With the latest patch release, we’ve added two new arenas: the Dalaran Sewers and the Ring of Valor in Orgrimmar. These arenas offer new obstacles and challenges for strategy savvy players. The arenas have been added to the random rotation and are accessible via the queue system as Skirmishes. For more information on these two new arenas, please visit http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/insider/11/arena.xml . Both Dalaran Sewers and the Ring of Valor will also be available for tournament play during Arena Season 5.
Message: Ok guys, so we've separated wow into people who hate arena and somewhat like it. now lets take half the teams who arena and put them at a gross disadvantage to the other half
What these guys are trying to say is thank you Neth an blizzard for being such wonderful people and providing us with this amazing new oppourtunity to have fun in the arenas of World of Warcraft !
Q u o t e: Not just skirmishes. Got both maps in rated matches last night.
Yah we did too
But who's to say the bamboozling omniscient peach nut were to blame? Not so, said the fedora hat as he fabricated a partially sane rainbow in the napalm fields. Brutally vivacious commanding dingo.
I hope that the small time discrepancy (20min) between my post and the creation of this thread is not coincidence, but rather an open invitation to the discussion and debate of the the merits and downfalls of the two new arena maps.
Since my own thread got moved from the damage dealing forums, I'm going to post the key points of it here: (from http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=12357688018&sid=1)
Q u o t e:
Although the introduction of Dalaran Sewers and the Ring of Valor have introduced novelty into the realm of arena, it is my belief that the addition of the new 3.0.3 arena maps will ultimately be detrimental to the overall skill components traditionally associated with arena. And this is why:
Traditionally, arena maps have been the very epitome of simplistic design, distinguished only by stationary pillars for the purpose of LoS. Classes have been buffed and nerfed on the basis of this consistent design. In addition, the simplistic design functioned properly by providing equality (or at least the semblance of it) in utility teams receive from the environment and equality in openers.
The Basis of Class Revision: First, and perhaps most importantly, the systematic buffing and nerfing of classes for their PvP performance has been based upon the traditional, simplistic and non-variable arena-style maps. For instance, druids were once considered to be overpowered for their abilities that enabled them to fully utilize pillar-kiting techniques and were adjusted accordingly. However, the new maps deviate from this format and show classes in completely different contexts. Therefore, one class may be underpowered in one map but immensely overpowered in another. For example, frost mages (I use this class/spec as an example because I know it best) may prove to be the undisputed kings of the Ring of Valor due to the open nature of the map and the ranged burst this class/spec provides. At the same time, Dalaran Sewers may prove to be an absolutely horrid place for mages simply because it is impossible to maximize the utility of blink there, a spell the mage class is absolutely dependent upon. Thus, it is my belief that it is impossible to balance classes (that naturally thrive and stagnate in various environments) adequately across a wide spectrum of arena maps.
Positioning: Consistency in environment has long rewarded proper positioning and brutally punished lapses in positioning judgment (quick swaps to exposed druids etc) in high end arena. The erosion of consistency in environment through gimmicky features poses a threat in the form of unintentional inequality in opportunity. Though these gimmicky aspects are timed in nature, it is entirely up to chance to that events are triggered when players need them (to survive etc). In addition, triggered events that inflict environmental damage serve to punish players for utilizing the entire map. And again, even though the events are timed in nature, they neglect the situational factors that surround arena; I believe that cyclones were removed from arena for this exact reason.
Strategic Development: The start of traditional arena maps has not necessarily meant immediate initiation combat. On the contrary, it meant the recognition of opponents and development of strategy at the outset of the match (except in the rare case of bum-rushing teams). This element of arena-play proved to highlight the exceptional planning and execution of skilled teams. However, the starting positions in the Ring of Valor, especially, does not allow for this to occur. The placement of teams in such close proximity completely ignores strategic development. This is also evident, to a lesser extent, with Dalaran Sewers, in which the only safe positions on the map (behind respective boxes) are within 25 yards of each other.
My Ultimate Synthesis: Leave novelty to battlegrounds and world PvP (something I feel WotLK has been very successful at doing) and allow arena maps to remain traditionally simplistic so as to maintain its current e-sport status.
I know I am not alone in this belief among high-end arena players.
EDIT: I'd also like to add that Orgrimmar arena is currently bugged - Mages cannot use refreshment tables in the starting area. I'd assume Warlocks have the same issue with their healthstones.
Seems a little odd to start teams within aoe distance of each other. Significant differences in map dynamics (such as being able to start off with an elemental frost nova, or typhoon, on the entire opposing team) will predictably lead to map-biased results, which takes away from skill elements.
