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Profile: Hhussk
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UsernameHhussk
Rank: 50/100Rank: 50/100Rank: 50/100Rank: 50/100Rank: 50/100
Real Name 
RankAdvanced Member
JoinedDecember 18, 2007
GenderMale
Age40
LocationSomewhere, AK, United States
Last VisitOctober 2, 2008
Post Count85
Biography 
Quote

That which surrounds you, becomes you.

 

5 Most Recent Threads by Hhussk [more...]

Latest Blog Entry - Ultimate PvP...
From my blog Transcendent's Tomb [Hhussk]

PvP (Player vs. Player) is a draw to many players and could be a draw to nearly everyone if implemented correctly.

But there are varied problems which make it fail. These problems span from MMO to MMO and can incorporated into the following terms:

Ganking:  Many players hate ganking. Ganking occurs when you come into a zone, instance, or area and are immediately killed. It is almost as if you were barely able to open your eyes before you die. This occurs most often on FFA ("Free For All") servers. Because of ganking, many players will stay away from FFA. Others adapt by stripping down or by surrounding themselves with friends. Sometimes the fun in this is trying to figure out how to kill the gankers.

Graverobbing:  This occurs less and less. In some games, when you die, your items because "treasure" and lootable by others. The industry has been trending against graverobbing because it causes their subscriber numbers to decrease. Basically, people won't play if they lose their l33t gear.

GraveCamping: Also known by other terms, this occurs when your opponent waits at your gravesite or respawning point. When you get resurrected or raised, they kill you again.

FoTM: Flavor of the Month builds represent a problem in the aspect of patches and upgrades. Today's "Warrior" may be the ultimate killing build. He can hack and slash and mow down his opponents before he falls. But what happens after patch 2.0? Well, now the "Sorcerer" has his spells upgraded. They completely overwhelm the warrior now. So basically, what you have is people moving from build to build to build. This usually removes people who enjoy Roleplaying from the RP equation. They prefer a more even playing field.

Exploits: An exploit is a technique or tool of some sort that operates in a manner that completely unbalances the game towards the favor of the exploiter. In PvP terms, exploiting basically makes skill pointless. This is a bane.

Obviously, there can be more problems attributed in a poorly made PvP MMO...

So what are the solutions?

Basically, PvP is being streamlined at this time. In other words, we think of it only in terms of fighting. Why is this so bad? Simple. Fighting is what fighters do. Thieves steal, Assassin's murder, Wizards cast spells, Clerics pray, Druids plant trees and so on... So, the problem you run into is that every class has to learn to fight to PvP.

Fighting

Perhaps you've been trained to think this is necessary, but it is not. I assure you that a Diplomat class could be just as effective a PvPer than a Barbarian. Let's take this scenario, and I will show you an example.

Example 1: Barbarian vs. Diplomat

Rogg the barbarian has learned Ionysus the Diplomat has insulted his clan. Therefore, Ionysus must die. Hiding in the alleys, Rogg waits for Ionysus to pass by...this should be a simple murder by chopping off his head. No diplomat can stand against the mighty barbarian!

But Ionysus never appears.

Hidden in his chambers, the diplomat Ionysus speaks with his runners, learning of the barbarian's advances. When Rogg charged into the city, he was notified. When Rogg hid in the alleyways, he was forewarned. Clearly the barbarian is a fool if he believes a diplomat will try to match him in swords.

Having enough, Ionysus hails the captain of the guards and tells him to have Rogg picked up for "public disturbances". Hopefully the captain will have no problems and throw the barbarian in stocks. Once the trial begins...well, a judge can easily be bribed to execute an uncivilized beast...

 

Stealth

Perhaps you've been trained to think invisibility and stealth are the key elements to PvP. Once again, I assure you that a mage can be as effective as an assassin or thief.

Example 2: Thief vs. Mage

Sliver the Thief, cutthroat master, has decided to put some of his poisons and blades in the back of WolfMane the Wizard. WolfMane has been known to carry lots of cash as well as magical trinkets. This could be Sliver's big score in the guild. Remaining silent, Sliver carefully adheres to the shadows. His presence is undected. WolfMane is merely steps away and the night will cloak his attack.

Unsliding his envenomed dagger, Sliver prepares to strike right between the shoulder blades. He leaps...but then falls short. Something continues to pull his muscles to the ground...

"A nice defensive spell...Gravity Field," mutters WolfMane, "I can't attack you, of course, but you clearly did not know that. There is a way to circumvent the magic, but I doubt that matters now, eh?"

Weaving his hands in a complex manner, a strange figure emerges from the ground...a figure composed of rock and mud. WolfMane had summoned an elemental.

