For all the PvE players, what (if anything) would make you willing to flag for PvP?

That is a pretty good point Isaiah. I never played UO and never PvP'd for it's own sake. I've always been interested in fighting the generated environment. Fighting other players was more of a means to an end for me (that fool tried to kill me while I was trying to complete this dungeon, well I'll give him whatfor!) or a way to screw around with friends.

I do know one thing for a fact. If combat isn't fun, I won't be PvPing that is for sure. I think that they don't really need to manufacture something to make someone who plays PvE to PvP. If it's fun, people will do it if not you'll only get people who want PvP at all costs. All of my PvP reasons are system independent but other people might be into that castle defense and capture the flag sort of thing but it seems like something we could work out on our own unless you guys want special rewards/buffs whatever for CTF or control point holding. That wouldn't lure me but some people might get into it.

If you feel like you need to bribe someone to play in a way that they don't like, that's a hint that you might be barking up the wrong tree.

 

This is what we know to the best of my recollection - if I missed something someone else chime in (current thinking of course - subject to change ... lol)

"open PvP flag" - single player (this is somewhat murky due to instancing)

2 Guilds (can only be at war with 1 guild at a time) can declare war on each other - and have "world wide" PvP

PvP - Zones - Dynamic content

Castle battles (not a lot of details on this)

edit -

Loot rule - guilds may have the possibility to determine loot rules (as well as folks in duels)

 

Short answer, it has to be fun. By that, I mean that in order to enter PvP I need to stand a chance, and not have to deal with unfair odds. I even don't mind being prey to pks, as long as a have a chance to survive, and a reward for that. If I have to use strategy to cross a field full of PKs in order to get some rare material, and I have means to defend myself (or at least place a curse on people that killed me), that is fun. However, if there is a random chance that a pack of PKs much more powerful than me will appear in my way and I can do nothing about it (except hope it doesn't happen), that is not fun. Even if the chance is lower and the overall trip is profitable, it is not fun.

Well, that aspect of the real world is not very appreciated by the people with not access to the police. The thing is, if you create a pvp world and than create rules for what people want, you will end up with cities full of guards making pvp impossible - and in that case, why bother with pvp at all. From a business perspective, nonconsensual pvp is considered bad, and so SotA will not have it (this option is not on the table currently, maybe open another thread for this).

 

If anybody read the PvP threads they would have heard this:

"Because there is only one server and not multiple shards we will have a large pool of PvPers no matter what. If there is only 300,000 players total and 10% of them flag for PvP thats 30,000 people flagged for PvP" -- I doubt any incentives are needed to convert people to PvP

Keep in mind one shard in the old game would probably max out at 30k players.


Another thing, if I appear angry in my post I am very angry. Not at this thread but at the current PvP designs, and the combat system. I am no longer looking forward to this game. If something doesn't seriously change then this game will be nothing more than the flavor of the month or maybe a year. Since it runs on such a low budget it might make it's 5 eppisodes but thats the end of it.

UO is still going, and there are numerous frees hards still going. I'm willing to bet that after SotA is gone UO will still be going and going...

 

Well, you are entitled to your own opinion even if I don't share it.

 

A serious question; I'll try to answer accordingly. One caveat: I have only had experience with single-player, standalone games. I haven't been caught up in the whole PVP thing. However, my basic philosophy so far (which applies to NPCs and computer-generated monsters):

I try to live in peace as far as possible. If something/someone is not attacking me, I try to leave it alone. I don't kill for the sake of it.
If a monster/person is "evil", and attacks me, I will defend myself. Vigorously. That hopefully involves the death of the attacker - I have no qualms about that.

I think I can live quite well with what I perceive to be the current model - PVP is a real risk/probability if you want to get some rare or valuable resources, or complete some quests. You venture into dangerous areas - you could well get mugged. OK. It will be challenging, but I'm prepared to give it a try.

As @3Devious said, I would probably take part in a war if one were declared, or assist if friends/guildmates were being harassed or persecuted.

I'll have to see how it plays out. As said so often about this game, "everything is subject to change..."

