As we heard today that Mists challenge modes will be ending at the Warlords of Draenor pre-patch, I wondered what the fate of Proving Grounds might be, as they share the scaling methodology of Challenge Modes, as well as rewarding players with titles, although not mounts or the like. So I asked Lead Encounter Designer Ion "Watcher" Hazzikostas:

@oliviadgrace Proving Grounds serve a different purpose and will be updated for WoD. We think of CMs as a PvE analogue to arena seasons.

- Watcher (@WatcherDev) February 13, 2014

To first address Watcher's point on Challenge Modes as analogous to Arena, it makes a lot of sense. The focus and structure of the reward and rank system is similar to that of arena, as Watcher points out in a subsequent tweet. Both arena and Challenge Modes reward high-end play on a specific class, and as a result the rewards, rankings and titles for Gladiator or Gold are similarly not account wide. Certainly, the number of rewards given out are markedly different, but the principles are comparable.

Proving Grounds, conversely, do not work the same. While there are titles available, there is no ranking, and they do not offer similar rewards. While Challenge Modes are designed to be challenging content that is for players at their best, Proving Grounds are for learning. This may well make them easier to update for the new systems, as well as the fact that they focus on one spec at a time.

What I'm wondering is whether this means Proving Grounds will have a larger role in Warlords of Draenor. WoW Insider posted in the past about their potential use as an entry requirement for LFG content, and while it seems that Flex raiding will overtake LFR in participation, there is still the potential for such a system to be implemented for the Dungeon Finder.

Maybe the system will also expand to be a better teaching tool than it currently provides for the new level 90s that will inevitably appear on the scene. It has great potential for max-level characters to learn, but that potential currently remains untapped. Tutorial sessions, different areas, suggested spell use, shorter scenarios, all of these could be used to great effect for new max-level characters.

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Tags: breaking, Challenge-mode-dungeons, challenge-modes, ion-hazzikostas, proving-grounds

Filed under: Warlords of Draenor