaucracy, overpopulation, and crime, while the Kurzicks and Luxons remain locked in a never-ending battle over scant resources. Shing Jea Island remains an oasis of pristine valleys and beautiful vistas. Monks come to the island regularly for scholarly pursuits, while the general populace descends in droves for every festival held within the safe confines of Shing Jea Monastery.
Commerce returned to a brisk pace once the Affliction ended, and since then, many Canthans have sought to re-establish old trade routes to Elona and Kryta as well as locate new opportunities farther north. However, recent reports of earthquakes and giant cracks opening in the middle of urban Cantha have some believing this time of relative peace and prosperity has now come to an end.
[edit]
- 1058 AE (1568 CC) — Miku is born.
- 1067 AE (1577 CC) — Ashu is born.
- 1072 AE (1582 CC) — The Afflicted Plague ravages Cantha. The Yuudachi family, head of the Sai Ling Order, are killed in one of the attacks. Miku and Ashu survive, but are separated in the attack. Miku is unable to find her younger brother.
- 1072 AE (1582 CC) — Ashu is found by Guardsman Jinnai, and is given into the care of his aunt, Reiko.
- 1072 AE (1582 CC) — Driven further and further from Kaineng by the Afflicted, Miku secrets herself aboard a ship heading for Lion's Arch.
- 1073 AE (1583 CC) — Reiko makes her first push for the people themselves to fight back against the Afflicted, using Ashu as a figurehead.
- 1073 AE (1583 CC) — Miku ends up in a small village in Kryta, where she is taken in by a sympathetic family, treating her as their own daughter.
- 1074 AE (1584 CC) — Reiko begins to rise in rank at the Ministry of Flame, and begins speaking to the public with Ashu more often.
- 1076 AE (1586 CC) — Reiko becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the Ministry's restrictions, and begins maneuvering to create a new branch.
- 1077 AE (1587 CC) — The Ministry of Purity is established, with Reiko at its head. Ashu remains a central figure, almost a symbol to the MoP.
- 1077 AE (1587 CC) — Guardsman Jinnai confronts Reiko about what she has become, and what she has done to Ashu. Reiko threatens Jinnai, and he disappears shortly thereafter.
- 1079 AE (1589 CC) — Miku's adoptive family is killed by the White Mantle. She seeks vengeance, and crosses path with Keiran. The two confront the White Mantle together.
- 1079 AE (1589 CC) — Miku returns to Cantha to face her past, and begins searching for her brother. Enter the player, and then things happen.[1]
See also[edit]
Winds of Change content[edit]
Winds of Change content is available only to characters who have completed the Factions campaign. In order to do Rescue at Minister Cho's Estate and Cleansing Zen Daijun, foreign characters must also complete the Minister Cho's Estate and Zen Daijun missions, respectively.
Enemies[edit]
Various enemies received new skill bars for Winds of Change, along with the addition of new foes. These foes do not appear outside of quests until the explorable area is altered through completion of certain quests. These foes include:
- All explorable-areas
- Quests and mini-missions only
Quests[edit]
Winds of Change's main story follows a chain of quests (and their hard mode equivalents), which is begun by Initiate Zei Ri. This quest chain has quests given by Initiate Tsuriai in Seitung Harbor and Xan Hei in Xaquang Skyway.
The second part main story quest chain is started by Herald of Purity. This quest chain has quests given by Guardsman Qao Lin in Kaineng Center, Miku in Shenzun Tunnels and Soar Honorclaw in Kinya Province.
The third, and final part main story quest chain is started by Miku. This quest chain has quests given by Guardsman Qao Lin.
Lei Jeng has a separate chain of six secondary quests, which become available after completing various main storyline quests.
Changes to explorable areas[edit]
After completing the first quest (Cleansing Bukdek Byway), all of the areas listed below will change to include new foes, suitable to the new story. As you work your way through Winds of Change, each of those areas will see further changes (e.g. after purging the Afflicted from the zone, you will see other types of foes when you return).
