I agree. My only addition would be that changing the map is probably more labor intensive than going back to Alpine. Alpine wasn’t a favorite of mine but it is a superior WvW map even if the Deserted map is changed.
Wow, I think I agree with this… back to the same old map. Now we have 2 huge very labor intensive WvW assets that are not going to be used in WvW… Personally, I think Anet is lost. Apparently Mike O’Brien has his fingers in EVERYTHING and no one is given enough responsibility to take concepts from idea to finished product without O’Brien and upper management constantly changing their minds, the goals, and the concept. When you start to realize this, you realize that HoT is a hot mess. The new map is just a complete mishmash of ideas completely unplaytested… Like turtlebanner, seriously? It’s not out there much yet because Grind Halls, but it’s coming and it’s absurdly OP. Or how bout that Air keep boss with the air jets and the red donut and and and… So many gimmicks, so little focus on actual gameplay… Honestly, there is no need to wait for the “Major WvW overhaul” just look at EtoM and how closely it resembles the new BL in terms of schlock and gimmickry, then look at the mess that is the HoT PvE content, Grinding, time gates, missing critical items or broken maps (ie Tedious Depths), even their precious Esports… This game has completely lost any focus it once had.