Quote from: Slorkuz (Source)

While Season 3 is still going strong, we wanted to announce ahead of time the rating requirements that will be present for arena items once Season 4 begins. We also wanted to give everyone a heads up to some changes that will be in an upcoming patch, altering how points are gained and players are matched in the arena system. The patch with these changes is scheduled to release before the start of Season 4.

First though, the rating requirement changes:

When Season 4 begins, Season 3 items will be reduced in personal and team arena rating requirement to:
Shoulders: 1950
Weapon: 1800

The new Season 4 items will have the below personal and team arena rating requirements:
Shoulders: 2200
Weapon: 2050
Head: 1700
Chest: 1600
Legs: 1550
Gloves: none
Off-hand: none

In addition, some of the Season 4 quality items that will be purchasable with honor will also carry a personal and team arena rating requirement:
Boots: 1700
Ring: 1650
Bracers: 1575
Belt: none
Necklace: none
Trinket: none

The Season 2 items, which will move to the honor system when Season 4 begins, will continue to have no rating requirement.

The changes to the rating requirements for these items reflect the nature of the items, their power, and the relative difficulty that should be had when attempting to obtain them. These items are comparable to those found in the newest 25 person raid zone, Sunwell Plateau, and should therefore also feel very challenging to obtain.

To help ensure that the challenge in obtaining these items stays true to those achieving these ratings, we'll also be implementing new rules with an upcoming patch to curb practices that undermine the core concepts of the arena system. These rules are as follows:
If a character’s personal rating is more than 150 points below the team rating, they will earn points based on their personal rating instead of the team rating.

This means that a player cannot join a highly rated team and begin earning points based purely on the pre-established rating of the team before they joined it. They'll need to compete, improve, and gain a personal rating worthy of the points they would receive.
If the average personal rating of the players queuing for a game is more than 150 points below the team’s rating, the team will be queued against an opponent matching or similar to the average personal rating.

This means that players cannot join a highly rated team and immediately face highly rated opponents, easily and quickly bringing their personal rating up. Instead they'll need to again compete, improve, and earn their rating.

We're excited to see these changes implemented, which will continue to emphasize the strong competitive nature of the arenas, and the challenge in obtaining the highest end rewards available for PvP.

Hey guys. I'm really sorry to have to do this but I feel it's time my stay in WoW has finally come to an end. I have way too many responsibilities going on as of late and will have to put an end to my WoW addiction. It's been great getting to know each and every one of you and hope you will all keep in touch. Good times. Later today I will be disbanding the guild. The site and forums will be coming down in a couple days so you can all exchange info till then. It's been a great 3+ years. I wish you all the best of luck in your murloc killings and in your rl endeavors. It's been a blast. =]

::: Kyra 

 Forum members post: Disband Notice

[Update 11:25pm] 

I have decided to  stay in the game due  to the upcoming release of the all new bard hero class.  I shall strike down my foes with my almighty power of rock!!!

Happy April 1st everyone! =D 

World of Warcraft Client Patch 2.4.0 Notes

The latest patch notes can always be found at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/

The latest test realm patch notes can always be found at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/test-realm-patchnotes.html

• Fury of the Sunwell
  The glorious fount of arcane energy known as the Sunwell empowered the high elves for millennia, until the death knight Arthas laid siege to the elven kingdom and corrupted its sacred energies. Seeing no other alternative, a band of survivors led by Prince Kael’thas destroyed the ancient fount. Over time the surviving elves fell pray to a crippling magical withdrawal.
  
  Now, promising salvation for his people, Kael’thas has returned. Soon the Sunwell will shine once again, but whether the sacred fount will usher in deliverance or destruction remains to be seen.
  

Season 4 will not be out anytime soon but Season 2 gear will be obtained with honor.  Wave goodbye to Season 1 gear.  Start saving up those honor points.

Quote from: Drysc (Source )

We've only stated that Season 2 is moving to honor, Season 1 is being removed, and Season 3 prices will be lowered. Whether Season 4 or Season 2 prices will change from the Season 1 and Season 3 sets they're replacing has not yet been stated.

One thing that's more certain is that Season 4 isn't going to start for quite a while.Not very soon. S3 rewards have quite a bit of life left in them before they start to feel obsolted by pve gear.

Many thanks to Cabrazi for leading the battleground raids during the Eye of the Storm Weekend. You're a beast!

Here's a note for those of you who have already started saving honor/arena points for Season 4. Season 4 ETA?...

Quote from: Kalgan (Source)

Not very soon. S3 rewards have quite a bit of life left in them before they start to feel obsolted by pve gear.

