Cataclysm Preview: The Battle for Gilneas

Do you like dog men? Do you like zombie men? Do you like dog men who fight valiantly to defend their homeland against zombie men? Do you like zombie men who are very hungry and want to eat the dog men? And then build luxury condominiums on their land? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there's good news!
Blizzard just announced new information about the the new-for-Cataclysm 10v10 battleground, The Battle for Gilneas. Similar to Arathi Basin, winning the battleground requires you to capture and hold a majority of the area's resource-rich locations -- the waterworks, the lighthouse and the mine -- long enough for your Horde or Alliance worker friends to collect resources from them. A total of 2,000 resource points wins the match.
Just like in the real world, once all the resources are gone, no one cares about the area anymore, the fight ends and everyone goes back home to Stormwind and Orgrimmar, only to requeue and fight over it again ten minutes later. Good times!
All you gank-hungry fools can check out the details by following me after the jump. It contains information about Cataclysm, so if you're totally religious about not spoiling anything, don't click.
Blizzard just announced new information about the the new-for-Cataclysm 10v10 battleground, The Battle for Gilneas. Similar to Arathi Basin, winning the battleground requires you to capture and hold a majority of the area's resource-rich locations -- the waterworks, the lighthouse and the mine -- long enough for your Horde or Alliance worker friends to collect resources from them. A total of 2,000 resource points wins the match.
Just like in the real world, once all the resources are gone, no one cares about the area anymore, the fight ends and everyone goes back home to Stormwind and Orgrimmar, only to requeue and fight over it again ten minutes later. Good times!
All you gank-hungry fools can check out the details by following me after the jump. It contains information about Cataclysm, so if you're totally religious about not spoiling anything, don't click.
When King Greymane severed ties with the Alliance after the Second War, the kingdom of Gilneas became independent from all other nations and opposing forces. Although the massive Greymane Wall protected Gilneas from outside threats, a virulent worgen curse and civil war crippled the kingdom from within. As the Cataclysm strikes and the Greymane Wall's gates are destroyed, the people of Gilneas must come to terms with their dark curse and learn to persevere through catastrophic earthquakes and an unrelenting Forsaken invasion. The Horde recognizes this land as a strategic location with key resources to fuel the faction's war effort against the Alliance, and Horde forces will not stop their siege until the city and its surrounding territories are under their control. To protect its lands from the Horde, the once-isolated nation of Gilneas must now work with the Alliance.
Controlling Resources
The Battle for Gilneas is a new 10 vs. 10 Battleground for level-85 players. Much like they do in Arathi Basin, teams must control strategic capture points on the map to accumulate resources. The first team to gather 2000 resources wins.
The Battle
Teams will start at opposite ends of the map with default graveyards nearby. Once the match begins, teams will race toward each other to vie for control of three strategic points; each point will allow your team to gain resources and additional graveyards. Adding to the intensity of the battle are many obstacles that block line of sight, as well as chokepoints for fending off enemy advances.
The Overlook
In the center of the map is an area known as the Overlook. Hills on either side of the map create chokepoints, while narrow paths through the hills provide teams with alternate routes. A river dividing the map will also lead opponents toward a single bridge. In some cases, dominating the Overlook might be the key to controlling the capture points.
Capture Points
In The Battle for Gilneas, three distinct resource points are available for the taking by either the Horde or the Alliance: the Mines, the Lighthouse, and the Waterworks. Once any of these points is held by a team, access to nearby graveyards will be granted. In addition, workers from the controlling faction will show up to collect the resources necessary to win the battle.
Chaos will be unleashed upon Azeroth when Deathwing returns, but many steadfast leaders will see the Cataclysm as an opportunity to further the cause of their people... or simply attain more power. The situation in Gilneas is no different. Will the embattled Gilneans be able to defend their land after realigning with the Alliance? Or will the Forsaken, reinforced by Garrosh's Horde, seize this near-forgotten territory as a new stronghold in the Eastern Kingdoms?
Controlling Resources
The Battle for Gilneas is a new 10 vs. 10 Battleground for level-85 players. Much like they do in Arathi Basin, teams must control strategic capture points on the map to accumulate resources. The first team to gather 2000 resources wins.
The Battle
Teams will start at opposite ends of the map with default graveyards nearby. Once the match begins, teams will race toward each other to vie for control of three strategic points; each point will allow your team to gain resources and additional graveyards. Adding to the intensity of the battle are many obstacles that block line of sight, as well as chokepoints for fending off enemy advances.
The Overlook
In the center of the map is an area known as the Overlook. Hills on either side of the map create chokepoints, while narrow paths through the hills provide teams with alternate routes. A river dividing the map will also lead opponents toward a single bridge. In some cases, dominating the Overlook might be the key to controlling the capture points.
Capture Points
In The Battle for Gilneas, three distinct resource points are available for the taking by either the Horde or the Alliance: the Mines, the Lighthouse, and the Waterworks. Once any of these points is held by a team, access to nearby graveyards will be granted. In addition, workers from the controlling faction will show up to collect the resources necessary to win the battle.
