BGs and PvP are back

All battlegrounds are fun imho, but thoroughly enjoying the newest to join the Wrath battlegrounds (Strand of the Ancients & Wintergrasp) - Isle of Conquest.

Isle of Conquest

I love Isle of Conquest. It's fun, fast paced and has a bit of everything and you get to pvp!

• Capture the flag
• Defend your keep/leader
• Take and defend resources
• Man siege machines
• Carry bombs to break down gates
• Flying machines that you jump/parachute into the opponents base

What more could you ask for?


Warsong Gulch

Warsong Gulch has the new 20 minute timer which I'm trying to view in a positive light. I definitely approved the time limit in Warhammer scenarios, so good to see Blizzard adopt this for what can often be a turtle-fest in Warsong Gulch. I like this bg, but having been in ones that have gone on literally for a couple of hours - it can be a huge time sink.

The downside, one quick flag cap and excellent defense/turtle will win. I'm hoping that won't be the case, but it could very well be.

I did one Warsong on a mid 20 hunter. The xp gain was between 500-600xp. I don't remember what quest xp goes for at that level, but for 20 minutes and gaining honor/marks it's full of win for me! It was a typical PUG, good/bad/whiners/complainers - but fun.


Arathi Basin and Eye of the Storm

The lower resource points needed to win from 2000 to 1600 - I'm not sure I get the need for that. Neither of those two bg's are very long, but I did notice in the couple I did yesterday, alot more running to cap and alot less defending. The map constantly changed in AB. It will be interesting to see how much of a difference that makes. I haven't tried EoTS yet. AB xp gain for around 16K on a lower lever 40's player.


Alteric Valley

The only change here - more people likely to queue for the huge xp gains. Playing this at different levels it's a completely different game. The 50's and 60's can be a slog/back and forth more destroy and defend along the way with a split offense/defense. While the 71-80 seems to be constant zerg to kill the leader. I haven't tried AV at level 80, but level 62 DK the xp gain was close to 57k.


Wintergrasp

I'm admittedly still lost in Wintergrasp, so do alot of random running, killing and dying. But then I've only been in a few so far! Supposedly the lag issue has been fixed. That would be great, but I'm not holding my breath - Dalaran, Wintergrasp and the Tournament Grounds are horrific at times.

It's good to have the change of being able to fly over WG as long as you stay up high as I've been unmounted a couple of times not paying attentin flying about.


Battleground XP

I've not read anywhere online how the xp is being calculated, but I'm glad they've added it! The complaints in the lower brackets of the OP twinks dominating will be gone as the majority of twinks will turn the xp off (10g cost) and will only be facing other xp off opponents. I'm hoping this won't kill the twink brackets (I've only made casual twinks, but it's still fun). I'm assuming many twinks will migrate to a few of the more active battlegroups. Hint, hint - it would be great to offer free transfers for them Bliz!

I'm curious to see though if some will 'twink' a toon for world pvp. As they can turn off xp, gear up and have lots of fun! I can see the level 19 twinks ganking the 20-30 level people - I'm sure the GM's will hear lots of complaints. But it may bring back more world pvp on the pvp servers - yeah!

I can definitely see more people that like pvp leveling in battlegrounds. Maybe not at all times, but a nice way to level in addition to dungeon crawls and questing. As an avid lover of pvp, I'm sure I'll spend time in the different level bgs.

Twinks and Patch 3.2

Patch 3.2 is going to have some interesting changes for Twinks.

• Battleground experience has arrived!
• Players will now be awarded experience for completing objectives and actions that yield honor in Battlegrounds (honorable kills not included).
• Players who do not wish to gain experience through PvP can visit Behsten in Stormwind or Slahtz in Orgrimmar - both located near the Battlemasters in either city - and turn off all experience accumulation for the cost of 10 gold.
• Disabling experience gains will prevent a player from gaining experience through any means available in the game.
• Players with experience gains turned off who compete in Battlegrounds will face off only against other players with experience gains turned off.
• Behsten and Slahtz can reinstate experience gains for players, for a 10 gold fee of course. Any experience that would've been accumulated if experience gains were enabled cannot be recovered.