 

Let me say that I'm an old-school PvPer and I understand the purpose of this thread - to get the non-hardcores to dip their toes into PvP. Please bear with me a moment while I attempt to address this great divide. It may be quite a strain of a read but it represents my personal feelings and, perhaps, those of other PvPers still here.

Softcore PvP - ie: that which can be found in hundreds of other MMOs - limit player interaction to confined areas: battle grounds, arenas, hexes, whatever. These represent a facade of the spirit of Player-vs-Player. The rules, the interactions permitted, the area itself, are designed to facilitate a quasi-PvP environment with the intention to provide a limited form of PvP which enables the participant to fight against real players, not NPCs. Although it's a step up from NPC grinding it doesn't permit free play. You are still in an on-rails part of the game.

The reward in such a system is usually in the form of PvP credits, trinkets, new shinies that you purchase in an endless pursuit of new gear. It's only slightly different than getting a group together to raid and kill that Boss NPC. Most games implement a gear-grind similar to PvE raiders but gear that is tailored specifically for PvP purposes. Hardcore PvPers don't want that, we want an equal footing where the outcome is decided by skill - not gear or random roll of the dice. Griefers on the otherhand absolutely relish the fact that, as a level 100 character, they wasted a lowly level 2 character. The majority of hardcore PvPers do not want that.

I've already witnessed a serious drop in PvP forum participation due to the designs discussed by Portalarium. I personally find it somewhat alarming. Most, including myself, were looking for UO2. Yes, I realize that's not going to happen here. Do me a favor and don't reply stating the obvious. However, there are still a few bones left which provide hope for the few of us willing to stick it out.

The absolute best environment to conduct PvP in is one that does not overly restrict the when, where, or why of PvP. The most memorable moments of PvP usually occur when/where you least expect it. That is the beauty of Open PvP. There are no pre-planned strategies - it's purely action and reaction. In FPS shooters such as Quake or Unreal you are already aware that the other participants are not friendly. You jump into the game knowing full well that it's kill or be killed. In an Open PvP environment that may not be the case. Thus you have to assess each situation as it arises. Not everyone you run into wants to kill you.

In both FPS and MMOs I'm rather adept at PvP and normally only lose when outnumbered. However, I expect to die on occasion - especially to someone better than me. There's always someone better. But you dust yourself off and, provided it's not some griefer waiting to rez-kill you again, get back on that bicycle and ride.

There are many days where even I don't want constant heart-pounding 100% non-stop adrenaline. Some days I just want to fish on my boat with my wife or do PvE stuff with her. I'll turn the PvP flag off for that. I have no issues whatsoever with that.

In summary, I think you'll find a lot of us hardcores aren't really looking to gank you non-stop. Mostly likely, after we've killed you, we've already concluded you were very little threat in the first place. Please don't take that as an insult but we're all mostly looking for the big fish in the pond. Hopefully, after you've gone through the rituals and taken your lumps, someday you'll be one of the big fish if that's your desire. If not, then at least get out there and try it and enjoy the experience. If it's not for you then I ask you please don't ruin my own gaming experience by limiting my style of play.

Thank you.

tl;dr - Get out there and experience PvP!

 

Not much of anything I can think off, I'm afraid.

I've had too many bad experiences vs. too few good ones.

The return on investment is too low. And (again, speaking from my own personal experience and frame of reference, because I can do naught else), I can't understand how the people that have treated me so poorly those times I've been subjected to PvP could seemingly derive so much pleasure from the discomfiture of another and have no regard whatever for the Person on the other end of that internet connection.

 

If you stole something from me, i'd flag pvp...

 

I would flag for the following:
1. Areas of greater returns(better mining etc)...risk vs reward...
2. Ranking for fun as the video showed there would be a ranking, so it would just be a nice contest to see if I can get better just as you level in adventuring against NPCs.
3. Quests that require it, I fight monsters or other players, its OK as long as its not full loot
4. Fighting Non AI is always more challenging, computer generated AI are not yet Watsons of Jeopardy yet.

btw I normally don't do PVP but would on the above conditions.

 

Thank you for your thoughtful post, Mercyful Fate.

I agree completely with this statement, and all my memories are bad ones.

This is not my personal experience.

I have, and because of those experiences choose to experience it no more.

