Changes to Alterac Valley Patch 3.2.2

There have been some changes implemented to Alterac Valley. A new bracket of AV has been released which I presume will be for levels 80-85. Currently however since 80 is the level cap only level 80 players will be in there exclusively. This changes the older 70-80 to 70-79.

XP gains from objectives being completed has also been slashed 50%. This comes with the change to heritage gear now contributing to the XP gains in battle grounds.

The previous XP gain I experienced while in the battleground was 1% of my level. The decrease in gain will drastically alter any strategy in leveling in the off time. Blizzard has yet to state any input into these changes. The forums are abuzz with complaints and presumptions as to why these changes took place.

I can see the bracket change as another preparation for the expansion. It also helps that many level 80 players stomp and focus on the lower level 70s so it adds a bit of balance to the game.

Perhaps the XP gain was too beneficial. AV was the richest XP battleground and probably thought to be too popular. AV likely has the highest issue of afk players then any other battleground. While an player can afk and lose honor, they still gain XP from objectives.

This nerf to XP won't stop the AFK players from continuing their selfish behavior. I don't feel it one solution to the problem. My opinion is that AV was just too popular of a BG and folks were leveling too fast.

Making a new bracket for the level 80+ player solves one problem as well. Many in a battleground were "offended" to have to carry lower level players and often used those players as an excuse for losing in a battleground. Guess what guys? "Problem" solved!

A backlog of sorts!

I've had a busy week with family visiting and work so my WOW time has really decreased hence why I have not been as active with posting. I do apologize for the sudden drop in my consistency.

I have been spending my time running Dire Maul for improving my goblin reputation and I was concerned how my arriving in Booty Bay would affect my ability to obtain this simple achievement. Currently I am hated and I don't wish to destroy my reputation with the cartel since it is a huge grind repairing the damage I caused. Thankfully I was able to to fly to the town, and get killed nude by two guards. Once there I simply got to the roof top and got my achievement done. While the costume is great and lasts 12 hours, it's 12 hours of real time. It ticks down even when you log out of your character.

So I got a few more achievements done but I won't be posting all of them. Those that I wish to share are:

I am so happy to get this one out of the way! Got it during a run with guild mates.

This one is no longer required for the meta. I would have not minded it remaining cause well, I joined the club last year :D. Finally nice to get it done!

Now I have been trying out Alterac Valley on my mage Yuugi to see how the XP is. So far past level 71 you gain 1% of your level for every objective completed. These objectives are the destruction of a tower or the slaying of the Captain and General. So while alive, which can be difficult when you have several 80's looking to kill you, you can obtain a good chunk of experience and level. Heritage gear currently does not boost your xp gain but Zarhym has already stated that they have fixed this in the upcoming patch.

So my hunter weeps as Yuugi was extremely lucky. Ah well. I need to go back for a mount and honor kills on her anyway.

PTR: Patch 3.2.2. Battleground Changes

Patch 3.2.2. will change the way we are able to queue for a battleground.

• Players may now only queue for no more than two Battlegrounds at a time.
• The dialog box for entering a Battleground match has been changed to reflect the following options: “Enter Battle,” “Leave Queue,” and “Minimize.”
• The time a player has to enter a battle when selected has been reduced to 40 seconds when not already in a Battleground and 20 seconds when in a Battleground.
• Players already in a Battleground can now choose “Enter Battle” for a new Battleground under any circumstance (i.e. while dead, in combat, falling, etc.).
• A new Battleground will not launch until the maximum number of players on each side are in the queue (i.e. 40 players per side for Alterac Valley).

The ability to only queue for two battlegrounds affects me slightly. I liked having the option to queue for three. In the event my side was severely outnumbered I liked having an escape from a lost cause. I'm not a coward in a fight but I find it a waste of my game time to be stepped on by overwhelming numbers repeatedly while waiting for the opposite faction to win. Since BG can be dragged on by players it simply stops being fun.

I'll gladly sacrifice myself if my side can accomplish goals and work as a team but it morally sucks when you are in a battleground, you are outnumbered, and just as the other side is about to win we finally get the numbers but by then the battle is seconds from ending.

If it is true that a Battleground WILL NOT launch until the maximum number of players on EACH side are in queue then this change will have little to no impact.

I'm not one to endorse Battlegroup jumping. Premades used to do it all the time back in Burning Crusade all the time and changes were made to prevent this. If the Battlegrounds will be balanced then players won't feel the need to skip around in the queue.