Game updates/20070119

Permanent Changes:

 * Fixed a bug that allowed players to walk through some walls on the Isle of Weeping Stone guild battle map.
 * Fixed a bug that caused Heroes to deal extra damage with attacks.
 * If a player has the Lightbringer title track selected, that player's Heroes now gain the benefits provided by this title.
 * Fixed a bug that made it difficult to repair the attacker's catapult on the Warrior's Isle guild battle map.
 * Adjusted the positions of several of the defenders in the Isle of Solitude guild battle map to more effectively defend the Guild Lord.
 * Screenshots are now saved as JPG files.

Heroes' Ascent

 * Re-introduced the Burial Mounds map into rotation, with some map alterations to make it more conducive to a 1v1 map.
 * Removed the Scarred Earth map from rotation.

Broken Tower and Courtyard
The winning team is no longer decided by who is holding the altar when time runs out. The new win condition is based on points earned by killing members of the opposing teams.
 * Every time a team kills an opposing player, that team is awarded one point.
 * Killing a Ghostly Hero awards a team double points.
 * The first kill of a match awards double points.
 * Players may still capture the altar, but this is now done through the use of capture points similar to the control points used in Alliance Battles. The team with the most players in range of the capture point begins capturing the altar. The Ghostly Hero counts as 4 players.
 * The team holding the altar receives a 10% damage boost.
 * When the timer hits zero, the team with the most points wins. In cases of a tie, the team that scored the last kill wins the match. If no teams have scored a kill, there is no winner.
 * On Broken Tower, the team holding the altar resurrects upon the altar every minute, along with their Ghostly Hero.
 * On Courtyard, teams resurrect every minute at their shrine while their Priest is alive. The team holding the altar resurrects there instead of at their shrine.
 * Increased the time limit to 10 minutes.
 * Players no longer incur a death penalty (DP) on these maps.

Hall of Heroes

 * Increased the time limit to 8 minutes.
 * Players no longer incur a death penalty on this map.
 * The contents of the reward chest have been updated, and its location has been moved. You can find the new location by looking on your Compass after you've won a match. All players now need to click on it to receive a reward for winning a battle in the Hall of Heroes. To give players time to do this, the wait time between matches has been increased.
 * When players enter the Hall of Heroes, the win condition and match objectives are randomly decided from three options. These three options are described below.
 * Kill Count
 * Every time a team kills an opposing player, that team is awarded one point.
 * Killing a Ghostly Hero awards a team double points.
 * The first kill of a match awards double points.
 * Players may still capture the altar, but this is now done through the use of capture points similar to the control points used in Alliance Battles. The team with the most players in range of the capture point begins capturing the altar. The Ghostly Hero counts as 4 players.
 * The team holding the altar receives a 10% damage boost and gains a morale boost for every 2 minutes they hold that altar.
 * Teams resurrect at their shrine every minute, along with their Ghostly Hero. The team holding the altar resurrects upon the altar every minute, along with their Ghostly Hero.
 * When time runs out, the team with the most points wins. In cases of a tie, the team that scored the last kill wins the match. If no teams have scored a kill, the defender wins.
 * Murder Ball
 * Three Heroes are spawned, one for each team, at equal distances away from the altar.
 * One relic is spawned on the altar in the middle of the map.
 * Players bring the relic to their Ghostly Hero to score a point.
 * When a player picks up the relic, a timer starts counting down 60 seconds. When that time is up, the relic respawns at its start location.
 * If a player is holding the relic when the timer is up, that player dies.
 * If a Ghostly Hero is killed, he resurrects after 10 seconds at the place where he stood.
 * Teams resurrect at their shrine every minute.
 * When time runs out, the team with the most points wins. In cases of a tie, the tying team that last captured a relic is awarded the win. If no relics have been captured, the defending team wins.
 * Capture Points
 * There are 4 capture points on the map: one on the altar and one at each teams' resurrection shrine.
 * Teams begin capturing a point when they have more players within range than any other team. The Ghostly Hero counts as 4 players.
 * Every 30 seconds, teams are awarded a point for each capture point they are holding.
 * Teams resurrect with their Ghostly Hero every minute at their shrine.
 * When time is up, the team with the most points wins. In cases of a tie, the tying team that last scored a kill wins the match. If no kills have been scored, the defending team wins.

