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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsWrath 101: Honor points
by Zach Yonzon 
Dec 25th 2008 at 7:00PM
This brought us to the conclusion that maybe, just maybe, a whole lot of players are going to be accumulating Honor pretty soon without them knowing it. He thinks that a lot of players, mostly strictly-PvE carebears, would be curious enough about Wintergrasp to try it out... and hopefully enjoy it enough to play it again. I hope so, too. This means a whole lot of players who'd never PvP'd before, like Dan, for example, would need some sort of guide on Honor points and what to do with them. Here's where we step in with this handy little Honor overview.
What are Honor points and how do I get them?
Honor points are a type of currency used to purchase rewards in the game. Just like Emblems or Badges from dungeons, the amount of Honor you have can be tracked through the Currency tab in your Character panel. Unlike other types of currency, however, you do not loot Honor. You automatically gain Honor from participating in killing players or key NPCs of the opposing faction. As long as those players or NPCs aren't gray (too low level) to you, they will count as an Honorable Kill (HK).
The amount of Honor gained from each HK varies greatly. It used to be based on the obsolete PvP Rank system, but now that those ranks are merely cosmetic, the base Honor gained from a player is dependent purely on their level versus your level (higher level players are worth more Honor to lower level players). This Honor gain is adjusted depending on other factors such as the number of players in the vicinity -- e.g., if you killed a player solo, you would generally gain more Honor than if you killed one with a group. Certain buffs also adjust Honor gain, such as the buffs in Wintergrasp like Honorable, Great Honor, Greater Honor, and Greatest Honor for the Alliance; and Lok-regar, Lok-narash, Lok'tar, and Lok'tar Ogar! for the Horde. Honor is also granted by some quests, particularly PvP ones, as a bonus reward in addition to Gold or experience.
What can I buy with Honor points?
Cool stuff! No, really. Honor points can be used to buy rare or epic item rewards from vendors in Stormwind and Orgrimmar. Naturally, most of these item rewards are PvP-oriented, which means a lot of the item points are spent towards Resilience. You won't need Resilience for your heroic runs or raids, but sometimes the items are good enough for you to get until you get a better item from PvE.
Hateful Gladiator non-set items, for example, are Level 80 epic gear that are purchaseable purely with Honor points and don't require any Arena ratings. This means that any Level 80 player with enough Honor can buy them. PvP items are made for PvP, so generally they will be loaded with Stamina and Resilience, which won't be terribly useful to you in instances. Even tanks will be better served by dungeon drops with the proper mitigation stats. Aside from non-set items, Honor points can be used to purchase complete sets of the rare Savage Gladiator PvP gear and as partial currency for epic Hateful Gladiator gear.
If you're not going to use the items for PvE, there are Jewelcrafting recipes available for the low cost of 1,250 Honor points. That's like one Honorable Kill above the Honor you gain from a Wintergrasp daily quest. Most of the designs are PvP-oriented, of course, with many of them containing Resilience. Some have odd combinations that might appeal to a few players, like Shattered Dark Jade, which has Haste and Spell Penetration. You can also buy Star's Sorrow, the only Level 75 water that's usable in Arenas.
Arthas awaits and so do your questions. Find the answers you've been looking for that will help you with your journey into Northrend and to level 80 with Wrath 101.Filed under: PvP, Guides, Battlegrounds
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
dotorion Dec 26th 2008 10:27AM
Does anyone else think that the names for the honor buffs sound a lot more inspired for Horde than Alliance ?
The Horde ones are Orcish, ending in the famous Lok'tar Ogar, while Alliance feels so .. forced. (for the record I am Alliance)
"Let's see .. a buff better than Great Honor .. OH I KNOW .. GREATER HONOR ! Huh, guys, whaddaya say ? ... no reaction, I'll take that as a yes ! Now .. the buff that exceeds that ... and it's the best you can get .. GREATEST HONOR ! No need to comment, I'll just accept your painful silence as a yes again !"
Also, a comment to add to the ... 'discussion' about the carebear term. On my old PvP server, it was a derogatory term, specificly aimed at people leveling under high level protection (because they don't like being ganked I suppose) and to a lesser exctent those high levels offering protection.
Basicly, you can replace it with 'coward' in this sense, I suppose.
Now, I am curious in what sense your wife knows this term, Zach, because apparently it has a positive connotation for her (which I haven't heard of before to be honest, but everything is possible) and judging by the other comments, she seems to be a minority in that regard.
(Note: this is not meant as a whine post or flamebait - it's an honest question asking for civilised discussion on the term 'carebear')
Zach Dec 26th 2008 10:30AM
Good points on the buff names. Lok'tar is awesome. Great Honor is meh.
ANYWAY, forget what my wife thinks of the term. I love PvP and *I* like the Care Bears. A lot of the PvE players I know use it so casually -- even to describe themselves -- that I never saw it as a derogatory term. Not even intended to use it as such.
