Old Republic PvP Information

[Vasan]

Based on the below information (two rather limited german gamescom developer interviews) it looks like there will be free pvp zones you can fight in, and smaller objective based instanced areas for groups. PvP seems to set up for smaller teams to compete or just wander the free pvp zones.There will also be pvp and pve servers, and I assume pvp servers you can be attacked in any zone. About what we all expected.

They really do need to be more specific as to the open world pvp options, since you could easily assume from the interview it's just wandering around aimlessly trying to kill people. At any rate let's hope they have some sort of dynamic free pvp zone (take the objectives out of just the warzones for instance) or otherwise it honestly might just turn out to be a re-hash of failed WoW pvp ideas circa 2004.

Let's hope for a more straight forward account of open world pvp soon, and for the devs to realize, yes, people might take advantage of open communication in pvp. Shocker!

"Rear James. We are pleased much that you took yourself the time to answer the questions of our visitors. Here directly first: How will the PVP model look? Do only good Jedi and bad Sith fight each other?

There is two parliamentary groups, the republic and the Sith empire, with in each case four classes. If you explore the worlds, you come on planets, which are relevant for both sides e.g. Tatooine. Therefore you come automatically into contact with that in each case different side, which we call “open World PvP”. Here however not an organized PvP, you acts can even decide around whether you do not attack or evenly. But we have also an organized PvP, what we “Warzones” to call. Those are September-guessed/advised instances. The planet Alderaan will represent thereby the first instance/being zone. One has a larger number of players on a side, who fight for an object. If your side wins, then one receives a Award. In the reason it is an organized tournament

Is the Warzones how large, how many players can fight there against each other?

I believe that we did not announce it yet at all, but it will be in any case more largely than a party of kind of condition, thus at least 8 vs. 8 […] perhaps also more largely. It hangs in addition, from the technology […] naturally wants to have we it as largely as possible.

Jaina: So we will have PvE and PvP servers?

Sean: We haven’t defined our rules yet. It is something were looking at but it would make the most sense for the game. What we see through testing is that it makes no sense people to allow to behave how they want on any server. It maybe makes more sense to give people who are more interested in one gamestyle different server types, so that they’ll know directly where to go.

Jaina: Can players of different factions communicate with each other for example for RP purposes or is it restricted because of PvP?

Sean: Right now we allow open communication. That is something what could change, but if you go back to Star Wars, there was never a time Darth Vader could not talk to Luke Skywalker. They were talking galactic basic. Maybe some of the species have their own dialect, but they are still able to talk to each other.

It depends on fun and fairness in game. If people start abusing that, we have to look at that. Some people here have gamescom have noticed a Trooper talking to a Sith-Warrior while they were playing two different factions.

(Full interviews, and also some class skills located at swtor-station.com)

[Vasan]

PvE Elements:

Thought I would also add some brief, yet core pve information that hasn't yet really been addressed.

Old Republic will offer companions classes. Essentially these are npc, pet style classes, one per person. These are meant to assist harder to level classes (ranged healers), they are also meant to allow everyone to play a hands off pet class. Each companions seemingly will have a story arc that goes along with them. You don't have to use one, and I am unsure if they can be used in large groups or not.

Flashpoints are story based elements, groups missions to achieve a goal, such as fight off an attack, or secure an area. Sort of like the group missions in Aion I wager. The good news here is you should be able to redo these missions to aid lower level players in complete their story arcs.

Groups are four people strong, which seems a bit restrictive. Hopefully you can and need to form larger groups from time to time.

[Drakhon]

As far as we know, Companions can be used everywhere including PvP, so I wouldn't put them under the PvE heading. Their primary purpose is essentially to fill gaps in a given playgroup at a given time for a given objective - a tank for a solo healer leveling or additional healers for a group with only a secondary player one doing a flashpoint, for instance.

It's probably easiest to look at flashpoints as instanced "dungeons" that exist for the completion of critical story quests rather than ones that just happen to have quest objectives in them.

[Vasan]

Seems some flashpoints also have pvp and pve elements, wherein you fight a few mobs, a boss, then another group of players from the other side. Seems more aion dredge, than warhammer tomb. Some of the flashpoints also seem to have a bit of the flavor of the mass effect 2 mini missions, but I don't mind it here.

