Build 17 (v0.2.3.0) is an update that was released on February 26, 2014[1]. It has received a hotfix, v0.2.3.4[2].
The primary focus for the update was the release of Act 2, as well as a substantial revision of the Nightblade mastery (that may have resulted in loss of skill points and/or an invalid skill point assignment).
Rare and Epic drop rates have been improved on bosses and heroes.
Hero spawn rates have been increased.
The experience formula has been adjusted to scale better into the higher levels. You may notice existing characters suddenly gaining a level or two.
You'll now get a small experience bonus for collecting lore objects / notes.
Adjusted mastery life per level to account for fix to physique life bonus. Total life is still a bit higher for each class.
The Strange Key now grants a short quest reminding you to use it. Consequently, this means the key will stop dropping after you open the door. Characters that already opened the door will stop getting more keys to drop if they loot a key.
The Inventor finally received that voice surgery she desperately needed.
Challenge areas: Some side dungeons meant to be especially challenging can now have a level offset, so that they spawn enemies and loot as though the player were higher level. Spawns will still be capped at a min/max for that area if the player is above or below that range. Example: Player is level 20, dungeon has offset of +2, it will spawn enemies and loot as though the player were level 22.
A new hero archetype has been added: Frozen. This type of hero is mostly prevalent in Act 2, though you may encounter it in Act 1 as well.
Nightblade: Blade Trap now has a radius effect, trapping the target and any adjacent enemies. The new more powerful version has taken Blade Swarm's place.
Nightblade: Blade Swarm removed from mastery to make way for Lethal Gambit. Blade Swarm didn't fit well as it was a little too casterish and also difficult to balance so that it wasn't either useless or outclassed other skills.
Nightblade: Dual Blades is now a passive skill (as opposed to weapon pool with chance to proc) that enables dual wield and provides a constant pierce / %pierce bonus.
Nightblade: Pneumatic Burst heal scaling increased slightly and pierce / %pierce replaced with %total dmg since the former was redundant with the new Dual Blades.
Nightblade: Nightfall and Phantasmal Blades have each been moved up a tier as part of the restructuring.
Soldier: Increased energy cost for Blitz and Forcewave, reduced %wpn dmg to Forcewave.
Soldier: Increased starting damage on Forcewave.
Soldier: Adjusted Markovian's Advantage to provide higher initial damage with absolute physical and a flat weapon damage %.
Soldier: Reduced duration of regen on Will to Live by 1s.
Demolitionist: Shifted % weapon dmg from Fire Strike to Explosive Strike so that the radius damage would benefit from it. In place, Fire Strike gains % physical dmg.
Demolitionist: Increased speed of all projectiles.
Demolitionist: Grenado cool-down reduced by .5s and radius increased slightly.
Demolitionist: Blackwater Cocktail energy cost increased and damage slightly reduced.
Demolitionist: Mastery bonuses shifted a bit in favor of life / physique to make class a little less squishy.
Updated epic item loot tables. The level range scaled poorly into the 40's, resulting in level 20 epics dropping from level 45 monsters.
Updated spirit requirements on rings and necklaces, reducing them by 20-30%, particularly at higher levels.
Percent Physique, Cunning, Spirit, Offensive Ability and Defensive Ability bonuses on gear have been reduced.
Absolute Offensive Ability and Defensive Ability on gear has been rebalanced. This primarily affects equipment of level 25 and above.
Removed Offensive Ability affixes from Shield loot tables. With the exception of some uniques, shields will no longer generate Offensive Ability in their stats. This change is not retroactive and only affects drops in B17 and beyond.
Experience formula that determines how much experience is gained from killing enemies has been adjusted to slow down leveling. Based on the results, further adjustment may be required. This change shouldn't affect current character levels.
Fixed an imbalance in the Regenerator hero archetype which caused it to regenerate too fast for most builds to handle.
Fixed an issue with the Sunken Reliquary where the boss room was inaccessible.
Fixed an issue with the Magistrate's Censor skill Fear not working and updates the skill's stats/name.
