Wrath Of The Lich King Arena

In regular play, you and your party or team occasionally skirmish with other parties as a natural consequence of pursuing the same objectives and rewards. Once you and your party have prevailed over your opponents, you continue advancing toward your goal while your opponents’ spirits recover their bodies and find their mounts. Although you score some points, gain some skills and experiences, and maybe get a little loot from your skirmish, no one really keeps score or watches the standings.

Arena play, however, invites aggressive teams to take-on others in player-versus-player death-matches, and the Blizzard guys do keep score and standings. According to Blizzard Entertainment’s own wiki, “these contests center around your team’s ability to obliterate the other team.” In other player-versus-player modes, your team’s diversity matters at least as much as your weapons and tactics. In those modes, your spell-casting, control of the environment and other magic elements influence how well you hold your own territory and advance toward your goal. The other modes are not nearly as bloodthirsty or violent.

In Arena play, it’s kill or be killed. You may join two-, three-, or five-player teams, and players below level 70 can gain valuable experience in practice matches before they begin playing for high stakes that earn Arena Points and Arena Rewards. At the lower levels, players usually join impromptu teams, kinda like playing softball on the neighborhood playground. At the higher levels, where the grizzled veterans play to quench their bloodthirst, players join official teams, drafting and agreeing to Team Charters, and competing under strict supervision of an Arena Battlemaster.

Most teams have twice as many players as immediate play requires. In other words, teams have starters and back-ups, and the rules allow for fairly liberal substitution. Naturally, if a team loses a player, they can bring-in a substitute. Just as naturally, as situations change and play evolves, teams may summon experts in various disciplines. If the combat calls for strong offense, you draw from your strongest offensive reserves. If the game situation requires careful maneuvering and strategy, you bring in the warriors best prepared to deliver what you need.

With its typical concern for fairness, and with respect for teams’ desire to move-up in the rankings and compete for higher rewards, Blizzard has arranged a system that matches teams of equal strength. Called “Rated Matches,” teams have their ratings adjusted at the end of these contests, and their rewards match their ratings. Although most players find the realm and mode that best suit their characters and personalities, some develop two sets of gear for the two kinds of play. Playing against the environment and completing quests, they carry one set of equipment and use its complementary skillset. Playing in Arena matches, they doff all their environment gear, and take up the more aggressive, lethal tournament gear.