PvP Question

[emagdnim]

I'm new, obviously, and I really enjoy the interface and even though the progression feels slow (due to not leveling when you level, if you get that) I like the game and the PvE content is really well thought out and impressive. However, I play for PvP and I wanted to know if there's a good amount of PvP, especially mass PvP, later on in the game or if I'm barking up the wrong tree? Links to videos or even screenshots as well as examples of big fights would be much appreciated. How often, how big, and how involved they are would also be good information.

[Dretharis]

I'm new, obviously, and I really enjoy the interface and even though the progression feels slow (due to not leveling when you level, if you get that) I like the game and the PvE content is really well thought out and impressive. However, I play for PvP and I wanted to know if there's a good amount of PvP, especially mass PvP, later on in the game or if I'm barking up the wrong tree? Links to videos or even screenshots as well as examples of big fights would be much appreciated. How often, how big, and how involved they are would also be good information.

While I don't have enough experience with the game to give you an accurate answer, I can tell you that PvP does seem to be getting a little bit of attention in Mod 9 with a few improvements. I'm very glad to see them myself - I played the game about a year and a half ago, but like you more than anything I was primarily interested in PvP (although I like single combat, myself).

At the time I actually got a somewhat hostile reaction to a long post I had detailing some suggestions for implementing a revamped PvP system with instanced combat, as the only option was bar-room brawls which I find to be a pretty poor implementation for any sort of serious competitive PvP. I think it was up to about a ten or fifteen page argument by the time I threw my hands up in the air and gave up, haha - I hope the community on the whole is at least a little less xenophobic by now, and it does indeed seem to be.

While I don't have access to the beta and I've just started playing again a week ago, I'm pretty hopeful myself. From what I did read in the release notes, it seems pretty close to what I suggested - it's just a shame that they didn't implement betting or optional restriction rules, but I'll take what I can get =D

[Angelus_dead]

However, I play for PvP and I wanted to know if there's a good amount of PvP, especially mass PvP, later on in the game or if I'm barking up the wrong tree? Links to videos or even screenshots as well as examples of big fights would be much appreciated. How often, how big, and how involved they are would also be good information.
There is essentially none. PVP does not work in DDO (or in the original D&D). When D&D players want to PVP, they don't attempt to use the same characters as in PVE.

Big fights don't happen. If you want, you can convince up to 15 other players to join in one area to fight each other, but the only result will be a big explosion to kill everyone, caused by whichever caster decides he wants to go first.

In fact, the PVP features of DDO were basically a bait and switch to fool certain players into subscribing.

[Angelus_dead]

At the time I actually got a somewhat hostile reaction to a long post I had detailing some suggestions for implementing a revamped PvP system with instanced combat, as the only option was bar-room brawls which I find to be a pretty poor implementation for any sort of serious competitive PvP.
That is false. Instanced combat has been allowed in DDO for as long as it has had PVP at all. Nobody uses it, but the system exists.


I think it was up to about a ten or fifteen page argument by the time I threw my hands up in the air and gave up, haha - I hope the community on the whole is at least a little less xenophobic by now, and it does indeed seem to be.
The reaction was negative because they could tell that creating an adequate PVP system would require a major investment of designer manhours, which would detract from the PVE fixes desired by existing players.



While I don't have access to the beta and I've just started playing again a week ago, I'm pretty hopeful myself. From what I did read in the release notes, it seems pretty close to what I suggested
There has been no major improvement announced. The only apparent difference is you can enter PVP with someone from random places, instead of in select taverns.

[Dretharis]

That is false. Instanced combat has been allowed in DDO for as long as it has had PVP at all. Nobody uses it, but the system exists.

I'll admit I was not aware of this, but as far as I can recall it wasn't brought up in the discussion I had regarding it prior. I'll admit it's entirely possible I simply forgot about it.



The reaction was negative because they could tell that creating an adequate PVP system would require a major investment of designer manhours, which would detract from the PVE fixes desired by existing players.