 

"Well Established Trade Routes Between Cities and Towns"
That had a profit to be had by filling, sending or having to escorting them

"Different towns and cities need to have special items that only those places have, such as; resources or products that fetched a higher premium within the connecting city trade routes that can't be carried by back pack...
"Run for it!"

For the Traders & Glimpses of us
~Time Lord~

 

The problem is...this game can't be like the old UO....it isn't designed the same way at all. For one it is a story based rpg...not a free for all sandbox with no storyline and a minimal backstory. It just can't work the way UO did...can you imagine trying to play the story and a group of guys waiting at a choke point somewhere so they can pick off people? Does that sound fun at all really?

 

From primarily a PVE player and the occasional dabble in PVP I must say one thing that did get me involved in PVP and did find it benificial and fun was "Rifts" Conquest. The only thing that bothered me about this method of wide scale pvp was when they begun allowing premade to happen, other than that it had perks which made me want to take part and due to the amount of folks and the pace of it meant that I as a healer or as a relatively poor PVP'r was not singled out and repeatedly ganked by any one individual. Although I do not think it is required as the Dev's appear to be leaning towards a one gear does both pve/pvp I will still mention that Rift also implemented gear bolstering which did stop to a degree a gulf in overpowered!

 

There's very little a soloer or PUG can do against a well-trained pre-made. Pre-mades in theory should be relegated to the ladder competitions but, in reality, how can you prevent friends from playing together? However, the good ones quickly tire of rolling noobies as there is nothing to be gained by doing so. That pretty much leaves the teenage epeen-ers - which I don't envision playing this game - they're probably doing Skyrim.

 

I'll flag for pvp in order to enter Hilt it looks like

 

The question isn't really what incentives I'd need to get into PvP. I don't need any incentive to have fun. The real question is what disincentives will keep me out of PvP.

If I have to give up three or four full sets of armor in a session because some new PvP exploit was discovered, then I won't PvP. If I can't enter any hex without being immediately mobbed by naked mages, then I won't PvP. If I can be corpse camped, I won't PvP. *

I'd like to PvP, but there's only so much I'll put up with before saying to hell with it. I won't be playing loot pinata for people who can play 20 more hours a week than I can. I won't submit myself to griefing with no recourse out of some kind of bizarre obligation to appease the gods of Risk and Reward.

*

You know, if I really want the supposed fun of every minute being a high-stress situation where I have to worry about every other person I encounter stealing everything I carry through violence, I can always walk down the street to the store. Though even then I probably won't get my shirt and pants jacked. I don't need a video game to provide me with an adrenaline rush. I do need a video game to provide me with interesting strategic and tactical dilemmas, though. PvP is great for that, assuming that PvP doesn't simply mean that roving gangs will be farming me like I was a WoW dungeon boss.

There is one incentive I can think of, though: I'd be a lot more inclined to dive into the PvP pool if every other post from a full-looter on this forum wasn't belittling and insulting PvE players as lazy cowardly subhumans. That would certainly make flagging up more appealing. PvP or not, I have no desire to spend my limited time with people who think that way.

*Content edited ~ FireLotus

 

You can't. They said this won't be possible

 

What a lot of folks don't seem to get is that once the story is complete, we're still going to need something to do. People are spending thousands of dollars on something that is projected to be a ~60 hour game for Episode 1. Sure there will be social and RP events but in the end there really won't be much else to do.
As small as this game is, I am pretty sure that if a group of rounders block off a choke point in the story, that is just an invitation for everyone else with a little bit of spare time to come explain to them why we don't impede traffic. We're not going to be a number on server X just trying to get by. There won't be so many people playing that such behavior would really go unnoticed for very long.

 

I'm not saying no to any PVP I'm saying no to it affecting the whole world and making it the focus of the world.


As for it lasting after the Single player portion, this is where the online community needs to come together, castle seiges I'm sure will play a role. But also, I am hoping portalarium will have events going throughout the "down" time between episodes...where volcanoes and meteor strikes become comman for some reason story wise...(these are pvp events).

One of the major selling points of the hex based map was that it would allow the team to add to the map at will instead of only in expansions. Many events could be planned on that alone. I wonder if they will have some full time people on life extension to bridge gap between chapters?