Chaos will be unleashed upon Azeroth when Deathwing returns, but many steadfast leaders will see the Cataclysm as an opportunity to further the cause of their people... or simply attain more power. The situation in Gilneas is no different. Will the embattled Gilneans be able to defend their land after realigning with the Alliance? Or will the Forsaken, reinforced by Garrosh's Horde, seize this near-forgotten territory as a new stronghold in the Eastern Kingdoms?
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion, from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.





Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Angrycelt Sep 16th 2010 3:14PM
Hopefully there will be some unique mechanics at play. I'd hate to just have another AB with different graphics. Although the choke points might actually force a bit of *gasp* strategy!
With every "leak" I'm looking more and more anxiously towards the release... whenever it is.
North Sep 16th 2010 3:28PM
Actually, I kind of like how they're spreading the popular mechanics of WSG and AB to the new cata BGs Twin Peaks and Battle for Gilneas. WSG and AB are the most popular BGs so it makes sense that Blizz would copy the game mode to newer maps.
Its kind of like most shooters where there will be an established game mode like capture the flag that you can play on multiple maps.
Jimbo Sep 16th 2010 4:57PM
OMG! OMG! OMG!!!
It's a double rainbow!
What does this MEAN?
It's so intense. Oh wow... a double rainbow!
dodgeballer2005 Sep 18th 2010 1:46AM
Why was that last comment downrated? He's referring to the [Double Rainbow] achievement.
snowleopard233 Sep 16th 2010 3:18PM
The whole forsaken/worgen rivalry has me pumped. You see a lot of vampire versus werewolf fiction these days but nothing involving zombies fighting werewolves. Let’s leave the pretty boys out of this and have a real monster fight!
RedMosquito Sep 16th 2010 4:32PM
Worgen vs. Forsaken is my favorite thing in Cata, period.
MusedMoose Sep 16th 2010 6:54PM
Also, judging by this: "Do you like zombie men who are very hungry and want to eat the dog men? And then build luxury condominiums on their land?", it sounds like the forsaken and the goblins are getting along just fine. ^_^
jealouspirate Sep 16th 2010 3:24PM
Wohooo! I love me some BGs. Two points to make
1) The format seems fun, even if it's derivative. I've always loved Arathi Basin and there's no reason why we can't have the same style game across different maps (a common practice in almost all online competitive games).
2) From a lore standpoint, I'm glad that they've apparently moved the BG from Gilneas city to what apparently is the Forsaken invasion point (or something like it). Having the city proper as a BG indefinitely really left no room whatsoever for the Worgen story to be expanded upon. This setting allows the story to move in a direction where the Worgen take back their city, while still having the fun Forsaken vs Worgen conflict BG.
Worldasunder Sep 16th 2010 3:20PM
While i do like the new BG, it is in essence AB. The choke points that are so "new" in this one aren't that new. AB has many choke points also (LM,BS). but perhaps they will be better designed to actually function as a true choke point. I look forward to the 300 reference. THIS IS GILNEAS!!!
Artificial Sep 16th 2010 6:36PM
I think you're using "choke point" to mean something entirely different from what they mean. There's no way LM or BS could be considered a choke point in AB.
arielespadas Sep 16th 2010 3:42PM
Dear Mr. Van Allen (a.k.a Sexxxy Beyotch)
I think I'm in love with you.
Always,
Ari
kevinblack16 Sep 16th 2010 3:33PM
correct me if I'm wrong but isnt Fox a female?
Dreyja Sep 16th 2010 3:36PM
lol... I'm so sorry but I can't stop myself:
You only think that because he plays a Belf. X-p Easy mistake to make.
Quill2006 Sep 16th 2010 4:03PM
You obviously need to read this week's 15 Minutes of Fame! Fox (and several other WoW Insider columnists) is profiled there. It is also a funny post that is not to be missed.
(cutaia) Sep 16th 2010 4:05PM
http://foxvanallen.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=27
(cutaia) Sep 16th 2010 4:12PM
Oh, and:
"correct me if I'm wrong but isnt Fox a female?"
Uprated, cause this makes me giggle. Take that Van Allen! :P
Pyromelter Sep 16th 2010 5:06PM
@kevinblack and @cutaia
I really don't know if Fox is a male or a female. I always thought he was a guy, but when someone makes a comment about their "boyfriend," you really can't judge.
I'm kind of somewhat treading lightly writing this comment, because it's not my place to point out those types of things, but it is indeed there. (p.s. I care not about Fox's gender or orientation, just wanted to state some facts in this comment thread)
Pyromelter Sep 16th 2010 5:10PM
Ah, looks like (cutaia) linked indisputable proof that Mr. Van Allen is indeed a male.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] Sep 16th 2010 5:46PM
"Fox is also stunningly handsome."
Griffe Sep 16th 2010 6:19PM
The whole "mistaken gender" thing is something near to (cutaia)'s heart.