PvP in the Burning Crusade?
by Elizabeth Harper 
Jul 28th 2006 at 6:00PM
By now, I imagine everyone's aware that the Burning Crusade expansion will allow players (who have purchased the expansion) to level up to 70. However, what this will mean for the game's PvP system remains a bit vague. At present, a level 60 player receives more honor than a lower level player for kills. If the existing system is simply stretched out to level 70, then players at level 60 (who do not own the expansion) will find themselves at a detriment if attempting to compete in the PvP honor rankings. To me, at least, this implies that those players without the expansion won't have hope of keeping up with those who do own it - despite the fact that all will be able to play together on the same servers.Filed under: PvP, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bliSSter Jul 28th 2006 6:19PM
This is still completely hypothetical, because no one except blizz really knows what they're going to do with pvp post BC, but I'd think that lvl 60 pvp would still be its own bracket, while lvl 61-70 would make up the new tier. Or even 61-69 as its own bracket then 70 as a closed tier.
I'm just not sure how else they could manage pvp and keep it competitive between those with the expansion and those without...not to mention those leveling 61-69 and players that are raiding at level 70. The gear imbalance would just be too problematic otherwise.
Marshall Jul 28th 2006 6:36PM
I believe this is what's known as an "incentive to upgrade".
Trogg Jul 28th 2006 8:34PM
Who isn't going to buy BC? :)
Overall I agree; I don't see a way that non-expansion-owners would be able to compete in the rankings.
It was my understanding (albeit mostly random blog-based) that while most of the new content is locked out to non-expansion owners, many of the new features won't be. For example, you won't be able to visit the Outlands or roll a Draeni, but you might be able to get to 70 with some new dungeons in Azeroth, go jewelcrafting, socket items, and still use new items that are 60+ - from the AH, crafting, etc. Basically BC would come out and at the same time a patch would come out that has some upgrades for normal subscribers.
That would of course still give a huge advantage economically to the BC owners (not to mention epic Outlands drops) but I don't think it makes it impossible to compete. You would theoretically still get new talents, spells, improved stats, etc. I've certainly held my own in PvP when still all greened-out...
Rumor has it they are re-doing the honor system, so maybe everything is going to get turned upside down anyway. Anyway, I still think anyone who is even reading this right now is going to buy BC.
Dave Jul 28th 2006 8:46PM
I thought you won't need the expansion to level to 70. Just that you can't play the new races or enter new areas.
elizabeth Jul 28th 2006 10:15PM
Needing the expansion came out in a blue post on the forums this week, and while I can't find the first post it was mentioned in, Eyonix confirms/clarifies here:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general&t=9277227&p=#post9277290
Wasyl Jul 31st 2006 11:51AM
I remember reading that you don't need the expansion to level up to 70, but I don't have a supporting link.
I do know that they have other problems as well. All the people who spent months playing 18 hours a day to hit GM/HW? Their gear is great at 60, but will definitely not match up to the loot available at 70. So did they waste their time, or will they be allowed to upgrade? Only time will tell.
The same goes for the current PVP and raid armor. There are people at 60 now who will never see endgame content, and they are often hopelessly outgeared by their battleground opponents. With all new raiding instances providing even more ridiculously powerful gear at 70, this gap will only widen.
They are going to have to have some tricks up their sleeves to deal with this, or I foresee losing customers pretty quickly.