What's going to happen to Alliance battles?

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Gaelic Storm

"Don't forget, in the real thing, alliance battles will be played with people from your own alliance, not people from ppossible 12 different alliances as it is now."

I've heard reports that, upon launch, Alliance battles will no longer consist of your team of 4 and two other randomly chosen teams--but rather.. well.. a full team consisting of people from your Alliance.

Is this true?

And, if so, can we sign a petition somewhere to shoot this down?

I love the mechanics as they are now. A full set of twelve means Alliance battles will be as bogged down and predictable as HoH.

Sekkira

Sekkira

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2005

Canberra, AU

Just like GvG is bogged down and predictable right? No, I can see Alliance matches be where some serious competition is played out.

Tuoba Hturt Eht

Tuoba Hturt Eht

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Deimos Tel Arin [CCTV]

W/

This is sad, if they deny the general public from participating in the 12 vs 12 Alliance Battles, many people will not be happy.

Oh well, back to the random arenas I guess.

Juicey Shake

Juicey Shake

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

CA

in it for the trimmmm

R/

this would be a good thing... I don't want the decision of what areas I can enter being decided by wammos who can't figure out how to leave spawn, thanks.

Burton2000

Burton2000

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2005

A cardboard box in England

Men Of Substance [YMCA]

Mo/Me

Yeah theres absolutley no tactics involved with those alliance battles and the tactics is what makes the gvgs fun.I hope you can do it so you have a party of 12 from your alliance would be much better.

Tuoba Hturt Eht

Tuoba Hturt Eht

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Deimos Tel Arin [CCTV]

W/

Its people like you that makes Guild Wars so much less fun for the casual gamers.

Aera

Aera

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Galactic President Superstar Mc [awsm]

E/

organisation ftw...
...leavers ftl...
...playing with 12 ppl you know ftw...

hell i aint signing your petition to shoot it down if there was one :P

damocles

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2005

The Netherlands

Guidless :(

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aera
organisation ftw...
...leavers ftl...
...playing with 12 ppl you know ftw...

hell i aint signing your petition to shoot it down if there was one :P
Quoted for truth!

Sekkira

Sekkira

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2005

Canberra, AU

Should make it both then. Having random parties fighting random parties and organised alliances fighting each other.

Kabale

Kabale

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

UK

Portrayors of Valour [pV]

If it was random, you'd still get Allied guilds coordinating their 'enter mission' to hit at the same time. It wasn't difficult during the preview, it would happen again.

I definately believe that these things will be organized. If not, then what the hell are Alliances for?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aera
organisation ftw...
...leavers ftl...
...playing with 12 ppl you know ftw...

hell i aint signing your petition to shoot it down if there was one :P
QFTx2

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Gaelic Storm

This thread shares a different sentiment with this thread.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...3000396&page=4

Greedy Gus

Greedy Gus

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2006

Striking Distance

^ Not very good at linking topics.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s....php?t=3000396

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Gaelic Storm

You caught me, Gus.

It's my character flaw.

I'm not good at it at all.

AeroLion

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Guild Wars Factions FAQ
What are alliances and how do they work in Guild Wars Factions?

Guilds can join together to form guild alliances. Allied guilds share Alliance chat and can visit each other’s guild halls. Alliances can also gain control of towns and outposts in Cantha by participating in Alliance Battles, which give them the ability to trigger events and gain access to exclusive areas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guild Wars Factions FAQ
What is a faction? Should I join one?

Alliances belong to one of two warring factions, the Kurzick or the Luxon, and being a member of an alliance allows participation in alliance battles. Victory in an alliance battle earns faction points, and members can spend their points individually or they can add them to the alliance bank, which will enable the alliance to acquire control of towns and outposts. The outcome of these battles influences the progress of the war between the two factions. The current battle lines, and indications of the control of cities and towns, are always visible on the world map. Guild membership in Guild Wars Factions is extremely appealing and interesting for both cooperative and PvP players. By joining an alliance and achieving success with Alliance Battles, your guild gains control of high-level towns. With that control, guild members acquire access to elite cooperative content. In Factions, the strongest guilds most likely will not be made up exclusively of PvP or cooperative players. The strongest guilds will be a combination of both types of players, and such a combination will result in benefits for all members.
Bolded for emphasis. In summary, Faction = Kurzick or Luxon and Alliance = your guild and whatever other guilds join with you. Alliances fight for a Faction. Only reason it was random this time is because you couldn't form any alliances. Who knows? They might keep some of the randomness by teaming unallied players with other unallied players or allowing random players to fill out an alliance team if the alliance doesn't have enough people.

Competitive missions (ie 8v8) may still be random, though. It sounds like once you hit enter mission there, you're teamed with players from your faction, not alliance.

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2005

Gaelic Storm

Oh, well. ;(

Maybe they'll make a few of these domination-style arenas like they are now for people who like the current setup.

Sagius Truthbarron

Sagius Truthbarron

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

Animal Factory [ZoO]

A/

Atleast it will be much easier to get into an Alliance that plays alot, rather than a single Guild.

Ken Dei

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

W/Mo

No organization? That's not entirely true, though I know some people want to pretend it is.

~You could team 4 people, that's a team of at least 4 competent players.
~By the end, maps were so well played, there was a general feeling of organized combat, 3-6-3 starting positions, small teams sneaking off to take points.
~I identifying MMs for immediate elimination.
~Assassins learning to go around the main conflict to the back and taking out softer targets.

I'm sorry but the Alliance Battles are FINE as they are, if you want HoH, go play HoH, if you want GvG, go play GvG. I'm tired of elitists trying to claim every battlefeild for thier kind.

