Rated battlegrounds are not the only alternative to arenas. They could have also said "Hey, this is a PvE game, PvP is just for when you get bored and want a change of pace, it's NOT a PvP game and we're not giving you commensurate rewards. Why? Because it's our game and that's the way we want it."

I think Blizz could do with more of a "this is our game, and this is how we want it" attitude these days.

@ Heilig- Fact is, the game has had PvP in it throughout its existence -> Bgs+titles in classic, and it IS a major part of the game. Believe it or not, many players think it PREFERABLE to only play PvP, and find PvE a hassle. GTFO with your single-minded "I'm right because I know how to use caps" Attitude. Just thought u should know that many player's game time is devoted solely to PvP, and that's the way it is. Deal with it.

Considering a lot of classes are getting totally revamped in Cataclysm, I would think that even arena should be much more balanced this time around.

At least they did a good job with it so far. I think BG works pretty well, and PvE is definitely awesome. Arena was just too awkward, like many had said already.

@sterny Fact is, that you are wrong, the only pvp in the beginning was duels and that you could flip pvp on/off, there was no battlegrounds, there was no rewards, there was no titels. The PvP Honour System was added in 1.4. Deal with that.

If you can't, don't feel badly about yourself. With my special training program, anyone can deal with 100 facts in 7 weeks.

Seriously, why do they keep trying to balance classes anyway? Games like this should be lopsided in PVP depending on matchup. A pure melee dps class should be able to destroy a hybrid or clothy is close combat. A caster should be able to destroy melee or healers as long as they are able to keep range. People want it all and I think if it was unbalanced it would make people think harder about what class they roll from the start and require more group balancing.

This game has become to much of a stun and CC competition and not about who naturally has the upper hand and skill. My point is every class should NATURALLY have the upper hand over other classes but also have glaring weaknesses to others.

I arena’d for two season and stopped. WoW is a PvE social game. Look at the subscriber numbers for the PvP MMO’s (AoC, WAR, etc). 1% of WoW’s subscriber numbers. If that translates over, 1% of players live for arenas and 99% of us suffer for “class balance”.

@Nick S

YES.

@ Sterny
PVP is and has been a part of the game since vanilla yes. The ARTICLE is about ARENA, and the changes THAT causes, not world or bg PVP.
I personally dont mind (or care) what you do, BUT when you balance the WORLD about a small segment that was added DURING TBC, thats when people complain. I do not like having to relearn 1/2 the way i play cos some idiot has found an exploit in a portion of the game that is in the minority,and blizz have 'rebalanced' the classes around that small portion.

As to your comments about people using Caps, i notice you ALSO do it. As we all do to provide emphasis on points you are trying to make by stressing certain words or phrases. So you have made yourself out to be either stupid or a hypocrate, and to respond to your last part - even more players devote themselves to PVE and think PVP is a waste of time, so you get used to it!