Intro:
I believe WvW is in desperate need of more space so i will detail my case for a fourth map, describe it’s layout and functions, and argue how the map i am proposing is good for the health of WvW.
A map essentially needs a few things: space, safe-zones, contested zones, and a purpose that effects gameplay across the other maps.
Space:
The map i propose doesn’t have to be large, it can be smaller than EB if need be, i would probably say making it the size of the borderlands from north gates of bay and hills south would be sufficient.
Safe-Zones:
The map would have a spawn area like the others arranged as they are in EB. Each safe zone would contain siege and mock-ups of a keep lord’s room, supply camp, mercenary camp, and tower lord’s room. Each spawn would have vendors and portals to the 3 others WvW maps and one to LA.
Contested Zones:
Outside of each spawn is a large, mostly flat, uncluttered, sieged looking field. There can be simple terrain changes throughout, even t match which spawn is yours, but the map should be very open, very accessible, and lack towers, keeps, camps, mercenary nodes, and all of the like.
Purpose:
This field is for testing combat against enemy playing to improve your combat skills without fighting for objectives. These design choices are meant to make the zone a training ground and a testing ground for new builds, players, and guilds as to pick up skills and exposure necessary for WvW execution. To fulfill this this map rewards no wxp, no badges, no blueprints, no exp, no karma. There is no bloodlust buff here. This map is the heart of the mists of the WvW. It is a training lobby for all the WvW players. When you enter the map you receive a buff called “boot-camp” that reads: “As long as you remain in the staging grounds you will receive not rewards or boosts.”
Why this would be good for WvW:
WvW maps, especially in higher tiers, are incredibly crowded. Some of the players on those maps simply want to idle in a place that they can jump back into WvW. Others are solo roaming picking fights. Additionally there are dueling clubs and GvG leagues being played across WvW maps. These activities, to a degree, could be better spent in this fourth map where new players would be able to test their mettle along with those looking to improve their play without having to interfere with or disrupt the actual war effort being played out in the borderlands and EBG. This map would also serve as a reservoir for players unable to get into WvW on reset to hop in, watch the scoreboards, and still practice in anticipation of getting their queues to pop.
Additional Notes:
The map does not have to be pretty. The map just has to be functional. This map could be scraped together and improved later on. The sooner a map of this style is released, the sooner i believe the WvW community quality of life with spike.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or criticisms please post them below- let’s improve this idea as much as possible.