The widening gap in PvP

[RomaGoth]

I could not find any mention of this topic in the forums, at least not the specifics that I am looking at here. This is specifically aimed at Arena S4 gear.

When I first rolled my warlock and rogue (rolled both sometime in March), I had the intention of stopping towards the end of each leveling bracket and doing some battlegrounds. This worked out pretty well in the 10-19 level, and the 20-29 bracket was a lot of fun for me. Unfortunately, things got ugly after that, as my PvP skills were put on display in the 30-39 range and things were not good . So, I decided to just level my toons up and try it again in my late 60's into the 70 range. Therein lies the reason for this thread.

Last night I was doing stuff in Shat when someone linked an S4 axe into general chat. Now normally, I just ignore all the dumb banter and go about my business, but this time I was curious as to the stats of this axe and I looked at it. Yikes!!! Brutal Gladiator's Decapitator - Thottbot: World of Warcraft The stats on this axe are unbelievable. Then I started thinking to myself, "Self, how can you possibly compete with people in battlegrounds at 70 when they have this type of gear?" Of course, I had no answer, so this is where the Den comes in .

My question is this: how can someone like me, with average 70 gear (when I hit level 70), hope to compete with people that have 500 resilience, 2500 attack power, 15k health, and 35% crit? Obviously this translates into whichever class you are referring to (aka rogue = crit, warrior = health, etc.). I am afraid that the gap between those who have the gear and those who don't is getting ever wider. Am I worried about nothing, or do I have pure pawnage and numerous corpse runs to look forward to in my PvP future?

[widgetlock]

The gap between level 69/70 gear and S4 Arena gear will be massive. But the difference between S3/S4 and farmable S2 gear seems sensible.

Just gotta hit AV I'm affraid. Before you get S2 and PVP epics its gonna be tough

[Maltyrius]

The gap really did not get any wider overall - S3 was top end to S1 for honor until yesterday. Now S4 to S2 for honor which is still a 2 season gear gap. However there is a widening gap in terms of the barrier to entry - which I think is what you are referring to.

To that point, yes, it would be absolutely horrible to get into BGs now with dungeon blues and little to no resillience - even good gear not meant for pvp (FSW) won't cut it - comes down to just how big an impact you want to be able to make in a BG.

Not sure there is a clear solution - if a solution exists at all. All I can say is when that S4 mace rogue jumps ya it will be over quick.

[RomaGoth]

This actually got me thinking a little more in depth about the issue, and I came up with a decent solution. What if Blizz has battlegrounds based upon your gear? I am not sure how this would be implemented, but if there is a quick gear check prior to entering a battleground queue, this would eliminate the huge difference between gear levels. Example: Eye of the Storm has 3-4 levels of playability (S2, S3, & S4 gear for example). Depending upon which level of gear you fall into, you would automatically be directed towards the corresponding battleground. I don't put S1 or standard PvP gear because those are going away soon regardless.

With this method, you could still farm honor for the better (i.e. S4) gear without being pawned and never winning a match.

Thoughts?

[Mazmorgul]

While you do occasionally meet people tooled up like that in battlegrounds, the reality is that they're few and far between. I've been doing BGs with the blue reputation set, vindicator items and PVE weapons and I'm much better geared than most of the people I see in BGs.

With nothing more than the blue reputation set you're going to get ripped apart as soon as you get focused but once you're up above 200 resilience (which really doesn't take that long), you'll find your survivability is much improved.

Just remember to treat the BGs as a team game and try to ensure that there are always more of you than there are of them

[snackereen]

The title of your thread already gave the answer. The more arena seasons pass, the wider the gap gets.
I stumbled over soo many threads about this topic.
The rating-matchmaking will help (at least by leaving you a small chance to win against those opponents), but don't expect to. This gear is unbelievable and anybody not wearing at least the latest set will be eaten in seconds (my personal experience with warriors, shamans, and of course rogues). That's why I gave up arena. It is not fun to be struck down within 2 seconds by a single warrior swinging an axe as large and nasty as how we WL should be ^^

[Vaell]

The incentive for most players to keep playing at 70 is to get better gear, whether through PvE or PvP, and those players do what is necessary to get those improvements.