Vinna Dec 26th 2008 10:30AM
I think part of the issue with him using the term pve carebear, is that, when it's said in that context by a pvp player it is meant as insult. While I am not offended by the term myself, I do take offense at the intention to insult pve-only players. It was a conscious decision of the writer to write "mostly strictly-PvE carebears..." vs writing "mostly strictly-PvE players". The intention is to belittle the pve people who don't pvp like they do.
Tess Dec 26th 2008 8:22AM
This is precisely the point. I personally hate pvp (for the record, I've played for almost four years. I leveled my first raider to 60 on a pvp server and spent a year pvp-ing my way INTO raids and everywhere else. I grew to really really LOATHE the people who used "pvp" as an excuse to grief lowbies and in general act like sociopaths, so I transferred off and never looked back).
I choose to not participate in pvp. I don't begrudge the pvp rewards available to those who choose to pvp, nor do I belittle those who choose to spend their in-game time doing pvp. I'm glad WoW has something for you. It'd just be real nice if the pvp crowd would give as much respect to those of us who choose to focus on a different aspect of the game as they demand for themselves.
While Zach may know one or two pve players who "don't mind" the term "pve carebear".... the term originated as derisive, demeaning and an epeen-pumping putdown for the pvp crowd to "distinguish" itself from the lesser beings who got in their way of "pure" play.
Lose the name-calling ("pve carebear") Zach--it'll go a long way to increasing the credibility of your columns.
Zach Dec 26th 2008 10:34AM
@Vinna / Tess - Out of all the commenters who took offense, I suppose yours got to me clearest. At this point, after all that I'd written, posting an apology would be cheeky of me.
That said, I personally don't think carebear is an insulting word and definitely didn't intend to use it as such. There was no 'intention' to belittle anyone. If you got offended by that, I'm sorry but I suppose my education is lacking.
Falx Dec 26th 2008 4:38AM
You ppl have some serious problems... Here's a nice article post of somebody that takes his time to post around Christmas. And than half of you guys go being irritated by one little term like "PvE Carebears" in his article, which more than obviously isn't meant in an insulting way...
sigh... Nice way of showing your appreciation towards the posters at wowinsider..
Eisengel Dec 26th 2008 5:39AM
I liked vanilla PvP. I liked the ranks and the challenge they presented. It was certainly more fun at the lower player and rank levels. BC BGs were kinda okay... everything got MUCH faster (especially AV) but the removal of the ranks made things more mechanical. You were just grinding again. Sure, you were grinding for some items before, but you had the additional goal of keeping your rank up.
I've tried to like Arenas. I really, really have, but it never works. I only PvPed on my Rogue when my friends asked for my Rogue to come along. The reason being all the Rogue PvP gear was really only good for PvP... and since there were no ranks or other distinctions early on, I had no reason to PvP. Most of my PvP switched to my Spreist, for whom a lot of PvP pieces were great for PvE.
I haven't really PvPed much in Wrath at all. I certainly won't be in Arena. Hopefully I can run BGs without full Season gear premades bursting through everything. In general though, with the ease of heroics I don't see much reason to PvP. Other than maybe for some of the gems. Only Arena actually grants any rewards other than gear, and I don't want a whole set of gear I can only use for PvP taking up bank slots. I already have about 3 to 4 sets of gear across all my 70+ characters now that I have to relearn how my classes work, plus I really dislike Arena.
So... I guess I'm a PvE-only hatebear. I want to PvP for something meaningful and rewarding with a built-in progression, but the PvP format I like only gives rewards I don't want, and the rewards of the type I do want come from the PvP format I hate... so I'm PvE-only because I want to PvP, but I hate either the rewards or the system.
I mean, if I really want PvP only for the sake of PvP action, I'll load up UT2k8 or something. If I want to unbalance the gameplay, I'll look for a server that hosts some mods. At least in that game everyone has the same abilities and 'gear' and you are in control of how much difference and unbalance you want to introduce.
Z28SSC Dec 26th 2008 5:57AM
Wintergrasp is great except for the whole being unplayable thing. I bet everyone will rush out and discover where to burn honor once they experience the 30 seconds of lag as soon as everyone reaches the keep. Not getting any marks more often than not after winning the game is just sweet sweet icing on the cake.
Loboscuro Dec 26th 2008 8:09AM
Seriously guys, you are taking it too far with the "PvE Carebears" stuff. Granted there is some tard PvPers that think they are the center of the world, etc. that call you that, but for most of PvPers like me, PvE carebear is not intended as an insult, but more as a label.
I play both in a PvP server and guild with one character and in a RP-PvE server with another. My friends from the latter call me "PvP freak", "Elitist" and stuff like that and I never took it as an insult...same they dont take it as an insult when I call them "carebears" :)
You might have been insulted by some tard PvPer by calling you "Carebear", buy that doesnt make it an insult. The problem there is not the words that tard is using, but him being a tard...
