Forum post of the day: The future is not what it used to be
by Amanda Dean 
Jul 4th 2008 at 4:50AM
With the Wrath Beta Opt-in available, we're one step closer to the expansion. We're all anxiously awaiting the time when the expansion is ready. I'm still having fun with the existing World of Warcraft, but I'm a bit antsy. There is a lot of frustration over existing conditions, especially when it comes to PvP.
Chloroform of EU-Magtheridon isn't interested in waiting. He listed his grievances in the EU-PVP Forum, "Balance issues, queue times, destroying premades, AFK problems, uneven teams, world pvp screwed by 9000yd aggro range ultra guards." Like many others, Jasse of EU-Bronzebeard blames the arena for the death of PvP.
Several others agree that the system is broken, but blame the lack of action on Blizzard's part on a scarcity of quality competition. Thus far, Age of Conan has failed to unseat WoW as the king of MMORPGS. Gaelaen of Wildhammer is convinced that Warhammer Online will also fall short of dethroning WoW. As evidenced by millions of subscriptions we still enjoy our game, bugs and all.
I know the system isn't perfect. This is my first MMORPG and I'm still really impressed with it. I'm planning on enjoying the time between now and the expansion. I'm not entirely convinced PvP will be fixed in Wrath of the Lich King, it will probably just be broken in different ways.
Many things will change. Blizzard does welcome feedback, and often acts on it. There will always be things that people complain about. Do you believe that Wrath will make WoW a better game?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Expansions, Wrath of the Lich King, Forum Post of the Day
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jeff(thescard) Jul 4th 2008 4:58AM
first
And to answer your question
the only reason PVP is broken is because its a time sink,
no matter how hard I try I'll never beat someone who outgears me. it does not require any skill at all when you can faceroll as a S3/4 SL/L lock.
And this is why PVP is broken, The rich get richer.
Ubergoi Jul 4th 2008 5:10AM
I disagree with that being the 'Why' about broken PvP because that's just common sense. People who "worked" for S3 gear will get S4 faster. That's expected that's not something broken.
If anything it's the set up of how it groups challenges or lack thereof. Pitting an S1 person against an S3 or some such in arenas.
I don't agree that arenas are the problem either. If anything the problem is the emphasis Blizzard is putting on arenas. They want so badly to take hold of this e-sport crap that they're sacrificing anything and everything to make it happen.
If PvP is broken, it's because of the players moreso than Blizzard and I'll stand by that. It's the players that will create the rise or fall of Lake Wintergrasp. Blizzard making it the way they are is only a fraction of the problem.
AV is a problem because of players, not Blizzard. Players make the concious choice to make it into a speed run instead of the epic battle it used to be. Blizzard could change a lot of things sure but it doesn't negate the fact that the players will still cause their own misery in the end. It's just fact of life.
The response will probably be on Blizzard being responsible for creating the system for the players and to some extent I'll agree but that doesnt' mean the players don't have some modicome of responsibility in their own playstyles.
Perfect example being pillars in Arenas. Players CHOOSE to hug them, and other players CHOOSE to get butt-hurt because they get tired of chasing. That's laziness not a broken system.
Samba-man Jul 4th 2008 5:12AM
I couldnt agree with you more mate. There isnt a normal scaling going on on lower teams, they do not stand much chances to go up, and they do not stand chance to kill a season above geared player, specially when you put those classes imbalances.
But at this stage, i dont know if any change would really help the PVP system, for me its already broken, too many nerfing here and there, adjust this and that... mess up too much with a formula, it becomes frankenstein.
gcm Jul 4th 2008 6:05AM
World pvp just needs the racial actions to drop their racial mount when killed at 10% and an honor boost / morale loss for the opposing side and away the game goes.
grofer Jul 4th 2008 6:23AM
it does not require any skill at all when you can faceroll as a warrior
/fixed
locks were imba in S1/S2, nowadays it's melee/druid combos you may QQ about.
Ubergoi Jul 4th 2008 6:40AM
There will always be a class to QQ about. Why? Because just about everyone that QQ's is biased to their own class and Blizzard pays more attention to the biased idiots that whine and just want to win regardless of game structure rather than paying attention to the logical people that understand game balance.
Why?
Simple, because there are more whiners than there are smart people. Sad as it is.
Ubergoi Jul 4th 2008 5:04AM
Hardly. Wrath won't make WoW better, it will do what TBC did, it will make WoW different. Different is great, as long as the new feel lasts and takes focus from the current problems. It's a pretty simple concept really.
I'll always be a WoW gamer regardless, but the fact that so many people complain is boggling.
Don't get me wrong, a lot of them are valid by far and then it makes sense. Trouble is, with millions of people screaming for the same crap they run WoW more and more because the more people that whine, the more likely to listen Blizzard becomes and that's where games fall short. Trying to please everyone.
