diff --git a/config.json.example b/config.json.example
index 94c5c7b043..2caba18448 100644
--- a/config.json.example
+++ b/config.json.example
@@ -77,5 +77,6 @@
   "STRIPE_PUB_KEY": "22223333444455556666777788889999",
   "TEST_DB_URI": "mongodb://localhost/habitrpg_test",
   "TRANSIFEX_SLACK_CHANNEL": "transifex",
-  "WEB_CONCURRENCY": 1
+  "WEB_CONCURRENCY": 1,
+  "SKIP_SSL_CHECK_KEY": "key"
 }
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 46df006ee8..300f4e7be9 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "habitica",
-  "version": "4.80.5",
+  "version": "4.80.8",
   "lockfileVersion": 1,
   "requires": true,
   "dependencies": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f21197bcfb..d34240eadd 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "habitica",
   "description": "A habit tracker app which treats your goals like a Role Playing Game.",
-  "version": "4.80.5",
+  "version": "4.80.8",
   "main": "./website/server/index.js",
   "dependencies": {
     "@slack/client": "^3.8.1",
diff --git a/test/api/unit/middlewares/redirects.js b/test/api/unit/middlewares/redirects.js
index d93ed5345c..fdbff0d879 100644
--- a/test/api/unit/middlewares/redirects.js
+++ b/test/api/unit/middlewares/redirects.js
@@ -73,6 +73,56 @@ describe('redirects middleware', () => {
 
       expect(res.redirect).to.have.not.been.called;
     });
+
+    it('does not redirect if passed skip ssl request param is passed with corrrect key', () => {
+      let nconfStub = sandbox.stub(nconf, 'get');
+      nconfStub.withArgs('BASE_URL').returns('https://habitica.com');
+      nconfStub.withArgs('IS_PROD').returns(true);
+      nconfStub.withArgs('SKIP_SSL_CHECK_KEY').returns('test-key');
+
+      req.header = sandbox.stub().withArgs('x-forwarded-proto').returns('http');
+      req.originalUrl = '/static/front';
+      req.query.skipSSLCheck = 'test-key';
+
+      const attachRedirects = requireAgain(pathToRedirectsMiddleware);
+      attachRedirects.forceSSL(req, res, next);
+
+      expect(res.redirect).to.have.not.been.called;
+    });
+
+    it('does redirect if skip ssl request param is passed with incorrrect key', () => {
+      let nconfStub = sandbox.stub(nconf, 'get');
+      nconfStub.withArgs('BASE_URL').returns('https://habitica.com');
+      nconfStub.withArgs('IS_PROD').returns(true);
+      nconfStub.withArgs('SKIP_SSL_CHECK_KEY').returns('test-key');
+
+      req.header = sandbox.stub().withArgs('x-forwarded-proto').returns('http');
+      req.originalUrl = '/static/front?skipSSLCheck=INVALID';
+      req.query.skipSSLCheck = 'INVALID';
+
+      const attachRedirects = requireAgain(pathToRedirectsMiddleware);
+      attachRedirects.forceSSL(req, res, next);
+
+      expect(res.redirect).to.be.calledOnce;
+      expect(res.redirect).to.be.calledWith('https://habitica.com/static/front?skipSSLCheck=INVALID');
+    });
+
+    it('does redirect if skip ssl check key is not set', () => {
+      let nconfStub = sandbox.stub(nconf, 'get');
+      nconfStub.withArgs('BASE_URL').returns('https://habitica.com');
+      nconfStub.withArgs('IS_PROD').returns(true);
+      nconfStub.withArgs('SKIP_SSL_CHECK_KEY').returns(null);
+
+      req.header = sandbox.stub().withArgs('x-forwarded-proto').returns('http');
+      req.originalUrl = '/static/front';
+      req.query.skipSSLCheck = 'INVALID';
+
+      const attachRedirects = requireAgain(pathToRedirectsMiddleware);
+      attachRedirects.forceSSL(req, res, next);
+
+      expect(res.redirect).to.be.calledOnce;
+      expect(res.redirect).to.be.calledWith('https://habitica.com/static/front');
+    });
   });
 