Twinks are finally accepted! Kudos Blizzard finally! The whole XP on/off will allow those (like me) that like to pvp to do so against other twinks (no xp) or against anyone in the xp side. I'm very glad that Blizz 'borrowed' this from Warhammer as the XP while pvping in scenarios was a favorite of mine in that gam.

WHAT WILL TWINKS DO?

1. Will this cause longer queue's for twinks?
   
2. Do twinks need to consider relocating to more populated battlegroups?
   
3. Join twink guilds?
   
4. Band together for fun?
5. Quit?
6. Play on xp enabled new toons?

It would be considerate with these changes for Blizzard to allow twinks free server transfers as nothing will be worse than finally having battlegrounds that can be twink v twink only to queue for an hour or more as there just isn't that many twinks available!

Add to that the new change that WSG (Warsong Gulch) will now have a 20 minute cap - good for the XP in BG's group, for the twinks it will be too short. A battle that is 40-60 minutes would make more sense. How lame would it be to queue for 15 minutes or more only to be in for 20 minutes? The timing needs to be re-thought especially for the no xp gain group!

Those are not the only changes - there is also the mount availability starting at level 20 - that will change the 20-29 bracket I imagine. The 10-19's will be different with hunters, shamans and druids getting their speed boost now at 16! That will be fun to try to get that FC, although much discussion centers around the fact that premade or twink heavy BGs are played differently than PUGs. More midfield activity, less starting heavily defending an more coordination of team effort.

WHY I LOVE PUGs in BGs
At any level, a PUG group that can pull it together and win is fun to me. Can we mount a good offense and defense from 10+ unaligned people?
No vent and work together to win.

Getting people to communicate is the hardest part, but one I really push for. I'm a tad chatty in BG's in that I give positions, tell incoming - not three inc tun. But two hunters and a lock inc tun! Druid taking farm! It helps decide what to do - imho - based on the class and also the incoming players. Six DK's incoming stables is more helpful than inc stables help!

MY TWINKS

As for my own growing band of twinkies - I'm not sure what to do. I've been fairly resistant to joining a twink guild. Mostly because of some of the twinks I play against and their need to exploit/hack the game. What's the point? When you have 1500-2K HP already, do you really need to hack the game? I guess if that's all that is left to accomplish. I fully understand trying to craft the best twink out there, but if hacking/exploits is the way to go - no thanks! The ones that have the dedication to get the fishing gear, run an instance umpteen times or get an AGM - I congratulate your efforts.

Combine that with my imagined view that a twink guild is going to be like a raid guild with mandatory attendance, etc., and I'm not sure I'm up for that. Better gear would be sweet (dreams of AGM's), along with a fairly equal footing regarding player levels/abilities/gear, the chance to try arenas in the lower brackets, etc..

Need to mull it over. Maybe if I found a twink guild that played fairly (no cheats, exploits, hacks), were competitive without losing their minds over it - fun is what I'm looking for - I need a casual twink guild. Is there such a beast?

Since I have the two alliance casual twinks (lock and hunter), I'm now working on the horde side - again a lock and two hunters one for 19's/29's (really considering a pally though!).

After that I'm really going to stretch myself and work on a warrior (level 2 now). My level 19 acciental warrior (RaF while you're tired is not a good idea - thought I was leveling a pally but leveled a warrior!). Yeah, I know lame! I have major suckage as a warrior I will admit. Heck I have trouble in bear form on my druid! But then again those are such low played alts I'm really guessing as to what to do!

Anyway I did go through one WSG and it was dismal on the warrior! I managed to gain three achievements but it was a real L2P experience! The whole rage generation I'm still getting the hang of against live people. It's not hard against NPC's I've found. So, I'm not sure how successful this will be! More practice before I work on the lvl 2!

I had thought to roll a healer, and may still or maybe dust of the mage that's been on ice for a couple of years - lol.

I did level my very un-twinked Priest under a variety of specs in BGs (holy, disc, sp, blend). She actually capped out honor I think 2 or 3 times and was fully geared before she was level 70. So, I know I can tolerate healing - I just don't love it like some do! My former guild constantly harangued me to ‘go level’ but battlegrounds called and I was off! May have to throw her back into the mix too!

There are also a few higher level characters I'm working slowly on for the 29's, 39's and 49's. I'd love to do the 59's as you get such a good variety of BG's, but Death Knights have made it, well not a whole lotta fun, so I'm not sure I want to at this point.

