I’ve done Arathi Basin, what would be a good stepping stone?

[Rulca]

After a friendly guildy dragged my anti-PVP-self to AB, I’ve been trying it out whenever I can. :smiley:

I’m now a level 58 holy Paladin, and after another successful and fun night last night in AB (No shouting! No ‘OMG UR NOOBS!’ In fact, people communicated!) I had been thinking of branching out, trying something new.

But I’m a bit nervous as PVP is still a bit intimidating.

My favorite things to do are coming upon people who are getting beat (usually by seeing the flickering dots in the map view) and healing them up as stealthily as I can. (As stealthy as someone in bright green plate can be that is!)

Granted, I enjoy helping out by stunning/shocking as well (and have taken down my fair share by myself – mainly by outlasting while hitting ‘em).

Defending nodes is also fun – especially if there’s another person there so that we can work together as team. Granted, I'm usually the 'bait' and they're usually a spell caster hiding at the corner of a building or a stealthed dps, but hey, we all have our roles!

What would you recommend as the next stepping stone?

I’d heard AV is long and has several slightly PVE like objectives – so that might be good.

WSG has flags and towers I believe – I don’t believe I’d be confident enough to run any flag and it sounds a bit complicated to me.

I don’t consider myself one of the pvpers, but more of a support class, healing, helping people out while people who know how to kill do the hard stuff. (Yes, I’m a Paladin – in plate - who used to hide in bushes while healing so the scary PVP’ers couldn’t find me!) :rolleyes:

Are there any other BG’s that might be fun for me?

Thanks for any advice!

Rulca

[clevins]

try them all... really they're all kinda fun.

The easiest transition for you would be EotS, but I'm not sure you can get there at 58. EotS is like AB in that you try to capture and hold objectives, but with the flag running feature added. It's basically a combination of AB and WSG.

AV is fun, but again I'm not sure of level requirements (I never pvped until 70...). It's fun in that there's a lot to do but it can be confusing for new players. The basic idea is to kill the other sides captain.

WowWiki.com has good summaries of the BGs and some strategies for them. Check the BG and PvP forums here too.

If you're playing for fun vs to gain honor, play all of them. If you enjoy the capture and defend gameplay, WSG doesn't have that, the others do. If you like fighting in the open, that's more WSG than the others. If you are trying to get max honor, play some AV since even if you lose you get good honor/hour.

[Rulca]

try them all... really they're all kinda fun.


Thank you for the advice! I'd done searches here for healing in BG's, but I think it won't really make sense until I try it. :smiley: It's a different experience reading about it vs. being there in the thick of it.

I hadn't known about wowwiki having that information, and see having gone there now that EoTS is not until 60. I can do AV, so I may try that for something new to try!

Yes, from what you're sharing WSG seems a bit too intimidating, at least until I get more experience under my belt...

[clevins]

Well, the thing about WSG is that a healer can really save the day... healing the flag carrier etc. The typical strategy is to get each others' flags and then to try ano hold their flag while returning yours to base. IN WSG, if you kill the opposing flag carrier and then right click the flag you've returned it to base... you don't need to run it back. So, a healer keeping their FC up can be VERY important.

[raymore]

Well, the thing about WSG is that a healer can really save the day... healing the flag carrier etc. The typical strategy is to get each others' flags and then to try ano hold their flag while returning yours to base. IN WSG, if you kill the opposing flag carrier and then right click the flag you've returned it to base... you don't need to run it back. So, a healer keeping their FC up can be VERY important.

IMO, WSG is where a healer shines. I'm a druid specced balance but I will run behind the FC healing him as I go. My main objective is to keep him alive. And since you can bubble, you would be able to do a really good job because once they see you healing him, you're the dead one.

[Rulca]

You both make very convincing points! :smiley:

I may try WSG out (if I can sweet talk a guildie into coming with and holding my hand.)

I appreciate your posts as other BG's seem a little less intimidating now - the wowwiki site especially has been useful as it does have general advice and basic information!

Rulca

[MrBCorp]

I can understand your viewpoint as I was never too thrilled with the PVP side of WoW. It just wasn't my thing, but I've learned to like it. So I'll give you my thoughts on the BG's in WoW.

WSG - I hate this one. Mainly because there is no time limit, the matches can go on forever (or at least feel like it). I don't think I've ever had a victory in the BG (Alliance). Good luck with it.

AB - This one works best if you stick to groups. Since you're healing spec'ed you should at least be fine if you stick with at least one other person (unless they are also a healer lol). Since you're Horde, probably the best flag to take is the Black Smith, the Gold Mine and Lumber Mill. If you want to demoralise the Alliance, take Stables. For some reason they really panic if Horde takes Stables and they will all rush back to ensure they keep it, which often results in Horde netting all the other flags.

