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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsAdvancing the battlegrounds
by Mike Schramm 
Nov 17th 2009 at 3:00PM
An interesting thought, for sure, and probably true -- while there are situations where I aim to be by myself in the battlegrounds (if I'm on my rogue and just want to hunt down some clothies), things almost always go better in there when you work as a team. So here's an idea: why not take the rewards implemented in the LFG system and apply them to better behavior in the battlegrounds?
Certainly, cross-server battlegrounds was an inspiration for the cross-server LFG system -- you can jump in any battleground now almost any time you want. But it'd be good to bring some of the theory back across the aisle, so to speak. Maybe you could choose a role when entering a battleground, and label yourself as offense or defense, so the team could know where to go and when. Maybe veteran battleground players could get the ability to set waypoints or otherwise direct the team. And it would be nice to see Blizzard give rewards for doing it right -- maybe tokens for topping the points meters, or an extra buff when you're working with a team rather than off dying on your own.
These are all ideas for after 3.3, of course -- we're getting tons of nice new upgrades to the LFG system already, and Blizzard will probably have their hands full working out the bugs on those. But let's not forget the other big group activity in the game -- while guild leveling will likely bring at least a few improvements, it will be nice to see even simple upgrades like vote kicking added to the BGs as well.
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Quests, Making money, Battlegrounds
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
PeeWee Nov 17th 2009 5:09PM
This would work wonders... except for the Hakkar-EU population that refuses to understand english. Meh, they're either afk:ing or running around in circles anyway. Sort of like pizzas. Makes sense.
Vazpucci Nov 17th 2009 5:39PM
I agree all the way, BG's are a pain because no one likes to follow directions, they all want to do it their way which never works. (Reasons AB and AV are more of a pain in the ass) I would love to see these improvements as well as BG points! (I do, however, think they should stick with arenas and BG's a seperate) Also, a bit off the main topic...but Warsong Gulch is my favorite BG, it's so fun just to do. And I always was a fan of capturing the flag. But why does Warsong Gulch only get one map? The mechanics of Warsong can be used in so many other palces, and it would sure as hell mix it up a bit. (Nothings worse then doing the same BG over 30 times trying to get marks or honor) Don't get me wrong, Warsong should stay the way it is...but adding more maps to the "capture the flag" mechanics of it would be a very nice improvement. Each map could even have it's own advantages/disadvantages for both Alliance and Horde. Theres so many place they can use this mechanic for and would love to see Blizzard consider making more maps. (Also, there could be new maps for all the BG's really..the mechanics of AV and AB can be used in a diffrent palce, even EOS.) That said, I understand AV, AB, and WG are all played at well...the location they are named after. But I still can help but wonder how fun it be doing capture the flag in diffrent setting.
Styvorama Nov 17th 2009 6:09PM
OMG I feel like this column has been in the room with me during 70% of the WSG and AB matches I've been in. Lets not mention IoC or SotA, as the lack of cooperation speaks for itself. There needs to be either a skill based segregation of players, or some system of rewards that will make people actually do the objectives.
Can I suggest roaming NPC's in AB that destroy people fighting on the roads for starters? and maybe meteors dropping in the center of WSG so people don't just hang out there fighting/picking off.
Also, IoC and SotA could be combined into one event. If you are Horde you start on the island(will be using IoC map) with a few minutes to capture everything. If you are Alliance, you ride up on a boat just in time to lose.
Broken_toes Nov 17th 2009 6:14PM
First what needs to be done- a suitable form of punishment for the asshats that join a BG, like AV, and just afk through it. By AFK i mean they aint 'actually' afk are they? They're sat at they're comps pressin forward now and then, runnin a bot, hiding in the cave... ever /w one asking wtf and gettin "f**k off noob", i know I have.
I don't see a problem in banning these sort of folks from BG's for 6 hours at a stint. what we got at the moment doesn't even remotely act like a deterrent- they just join another.
Having some sort of incentive to play a BG in a way that works towards a win has to be the only way to go. Which is kind of sad really- would of thought the tactics of WSG, AB, etc would have become common knowledge, nope you still get the "pros" killing in the middle, zerging the farm, fighting in the roads...
And please o please give back pvp weapons attainable through BG's, they dont have to be uber, just let us have something- because , it may come as a surprise, but some people think arena is pointless and not even remotely enjoyable.
Skizz Nov 17th 2009 6:21PM
The most annoying thing in a bg for me is Path of Frost. Hey DKs, there's no water in WSG!
CleDvy Nov 17th 2009 7:32PM
Actually, some buffs that may appear useless can turn out to be useful, especially if an opposing hunter uses Tranquilizing Shot against you to attempt to remove a magic effect. In WSG, wouldn't you rather have Path of Frost removed from you than Power Word: Shield?
skizzik Nov 17th 2009 7:46PM
You need to read PoF's tooltip again. A basic melée swing will remove PoF. The problem is that it will lag everyone before combat starts, especially in a large bg like av. I have a pretty decent system, but the graphics on that spell are just too extreme.
Aaron Nov 18th 2009 2:17PM
Yeah. We call it Path of Lag in my battlegroup. Silly DKs have nothing else to offer. =X
Prae Nov 17th 2009 6:23PM
Why not remove the BG chart that displays HK's, KB's, damage done etc. that would deter the people who only join BG's for the very reason of topping the charts...and thats alot of players.
Wither Nov 18th 2009 8:36AM
Simple, I really like this idea.
