Battlegrounds

'''Battlegrounds''' are instanced Player-versus-Player areas where teams compete to complete objectives.

On the Shadowmourne Realm, battleground gameplay may include both human players and Playerbots depending on realm configuration.

Overview

Battlegrounds focus on objective-based PvP rather than simple open-world combat.

Objectives may include:

capturing flags
controlling bases
gathering resources
destroying objectives
defeating enemy players
controlling strategic locations

Wrath of the Lich King Battlegrounds

Wrath of the Lich King includes battlegrounds such as:

Warsong Gulch

Warsong Gulch is a capture-the-flag battleground.

Teams attempt to:

steal the enemy flag
return it to their base
protect their own flag carrier

Arathi Basin

Arathi Basin is a resource-control battleground.

Teams fight to control strategic bases.

More controlled bases produce resources faster.

Alterac Valley

Alterac Valley is a large battleground focused on:

objectives
commanders
towers
graveyards
large-scale combat

Eye of the Storm

Eye of the Storm combines:

base control
flag capture

Teams must balance defending bases with securing the central flag.

Strand of the Ancients

Strand of the Ancients uses an attacker-and-defender format.

Players use siege vehicles and objectives to advance through the battleground.

Isle of Conquest

Isle of Conquest is a large battleground featuring:

resource nodes
vehicles
siege warfare
faction strongholds

Playerbots in Battlegrounds

The Shadowmourne Playerbots system contains battleground AI support.

Depending on current configuration, Random Bots may queue for and participate in battlegrounds.

Playerbot battleground behavior may include:

moving toward objectives
attacking enemies
defending positions
following battleground tactics
participating in team fights

Random Bots

Random Bots can help make battleground queues more active.

Their participation depends on Shadowmourne's Playerbot configuration.

Battleground Strategies

Playerbots use battleground-specific AI and strategies.

The installed module also contains Playerbot battleground debugging tools.

Game Masters can access:

.playerbots debug bg

This is intended for testing and debugging rather than normal gameplay.

PvP Roles

Different classes provide different battlefield strengths.

Examples:

tanks can hold objectives
healers sustain groups
ranged DPS control open areas
melee DPS pressure enemy players
crowd control can disrupt enemy teams

Healers

Healers are extremely valuable in battlegrounds.

See Healer and Playerbot Healing.

Crowd Control

Crowd control can be used to:

stop flag carriers
protect healers
delay enemy captures
isolate priority targets

See Crowd Control.

Battleground Tips

stay with your team
protect healers
fight near objectives
do not chase enemies endlessly
defend captured objectives
focus priority targets
use crowd control intelligently