P versus P - Yay or nay?

[Nonentity]

So, as we all know, PvP was tacked on. My question is this:

Has it gotten to the point where it is worth participating in yet? I know they have some sort of a token system where you can get rewards.

I have a little Ratonga Brigand on Vox that I did some Commandlands PvP on. I got killed by a Dwarf Cleric on a pony.

[Sky]

Why?

[Surlyboi]

I got killed by a Dwarf Cleric on a pony.

Sorry, but the mental image this creates amuses the shit outta me.

[Nonentity]

I got killed by a Dwarf Cleric on a pony.

Sorry, but the mental image this creates amuses the shit outta me.

As well it should, as I thought it was hilarious, until I saw that I dropped like, a couple silver, then I was not so amused.

And the 'why' is that I am curious as to whether or not it's worth it to roll on a PvP server for a game that is clearly PvE slanted.

[Nija]

Well, I'm there but only because I refuse to play PVE only games.

It's still super unbalanced. I guess the thing to do these days is to lock your leveling experience and just rack up AA experience, so you can max your AA and just unleash the fucking fury on those who don't have maxed AA.

My new level 15 necromancer dies in about 4 seconds when attacked by these equal level twinked, max AA faggots.

You'd think that with the PVP server being the most populated one, they'd actually see how it plays. You'd be wrong.

[Nebu]

Played it in beta and shortly after release (to level 30 or so).  It's terrible in so many ways that I can't begin to explain it.  Balance issues, evac abilities, gear inequities, bleh. 

PvP tacked on to anything is a terrible idea.

[Sky]

My shadowknight is rocking with AA (the newer tree). Adding lifetaps to my most used attacks, increasing the effectiveness of my lifetap/dmg shield...good stuff. Way more effective than without the AA.

One problem with AA is that it was added later...so my lvl 20 Paladin has maybe 15 AA and my lvl 30 Wizard has 2. Definitely rewards newer players, though by now I guess it's a moot point.

Well, I'm there but only because I refuse to play PVE only games.

Not sure why you're playing EQ2, then. Apparently tacking on a cheesy pvp option works. The server is loaded because there are only a couple, the pve population is strung out across the rest of the servers. If the situation were reversed, there'd be instances of every major zone on the pve servers and maybe a few dozen people per pvp server. It's odd you won't play PvE but will play EQ2 PvP, where PvP is a detriment to the game?

Seriously, why? There are games geared toward pvp, why waste time with one that's clearly not?

[Sauced]

One problem with AA is that it was added later...so my lvl 20 Paladin has maybe 15 AA and my lvl 30 Wizard has 2. Definitely rewards newer players, though by now I guess it's a moot point.

It's definately a ton easier, but at least they reset exploration events when they added the AA system to make up for it.

[Nonentity]

So I've been reading about the AA system, and my little Iksar Berserker just hit level 10.

I explored something, and then it went up a bit.

Is the easiest thing to do to lock XP and then just start running around the world naked and exploring? I don't quite know what I'm doing with that system yet.

[Sauced]

If your goal is to have as much AA as possible at low levels, then that plus questing is the way to do it.  Killing Nameds (first time) and looting certain treasure also works.

[Sky]

The reason I locked exp was to finish quests before they greyed out, partly due to AA points. I'm not rabid about AA, though, I don't do nekkid exploration runs or anything.

[Sauced]

Remember, you can always find someone in the zone to mentor down to for a few seconds to do a quest turn in.  You get the AA value as if you were at the mentored-down level.  I've been able to find someone quickly everytime I've needed to do this.

[Sky]

Talk? To people??

[Sauced]

Heh.  Yeah.

Hilariously enough, it usually never involves actually talking to anyone.  I just ask in /ooc, get a group invite, mentor down, turn in, disband, say thanks in /ooc.

[Cheddar]

You'd think that with the PVP server being the most populated one, they'd actually see how it plays. You'd be wrong.

PvP is the most populous server?  Pardon my ignorance; I did not see that coming.

[Nonentity]

You'd think that with the PVP server being the most populated one, they'd actually see how it plays. You'd be wrong.

