STORMBLOOD: Open World PvP

[Februs]

So, I managed to catch a bit of info before work on the upcoming expansion (next summer), and I came across an interesting rumour. Supposedly, at the Fan Festival, it was mentioned that open world PvP MIGHT be made available during the STORMBLOOD expansion.

The only information I've been able to find on this so far is being taken from a video blog done by Mr. Happy (found here). In his blog, he says that open world PvP was mentioned as a feature that WILL NOT be available for the launch of STORMBLOOD; however, it may be made available later in the expansion. This same sentiment was also offered for several other pieces of content, including an expanded inventory that will supposedly be introduced in two stages.

Another interesting aspect of this, for me at least, was that the first teaser trailer for the expansion does seem to focus on PvP rather than PvE. The lore of the expansion as well is man vs man, as opposed to man vs superior force (dragons, primals, ascians, etc). We know very little about it, however it seems to focus on a more human conflict. So, PvP would seem to fit the theme. That said, I'm sure the ascians and dragons will have their hands in the pot as well, especially given the content of the 3.4 patch, so this could also be baseless. We won't know for sure until we see more.

Regardless, nothing is confirmed so far. We'll have to wait for additional fan festivals, trailers, and live letters for more information, and I don't expect any open world PvP to be implemented until well into the expansion (likely second half of its life-cycle, if at all). That said, what do you guys think of this? Is open world PvP of interest to you? IF it happens, how do you expect it to be handled/what would you like to see or expect to see? We should probably take into consideration the dueling deck as well, considering it is likely the test format for this addition, if it happens. Their decision to leave it un-sync'd, for example, makes a bit more sense to me now; although, I still believe that you should be able to request a sync at the start of a duel.

What do you guys think, though? It's all up in the air at this point, so speculation is the name of the game. Have at it.

[Hamayumi]

I like the idea of open world PvP but unless SE somehow manages to flip the game design upside down and inside out, it would not work for this game. The jobs are too unbalanced and were not designed originally for pvp, unfortunately. I'd rather something similar to GW2's worldVSworldVSworld with map objectives that persist 24/7, in an instance, that people can drop in and out from.

[Heart-of-Asia]

I don't like it at all because every other game I have ever played with open world PVP turned bad. There are literally people who would gank people from the time they logged in to the time the logged off. Only way I would be okay with it if there was an option to do participate in open world PVP or there's one zone dedicated to it without having any of the quests in that zone. Otherwise, nope!

[Shurrikhan]

When I hear "open world PvP" in an of itself, I assume an annoyance. When I hear it in relation to what sound like interesting, cohesive gameplay centered around that PvP and its mechanics, environments, progressions, etc., especially where it can draw in what players may like most from PvE or story-telling without having to be mutually exclusive to PvP, then I'm hyped. But just like there's a huge difference between faction warfare between near even player/level/ilvl counts or scaled PvP in an open world arena for shits and giggles and being corpse-camped or having your leveling hub wiped out by someone twice your level... there's really wide range to that term.

XIV's PvP seems like it has less potential than most for me simply because somehow, and this is entirely subjective, it seems to lack impact and fluidity. The latency makes it clunkier than it needs to be, and its only major points of impact outside the periodic burst comes from CC, which just further bogs combat. A lot of this is stuff I find annoying in PvE as well, but it tends not to be as noticeable when you're dealing with fewer sources of latency and when movement isn't as constant.

I'd have to know more about the expanded world map and its various themes before I could make any guesses, however vague, at how Open-World PvP would look in XIV, at its scale, how it would play out, etc. Do our open snippets from the new lore book give any hints?


:: Just for context, this is coming from a player who started on PvP servers because I got tired of opposite-faction players stealing my quest objectives when I pulled enemies and killed them more efficiently than they could, and wished I could similarly discourage my own faction from doing the same. At this point, I'll cut short my dps to avoid dealing damage to enemy faction members working together with me on the same objective (e.g. a world boss spawn), and get puzzled as to why someone showing up at 20% boss HP would prioritize murdering everyone else rather than simply claiming his own credit, or finds it necessary to kill every lower level player he sees. I'd life-grab players from my own faction off cliffs to let a ganked lowbie get away if it were an option. But all in all, PvP has only ever been a thing about a odd sense of communal respect, sometimes guarding it (and our efforts/resources), and usually stomping on it (and our own dignity while griefing out of boredom).

[ZhaneX]

Another thing is that Yoshi-P explicitly mentioned that if, IF, they were to implement Open World PvP, they would do so only on specific servers designed for it.