After completion of the quest A Chance Encounter, the Winds of Change Am Fah and Jade Brotherhood are replaced by Ministry of Purity members.
| Explorable area | WoC quest | Prior to quest completion | After quest completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bukdek Byway | Cleansing Bukdek Byway (HM) | WoC-builds for Afflicted, Am Fah, and Jade Brotherhood. | Afflicted replaced with WoC-build Am Fah. |
| Shadow's Passage | Cleansing Shadow's Passage (HM) |  |
Afflicted replaced with WoC-build Jade Brotherhood. |
| Shenzun Tunnels | Cleansing Shenzun Tunnels (HM) | |
Afflicted replaced by WoC-build Am Fah. |
| The Undercity | Cleansing the Undercity (HM) | |
Afflicted replaced by WoC-build Am Fah. |
| Sunjiang District | Cleansing the Sunjiang District (HM) | |
Afflicted bosses replaced with WoC-build Am Fah. |
| Pongmei Valley | Cleansing Pongmei Valley (HM) | |
Am Fah with WoC-builds in the area near Sunjiang District. |
| Minister Cho's Estate | Rescue at Minister Cho's Estate (HM) | Afflicted with WoC-builds. | Afflicted replaced with Scavengers; over twice as many foes as before. |
| Haiju Lagoon | Cleansing Haiju Lagoon (HM) | |
Afflicted replaced with Scavengers. |
| Zen Daijun | Cleansing Zen Daijun (HM) | |
Afflicted replaced with Scavengers. |
| Rhea's Crater | Cleansing Rhea's Crater (HM) | |
Afflicted replaced with regular Outcasts. |
| Silent Surf | Cleansing the Silent Surf (HM) | |
Afflicted replaced by empty space, with exception of mob near Assassin's Construct. |
| Morostav Trail | Cleansing Morostav Trail (HM) | |
Afflicted replaced by Blood Drinkers and Fungal Wallows. |
Encounters[edit]
As the storyline progresses, new encounters will be viewable throughout Cantha.
Items[edit]
- Ministerial Commendations, can be redeemed for Weapons of Purity, Imperial Guard Requisition Orders and some Consumables
- Imperial Guard Requisition Orders, can be traded for Imperial Weapons, Imperial Guard Lockboxes and some Consumables
- Imperial Dragon's Tears, can be traded to Azume for Imperial Dragon Weapons
- Unique item drops and Ministerial Commendations from Ministry of Purity foes
Wallpapers[edit]
Notes[edit]
- There are no special titles tied to Winds of Change.
- Players are able to acquire three new sets of weapons: uncommon Weapons of Purity, rare Imperial weapons, and unique Imperial Dragon weapons. There are currently no plans to allow players to add any of these to the Hall of Monuments (due to resource constraints on the Guild Wars development team).
- Completing any of the the seven quests permanently alters the foes one will encounter in the related explorable areas (see above).
- You can temporarily revert back the spawns to their default version by taking the "flashback" quest, Memories of Purity, available from the Herald of Purity in Kaineng City (after completion of the first seven normal mode quests).
- Players are able to capture the same elite skills in each of the areas from new bosses in the same zones (they generally appear in the same location as the original boss with the relevant skill).
Bug.Even if your party includes characters who have yet to start Winds of Change, the explorable areas do not return to their pre-WoC status. This has been confirmed by Zack Nickerson.Cumulative rewards[edit]
| Net rewards | Normal mode | Hard mode | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experience | 105,000 | 225,000 | 330,000 |
| Gold | 38  |
79 |
117
|
| Imperial Commendations | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| Ministerial Commendations | 18 | 36 | 54 |
| Imperial Guard Requisition Orders | 15 | 30 | 45 |
| Kurzick & Luxon faction (each) |
1,000 | 2,000 | 3,000 |
| Zaishen Coins | 1  |
2  |
1 2
|
| Gems | 1  1  1  1  |
2 1 3 2 |
3 2 4 3
|
| Lockpicks | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| Imperial Dragon's Tears | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Heroes |  Miku |
 Zei Ri |
|
| Optional quests | |||
| Experience | 12,500 | 30,000 | 42,500 |
| Gold | 9 |
12 |
21
|
| Imperial Commendations | 6 | 9 | 15 |
| Imperial Guard Requisition Orders | 0 | 3 | 3 |
External links[edit]
References[edit]
| Campaigns | Expansions | Beyond | Compilations | Upgrades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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