Blinken
Legend
Hi all, I've recently returned to twinking, having decided to leave it behind at the end of TBC, and I've decided to share some of my thoughts with you guys as to the balance and issues I've found with this bracket. Please bare in mind I'm EU, and cannot comment on the issues of the US bracket.
First things first, I'm going to get the generic and commonplace rant out of the way. Damage is either way too high or way too low on certain classes. Hunters and rogues being prime candidates for these accusations. Hunters do far too much damage, not unmanageable but enough to tip the scales when you consider their battlefield control and their numerous layers of defence. On top of this, certain classes are far too gimped to be viable in this bracket. This leads to a huge "fotm" factor for the bracket, and you can guarantee at least half of both of the teams will consist of rogues and hunters. This is almost a given in each game, and gets mighty boring.
The second thing I'd like to bring to light is the balance between Alliance and Horde. Personally, I've always felt that Alliance have been given the better racials, but that is just personal preference and I won't go into that too much. As far as I can see, there is no clear winning side on EU, with it going close to 50% win ratio on either side. I like this, as much as it pains me to say, because nobody likes rolling the enemy team within 5 minutes. It's not uncommon for the games to last close to 20 minutes, with both teams playing hard for that last point. I cannot fault the Faction balance on EU.
My third point is the seemingly poor design of the Warsong Gulch map and certain classes interactions. We are all very aware of the awful Line of Sight issues with this map and how range classes dominate centre map due to melee not being able to use LoS. This just further bolsters the Hunters already impressive repertoire, with their insane range, if a Hunter sets his sights on you, and you don't have a healer nearby, you can consider yourself dead. A simple way of balancing this bracket and this map is to solidify scenery and cause it to LoS. As an avid arena player, it's so painful to run behind a tree or big stump only for your opponent to keep dumping on you.
My fourth is concerning grandfathered items and the difference in items that factions can obtain. Personally I believe that Blizzard should either remove GF'd items or offer a different, but still similar alternative to the item. Grandfathered items just give old twinks a greater advantage over newer twinks, an advantage that is wholly unnecessary. I and many others enjoy playing on an equal playing field and this can be difficult when people are running with 2-300 more HP than you just because they have certain items that you cannot possibly obtain, or they have 30-40 more AP. I know a lot of you won't agree with me, simply because most of you have these items I'm referring to, and I ask you. Why should someone have such an advantage over other players simply because they made their characters a year or two ahead of them? In my opinion they should not, but feel free to tell me why you disagree.
On top of this already unfair advantage that older players have, there is a significant disparity in the quest items that Horde and Alliance players can obtain. Now I know people will call 'BLASPHEMY!' and mention the word homogenization, but I personally feel that Horde and Alliance should be able to obtain the same items as their counterparts without having to Faction change. Some people don't have the disposable income to throw around $60 or whatever it is for two faction changes every time they want to make a new twink. Paying the subscription fee is painful enough, without having to spunk money on changing factions just to nab the ring or the wrists that are essential to complete your character.
Other than this and that which I am forgetting to mention, I'm having a wonderful time on my new twinks and am enjoying all of my battles with you guys.
Regards!
First things first, I'm going to get the generic and commonplace rant out of the way. Damage is either way too high or way too low on certain classes. Hunters and rogues being prime candidates for these accusations. Hunters do far too much damage, not unmanageable but enough to tip the scales when you consider their battlefield control and their numerous layers of defence. On top of this, certain classes are far too gimped to be viable in this bracket. This leads to a huge "fotm" factor for the bracket, and you can guarantee at least half of both of the teams will consist of rogues and hunters. This is almost a given in each game, and gets mighty boring.
The second thing I'd like to bring to light is the balance between Alliance and Horde. Personally, I've always felt that Alliance have been given the better racials, but that is just personal preference and I won't go into that too much. As far as I can see, there is no clear winning side on EU, with it going close to 50% win ratio on either side. I like this, as much as it pains me to say, because nobody likes rolling the enemy team within 5 minutes. It's not uncommon for the games to last close to 20 minutes, with both teams playing hard for that last point. I cannot fault the Faction balance on EU.
My third point is the seemingly poor design of the Warsong Gulch map and certain classes interactions. We are all very aware of the awful Line of Sight issues with this map and how range classes dominate centre map due to melee not being able to use LoS. This just further bolsters the Hunters already impressive repertoire, with their insane range, if a Hunter sets his sights on you, and you don't have a healer nearby, you can consider yourself dead. A simple way of balancing this bracket and this map is to solidify scenery and cause it to LoS. As an avid arena player, it's so painful to run behind a tree or big stump only for your opponent to keep dumping on you.
My fourth is concerning grandfathered items and the difference in items that factions can obtain. Personally I believe that Blizzard should either remove GF'd items or offer a different, but still similar alternative to the item. Grandfathered items just give old twinks a greater advantage over newer twinks, an advantage that is wholly unnecessary. I and many others enjoy playing on an equal playing field and this can be difficult when people are running with 2-300 more HP than you just because they have certain items that you cannot possibly obtain, or they have 30-40 more AP. I know a lot of you won't agree with me, simply because most of you have these items I'm referring to, and I ask you. Why should someone have such an advantage over other players simply because they made their characters a year or two ahead of them? In my opinion they should not, but feel free to tell me why you disagree.
On top of this already unfair advantage that older players have, there is a significant disparity in the quest items that Horde and Alliance players can obtain. Now I know people will call 'BLASPHEMY!' and mention the word homogenization, but I personally feel that Horde and Alliance should be able to obtain the same items as their counterparts without having to Faction change. Some people don't have the disposable income to throw around $60 or whatever it is for two faction changes every time they want to make a new twink. Paying the subscription fee is painful enough, without having to spunk money on changing factions just to nab the ring or the wrists that are essential to complete your character.
Other than this and that which I am forgetting to mention, I'm having a wonderful time on my new twinks and am enjoying all of my battles with you guys.
Regards!