[Eorzean_username]

True open PvP is too much for me, it becomes vindictive and very stressful, and I don't think it would fit well with FFXIV's design. (Trying to imagine being suddenly smashed while trying to use a Market Board or finish a 10-second quest item cast bar, or getting Heavy'd constantly while trying to ride between FATEs)

But I really enjoy big, persistent, objective-based zones that encourage roaming PvP. Like an especially gigantic, persistent Frontline. Or a very dangerous Diadem. Or GW2 WvW. Or (not my personal experiences, but using suggestions from Google) WOW Wintergrasp/Ashran, ESO Cyrodil, etc.

Intense, claustrophic deathmatch / arena PvP (Feast) is fun in small doses, but it requires such non-stop attention to detail that it can be exhausting. For me, open and objective-based areas have a better cadence of conflict mixed with downtime / alternative gameplay.

[Eorzean_username]

Another thing is that Yoshi-P explicitly mentioned that if, IF, they were to implement Open World PvP, they would do so only on specific servers designed for it.

Oh, gosh. Given how popular controlled and instanced PvP already is with the FFXIV audience, a free-for-all PvP server would probably end up with a population tinier than even the smallest PvE servers currently have.

[Februs]

I don't like it at all because every other game I have ever played with open world PVP turned bad. There are literally people who would gank people from the time they logged in to the time the logged off.

True open PvP is too much for me, it becomes vindictive and very stressful, and I don't think it would fit well with FFXIV's design. (Trying to imagine being suddenly smashed while trying to use a Market Board or finish a 10-second quest item cast bar, or getting Heavy'd constantly while trying to ride between FATEs)

I should mention that this is highly unlikely.

Currently, dueling within the designated Dueling Deck area at WD Pier is restricted to invite only. You can't just jump anyone and everyone in sight, and fights are 1v1 only. There are no ganks, and no one can be attacked without permission. Given that this is the first, and currently only, form of PvP outside of an instanced battle (Feast, Front Lines, etc), it is highly likely that open world PvP will work in a similar fashion. This is pure speculation at this point; however, it is the most likely outcome.

[Zensho]

Have something like ballista where the battle starts every X:XX time, and is about 45 mins long, but only have a few matches a day, so matches actually happen, but not so often the mode becomes burnout, also make some rewards that have substance that will take some time to achieve/obtain in order that regular attendance to these meetings don't die out so fast. (say maybe gear that has pvp stats but is also ilvl concurrent that you could use in pve as well. Ballista in FFXI was fun, please resurrect something similar for open world pvp. It doesn't have to be 24/7 ongoing, just some slotted time to put on the gloves would be nice. This way you can't really grieve, and it wont be so intimidating that the carebears avoid it altogether.

[Februs]

Some of the early responses are expressing concern over ganking and open world inconveniences, such as getting attacked at a MB board or such. So, I would like to lay out some speculation for those of you who might not be as familiar with the most recent updates of PvP.

Firstly, any open world PvP that may, or may not, be implemented is likely to be 1v1 and by invitation only. I'm basing this purely on the recent implementation of the Dueling Deck in WD Pier. Technically, that space is still within the "open world," as it is not instanced and most of the rules within it are the same (including item level rules, and a lack of sync). For that reason, it is the best (and only) example that we can use to speculate on how an open world PvP system would work in this game. If it is anything to go by, then open world PvP in STORMBORN would be by invitation/challenge and likely 1v1. Even if SE were to expand that format to include party battles (yes please), those battles would likely still have to be executed via an accepted challenge. Ganking would be impossible.

Another possible alternative is that SE could create distinct "PvP zones" within the open world, thereby allowing players to get attacked within specific areas. It's possible as, again, the dueling deck in WD Pier works in a similar fashion. That said, I find this option rather unlikely. For one, it would chop the world up into seemingly random areas and divide the population, as some people would avoid those areas out of a distaste for PvP, while others flocked to them. Secondly. even within the Dueling Deck, duels are invite only. If SE chooses to work with the same system, then having specific areas set up for it would be redundant.

That said, having such specific areas would be nice to create mini PvP objectives. I could picture a PvP styled FATEs working within such areas, which would be pretty cool. Personally, I would hope to see a mix of the two options, similar to how Triple Triad is restricted within certain areas. For the most part, PvP challenges would be acceptable in the open world and there would be PvP FATEs; however, specific places (such as cities or public establishments) would be restricted. That would be my best case scenario.

Unfortunately, SE usually takes the laziest approach to new content, so I expect only the simplest and most basic version of PvP to be implemented in their introduction of open world PvP. That would mean 1v1 dueling to start with. It would most likely be handled the way it is on the WD Pier, only in the open world, thereby allowing for a more diverse environment and fall damage.