#0 - Nov. 7, 2007, 8:34 p.m.
The start date for Season 3 is purposefully planned to be one week later than the release of patch 2.3, which is currently scheduled for November 14. We will be closely monitoring the testing of the 2.3 patch, and if it looks like it won’t make the November 14 date, we will announce a delay.
With the end of the current season all previous recipients of the end of season titles will have them removed, and the titles will be redistributed for participation in Season 2. A unique armored swift nether drake, visually distinguishable from the Season 1 reward, will be awarded to the top 0.5% of teams. We’ve recently added new requirements for a team to be counted when determining the top 0.5%, which can be found here: http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=1440454069&sid=1
FAQ
Q: Can I keep my title from Season 1 even if I haven’t participated in Season 2?
A: No, the seasonal titles are intended to be a reward for performance in the previous season. Similar to a sports title or award, it’s handed off or moved to different players/teams as their performance rises or declines throughout the seasons.
Q: What happens to my Nether Drake?
A: You will keep your Swift Nether Drake, and a new visually distinguishable Swift Nether Drake will be given to the top 0.5% of teams for their efforts in Season 2.
Q: So I’ve heard something about items having rating requirements?
A: Yes, the Season 3 weapons will have a personal rating requirement of 1850, and the shoulders will have a personal rating requirement of 2000.
Q: What is a “Personal Rating”?
A: We’re introducing an additional rating system with the start of Season 3 that will only track your personal games played, which you’ll be able to see through the in-game PvP interface. This rating will be used to determine the ability to buy specific items, and also to determine eligibility for the end of season rewards. The personal rating rises and declines using the same formula as the arena team rating, but only in games that you participate in. If you switch teams the rating will be reset to a default 1500.
Q: What happens to the Season 1 and 2 items?
A: The Season 2 items will be priced the same as Season 1 is now, and the Season 1 items are moving to the honor system, purchasable with honor points and Battleground marks.
Q: What happens to my rating when Season 2 ends?
A: Ratings for all teams are reset to the default 1500 for the new season. You still keep your arena points though, they aren’t diminished or removed.
Q: When does Season 2 officially end?
A: Barring a delay, when the realms come down for maintenance on November 21.
Q: How sure are you that 2.3 will make a November 14 release?
A: Pretty sure, but there’s always the possibility for a delay. Due to the upcoming holidays any necessary delays to the release of the patch may require us to delay Season 3 into the start of December. We’re trying very hard to avoid that.
Q: Why isn’t Season 3 beginning with the release of the patch?
A: To help us focus on both a major content patch release, and start of a new season, we’re separating them by one week.
Q: Any other new rewards?
A: As a matter of fact there is! The #1 team of each size, in every battlegroup, will receive a special "Merciless Gladiator" title. All other top 0.5% teams will receive the Gladiator title.
Q: What is a “Personal Rating”?
A: The personal rating system is a new rating introduced with Season 3 your character will have for each team it’s on. This is in addition to the team’s rating which will still determine how many points you get per week. The personal rating is used for determining your eligibility to purchase certain items (weapons/shoulder) and for the end of season rewards. The personal rating uses the same formula as the arena team rating, but only for games that your character actually participates in. If you switch teams, the personal rating for that team size is reset to the default 1500. As an example, you join a team with a personal rating of 1500 and the team you join has a team rating of 1200. You play in 10 matches and win all of them; your personal rating may only increase slightly as your personal rating (1500) as compared to the teams you’re being matched against (~1200) is large. Meanwhile the team rating would increase as it normally would. In an opposite example, with a personal rating of 1500, and a team rating of 2000, your personal rating would increase substantially when matched (and winning) against other teams of a similar 2000 team rating. The personal rating requirement for the items only needs to be met by your personal rating from one of your teams, and it isn't required that you maintain a rating to continue using them.
Q: Why do the weapons and shoulders require a personal rating?
A: We found that many high end PvE players felt extremely compelled to obtain the weapons, as given enough time, and without a rating requirement, they’re guaranteed. There’s of course no guarantee that you can obtain the same weapons in PvE for use in PvP, and that discrepancy is the main reason for the change. With the personal rating system we can ensure that there is a milestone or achievement that one has to reach and that they can’t be obtained purely through a slow but steady acquisition of arena points. For the shoulders, they are in our opinion, the most visually impacting item and we wanted something visual that can distinguish those who are performing well in the arenas. They’re also not substantial stat-wise, and for those without the shoulders the set bonuses can still be achieved.
Q: Will I be able to track my personal ratings through the armory?
A: We hope to have this feature available for the release of 2.3, but they can always be tracked in-game.
Q: Will Season 1 honor (Vindicator) and Season 3 arena (Vengeful Gladiator) items be purchasable with the release of 2.3, or only when Season 3 actually starts?
A: Only when season 3 actually starts. The Badge of Justice PvP items (trinket/back) will be available for purchase as soon as the patch goes live however.
Q: With the class balance changes going in with 2.3 won’t this change a lot of our strategies as we push for the final week?
A: Yes, it could. If you get your rating high enough before 2.3 though you don’t necessarily have to play, and can just sit at your rating.
Q: If a team isn’t counted due to the new qualification terms (http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=1440454069&sid=1) do they still take up a spot for the season rewards?
A: No, if a team doesn’t meet the qualifications to be counted they will not be eligible to receive the end of season rewards. If there are 10 top teams that would receive the (0.5%) end of season rewards and two of those teams aren’t qualified to be counted, the 11th and 12th teams will receive the rewards. They’re effectively ignored.