too late to learn pvp/bg?

[frimley]

Hello all and a Happy New Year!

just a quick question: I'm relatively new to WoW, and have a lvl 48 (human) mage on an EU PVE server. Up until now I had never done much PVPing as it didn't really appeal but after having been invited along to WSG/AB by a friend I discovered that (despite my major incompetence) I enjoyed it loads. My only concern now is whether or not I've left it too late to "learn" how to PVP well.

I don't want to be a liability to the Alliance and realise that most people PVPing in the 40-49 range probably have a whole lot of experience and strategy ideas, while I feel woefully like a complete noob at it.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this please? Or any ideas of how I might "fast-track" my learning curve?

Thanks v much for you time ... :xmas7:

[Gainon]

Level 48 and no PvP? Wuss. Try going to lvl 60 like my druid. Now that's some serious PvP procrastination. :D

In all seriousness, I was about to ask the same question. With exactly 2 HKs to my name at lvl 60, should I even bother? And if so, what's the best route to go on a PvE server? I'm prepared to suck at it for a while, but I assume I should hold of on AV for now, yes?

[porps]

The only PvP i did untill i hit 60 was outdoor PvP, small scale stuff and one pre arranged 'epic battle' when i was about level 30 (roughly 200 ppl fighting it out in arathi highlands). Well, ok, i tell a lie, i went to AV once when i was level 51 and it wasnt a pretty sight.

For the last 2 weeks i've been playing AV a lot, and this week i made knight (by a lot i dont mean 20hour stints, more like one game every other day). I dont wish to blow my own trumpet but i often finish top of the scoreboards, if not top then close to it (disclaimer : really, im not boasting, i actually think the scoring system sucks, its not hard for me to get the killing blow with a well timed ambush on an already dying target). But regardless, what im trying to say is that i can hold my own in BGs despite never really playing untill a few weeks ago. I dont even duel, except with friends to test stuff out.

It may actually be possible that NOT playing BGs untill later levels helps, rather than hinders your performance, because its unlikely that you will play the same way at 50 as you did at 30. So no need to unlearn things that are no longer effective at higher levels, things you may have relied on earlier.

Sure, it will take a few goes to learn the lie of the land, and more than a few to become familiar with all the effective strategies and ways of playing, but learn you will and so long as you are having fun doing so, thats the main thing.

It isnt pointless to start now, you will soon catch up.

[shonto]

Its never too late to learn to PVP. Yes there are some people who hang around the lower level BGs or are on their 30th alt or both but if that's the case they have the jump on you from level 1.

Just read all you can and after a few times of getting squished you'll start to pick it up. Just don't get discouraged by dying lots, it happened to all of us.

[degnar]

You can easily start PvP at any level. No reason not to. Of course there will be others with more experience, but that doesn't matter. Just treat it like any other new experience. Start -> learn the basics -> practice, practice, practice -> get better.

Don't get frustrated if you get beat up (a lot) when you start out. #1 you are new, and won't know everything. #2 some ppl are very good. #3 a few ppl are highly twinked and you will never beat them. Just keep at it.

Some advice: Always work with a group...loners are easy prey, and are killed quickly. Stay near high level/good players...that can help your survivability. Listen to what the raid leaders say. Ask questions, communicate. Don't worry about dying... you will do it a lot, and there is no res penalty in BGs. Enjoy, and don't worry about stats, HKs, etc. (IMHO, too many people ignore most of these points... alliance especially)

[djclaremont]

As a mage, you will be highly useful in PvP. Remember, its not about fair fights, its about overrunning your opponents. Sheep their best players. Frost nova the rogues. Use Cone of Cold on everyone chasing the flag carrier. That sort of thing.
Also, make friends. tag along with repeat players. An organized group always beats a disorganized foe. This is all easier said than done, but you'll get the hang of it.

[frimley]

Thanks all for the (v swift) feedback. I'll take all that on board and as soon as my realm is back up (grrrr to Blizz on that front as our realm always seems to be on the shortlist for the "due to technical problems maintenance will be extended" excuse) will get myself in the queue for WSG!

:xmas2: - watch out Horde - here I come - lol!

