I thought this games main feature was gonna be full world pvp, not instanced WoW BG-esque pvp. What is the purpose of scenarios?

overflow

To give people variasion. 

Scenarios are only like BG's in the sence they take you into an instance.  Other wise every Scenario is server based.

But as has been said billions of times, the main focus IS Keep Battles.

So will most of the PvP be like this? or is this just a side thing?

Well it's a major component but the whole world is PvP in specific ares of each map. The higher you o in Tiers, the more there is per map. The Scenarios give folks an opportunity to queue up and PvP for 15 minutes at a pop while they are doing PvE. Think of them a 'bonus' short term PvP opportunities.

I intend to use scenarios for short sessions and world rvr when I have more time to play. In theory, if I only have 30 minutes to play, I could play 2 scenarios to the end.

So you can't be killed while doing PvE or quests? ie: outside a scenario

Originally posted by spiky623

So you can't be killed while doing PvE or quests? ie: outside a scenario

Yes you can. With each tier, there will be more and more RvR zones. So if you go and do quests there, you will be RvR flagged. I'm not sure, but I think tier 4 consists of about 80% RvR zones or something like that.

I see, that sounds great... I was worried there for a while...

There is also going to be an "Open" RvR server. Though Mythic has some kinks to work out on thoes servers, the option will be there at launch.

As to why scenarios its just another option. Open world RvR still nets more exp and renown. Believe me, dont think of WoW's BG's as the same thing as scenarios. The idea still holds, but the way Mythic has done them makes them alittle more fun imo.  For example the Elf pairing Tier1 Scenario Khaine's Embrace. There are 2 objectives to capture. Once Order or Destruction captures both there is 10 seconds to retake it. If you dont, a horn sounds and you have about 5 seconds to get the fk away from them. If you dont there is an explosion that kills you. Once the "explosion" happens both flag objectives reset and are free for both sides to capture again.

I know that sounds kinda lame at first thought but once you experiance it, its alot of fun!

Originally posted by spiky623

So you can't be killed while doing PvE or quests? ie: outside a scenario

As someone mentioned, it's anyone kill anyone in the Open ruleset servers. In the Core ruleset, you look at the map and you see a colored areas on the map. Some of those (small blobs) indicate quests. Bigger areas with little shield icons in them are PvP areas with the objectives to be taken over. As you take them over, the world balance (shown in a guage above the map) starts to tip in your favors (well, PvE and Scenarios it too. No one knows how much each will affect it).

Once you cross the line on the map, a text pop-up on the screen shows 'You will be flagged for RvR in 10 seconds!' and then you get a countdown. If you don't turn around and head back out, you flag for RvR/PvP and can be killed.

You also get flagged automatically if you go into the opposing realm's PvE area.

Originally posted by Dameonk

You also get flagged automatically if you go into the opposing realm's PvE area.

I never got flagged for going into their PvE area.. I even got some history and lore tome unlocks when i went into the opposing faction's PvE area.

cool, open RvR ruleset server for me then I guess.

Originally posted by Dameonk

You also get flagged automatically if you go into the opposing realm's PvE area.

Not sure about this. i thought that should be the case but I know for a fact that when I was fighting shamans in the dwarf area they were orange to me. They flagged to attack me, on purpose when  several additional teammates showed up. The only part that might have skewed that observation is that they (and we) were involved in one of those cross-side PQs where Chaos and Order each have to kill X number NPCs of the other team before the same is done to them. *confused* Something to trial and error in the OB, I guess.

Scenarios :- These are short term PvP elements that hep the RvR status of the zone but have a set duration and purpose i.e. capture the flag, destroy x etc.

The larger area arund the scenario locations is the RvR area this is a source of constant battle where sides are vieying for domination there are several areas of note in these which are worth holding (major one being the keeps/forts) these should be exchanging hands multiple times as which ever side holds a keep gets bonuses. Mean while all the PvP activites you do here helps your reknown and your factions status in the area.

Basically Scenarios and the Open RvR areas are ment to appeal to all sides of the PvP mindset. Also please note these area are in BOTH CORE AND OPEN RULESETS. The only difference between core and open rulesets is how the PvE zones are handled.

just my 2 cents

Gadareth

I personally am really looking forward to the scenario's for me it keeps in well with the tabletop game which is basically a scenario being played out, im all for free for all pvp but objective based pvp also brings a great mix into too, as long as things don't follow along the WoW path of pvp being 90% instanced.

Originally posted by Digna

Originally posted by Dameonk

You also get flagged automatically if you go into the opposing realm's PvE area.

 

Not sure about this. i thought that should be the case but I know for a fact that when I was fighting shamans in the dwarf area they were orange to me. They flagged to attack me, on purpose when  several additional teammates showed up. The only part that might have skewed that observation is that they (and we) were involved in one of those cross-side PQs where Chaos and Order each have to kill X number NPCs of the other team before the same is done to them. *confused* Something to trial and error in the OB, I guess.

IN preview weekend and closed beta, al the servers were Core. There were no Open servers yet.

People have short memories.  In the original design, the scenarios actually carried a bit more weight in the overall game design (yes, it appears they were following WOW's lead)

Then about a year ago, after the initial beta test results were in, they actually closed the beta down for 3 months to "re-work" the open world PVP (i.e beef it up a whole lot more, and make it more relevant) to the over all game play.

Mythic of course issued all sorts of disclaimers saying this was part of their plan all along.  Maybe so, maybe not.  In the end, it doesn't matter since the end result is better open world PVP.

Even now, I've seen beta reports saying Scenarios just recently were giving more renown and reward than the open world PVP.  Not sure who to believe in this regard.

ive never made more renown & xp in Scenarios...you make it 'faster' if you can play them back to back but it gets boring to do the same map over and over.   Not to mention people become worth less and less RP points the more you kill them and since Scenarios are relatively limited in how many people participate you eventually Run out of a decent amont of point worthy opponents if you killed Jo Bob 15 times in a row. 

Its also heavily dependant on your team actually doing something other than poking their asses & simply killing (there are scenarios alla bout the kills but most pretty much can't be won unless you do the objectives)... its the only thing I hate about scenarios pugs that are run by idiots just grab a flag then go kill they seem to have little interest in actually protecting & winning the scenario's objective.   If you are in a team that constantly wins and you play the scenarios alot you will gain alot of reward for it but not more than Open RvR. 

In Open if your side locks down the RvR area you gain a pretty damn HUGE RP reward you can't get from Scenarios and you can only get it if you were Logged on and in that area.

Open is far more valuable in the long run...once you reach Tier 2 you can only find the Renown Trainers & Gear Vendors in the Keeps if you let the other side take all the keeps you can't Train in Renown & buy new gear which makes your Renown Rank Worthless too you.

Renown Rank is worthless without the Open RvR zones.