Curse

Polgara Val · Dec 18, 2009, 12:04 AM // 00:04

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: reduced activation time to 3/4 second; reduced Cripple duration to 7 seconds.
Avatar of Dwayna (Snowball Arena): increased Health gain to 30 per skill; reduced activation time to 1 second.
Avatar of Grenth (Snowball Arena): 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.

icedwhitemocha · Dec 18, 2009, 12:06 AM // 00:06

All I want is the skill update.

FengShuiDove · Dec 18, 2009, 12:06 AM // 00:06

Let the games begin!

And... costumes?

Zahr Dalsk · Dec 18, 2009, 12:07 AM // 00:07

Costumes added as inventory feature? Chances are there'll be more later. Such as the previous disguises from missions. Which would be nice, except for the part about paying money for it.

own age myname · Dec 18, 2009, 12:09 AM // 00:09

They should of made the costumes for the event reward :/. I guess Anet needs their cash though.

zelgadissan · Dec 18, 2009, 12:09 AM // 00:09

Yellow Snow as a prep might be the best skill update they've done all year.

blackamethyst · Dec 18, 2009, 12:12 AM // 00:12

The new inventory slots allows us to use our old festival hats without armor penalty, yeah?

Well, one good thing came of this, at least.

isildorbiafra · Dec 18, 2009, 12:13 AM // 00:13

Wintersday event and the costume hackers admission pack. I want my skills update

Braxton619 · Dec 18, 2009, 12:15 AM // 00:15

Good update, but wheres the skill balance?

I waited all day today for a shadow form nerf.

I love the ideas of customes! I will be looking for more in the future. Good job Arena Net. /nofail there

own age myname · Dec 18, 2009, 12:15 AM // 00:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackamethyst

The new inventory slots allows us to use our old festival hats without armor penalty, yeah?

Well, one good thing came of this, at least.

Woah, woah! You serious?!

This update might be good after all!

ChrisCo · Dec 18, 2009, 12:16 AM // 00:16

So they have time to make costumes but still havent got to the skill update.

Yelling @ Cats · Dec 18, 2009, 12:18 AM // 00:18

Great skill update ANet, you continue to impress.

StormDragonZ · Dec 18, 2009, 12:20 AM // 00:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by icedwhitemocha

All I want is the skill update.

I will try not to put this in a mean way, but "Snow Fighting Skill Updates" is still technically a skill update.

La-dee-frickin'-da.

own age myname · Dec 18, 2009, 12:21 AM // 00:21

Anyone else thinking we will get a costume, instead of a hat, for wintersday this year?

Professor K · Dec 18, 2009, 12:22 AM // 00:22

Yellow snow can now be combined with hidden rock!

Gennadios · Dec 18, 2009, 12:23 AM // 00:23

I'm wondering wth the new functionality of these masks is.

The pre-existing hat I have as part of my 600hp tank setup will not go into my festival hat slot. Is it still possible to add runes to the newly crafted headpieces?

Odd way of doing things, but seems more fitting than risking players using multiple headpiece runes.

Plus, festival hat items don't show in the character selection screen, which is kind of janky.

Apollo Smile · Dec 18, 2009, 12:23 AM // 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by own age myname

Anyone else thinking we will get a costume, instead of a hat, for wintersday this year?

We are still getting hats as well. (Which can also use the costume slot.)

Ugh · Dec 18, 2009, 12:28 AM // 00:28

Yay for Snowball balance. Avatars and Side Step look OP, though.

Edit:
Jk, old festival hats wouldn't work for me. But it accepted when I made a new one.

AKB48 · Dec 18, 2009, 12:34 AM // 00:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leet Tankur

Good update, but wheres the skill balance?

I waited all day today for a shadow form nerf.

Yeah I know, like you, I hated these perma assas too, since they can get all these nice items while the like of us can't. It's not fair, I think there should be a shadow form for every profession, for we can all farm and get all these nice items. I mean, why the assassins get all the good stuff anyways? It would only be fair to allow every profession to be invincible. (not really...but w/e)

=D

Life Bringing · Dec 18, 2009, 12:35 AM // 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ugh

Yay for Snowball balance. Avatars and Side Step look OP, though.

Nope.

Can we not jump to conclusions?

Its not jumping to conclusions. Festival hats can go in the new slot.