Shadowbane is considered by many to be the premiere Player-versus-Player (PvP) massively multiplayer online game (MMOG). In the December Content Patch, we will be implementing a feature that many have been asking for since they first heard of Shadowbane: Experience gains granted from Player-vs.-Player combat!

Players who engage in combat with others and succeed may be granted experience. Note the word “may”. There are some stipulations that must be met before such rewards are granted. First and foremost, players under Rank 4 (Level 40) neither grant nor gain experience from PvP; this is considered an elder game system only. Worry not, though, that isn’t the only rule.

When you kill someone, a variety of checks are done. Aside from the level checks, the system ensures that the player who was killed is not in the same nation or guild as the player who could potentially be rewarded. Then they will check to make sure that the player is not Errant; an Errant is a player who has not nation nor guild affiliation. While killing an errant character may award experience, errant players themselves gain none from PvP. Wait, there is more!

Next the system checks to verify if the character killed had a Deathshroud effect prior to being killed. If so, no experience gains are granted. Finally, it will see if the player being potentially rewarded has been granted experience in the last hour for the same individual. If so, again, no experience will be rewarded. This will not add on to that timer, though.