So, returning to this topic, lets see what Blizzard has done INSTEAD of cross-server queues.
1. Removed the "join as group" option from Alterac Valley.
2. Put the 60's in their own group, and adjusted all other brackets (meaning level 20's get to play now! whee)
3. Introduced Arathi Basin, thereby gimping Warsong Gulch.
The first item on the list was a hack. Rather than implement something that will actually accomodate those guilds that want to do guild vs guild action, while simultaneously allowing more people to play AV, they remove that option all together. Much easier to disable a button than to implement a cross-server queue.
The second item on the list was necessary, and in my opinion, late arriving. This should have been in place ages ago, but sadly, it effectively kills the 50-59 bracket. So instead of just the formerly 31-40 bracket being empty, the 50-59 bracket is empty, because characters are powering to 60. Previously, it was near impossible to get a WSG game going in the 31-40 bracket, because everyone was out farming for mounts. Actually, all the brackets are dead, because of the third point...
Arathi Basin; destroyer of WSG. They added this as what seemed to be simply a point of sale. Something for Blizzard to announce at BlizzCon, something for the checklist to say, "yep, it's done! We've got so many things in WoW we can sell!".
On my PvP Server, Ursin, there are no WSG games going. Well, every once in a while you might see a 20-29 game going, but it's rare. Never anything higher. WSG is more fun for me, because it's a tried, tested and true version of PvP. Capture the flag is as core as it gets, aside from a free for all deathmatch. It's just one of those standard things.
The stand-offs and crappy pugs were always irritating to say the least, but I still miss it. The honor reward was higher in WSG as well, not to mention that you could totally shut-out the opposition if you team was good enough. In the patch, they made it so you get a "ribbon of sacrifice" if you lose (so your time isn't completely wasted when you get shut-out), something I've yet to see, due to Arathi Basin. No more shutouts, no more WSG, period. Since the patch, I've yet to see a WSG game, aside from that one 20-29 game.
You know, it's kind of ironic; I spent my time getting to 40 so I could be more effective in WSG, and then tried to get Honored in WSG so I could use the field rations and such. Then, in the patch, they moved field rations to friendly so I could use them, but then took WSG away.
WSG is hardcore compared to AB. If you face any competition at all in AB, there's no shutout. Practically guaranteed honor, a de facto time limit for games, and more players per game -- it's clearly the game of choice for these soft PvPers. Everyone wins! There's a whole new set of cheap tactics to employ, a whole new set of imbalances to complain about, and another set of crappy faction rewards.
I miss my WSG. At least I still have AV...
EDIT: Typo
1. Removed the "join as group" option from Alterac Valley.
2. Put the 60's in their own group, and adjusted all other brackets (meaning level 20's get to play now! whee)
3. Introduced Arathi Basin, thereby gimping Warsong Gulch.
The first item on the list was a hack. Rather than implement something that will actually accomodate those guilds that want to do guild vs guild action, while simultaneously allowing more people to play AV, they remove that option all together. Much easier to disable a button than to implement a cross-server queue.
The second item on the list was necessary, and in my opinion, late arriving. This should have been in place ages ago, but sadly, it effectively kills the 50-59 bracket. So instead of just the formerly 31-40 bracket being empty, the 50-59 bracket is empty, because characters are powering to 60. Previously, it was near impossible to get a WSG game going in the 31-40 bracket, because everyone was out farming for mounts. Actually, all the brackets are dead, because of the third point...
Arathi Basin; destroyer of WSG. They added this as what seemed to be simply a point of sale. Something for Blizzard to announce at BlizzCon, something for the checklist to say, "yep, it's done! We've got so many things in WoW we can sell!".
On my PvP Server, Ursin, there are no WSG games going. Well, every once in a while you might see a 20-29 game going, but it's rare. Never anything higher. WSG is more fun for me, because it's a tried, tested and true version of PvP. Capture the flag is as core as it gets, aside from a free for all deathmatch. It's just one of those standard things.
The stand-offs and crappy pugs were always irritating to say the least, but I still miss it. The honor reward was higher in WSG as well, not to mention that you could totally shut-out the opposition if you team was good enough. In the patch, they made it so you get a "ribbon of sacrifice" if you lose (so your time isn't completely wasted when you get shut-out), something I've yet to see, due to Arathi Basin. No more shutouts, no more WSG, period. Since the patch, I've yet to see a WSG game, aside from that one 20-29 game.
You know, it's kind of ironic; I spent my time getting to 40 so I could be more effective in WSG, and then tried to get Honored in WSG so I could use the field rations and such. Then, in the patch, they moved field rations to friendly so I could use them, but then took WSG away.
WSG is hardcore compared to AB. If you face any competition at all in AB, there's no shutout. Practically guaranteed honor, a de facto time limit for games, and more players per game -- it's clearly the game of choice for these soft PvPers. Everyone wins! There's a whole new set of cheap tactics to employ, a whole new set of imbalances to complain about, and another set of crappy faction rewards.
I miss my WSG. At least I still have AV...
EDIT: Typo
"Yay! We did it!"
"Who are you?"
"Um, uh... just ... a guy." *flee*
"Who are you?"
"Um, uh... just ... a guy." *flee*