Skill Balance Changes
Theses changes are temporary, DO NOT update any Wiki pages with these changes!

General
Permanent Change:
 * The "evade" mechanic has been removed from the game. All skills that used this mechanic have been changed to use "block" instead.

Temporary Change for this Weekend's Testing Event:
 * Weakness now causes -1 to all attributes.

Assassin

 * Assassin's Remedy: changed duration to 30 seconds. This Spell now works on the next 1..5 attack skills.
 * Assault Enchantments: decreased recharge time to 2 seconds.
 * Augury of Death: now causes a Deep Wound.
 * Beguiling Haze: increased Energy cost to 15, increased recharge time to 20 seconds. Functionality changed to "Shadow Step to target foe. That foe is interrupted and becomes Dazed for 5..11 second[s]."
 * Black Mantis Thrust: decreased recharge time to 4 seconds.
 * Blades of Steel: increased damage per recharging dagger attack to 5..20, up to a maximum bonus of 80.
 * Critical Defenses: changed block rate to 75%. Duration now scales 4..10 based on the Critical Strikes attribute.
 * Critical Eye: increased critical strike bonus to 3..15%.
 * Critical Strike: now gives 1..3 Energy per critical hit, based on Critical Strikes attribute.
 * Dancing Daggers: increased damage to 10..25.
 * Death Blossom: decreased recharge time to 4 seconds.
 * Exhausting Assault: now must follow a lead attack.
 * Feigned Neutrality: decreased duration to 4..10.
 * Flashing Blades: increased block rate to 75%, increased duration to 5..30, and increased recharge time to 30 seconds.
 * Heart of Shadow: increased healing to 30...150.
 * Impale: now causes a Deep Wound.
 * Lift Enchantment: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased casting time to .25 seconds.
 * Locust's Fury: increased double strike chance to 5..50%, based on the Critical Strikes attribute.
 * Nine Tail Strike: decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * Shadow of Haste: decreased duration to 15..45, increased recharge time to 45 seconds.
 * Shadowy Burden: decreased cast time to .25 seconds.
 * Sharpen Daggers: changed duration to 30 seconds. This Spell now works on the next 1..5 attack skills.
 * Shattering Assault: decreased damage to 5..50. Functionality changed so that it cannot be blocked and now always does the bonus damage, regardless of whether or not Enchantments are removed.
 * Shroud of Distress: increased block rate to 75%, increased recharge time to 45 seconds, increased duration to 36..60.

Dervish

 * All avatar forms: increased recharge time to 30 seconds.
 * Avatar of Dwayna: decreased Energy cost to 5, increased amount healed to 15..60 Health.
 * Avatar of Lyssa: increased maximum Energy to 20.
 * Ebon Dust Aura: adjusted duration to 5..35 seconds.
 * Harrier's Grasp: adjusted duration to 5..25 seconds.
 * Pious Haste: decreased recharge time to 5 seconds, increased movement speed to 33%.

