AV Balance Fixed In Hotfix per Blizzard

Q u o t e:
Balinda had HP increased and Vandar had HP increased. AV is now fixed and balanced better. (I can't even read this with out LOL.)

I think this will make enough Horde mad so they will quit WoW completely. The crying Alliance will now get higher que times. (Tip for Blizzard: Where is the offsetting counterbalance band aid fix for horde at the bridge?)

I hear Blizz blues keep talking about not doing "band aid" fixes to AV. That's all they have done to AV for two years. This latest hotfix is the worst band aid fix I have ever seen.

I hope you're not implying that we are saying that AV is now "fixed". Please reread what we posted about this hotfix again.

Q u o t e:
We’ve recently applied a hotfix that increases the hitpoints for both Balinda Stonehearth and Vanndar Stormpike in Alterac Valley. This change is being made to help assist in balancing the opposing sides and their ability to compete in the battleground.

We will continue to track the balance of the battleground and the factions as they fight for supremacy in Alterac Valley, and continue to make further changes as needed.

As it says in the statement, this is meant to assist in balancing the opposing sides and their ability to compete in the battleground. We are still watching the results of these changes and will continue to make changes as we feel are necessary. We certainly aren't ignoring it and we certainly aren't considering ourselves "done" with this battleground. We'll do our best to keep everyone informed as we go along.

Please try to post constructive feedback on your experiences with these changes and how it is having its effect. Some changes are better done a little at a time so we can better gauge the impacts. You may call them bandage if you wish, but last I checked, bandages sometimes do a great job in keeping a wound clean and letting something heal on its own.

There is alot about AV that is psychological in nature. What is your mindset when you go in? What is the mindset of the others on your team? There have been changes in AV that is true, but at this point, there haven't been any geographical changes. I have been in AVs where the other side absolutely annihilated my own due to a lack of coordination and a lack of defenders. I've also had the flip side where our side defended and won out. In both cases it was a matter of teamwork and strategy. (These were pugs in this case.) Yet perceptions of who wins or loses more have shifted.

(Caveat-Different Battlegrounds have different ratios of wins and losses for the factions.)

Prior to changes, Horde were more vocal on the forums about losing in this battleground. The changes made were to resources and where your bonus honor comes from as seen in this thread-

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=3547877767&sid=1

And the initial changes to AV (capture times, graveyard spawning) from patch 2.3 as discussed here-

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=2215842565&sid=1

So how much is related to actual gameplay changes and how much is the psychology of the battleground?

I've seen it said many times in many arguments about mentality changes in regard to those that are now participating more versus not participating more. If it was AFKers that were causing the issue before, why is it that so many are going AFK (according to claims) on the Alliance side when they were previously winning? If you wanted to keep winning wouldn't you just keep playing? Same as for Horde, what was the 'switch" that caused people to stop going AFK (according to player reports) and participate?

The above questions are not because I don't know or understand, but are meant to prompt more constructive discussion about where community members as individuals are seeing the changes. Is it the map ? Or is it the mentality that has changed in the approach?

We are aware that there are perceptual differences in who is winning more or has more afkers. We are also being careful to gauge what changes to AV are necessary or will enhance the gameplay in the battleground. This has not changed and we will continue to work toward improving the battleground.

Q u o t e:


So what happened to not making changes because of QQ on the forums? Has Blizzard changed it's stance on nerf posts? Basically what this is saying that whoever cries the loudest gets the changes they want?

I think you're reading into something that I didn't say here. At no point did I say changes are made based on QQ. I was merely discussing the previous tenor of the discussions prior to the changes and highlighting how they have changed.

Q u o t e:


The change were made because the forums have been FLOODED with cries from the Alliance.

Period.

Don\'t insult our intelligence, please.

Changes are made based on various factors. It's understandable for people to think it's only based on what they see on the forums since that is all they see. We see the statistical data as well as have our own experiences company wide to add to what the community as a whole is saying.

We're about seeing the big picture even when people may not believe us.

Q u o t e:


Having a blue aknowledge that there are still AFKers, and not make any claims that they are going to be dealt with, is akin to saying it is an acceptable form of "play", or that it is merely one more factor by which to balance for.

Posted by Bornakk on the 4th of January:

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=3773279814&sid=1

Q u o t e:
To help improve the quality of play in Battlegrounds we have applied a Hotfix that significantly reduces the number of AFK reports needed to mark a player as inactive and prevent them from gaining Battleground Marks and Honor Points.

For information on how to do complete an AFK report, please see the “AFK Reporting” section here: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/pvp/battlegrounds/info.html

Also, our In-Game Support Department is regularly checking for inactive players and they will be issuing disciplinary measures for those found violating our policies.