EotS - This one is somewhat similar to AB (I think), except you capture a tower just by being near it (sort of like a tug of war). You don't even have to kill each other, just have more of you than them in the capture area (a gray bar with red and blue at each end will pop up under the minimap). If you're fighting at a tower, it helps to be within the capture area. There is also a flag you can capture in the middle and bring back to a tower you hold, but this is less important than holding and keeping three towers. You can usually guage the match by what happens at the start. The quickest and/or most coordinated matches you will often see (at the start) Horde or Alliance rush to the other side of the map and try to capture one or two of the towers on the "wrong" side.

AV - My fav. Yeah there are PvE objectives. Basically, if you kill the enemy general, you win. Otherwise, wait until the enemies reinforcements drops to zero. If one of them dies, they lose a point. If you die, your side loses a point. If you capture a tower, they lose 100 points (I think), likewise if your side loses a tower. You can capture a mine (there are two) to slowly increase your points. Horde's best strat I think is to leave some people on D to stop the Alliances first wave to RH. The Alliance likes to rush to RH (some kill Galv, you can delay this if you want but I don't think there is much point, better to stop the RH rush). They should be suitably off balanced from this. If you have the Alliance mostly stuck in their D, it's usually a good sign that you will win. I don't think I've ever seen Alliance win like this. AV can take a while, but from my experience, it's usually a fast game, quickest in 10 or 11 mins. It's rare that they last more than half an hour.

Good luck mate and have fun.

[clevins]

To the point about WSG possibly being a long match... remember that you can leave a BG. You will get now marks or honor and will have a 15 minute debuff that keeps you out of BGs... but if you think you've gotten into a seriously long match and don't want to deal with it, leave.

[MrBCorp]

To the point about WSG possibly being a long match... remember that you can leave a BG. You will get now marks or honor and will have a 15 minute debuff that keeps you out of BGs... but if you think you've gotten into a seriously long match and don't want to deal with it, leave.

This will go a long way to making WSG less painful, but it depends what you have to do to qualify for the marks.

[clevins]

Oh sorry, typo in my post. Should have read "you will NOT get honor or marks"

[SithDrummer]

AB - This one works best if you stick to groups. Since you're healing spec'ed you should at least be fine if you stick with at least one other person (unless they are also a healer lol). Since you're Horde, probably the best flag to take is the Black Smith, the Gold Mine and Lumber Mill. If you want to demoralise the Alliance, take Stables. For some reason they really panic if Horde takes Stables and they will all rush back to ensure they keep it, which often results in Horde netting all the other flags.
That's because Horde capturing Stables is usually followed by camping the graveyard, and usually pretty effectively at that. From what I've seen, assuming no premades on either side, it's a lot easier for a few Horde to successfully camp the graveyard than it is for a few Alliance to break their hold on it.

[Rulca]

Good luck mate and have fun.

Thanks and I did!

I’d actually tried WSG (and AV) last night as AB was full! As I’m Horde, WSG was the more pleasant of the two. I liked that the map was smaller and that the objectives were easy for a new player to understand.

I finally figured out how to follow the flag on the map after the first Horde flag capture, and then was able to help out the last two flag carriers, earning a flawless victory.

The Alliance spent the entire game ganged up in the middle of the map, allowing the flag carriers to slip around the side, only running into a few people.

AV: I found this truly confusing and the Horde was severely outnumbered. We had 18 people to a full Alliance group. I had trouble figuring out which towers I should be going to.

Are burning towers done for (these are in white?) – you can’t save them?

So you’re basically defending towers that are yours (are the towers rimmed in red them the Hordes – we should defend?) and attacking theirs (blue?)

What is RH? I think I figured out Galv – it’s was a tower in the middle right of the map. (I’d even read the wowwiki on this, but as I’d been reading up on ALL the bg’s, I got a few of the objectives mixed up in my head) :wink:

From your description of EOTS, that definitely sounds like something I would enjoy. Time to level up!

[clevins]

Yeah AV has more things going on. RH = Relief Hut. It's the nearest spawn point to Drek (your end boss). If Alliance kills Drek, they win, so what they will try to do is run to the end (bottom of the map), take the two Frostwolf towers and RH. This means that Horde can't spawn in that area. They'll then try to take the graveyard outside the Frostwolf area. What that does is put the respawn point for Horde pretty far away. The reason for all of this is so that when we (I'm Alliance) go fight Drek, it takes much more time for any Horde to come to us and interfere. It's basically setting up a clean attempt.

By the way in regad to levelling up.. you're at the top of your bracket right now. If you pop into EotS as 61... you'll be at the bottom of that and the other brackets.

[Rulca]

Yeah AV has more things going on. RH = Relief Hut. It's the nearest spawn point to Drek (your end boss). If Alliance kills Drek, they win, so what they will try to do is run to the end (bottom of the map), take the two Frostwolf towers and RH. This means that Horde can't spawn in that area. They'll then try to take the graveyard outside the Frostwolf area. What that does is put the respawn point for Horde pretty far away. The reason for all of this is so that when we (I'm Alliance) go fight Drek, it takes much more time for any Horde to come to us and interfere. It's basically setting up a clean attempt.