The primary complaint was that the "type of players" attracted by PvP mechanics would be undesirable, obnoxious children. This point was emphasized when I along with a few others suggested that while such an improvement might take a small amount of development time, the potential for increased subscriptions and therefore game and community growth would outweigh any time "wasted" on PvP mechanics/features, as long as changes were kept to a limited scope.



There has been no major improvement announced. The only apparent difference is you can enter PVP with someone from random places, instead of in select taverns.

That's a huge improvement, in my opinion. How often do people hang around in taverns?

In tandem with the other improvements planned for Mod 9, and the revamped chat system, I'd suspect we'll see a much larger player base in the near future, and one which can be interacted and communicated with beyond solely the LFG box and Guild chat.

It's certainly still very limited, but I've seen some players discuss it with enthusiasm. D&D rules aren't exactly the most balanced, I'll agree with you on that point - that doesn't stop people from using them. NWN uses the 3.5 ruleset, and the PvP on some of the persistent worlds can be challenging and fun. Yes, it's also true that a character built for PvP may be different than one built for PvM - that doesn't mean either character can't utilize gear swaps to rival each other's effectiveness, in the majority of cases. We have feat respeccing, we can reset enhancements, and sorcs/bards can swap spells - I don't think that'll be much of an issue.

[Uska]

No and I hope there never never ever is sorry dnd isnt really a game setup for pvp the classes are to unbalanced for it and as to the level thing I hate autoleveling games, myself I like options when I level.

[Uska]

I'll admit I was not aware of this, but as far as I can recall it wasn't brought up in the discussion I had regarding it prior. I'll admit it's entirely possible I simply forgot about it.




The primary complaint was that the "type of players" attracted by PvP mechanics would be undesirable, obnoxious children. This point was emphasized when I along with a few others suggested that while such an improvement might take a small amount of development time, the potential for increased subscriptions and therefore game and community growth would outweigh any time "wasted" on PvP mechanics/features, as long as changes were kept to a limited scope.



That's a huge improvement, in my opinion. How often do people hang around in taverns?

In tandem with the other improvements planned for Mod 9, and the revamped chat system, I'd suspect we'll see a much larger player base in the near future, and one which can be interacted and communicated with beyond solely the LFG box and Guild chat.

It's certainly still very limited, but I've seen some players discuss it with enthusiasm. D&D rules aren't exactly the most balanced, I'll agree with you on that point - that doesn't stop people from using them. NWN uses the 3.5 ruleset, and the PvP on some of the persistent worlds can be challenging and fun. Yes, it's also true that a character built for PvP may be different than one built for PvM - that doesn't mean either character can't utilize gear swaps to rival each other's effectiveness, in the majority of cases. We have feat respeccing, we can reset enhancements, and sorcs/bards can swap spells - I don't think that'll be much of an issue.



Pvp like what people want will really never happen(thank goodness) and most people I imagine will be turning off the pvp challenge option.

[VKhaun]

I'm new, obviously, and I really enjoy the interface and even though the progression feels slow (due to not leveling when you level, if you get that) I like the game and the PvE content is really well thought out and impressive. However, I play for PvP and I wanted to know if there's a good amount of PvP, especially mass PvP, later on in the game or if I'm barking up the wrong tree? Links to videos or even screenshots as well as examples of big fights would be much appreciated. How often, how big, and how involved they are would also be good information.

Right now, no not really. Just the tavern brawl areas. Eventually they are adding a duel system like most games, which includes group vs group fights... but the game is not balanced for PvP in the slightest and makes no apologies for it. Personally I'm proud of this. I was very sad about a lot of changes in City of Heroes when PvP was introduced, and loved how guild wars separated the two almost entirely.

[Uska]

Right now, no not really. Just the tavern brawl areas. Eventually they are adding a duel system like most games, which includes group vs group fights... but the game is not balanced for PvP in the slightest and makes no apologies for it. Personally I'm proud of this. I was very sad about a lot of changes in City of Heroes when PvP was introduced, and loved how guild wars separated the two almost entirely.

and 99% of people will turn of the duel option most of the time so as not to be annoyed.