Elementalist

 * Arc Lightning: increased Conditional damage to 15..60.
 * Bed of Coals: decreased Energy cost to 10.
 * Blinding Surge: increased Energy cost to 10.
 * Breath of Fire: decreased Energy cost to 5, increased damage to 10..40.
 * Churning Earth: decreased Energy cost to 15, increased damage to 10..40.
 * Eruption: increased damage to 10..40. This spell now causes Blindness on each pulse.
 * Fire Storm: decreased Energy cost to 10, increased damage to 5..35.
 * Flame Djinn's Haste: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, increased duration to 5..20 seconds.
 * Flare: increased damage to 20..65.
 * Frigid Armor: decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * Frozen Burst: decreased recharge time to 5 seconds, decreased damage to 10..85.
 * Glowing Gaze: increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * Grasping Earth: no longer adds armor to targets.
 * Icy Prism: decreased recharge to 2 seconds.
 * Icy Shackles: increased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased duration to 4..10 seconds, functionality changed to: "Target foe's movement is slowed by 66%. If that foe is under the effects of an Enchantment, target's movement is slowed by 90% instead."
 * Immolate: decreased recharge time to 3 seconds.
 * Incendiary Bonds: increased area-of-effect to "nearby."
 * Lava Arrows: increased damage to 20..65.
 * Lightning Bolt: increased Conditional damage 5..50.
 * Lightning Hammer: decreased recharge time to 2 seconds.
 * Mark of Rodgort: increased area-of-effect to "nearby."
 * Mind Freeze: increased duration to 1..10.
 * Phoenix: reduced casting time to 2 seconds.
 * Savannah Heat: decreased Energy cost to 5, increased recharge time to 25 seconds.
 * Searing Flames: decreased Burning duration to 1..5 seconds.
 * Searing Heat/Teinai's Heat: decreased Energy cost to 15, increased damage to 10..40.
 * Shard Storm: increased damage to 10..85.
 * Shockwave: increased damage to 15..60.
 * Smoldering Embers: increased Energy cost to 10, increased casting time to 2 seconds, decreased recharge time to 7 seconds, and increased damage to 7..112.
 * Stone Daggers: increased damage to 8..33.
 * Stoning: increased damage to 15..105.
 * Unsteady Ground: decreased Energy cost to 10, increased damage to 10..40.
 * Water Trident: increased projectile speed by 25%.

Mesmer

 * Ancestor's Visage: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, decreased duration to 4..10 seconds.
 * Arcane Larceny: decreased recharge time to 0 seconds.
 * Arcane Thievery: decreased recharge time to 0 seconds.
 * Energy Surge: reduced area-of-effect to "nearby."
 * Hex Eater Vortex: decreased Energy cost to 10.
 * Illusion of Pain: decreased the amount of healing applied when this Hex ends to 15 per point of degeneration.
 * Mantra of Recovery: decreased Energy cost to 5, increased duration to 5..35.
 * Mirror of Disenchantment: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds.
 * Power Block: decreased recharge time to 20.
 * Power Flux: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds.
 * Power Leak: decreased recharge time to 15.
 * Power Leech: decreased recharge time to 10.
 * Price of Pride: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * Simple Thievery: decreased recharge time to 0 seconds.
 * Spiritual Pain: Functionality changed to: "Target foe takes 5..75 damage. If that foe is near a Spirit, all other nearby foes take 5..75 damage, and this Skill recharges instantly if it hits a Spirit."
 * Sympathetic Visage: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, decreased duration to 4..10 seconds.
 * Unnatural Signet: now does double damage to summoned creatures.

Monk

 * Balthazar's Pendulum: decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * Divert Hexes: increased casting time to 2 seconds.
 * Healing Burst: area-of-effect increased to "nearby."
 * Rebirth: decreased casting time to 5 seconds.
 * Renew Life: decreased casting time to 6 seconds, increased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * Restore Life: decreased casting time to 6 seconds, increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * Resurrect: decreased casting time to 5 seconds, increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * Resurrection Chant: decreased casting time to 6 seconds, increased recharge time to 15 seconds.
 * Shield of Absorption: increased casting time to 1 second.
 * Shield of Deflection: decreased casting time to .25 seconds, increased duration to 1..7 seconds, changed block rate to 75%.
 * Shield of Regeneration: decreased casting time to .25 seconds, decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * Shielding Hands: decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased duration to 8 seconds.
 * Signet of Judgment: reduced casting time to 1 second.
 * Signet of Mystic Wrath: decreased damage to 100 maximum.
 * Vengeance: now adds a 15% damage buff to the target.
 * Word of Healing: Conditional healing increased to 15..100.

