#0 - July 9, 2009, 9:45 a.m.
As a reminder, here are the changes to Wintergrasp listed in the patch notes:
- To provide players with a more transparent notification of when Wintergrasp battles occur, as well as better control zone population and stability, several changes have been made.
- Players now have the option to queue for Wintergrasp from a Wintergrasp Battlemaster in any capital city or by simply entering the Wintergrasp zone.
- Queuing will begin 15 minutes before each battle. If chosen, you will automatically be teleported to the zone. Any players in the zone who have not been chosen from the queue will be teleported out when the battle begins.
- The queue system remains active for the entire battle. As soon as a player leaves, a new one will be chosen from the queue.
- Trying to enter Wintergrasp during an active battle for which you have not been chosen will teleport you out. Please note that, as you are now able to fly over Wintergrasp, you will only be teleported out if you try to land and join the battle.
- Level 80 players get higher priority in the queue than lower level players. In addition, a random selection of queued players will be taken from both the Battlemasters and the zone itself.
- The queue will accept up to 100 players from each faction, resulting in a maximum battle of 200 players at a time.
- Players now have the option to queue for Wintergrasp from a Wintergrasp Battlemaster in any capital city or by simply entering the Wintergrasp zone.
- Wintergrasp factories can no longer be damaged or destroyed.
==== Updated 15/07 ====
In the next PTR build we will be implementing several changes to how the Wintergrasp queue and group formations will work.
- While in the queue for Wintergrasp, you will have an icon on your mini map that will allow you to leave the queue. This will function much like the current battleground queue button that is present on the mini map.
- Players that queue for the Wintergrasp battle and are selected to join will be placed into raid groups upon entering the zone. These raid groups will function similarly to the battleground raid groups with a few exceptions. Players can leave it at any time, the leader can issue invites, etc. The only restriction is that if a player leaves Wintergrasp while the battle is active, they will be removed from the raid (to make room for the player that will take their place).
- If the battle is not active this does not happen.
For a bit more clarification on the auto-raid function of the Wintergrasp queue, here is a bit more information. These changes should all be implemented in the next PTR build so you'll be able to see them for yourself soon.
- Players can still form their own raid before Wintergrasp starts and they won’t be affected by the auto-raid mechanism. Players are not put in to a raid if they are currently in a party or raid when they join the battle.
- If players want to get put in to a raid automatically, they need to leave their current party/raid before joining the battle.