Now that Blizzard has made so many new BG’s for the level 80’s though I may just want to get a couple of the gang there to try them out – especially before 3.2 and the new one!


TWINK INFO
If you're interested in twinking two resources - PwnDepot and TwinkInfo as well as the WoW Forums (specifically the battlegroup forums) have loads of information. Most of the 'true' twink community is very knowledgable and willing to share information - not hand it to you, but help. The /wrist noob comment group - well they're everywhere and need to be /ignored!

Battlegrounds and twinks

I've finally leveled Keggard to 19 running thru Dead Mines one last time trying to get a drop. No joy, so he's likely done as he's 43% to level 20 and I'm keeping a healthy margin - just in case!

Keggard and Widget his spider

Keg is a semi-twink, as I don't have a level 80 to collect badges for BoA gear, and he missed out on the grandfathered in twink things. I'm really glad we bought some of the things for him back in January before moving to Darrowmere, as some enchants/gear I still haven't seen for sale on this server! The downside his 100 HP chest enchant was nerfed with the last patch, so he's back to a 50 HP. I do need to get an enchant for his hit rating, but I'll confess I barely understand that, sooo we'll see!

So, he's fairly competitive, but still missing some of the key 'twink' gear. Here's his armory profile - Keggard. We're working on the Alliance trinket now.

I'd like to get the AGM (Arena Grand Master) trinket and the Fishing Tournament gear, but doubt this will happen! This was my first attempt at a twink, I'm happy - he's a hunter (I LOVE that class) and I'm having fun so its all good!

This is what he did the first two days playing at level 19 -

Ir's a bit embarrassing but I actually had to run the flag - not my favorite - but the healer didn't want to so I did. I'd rather defend the base or go on O to support the flag runner, than actually run a flag. Just not my thing!

I did get an invite to a twink guild, but don't see any reason to at this point. Although I do want to make more twinks - hunters definitely, but also thinking of a 'lock, or warrior or shaman for the 19's. I'm not sure I'd be good at any of those classes but it could prove to be fun!

As for the actual battlegrounds, it's been an experience. You get the gambit from the passing through 'I hate twinks', to the twinks that scream at everyone and how horrible they all are, to the rest of us that are trying to have fun!

I do feel bad for people leveling thru with the twinks, as some get really upset that twinks exist. But from all I've read/know they're not interested in those players, you want the competition of the other twinks, otherwise its a slaughterfest. Nothing is more enjoyable to me than trying to burn down the hard to kill rogue or other hunter or paladin. There are some awesomely geared players that really know their class - lol - half the time I want to stop and watch them!

I rememeber my first BGS on my mage and shadow priest - they were so painful - but I had that L2P learning curve, I'm still a horrid mage (why she's at 22 after two years!), but have learned some strategy in playing. The only bad side is playing both Horde/Alliance some times you forget which side your on - lol! Good times!

Warsong Gulch 10-19

Keggard dipped his toe in the 10-19 bracket as a semi-twink! Didn't do to bad at level 18.  I'm not sure I have the desire for complete twinkage as I don't want to 2v2, or feel the need to one-shot level 10's.  It is nice though to not die quite so easily  - lol!!  

The big BUT - I need to learn to NOT argue with the @#$#^ twinks that hate everyone but themselves. Most seem to be okay but there always has to be one in almost every BG - the guy that constantly types negative things about eveyone else, and how unfortunate the are to be in this BG, etc.  The one the other day, OMG!!!  Irritating beyond.  No one but him knew how to play, no one but him could play, no one but him was worthy of being in that BG.  We were all (all 9 of us) eight year old nubs that couldn't follow direction.  So, I had to point out to him that as I was an eight year old nub (he couldn't spell well either), I most definitely could NOT follow direction as I was too in awe of his 1337 abilities!  It degraded from there - lol!  I finally apologized to the rest of my team for the wall of text argument and /ignored that jerk for the rest of the game.

I'm practicing a new mantra - of ignore them, ignore them, ignore them - so I won't feel the need to get down to their level of stupid. They always win. /sigh

Here he is with new pet spider - Widget.  Both Widget and Jack (hyena) are making appearances in Warsong Gulch.