Guild Wars: Eye of the North

Guild Wars 2: the Elementalist

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:09:02 +0000

ArenaNet have been released some information about the various professions in Guild Wars 2. First up is my favourite profession – the Elementalist.

The Elementalist can easily switch roles – from direct damage dealing, to crowd control, to area of affect mass damage – in the flash of an eye. This makes them hugely fun to play, both because they can dish out some awesome damage, but also because the balance can be tricky and challenging, especially when playing with henchmen and Heroes.

Since first starting to play Guild Wars almost 6 years ago, my main character has always been the same – the Elementalist I created on first login. It’s a hugely flexible profession, which makes solo play viable and fun. This core mechanic has been kept and refined for Guild Wars 2, and I suspect I’ll be continuing on with an Elementalist as my main.

The Guild Wars 2 Elementalist page breaks down the characters roles and the mechanics of gameplay, along with some nice screenshots and wallpapers.

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Guild Wars Fifth Anniversary

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:08:51 +0000

It’s been five years since Guild Wars was first launched, and with new content announced and a string of successful expansions, Guild Wars has been a hugely successful MMO. To celebrate five years of great gaming, Guild Wars is having a week of celebrations.

Along with new birthday presents for characters turning five, the Shing Jea Boardwalk has been opened up this week for the usual fun and games.

The week of fun ends this Thursday 25th April and you find can the details of the usual special items and games at http://www.guildwars.com/events/ingame/five_year_anniversary/

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Guild Wars: War in Kryta

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:47:04 +0000

Some exciting news from the ArenaNet team, as they announce a slew of new Guild Wars content – War in Kryta. Covering the escalating hostilities between the White Mantle and the Shining Blade, War in Kryta also aims to start bridging the storyline with Guild Wars 2.

In case you haven’t played Guild Wars: Prophecies (still?), the White Mantle are the religious order who have taken over Kryta, and the Shining Blade are the freedom fighters rebelling against the new corrupt order. A large part of the Prophecies campaign is involved with the initial conflict, which results in the White Mantle being unmasked as tools of the Mursaat, who in turns are pawns of the Lich.

War in Kryta expands on these events with new content, quests, and outside game events, involving the Guild Wars website, Facebook, and even more. War in Kryta is the first series of content in the ongoing “Guild Wars Beyond” expansion – an ongoing series of new content, both inside and outside Guild Wars, which will build the back-story to Guild Wars 2, and slowly lead up to the new game’s release.

Lead designer Linsey Murdock game an interview with Gamespot, covering more details of how War in Kryta will work, and how it lays even more back-story to events and characters in Guild Wars 2. You can read the full interview at http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/guildwars/news.html?sid=6258414

News and war reports from the War in Kryta is available at http://www.guildwars.com/warinkryta

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Guild Wars April Fool’s

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:21:22 +0000

I delayed posting this so it didn’t get swamped in the mass of April Fool’s gags everywhere, and also because I was ill over Easter. Buried in the Guild Wars patch notes for April 1st were a few surprising game updates:

Several new monster-only shouts have been added.
“Lolwut!?”: used after an ally dies.
“Noob!”: used after killing any foe.
“That’s imba!”: used after dying at the hands of any foe.

As well as gems like:

When using a pet skill, your character will now shout out what skill the pet should use. For example, if your pet is named Moachu, and you use Bestial Pounce, your character will shout, “Moachu! Use Bestial Pounce!”

The full Guild Wars 1st April game update notes, in all it’s hilarity, follows:

