Version 0.8.8

Patch notes
These are the official patch notes for version 0.8.8 released by Grinding Gear Games.

Features

 * It's now a lot easier to hit moving targets with melee attacks. Some slow weapons (two handed swords?) will still miss against faster monsters if they are fleeing, which is intended. Note that this means that monsters can now hit you easier if you run near them!
 * Added new support gem: (Strength)
 * Added new support gem: (Intelligence)
 * Added new support gem: (Strength). Currently does not affect monsters dying to fire or chaos damage over time.
 * Added new support gem: (Intelligence). Currently does not affect monsters dying to fire or chaos damage over time.
 * Added Quivers, an off hand item that can be equipped alongside a bow. These do not have sockets, but do get mods.
 * Added a loading screen for the preloading step so the client doesn't look frozen.
 * Changed the client to store a hashed copy of the player's password. You'll need to re-enter your passwords. Later it'll be optional.
 * Renamed "Hard" difficulty to "Normal" difficulty.
 * Added a checkbox to the chat interface that allows you to hide global chat.
 * You can now walk through friendly minions.
 * Overhauled the Chamber of Sins rooms and layout
 * Player can now click through each other to access the stash and NPCs in town.
 * Reduced default transparency of the minimap overlay.
 * Added a /help command that explains other commands.
 * Continued improvement of animations, sounds, world areas and spell effects.

Bug Fixes

 * Fixed multiple problems with the game's patching server.
 * Fixed some bad descriptions on the passive skill tree.
 * Fixed a bug that could lead to Brutus spawning on other prison levels.
 * Disabled tree canopies drawing.
 * Fixed a bug that prevented people gaining access to the Maelstrom of Chaos.
 * Frost Wall now behaves better near terrain.
 * Kills from poisoned enemies are now attributed correctly.
 * Prevented spectres from dropping items.
 * Raise Spectre can no longer target player corpses.
 * Fixed a crash with Infernal Blow.
 * Fixed a bug where remote characters will appear to run on the spot if they equip an item near you
 * Fixed Shield Charge so that it can't go through Frost Wall.
 * Arrows can no longer pass through Frost Wall. Monsters don't know this yet, though, so they'll keep firing.
 * Fixed some passives that grant effects that trigger on killing an enemy.

Balance

 * Changes how critical strikes work so that they are calculated once per action. This means that an Ice Nova will freeze all of its targets if it gets a critical strike, for example.
 * Increased recovery from all flasks by 50% and made them refill slightly faster (reduced max charges and charges per use).
 * Re-enabled the "replenish on critical strike" flask mod.
 * Removed the three bonus levels from vendor items. Now they'll only offer you items that go up to your current level. Low level characters can still see items up to level 4.
 * Doubled the duration of the Shocked status ailment and doubled the damage bonus it gives.
 * Glacial Strike, Flicker Strike and Infernal Blow now work with both main and off-hand weapons.
 * Made higher difficulty monsters 10% easier to kill.
 * Increased item drop rate by 25%.
 * Substantially increased drop rate of rares.
 * Removed any bias against high level items. Higher level items are now strictly more common than lower level ones.
 * Added skill gems to quest rewards alongside support gems.
 * Drastically increased item drop quantity and rarity from bosses.
 * Monsters are no longer faster at moving in higher difficulties.
 * Increased damage of all bows by 10%.
 * Changed Sweep to have a 60 degree blind spot rather than a 120 degree blind spot.
 * Changed the damage mitigation bonuses for hybrid characters to be the same as pure characters, for their relevant attributes.
 * Reduced critical strike chance per Power Charge to 3%.
 * Reduced damage of Alira's Detonate Dead skill in higher difficulties.
 * Rebalanced many passive skills in response to feedback.
 * Changed mana costs for most skills - single target ones are now generally a lot cheaper than AoE ones.
 * Made Hillock a little easier in higher difficulties.
 * Reduced the size of the Terraces level.
 * Changed bow bandits to walk rather than run.
 * Reduced the effectiveness of Rhoas and archers.
 * Increase Dual Strike damage.
 * Rebalanced movement velocity mods.
 * Reduced Phase Run speed.
 * Nerfed Viper Strike damage and charge duration.
 * Increased Ice Nova damage.
 * Increased Freezing Pulse damage.
 * Cleave now hits with both weapons when dual wielding, and requires both weapons to meet the weapon restriction. It will do 50% physical damage when dual wielding.