World PvP and Cross-Realm Battlegrounds Summary
The next patch for World of Warcraft will include some
significant new feature updates to player-vs.-player (PvP)
gameplay - namely, objective-based world PvP and cross-realm
battlegrounds. Although details of these features are subject
to change during development, we'd like to provide you with a
general idea of what to expect. World PvP World PvP objectives
will be introduced in two different zones in the game: Silithus
and the Eastern Plaguelands. Each of these zones will include
non-instanced PvP objectives that any player can undertake on a
voluntary basis. Achieving these objectives will earn players
individual and zone-wide faction benefits, as well as honour
points. These two world PvP events will be active at all times.
In Silithus, the situation has grown even worse. Geysers of a
strange red crystalline dust have been appearing in the desert.
Whatever this dust is, it seems to be related to the crystals
nestled in the sands. As it happens, this dust, or spice, has
valuable properties. Players can collect spice from these very
visible geysers, which spawn throughout the desert, and return
the resource to their faction's base in the area. These bases
are the same locations where each faction receives field duty
quests for the Cenarion Circle. On normal
(player-vs.-environment) realms, players will become
PvP-flagged as soon as they collect spice from a node. You
cannot carry more than one load of spice at a time. Players
receive an individual buff upon turning in spice, but beware:
should you be defeated before completing the turn-in, enemy
players can take the spice from you. When one of the factions
collects a certain amount of spice, that faction gains a
powerful buff that benefits all faction members in the zone or
in either of the Ahn'Qiraj instanced dungeons. At that point,
the spice counts are reset, and the competition begins again
between the factions to gain the zone-wide buff. Across the
world, the Alliance seeks to expand its sphere of influence in
the Eastern Kingdoms, and has set its sights upon the Eastern
Plaguelands. The Alliance hopes that by retaking the towers in
the area and re-establishing its bases, it will be able to
place the Forsaken in a stranglehold between Alliance ground
and naval forces. The world PvP battles in this zone are based
on a capture-and-hold style of gameplay, centring on the four
towers in the region. Players who are flagged for PvP can
attempt to capture a tower by controlling the area around it,
keeping it free of enemy players. The more allies you have with
you near each tower, the faster your faction (Alliance or
Horde) will capture it. The faction that controls each tower
earns a benefit, such as a fast flight path across the zone.
Any faction that manages to control all four towers
simultaneously earns a zone-wide buff that increases attack
power or spell power against Undead for all faction members in
the region or in Stratholme. Cross-Realm Battlegrounds
Cross-realm battlegrounds are another exciting new feature
slated for release in the next content patch for World of
Warcraft. This highly anticipated addition to the game will
open the door of opportunity for those seeking to make their
PvP skills and accomplishments known beyond just their own
realm. For the first time, players across different realms will
be able to compete against each other in all three instanced
battlegrounds: Warsong Gulch, Arathi Basin, and Alterac Valley.
Because of this, players will be able to enjoy the
battlegrounds more easily than ever before, and be able to
fight alongside new allies and against new enemies. The
designated list of "battlegroups" (realms that will be able to
engage each other in battle) will be available in the near
future on the official World of Warcraft website. As with the
new world-PvP features, players will be able to try out the
cross-realm battlegrounds ahead of time when the public test
realms go live with the new patch content. Stay tuned to
WorldofWarcraft.com for more information.