Update April 1, 2010
Skill Updates & Additions
Assassin:
No changes for Assassins.
Dervish:
Mysticism: this attribute now returns 1 Energy for every rank of Mysticism.
Avatar of Grenth: now removes an enchantment with every attack.
Balthazar’s Rage, Grenth’s Fingers, and Staggering Force now deal their damage when removed.
Elementalist:
Added friendly fire to all Elementalist area-of-effect attacks.
Conjures now work regardless of the weapon’s elemental mod and can stack.
Deep Freeze, Earthquake, Lightning Storm, and Rodgort’s Invocation now affect foes within radar range.
Mesmer:
Blackout: now a ranged skill; doesn’t blackout the caster.
Distortion: added the following functionality: “You have +10 to your Politics and Reporting attributes.”
Diversion: spell duration is now infinite; effect on target foe is increased to 120 seconds.
Price of Pride: now deals 5…40 damage for each title track the target foe has maxed.
Sympathetic Visage: changed functionality to: “While you have this skill equipped, pick-up groups must let you join.”
Monk:
Amity (PvP): increased casting time to 60 seconds. If this spell completes, the match ends in a draw.
Banish: changed functionality to: “Target foe may not return to this map for 1…8…10 years.”
Pacifism: changed functionality to: “For 8…18…20 seconds, target foe cannot play Guild Wars. It has ‘war’ in the name.”
Smiter’s Boon (PvP): increased casting time to 5 seconds.
Spirit Bond: removed restriction on the maximum number of hits.
Supportive Spirit: changed functionality to: “Create a level 1…12…15 Supportive Spirit. Whenever an ally in range has a skill fail, the Supportive Spirit casts Words of Comfort on that ally.”
Words of Comfort: now heals for 15…51…60, and removes Anguish.
Necromancer:
All vampiric skills, when equipped, now cause your character to sparkle in sunlight.
Rigor Mortis: added the following functionality: “Must target a dead foe.”
Rising Bile: added the following functionality: “Any effects from consumables are negated.”
Paragon:
Chants and Shouts can now be activated by voice command.
Echoes can now be cast on Ritualist spirits.
Ranger:
When using a pet skill, your character will now shout out what skill the pet should use. For example, if your pet is named Moachu, and you use Bestial Pounce, your character will shout, “Moachu! Use Bestial Pounce!”
Apply Poison: this skill no longer works on bow attacks.
Fertile Season: changed functionality to: “If two or more animals of the same type, level 5 or higher, are adjacent to each other, a level 1 animal of that type is created.”
Nature’s Renewal: this skill can now be used only when standing near flowers.
Otyugh’s Cry: added the following functionality: “All nearby neutral pets attack the target foe.”
Point Blank Shot: reduced to touch range.
Sloth Hunter’s Shot: added the following functionality: “+10…25 damage vs. sloths.”
Ritualist:
Weapon spells can now be cast on spirits.
Disenchantment: all skills used by players in its area of effect automatically fail.
Mighty Was Vorizun: changed functionality to: “While you hold the Ashes of Vorizun, you have 50% more 3G coverage, but you cannot use the item you really want to.”
Vengeful Was Khanhei: changed functionality to: “While you hold Khanhei’s ashes, skills used on you are interrupted, but are allowed to finish when you drop his ashes. This skill is the best item spell of all time. OF ALL TIME.”
Warrior:
Changed base armor to be 100, but -60 against lightning damage.
“For Great Justice!”: added the following functionality: “Every zig takes off.”
Disarm: now causes target foe to drop any currently equipped weapon to the ground.
Griffon’s Sweep: changed functionality to: “Summons a Griffon ally to your location. This ally fights for you for 30 seconds. You may have more than one Griffon ally at one time.”
Healing Signet: now usable by all professions.
Leviathan’s Sweep: changed functionality to: “Summons a Leviathan ally to your location. This ally fights for you for 30 seconds. You may have more than one Leviathan ally at one time.”
Classic Skills:
By popular demand, the Guild Wars Classic Skill Pack has been added to the Guild Wars In-Game Store. Now, players can relive the days of yore with this exciting selection of skills that function as they did when they were released. The Classic Skill Pack includes the following:
- “I Will Avenge You!”
- Aegis
- Mantra of Recovery
- Order of the Vampire
- Shadow Form
- Signet of Ghostly Might
- Smiter’s Boon
- Ursan Blessing
- And many more!
Heroes:
The Great Betrayer Shiro Tagachi now joins your party as the third Assassin hero. He’s been killed twice already, but he got better!
Durability:
Weapons and armor now have durability. Durability decreases whenever you take damage or use a skill. When the durability for an item reaches 0, that item is destroyed. Repair Kits (100 uses) are available from the Guild Wars In-Game Store.
PvP:
Added support in the PvP character-creation process for the following playable races:
- Centaurs
- Charr
- Elves
- Forgotten
- Orcs
- Tengu
- Titans
Hard Mode Adjustments:
Now called Hard-Core Mode.
All player deaths in Hard-Core Mode are permanent.
Permanently dead characters can still log in, but they may only visit the Underworld map and cannot trade, access account storage, or interact with merchants.
Creature AI Updates:
A number of refinements have been made to more closely simulate PvP play:
Monsters now intelligently pre-kite opponents.
Monsters now retreat when hurt.
Monsters with shields will now swap shields based on player damage type.
Monsters sometimes cancel spells when fighting Mesmers and Rangers to draw out interrupts.
Many monsters now copy their builds from a wiki.
Monsters now have a chance to resign if they do not have a monk.
Several new monster-only shouts have been added.
“Lolwut!?”: used after an ally dies.
“Noob!”: used after killing any foe.
“That’s imba!”: used after dying at the hands of any foe.
Miscellaneous:
Enlarged the world to provide greater opportunity for exploration.
Playable characters can now swim.
Reset all players’ Cartographer titles due to new world size and accessibility.
Updated Alliance Battles in Factions so the battle line is now affected by a third supportable faction: Ninjas.
Integrated some features of the Guild Wars 2 graphics engine to enhance gameplay experience:
Updated grass texture.
Tightened up the graphics on level 3.
Added support to the Hall of Monuments to teleport Guild Wars characters into Guild Wars 2.