   context('forceHabitica', () => {
diff --git a/website/client/assets/css/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.css b/website/client/assets/css/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.css
index 06149b04b0..f3f555dc73 100644
--- a/website/client/assets/css/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.css
+++ b/website/client/assets/css/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.css
@@ -1,72 +1,78 @@
 .promo_armoire_backgrounds_201901 {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: 0px -148px;
+  background-position: -445px 0px;
   width: 423px;
   height: 147px;
 }
 .promo_bird_buddies_bundle {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: -424px 0px;
+  background-position: -421px -337px;
   width: 420px;
   height: 147px;
 }
 .promo_g1g1 {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: -241px -444px;
+  background-position: -241px -633px;
   width: 237px;
   height: 150px;
 }
 .promo_npc_alex {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: -403px -296px;
+  background-position: -566px -485px;
   width: 162px;
   height: 138px;
 }
 .promo_seasonal_shop {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: -566px -296px;
+  background-position: -403px -485px;
   width: 162px;
   height: 138px;
 }
 .promo_snow_potions {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: 0px 0px;
+  background-position: -445px -148px;
   width: 423px;
   height: 147px;
 }
 .promo_take_this {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: -729px -296px;
+  background-position: -729px -485px;
   width: 96px;
   height: 69px;
 }
 .promo_winter_wonderland_2019 {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: 0px -296px;
+  background-position: 0px -485px;
   width: 402px;
   height: 147px;
 }
 .promo_wintery_skins {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: -424px -148px;
+  background-position: 0px -337px;
   width: 420px;
   height: 147px;
 }
 .customize-option.promo_wintery_skins {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: -449px -163px;
+  background-position: -25px -352px;
   width: 60px;
   height: 60px;
 }
+.scene_hat_guild {
+  background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
+  background-position: 0px 0px;
+  width: 444px;
+  height: 336px;
+}
 .scene_starting_over {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: -479px -444px;
+  background-position: -479px -633px;
   width: 150px;
   height: 150px;
 }
 .scene_todo_list {
   background-image: url('~assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png');
-  background-position: 0px -444px;
+  background-position: 0px -633px;
   width: 240px;
   height: 195px;
 }
diff --git a/website/client/assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png b/website/client/assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png
index d42f54252e..9f32d0b22b 100644
Binary files a/website/client/assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png and b/website/client/assets/images/sprites/spritesmith-largeSprites-0.png differ
diff --git a/website/raw_sprites/spritesmith_large/scene_hat_guild.png b/website/raw_sprites/spritesmith_large/scene_hat_guild.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1c432698ea
Binary files /dev/null and b/website/raw_sprites/spritesmith_large/scene_hat_guild.png differ
diff --git a/website/server/controllers/api-v3/news.js b/website/server/controllers/api-v3/news.js
index 9d9f6fc559..305a27d863 100644
--- a/website/server/controllers/api-v3/news.js
+++ b/website/server/controllers/api-v3/news.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { authWithHeaders } from '../../middlewares/auth';
 let api = {};
 
 // @TODO export this const, cannot export it from here because only routes are exported from controllers
-const LAST_ANNOUNCEMENT_TITLE = 'LAST CHANCE: GIFT A SUBSCRIPTION AND GET ONE FREE!';
+const LAST_ANNOUNCEMENT_TITLE = 'GUILD SPOTLIGHT: NEW AND NOTABLE!';
 const worldDmg = { // @TODO
   bailey: false,
 };
@@ -30,16 +30,13 @@ api.getNews = {
           <div class="mr-3 ${baileyClass}"></div>
           <div class="media-body">
             <h1 class="align-self-center">${res.t('newStuff')}</h1>
-            <h2>1/14/2019 - ${LAST_ANNOUNCEMENT_TITLE}</h2>
+            <h2>1/18/2019 - ${LAST_ANNOUNCEMENT_TITLE}</h2>
           </div>
         </div>
         <hr/>
-        <div class="promo_g1g1 center-block"></div>
-        <p>Tomorrow is your last chance to take advantage of our promotion where if you gift somebody a subscription, you get the same subscription for yourself for free!</p>
-        <p>Subscribers get tons of perks every month, including exclusive items, the ability to buy Gems with Gold, and a cute exclusive Jackalope Pet. Plus, it helps keep Habitica running :) To gift a subscription to someone, just open their profile and click on the present icon in the upper right.</p>
-        <p>The special promotion will only run until tomorrow, so if you've been curious about trying out a subscription, now's the time! Make a friend happy and use all your new Gems to go questing together.</p>
-        <p>Please note that if you or your gift recipient already have a recurring subscription, the gifted subscription will only start after that subscription is cancelled or has expired. Thanks so much for your support! <3</p>
-        <div class="small mb-3">by SabreCat, Beffymaroo and Lemoness</div>
+        <div class="scene_hat_guild center-block"></div>
+        <p>There's a new <a href='https://habitica.wordpress.com/2019/01/17/new-and-notable-guild-spotlight/' target='_blank'>Guild Spotlight on the blog</a> that highlights some of Habitica's new and interesting Guilds! Check it out now and find a new group where you can share your interests and goals!</p>
+        <div class="small mb-3">by shanaqui</div>
       </div>
       `,
     });
diff --git a/website/server/middlewares/redirects.js b/website/server/middlewares/redirects.js
index a7c2a2a56c..587474378e 100644
--- a/website/server/middlewares/redirects.js
+++ b/website/server/middlewares/redirects.js
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ import url from 'url';
 const IS_PROD = nconf.get('IS_PROD');
 const IGNORE_REDIRECT = nconf.get('IGNORE_REDIRECT') === 'true';
 const BASE_URL = nconf.get('BASE_URL');
+// A secret key that if passed as req.query.skipSSLCheck allows to skip
+// the redirects to SSL, used for health checks from the load balancer
+const SKIP_SSL_CHECK_KEY = nconf.get('SKIP_SSL_CHECK_KEY');
 
 const BASE_URL_HOST = url.parse(BASE_URL).hostname;
 
@@ -17,7 +20,8 @@ function isHTTP (req) {
 }
 
 export function forceSSL (req, res, next) {
-  if (isHTTP(req)) {
+  const skipSSLCheck = req.query.skipSSLCheck;
+  if (isHTTP(req) && (!SKIP_SSL_CHECK_KEY || !skipSSLCheck || skipSSLCheck !== SKIP_SSL_CHECK_KEY)) {
     return res.redirect(BASE_URL + req.originalUrl);
   }