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By Krigal Introduction Dueling is not only an entertaining way to compete with your friends in World of Warcraft, but also an excellent learning tool for PvP for several reasons, most of which the reader is likely aware of. For instance and most importantly, unlike real PvP, dueling is readily repeatable. Since the loser doesn't actually die in a duel, the downtime between duels is much reduced, allowing for faster learning and experimentation. Not only that, but the openness of communication between alliance characters makes possible research into skills and specific strategies with the partner of your choice. However, no member of the Duelists' Guild would be very responsible if he or she didn't consider the vital differences between dueling and general PvP when evaluating overall strategy. The purpose of this document is to list some of the most noteworthy differences between PvP and dueling and to assess the impact those differences may have on battle strategy. Choice of Opponent When dueling, a challenger gets to pick his or her opponent. It's unusual to select a lowbie because it makes you feel like a bully, and we rarely pick much higher levels because we want to be taken seriously. In real PvP, you only get to pick as long as you can keep a low profile, which is almost always either very short-lived or extraordinarily difficult. Assuming your aim is PvP (when questing, sometimes diplomacy is good), it's very rarely a good idea to pass up a low level opponent. If you do, they're likely to become aggressive when you finally get around to smashing their allies. Be careful who you choose to pass on - many classes have skills that can be very dangerous even given a large level gap, especially heal ally and incapacitate enemy skills (fear, sap, etc). On the other hand, you may often find yourself the victim of a surprise attack. Even when surprised, you do still have some choice - realize that it's sometimes better to make a run for it than to put up a fight. Though running away is the worst way to lose a duel, it's the best way to win a PvP battle where the odds are against you. Consider that often, getting away is an accomplishment in itself. Experiment while dueling to see what sort of level disparity you can reasonably handle, and remember that running when victory is unlikely is a sign of intelligence, not weakness. Choice of Location Your immediate surroundings can can have an incredible impact on the outcome of a battle. Line of sight, room to manuever and places to hide come to mind as important considerations that should be taken into account anytime you're in a location where PvP might ensue. When you're dueling, you usually get to pick the place, or at least take a moment to consider your surroundings before the fight starts. That simply isn't the case for real PvP, so you should always be familiar with your surroundings when in contested territory (especially during peak time where surprise attacks are more likely.) Be sure to duel in several varied settings to get a feel for different situations you may face later - fight the urge to find a comfortable place to duel. To find out more information on how location can effect the outcome of a battle, refer to the report on PvP environment. Honor in Dueling Put simply, PvP is a no-holds-barred, tag team, monster truck demolition derby. Your opponents will exploit glitches, run in circles to buy time to drink potions, call their friends, and use every dirty trick in the bad man playbook. Though you may choose not to do the same, it's unreasonable to expect your opponent to avoid behavior that may win the battle. Element of Surprise The element of surprise is completely absent in dueling. You get a big message box, a loud bang and AND a huge flag to alert you of a challenger, then you get to gather your thoughts before accepting. If you're caught off-guard in PvP, often the only warning you get is a hefty splash of damage. The only way to combat this effectively is to get into the habit of glancing around you after each battle and occasionally checking behind when travelling long distances. Several classes have a distinct advantage above and beyond the obvious when surprise attacks are in the cards. Consider that your strategy may change a little when given an opportunity to surprise the enemy. Pet users, for instance, can use a pet to attack from hiding without giving away their positions or getting auto-targetted. Magic users might decide to open with a spell that usually requires a cast time too long for full engagement. Interference You simply never duel multiple opponents at the same time, so reacting to that situation takes real PvP experience. Given the opportunity, any opponent will call in a friend. Try to keep your battles short, and when you win, don't stick around. Boundaries If you duel a little too much, you may get into the habit of respecting the area boundaries. Though it should go without saying, always be aware that the increased freedom of movement in real PvP can be incorporated into your strategy. For instance, you might pretend to flee just to come back for another round, or run away indefinitely as a stalling tactic for spell cooldowns or to feel regenerative effects. Tunnel Vision Though it gets better with practice, the tension of a real PvP battle tends to draw all your attention and focus it on your immediate opponent. Losing that peripheral sense can get you into a lot of trouble, especially when aggressive monsters, environmental hazards or additional PvP opponents are nearby. Most importantly, don't let a player add blind-side you. Stay aware so that you can start running early. Dueling and Death Think about all those times that you won a duel just barely. In real PvP, status effects, damage over time, and an assortment of miscellaneous factors can continue to cause trouble for the winner. Especially dangerous and surprising is the warlock's ability to self-resurrect the second you turn your back. When dueling, take into consideration the after effects the same fight might have left you with had it been for real. Shamans Since we don't get to duel shamans very often(some of us never), look for a guild report on shamans that provides some important information about this horde-only class. |