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First Guild Wars novel: The Ghosts of Ascalon

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:44:30 +0000

There’s some more expansion of the Guild Wars storyline with the news that a new novel, linking Guild Wars with Guild Wars 2, is due to be published. The Ghosts of Ascalon is written by Matt Forbeck and Jeff Grubb, and aims to set the stage for the storyline of Guild Wars 2.

Desperate to defend his land from advancing hordes of bestial charr, King Adelbern summoned the all-powerful Foefire to repel the invaders. But magic can be a double-edged sword—the Foefire burned both charr and human alike. While the charr corpses smoldered, the slain Ascalonians rose again, transformed by their king’s rage into ghostly protectors and charged with guarding the realm—forever. The once mighty kingdom became a haunted shadow of its former glory.

The novel looks like it’ll be a great read, not just for Guild Wars players. Scheduled for release in Summer 2010, the events are set a year before Guild Wars 2 and is just the first of a number of planned novels that will expand the already rich Guild Wars storyline.

You can read more about this new Guild Wars novel by checking out the FAQ at http://www.guildwars2.com/en/world/ghosts-of-ascalon/faq/

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Time for the Guild Wars Canthan New Year

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:12:45 +0000

It’s time once again to celebrate the Canthan New Year in Guild Wars. This year it’s the Year of the Tiger, which means more fun and games on the Shing Jea Boardwalk as well as a visit from the Celestial Tiger.

The Canthan New Year festival will kick off this Friday, 12th February, at 8pm GMT, and run until 8pm GMT on Monday, 15th February. The Celestial Tiger will be making his visits every three hours at the height of the festival, on Sunday 14th February.

As well as the Rollerbeetle Racing and Shing Jea Boardwalk games, there will be the usual special quests and missions, which will grant special Festival Rewards.

Smaller scale festivals will be taking place in Kamadan and Lion’s Arch, which have already been decorated for the New Year. Remember though that the special missions, games, and the Celestial Tiger will only be visiting Shing Jea Monastery in Cantha.