Necromancer

 * Barbs: increased damage to 1..15.
 * Chilblains: decreased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * Corrupt Enchantment: decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * Deathly Chill: increased Conditional damage to 5..50.
 * Deathly Swarm: increased damage to 30..90.
 * Defile Flesh: increased duration to 5..35 seconds, decreased sacrifice to 10% of maximum Health.
 * Depravity: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds.
 * Discord: Increased damage to 30..110.
 * Envenom Enchantments: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased casting time to 1 second, increased recharge time to 25.
 * Gaze of Contempt: decreased Energy cost to 10, decreased casting time to 2 seconds, increased recharge time to 25 seconds.
 * Insidious Parasite: decreased recharge time to 12 seconds.
 * Malaise: functionality changed to: "For 5..35 seconds, target foe suffers -1 Energy degeneration and you suffer -2 Health degeneration. If target foe's Energy reaches 0, that foe takes 5..50 damage and Malaise ends."
 * Malign Intervention: decreased recharge time to 5 seconds. Created minion does not exploit the corpse.
 * Mark of Fury: decreased casting time to 1 second, decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, increased duration to 5..35.
 * Price of Failure: decreased cast time to 2 seconds, increased damage dealt to 15..45.
 * Reaper's Mark: decreased Energy return to 5..15.
 * Rend Enchantments: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * Rip Enchantment: decreased sacrifice to 30..10% of maximum Health.
 * Rising Bile: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, increased damage done per second to 1..6, decreased duration to 20 seconds.
 * Spoil Victor: decreased duration to 20 seconds.
 * Suffering: decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * Toxic Chill: decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * Ulcerous Lungs: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds. This Hex now does -4 Health degeneration, but only to Bleeding foes.
 * Vile Touch: decreased recharge time to 2 seconds.
 * Wither: functionality changed to: "For 5..35 seconds, target foe suffers -2..4 Health degeneration and -1 Energy degeneration. Wither ends if target foe's Energy reaches 0. When Wither ends that foe takes 15..75 damage."

Paragon

 * Aria of Restoration: decreased healing to 30..90.
 * Aria of Zeal: decreased Energy gained to 1..6.
 * Ballad of Restoration: decreased healing to 30..90, decreased recharge time to 15 seconds.
 * Blazing Spear: increased damage to 5..25.
 * Chorus of Restoration: decreased healing to 30..90.
 * Hexbreaker Aria: increased casting time to 2 seconds.
 * Mighty Throw: decreased casting time to 2 seconds.
 * Signet of Return: decreased casting time to 5 seconds.
 * Slayer's Spear: decreased recharge time to 4 seconds, increased damage to 5..30.
 * Song of Restoration: decreased healing to 30..90.
 * "Stand Your Ground!": now only effects party members, Energy cost increased to 15.
 * Unblockable Throw: decreased casting time to 2 seconds.
 * Vicious Attack: decreased recharge time to 4 seconds.
 * Wearying Spear: decreased Weakness duration to 5 seconds.

Ranger

 * Antidote Signet: decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * Arcing Shot: decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * Disrupting Accuracy: increased duration to 36 seconds.
 * Feral Lunge: increased Bleeding duration to 5..25.
 * Glass Arrows: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased recharge time to 12 seconds, increased damage to 5..20.
 * Incendiary Arrows: increased duration to 3..15 seconds.
 * Keen Arrow: increased Conditional damage to 5..35.
 * Rampage as One: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased duration to 3..15.
 * Roaring Winds: increased level to 1..10.
 * Spike Trap: increased Cripple duration to 3..25 seconds.
 * Throw Dirt: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
 * Toxicity: increased duration to 30..90 seconds.
 * Trapper's Focus: increased duration to 5..20 seconds.
 * Trapper's Speed: increased duration to 5..30.
 * Viper's Nest: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.

