Big changes for season 3...
 

CHOCNOTE: Do not use this thread to argue about horde/alliance racials. For 2.3 racial ability changes see this thread: http://elitistjerks.com/f15/t16305-2_3_discussion/ If you want to argue about horde vs alliance racials take it here

A quote by Drysc:

WoW Forums -> Selling Arena Teams?

" Well to start we'll just let everyone know that the arena RATINGS (not the number of points they'll cost) required to purchase the season 3 items will be 1850 for the weapons, and 2000 for shoulders. The rating will not be required to continue using the item, only to initially purchase it.

Now, most people have expected the weapon rating since we announced it at BlizzCon, and it's a bit lower than we had initially said, but the shoulders are obviously going to raise some questions. The shoulders for any set are commonly the most visually representative, they're the most visible at any distance, and as they allow a lot of space compared to say a leg or bracer item, we commonly take them and really create something visually impressive. We want that visually impressive item to represent what a player has achieved, and so the achievement of being a contender in the arena at a higher level will be visually distinguished. The shoulders are also average in the benefit they provide, as compared to a chest or leg item for example, and without them the set bonuses can still be completed.

This raises the question of a player finding a team that is of a skill level higher than their own, and simply buying the item with points they've gained at a lower rating. To restrict this we're implementing a personal rating system in patch 2.3. This is an additional arena rating that is unique to each character for each team they belong to. This rating rises and declines using the same formula as the arena team rating, but only in games that character participates in. You'll also be able to track this rating through the PvP interface. The personal rating will be used for purchasing items that require a specific rating, and also be used to determine eligibility for the end of season rewards. So, a player will have to achieve a specific rating, and not just get into a team to see the rewards that are meant to visually distinguish the high-rated players."

... So, 1850 for weapon, 2k for shoulders (/boggle), personal ratings for end of season rewards and gear... End of the road for selling arena teams?

This doesn't really end selling arena teams. There are tons of players who can't maintain either of those ratings. They still need points for the other 4 pieces of gear, even if they can't meet the personal rating requirements for the final piece and the weapons.

I suppose, guess it will most likely just put a curb to getting guildies/friends netherdrakes.

I'm still not sure that the weapon/shoulder requirement is the correct solution to that problem, or that it even makes any sense, but it's better than nothing /shrug

So if the shoulders are supposed to be some visual representation of accomplishments in arena, does that mean they won't be re-colored T6?! I'm guessing not, but I just wanted to call BS on the explanation. =)

In fact, selling teams might be a decent way to raise your personal 3v3 rating, since you'll win all the games up to whatever rating you sell at, then the buyers will lose but it won't affect you. Then you drop to 1500 and do it again. No need to throw games on alts, just sell teams.

If my personal rating goes down because I play 2v2 with friends Im going to be very upset.

I'd imagine you'd have a personal rating for each bracket you play in.

Read the thread. Personal rating is by bracket, and resets back to 1500 every time you join a new team.

I'm wondering however if personal rating will be based on your personal rating compared to the team your facing's rating, such as if I were to have a 2000 personal rating, and faced a team with 1500 rating because my 2v2 suffered repeated losses at the hands of the other group members, would I receive +0 to my rating if I won (similar to a 2000 team beating a 1500 team in the awkward matchups that sometimes occur) and would I lose 30 rating if I lost to such a team?

If not (and the +rating gain is static) on a 2v2 you could easily exploit it by having 2 members that are alts and only on the team to throw games (lowering the team rating and their personal ratings) while you had 2 members who played to farm personal rating (by taking the team from 1300 back to 1500 before having the 2 loser members drop the rating again).

It has to be that way, otherwise you could never close the gap between your team and yourself. That is, if you join a team at 2000 rating, you would always be 500 points behind them if you play 100% of the games from that point on, since you would mimic the teams movements exactly. That cannot be what Blizzard has in mind.

You have to be within 100 personal rating points within a team to join it.

You beat me to it. I actually think it's funny that it is even an issue.

Are you being serious? Has Blizzard said this somewhere? If so that's BEYOND retarded. It would mean people would have to step through teams to the top if they want to go anywhere and is far worse than raid keying ever was.

wow :psyduck:

The only reason the shoulder is more distinctive than the weapon in TBC is because many of the weapon models looks the same. So basically we have to pay more for shoulders because they spent more art design time on it than the weapons.

You don't have to pay more for shoulders, you just need to receive a higher rating.

I haven't seen anything about being within 100 personal rating of a team to join though, is there a source that says that? If they plan on pushing that live, that will be amazingly retarded.

Personal rating will probably reset every time you leave/join a team, I would guess.