All rated battlegrounds to become 10v10s
by Adam Holisky 
Feb 4th 2011 at 12:17PM
Blizzard's full statement is as follows:
Blizzard EntertainmentWe're in the process of developing a hotfix to push before next Tuesday that will change all 15vs15 rated battleground weeks into 10vs10 weeks.
Looking at participation, the 10vs10 rated battleground weeks have been far and away more popular than the 15vs15 weeks. The difference in organizational requirements as well as battleground map popularity have been a couple big factors that have led to the 10vs10 weeks seeing a great deal more action. By making this change and supporting the popular option we hope to encourage even more players and teams to participate, as they won't have to wait out every other week, or struggle to beef up to 15 players to match the requirement.
We also have plans to adapt additional battleground maps in the future to work in the 10 player bracket to increase the variety of maps available.
Looking at participation, the 10vs10 rated battleground weeks have been far and away more popular than the 15vs15 weeks. The difference in organizational requirements as well as battleground map popularity have been a couple big factors that have led to the 10vs10 weeks seeing a great deal more action. By making this change and supporting the popular option we hope to encourage even more players and teams to participate, as they won't have to wait out every other week, or struggle to beef up to 15 players to match the requirement.
We also have plans to adapt additional battleground maps in the future to work in the 10 player bracket to increase the variety of maps available.
Filed under: News items, PvP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sidone Feb 4th 2011 12:23PM
sad face here, personally i like SotA and EotS way more than any 10 bg..
not telling about being stuck with 3 bgs for time being, thing can get boring really fast:(
Moolii Feb 4th 2011 12:27PM
Darn.. was working on a 15 team just for AB. This shadow priest loves protecting Lumber Mill :)
(cutaia) Feb 4th 2011 12:28PM
"We also have plans to adapt additional battleground maps in the future to work in the 10 player bracket to increase the variety of maps available."
As long as they make good on this as quickly as possible, I'll be happy. 10v10 AB, Gilneas and Strand? Sounds like fun.
Darkdust Feb 4th 2011 1:28PM
Not Strand... anything but that place.
RuzGofDI Feb 4th 2011 1:40PM
Gilneas is already 10v10
(cutaia) Feb 4th 2011 2:02PM
"Gilneas is already 10v10"
Yes it is. Scratch that, replace with Eye. :D
nux Feb 4th 2011 12:34PM
This is a welcomed change. It's surprisingly fun fighting in rated BGs. It's like the old premade vs premade days back when BGs were on your own server only.
Gnomar Feb 4th 2011 12:29PM
What about the BG's themselves that are 15v15? =(
Saeadame Feb 4th 2011 1:48PM
I think this only applies to rated BGs? So if you're queuing for the BG normally, it'll be the same old same old.
Though I could be wrong.
CaryEverett Feb 4th 2011 12:32PM
I will be deeply sad without AB. AB has and likely will always be my favorite BG.
Nicodemas Feb 4th 2011 12:59PM
Battlegrounds like AB were designed for 15 players... 5 bases, 15 players. All the strategies developed for these BGs will be null and void come this change. I hope that Blizzard is able to implement this successfully, but I have serious doubts.
Jabadabadana Feb 4th 2011 4:33PM
5 bases divides 15 people into groups of 3, but it also divides 10 people into groups of 2.
Or, from 3 bases with groups of 5, you end up with 3 man teams and a floater. Organized 3s and 5s groups can be pulled from existing arena team types, and you're fine.
Strategies can be remade to play 15man bg's as 10s, they just may be slightly different, and less epic.
Unless by epic you want to have your own personal ability make more of a difference.
nymrohd Feb 4th 2011 12:39PM
Why not allow both to run at same time so people do not waste weeks? I always thought that would be better. They could rotate individual BGs for every bracket (Even 25v25 AV and IoC) concurrently so say week 1 WSG, AB, AV/Week 2 TP, SotA, IoC, Week 3 WSG, BfG, IoC and so on
Rai Feb 4th 2011 12:42PM
As long as WSG doesn't pop up every time, s'cool.
Netherscourge Feb 4th 2011 12:49PM
And the slow death of Large-Scale MMO PvP continues...
Why won't Blizzard ever make a commitment to viable, incentive-based 40 vs 40 BG's? AV is STILL the best BG around because it's large-scale nature.
But Blizzard wants to funnel it all down toa nice and neat 10 vs. 10.
Just like Arenas.
Martinel Feb 4th 2011 1:00PM
ok guys cap towers and rush van! dotn fite in middle or ur fail - be smart ppl! TOWERS + ZERG VANN = WIN!
...Yes, Alterac's the best battleground out there. *eyeroll* I prefer AB and IoC, myself.
Xeph Feb 4th 2011 1:27PM
Yeah, I'm still disappointed that you can't do rated AV. Now that would have been an epic fight if both sides knew what they were doing (none of the zerg everything; don't defend or retake crap). I wouldn't have been surprised if the frost lord started getting summoned again to turn the tide of a fight. He must be getting bored and lonely given how much he gets summoned nowadays.
I'm not really inclined to do 10's just for the fact I loathe WSG, and I find the larger BG's are more interesting.
Darkdust Feb 4th 2011 1:36PM
As a long-time EVE player, I've never thought that WoW lends itself very well to large-scale PVP. In a game where a total of 80 players on the field seems like a huge fight, that says something.
Then again, I really really enjoy WoW PVP for what it is, and I'm not bashing it. Just noting that it excels in what I think of as "small-squad warfare with tactical objectives" (e.g. 10v10 BGs).
Bvannas Feb 4th 2011 2:24PM
I like a Zerg Rush as much as the next man, doesn't mean I wan't to be a zergling.
Zim Feb 4th 2011 4:11PM
Why are you blamming Blizzard?
They said their decision was based on popularity (that means us not them)....
They will work to adapt their already done job on Bg to fix them to 10x10!
/sigh