Season 4 Items Preview 

There are currently posts on mmo-champion.com and worldofraids.com regarding updates to the new Season 4 items. Description and models of class sets and weapons from the PTR are now available.

Brutal Gladiator's Greatsword

Post from mmo-champion.com
Post from worldofraids.com

Tweaks have been applied to various items in the next patch. The following are speed changes applied to weapons.

Gladiator's Maul -1.60 Speed
Gladiator's War Staff -1.00 Speed
Merciless Gladiator's Maul -1.60 Speed
Merciless Gladiator's War Staff -1.00 Speed
Vengeful Gladiator's Staff -1.60 Speed
Vengeful Gladiator's War Staff -1.00 Speed
Vengeful Gladiator's Battle Staff -1.00 Speed

Post from mmo-champion.com for more information on latest item updates.

The following list are a few PvP related updates made on the PTR.  For the full list of PTR patch updates, visit the PTR Patch Notes page from worldofwarcraft.com.

Arenas

• Matchmaking: If a queued player has a personal rating higher than their team rating, the matchmaking system will now use the highest personal rating of a queued member of that team for matchmaking purposes, instead of the team rating.

Alterac Valley

• There is now a Join as Party option.

Items

• Druid Restoration PvP Sets: The bonus movement speed for Bear, Cat, and Travel Form has been removed and replaced with a new bonus to Regrowth.
  

• Shaman Elemental PvP Sets: The resistance on Lightning Bolt spell pushback has been reduced to 50%.
  
  

For those of you who are gearing up all your toons for PvP, you might want to take a look at this list to plan ahead for the next patch.

PvP Gear Listing

PTR Up: Character Copies Disabled.

Quote from: Tyren (Source)

Character copies to the Public Test Realms are currently disabled while we investigate an issue that was found with the PTR character copies. We currently do not have an ETA on when they will be reactivated, but will provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience.

Additional PTR Updates.

• Legendary Bow: Thori'dal
  

• New battleground repeatable quest (You only get the gold once, and then can repeat it indefinitely for bonus honor).

• Two new heroic badges cloaks (Resilience/haste rating).

Post from mmo-champion.com
Post from worldofraids.com

Blizzard will be taking action on those who are constantly idle in battlegrounds.  Warnings, suspensions, removal of honor points and ultimately bans.

Quote from: Bornakk (Source)

In our continued efforts to support fair gameplay in World of Warcraft and to provide a positive experience for players, we are currently taking steps to ensure fair and enjoyable competition in the Battlegrounds. Starting immediately, we will be issuing warnings and penalties, including suspensions and the removal of Honor points and recently acquired Honor rewards, for non-participation in Battleground games. We are taking action against thousands of accounts immediately, and will continue to monitor these situations and regularly take action against violators. If you encounter a player in a Battleground who is intentionally not participating in the battle for an extended period of time, please help us track the situation and report the player as AFK. For information on how to complete an in-game AFK report, please go here: (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/pvp/battlegrounds/info.html ). All reports will be thoroughly investigated, and corrective action will only be taken if the violation is confirmed. Thank you for your support and best of luck to you in all of your games in the Battlegrounds!

• We will be performing extended maintenance for all realms on Tuesday, November 27. The downtime will begin at 2:00 AM PST and end at approximately 12:00 PM PST.
  

• For your Season 3 buying pleasure, vendors will be made available in some additional locations. If you want to avoid the crowds in Area 52 there will be vendors selling the same items outside of the Nagrand and Blade's Edge arenas, as well as in the town of Gadgetzan.
  

• Season 2 officially ends when the realms come down tonight for maintenance, which is currently scheduled for 2:00 AM PST, November 27. Information on the extended maintenance can be found here: Extended Maintenance 11/27
  

• Season 3 officially begins, including access to the Season 3 items and new honor items, when the realms become available after maintenance. Which is currently scheduled for 12:00 PM PST, November 27.
  

Grats to Rholr who won the Fiery Warhorse in Karazhan!

The raid on Gruul’s Lair has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 14.  Invites are at 6:30 p.m. EST, please sign up if you can attend.

Great first night of 25-man raiding!!!  We downed High King Maulgar after only a handful of pulls.  Grats to Tientzo and Crucified on their leet loots!

>> [Pauldrons of the Fallen Hero] Tientzo
>> [Hammer of the Naaru] Crucified

The team included: Bluelemur, Kyra, Sinned, Blazinwind, Gilis, Shortee, Tientzo, Xifrit, Sirch, Starmagick, Einkil, Shaduf, Asperwind, Corinne, Nadi, Zores, Sneer, Sycorax, Crucified, Darkblud, Magitek, Draconai, Rafalpl, Rholr, and Xenilla

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