“In this update, we’re making several large systemic changes to various game mechanics that primarily affect PvP and WvW players. However, because it’s important that the functionality of skills between modes stays the same, we have brought over some of these changes to PvE as well. Where possible, we’ve split what we can to limit the impact, and in other cases we have even tuned up the numbers in PvE modes to compensate. The first thing that you’ll see is a general increase in the casting time of control skills across the board. The second major area that we are changing is the access to stability and stun breaks. […] The general idea here is that we want stun breaks and stability to be a more deliberate action on the part of the player and not something that just happens automatically from a trait. We are also making a small change to the unblockable effects that unifies them as a single effect.”
You will definitely want to scope out the changes to your favorite classes; it looks like Rangers (especially Soulbeasts) and Thieves were hit particularly hard, though Elementalists and Guardians are happy. I don’t see anything in the Engineer’s or Warrior’s new lineups that would make me change anything dramatic about the way I play my mains, though, personally.
Reddit’s reaction:
But in all seriousness, it’s nice to see ArenaNet offering previews and patch notes well in advance of the launch date again.