Interesting to see the devs emerging take on pvp. They do seem to have a very specific focus and viewpoint which seems to be somewhat shaped by the underlying structure of two factions warring while also pleasing the very real desires of some players to avoid/limit pvp entirely.

Quite amused by the fact your sith character can be a light side adherent, and your jedi can do the same with the dark side. Nice touch.

[Drakhon]

The embargo has been lifted on information from the PvP portion of the recent Fansite Summit.

1. Darth Hater: General Information
2. Darth Hater: Impressions
3. Darth Hater: Gabe Amatangelo Q&A (questions from multiple sites)
4. Darth Hater: Gabe Amatangelo Interview

Quote from (4):

Gabe Amatangelo: I want to touch on open world PvP. We're going to have PvP servers, and on the PvE servers there will be designated PvP areas. On a PvE server, you aren't going to flag unless you want to flag yourself, or unless you go into a designated PvP area that is going to be completely isolated from quests and story lines and that kind of stuff. Now, we're not talking about the goals inside those areas today, but we are saying that it is there. People can go and fight each other there.

5. GameSpot: Jedi PvP
6. Ask A Jedi
7. MMORPG.com

8. TORWars: Gabe Amatangelo Interview Part 1 (video)
9. TORWars: Gabe Amatangelo Interview Part 2 (video)
10. TORWars: Gabe Amatangelo "Forbidden Questions" (video)
11. TORWars: Jedi Consular PvP Impressions
12. TORWars: Alderaan Warzone Impressions

A more exhaustive link compilation: http://godtiergaming.wordpress.com/2...-swtour-swtor/

[Vasan]

Dev recently specified on how warzones will be server based to promote inter server rivalry and, as, needed, lower leveled players would get bolstered to higher levels to try to compete in the pvp.

He then quickly added they are still testing and could decide to change both of the above ideas.

[Drakhon]

They always do that. BioWare doesn't like to release anything that's not definite, but you kind of have to with an MMO, so they usually hedge with details like that because otherwise people would take it as absolute.

[Vasan]

Here I am hoping it is less nothing is set and more this is what we trying at the moment.

One server based pvp could work, I suppose, but trying telling that to players that have played low pop servers, waiting endlessly for scenarios to pop, wishing they could transfer to a healthier server.

Or worst getting frequent war zones pops, all against that death group that rules pvp.

Essentially I find pvp thrives on diversity, not shallow groups, and the concept of server pride shouldn't factor in. Let's hope they are planning massive servers perhaps, and transfer for those who have picked servers with little pvp interest, or low population. Better yet, let's hope they adopt large server clusters to fully utilize their matchmaking systems and ensure quick and healthy server pops.

[Vasan]

So far they have told us all about crafting, class progression, story based play, mounts, warfronts (pvp scenarios) and now operations (end game style raids). Supposedly, they still want to reveal more about storylines features and previously undiscussed combat systems.

While we do know pvp servers will have pvp combat anywhere and pve servers will have "designated areas" for pvp, let's hope they finally discuss any objective ("goals" as listed in the above posts) based large scale open world pvp at E3.

Prehaps they can at least take some of their ideas about innovative, but small population based, scenarios and also about varied types of end game raids and apply them to a larger open world pvp.

E3 being over, the only pvp imformation I picked up on was that pvp "designated areas" will be in the wastelands between quests hubs. It was explained to be, say two large areas for each side to quest in, side by side, with a large empty area between them. Sounds vague but they seem to be pushing the pve aspects information wise, with a good walkthrough on how the sith sorcerer class functions in game located on the official site.

[Vasan]

Quick Summary:

War zone = The old republic will feature four instanced war zone where small groups of players (8x8 as an example) of all levels will fight over the usual types of objectives. Lower leveled players will be boosted to compete, but otherwise it's a very similar system from warhammer or Rift.

Open World Pvp = Certain world areas will automatically flag you for pvp combat, again a similar system to other online games, and pvp servers will allow pvp combat anywhere. No further specific details regarding objectives have been given, but stress has been played upon these areas being distinct from the main quest hubs.

Release Date = None given as yet, baseless rumors quess three to six months where the only real informaton has been this year.