And Zach isnt. He just wrote a nice article to introduce hardcore PvErs into the Honor system. And also into the PvP slang, where hardcore PvErs are not called that, but "PvE Carebears".
And I didnt read anywhere him saying PvErs are less skilled than PvPers. True many PvPers think that, but Zach didnt say it and you have no right to put those words in his mouth ^^
Falx Dec 26th 2008 8:39AM
Amen to that!
Kylenne Dec 26th 2008 5:43PM
I was less insulted by his use of carebear in the article than his subsequent douchey attitude in the comments towards people who were offended.
Kaeona Dec 26th 2008 8:51AM
It's J-School 101. If you unintentionally write something that upsets and irritates the readers it is ALWAYS the fault of the writer. It is not the fault of the reader. It's not a problem with the reader(s) being "overly-sensitive" or "touchy."
For many in this sphere the term is derogatory — primarily because it flies from the mouths of people, bordered on both sides by unimaginative vulgarities, to describe a profound lack of skill in one aspect of the game that we all love.
That you were seemingly oblivious to that fact is either hard to believe or sort of cute — like the hunter running around with the fiery enchant on his weapon, no ranged weapon and no pet.
It's like, you could lash out with a "LRN2PLY NOOB!" but really, it's so hard to believe you just slip the guy a gold and say, "Shine on you crazy warrior wanna be!"
Of course, you then follow it up with the ultimate writer's sin. When called upon a legitimate complaint by readers you drop into "officious prick" mode — indicating that people are too touchy, or they took it the wrong way, or — my God, the best one, "My wife likes it."
It makes me want to slip a gold to you and say, "Shine on you crazy writer wanna be!"
Amaxe Dec 26th 2008 9:38AM
"It's J-School 101. If you unintentionally write something that upsets and irritates the readers it is ALWAYS the fault of the writer. It is not the fault of the reader. It's not a problem with the reader(s) being "overly-sensitive" or "touchy.""
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On the contrary, this kind of defense is akin to someone using the word "fag' and then when called on it, saying "What? it's a British word for a cigarette!" or using the N word and then claiming you meant it in the sense of "lazy person, not a racial slur.
regardless of other connotations "Carebear" may have out there, the author... whether from a failed attempt at humor or his own contempt for PvPers used a term that essentially hit the resentment many PvE players have to deal with: the claims that he or she isn't a "real" WoW player because they can't handle "real" opponents. Certainly I've seen many BGs where the hardcore PvPers are loudly complaining about the PvE people who are here and ruining the BG for them.
If the author enjoys PvP fine. I came from a PvP server before switching to PvE, I've been there. I was passable (at least my HK > times killed by a good margin), but I don't like PvP.
If the author wants to apologize, fine. I don't keep grudges, and aside from that his article was fine. At the very least though he ought to explain what he meant.
Otherwise this sounds about as bad as a RP promoter claiming that non RP servers are not real WoW players.
Amaxe Dec 26th 2008 9:40AM
Oops, this was meant to be a separate comment, not a reply.
Good breakdown of the problem though.
Zach Dec 26th 2008 10:17AM
Except that it's a fact that you're not going to be able to please everybody all the time, in which case writers are ALWAYS at fault. Mea culpa. I'll deal with it.
Amaxe Dec 26th 2008 10:43AM
Hell Zach, why not stop digging yourself a hole, take the foot out of your mouth and concede the point. An edit and apology in the article would instantly defuse it.
Instead, by trying to say those who take offense are in the wrong you only make it worse
Kylenne Dec 29th 2008 6:30PM
This. Just...this.
I'm a freelance writer, and having dealt with many other freelance writers, I want to hug you for that entire comment.
Redbowl Dec 26th 2008 9:02AM
Carebear is offensive. It implies that you are somehow better because you PVP, or play on a PVP server.
I used to enjoy your articles Zach, but in the last 2 weeks you have written 1 piece that wasn't QQ or thinly masked whining, and that is the article that you linked in the comments.
We get it, PvE people ruin the game, we get all the good gear, they catered the new PVP to us so it sucks, you are big, I am little, you are right and I am wrong.
Zach Dec 26th 2008 10:22AM
Just how does me saying you're a carebear imply I'm better than you? I don't get it. I just don't. Is there some sort of insecurity thing I'm treading on and don't see?
If by using the term I've somehow implied that I'm superior... then wow. There's just no getting around things these days.
Redbowl Dec 26th 2008 9:02AM
I shoulda read all the comments first before I posted, I didn't realize Zach had already dug himself a bed and started to lay in it. I'll stop by WI, for Alex's articles, and some of the druid stuff, but I'll certainly be minimizing my traffic here.
I'll have to find a site that caters to carebears like me.