45 minute time limit for all arena matches
by Adam Holisky 
Jan 8th 2009 at 9:20PM
Bornakk just posted an important announcement for all arena participants:There is now a time limit of 45 minutes for all arenas. If neither team has achieved a victory, both teams will lose 16 arena rating points.
This is posted in the general discussion forums, and we can safely assume that this change is active on live realms.
Bornakk goes on further to say that matches that go on for 45 minutes are currently showing up as a draw and not displaying a loss of arena points. However, the point loss still happens. This means that you can apparently see it when you look at your honor page and you'll notice that your rating has gone down by 16 points
We've covered some very long arena matches in the past. A 13 hour match between a Druid/Warrior and Warlock/Paladin, won by the Warlock/Paladin, and a 10 hour arena match (the classes were not reported on).
This is an interesting change. Definitely something that will stop players from attempting to reach a no decision in arena matches.
I've never been in a 45 minute or greater arena match myself, though I have been in some 20 and 30 minute ones when none of us knew what the heck we were doing. Nothing to be terribly proud of. But I have heard of well matched druid teams going against each other for a long time. I have to wonder how they will feel about this (my guess is they'll not like it too much).
If Blizzard issues any more updates on this developing story, we'll update this post.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Cheats, News items, PvP, Arena
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
sniggles Jan 8th 2009 9:25PM
:(
Dariel Jan 9th 2009 1:40AM
I understand the reasoning, and it's a welcome change.
I've had a couple of 1 hour+ matches, and by that point you just want it to be over. Also, one time we killed one of their members, and the other guy just stealth the whole time. He refused to leave even though he had no chance of winning; and his friend was even trying to convince us to forfit the whole time. Worst match I ever played, and eventually the server restarted lol.
Besides, most arena games are over in 2-5 minutes. By 15-20 minutes it's already pushing things. You shouldn't get to 45 minutes ever, and if you do, it's better just to call it a draw.
Marliej Jan 8th 2009 9:27PM
It's a good thing..
If you can't kill in 45 minutes, you can't do it in 2 hours or 3 days or what ever lol
Ferarro Jan 8th 2009 9:29PM
Still too long.
TheKarmaPolice Jan 9th 2009 7:59AM
@valerie: What the hell?
Franz Jan 8th 2009 9:32PM
I had a few 2 hour long matches before.. hunter/druid vs warr/druid lol
Kiristo Jan 8th 2009 9:49PM
Damn resto druids.
Freedomfighter Jan 8th 2009 9:50PM
The idea that both teams should lose points is just ridiculous. Considering how the rating system used is intended to be essentially zero change in net points per team in the system (the system is used for chess and other competitions, where it maintains that role)(and yes there is point inflation as teams are disbanded but it remains approx the same) both teams losing points is deleterious to the system. Also this type of limit puts a greater burden on survivability teams than burst teams, as survivability teams are far more likely to reach this limit. Now this rule would make sense if both teams just didn't have a change in points.
Riley Jan 9th 2009 12:53AM
FYI, it's called the ELO system
but i think this is a good thing, it prevents people from stalling ll the time
Orenus Jan 9th 2009 9:49AM
The penalty prevents a losing team from running out the clock to avoid a loss. If there was no point loss, a stealther who lost his team mates could just hide until the timer hit 45 minutes. This way, there's no incentive to drag it out.
Sinthar Jan 13th 2009 3:34AM
I disagree tbh mate-
1) the arena is loosly based on the roman gladatorial games - in which BOTH teams were put to death if the fight was boring (in our terms - both lose rating - although they also had the equivalent as both could survive if they put on a good show and had a lenient crowd)
2) this prevents rogues stealthing indefinately stalling the match (as another comment shows)
3) it provides incentive to actually fight rather than ponce around til someone gives up in disgust
4) it help blizz as they dont have to waste more server space for arena fights that last stupid amounts of time.
Arena matches imo should be just that - quick and brutal not long and drawn out . But then that just my opinion - im sure many others disagree with me
Meethan Jan 8th 2009 9:50PM
This reminds me a lot of when you reported on that several hour arena match. You should link that in the post.
Adam Holisky Jan 8th 2009 9:51PM
Hmm... I don't recall that. Although we've had a couple thousand post this last year. brb google.
Thanks for the tip =)
Adam Holisky Jan 8th 2009 9:55PM
Article updated. Thanks again!
Znodis Jan 8th 2009 10:15PM
This is also a grief fix.
I saw a 3v3 team with a couple of my brother's friends, and they had a 45+ match. Not because they were evenly matched, but they refused to kill the final guy. They'd get him down below 10%, back off and let him heal, and then repeat. He had no chance, since all 3 of their team was still up. By the end they guy was just spamming /beg over and over. It was their last match of the night and they just wanted to humiliate the guy.
Ashvoyager Jan 8th 2009 10:23PM
That's what /afk is for. Or any other way to leave an arena.
What a ridiculous post. What you have stated really doesn't make any sense.
Turtlefish Jan 13th 2009 4:19PM
First of all, a hunter, mage and warlock beating a paladin with their fists is pretty funny in my book.
IIRC, we did it because it was another team from our own guild. After it ended, the last man standing (a paladin), admitted he thought it was hilarious, which is why he kept sitting down and emoting and keeping himself healed when he could rather than letting us kill him.
The rest of the group was upset, but it's not my fault they couldn't convice him to AFK out.
Turtlefish Jan 13th 2009 4:22PM
Also, it was more like 10-15 minutes at most, definitely not 45. I wouldn't waste that much of my own time even for comedy.
jaxson_bateman Jan 8th 2009 10:45PM
Having both teams lose points is ridiculous. If it's a draw, their should either be:
a) No change as there is no winner or loser
b) A small increase in rating as you staved off a loss for 45 minutes
Of course, A is the more logical choice by a long way. But player who have been in the 45 minute match are not going to want play for three quarters of an hour and lose points when they could have left the match a long time before, gotten into another string of matches, and allowed the other team to actually get some points.
I know personally if I was in a situation where I had been in the arena for 35 mins, thanks to the above change, I would now be asking someone on vent to log onto the opponent's server, and try and hammer out a deal with them to either get the match resolved (ie. dps battles each other without assistance from heals), or have one team intentionally lose (ie. we'll leave this match, but if it happens again you have to leave). If it's high end stuff, you'll find a lot of teams are willing to break the rules of honour in an agreement to get their rating higher, but even that's better than both teams losing points.
Honestly, did no-one at Blizz stop and think "hang on, why are we punishing them after they punished themselves for having such a long match"?
RT Jan 9th 2009 12:10AM
"A small increase in rating as you staved off a loss for 45 minutes"
Healer x 3 teams would just tank for 45 minutes and be rewarded for annoying the whole battlegroup in arena. Sounds like fun since i play a resto druid ;)