July 9th update called "Bazaar of the Four Winds"

[carnifex2005]

New update page here.

I'm pretty excited for these new features...

New Features

Account Achievement Reward System: Starting with this release, players can unlock rewards like exclusive new armor skins, weapon skins and permanent account bonuses as they earn achievement points. They can also earn laurels, gems, gold, powerful items, and PvP and WvW rewards as achievement scores grow.

New PvP Map – Skyhammer: Players can battle for control of three capture points in the new Skyhammer map, a high-tech Asura lab packed with jump pads, shattering floor panels and a gigantic, mega cannon.

[Karizee]

July 9, 2013

The Bazaar of the Four Winds is gathering— merchants are converging from all corners of Tyria to sell their wares. But this time it’s not just shady characters and risky trades; this year, the mystical, flying Zephyr Sanctum has landed, bringing their magical crystals and amazing movement skills to savvy traders and daring adventurers alike! What a joy it will be to experience the thrill of the trade—and the race. Let’s go!


Events

• Developer Livestream – July 8
Take an inside look at the Bazaar of the Four Winds release with ArenaNet devs during the preview livestream on our Twitch channel on Monday, July 8 at 12PM PDT.

• New Mini-game: Belcher’s Bluff – Begins July 9
Put your Omnomberry Juice drinking skills to the test in this new, permanent mini-game. Seek out challengers around the world to learn their signature skills, then challenge your friends in PvP mode!

• Sanctum Sprint – Begins July 9
Take part in Sanctum Sprint , a competitive race that will send you leaping over barriers and flying through the air! You’ll need to use cunning, agility, and some special skills to navigate this dizzying obstacle course.

• Lessons from the Sky – Begins July 9
Explore the Labyrinthine Cliffs in this scavenger hunt which will lead you in search of Sky Crystals. Show your mastery of Wind, Sun, and Lightning as you find your way to hard-to-reach places.


New Rewards

• Aspect Back Items
Compete in the Sanctum Sprint for a chance at one of these
three special back items, representing the Aspects of Wind , Sun,
and Lightning.

• Personal Quartz Node
Once you complete the meta achievement for this release, your home instance will have a daily resource node, allowing you to harvest Quartz at your leisure . Quartz is a new material being introduced in this release and will be used to craft new recipes!

• Zephyr Sanctum Model
Upon completing the Lessons from the Sky achievement, you’ll be awarded a miniature model of the Zephyr Sanctum which will allow you to view the ship at any time, even after it’s flown away.


New Features

Account Achievement Reward System
Put your account achievement points to good use! From now on, you’ll be able to unlock rewards like exclusive new armor skins, weapon skins, and permanent account bonuses as you earn achievement points on your account. You’ll also earn laurels, gems, gold, powerful items, and PvP and WvW rewards as your achievement score grows. These rewards will be retroactively awarded for any tiers of account achievement rewards you’ve already earned on your account.

New and Improved Achievement Panel UI
Learning about achievements has never been easier! Our revamped UI will make it simple for you to keep track of specific achievements and rewards. You can also look at individual achievements in detail to find point breakdowns, potential rewards, and helpful tips.

New PvP Map: Skyhammer
Jump into the new Skyhammer map, a high-tech asura lab packed with jump pads, shattering floor panels, and one gigantic mega cannon. Battle for control of three capture points, turn the mega cannon’s power against your foes, and be sure to watch where
you step!




World vs. World Build and Repair Mastery
Take your siege tactics to the next level with the Build Master and Repair Master World vs. World ability lines! Use Build Mastery to build siege weapons more quickly, or put points into Repair Mastery to use Supply more efficiently for repairing walls
and gates.

[Harnace]

You guys seen the armor skin on the patch page? Looks pretty cool, hope it's not too grindy to get it.

[Rhywolver]

Ok, so it's not the Tengu areas opening, it's a flying sanctum that leaves after a few weeks. Hm.
Need more information!

[dulfy]

The scavenger hunt sounds pretty cool I am really glad they are finally doing something to the home instances, hopefully they will add more with time.

[zito]

New node is obviously a test run for interactive things in your personal home.

I suspect home instance update soon.

[Lane]

Another fire-themed set? Awesome. -_- Reserving judgment on the glowy set since it doesn't look like a full set (which sucks if it's not). The staff looks cool, but that's not hard when 99% of the game's staff skins suck! The back piece looks like a dream catcher. O_o

[Karizee]

The Skyhammer map looks really fun - can't wait to shoot off that cannon!

[Scyth]

NEW SKINS! They won me over lol. I just hope they don't require like 7k achievements each..

[Padwarle]

I don't pvp, but I have to say that the new map looks awesome.

(Anything Asuran is awesome in my books. :P)

[Smitzelplix]

Well I have exactly 4,298 achievement points on my account right now. I wonder if that will net me anything interesting or have me close to something cool

[Exroyal]

Pretty excited for the new achievment thingy, also finally, something useful for the home instance.

Believe it or not, i'm actually ok this time with the Flying Sanctum dissapearing because i think it suits the patch, all the other stuff that has dissapeared until now (apart from annual events) is not ok.

[Meledelion]

As long as you need more than 7.5k achievements to get the skins I'm happy. Seeing everyone run around with the same set of gear will get old real soon...

As for the new map, so far all the maps they added after release are horrible so maybe 3rd time's the charm?

[kejer]

Came in just to say I read it as "Brazzar of the Four Winds", ok I have a flithy mind....

[Meledelion]

I'm at the 8k mark

[Smitzelplix]

As long as you need more than 7.5k achievements to get the skins I'm happy. Seeing everyone run around with the same set of gear will get old real soon...

They might not have a full set unlock at the same time, could be piece by piece. Also I doubt the armor skin would be that good for everyone to want to wear it. Also then there's the possibility that each time you unlock a set it's only for one armor type, like the first set you unlock could be heavy then later you unlock light, then later still you unlock medium. They could also have multiple sets of gear with each set looking "better" as you move up in points.

We'll just have to wait and see, fortunately we won't have to wait very long at all

[zito]

They might not have a full set unlock at the same time, could be piece by piece. Also I doubt the armor skin would be that good for everyone to want to wear it. Also then there's the possibility that each time you unlock a set it's only for one armor type, like the first set you unlock could be heavy then later you unlock light, then later still you unlock medium. They could also have multiple sets of gear with each set looking "better" as you move up in points.

We'll just have to wait and see, fortunately we won't have to wait very long at all

I highly doubt one tier is heavy and then one tier would be not. Since heavy can not wear light or medium it would be counter productive to have one armor per tier.

It will probably end up like Rift Loyalty in a way (replace loyalty points with achievement points)

It's a great way to get people to play specific parts of the game.

[Smitzelplix]

I highly doubt one tier is heavy and then one tier would be not. Since heavy can not wear light or medium it would be counter productive to have one armor per tier.

It will probably end up like Rift Loyalty in a way (replace loyalty points with achievement points)

It's a great way to get people to play specific parts of the game.

You're probably right. I don't know anything about Rift Loyalty though, never really had an interest in Rift and it being f2p now still hasn't got me interested to try it.

[PACOX]

As long as you need more than 7.5k achievements to get the skins I'm happy. Seeing everyone run around with the same set of gear will get old real soon...

As for the new map, so far all the maps they added after release are horrible so maybe 3rd time's the charm?

Uh, most people don't even have 5k.

[Meledelion]

I thought that by now everyone would've caught up and be at about 6k AP on average...