Ideas for EoTM Changes

Edge of the Mists was originally intended to be a permanently accessible WvW overflow for worlds with large queues, allowing players to play all the time. It was also supposed to be the testing ground for WvW changes. Instead, it became a karma, WXP and leveling train, and was never used for testing WvW changes. The Mist War maps are largely accessible now with limited queues, making EOTM’s purpose as an overflow map unnecessary and in fact detrimental – drawing players that may help to populate WvW.

So, what to do with EOTM? How can it be changed to serve the WvW community better? Here’s the outline of my plan.

Turn Edge of the Mists into a 3 hour, 50 man squad queued match and increase the rewards for winning Edge of the Mists matches.

                                                                                                                                 Queuing

You can join an Edge of the Mists match by creating a squad or joining a squad in LFG. Only the commander can queue his squad for an Edge of the Mists match. The commander must have 50 people in his or her squad. You can only join a squad with players of your same color, that is, all worlds currently of that color for the week. The current button on the right side of the WvW screen will change to a “queue squad for Edge of the Mists match”. This button will be dark grey and unclickable for non-commanders, reading instead “join a squad in LFG to access EOTM”. The LFG system will include a tab for queueing Edge of the Mists matches. After a commander clicks the “Queue squad for EOTM match” button, a timer will appear on the top of the screen like a PvP match for all players, then the “Your queue’s popped” horns will play, then the checkbox system like in PvP will appear. When all players are ready, they will be teleported to Edge of the Mists and begin an hour and a half long match.

                                                                                                                              Match Specifics

The Edge of the Mists is an hour and a half long, massive 50-man PvP match fought over objectives. A player will be unable to access any Mist War maps except Obsidian Sanctum (a possible WvW lobby) while participating in an Edge of the Mists map. Players will be able to leave their commander’s squad while in an Edge of the Mists match, and tag up. While in an Edge of the Mists map during a match, the button on the right side of the WvW screen will read “Leave the Edge of the Mists” and players who click this will return to HoTM or a PvE map. While out of an Edge of the Mists match (if a player DC’ed or left for some reason), a player will be able to rejoin on any character. The button on the right side of the WvW screen will display “Rejoin the Edge of the Mists”. A player will only be able to participate in an Edge of the Mists match once per daily reset.

                                                                                                                                     Scoring

The Edge of the Mists is scored through a PPT dominant, PPK secondary system (opposite of conventional WvW, providing a distinction) where a group’s “tick” is the primary factor for scoring. It will be broken up into 5 minute intervals, with the entire match lasting 90 minutes. Keeps, Towers, and Generators will have different weights on a side’s “tick”. The side with the most Warscore at the end of the match wins.

                                                                                                                                     Rewards

Some possible rewards for Edge of the Mists include badges of honor, gold, karma, skirmish tickets, and/or an independent currency that can be used to purchase EOTM-specific items.

                                                                                                                                    Conclusion

My plan intends on turning EOTM from a place to go while waiting for a WvW queue to a limited access, large scale match fought over objectives. Doing this will give the map a unique identity, differentiating it from WvW and concentrating a majority of players on the Mist War maps. Please provide your feedback below. Thanks!

Two things.1) Queue times would be outrageous if only 50 man squads can queue. The only way it would be reasonable would be for three of the most popular WvW commanders to arrange things before hand(IE we're all queuing at the same time).

2) Following from #1, if you're pulling the largest most organized forces out of normal WvW it will just make normal WvW that much more dead.

I'd probably enjoy 50v50v50, but for most people they would never be able to play the mode.

Delete it and make an additional map like EB or the borderlands. A simple map. Not a vertical mess with a bunch of useless shit. People trying to pvp, not play a jumping puzzle.

People can just barely queue 8-12m 5v5 matches without going afk on the first death, I fail to see how "proper" queued 50v50v50 1.5h matches would ever work. Literally the first server to start loosing fights would have 40 people, then 30 people... until we have just as unbalanced WvW as usual. The only reason this goes slower in WvW is that maps generally have more than 50 people and replenish the ranks (when they dont... well I think we all seen it firsthand).

IMO they should still scrap EoTM as a concept, take all those pretty assets and redesign the map to match ABL and EB WvW rules (more towers/keeps within protection distance, normal camps, make bigger kitten bridges, etc) and then simply replace one of the ABLs with the result. After the community has tested it and overall approves, preferably.

I wanted to open up this thread to anyone interested in posting ideas about EOTM changes. I'll be adding them to the OP as additional ideas.

Kill the map, create a new map w/ 1 tower ea and 1 keep in the middle. Limit access to Lvl 40 and below, reduce 'rewards' (lowered rate of WxP), and Cap Wxp at a predetermined level ... 100? 500? Rewards are unique currency to purchase Lvl 40 Exotic WvW Gear with unique skins. Add an XP off feature that turns off your XP/WXP and allows you to keep the toon at that level if you desire.

@"Arioch.6507" said:Kill the map, create a new map w/ 1 tower ea and 1 keep in the middle. Limit access to Lvl 40 and below, reduce 'rewards' (lowered rate of WxP), and Cap Wxp at a predetermined level ... 100? 500? Rewards are unique currency to purchase Lvl 40 Exotic WvW Gear with unique skins. Add an XP off feature that turns off your XP/WXP and allows you to keep the toon at that level if you desire.

This would be like Thidranki in DAOC. It was a Level 24, 3 way battleground with a Castle on an Island in the middle of the map.

That was an amazing map and I had some of the best times in DAOC playing in Thid with my XP turned off.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/camelotherald/images/6/61/Thidranki_map.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110606205650