In one of the most unexpected announcements about the eagerly anticipated
Patch 3.1 PTR, Zarhym announced a
new world event called The Argent Tournament. The event will be included in the PTR, even though he makes it clear that many aspects of the event will still be under development. It looks like a pretty big event, based on the Argent Crusade faction in Icecrown. Some highlights include:
- Mounted combat - Blizzard wasn't clear if players would be using their own mounts or special vehicle-type mounts, but the say that the tournament was to prove one's worth to their own capital city
- A tournament coliseum - Daily quests to build a coliseum will likely be similar to the multi-phase daily quests in the Isle of Quel'danas
- New Achievements
- All new rewards -Zarhym promises new items, titles, tabards, pets, mounts, and banners (possibly like the Honor and reputation-bought Battle Standards?)
This looks like a pretty big event and Blizzard managed to keep it under the radar. With all the excitement about Ulduar and the massive work that's certain the content entails, it's a pleasant surprise that Blizzard had this planned all along -- promising more festivities as time goes by. We over here at WoW Insider are giddy with the thought of the event, and as
Daniel put it, it makes us feel like we're
"back in High School being teased by the cutest girl in senior year". Uh, yeah. That means we're kind of excited. You should be, too.
Tags: Argent-Crusade, argent-crusade-coliseum, Argent-Tournament, Breakingnews, Caught-Us-With-Our-Pants-Down, News, Patch-3.1, PTR, ptr-3.1, ptr-patch-3.1, public-test-realm, pvp-coliseum, Surprise, wow-coliseum, wow-patch-3.1, wow-ptr
Feb 23rd 2009 at 9:00PM 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Dave Feb 23rd 2009 9:08PM
I normally don't get jazzed up for gimmick world events, but if there's going to be bear jousting I'm ALL FOR IT.
Haarits Feb 23rd 2009 9:32PM
Bear jousting... even proto-drake jousting would be fun, Icecrown's got a lot of 'em at the vrykul settlements and as FP-mounts at Crusaders' Pinnacle.
IQD was my first big non-holiday 'event', and it was a LOT of fun even with mob-shortage and lag due to more people being on the island than even in Shattrath. Nice surprise, this!
MarkA Feb 23rd 2009 11:06PM
I started to get all excited for this, then remembered what happens every time WG starts - Northrend grinds to a terrible, lag-filled halt.
Unless the Argent Tournament is instanced, I'm against it for that reason alone.
Dave Feb 24th 2009 1:26AM
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Except that I'm not a passive person who just takes things like that and deals with it, I transferred to a lower population server where that kind of thing just doesn't happen.
Next time they offer the free transfers off your realm, it's not a terrible idea to marshall up your guild and transfer off. Or just leave and find a new guild since on transfer servers there are TONS and TONS of new guilds and old guilds looking for a lot of people.
I'm pretty pleased that I transferred. Not having game-crippling lag on a regular basis is way better than any of my old servers.
babasyzygy Feb 24th 2009 6:35AM
@ Dave:
Well, thank you for spelling out the option for people with no friends.
kugs Feb 24th 2009 7:06AM
Dave said 'With your guild.' So your either a moron who can't read or a pompous ass. Take your pick.
T Feb 24th 2009 12:51PM
@Dave
Funny you should mention the free realm transfers, Dave. I took Blizzard up on the offer and went to Tortheldrin. I've been on a fair number of PvE and PvP servers, and Tortheldrin is like none of the others--it is full of 14 year old idiots. Now, I know that the response is that much of WoW is full of 14 year old idiots.
Its different. I don't know how, but it is. There is a much higher concentration, to the point that running instances is near impossible, and I saw incredibly stupid and selfish moments transpire regularly. I'm talking things that I have never encountered in 3 years of WoW.
I suspect that the free realm transfers are a magnet for outcasts, halfwits and immature pricks that couldn't hack it on their old server, but didn't have the money to transfer to a new one. The free transfers are all they have, so when servers are opened for the free transfer, a higher percentage of idiots appear relative to people leaving due to high queue times.
I really hope that this not the case for all servers, but then again, Dave, you sound exactly like the type of person I repeatedly encountered....so make that another strike against free server transfers.
Thiosion Feb 23rd 2009 9:10PM
I think I drooled a little bit.
Angry Joe Feb 23rd 2009 9:12PM
Braaains! (I wish)
Lianne Feb 26th 2009 2:15PM
heehee
Ghallar Feb 23rd 2009 9:13PM
Oh god, I just have been reading about AQ opening event and wished if Blizz added something simiilar for Ulduar release... Then I changed a tab in my browser, refreshed Wowinsider and... omg, this is gonna be so exciting! O-(^^Q)
Azhural Feb 23rd 2009 9:46PM
Do it again. Produce more world events ;)
markmarv Feb 23rd 2009 9:14PM
WoW I think I jizzed in my pants.... just a little bit anyway.
nbcaffeine Feb 23rd 2009 11:07PM
Did you open a window and a breeze rolled in?
Heilig Feb 24th 2009 12:03AM
You know it's all your fault, 'cause of the way you were dancing.
Akussa Feb 24th 2009 12:15AM
Did you do it like these guys?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pXfHLUlZf4
We're going to need a clean up on aisle three!
Stormsinger Feb 23rd 2009 9:13PM
I'm guessing it'll be practice for the Uldaur event (like Aces High for EoE). But with Dailies.
Heilig Feb 24th 2009 12:02AM
Something tells me this guy is on the right track.
rosencratz Feb 25th 2009 7:16AM
I doubt it. Whilst i expect there might be a practice quest in the patch i doubt it'll be the Argent Tournament. This is a world event and thus isn't happening all the time.
It'll be no good to have a way to practice for a raiding dungeon only once every now and again.
DUALSPECSfan#1 Feb 23rd 2009 9:16PM
Dual specs when?
Make 3.1 dual specs only and launch it tomorrow, let everything else for 3.2 the next week or whatever I dont care.