I dispise PvP, specifically because of the type of people who want to "ORGANIZE EVERYTHING!" They take all the fun out of it. But, I couldn't get enough of Alliance Battles, there was just enough mix of tactics and chaos to make it feel like a real battle. Alliance Battles, as they are now, were the only PvP I'm ever really enjoyed since the beginning of the game.

TheYellowKid

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mina Sucks [Blz]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Dei
No organization? That's not entirely true, though I know some people want to pretend it is.

~You could team 4 people, that's a team of at least 4 competent players.
~By the end, maps were so well played, there was a general feeling of organized combat, 3-6-3 starting positions, small teams sneaking off to take points.
~I identifying MMs for immediate elimination.
~Assassins learning to go around the main conflict to the back and taking out softer targets.

I'm sorry but the Alliance Battles are FINE as they are, if you want HoH, go play HoH, if you want GvG, go play GvG. I'm tired of elitists trying to claim every battlefeild for thier kind.

I dispise PvP, specifically because of the type of people who want to "ORGANIZE EVERYTHING!" They take all the fun out of it. But, I couldn't get enough of Alliance Battles, there was just enough mix of tactics and chaos to make it feel like a real battle. Alliance Battles, as they are now, were the only PvP I'm ever really enjoyed since the beginning of the game.
agree.. ill be really disappointed if it changes from how it was. the beginning of the preview to the end the battles changed significantly in terms of skills and organisation. plus if its like the way it sounds u would need 12 people online at the same time that want to do alliance battles, many people dont care for em, dont want to do em right now, dont have a high level char, etc etc, so the only way i could play is that i have to wait? or organise certain days so people are prepared?

this is what i find frustrating about gvg's in that even though the guild has 40 people half dont come on half that do are low levels and half the rest dont really wanna play or wont put the effort in to get better or we jus dont have enough matches to get better.

After playing the battles almost constantly this weekend i know ive improved and cant wait for factions to come out so i can tweak my build the way i want with more skill options

also is there any actual evidence to support these claims of guild alliances only?? technically wouldnt we have to have only been able to play with people from our guild because that was an alliance in itself?

AeroLion

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Dei
I'm sorry but the Alliance Battles are FINE as they are, if you want HoH, go play HoH, if you want GvG, go play GvG. I'm tired of elitists trying to claim every battlefeild for thier kind.

I dispise PvP, specifically because of the type of people who want to "ORGANIZE EVERYTHING!" They take all the fun out of it. But, I couldn't get enough of Alliance Battles, there was just enough mix of tactics and chaos to make it feel like a real battle. Alliance Battles, as they are now, were the only PvP I'm ever really enjoyed since the beginning of the game.
Then I'm sorry but you're setting yourself up for a huge disappointment. The Alliance system is, according to everything Anet has said about Factions, very important. It's the whole basis for the elite mission unlocks, for the town control, and for, more than likely, stuff we don't even know about. If it wasn't important, I don't see why they would be hyping it so much.

As was said by myself quoting the Factions FAQ, Alliance Battles are for Alliances. The most anyone that liked the way it was in the FPE can hope for is that you can still do random battles in addition to the organized battles. At the very least, it sounds like the 8v8 will stay random and it's pretty similar to 12v12.

If nothing happens, join the crowd that thought UAS and skill charms would be in the final game after the original BWEs.

Kali Ma

Kali Ma

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

N/Mo

Well if it does change then that will be very disappointing. It's one of the things I enjoyed most about the weekend was being able to get into the Alliance battles easily. It was more like the traditional online team-based FPS and console games such as SW:Battlefront, Battlefield, Halo, Quake III TA and Unreal - these are all competitive games which mostly cater to random grouping, yet still allow for high-end play through guilds and clans who want to do that. But if every time I wanted to play SW:Battlefront I had to spend an hour finding a 12 man group, then that game would collect dust on the shelf.

Removing the random element and ease of play altogether is an excluding decision, not an inclusive one. I hope they will find a way to strike a balance that caters to both hardcore and casual players.

AeroLion

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

That, to me, says you really want a more efficient grouping system than what we currently have. Which you should. Why the grouping system is based off of "W/Mo20 LFG Anything I'm scared and alone and there are wolves after me plz add" is beyond me. You'd think making it easier to actually play the damn game would have been a priority. It most certainly hasn't been.

People have been asking for a better grouping system (and trade system, I might add) since Day One and ANet continues to ignore it other than having Gaile do some lip service every now and then. If they finally did it, I think a lot of people's complaints would go away.

Sientir

Sientir

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2006

At DigiPen.

Biscuit of Dewm [MEEP]

I personally would like it set up like RA and TA:
One set for organized play
One set for random play

As things stand, RA is the only place to go to just jump into a PvP match. HA (HoH for those of you who like to refer to the end zone :P), you have to form a group. If it is somewhat randomly assembled, you suffer from the problem of it being quickly destroyed by those rank3/6/9++ groups. Which is the other problem with HA, getting in groups that are skilled without being at least rank 3. :/ Furthermore, TA is a bit freer, but still, people want you to fill some sort of preconceived build idea, typically. GvG: as mentioned above, it seems rare to have a) enough people on to GvG, and b) if enough people are on, enough people that actually WANT to GvG.

One other mechanism that i really like about the random set up for the Alliance Battles is that of the auto rez (and not at like, every 2 minutes or something like that), because it frees up a slot from having to bring a rez.

Anyway, I think the best way to please everyone would be to have both organized and random versions.