SpaceLady Jul 5th 2008 11:16PM
I could not agree more. I love my WoW but the problem with trying to please every one is that you rarely please anyone. For myself, I plan to continue to change with the game and have fun.
rosencratz Jul 4th 2008 5:11AM
As far as Warhammer online goes i'm sure it'll be a good enough game but it'll need to be very good and last a year at least to de-throne WoW.
In my opinion MMOPRG's are pretty much always released in a Beta state. It is the nature of these games that the tweaking and adjusting and fixing of the game for public use usually occurs long after release. I remember WoW in the early days and it was a very different beast. The release of TBC certainly fixed a lot of things even though some would claim that it broke them.
The hardest part of MMORPG's though is the PVP which I believe I partially why WoW does so well, due to it's mostly PvE background. I simply can't see Warhammer having a PvP system to rival WoW's which has been tweaked and rebalanced and patched ever since the BG's were properly released and especially since the Arena's came out.
People might not like WoW's pvp system but how can Warhammer know how to make there's untill they have a reliable, strong play base using it and how can they maintain a reliable strong player base without a reliable PvP system if their game is mostly PvP? It's possible but very very tough.
That said though I hope Warhammer does very well, side by side with Warcraft... I'm not sure whether i'll get it myself, i'd like to try the Zealot maybe but untill they have Skaven in there i'm not so easily tempted myself. I used to follow the Warhammer progress back in the day when they had Skaven and all, back before they scrapped it and restarted with a new company, i'm still a little disapointed since they scrapped it, despite the fact the new one looks quite tastey too.
Adorenko Jul 4th 2008 5:56AM
"It is what it is." Thats the way we should all look at it and leave well enough alone. We are all lucky that the game is as good as it is. There somepeople in the world who don't even know what a computer is or computer game is we should be so lucky. QUIT BITCHING!!!!!!!
Samba-man Jul 4th 2008 6:14AM
Agree with you mate,
they should stop changing here and there... stop nerfing.
Dont even nerf rogues (i play with a warlock and i hate their OP class) but if Blizzard nerf them, then other class will be nerfed.. and the next one.. etc...
Ubergoi Jul 4th 2008 6:35AM
The easiest solution for world pvp is greater rewards. Something beyond gear too because with gear, once you get it you don't need to go there anymore just like Kara.
I just thought of a perfect solution for world pvp.
Have players work on improving with a faction of some sort and once they make friendly they get access to a turn-in NPC. This NPC accepts trophies. When you kill a player of the opposing faction that is at least green to you, you loot the body for a trophy (ear, whatever) and you turn it in for gold.
An endless font of PvP and gold to keep people interested. Maybe have other quests (not turning in trophies) to improve the rep and increase the gold return.
Any thoughts?
jrb Jul 4th 2008 8:25AM
one of the reasons we have honor, and battleground / arena specific rewards (the tokens, not the gear) is to de-emphasise gold as a currency, which in turn de-emphasises gold farmers.
of course, you could always BoP gold, in the same way pvp rewards are essentially BoP. How that would work for cross-character gold transfers (same account, different toons), or guild banks would be interesting.. :D
Ubergoi Jul 4th 2008 8:27AM
I think it would be fine. The only thing it would actually stop though is gold transfers through mail. And even then unless they get rid of CoD it still won't stop gold selling.
Reducing the need for gold doesn't stop gold selling lol, it's still there isn't it?
jay Jul 4th 2008 6:45AM
Destruction of a concept that is created by the provider is at the sole discretion of the user.
Wamphyri Jul 4th 2008 7:04AM
The Beta opt-in has been stopped on the EU site. I'm not a happy chappy!!!!
Deathangelyy Jul 4th 2008 7:49AM
Wamphyri , just wait , www.wow-europe.com lags a little
wait 1-5 minutes to see "accept" key over "return key"
Wamphyri Jul 4th 2008 7:50AM
Sorted - it's finally let me register (both accounts - yay!)!!!
Damon Jul 4th 2008 7:52AM
I hate just about everything about arena.
It just irritates me to my very core. The high-end min/maxing. The small scale. The PvE/BG nerfs in the name of "Class balance". The high-tier gear, and the way they're given out as hand-me-downs to the people fighting the good fight in alterac valley.
The worst thing about it though is the style. This is world of warcraft, not azerothian gladiators. I signed up to fight in epic warzones, not in an arena.
I try to ignore it, but it just keeps getting shoved down my throat. Suddenly the rewards from my beloved battlegrounds are completely obsolete.
Solution? Three words. New server type. All the arena goers seem to be having a ball in the tournament server. Let'm stay there and i can go and do my thing without their arena balances and gear messin' with my groove. Everyone's happy!
Ubergoi Jul 4th 2008 8:16AM
As much as I'd hate to lose that venue of "What can I do today" options (Arenas) I gotta be honest bro that's a damn solid solution there. Get rid of Arenas from all non-arena servers and then all you have left is people that wanna BG or Raid.
Solid plan, too bad it'll never see light of day in lieu of this e-sport craze.