A compromise (for players that love this statistic) would be to keep the columns but make all columns hide-able, and by default, these would be hidden. That would save those players having to find an addon to try and replace the lost functionality. At the same time, if they are hidden by default, new players wouldn't get the false implicit message "success in BG is determined by the meters". By default, the only columns viewable should be objective based (flags captured, returned, towers captured, etc).
Broken_toes Nov 17th 2009 6:25PM
OOO oOOO I HAD BRAIN FART!
Why not let the BG leader have some sort of authority? I know that seems crazy, but maybe some sort of panel (like you have in a vehicle) with buttons for... i dunno, Zerg mage tower, defend stables etc.
Can use a grid to cast it at players, or groups... if you dont follow orders ... dunno have something bad, and maybe put some sort of voting system in place - kind of goes towards a achievement (game keeps track of /hugs this aint a impossibility) more "good leader" votes you get more likely you are to be a leader in a pugged BG.
So some guy constantly picks on one rogue to defend stables over and over again would, hopefully, be voted a bad leader- while the guy who uses BG chat to communicate, and the leader command interface as a last resort, would hopefully be able to lead again. The Asshats and "OMFG NOOOB" spammers... I dunno maybe chilton and ghostcrawler will sneak into theyre houses and pee on theyre keyboards...
I'm more of a "idea" man... make it happen
tarvis2 Nov 18th 2009 12:00AM
maybe like a buff for being within a radius of what is capped like the defender buff but near the WSG flag for caps and returns and you get alot more honor from that and that is the only way to get bonus honor not giving it to the whole team like in AV meaning you would actually have to cap objectives to get the honor
and the topping dmg and heal meters bad idea cuz then dps run around not doing objectives and healers can just heal ppl who are getting killed by dps all midfield.
if that makes any sense
Dreadskull Nov 17th 2009 7:03PM
We should get a pet for PuGing a random BG, like PuGing random instances rewards.
A PvPug! It could be a Pug that... is all demon-looking or something... maybe have like... Alliance/Horde colored collars or something.
Except instead of just one random BG, it'd be like... 3-10 random BGs, or maybe just running through each BG once... /shrug.
Maybe make a buff or something that is applied while near (within... 50 yards?) objectives (like AB/AV/EotS/IoC nodes, WSG flag/flag carrier, being near tanks when they either are destroyed (for defense) or destroy walls in SotA, etc.) that gives like... a significant boost to honor gained? *shrug*
Of course, rated BGs will be different, but still... it'd be nice for BG PuGs to get a revamp like the LFG PuG system did.
skizzik Nov 17th 2009 8:27PM
I know that ab already awards you extra honor for fighting near a flag that you control. It's called "Honorable Defender" or something like that.
Zepho Nov 17th 2009 7:51PM
I would be against vote kicking in battlegrounds. If it were implemented, way too much time would be spent preoccupied with that than with helping the team and getting toward a victory.
Mr. Tastix Nov 18th 2009 4:19AM
You sound like you're disregarding the entire advantages of team-work as well as coming off as arrogant.
Lantokk Nov 18th 2009 5:41AM
As much as I hate afkers in bgs, and to some degree other people off doing their own thing, I loathe the idea of voting out somebody in a bg. There are too many players who spend an awful lot of their time in bgs already just afk-reporting anyone they see someplace on the map that they don't approve.
For example, I have found myself afk-debuffed in AV for taking a mine, something I frequently do when I enter the bg late into the fight. The first time it happened to me I barely found Hordies in time to remove the debuff before the battle ended and in the process essentially commit suicide since by then Horde was all over SPGY and DB.
I've seen it happen too many times, so I have no desire to hand over that much power to players who already abuse others through chat and afk reporting. Besides, would a player get the abandonment debuff for being kicked? What a reward for someone who knows how best to take advantage of his/her class' skills in a given situation (e.g. stealth into a mine or engage in diversionary tactics) only to get no honor for that battleground and be barred from bgs for a time afterward. No, too much power in the hands of self-righteous jerks.
Dwuffy Nov 18th 2009 6:03AM
Rewarding most damage and/or HK's is exactly the wrong thing to do. That's why the system is borked right now...you get more reward for randomly killing other players than attempting to WIN the BG.
Dav Nov 18th 2009 10:42AM
NO! NO! NO! WRONG!
That solo druid, grabbing the flag and running it back wins the game.
That solo rogue, camping the efc and kill him/her wins the game.
That solo pali, sitting alone defending an AB flag, or AV tower/bunker wins the game.
Group buffs not the solution.
spamofchaz Nov 18th 2009 11:34AM
Perhaps there should be some sort of 'reverse PuG' incentive for BGs? Give bonus/xp honor when you join the queue as a party - the more in the party, the bigger the bonus/xp. I think folks who join together will be more likely to stick together in the BG, and (hopefully) apply some sort of strategy.
I mostly BG solo, and it seems so do most of the folks I'm with. At the start, if someone announces a strategy (Gp1 to stables, Gp2 to LM, Gp3 to BS, cap and defend), that may hold some sway, but as soon as the first deaths occur, it all falls apart. But if people join as a group, then I think they'd reform up for the next push.
I haven't seen the bonus honor for fighting near AB nodes reduce the number of road warriors all that much, though I think it may be because they don't know about it. There is still a discussion in WSG about if we cap first, we'll win a tie - folks just don't know. (And I'll admit, I'm not sure if there are similar benefits in AV or EoE).