Hey all! You should expect to see Game Update 5 on the Test sever after the weekend! Below is an outline of the main features included in the final update ? please note though that they are not all fully implemented yet. As you play through the content on the test server, please keep an eye open for any bugs and be sure to submit a "/bug" for any you find ? particularly in regards to particles not displaying correctly. Thanks, and enjoy!

Game Update #5

1. Racial Mounts
2. Class Updates
3. Anti-Hitching
4. New Particles

1. RACIAL MOUNTS
We have added a unique racial mount for each race in Vanguard! The mounts can be attained through a series of faction based quests that can be started in each race's home town. If you happen to like another race's mount better than your own though, worry not! With the appropriate faction, players will be able to complete any of the quests.

Can't wait until the weekend's over to get a peek at the new racial mounts? Select fansites have additional exclusive shots of these awesome mounts! Be sure to be on the lookout if you want to catch an early glimpse!
Wood Elf Lesser Giant

Citizen Favor
The citizens of Telon are seeking adventurers to help spread their influence across the land. By seeking out a faction registrar you can don the banner of a city, gaining favor with its citizens while you battle their enemies. Each creature that is slain will offer a chance to receive tokens bearing the symbol of their registered city. These tokens can be returned to the city in exchange for citizen faction. Be warned that while many factions are friendly with each other, all factions have those that oppose them. Raising your faction with one city may reduce your faction with another. While you can switch factions at any time, those who are worried about becoming outlaws in certain cities should heed this warning.

Gaining faction will allow you to purchase factional rewards with the use of platinum tokens. These tokens can only be retrieved from the vilest of beings and only when you are wearing the banner of your chosen city. Those powerful enough to defeat raid NPCs will receive ancient coins which can be converted into a platinum token of any type you desire.

Racial Mounts
With the release of the citizen favor system comes the first factional rewards -- racial land mounts! All races have been granted a unique looking mount with improved speed over other mounts in their tier. These mounts can be attained at levels 30 and 50 after you have gained the required faction and number of platinum coins. Players will be able to get any of these mounts as long as they do the work involved for their attached cities. Below is a list of the mounts for each race:

Race - City - Level 30 Mount - Level 50 Mount
(Speed: 70 Stability: 50) (Speed: 90 Stability: 70)

Raki - Ca'ial Brael - Gataro - Gataro Skulkers
Wood Elf - Ca'ial Brael - Vinewalker - Vinestriker
Goblin - Martok - Wolf Spider - Corrupt Wolf Spider
Orc - Martok - Okami - Warbread Okami
Kojani - Tanvu - Dire Lobster - Battle Lobster
Half Elf - Tanvu - Dragon Turtle - Battle Turtle
Dark Elf - Hathor Zhi - Widow - Blood Widow
Qaliathari - Khal - Beetle - Antlion
Mordebi - Khal - Xakrin Lynx - Xakrin Prowler
Kurashasa - Lomshirv - Scorpion - Scorpion Hunter
Gnome - Mekalia - Cockatrice - Swordbeak
Dwarf - Bordinar's - Boar - Dire Boar
Vulmane - Dahknarg - Wolf - Dire Wolf
Varanjar - Halgarad - Nomadic Behemoth - War Behemoth
Lesser Giant - Halgarad - Rhino - Dire Rhino
High Elf - Leth Nurae - Cougar - Leopard/Panther
Halfling - Rindol Field - Ant Drone - Soldier Ant
Thestran - Tursh - Fox - Fox Hunter

2. CLASS UPDATES
This update we have given significant attention to three more classes. Blood Mages, Psionicists and Sorcerers have all received a lot of developer attention. Abilities that may have been broken before have been fixed, spells have been tweaked and upgraded or updated and all three classes should be more in line with their intended vision in terms of power and utility. Specific tweaks and updates will be listed in the patch notes.

3. ANTI-HITCHING
As always, increasing performance remains a high priority for our development team. To that end, with this update we will be introducing new anti-hitching code that should have an immediate and noticeable effect.

4. NEW PARTICLES
Sometimes, things just need to look cooler. That was the case for many adventuring class spells and/or abilities. Blood Mages, Disciples, Dread Knights, Druids, Necromancers and Sorcerers all received new an improved particle effects.