In the next minor content patch, we will be making some minor alterations to the way in which the internal balance system for Wintergrasp works in an attempt to better support realms with greater variations in the level of participation between the Alliance and Horde. Since we have never gone into much detail about how this hidden system currently works, wed like to explain exactly how it will work in the next patch. Keep in mind that, although this information may feel very new to you, the actual changes being made in the patch to the current system are relatively minor. You can view the Patch 3.3.3 Public Test Realm Notes here: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=23329393385&sid=1
Here are the key systems in place behind the hidden Wintergrasp advantages and how they will function in the upcoming patch:
- There is an internal tug-of-war scale not visible by players which will shift under specific conditions.
- The scale starts at 0 (neutral) and can move up to 700 points in either direction favoring the Alliance at one end, and Horde at the other.
- This scale is persistent and does not reset to 0 whenever control of Wintergrasp shifts.
- If an attacking force captures Wintergrasp Fortress while under the effects of any of the advantages listed below (400-700 points in their favor), the scale tips 100 points in favor of the opposing faction.
- If a defending force successfully defends Wintergrasp Fortress two battles in a row, the scale tips 100 points in favor of the opposing faction.
- Each consecutive successful defense after a factions first two consecutive defenses will further tip the scale 100 points in favor of the opposing faction.
- As a quick example, if the scale is at 0 and the Alliance capture Wintergrasp fortress while attacking, the scale will not move. If the Alliance defend Wintergrasp twice in a row after this, the scale will move 100 points in favor of the Horde. Each consecutive defense by the Alliance after this will move the scale 100 points further in favor of the Horde each time, bringing the Horde to 400 points in their favor after one unsuccessful defense and five unsuccessful attacks, a total of six Horde losses in a row.
- As another example, if the scale is at 400 in favor of the Horde and they capture Wintergrasp fortress while attacking, the scale will move 100 points in favor of the Alliance. If the Horde defend Wintergrasp twice in a row after this, the scale will move 100 points in favor of the Alliance. Each consecutive defense by the Horde after this will move the scale 100 points further in favor of the Alliance each time, bringing the Alliance to 100 points in their favor after one unsuccessful defense and five unsuccessful attacks, a total of six Alliance losses in a row.
- The following advantages are provided at the beginning of the battle for Wintergrasp whenever these corresponding ranges on the scale have been reached:
- 0-300: No advantages granted.
- 400: Faction starts with the Sunken Ring Factory under their control.
- 500: Faction starts with the Sunken Ring and Broken Temple Factories under their control.
- 600: Faction starts with the Sunken Ring and Broken Temple Factories under their control and gains access to Catapults after earning 1 kill in battle.
- 700: Faction starts with the Sunken Ring and Broken Temple Factories under their control and gains access to Catapults, Siege Engines, and Demolishers after earning 1 kill in battle.
These changes are mainly to address the unfortunate situation on some servers where there is an extremely skewed ratio of Alliance to Horde. On these servers, Mal'Ganis comes to mind, it is not uncommon for the one side to control Wintergrasp almost 100% of the time.
This will create a situation where even severely disadvantaged factions can take control of Wintergrasp from time to time. Stopping a group that can spawn siege engines right off the bat in very large numbers, as would be the case in a '700 point' instance, factoring in the Tenacity buff as well, would be nearly impossible to do.
Wintergrasp represents the most accessible way for many players to obtain high end PvE and Arena Tier gear, as well as a major source of honor gains for players. Blizzard obviously wants everyone to be able to get their turn at the Vault of Archavon regardless of how their server may be balanced.
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