Ritualist

 * All spells that had a requirement of being "near a Spirit" or "in the area of a Spirit" have been changed to "within earshot of a spirit."
 * Ancestors' Rage: increased damage to 30..130.
 * Anguished Was Lingwah: decreased Energy cost to 15, decreased casting time to 3 seconds, decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
 * Blind Was Mingson: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased casting time to 1 second, increased recharge time to 20 seconds, increased area-of-effect to "nearby."
 * Bloodsong: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased casting time to 3 seconds, decreased recharge time to 30 seconds. Skill moved to the Channeling Attribute.
 * Brutal Weapon: increased duration 5..35.
 * Caretaker's Charge: increased healing and damage done to 20..75, decreased Energy gained to 5.
 * Channeled Strike: decreased recharge time to 4 seconds.
 * Cruel Was Daoshen: decreased casting time to 1 second, decreased recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * Death Pact Signet: changed to: "Resurrect target party member with your current Health and Energy. If that party member dies within 120 seconds, so do you."
 * Destruction: decreased Energy cost to 5, decreased recharge time to 15.
 * Destructive was Glaive: holding this bundle now causes Ritualist damage spells to have 25% armor penetration.
 * Displacement:decreased block rate to 75%.
 * Empowerment: decreased recharge time to 30 seconds.
 * Explosive Growth: decreased Energy cost to 5 Energy.
 * Flesh of My Flesh: decreased casting time to 4 seconds.
 * Gaze from Beyond: decreased the amount of Health lost to 10..30, increased damage done per Health lost to 4.
 * Ghostly Haste: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
 * Grasping Was Kuurong: decreased casting time to 1 second, decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
 * Guided Weapon: reduced recharge time to 5 seconds.
 * Lamentation: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
 * Life: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, decreased duration to 20 seconds, increased healing-per-second it was alive to 1..7.
 * Mighty Was Vorizun: increased Energy gained to 30.
 * Nightmare Weapon: now works on the next 2..5 attacks.
 * Offering of Spirit: increased Energy gained to 8..17.
 * Preservation: decreased recharge time to 20 seconds, increased duration to 90 seconds.
 * Protective Was Kaolai: now adds 24 armor when held, and heals the party for 10..85 when dropped.
 * Resilient Was Xiko: increased regeneration to 3 per Hex or Condition suffered.
 * Resilient Weapon: decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * Signet of Ghostly Might: increased damage to 5..35.
 * Signet of Spirits: you now gain 3..12 Energy if you are within earshot of a Spirit.
 * Spirit Channeling: functionality changed to: "For 10 seconds, you gain +1..6 Energy regeneration but suffer -5 Health degeneration. When Spirit Channeling ends, you gain 100 Health if you are within earshot of a Spirit."
 * Spirit Light Weapon: increased amount healed to 1..15 Health per second, and an additional 1..15 Health if within earshot of a Spirit.
 * Spirit Light: increased healing to 60..180.
 * Spirit Rift: decreased Energy cost to 10, decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * Spirit Transfer: decreased the amount of Heath lost by the nearest Spirit to 5..50, increased the amount healed per Health lost to 5.
 * Splinter Weapon: now works on the next 1..5 attacks.
 * Tranquil Was Tanasen: decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * Vital Weapon: decreased recharge time to 2 seconds, increased duration to 15..45 seconds.
 * Wailing Weapon: decreased Energy cost to 5.
 * Warmonger's Weapon: decreased Energy cost to 10.
 * Weapon of Fury: increased duration to 5..20.
 * Weapon of Quickening: increased recharge bonus to 33%.
 * Weapon of Shadow: increased Blindness duration to 5 seconds, decreased recharge time to 20 seconds.
 * Weapon of Warding: decreased casting time to 1 second.
 * Wielder's Boon: decreased casting time to .25 seconds.

Warrior

 * Counterattack: increased recharge time to 6 seconds, increased damage to 5..35.
 * Critical Chop: increased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased damage to 5..20.
 * Defensive Stance: decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased duration to 1..8 seconds.
 * Deflect Arrows: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased duration to 1..8 seconds.
 * Disciplined Stance: decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased duration to 1..6 seconds.
 * Frenzied Defense: increased duration to 8 seconds.
 * Gladiator's Defense: decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased duration to 1..6 seconds.
 * Griffon's Sweep: increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * Leviathan's Sweep: increased recharge time to 8 seconds.
 * Power Attack: decreased recharge time to 2 seconds, increased damage to 10..40.
 * Shield Stance: decreased recharge time to 15 seconds, decreased duration to 1..8 seconds.
 * "Shields Up!": now only effects party members, armor bonus applies versus all projectiles.
 * Soldier's Defense: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased duration to 1..8 seconds.
 * Soldier's Strike: increased damage to 10..40.
 * Thrill of Victory: increased damage to 15..45.
 * Wary Stance: decreased recharge time to 10 seconds, decreased duration to 1..6 seconds.
 * "You're All Alone!": decreased Condition durations to 7 seconds.

GuildWiki notes

 * A new command line option was added: -BMP