Update for arena loversInformation and images from the WWI PvP Panel:
Blizzard has announced two new arena maps to be added in the expansion:
* Dalaran Sewers, located in Dalaran City in the Storm Peaks zone.
* Orgrimmar Arena, located in the Azerothian Orc capital of Orgrimmar.
Arena combat will continue to be endgame-only, meaning players will have to level all the way from 70 to 80 to begin fighting in new arena seasons. All arena rewards beyond the final pre-expansion season will be meant for level 80 characters.
These arenas will feature new gameplay mechanics, including:
* "Movable" objects. Structures and obstacles that provide changing line of sight (LOS) across the battlefield every few seconds. (For example: pillars might go up and down randomly, on a timer, etc.) These dynamic elements will make each arena feel different.
* Different styles of starting areas meant to prevent camping or exploiting.
Dalaran Sewers ArenaOne of the planned new arenas is located in the Dalaran City sewers.
* The arena is fairly small and mounts won't be allowed here.
* The arena will make use of new variable environmental elements, mainly water:
o Each team will start in a pipe on one side of the map, as the match begins a column of water will "push" the teams out of their pipes to prevent camping.
o Water levels will rise and fall around the edges of the arena throughout the match.
o There is a pipe coming from the ceiling. Every once in a while a column of water will start dropping from this pipe, causing variable LOS issues.
Arena Layout:
Development Screenshots:
Orgrimmar ArenaThe second planned new arena is located in the old-world Azerothian city of Orgrimmar, the Orc capital in Durotar.
In Warcraft lore, there has always been an Arena in the city. In game,there is also an arena area called the Valley of Heroes, but it has never been utilized for anything in the game before.
* The arena will make use of new variable environmental elements, including:
o Elevating pillars that move on set timers, creating variable LOS issues around which groups can plan new strategies. There will be wheels and gears on the side of the arena that will spin to alert groups that the pillars are about to move.
o Triggered objects that damage players. Example: as the pillars go down, a wall of spikes may come up. You can move across them, but you'll take some damage.
* The arena will make use of a new style of elevating starting area.
o Starting areas are extremely close together. Players start on elevators that rise out of the ground ten yards apart from each other.
o The elevators will be surrounded by spikes that will drop a couple of seconds after the elevator reaches the top, so you'll have only a couple of seconds to plan.
* The arena is a larger map. Mounts will be allowed inside.
* Developers have mentioned the possibility of cheering NPC spectators.
No testing has yet been done on this arena.
Arena Layout:
Development Screenshots:
From:
MMO-Champion and
WoW Insider