By the way in regad to levelling up.. you're at the top of your bracket right now. If you pop into EotS as 61... you'll be at the bottom of that and the other brackets.

I see! I've looked over maps and it seems the Horde has the bottom half and the Alliance has the top half, basically. I think I understand where the relief hut is and graveyard you're talking about may be! (I think the next time I'll try AV will be at 60 though, as I noticed at 58 there were 60's in the group so that must be the high point for that bracket.)

Ah, yes, you have a point about being at the top for my level. I do plan to get to 70 at some point and will try BG's again then (knowing I'll be under geared.) Though, as many people will be moving onto 80 by the time I get there (as WOTLK will be out), it may not be as bad for a new 70. (Maybe this is optimistic!)

Thanks again!

Rulca

[MrBCorp]

Ok my mistake I forgot how complex AV is for someone that's never done it before. There are flags in the top of the towers. Once you capture it (same as any other flag, right-click and wait for the cast bar to finish) you then have to wait before the tower burns (it will no longer be possible to capture it), I think about 3 minutes. But during this time you can recapture it. Thus you might see the enemy return to a tower in the middle of cap'ing, in the hopes of recap'ing it.

It is not necessary to destroy the towers to win, you can simply go and kill the enemy general, but each tower that still stands gives the general a 25% (I think) increase in health points and damage. Thus the more towers destroyed, the easier it is to win. Plus you get bonus honor for each tower.

Galv = Galvangar. He is in Iceblood Garrison.

I had trouble figuring out which towers I should be going to.
I don't know how the Horde do it, but Alliance has an average of 4 or 5 players guarding each of the two towers next to Galv (Iceblood and Tower Point). The rest are usually divided between DB (Dun Baldar) and RH (Relief Hut), depending on how well we are doing. I would say, follow some other players and either go on the offensive or defensive, giving as much grief as you can, or go to a tower and help defend it until it caps. Unless you're real good, I would suggest sticking with others and try to work as a team. Try to watch the map and the chat as this will give you a clue as to what you can do to help. Don't try to go it alone at a tower as most likely you'll get rolled by the enemy. Don't be a He-Man :P

Are burning towers done for (these are in white?) – you can’t save them?
Basically.

So you’re basically defending towers that are yours (are the towers rimmed in red them the Hordes – we should defend?) and attacking theirs (blue?)
Horde = Frost Wolf Tower East, Frost Wolf Tower West, Icebood Tower, Tower Point.
Alliance = Stonehearth Bunker, Incewing Bunker, Dun Baldar South Bunker, Dun Baldar North Bunker
(north v's south of map)

I got a few of the objectives mixed up in my head
There's not a lot of variation in AV really. "The goal in AV is to reduce the opposing faction's reinforcement count to 0" That's the main objective and people like to do it as quickly as possible. Most common strat is: First you kill the captain, then hold the two towers until they burn, while the other half rides to the end and captures the graveyard flag (preventing enemy players from spawning there) and the two towers next to it. Then you all meet up at the general and spank and tank.

[Rulca]

MrBCorp,
Ah - thank you for the in-depth explanation! Rulca is now 59, so I think she's still a great level for more BG's. :smiley:

Don't be a He-Man :P

There is no worry of this! Though wandering off as I'm not sure *who* to follow can happen! :smiley:

(I'm not much of a pvper in the 'awesome pwnage' sense anyway...truthfully... I feel *bad* whenever the Alliance is out numbered and we camp them in at their cemetery in Arathi Basin...)

There's not a lot of variation in AV really. "The goal in AV is to reduce the opposing faction's reinforcement count to 0" That's the main objective and people like to do it as quickly as possible. Most common strat is: First you kill the captain, then hold the two towers until they burn, while the other half rides to the end and captures the graveyard flag (preventing enemy players from spawning there) and the two towers next to it. Then you all meet up at the general and spank and tank.

Noted, thanks again for the advice!

Rulca

[Amra]

It is not necessary to destroy the towers to win, you can simply go and kill the enemy general, but each tower that still stands gives the general a 25% (I think) increase in health points and damage. Thus the more towers destroyed, the easier it is to win. Plus you get bonus honor for each tower.
Yes, and destroying the towers also removes one of the Captains around the generals and 75 reinforcements. If you wait for the towers to cap, you should only be facing the general alone. Easy pickings then.

Read this site (http://www.wowwiki.com/Peeling_the_Onion) for a description.

It's also important to capture Graveyards along the way. Stormpike at least if you are horde.

[Rulca]

Amra,
Thank you for the additional information! I'd played AV quite a few times after my initial post here and understand it a bit better. I understand the towers and the general idea of where to go (even if I'm mainly just following other people - and by other people I mean Death Knights as AV at 60 was mainly Death Knights and me).

Honestly, as a healer, I didn't mind at all as I get to top the healing charts with little to no competition. :) (Granted this has slowed now that Rulca is 64 and too low to contribute much to BG's)