Posted by iTZKooPA on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 - 9 Comments
Tags: abusing game mechanics, mechanic discussions, nameplates, PvP, pvp stories, seeing the other faction, wintergrasp
The Only Advantageous Aspect Of Being Short Is Ruined By Nameplates!
After slightly redeeming myself in raiding last night - assuming you consider Vault of Archavon raiding - I was able to participate in my first Wintergrasp in a long time. The battle was nothing special - Alliance fell apart and lost, shocking - but my main mode of defense made me realize something. Why the hell are we able to see nameplates for the other faction?
The ability to recognize the opposing side isn’t new, and people, yours truly included, have been griping about it since day one. Yet we can still locate baddies thanks to their nameplates. I’m not complaining about being able to identify one troll rogue from another. Or being able to learn someone’s name that I am standing next to. I am referring to one’s ability to identify a target as hostile when the only identifying marker is the nameplate. That means without it, I would be clueless as to who they are without further investigation.
During my hold of a southern tower I completely abused the mechanic. I sat at the top of the stairs, waiting for the nameplates to show up. Show up they did, through the many layers of floors. The markers popped up ages before the attached target was near the top level, so I simply went into stealth and waited. I’m not sure if the unsuspecting horde were able to see me or not. If my streak of kills is anything to go by, they had no idea that I had just committed first degree murder.
There are numerous other cases where your nameplate can give you away (see screenshot), or outright get you killed. I know it’s a thing of small concern to those who don’t bother PvPing, but Blizzard prides itself on the small details. In my opinion, the nameplates should only come up when you’re close enough to engage - say 40 yards - and have the person targeted. That would tidy up some of the forms of abuse, such as the edge Solidsamm had, and still be informative.
I’m sure the PvPers out there have some good stories on how they took liberties with the mechanic, so let’s hear them. Perhaps nameplates explain how some of the apparently random kills came to be? What’s your best explanation for the plates existing as they do?
Related Posts: BlizzCon 2009: Battle.net Panel Summary, 3.3: Bind on Account Items May Be Faction Transferrable Soon, PTR 3.3: New Build Deployed, Patch Notes Updated, Wishful Thinking: Neutral Faction, Blizzard Teases at Faction-Change Service,
By lindana on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
amen to u
By Jessi on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I’m sorry but without cross faction nameplates I would have to spend an extra 10 minutes tabbing in order to kill gnomes. It’s already hard enough. If you’re not invisible, I should be able to see you!
By DeeJayDieSeL on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
because there is no smell in WoW and they allowed nameplates? lol i dunno, but i get what you mean. Probably because WoW was initially a PVE focused game and mobs dont abuse nameplates. So that being said it wont affect raiding in any negative way, maybe thats why is gone by this far.
On the other hand, pure PVP speaking: it is an element of surprise that is being prevented by the nameplate.
Realistically speaking it shouldn’t be there, so yes, definitely a thing to consider for blizzard
By Jessi on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
well even if they changed it, you could still v target..same thing.
By Trial on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
i guess red letters walking arround DO make it easier
By Dentodili on Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 1:04 am
I TOTALLY AGREE ! If the opposite faction wasn’t able to see my nameplates
This hunter will be too busy pawning 
Imagine this sitting silently in a bush.Seeing a hordeling.Shooting and by the time he locates me I’ve already used my Gnomish Cloaking Device and relocated to another bush behind his BACK where he CAN’t TARGET ME 
By Moophobia on Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 9:32 am
opposing faction nameplates in pvp makes it way too easy to spot the other team. removing the nameplates would make pvp more challenging and fun. easy fix…mouse over a character and then nameplate appears.
By Dimm on Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Ive hated nameplates for ever, I’m a rogue so i don’t really have to worry about people seeing me but still why cant my little gnome friend hide behind a wagon in AB?
By wolverin on Thursday, September 24th, 2009 at 4:02 am
Im playing about a year without good weapons, and nameplates bother you?
from one pvp player to another, give weapons to pvp plx!
other then that i like your website, so thank you
p.s
happy new year from israel.