Pilot Archive
Thread: Where's the space pvp?
On Gorath, and I'm sure on most other servers, space pvp is almost non-existant. Virtually every time I launch my Dunelizard, I head for Deep Space. I start at the Star Destroyer, make my way to the Rebel Space Station and then back to the SD searching for enemy players the entire way. Then I'll usually hyper to Endor, declare and enter the Kessel system where I've got a series of waypoints I patrol looking for enemy players. Even with all this effort, my last pvp kill was close to a month ago. I can handle bugs and I can handle a lack of content, but to see no one even motivated to pvp is a huge disappointment. So I came up with an idea: make Kessel the free-for-all zone.
I know a lot of you are probably thinking, "But my master mission is there! They fixed this already and your bright idea is to reverse that!?" Yes and no. Right now, Deep Space is the only place where pilots can pvp without fear of decay, and it's limited to aces only. While I'm all for giving aces a nice reward, this isn't what it should be. As cool as the SD and Space Station are, they're only eye candy for me. I want to test my skill against other people. I realize I'm probably in the minority there. I'm sure there's a lot of rebels who'd love to say, "Ha! Iblew up your nasty Star Destroyer!" 
So here's my proposal. It's a compromise that I think would make a lot of people happy. First, the status of Kessel and Deep Space should be switched: make Kessel the FFA zone, make Deep Space exactly like Kessel is now and open both to all pilots. Then give a pilot options for their master mission.
Option one could be for the pilot to enter Deep Space and kill either the SD or the Space Station without fear of pvp. The mission-giver say something along the lines of, "The Rebellion has erected a base of operations in Deep Space. The Empire cannot allow this. It must be destroyed." Or if you're a rebel, "A Star Destroyer has been detected in Deep Space. The Empire could deal the Rebellion a devastating blow if we don't destroy that ship." Both targets are difficult to kill, but they don't move and you wouldn't have to worry about other players killing you.
Option two would be for the braver souls. It'd be the master mission as it was given pre- Kessel nerf. The trainer could say, "There's a Corellian Corvette patrolling the Kessel space. It has to be eliminated if we are to gain control of the sector. Expect heavy resistance when engaging this objective. The enemy will attack with extreme prejudice." The target itself would be easier, but you'd have to constantly watch your back. And we'd finally have a space sector open to every pilot with no fear of decay.
So what do you all think? I want to hear it all from the fawning praise to the nasty flames.
It's our game. We play it. We have to help make it better.
Message Edited by SwordNMace on 01-27-2005 06:55 PM
Message Edited by Infestus on 01-27-2005 04:55 PM
Narreem0884 wrote:When PvP in space is as simple as weapon and capacitor overload single shot kills, who would want to? This need to be fixed so that shields actually absorb blaster fire. In PvP, armor and shields are to weapons as paper and plastic are to bullets.
You know what? I don't buy that argument. In fact, I'd say attitudes like that are what caused the need for the CURB. You want this easier, then you want that easier, and eventually it all spirals out of control until you're left with no choice but to redo the whole thing.
Space pvp right now is quick and nasty, just like actual aerial dogfights. Even with multi-million dollar, hyper-maneuverable jets traveling just under the speed of sound, all it takes is a 1- to 2-second burst from a machine gun to bring one down.
Instead of trying to "dumb down" everything, let's build it up.
I don't think the problem in PVP is too much damage--it should maybe be dropped a little more, like 25-33%, something noticeable but not overwhelming--but rather that it's all so new we've got no idea how to do it well yet. I've run into people flying Krayts and B-Wings in straight lines and then they go off and grouse about how they died so fast. Well of course you died in a hurry! You're flying a house-sized target and doing so like a computer! On the other hand, I've seen an A-Wing pilot last for nearly 30 seconds while being pursued by four or five TIEs because she was so tiny and crazy none of us could land a shot. PVP tactics are still really elementary, and if I can climb on my high horse for a sec, I'd like to advise we all do a whole lot more of it before we start calling for major changes to the system. Cause now and then I get a glimpse of what an encounter between two real aces is like, or how an engagement of 20 skilled pilots on a side will work out, and it really seems a lot more balanced than I would have ever imagined.
Of course it would help if there WERE more PVP--and to find it, I suggest hanging around in Deep Space a lot, going overt in Kessel on a regular basis, seeing whether anyone on your server's put together PVP events. (We've had a couple on Starsider now and they are without doubt the most exciting stuff I've done in this game in a long, long time.) If there's nothing at all going on, maybe you should get a few friends together in a squad, do some training against each other, and issue an open challenge to the server. Space PVP's a lot more egalitarian and much less open to griefing than it is on the ground, so I think once people get the idea that it can be fun and skill does play a big role, they might get into it more. And fun as it is, that would be a great thing.
TomoRainer wrote:
Right now a shield will absorb a shot or two, depending on its strength, then armor can take another shot or two, then, maybe, your components can soak a shot before you die. That's 2-5 shots before you're off to the nearest space station. If you've got a good ship and a good idea of how to survive in a dogfight, that's an eternity; if it seems like you're dying instantaneously, I'd suggest practicing some more or shaking up your tactics, cause normally it's hard to hit someone that much that fast.
I don't think the problem in PVP is too much damage--it should maybe be dropped a little more, like 25-33%, something noticeable but not overwhelming--but rather that it's all so new we've got no idea how to do it well yet. I've run into people flying Krayts and B-Wings in straight lines and then they go off and grouse about how they died so fast. Well of course you died in a hurry! You're flying a house-sized target and doing so like a computer! On the other hand, I've seen an A-Wing pilot last for nearly 30 seconds while being pursued by four or five TIEs because she was so tiny and crazy none of us could land a shot. PVP tactics are still really elementary, and if I can climb on my high horse for a sec, I'd like to advise we all do a whole lot more of it before we start calling for major changes to the system. Cause now and then I get a glimpse of what an encounter between two real aces is like, or how an engagement of 20 skilled pilots on a side will work out, and it really seems a lot more balanced than I would have ever imagined.
Of course it would help if there WERE more PVP--and to find it, I suggest hanging around in Deep Space a lot, going overt in Kessel on a regular basis, seeing whether anyone on your server's put together PVP events. (We've had a couple on Starsider now and they are without doubt the most exciting stuff I've done in this game in a long, long time.) If there's nothing at all going on, maybe you should get a few friends together in a squad, do some training against each other, and issue an open challenge to the server. Space PVP's a lot more egalitarian and much less open to griefing than it is on the ground, so I think once people get the idea that it can be fun and skill does play a big role, they might get into it more. And fun as it is, that would be a great thing.
/cheer
Just to clarify, I'm not suggesting a change to the pvp system, I'm just trying to foster a debate and offer ideas on how we can encourage more of it. Every time I hit the button for Target Nearest Enemy Player and a name actually pops up, I get a huge rush. I want more of that.
mrmark200000 wrote:
i see your points on how space pvp should be quick and such.. thats your guys opinion, but i find it more fun and enjoyable. if it takes more than 2-5 shots to kill some one....i prefer a drawn out battle, its alot more enjoyable, and isnt over so soon. and besides, when people challange to duels, there can be cheap shots and stuff, and insttantly die at begining of the duel, so.....i prefer drawn-out duels heh
I prefer two-hit kills fopr the simple reason that they are a big equalizer. No matter your gear, if you can't aim and fly well enough that pilot with his tier 2 gear will waste your master level ship full of re'd loot components in a few shots. I'd hate if you'd have to have top gear just to be able to be decent in space pvp.
Only drawback is that multiplayer ships are too weak currently.