Feeling "powerful" in relation to your environment at 70 is generally the only way Blizzard can convince people to keep playing 70s rather than rolling alts.

Example: Eye of the Storm has 3-4 levels of playability (S2, S3, & S4 gear for example). Depending upon which level of gear you fall into, you would automatically be directed towards the corresponding battleground.

I can see the logic of that. It would be good for people that don't have access to awesome arena teams, however: If you had 'gear level' battlegrounds it would take the incentive away for many, who like to feel like they can destroy someone easily. I'd argue that they deserve that ability if they can endure arena. That said, I end up killing a fair few S3 chars with me in S1 currently so that might highlight the win/points trading situation that existed. I guess, as long as a two season gap in gear is there and lesser geared players can get pwned there will always be that thing in the back of the lesser geared player which is telling them to gear up to stand a chance, and thus keep playing. And of course the S4 players are happy cos they get to have a e-peen massage. Some fairly unpleasant psychological conditioning going on there really.

I suppose if twinks weren't allowed in BGs, no one would twink. The idea of gearing beyond others in any category is the reason it's done. If someone can't, for want of a better term, twink their 70 (in relation to lesser geared players in the same BG) the desire to gear up wouldn't be as strong for them and perhaps wouldn't continue to play that character.

Blizzard has to keep pumping out content to keep people paying. WoW has been out a long time and we're on the brink of a new expansion. They don't want people to take a break before Wrath arrives.

WoW is an arms race.

It's a basic human trait to want to win, to be in control and succeed. I'm not saying it's in the interests of fun for people that like to play a game to relax and perhaps don't have the time or inclination to dedicate a good part of their life to be able to do that.

That's wow really.

[Gritz]

Here's a great addon to compare your gear to others (target, group, or raid): FuBar_GearRating. It gives you a single number that represents how uber (for lack of a better term) your gear is. It requires FuBar. It doesn't give you any detail as to why your rating is so high/so low, but lets you see, at a glance, how you stack up to others in your BG. I usually use it to find the healer with the best gear in the BG, then follow them around

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Gritz

Here's a great addon to compare your gear to others (target, group, or raid): FuBar_GearRating. It gives you a single number that represents how uber (for lack of a better term) your gear is. It requires FuBar. It doesn't give you any detail as to why your rating is so high/so low, but lets you see, at a glance, how you stack up to others in your BG. I usually use it to find the healer with the best gear in the BG, then follow them around

Nice.

[Ryltar]

Also, there is basic PVP gear purchasable from Rep vendors of the various factions around outland.

You just need to be honored to get them.

The following text is taken from Dreadweave Battlegear - Item Set - World of Warcraft
Dreadweave Gloves

• Keepers of Time – Honored (WoWWiki Rep Guide)
• Buy for 8g 69s 55c
• Buy from Alurmi, Tanaris

Dreadweave Hood

• Cenarion Expedition – Honored (WoWWiki Rep Guide)
• Buy for 13g 9s 8c
• Buy from Fedryen Swiftspear, Zangarmarsh

Dreadweave Leggings

• The Sha'tar – Honored (WoWWiki Rep Guide)
• Buy for 17g 51s 95c
• Buy from Almaador, Terokkar Forest

Dreadweave Mantle

• Lower City – Honored (WoWWiki Rep Guide)
• Buy for 13g 18s 85c
• Buy from Nakodu, Shattrath City

Dreadweave Robe
Horde

• Thrallmar – Honored (WoWWiki Rep Guide)
• Buy for 17g 64s 97c
• Buy from Quartermaster Urgronn, Hellfire Peninsula

Alliance

• Honor Hold - Honored (WoWWiki Rep Guide)
• Buy for 17g 58s 29c
• Buy from Logistics Officer Ulrike, Hellfire Peninsula