ANCIENT WARDSTONES
* Keep in mind this is a first iteration of a new type of content, so be aware that it will evolve and improve over time. We welcome your feedback and suggestions as we try to turn the awesome up to eleven.
* Intended to act as a form of player-driven content that bridges the gap between Rifts/Invasions and Quests; to that end, we present 'Ancient Wardstones!' *fanfare*
* On entering Scarlet Gorge, a new quest is being offered. Defiants should seek out Mariko Bella at Old Mule Run, and Guardians find Paula Becksten at Overwatch. This quest provides the ability 'Activate Ancient Wardstone' and shows you what these new objects look like. The next step is to go exploring and find them!
* Once you discover an Ancient Wardstone, use your new ability to start an event. This might be one of several things. They're a bit of a surprise and award experience and Rift currency.
* Completing these events allow the Ancient Wardstone locations to upgrade. Standard quests are daily repeatable, while area quests reset every 10 minutes while the Wardstone is active. Rewards for the first quest completion are naturally higher than subsequent turn-ins.
* Beware! Not only do these Ancient Wardstone locations become Invasion targets, they can also be destroyed by members of the other faction. Guard them with care. For the more adventurous - you can activate Ancient Wardstones in areas of zones controlled by opposing factions. Any Ancient Wardstone location can be activated for either Guardians or Defiants.
* Yes, some of the content in opposing areas is PvP oriented, but not all.
* But wait, there's more:
* Deep in Scarlet Gorge, a horrible beast of the Planes has slept for millennia. Behold - Urthura, 'The Dweller Below.' If a single faction controls all Ancient Wardstones in Scarlet Gorge, the sweet smell of power awakens Urthura from her slumber, causing her to rampage across the Gorge, intent on destroying everything in her path. Where she spawns depends on which faction activated the wardstones that summoned her. Once spawned, she can be claimed by either faction, so get that raid together quick!
* Fortunately for the residents of Scarlet Gorge, Urthura tires easily, and can only awaken once per 20 hour period.

COMBAT
* Weapon damage added to abilities has been normalized. There should be a much smaller difference in damage done using a fast weapon versus a slow one. This sounds minor but is actually a high impact change!
* Fixed a bug where resistances were providing less than half of the mitigation they should have been.
* NPCs now hit a bit harder and have more health.
* Increased the base damage on all weapons.
* Increased the base damage for all Attack Power-based abilities.
* Auto-attack no longer benefits from Attack Power.
* Pets will try to position themselves behind their target if they are not their target's target, and they are a melee pet. This check happens every 5 seconds.
* You can now command your pet to attack enemies that are under debuffs that break on attack.

Hello, All-

Many of you have pre-ordered the boxed Collector's Edition of Rift and have been asking about getting your pre-order items at Headstart. Since you will not have your actual CE code before you have the box delivered, you would not get your items until release. We have been working on a way to fix that. I'd like to announce that we have come up with a solution!

* For Headstart, all accounts with a RETAIL preorder key (physical box preorder only) will receive the Ancient Tartagon Mount and the Bogling Wastrel pet.
* These items will be available on all characters on that person’s account
* These items will be removed at the end of headstart, unless the player has applied a collector’s edition key during Headstart.
* If a player enters a CE key after the items have been removed at the end of headstart, they will get the items back.
* Unfortunately, due to technical constraints, the bag will not be available until you have applied your Collector’s Edition key.


Thank you for choosing Telara as your new MMO home and we are striving to make this a great experience for you!