Are PVP weapons and armor too cheap?
by Elizabeth Wachowski 
Dec 11th 2006 at 12:00PM
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That's the question of the week on the World of Warcraft forums, where many former Grand Marshals and High Warlords are lamenting their lost time and suggesting that Blizzard double or triple the cost of GM/HWL weapons. Several former PVPers have posted arguments that basically amount to feeling that since they put in the admittedly arduous amount of effort to get top rank, they feel slighted by seeing people running around in all blues and Rank 14 weapons.
Melodii of Stormreaver posts not one, but two tales of woe: one of her rise to rank 14, and one of her arguments against cheap weapons. Melodii's story is somewhat heartwrenching, since she admits that she pvped through illness, neglected her friends, didn't work and quit school for six months to get Grand Marshal. Her opinion of herself as an "acheiver who didn't quit" was not shared by the seven pages of people making fun of her.
So are weapons and armor too cheap? In my opinion, the cheap weapons and armor are fully justified. While I understand it can be painful to see the stuff you worked so hard for seemingly made available to the common man, the truth is that Blizzard's PvP system was completely broken. Melodii's story, rather than an impassioned defense of the former PvP system, looks more like an argument against it -- who wants to do nothing with their lives so they can get epics in WoW? Continuing with a life-disabling PvP system just so those who've gone before don't feel slighted is like sending people into a sinkhole to retrieve someone's wallet, and when those people don' t come out, sending more in so the dead people wouldn't have died in vain. The former Grand Marshals and High Warlords have their titles, and they had the weapons and armor long before they were available to the common player.
Plus, as Drysc notes, the PvP gear will be worth much, much less come the expansion. All this will do is give people more of an equal footing when we're all standing at the Dark Portal together. And as someone who hasn't raided in two months, the idea that I can work a little each day to get something to help me level is a very, very sweet idea indeed.
What do you think? Should they raise item honor costs, or are you just too close to that Grand Marshal mace to let that happen?
Filed under: Patches, Items, Analysis / Opinion, PvP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
daxstyles Dec 11th 2006 12:15PM
This is working as intended.
for those of you QQing, I offer you this:
http://www.thottbot.com/?i=40273
Donner Dec 11th 2006 12:24PM
Please I dont want them to raise the prices I really like the way pvp is now. Warriors arent as dumb as they were in pvp at least and i started getting good stuff this weekend. Its the first time in a while Ive actually felt good about pvp and thats saying alot, considering I hated pvp before this patch.
Melodii's story is somewhat heartwrenching, since she admits that she pvped through illness, neglected her friends, didn't work and quit school for six months to get Grand Marshal. Her opinion of herself as an "acheiver who didn't quit" was not shared by the seven pages of people making fun of her.
Is she kidding like she isnt going to get made fun of for doing that. And thats why I hated doing pvp it reallly wasnt worth it when I could do MC once and have a chance at getting epic loot when I had to spend months at a time getting my rank up.
James Dec 11th 2006 12:22PM
I feel for the former Rank 14 holders. They're probably feeling about like Jedi did when Sony overhauled SWG, and they have every right to be unhappy.
However, if you quit school for 6 months to achieve something as utterly inconsequential as Grand Marshal in, what is, ultimately, a silly game, then you need to get some help. And I mean it--Melodii needs to seek professional help to deal with their problem, because it is a problem, and one that is obviously disrupting their life. And apparently they aren't totally clueing in on this since they somehow think the WoW forum readers will sympathize with them.
I can't imagine putting my life on hold for 6 months to achieve something so utterly worthless. There is a line between enjoying WoW and replacing your real life with a life in WoW. Blizzard did the right thing, and hopefully, saved a few people from themselves, though I doubt it.
guest Dec 11th 2006 12:21PM
Heh, I was 450 honor away from my rank 14 mace this morning when I checked my honor before work :(
But yeah, I totally support the reduced costs. Work + periodic binges of long days of PvP didn't used to reward me. Besides, being able to save points teaches valuable life lessons... ie) Saving is important.
ghlellin Dec 11th 2006 12:24PM
Honestly, it is QQing. I stopped playing wow for 6 months after two weeks of pvp because I could see how it would quickly ruin my life. The new system is far better, and is much more in keeping with the casual spirit of the game's design. I like that I don't have to be a no-life grinder to get a GM-level weapon, especially with reasonably high-level items dropping inside of BWL and AQ40 and Naxx.
Jelement Dec 11th 2006 12:28PM
They had it longer than everyone else, our actual use of it will be for less time, and yes, the old system was totally broken.
As for the argument made by the former GM's and HWL's that it should be harder to get...by the time people will be able to get enough honor for full HWL armor and weapons, TBC will be so close, and those people will likely be so burnt out on PVP, that it really won't matter at all.
BFCool Dec 11th 2006 12:32PM
One thing not mentioned yet is the titles. Although it doesn't give you any stats, no one can EVER get the title Grand Marshal or High Warlord again. Thats pretty cool.
Ryan Dec 11th 2006 12:35PM
Those that have no lives are complaining because those that do are now able to obtain the items they once gave their lives away for. Do I care? Nope.
Blizzard, however, has turned PvP into a glorified version of raiding. With ranks, there was a certain status to acheive. If you ran around with the title of Grand Marshal or High Warlord, most people would at least know you have a lot of experience in the battlegrounds. It doesn't make you skilled, it just makes you experienced... amd with that comes some skill. So having that title was something to compete for, now it's just another endless gring to acheive the gear.
But whatever... the former GM's and HW's can munch on my left nut. I put just as much time into getting through Naxx and my grind was a lot harder and took far more skill.
