Updated Ascalon Soldiers?

While creating a new character for Pre-Searing to help a newbie friend of mine get through, I noticed something unusual. The Gaurds seem to look different then how they first looked when GW was released.

The old look:
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Ascalon_Soldier

The new look:
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9752/gw068va2.jpg

The differences are obvious, much more detail, more armor plating as well. I believe it either has something to do with GW:EN or the Mission Bonus pack, perhaps they wanted the basic Ascalon soldiers to look a bit sleeker for their new release. Anyways, I checked the Ascalon Army list on Wiki, and no one with that armor appeared. So what do you guys think?

I want his armor! I like his helm!

Looks cool. I remember they did the same thing for charr a while back (though that was in the update notes and wasn't "steathed" in). Probablly is for GW:EN.

None of the warriors in Post-Searing have been changed. Are you sure you just never too a close look at that guy's armour before?

Well, even if thats the case. Why is he not listed on GW wiki?, you can make a new Prophecies character yourself. They all have that armor now.

The buckle on the belt across his chest is in a different position. The metal piece underneath has changed from a zipper-like pattern to a scroll-worked triangle. The leggings match more with the torso, rather than a chain mail piece. The gauntlets on his arms are thicker.

Overall they do look more detailed, indeed.

All the new cooler looknig stuff in the bigger map is cool but dang it makes me miss all the old stuff Playing since the release of the original game its pretty sad to see everything changing even though it is all for the better

Greate looking armor.wish Anet would add quests to get this armor unlocked and be a member of the vanguard for Ascalon.Same goes for other factions like White Mantle.Ofcourse youd only be able to join one faction and use its armor while you with them only.Now thats would be cool.

Don't know if it's me, but all the textures in game more crispy ^^. Maybe they added some, or improved the visual engine a bit

The helm and face guard is leet.....

Look good, maybe it something to do with that "Ebon Vanguard".

my primevil warrior armor got upgraded as well. A lot of greenish looking vine scrolling on the plate peices. It looks freaking awsome..I would post a screenshot. but i'm not on the computer with saved screens..

My guess is Anet is updating alot of their graphics, because perhaps the Ascalon Soliders may play a role in GW:EN again.

But why would they update Pre-searing, I'm positive we wouldn't care if their armor changed over the course of 10 years or so.

You guys dont understand this at all, clearly this means that Guild Wars has officially turned to crap.

The economy is going down the drain because even the noob ascalon soldiers who don't even farm or anything are getting 15k armor. ANET FIX THE ECONOMY DAMNIT!!!!!!111!!!

Neo: Hmmn...Upgrades?

Me likey.

Did you ever notice that the old soldiers, their faces (mainly their mouths) were EXTREMELY warped out? Now you cannot tell!

Nightfall seemed to be a bit more graphically advanced than Prophecies and Factions. GW:EN doing the same?

One thing is for sure, the face has been redone greatly.

The wiki page for Guard Torin shows him wearing a very different set of armor than he currently has. I'm in pre looking at him right now, and the armor he has is the same as the new more detailed set in the OP's pics. The soldiers in pre definitely got an armor upgrade, but it seems to only be in pre. The post guards still have the old set with lower quality textures.

Why only upgrade the Ascalon guards in pre-searing? Shouldnt the guards in post searing ascalon get an upgrade to.

If you'd watched the GW:EN vids that were posted a week ago, you'd have known they were going to update the graphic engine. GW:EN is going to look amazing.