This week we take a look at another objective in the Ilse of Conquest. This one is often overlooked in favor of the Workshop and the Hangar. An unfortunate choice, as this objective offers some interesting play-style alternatives. The node I’m speaking of is the Docks.

The Docks at first glance is very underwhelming; consisting of a single ship (wtb use to these) and the flag just sitting there in the open. Heading over to the Docks I noticed little opposition for the most part. Most players view the Hangar as THE game winner and focus on it from the start. My heart sank as I hit the flag with no trouble.

At least the view was nice.

Once the alert went out some of the enemy stragglers came over for a tumble, but it didn’t have the gritty determination of a Hangar blitz. They were easily dealt with and in short time (still too short. lets get these cap times up. Not as high as AV caps. Maybe a minute.) Once the Docks belonged to us, one of our ships arrived (still no use) and our vehicles spawned. Herein lies the cool factor of the Docks. The Workshop supplies the usual seige engines we are used to, ala’ Wintergrasp and in a smaller regard, Strand of the Ancients. The Docks however offer a usual skin with a new mechanic (in regards to PvP) and a brand new toy; the Glaive Thrower.

Sweet merciful crap. It’s an elven batmobile.

The Glaive Thrower moves at a decent clip and unleashes large shuriken death at everything in front of it. It reloads at a very good speed (better then cannons) and does signifigant damage. Keep walls and turrets suffer enough damage to make this a viable seige weapon, and enemies on foot will certainly feel it. As of current PTR build the glaives do about 9k dmg to a running target, but I expect this lowered somewhat since it is easier to target then a cannon. The Glaive Thrower is also a great anti-seige weapon, and it’s not too far a distance back to your own Keep to take out attackers with it. Herein lies one of the best uses for them.

Glaive Throwers isn’t the only new toy at our disposal or the only reason to grab the Docks. There is another tool we are familiar with, but with a PvE-like twist.

What an original look. *cough*

Yes, a catapult. But this is different in the sense that it has ZERO damaging abilities. It does fire, but it fires YOU. I learned this the hard way when I fired myself into a wall like a fly hitting a windshield. The Dock catapult has two abilities at it’s disposal. One is a damage-absorbing shield, used to get the vehicle where it needs to go. The other is the firing mechanic, which is exactly like the one used in the Flame Leviathan fight in Ulduar. Don’t hope for a nifty grappling hook to pop out, insuring your safety if you are in the general area. Nono. You need to be very accurate. I fired myself several times right over the Keep walls and right into the courtyard where mass chaos was ensueing. Unfortunately it’s a rough landing I wouldn’t recommend unless you have a quick heal (I used Vampiric Blood+Imp Rune tap) or a parachute cloak at your disposal.

So I hear you? “Dahnek, what in the sam-hell is the use of this suicide machine?” The answer I found is keeping your seige vehicles safe and allow them to focus on walls by carefully firing yourself ONTO the towers that house the defensive turrets, where you can shut them down for a time. It takes practice to get the arc right but is very satisfying to pull it off.

That’s it for this addition folks. Check back next week for the next node on the list. In the mean time, happy killing!