The public test realms for the next major World of Warcraft content update (v1.12) came online a few days ago, and as players are eagerly experimenting with the revamped Rogue class, Blizzard gives us a summary of the new world PvP objectives in the Eastern Plaguelands and Silithus, as well as the cross-realm battlegrounds. Particular details are still subject to change during development, but this should give you a general idea of what to expect from version 1.12 - also known as "Drums of War".

World PvP

World PvP objectives will be introduced in two different zones in the game: Silithus and the Eastern Plaguelands. Each of these zones will include non-instanced PvP objectives that any player can undertake on a voluntary basis. Achieving these objectives will earn players individual and zone-wide faction benefits, as well as honour points. These two world PvP events will be active at all times.

In Silithus, geysers of a strange red crystalline dust have been appearing in the desert. As it happens, this dust, or spice, has valuable properties. Players can collect spice from these very visible geysers, which spawn throughout the desert, and return the resource to their faction's base in the area. You cannot carry more than one load of spice at a time.

Players receive an individual buff upon turning in spice, but beware: should you be defeated before completing the turn-in, enemy players can take the spice from you. When one of the factions collects a certain amount of spice, that faction gains a powerful buff that benefits all faction members in the zone or in either of the Ahn'Qiraj instanced dungeons. At that point, the spice counts are reset, and the competition begins again between the factions to gain the zone-wide buff.

Over in the Eastern Plaguelands, the world PvP battles are based on a capture-and-hold style of gameplay, centring on the four towers in the region. Players who are flagged for PvP can attempt to capture a tower by controlling the area around it, keeping it free of enemy players. The more allies you have with you near each tower, the faster your faction (Alliance or Horde) will capture it. The faction that controls each tower earns a benefit, such as a fast flight path across the zone. Any faction that manages to control all four towers simultaneously earns a zone-wide buff that increases attack power or spell power against Undead for all faction members in the region or in Stratholme.

Cross-Realm Battlegrounds

For the first time, players across different realms will be able to compete against each other in all three instanced battlegrounds: Warsong Gulch, Arathi Basin, and Alterac Valley. The designated list of "battlegroups" (realms that will be able to engage each other in battle) is now available on the official World of Warcraft website, and some boring screenshots of the world PvP in Silithus are also available locally.

What? World of Warcraft is crushing the PC games industry? So what else is new? Besides, ignorance is bliss.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)