Hello fellow PvPers!
The reason for this post is to discuss some of the reasons why I think PvP in AO is becoming less interesting, and I will do my very best to make sure that I mention general problems and not issues that affect only certain professions. That being said, I will try to keep it short and hope to see your comments and responses to these problems that I perceive, (if you think I’m wrong please also tell me why). Please note, the vast majority of the claims I will make below apply only to endgame PvP, many PvP ranges specifically at tl3-4 do not suffer from many of these problems. I will offer some preliminary suggestions because without them this would simply be a crying post.
1. New Items.
With many of the updates over the last few years we have seen new instances with lots of new items that are very lucrative for PvP setups. Some specific examples include: Gauntlet pad, Awakened BoC / Awakened Shoulderplates / DB3 Bracer. Many of these items (like the ones I just mentioned) seem to increase everything a PvPer could want! You got your extra hp, nano, AC, AAD, AAO, crit increase, etc… This means one less layer of variety in PvP setups. In order to compete at the top teir, you are either wearing these items or you are not. There is no equivalent item in many of these slots that might allow an equally powerful but more tactical choice.
Suggestion: For a specific example: I would suggest that it would be more fun if there were several types of endgame shoulderpads. One that adds HP, one that adds Nano, one that adds AC, etc… That way, people could swap and choose what suits their profession best and even swap to a different shoulderpad for certain duels / fights. [This does not specifically have to be implemented by farming several shoulderpads, we could also have that you could screwdriver one shoulderpad to change the stat bias].
2. The balancing.
People have clearly worked very hard on the balancing of the PvP matchups in the game. This *has* resulted in greater balance, but has helped to turn endgame PvP into an elaborate game of rock-paper-scissors. Now more than ever, we have more of a system of “*Profession A* beats *Profession B* which beats *Profession C* et cetera…” While we do not have this kind of system 100%, it seems that with every change and addition we move further and further towards this kind of PvP reality. [Please note, this is true for endgame fully equipped PvP characters, your 220 endgame fixer still beats a lvl 175 agent, that is not what I’m referring to here!]
Suggestion: I am wholly unqualified to suggest specific nerfs/boosts to certain professions or items or tactics. Instead I will simply suggest that allowing greater variety in viable endgame PvP setups and usable PvP items will help to take care of balancing issues far better than any changes to professions, perks or nanos.
3. Variety is the ****e of life!
I know that for myself and many others, we fell in love with AO because of the variety. This was what set AO apart from all the other similar games out there. In AO you can make the machinegun-enforcer and axe-wielding agent of your dreams. Note that both of these combinations would be a terrible idea for endgame PvP. However, this idea is even stronger than simply eliminating ridiculous setups from competitive PvP, since *most* professions have very few weapon choices for endgame PvP if they want to be competitive. The same goes for armor choices for many professions (although some of the more forgiving professions can now trade the few benefits they got from combined armour/ofab combination to the complete-heal benefit of the full awakened set). The new option to swap AI armor without needing to perk alien tech expertise 3 is a step in the right direction for more variety, but a step is small compared to the leap we need.
Suggestion: Let’s boost some of the other QL 300 weapons! It seems kyr’ozch energy carbine is the only alien weapon that is viable at lvl 220 PvP, and only in certain circumstances. What about the QL 300 froob-friendly weapons? Is anybody using those for anything anyway? Let’s boost some different armors with interesting stat buffage! There are so many skills to buff and so many hidden skills also, there is room for so much variety and we aren’t using it! One last thought: Available perks increase certain skills that really force players to make their character in one very narrow path, especially at tl7, let’s rethink that maybe?
Agree with these points? Let’s talk to the devs and bring back variety! Disagree with these points? Post why, and let’s talk about it! (Although specific examples of specific items for your specific character are not so helpful). Think I’m an idiot and you want to tear me a new one with your words? Start a new thread and I promise to read it so long as you don’t clutter this thread!
Thanks for taking the time to read. Tru PvP 4 life!!
-Cupid
*PS: Can we please not talk about multiboxing? Trying to talk about real pvp here!
**PPS: If all else fails maybe we can crowdfund a pure-froob AO server, froob pvp is still balanced and has variety!