"As I said, I cannot attack you, poor street urchin...but my friend here should be able to..."

Sliver gasped for breath. His muscles groaned as he tried to lift himself off the ground. If he could just reach the mage, his poison would kill him in seconds. His desperate struggles met futility as his skull collapsed under the weight of stone...

 

Having provided some examples, I would like to point out what truly makes PvP exciting.

Strengths but weaknesses. Its fine to have ultimate attacks and defenses, but each should have a way to be beaten. A strong defense should have equally taxing features. A superior attack, should have a way to be beaten. This level of balance means that the situation and opponent dictates what works best...not the same attack or defense...over and over.

Anonymity. By hiding things such as levels, statistics, classes, and active effects, you are nullifying knowledge. Remember that knowledge is power. So, when you attack the person in the mage's robes, is he truly a mage? Or is he a thief in disguise? Because if he isn't a mage, your magic-nullifying attack will be pointless.  As well, people are more careful when attacking an unknown. You're more inclined to have backup plans, associates, etc., in case you are wrong.

Relative Advantages: What makes a city so important? The relative safety it provides...known as "laws". Obviously, thieves, diplomats and other classes can bend laws from time to time, but the concept remains. Your character should have a place he or she can go that gives him/her the edge. For example, Druids and Rangers (barbarians, I suppose) would certainly reign supreme in the forest settings. Thieves, Diplomats, and law-abiders in the city. Paladins, Mercs, and Fighters would thrive on a battlefield or in a duel. The key element is your character being able to walk or set him/herself up in environmental conditions that give him the edge.

Community: This might be a suprise to other PvPers, but the community is important. If you know who "Rogg the barbarian" is, perhaps you'll stay clear of him. Likewise, if a "new face" appears in the area, you may study him or her until you know more. Likewise, players of a community tend to stand together when a newcomer arrives and tries to hack n slash his way through the natives. Communities thrive because they are communities.

Allow Retainment Measures. While item stealing should be allowed, it should also be circumventable. In other words, things like soul-bonding or something should be possible. These types of measures help the economy as well. By soul-bonding, I am not referring to the WOW version. This form of bonding is a magical countermeasure that allows you to call upon your item, or have it return to a place of your keeping if you should lose it. Player Houses, vaults and storage places off the body also help.

I'm also interested in any suggestions and willing to debate :)

Read more from my blog [Hhussk]

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Recent Forum Posts [more...]

    • So.. ah.. Who's in Beta?
    • Originally posted by Random_mage

      Come on guys.. I want this game to come out and I want it to work..

      But lets look at the facts:

      1. No leaked beta info.  I know it's not a US game, and maybe if you leak a beta you get murdered or something, but .. well people push limits.

      2.  Who's actually going to be carrying this game?  Darkfall hasn't authorized any pre-orders.   Find me one other game that's supposed to release this year that can't be pre-ordered. 

      3. Supposedly feature complete, but didn't show all that many features in the video.  I know it's a PvP game, that's the main focus, but don't say you have more features but only show 1 or 3...

      4. Nobody in beta.  Well, no one talking about it.  One thing the PvP community is known for is cheating.  Anything to gain an advantage of the opponent is good.  Duping, super jumping, teleporting.. anything.  With the lack of Beta information means .. even if they start an open beta (and by open, I mean upping the beta to 20k people) enough to break it and cheat.. no everything or anything possible.  Well, 3 months isn't enough time. 

      I'm not a "this is vaporware" kind of guy, I'm just looking at the facts.  I think The Darkfall Team made a mistake by saying it's releasing this year (to build hype).. They should have just announced when they started open beta.  Until then, Darkfall is just a dream that.. well.. won't be out this year.

       

      And FLAME ON, as I know the unrealistic DARKFALL ground will jump on how much info is out there.. and How I'm completely full of it.. But.. eh..


       

      I would just tell you to calm down. Relax. If it comes out on time....hurah, if it never comes out....then there's less stuff for us to complain about.

    • Posted: 10/02/08 6:50 AM
      Darkfall
    • WAR or LICH KING....why i canceled my subcription at WAR
    • Originally posted by Archillez

      First, i orderd a collectors edition of WAR, i been waiting for the games since i saw it 2 years ago. i played guild wars then wow..tried some of the free to play which i dont like. im a RPG type of guy..and i love pvp.

      first..i wana compare it to the game which was so addictive to me...wow

      1.Dungeon..tho they have dungeon in war...i tried the sewer...but there is no sense of strategy at all. All you have to do is let the tank lure,heal it and whack mob. While in heroic dungeon in wow..there is a sense of team play..we even use ventrillo just for the sake of coordination..CC wise.U also need a strategy to kill boses. Raid is even harder.

