Never lose a BG, By Kael Options

[Barracuda]

I didnt make this im not that smart.


Whether you're new to PvP or just looking to shore up your playstyle, here are some of the guiding principles for success.

1. Always fight near the objective

Objectives are flags or flag carriers in Warsong Gulch, the resource node flags in Arathi Basin, Ruins/Towers in Eye of the Storm, and Towers/Graveyards/Bunkers/Bosses in Alterac Valley. If you aren't near one of these or on your way, you are wasting your time.

2. Speed is Victory

This refers to landspeed, attack speed, keystroke speed, communication speed, regeneration, and speed of thought. Note that at least TWO of these (keystroke and communication) depend on how fast you can type. My interface has no less than 70 buttons. My hands can be near at least 36 of them at any time by utilizing key bindings with SHIFT and ALT. My mouse cursor can only be near ONE hotbutton, and those it borders. I type 6 keystrokes per second. I can't click a mouse that fast even if it's sitting in one place.

3. Use Voice over IP when you can

Since Blizzard has gimped premades, this note is slightly outdated. However, a small strikeforce of guildies in a larger BG still should utilize Ventrilo, as it's much faster to talk than type, and you can both fight and listen at the same time with ease.

4. You can’t win on defense

Don't underestimate this one. Many BGers advocate defensive strategies which are LOSING strategies when closely examined. "Hold three and win" in Arathi Basin is one such example. If your enemy knows exactly what you're doing, they have the upper hand: Not you.

5. Never leave a flag undefended

It's a boneheaded move to leave an objective completely unguarded. You may as well be giving away points or forfeiting. If you're the last one on defense, stay put, no matter how boring it seems. As long as one person is there, you can call for assistance from others.

6. Prioritize your targets

Don't spend your precious time or mana hacking away at a protection warrior while a warlock or hunter is amassing kill after kill. Don't waste time damaging a rogue only to watch a priest flick her wrist and restore him to full health.Target priority is a complex evaluation system which has to be pared down to faster-than-thought reactions, but as a skeletal guide, look first to kill: Healers, DPS Classes, Low Armor, Pet Class, and those directly threatening a BG objective.

7. Communicate effectively

Just calling "inc" doesn't tell your team anything. If you call "3 inc blacksmith", your entire team knows how big the threat is and where it's going. By glancing at their zone map (see below), they can immediately determine if they should act as reinforcements, or if suitable reinforcements are already en route.

8. Travel in packs

Otherwise you will die quickly without even denting your foes. At the very least, give your enemies multiple targets to pick from. In BGs, synergy bonuses from fighting as a team are enormous once you factor in heals and buffs. A fighting force is far more than the sum of it's members.

9. Never disparage your own team

Don't run down your teammates, no matter how ridiculous their actions. Encouragement even in the face of defeat is the mark of a veteran.

(NOTE: This is the hardest rule to follow, and the one Kael most frequently breaks.)

10. Never chase runners

It's rarely worthwhile to spend time (see #2) chasing down a fleeing foe, and it generally takes you farther from your true objective (see #1).

11. Keep your zone map open

By pressing SHIFT+M you can superimpose a miniature version of the zone map onto your UI. It also tells you where all your teammates are located at all times and which objectives you hold. This can help you determine where reinforcements are needed, or where you can meet up with a strike force.

12. Always take the shortest route

Utilize walk on water spells, feather fall, or map knowledge to directly link two areas when you need to reinforce in a hurry.

13. Buff, buff, always buff

I'm not referring to buffing yourself ("go buff yourself"), but to buffing others. The bonuses you can give other players in combat with spells they can't access are enormous and will help the whole team.

This applies not just in the two minutes before the match (when you have nothing else to do), but every time you respawn. If you respawn with other classes, toss them your buffs. You will likely regenerate the mana spent before reaching combat.


And a bonus guide

The commandments of honorable dueling

I. Thou shalt not attempt to duel anyone more than 5 levels below thine own.

Actually, if you really want to be an expert dueler, you shouldn't try to duel anyone below your level, as you've got everything to lose and nothing to gain-- if they beat you, you're a terrible player, and if you beat them, you're just bullying lowbies. But there are exceptions for friends and guildies around here, so 5 levels is a good limit.

II. Thou shalt not send more than one duel request.

Duel spamming is just plain stupid. If someone cancels the duel request, they don't want to duel you-- leave them alone. Sometimes, they'll ask you to challenge again, and in that case it's fine. Or they may challenge you themselves. But if someone cancels the duel on you, don't be a jerk. /chicken isn't necessary-- save that kind of stuff for real PvP. Just move on.

III. Thou shalt wait until the time is appropriate.

Trying to duel someone while they're busy is a no. Attempting a duel while someone is low on health or mana is also a no. Trying to sneak a duel in while someone is grinding or otherwise fighting is a big no. Both sides should be ready, aware, and set when that countdown starts. Anything less is cheating.

During the Duel

IV. Thou shalt not use uncommon buffs or consumables.

Opinions vary on this quite a bit, but as a standard, any buffs or consumables you wouldn't normally use when grinding a mob one-on-one shouldn't be used in a duel. That means no health or mana pots, no raid buffs, no elixirs, and so on. Otherwise, people differ on the rest of the rules-- if you're a cook, should you get to use your food buffs? These commandments say no. But while long cooldown abilities aren't allowed in arenas, they should be allowed in duels (as long as the cooldown is up). Rogue poisons and Shaman elementals are OK, as are Pally bubbles and Warlock healthstones (for Warlocks). Trinkets are OK. Potion injectors are not. Scroll buffs, in general, are not.

V. Thou shalt not allow mobs to interfere with the fight.

If you're being really professional, you can have a spotter watch the fight, and pull away any mobs that happen to join in. Otherwise, you should set the duel in a low mob traffic area, and either pause or restart the duel if mobs show up and start attacking either dueler.

VI. Thou shalt play to the best of your ability.

You'd think this one would be obvious, but see the next commandment. Play your best duel, every time, and you'll have no excuses.

Post-Duel

VII. Thou shalt win (and lose) honorably.

If you win, offer a simple /bow or a /cheer and leave it at that. Friendly gloating among guildies is fine, "U r the worst rouge evar" is not. If you lose, accept the result just as honorably, with a /bow or a /nod. Make no excuses-- simply be better next time.

VIII. If thou hast a healing spell, thou shall use it to heal the other player, then thyself.

If you have mana and can heal, heal the other player first, especially if you're the winner. There's no reason not to, and healing the other person will make them more likely to agree to a rematch, or think of you honorably. Honorably duelers happily help their enemies up (only to beat them down again).

IX. Rematches are appreciated, but never guaranteed.

See commandment II as well. If you made a simple mistake during a fight or were distracted in real life, it's perfectly fine to ask for a rematch. But whoever you just dueled has no responsibility to agree to another round. If they refuse, move on and find someone else to duel.

X. Thou shalt have fun.

As usual, this is the last word on everything that happens in this game. Dueling should be a good time, whether you win or lose, because it's a fun way to test your own skills, as a player and as a class, one-on-one against someone else. It's the simplest and easiest form of PvP there is (not to mention that it's one of the best ways to start learning to PvP), and even if you're not a PvPer, a good duel against a respectable player is always a good time.


These guides might not be suitable for this private server