The side with instant queues will always be able to go for an instant win under the AV 1.12 setup.
Horde can win AV in less than 4 minutes with a rush Vann strat (there’s Youtube videos of it happening right when AV 1.12 was released 15 years ago).
The issue isn’t about premade rank grinding groups; the problem is that the queues are so long on the horde side right now that horde is incentivized to pursue a scorched earth strategy around SH GY/IB GY and that’s virtually uncounterable by a similar geared/similar ranked alliance pug group.
Horde v alliance pugs are pretty equally matched in WSG. My win/loss record in WSG for pug v pug games is basically even.
The issue in AV is that under the current meta, horde has no incentive to let develop any offense at IB GY and instead horde is incentivized to push alliance back to their starting cave.
That combined with more AFKs, less rankers adds up to be a complete mess.
Everybody points to this not being a problem in Asia, but in Asia the horde typically lets alliance take IB GY and both sides develop offense without the entire opposing team resisting and attempting to force a turtle game.
Better safe than sorry, It’s not far from their cave and they can approach it from any direction they want. All it takes is 3 or 4 horde showing up and killing 2 or 3 people at a time to have enough advantage to retake it.
You know what happens when the cave is moved back in TBC? The horde send a group of 10-15 people north and the rest stay at ibgy and stop the alliance there before heading north and stomping them around balindas bunker.
So move the cave back. Scorched earth will still happen and alliance still wont que because they still wont be able to play the rush game.
The core problem here for both factions is that we’re creatures of habit. It started with premades crushing Horde. Horde starting strategy turned into: Slow down Zerg, capture the unprotected Stonehearth Graveyard, kill Lts, and finally kill Balinda. Horde would lose 99% of those games, but that strategy is now ingrained in their brains.
Now fast forward to today, Horde still have the same strategy but now it works 99% of the time. Stonehearth Graveyard is uncommonly captured when Alliance gather there to charge out. It’s mainly captured after Alliance push horde back south of Balinda and then a group of about 5-10 snake the graveyard in between respawns.
My suggestion for Alliance:
When defending Stonehearth Graveyard, don’t defend from inside the graveyard. Move out and fight on the north side. There’s a reason the bulk of Horde don’t rush through there. They don’t want to be hit by the Icewing Bunker, aggro the elite that patrols, or aggro the other elites at the entrance to Balinda.
Capture Snowfall Graveyard. It’s rarely defended!
I try to avoid using works like always and never but send a few rogues to capture Iceblood Graveyard because it’s NEVER protected!
The beauty of that graveyard from the Alliance perspective is that when Horde are spawning there, the flag is out of view so Horde can’t see if it’s being capped. Even if Alliance only hold it for a minute, that’s enough to disrupt Horde’s progression on the map since those dying will spawn further back.
I think we all can agree that the map has pros and cons for both factions. We’d be kidding ourselves if we think Blizzard didn’t consider most angles when designing paladins, shamans, racial abilities, and battleground maps. The beauty of classic is that because of these differences, it pushes each side to come up with their own unique strategies.
The frustrations we’re having is because we play with anonymous players that suffer no consequences for choosing to play within the games term of service, but outside of common goals.
Keep defending a kid who thought we can make it to the top of IWB hill before you guys can get there. I mean, i cant blame you for being slow… most people who name themselves after FF7 tend to be.
Ok mr smart guy… let me guess, you “defenses” consist of a dude that you turn in armor scraps? a guy that sells arrows and pvp potions? Maybe a guy who will give you some gold for capping the coldtooth mine? Or maybe he just wants you to grab supplies… you mean those defenses.
Or I bet you mean the non elite level 54s that are sitting around the tents, yea maybe those defences.
Yep, for sure I bet the alliance would wipe if we ever had to run through that! A regular Maginot line you have there!
I figure I had better edit the post and add this becuas you’re obviously too dumb to understand.
Do you think we might have a route around those guys so we don’t kill themon purpose? Like maybe the devs didn’t want us killing your quartermaster and quest givers?
Maybe?
Ya think?
You’re right though, it’s unfair… If i ever queue AV again i am stealthing straight to your armor scrap turn in guy and killing him to make you happy.