Here’s the full list of Festival Rewards which are available from vendors, games, and missions during the Canthan New Year festivities:

	Sugary Blue Drink It’s sweet and oh-so-handy when you need a quick boost of speed. (for 2 minutes you move 50% faster) Grants +1 point to Sweet Tooth Title Track
	Champagne Popper A brief-but-spectacular treat for the eyes and ears. They’re a blast! Grants +1 point to Party Animal Title Track
	Bottle Rocket Set off a single-shot firework high overhead—please aim away from faces and moa birds. Grants +1 point to Party Animal Title Track
	Sparkler Light this up to create a cloud of sparks over your head—stand clear of flammable objects. Grants +1 point to Party Animal Title Track
	Red Bean Cake These sweet treats put some pep in your step. (for 5 minutes run 25% faster) Grants +2 points to Sweet Tooth Title Track
	Bottle of Rice Wine The traditional festival beverage. Don’t drink and quest! Grants +1 point to Drunkard Title Track
	Red Gift Bag It’s festive, it’s red, and you’ll never know what’s in it until you open it.
	Lunar Fortune Find out for sure how good or bad your luck will be in the coming year.
	Lunar Token Collect these tokens throughout the festival and trade them in for prizes.
	Crate of Fireworks Open it inside your Guild Hall and move a safe distance away!

Help the Celestial Chefs collect the ingredients to make their offerings to the Celestial Tiger, and then claim your special items and Festival Rewards when he visits.

You can also collect a Celestial Tiger miniature – grab those Lunar Tokens and make sure the Celestial Chefs can cook up a storm for the Celestial Tiger’s visit to Guild Wars in the Canthan New Year.

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Wintersday take two

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:42:23 +0000

If you took part in the popular Wintersday Festival this year in Guild Wars, you may have been less than impressed with some festival glitches, which affected quests, the final events, and getting that all important festival hat.

The problems have not gone un-noticed, and the Guild Wars team over at ArenaNet have decided the best way to address the issues is to run through the fun of the Wintersday Festival a second time.

Wintersday comes twice this year! Due to Grentchy technical issues with the Festival Hat distribution during the Wintersday finale earlier this month, we’re hosting a special encore festival, complete with all the Wintersday activities you love!

This second special Wintersday event will run from 8am GMT on Friday, January 29th until 8pm GMT on Sunday, February 7th. Everyone will get a chance to grab a Wintersday Festival Hat, and if you miss out (again) there are special Festival Hat collectors in the major cities who will be happy to exchange your Candy Cane Shards for some stylish Guild Wars head gear.

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More Guild Wars 2 information

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:20:22 +0000

I missed this before Christmas, but MMORPG.com have an interview with Guild Wars 2 Lead Designer Eric Flannum, World Designer and Writer Ree Soesbee, and Environment Art Lead Dave Beetlestone.

The interview sheds some more light on the social classes available to the five playable races, as well as shedding more light on the back story and the links between the races.

Of most interest though is the hint from Eric Flannum that we should be seeing some more Guild Wars content that will link the current campaigns to Guild Wars 2:

We’ve already seen some things in Guild Wars 1 that lead into the second game. As we get closer to launch, I think we’ll definitely see more things both in Guild Wars 1 and outside of it that hint at things to come.

You can find the full Guild Wars 2 interview here.

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Wintersday festival starts today

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:49:29 +0000

Wintersday kicks off today in Guild Wars, with the usual games, prizes, and special events. Along with the usual festive quests and Wintersday games, some new features are available this year.

Characters now have costume slots, and costumes can be purchased from both the Guild Wars In-Game Store and the NCSoft Store. Additionally, costumes now no longer replace your armour slots:

Costume slots have been added to the character portrait. Now, you can wear costumes over your armor, meaning you can look fabulous in your Dwayna costume or festival hat without sacrificing protection!

You can also follow ArenaNet’s Guild Wars team on Facebook and Twitter, and during Wintersday they will be handing out special prizes via these social networks – have a look at http://eu.guildwars.com/news/article/wintersday_gifts_for_friends_and_followers/ for more details.

A happy Wintersday to all Guild Wars players!

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New video – Guild Wars 2: Races of Tyria

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:15:18 +0000

ArenaNet have posted up another Guild Wars 2 teaser video. This time, the video showcases the different playable races that will be available in the next Guild Wars game.

Guild War 2 will feature 5 playable races – Humans, Asura, Charr, Sylvari and Norn. It will be interesting to see how the differences between the races change the actual gameplay.

Still counting down to a Guild Wars 2 beta!

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Guild Wars: Eye of the North

Guild Wars 2: the Elementalist

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