PvP is the most populous server?  Pardon my ignorance; I did not see that coming.

Yeah - every night when I go to log on, only two servers are at high population - the Roleplaying server, and the PvP server. Everything else is at medium or low.

[Murgos]

I dunno if it's just people checking out Neriak but population seems fine on the 'medium' load servers such as Oasis.  Lots of people of various levels running around, no shortage of chat going on and lots of people LFG.

On the AA front I've heard that the truly hard core will not only lock adventure exp but also repeatedly get themselves killed to prolong their stay at a certain level.

Frankly, I find it kind of absurd, the AA's aren't that important on PVE servers.  I mean, the point of them is to make your leveling MORE effective, right?  Sure, I see an argument for it on the PVP side but, PVP'ing in a tacked on system in a PVE game is also borderline absurd to begin with.  Much to my chagrin I spent 2+ years on Vallon Zek, I'm pretty sure I know what I am talking about on that point.

[Bandit]

I played on Nafagen for about 3 months, at the begginning of PvP.  I am not hardcore PvP, so my interest was only of intrigue on how they were going to implement PvP... as I had been playing EQ2 already for quite sometime. 

Problems obviously arose from the beggining, but the PvP servers are essentially a different ruleset, and they can tweak PvP balance without affecting PvE - and they seem to be addressing the issues one by one.  Not perfect mind you, but I enjoyed my stay on Nafagen.

I hate blanket statements, "EQ2 was built for PvE, therefore PvP must suck" - I am not saying anyone is wrong - but please indicate what exact issue you see with the PvP system, just for my own interest sake.

Biggest Issues as I see it:

1) Overpowering of scouts - Scouts were essentially built for PvP.  Tracking, stealth, evac, and snares are superior skills to have on the server...especially tracking. There has been some cryptic info from Aeralik (PvP Dev) that this may be addressed.  Biggest problem as I saw it on the server.

2) Level-locking - No explanation needed.  Tough for newer peeps to join the servers when level-locked AA fools ganking your ass, with very little chance to compete.  Aeralik comment recently:

As part of the balancing adjustments for pvp in the next update, I am looking into some ways to hopefully curb some of the added strength level lockers gain.  More details will be provided on all of this once it goes to Test PvP but I just wanted to point out that I am working on a lot of your top complaints SMILEY;)

[Nebu]

When I was in the beta testing for the new pvp server, I think 18 of the top 20 people in pvp were scouts.  Appears they still haven't addressed this issue. 

[Nonentity]

Odd - most of the level locked gankers that have killed me have been Furies or Berzerkers.

[Bandit]

Yup furies are actually pretty potent adversaries (as they are in PvE)....plus they have a root and snare.  Should be able to get away from a Zerker easy enough though....I think they may have a few stuns, but that must be it.  That was my problem using a defiler.  I could PvP well enough, and kick the shit out of most unsuspecting gankers, but if they ran, there was little I could do about it.  No snares, roots or stuns.  90% of the time I was fighting scouts so the routine went:

1) Stealthed scout finds me on track
2) Tries to gank me
3) Debuff, Ward and slowly overpower them
4) they run and stealth or evac
5) rinse, repeat

[Nonentity]

Oy.

To remain competitive while leveling, really your only option is to lock Combat XP.

That way, your AAs scale well with your level.

At level 11, with 3 AAs, i have about 400 hp. I saw a level 14 level locked and twinked character with over 900 hp.

That is insane.

[Simond]

There's a PvP retune planned for the next update, according to what I've seen elsewhere.

[Nonentity]

There's a PvP retune planned for the next update, according to what I've seen elsewhere.

This is true - they're capping the amount of AAs you can spend at any given level (you can gain more, you just can't spend them).

It will be 1.5x your level (so if you're level 20, you can have up to 30 AAs).

Also, the Tier 1 DPS classes (Warlock, Wizard, Assassin, Swashie) are having their PvP DPS reduced a pretty decent amount, and all the others slightly.

Fights are ending in seconds, even at level 70, from what I hear.