Dealing with queues on any new BGs
by Mike Schramm 
Jul 18th 2007 at 10:23AM
Players have been asking for a new battleground type for a while, and there are plenty of great ideas out there. So what's holding Blizzard back from creating a new one? Nethaera has said in the past that Blizzard is worried about queue times-- more BG queues to join means longer waits for players, and on some servers, the waits are already long as is.So how can we fix this? Relmstein has a few really good ideas-- basically, he says that any new battlegrounds shouldn't replace the ones we have, but rather join the same queues. Instead of choosing from all the battlegrounds, AV and the new battleground (Relmstein pulls the idea of Alterac Ruins out of the air), would share a queue. That way, players wouldn't have to wait as long, and the new battleground would get just as much attention as the old battlegrounds.
Halo 2 (which I've been playing lately in expectation of Halo 3) has a system like that-- instead of joining a map, you join a "playlist," which has a number of maps and gametypes in it. That way, you only have to choose from a short list, but still get to experience all kinds of possibilities. And in this way, Blizzard could make variants on the fields we're playing now-- a new CTF map (like WSG) or a new node map (like AB) sounds like a lot of fun to me.
Of course the drawback to that is that if Blizzard comes up with an entirely new BG (like the rumored Scryer vs. Aldor BG), there's no real reason to queue it with AV, except for this problem of queues. Then again, for most players, pairing different battlegrounds isn't a problem, as long as it gets them in the game.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, PvP, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
CVJ Jul 18th 2007 10:31AM
You can multi que everything already. adding specific ques for two BGS together will only do what is done now. Waiting on AV que up for WSG also when the AV que pops you take it and leave WSG.
Starblocks Jul 18th 2007 10:38AM
Being alliance side in a battlegroup with long queues has gotten really old and more/longer queues doesn't sound like much fun. I'm about ready for BGs to go the way of the arenas and forget about which faction a player is on. The first 20 people in the queue for WSG get split up on either side. This gives everyone across all realms equal queue and short queues. Off days make AV queues an hour to an hour and a half while horde has instant queues. It makes it frustrating to PvP and needs to be fixed.
dreadlorde Jul 18th 2007 10:41AM
good idea.
Vernia Jul 18th 2007 10:51AM
What queue are you talking about ?
I always get in a BG in less than 2 minutes.
chillis Jul 18th 2007 11:01AM
on Nathrezim-Ally side we typically have 10-15min. AB and WSG with average 60min AV queues.
Angael Jul 18th 2007 11:03AM
1-5 Min on Whirlwind Battlegroup. I never really have any issues.
Oh and Aldor vs. Scryer BG.... sweet.
Omegi Jul 18th 2007 11:06AM
Copied from a previous topic about this.
http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/06/08/ask-wow-insider-how-would-you-design-your-own-battleground/2#comments
First Person Shooter map rotation schemes.
This would set up a rotation of battleground maps that are on a timer or first to complete the objective. Doing this would allow the pvp fanatic a wider range of battlegrounds to play without becoming bored or rejoining any sort of queue. There will be servers or skirmishes that are on going and anytime one person leaves it would allow another to join that spot.
This idea would eliminate the fear that adding more battlegrounds to the game would raise queue times. This would just have cycling maps that are on timers. Since these battlegrounds are rated like an arena match there would be less turtling if there was a pre-defined time for the game.
You could also break down map rotations to team size. You could have 5x10v10 maps, 5x15v15, 5x20v20 and so on. This way you could join the size maps you enjoy the most.
Blizzard could view the data on which maps lose more players and eliminate them from the rotation for a month. Changing up the map rotation would allow for variety and fun.
Madjack Jul 18th 2007 11:21AM
I think another solution to long queue times would be to give people the ability to join a queue without a battlemaster. Give players a button or even something like a hearthstone (button is preferable) that queues them up to a battleground regardless of where they are. It would not allow them to go into the battleground if they are currently in combat, so they wouldn't be able to use it as an emergency escape button. But it should restore them to life if they're dead when the battleground comes up. The big question is where should it deposit them after the BG is complete. First idea is that it would return them to the spot they came from, but that could be dangerous depending on where they were. Another option would be the nearest graveyard or possibly their hearth home. Perhaps the player could be given a choice among the three.
Harlequinné Jul 18th 2007 11:30AM
Wait a minute...
Multiple BG queues, different queue lengths... Wouldn't that mean that you'd get into a BG sooner rather than later? If you're waiting for a specific BG, just multi-queue, hop into the first one, than switch as the BG you want to play in comes along?
Randy Jul 18th 2007 11:53AM
@8
I have to agree with the previous post. This is one of the better ideas I've heard. Being able to enter a BG queue wherever you are would be great, especially if you end up in the same spot you were when you entered the BG instead of back at the battlemaster. This way you could go questing and farming, take a break for some pvp, and then go back to questing and farming without having to go back and forth to a main city and wait around for an hour to enter the BGs.
simplehiker Jul 18th 2007 12:14PM
I would just like to see the battlegrounds open up to lower levels. Twinking in 10-19 and 20-29 is pretty popular, why stick them with so few BG options. Open them up let people have fun.
Also maybe with a better matching system you could place some of the amateur 20-25s with the twink 19s
diarx Jul 18th 2007 12:09PM
They should stick to their current "4 BG's available at any one time" system, but introduce new BG's and put them into a monthly rotation with the old ones (to keep things fresh)
So you'd have something like:
1st month -> newbg, ab, wsg, eots
2nd month -> av, newbg, ab, wsg
3rd month -> eots, av, newbg, ab
etc..
Coherent Jul 18th 2007 1:07PM
I think they should retire or rotate old BG's out of circulation. Retire the battleground and simply tally up all the matches that have ever been played, declare a winner and change the lore in that direction.
RaydenUni Jul 18th 2007 2:28PM
Solution to wanting more variety, but not wanting to increase wait time. Rotate maps in. Say there are 5 different battlegrounds. Every day one of those is unavailable. If you have 6, then 2 are unavailable.
The problem with making on big queue, so when you join you could get thrown into WSG or AB or AV is that what if you are trying to get WSG marks? Playing AB and AV doesn't help you at all.
As for ideas, I think a reverse CTF would be fun. You have to take the one flag, that spawns into the middle, into the enemy base. There are lots of other FPS inspired gametypes that are possible. Double domination from UT, etc.
klink-o Jul 18th 2007 3:21PM
I like the idea of mixing the factions. Not only would it even out the queues but also put some of the (supposed) map/gear/racial inequalities to rest. Another idea I was thinking about the other day was if they gave people already in a battleground the option to queue for the next game. New people that queue for a battleground could be given priority over those already in the system, but having the players already in the system to draw from immediately when the game ends would help speed things up I think.
dean.speedway Jul 18th 2007 9:11PM
If the BG's were on rotation how would that affect Marks of Honour? If I am doing BGs it's because I want to get enough MOH to get a piece of gear not for the sake of doing a BG. I'll grind WSG or whatever til I get it. I don't want to spend time in another BG.
(Although that probably explains why I don't enjoy BGs)