Adam Dec 11th 2006 12:34PM
From my experience, it still takes a good 40 hours of PVPing (actual /played PVPing) to get a 1 hand grand marshal weapon on my server (where queues are usually 7-15 minutes). How is this too cheap? It's ONE item. It would take about ~100 hours to get the 6 piece marshal/warlord set. That's a lot of time!! 4 days played!
I don't know about you guys but 40 hours is a significant portion of time...hardly any video games last that long...for the entire game!
raaawr Dec 11th 2006 12:38PM
I feel no sympathy for those who reached rank 14.
I saw the last Insider chart showing that these folks put in 80 hours a week.
I mean wtf!? That system was so flawed for those who put in effort with work,school, and or family things to handle.
We cant compete with the minority with no real life that spend 80 hours a week in pvp.
Now the playing field is fair to those with lives...
Those idiots that complain should try a real challenge.
Like hold down a full time job raise a family or full time school and try to play wow.
It's pretty sad actually.. Those at rank 14 really dont impress me....it really shows how much a loser they are in real life.
Instead of a badge of coolness...just wow..when you think about it.... they are pathetic losers
im still just dumbfounded on the chart shown in Insider ...80 fricking hours a week???!! damn.
haha Dec 11th 2006 12:40PM
I was one who hammered away at making GM and only mad it to marshal before they patched. I was putting in 18 hour days.
Anyway, how do I feel about this....it's good and bad.
It's way to easy to get them, although I wouldn't want them made much harder to get either.
I wouldn't mind seeing the honor prices jump by 33%-50% though. (i.e. Weapon costing 22500 would then cost closer to 33750)
To me that's still feel reasonable without being too hard to get. Although, I'd like to see what costs are for the 70's gear before I'd want to see this put in place.
I feel cheated by the patch, but I do agree that the PvP system was broken.
Mat Dec 11th 2006 12:48PM
PVP needed to be fixed, and it's definitely much better now (read: fun, which should matter MOST).
James is right, this girl needs some serious help.
Zequel Dec 11th 2006 4:15PM
...didn't work and quit school for six months to get Grand Marshal. Her opinion of herself as an "achiever who didn't quit"..
Yeah, Meloddii - you win at PVP! You fail at life :(, congratulations! And to think, you're GM gear will be obsolete in a few short weeks.
Trapman Dec 11th 2006 12:59PM
Yes, the items ARE too cheap. Prices should be increased some, but not terribly much.
I ranked to Field Marshal, but I don't care that the stuff is so easy to get.
It's more like the effect of "Why raid? We can peeveepee and and keep deekaypee!!121"
The change was right, it needed to be done, it was just implemented a little off.
oshin Dec 12th 2006 4:10AM
It would be extremly pointless of blizzard to revamp the pvp system and make it impossible for anybody to get items before the expansion. Making cheap items also means people get an even keel to level through the expansion.
On the other hand soon everbody will have bwl quality gear, and do more damage and be harder to kill. All i can say is that im glad i rolled a shaman, the gear i recieved in mc, bwl and aq is still useful and unique, where as a t2 mage/lock/rogue/hunter who crawled through these instances will have no extra advantage over somebody who recently got to 60 and got r14 items.
At least those who got some t3 will have an edge
Felnor Dec 11th 2006 2:05PM
Wow, this is a great article and I mean that.
As for the subject, QQ Honey, Life shouldn't revolve around this game and while you did put in the time, to think that I was at work while you were playing the game. Yeah I was working, you know, a REAL JOB. What did you get in the end, NOTHING. No Money, no education and a broken heart. Too bad so sad.
The PVP is awsome now. I actually get something after putting in a few hours. That was no fun in the old system, to see all these little chumps running around in their gear flaunting it. Well now I can flaunt their same gear and say, SUCKS TO BE YOU FOR HAVING WASTED YOUR TIME. Way to go Blizzard.
Felnor
Deam Dec 11th 2006 2:00PM
Quit school, shunned friends, family, cat died from starvation, gained 400 pounds, sleep deprived.. oh made rank 14... feel a bit of sympathy that people let it get that far.. but oh well. It was a problem and it's now solved. And the people who already have 30,000 honor need to be careful too if you ask me or they are heading for the same path.. It's still a bit steep I think.
Devynista Dec 11th 2006 1:20PM
I think the system is fine as it is. I've been doing 3-5 AVs daily, and getting around 1500-2200 honor each day. It's still going to take me several weeks of PvPing to get my Grand Marshal's Demolisher(45k honor).
Exaday Dec 11th 2006 7:47PM
They leave the old titles and I think thats cool.
They are giving their player base and fans access to more of the game for the upcoming expansion.
Since PvP rewards is often the best option for many class off specs, it is very nice for them to make them more accesible to the average player. I like what Blizzard is doing, they are going after the masses.
I have about 40k kills life-time, and reached Legionaire in my time. I guess I am casual PvP. I enjoy it, heck I do it alot compared to other things. I got little to nothing for it.
I know the people who did get something played a life time, but I play alot too, just not PvP as much. Well I think it is a just reward for their loyal fans, at a time when that gear will really come in handy for grinding.
Vorenus Dec 11th 2006 1:12PM
I love the people bashing the former rank 14s. I never understood the point of calling people names. Does it make you feel better about yourself that you aren't a said "loser"?
I mean okay if you have issue with them playing as much as they did to get their ranks that is one thing. Clearly 80 hours a week of any activity is most likely not healthy but to bash them because the time they spend playing the same game you play... I mean why are your really upset because they got items that you wanted to get but didn't have the time nor saw the point to obtain them. That is great for you. You didn't get stuck in the pvp grind.
I guess there will always be an elitist heirarchical mentality in every social group, including all of us "losers".
I mean I don't call you a loser for saying it is a real challenge to raise a family, go to school fulltime, have a full time job and "try to play wow". I mean if it is a challenge and it is impeding on your life just cut out WoW. Problem solved ;)