Hello everyone!
I am writing this post to suggest an simplified WoW arena extension game. In a discussion i had with a friend we were both wising that we could play arenas in a competitive matchmaking system like the one league of legends is using, without any items having impact to the game. A simplified arena simulator with just a lobby, friends list and matchmaking. A game you could try a get actually good at, just like competitive mobas or counter strike.
So the idea is basically WoW's arenas as they are now, but in a different client and with a few balance fixes and changes so the game can mentain a competitive experience, escaping the MMORPG genre. The game structure has to be very simple, following the model of League of Legends. That means there will only be a Lobby, friends list, profile stats etc and the actual arenas with a normal or rated matchmaking system to back them up. The infrastructure will be the same with the retail WoW arenas, but the most important change is that there will be NO items and gear whatsoever. There will only be cosmetic items in the form of skins, a way to please the players eye and make the needed profit to Blizzard in order to mentain a free to play status just like League of Legends. That being said, it is obvious that the game has to be a different game in the Battlenet game list and NOT being connected with the Retail WoW or Classic. It is very crucial that the game is seperated from WoW in order to be successful. And it has to be free to play and fair, no pay2win adjustments, just cosmetics.
A rated matchmaking system is vital for the game's success and competitiveness. The elo rating system will be used with ranks similar to the ones League of Legends is using like Platinum etc. The matchmaking will provide soloqueue 2v2s, premade 2v2s, soloque 3v3s, premade 3v3s and maybe if it is possible a premade 5v5s. All the queues can be placed in both Normal type and Ranked.
Every player will be able to pick all classes, as they exist in retail WoW. A few balance fixes have to be made though. As stated above the biggest one is that there will be no items/gear, the game CAN'T be pay2win. The Class Talents will be used as League of Legends is using Runes, adding a small but important personalization to each player and his playstyle. In additio, some spells and skills have to be nerfed or completly removed in order to balance the game out considering that the NO items thing will cause a lot of balance changes. These nerfs and balances will obviously be decided by Blizzard's experienced staff.
So in TLDR, the most important features of this game will be :
Free to play
Simplified version of the Arenas of WoW (Lobby + Matchmaking)
No items or gear, JUST talent trees
Matchmaking system with soloque or premade + Rewarding Rating System
Balance fixes and changes
Meta shaping changes with patches every now and then, just like the League of Legends model
These are the basic ideas, obviously if Blizzard ever decided to give this a try they could do wonders improving it and adding things. I am posting this here because i want to hear the community's opinion on this and perhaps exchange ideas and suggestions.
So what do you guys think? Could a simplified arena simulator compete with the declining mobas?