[CollinBentley]

Yeap, like everyone said: "It's never too late to start." And at level 48 you're actually at a HUGE advantage in BG. As I'm sure you're aware, the BGs are in groups of X0-X9, so you're at the top of the 40-49 spectrum of players. Really, you'll be a power-house regardless of how much experience you have in BG. Enjoy being on top while you can, since it'll be a suckfest once you get to 50 and are at the bottom of the 50-59 BG ladder :xmas4:

You'll be suprised at how many clueless PvPers there are. Ie. 10 people of the 15 in AB zerg the Black Smith and stay there, while all other points are over run. This will happen more often than not, actually. In this case there's not much you can do other than farm some HKs.

Just try to work with your team and have solid communication, it helps.

[Mithos the hero]

I always found BG and pvp relitivly simple, and as for stratigy its mostly commonsence>reaction time>listining to team mates. pvp was always easy for me, but it could be because i have played GW which has a MUCH harder arena system, so it may just be experence, or its the stupid NE hunters who forget to use their pet and then come in mele... :xmas22:
:xmas13: :xmas15:

[vsp]

Basically I'm going to trumpet what everyone else says and suggest that you're better off starting at your level to PvP.

I've got two characters, one in the low 30s and one in the low 40s. Figuring it would be best to learn the BG from the beginning, I made a third to start out in the 10-19 WSG bracket. So far, every game I've been in has been a Horde PUG (includng me) facing a highly, highly twinked, guildmates group of level 19 Alliance, many ranked Corporal, who often just run around with the flag while they corpse camp the graveyard farming HKs.

Needless to say, you don't learn anything that way...nor is it fun or challenging. The only potential lesson to take away from something like that is it's pointless to bother with PvP servers or BGs (this is on Twisting Nether, RP-PvP) because I'm never going to spend the time it takes to have a powerful, raiding main, let along twinked out low-level alts with crazy enchants on their weapons. Hopefully the higher level brackets aren't as insane, otherwise the only PvP action I'll get is who I find along the side of the road.

So I would say it's best you waited. Good luck and I hope you have fun. I'm likely going to try the BGs again once I get my main past 36 or so.

For you Alliance who've been in the 10-19 WSG, do you see the same happening from your side? I haven't noticed any twinked out Horde in the PUGS I've played in but perhaps they tend to join as a 10-person raid team. If that's the case, perhaps I can enlist people, Alliance and Horde, on my server to have a non-twinked 10-19 WSG night.

[Bokar]

I've never been in a 10-19 WG, as all my current characters were above that when it because available.

Myself, I play at least a little PvP via the battlegrounds when I can, because I think it helps me become a better fighter overall. Fighting another player is MUCH different than fighting a mob, the player can think and anticipate your next move.

I don't have a mage anymore, and never did get him into WG, or AB which showed up after I deleted him. But I can say that speed = life in the battlegrounds. Use instant spells whenever possible, perhaps including that Arcane talent for making your next spell instant. Reduce your opponent's speed when you can, with Frost Nova or other cold spells. Mages do very well against warriors, and rogues if they spot them in time. But beware of priests and warlocks, particularly warlocks with Felhunters.

[SirBazturd]

If you are going to do it...do it now. On my server, there were never any 50-59 bgs up. My favorite is Arathi Basin so I had to wait to hit 60 to get back into the pvp mix. I am actually enjoying AV not that I am a bit better equiped.




(A side note on AV. It is very easy to see who has purchased their toon because they have excellent gear and are terrible.)

[frimley]

Thanks once again to everyone for the advice and giving me the confidence to give it a go. Made Sargeant after maintenance this week and also made my first successful flag capture and return to base - much more by luck than judgement it has to be said but it still made my day. :)

[det]

It is never to late to learn PvP. I started at lv 55 with Tarren Mill battles and only entered AB at lv 60....

Starting in the 40ies would only have delyed the time needed to level to 60

[Bokar]

It is never to late to learn PvP. I started at lv 55 with Tarren Mill battles and only entered AB at lv 60....

Starting in the 40ies would only have delyed the time needed to level to 60

Well, you do earn experience, and faction, with Battleground victories. And the Sergeant discount is nice when you still have spells to learn from your class trainers. You just don't have a way to earn money in there, aside from the pocket change found on enemy corpses.