My DH and I recently started playing WoW again, after being away for 3 years, before Burning Crusade and WotLK (I can't believe it's been that long... time has flown by!). I was a little slow to warm up to it, because I logged on, and I had forgotten everything about how to play my higher level characters, and it just seemed like kindof a daunting task to relearn everything. My main character is a 63 rogue, and I was feeling pretty useless... I know I had been really good at playing the rogue at one point, so to come back and kindof suck at it was discouraging. I was out in Hellfire and saw a blood elf pally soling 2-3 mobs with no trouble at all... I want to be a paladin! So I started a blood elf paladin, and I love her! I've started alliance paladins before, but I don't remember them being this fun to play, right from the start, so I don't know if it's my mood, or they've made some changes to paladins (I'm pretty sure they have, though). So, that's my new character ... it's a lot of work to start over, though... so I've been giving my rogue another try.

Anyway, way back when we played years ago, we had a smallish PVP Battlegrounds guild (we're on an RP server, not PVP), and we played mostly WSG in the 10-19 bracket, eventually moving up to the higher level BG's creating alts for the 19's WSG. This was back when you didn't earn XP for BG's though. We loved WSG then, but now with the changes they've made, I think it's even better. So here are a few things I've noticed:
1) XP in BG's: This is awesome! ... very annoying, I imagine, if you want to stay in one bracket, which is what we used to do, but really, if you want to freeze your xp you can (which is great), and it is more fair to play only against others that are doing the same thing. I haven't done that yet, but the only problem I could see with that, is that it would then become "battle of the twinks", and the only way you stay in a bracket would be if you could afford to get the gear, which wouldn't be good for players starting out, I guess... Has anyone tried this?

Anyway, I got a TON of XP and honor just doing a few BG's last night, it was crazy! I leveled to 63, and got half way through the level.

2) Timed WSG: Very good idea. Sometimes, if each team had a flag, I remember the battles could go on for ages, if the flags were well hidden and/or well defended. The strategy for winning changes, too, when the timer starts to run out.

3) Interesting too, that they now show the flags on the map... now there's no hiding! ... That changes the strategy a bit, and overall I think it's better.

I'm starting out at the lower end of the bracket which is always a little frustrating at first, because I'm not doing as much damage, and I'm dying a lot, lol. It's getting better as I level, though, and I'm still able to stop/return flags (got the "Frenzied Defender achievement the other night, for returning 5 flags in one battle, lol .. OH, achievements are "new" too, and a nice addition), and I've run a few flags.

Does anyone else play the BG's? Which is your favorite? I've also noticed there's a new Winterspring.. err, or something like that.. BG, but I've never been able to get in.. has anyone played that one?

Sorry for babbling so much ... just excited to be back at it

WELCOME BACK!!!

And yes, playing a paladin is SO much fun! Jen and I both have Blood Knights and love 'em. I know the feeling of leaving for a while (we were doing seasonal jobs with crappy internet, so we had to take a break!) and coming back... And not remembering how to play!

As far as battlegrounds, I'd say my all time favorite is WSG. However, I also love Alterac. The epicness of Alterac is awesome! I haven't played Winterspring - or many BGs for that matter.

Lately Jen and I have been using the dungeon finder and we are having so.much.fun!

Finally, what servers are you on? US or EU?