      2.Economy..war has none..wow has a lot

      3.laggy..everytime a warpriest cast a spell buff.it lags..and other buff as well.

      4.Farming..ok this one i hate so much..but but...wow makes farming addictive...everytime i log in..all i want is get more money.get better gears. do many heroics over and over just to get that drop item. tho i hate it so much..but once u get the item u want..u feel so proud.a sense of accomplisment. wow did some psycological thing on farming which make it addictive even tho ppol hate farming..but still they do it.

      5. Skills...come on....i hate war skills..i mean the execution of skill is just not right. someone mention that wow skills is like tetris..he is exactly right..the feeling of it just make it addictive.

      i played wow for 1 yr..and i got bored..but in war..i played it about 2weeks..now im bored.

      war pvp is awesome..the idea of rvr is nice. but if its the only reason for playing war...then it gets borring easy...

       

       

       


       

      Based on your post, a reader would think that WAR and WOW have been equally been available for the same amount of time. But actually, we know that's not true. WAR has only been out for a month, and WOW has been out for few years.

      Do you see the error in your judgement now?

    • Posted: 10/02/08 6:43 AM
      General Discussion
    • Why WOW Failed....
    • Originally posted by kdw75

      Well I guess they just couldn't keep enough subscribers. I hear they will be shutting down the servers soon. With AOC and Warhammer out WOW never had a chance.

       

      I love Warhammer but I am also looking forward to WOTLK. This is going to be one fun Winter!!!!

       

      Keith


       

      You've been hoodwinked, Keith. Let this be a lesson for you all. Everybody watch out for Keith!

       

    • Posted: 9/19/08 10:21 AM
      World of Warcraft
    • Funcom's stock drop
    • Originally posted by popinjay

      I agree brewing for many years.. about SIX years, ever since Clinton left office to be exact so that last 6yrs or so while the Bushies ran things with a Repub congress and Repub president...

      no, deregulation of Wall Street (Phil Gramm) and corporate America had nothing to do with the last 6-7 yrs of Republican rule..

      neither did two wars that cost over 1 Billion dollars, and still counting (which NO one needed).

      While I agree that Dems should have done something when they just got congress back less than 2yrs ago.. its tough to reverse 6 yrs of Republican mess in that short amount of time while robber barons ripped off the country.

      But ill try and stop on topic after this "side note". Still dont think you can judge any MMO (Funcom included) solely on stock price in this economy. (so Eben, we agree on something) 


       

      Unbelieveably ignorant. Please go to a political trolling forum before you make a fool out of yourself.

      Funcom is suffering from the very point of the article. Their failure or success is based on one product. It has nothing to do with your opinion of the economy. Blaming Bush, a political party, or any single person or small group is ridiculous and moronic. Funcom is traded in Oslo, not in the US. I promise you that the stock price of an online computer game is not affected by the mortgage-housing freefall.

      For god's sake...go to college and get a degree before you humiliate yourself.

    • Posted: 9/17/08 7:05 AM
      Age of Conan
    • The Official: "I apologize about Darkfall" Thread

    • I just want to add to my original post for the sake of making a point.

      I'm no Darkfall fanboi. If it comes out, great. If it doesn't come out. Oh well. But I can't remember the number of times people called Darkfall "Vaporware". And I was laughing the other day because people were blasting DF because the video didn't come out early enough.

      Look, I don't know if the game is going to actually come out. It appears that "something" is on the horizon. My definition of Vaporware is a game that ultimately does not release. Perhaps they started it and couldn't finish it, or perhaps they never had code at all. Either way, Darkfall could still end up as Vaporware.

      But to all you who hate a game you never played....I just don't understand the anger. So, things are moving along, and now you don't want to admit you might be wrong. Instead, I'm watching you all turn from "vaporware" to "crapware". I think you are making the same mistake. Once again, you really don't know anything to make a respectable judgement. It appears that you are just angry with the Darkfall creators.

      On a side note, I'm amused how many people are calling it crapware because of graphics (et al). I would like to remind you that Age of Conan had incredible graphics...and its not doing so well. According to my experiences, graphics is only the initial 'draw' to the game. Once you start playing, you don't pay attention to them anymore. Ultimately, all I'm concerned about is a game that has good mechanics and support. Hell, I would enjoy a good MUD if it was well done.

      Anyhow, this is my stake, my opinion, on Darkfall. I'm hoping for a well done game. That's all. Same goes for Warhammer.

    • Posted: 8/30/08 4:43 PM
      Darkfall

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