Implementing a PK(PvP) Server

[Nerisu]

- An optional level 60 (so lowbies won't be ganked) open world PK map (not a whole server) with item level sync around 150-ish.

- For lore, 2 or more local beast tribes are at war with each other (they can turn it to something like a cultural sport or whatever. They can force glamour us too with less deadly looking weapons like what they recently did.) and adventurers can freely choose which side they want regardless of their grand company. Adventurers can only attack someone from the opposing side. Adventurers can also switch sides by paying with beast tribe tokens or something similar. Switching sides will have a cooldown too so it won't get abused.

- Gatherers can have unlimited stealth but players will have a special item or something that can dispel it.

- NPC guards in safe areas.

[Kerii]

I want to look at this from another angle... Job balancing in PvP and PvE is currently done in hindsight. They design it one way, and then after data is collected, they make adjustments that correct issues or appease the player base. The thing is that players use jobs in ways that SE can't ever imagine, and they know this. Having a server where players are allowed to push the confines of the game isn't such a bad thing. Yes it would be a hostile place, but considering the amount of useful data from the job mismatches alone it could be a boon to PvE balancing as well. In saying that, I think that all that really matters is that players understand that this isn't a normal server. If you agree to chaos and bad balancing what is there to complain about? Are you telling me that survival sandbox games are well balanced? Because then I question if you've ever played one.

[Ashkendor]

- Gatherers can have unlimited stealth but players will have a special item or something that can dispel it.

Why, though? Gatherers can't conceivably even do anything to affect PvP, so why should they fall victim to it?

[Nerisu]

Why, though? Gatherers can't conceivably even do anything to affect PvP, so why should they fall victim to it?

Gameplay mechanic? They can make gatherers able to mine/harvest/fish stuff that will buff the party/their chosen side or vice versa.

[Noshpan]

The thing is, if they were to implement PVP servers, then we would see threads of "WORLD PVP IS DEAD! BLIZZ-I MEAN SE KILLED WORLD PVP" when the fact is usually that the majority of players just don't care for pvp.

And we all know that "world pvp" is code for "ganking that level 7 Warlock with your level 100 Rogue".

[Pells]

In an open PvP world I'd be against letting gatherers/crafters be removed from pvp or given a strong stealth. This would lead to people using them to scout for targets of opportunity, or to escape from a fight.
Imagine being out in the world, nobody in sight, so you start fighting a fate or hunting target. And then someone unstealths, switches classes and one-shots you. They then immediately switch back and vanish or become immune to retaliation. This is not fun; you need to have some reasonable way to avoid them or fight back.

At the very least, switching classes would have to be restricted in some way outside of personal innrooms.

[AlphaFox]

In an open PvP world I'd be against letting gatherers/crafters be removed from pvp or given a strong stealth. This would lead to people using them to scout for targets of opportunity, or to escape from a fight.
Imagine being out in the world, nobody in sight, so you start fighting a fate or hunting target. And then someone unstealths, switches classes and one-shots you. They then immediately switch back and vanish or become immune to retaliation. This is not fun; you need to have some reasonable way to avoid them or fight back.

At the very least, switching classes would have to be restricted in some way outside of personal innrooms.

Except when you switch classes in the field your skills are locked for like 30secs, so your just signing a deathwish unless your auto-attacks are over powered.

[Pells]

Possibly. Though the given scenario has the victim engaging a stronger than normal mob. How quickly can they escape combat, or do they fight while taking the damage from both? 30 seconds is basically the same as the DF timer when it pops, so we're assuming the attacker is spotted as soon as they appear. (I find that I have to run immediately if I need to be out of combat to switch and join the DF.) Remember that the hidden combatant gets to choose where and when the fight starts, since they are immune until then. Further, anyone who would go for the cheap kills will likely be overpowered to begin with, so yes, auto-attacks are likely to do the job.

There's also something like five seconds after combat before they can escape by switching back to a non-combat class, which won't really amount to much though, will it?

[Gilraen]

Open world PvP is a bad idea in general. You are invariably going to get players who run around killing anyone that's a gatherer/crafter or lower level than they are. And when the inevitable, "What the hell, I was just gathering/crafting/chatting with friends/company mates here!" you will just as invariably get the defense, "lol i thot u were a bot"... There is no getting around it. "But you can just report these people." will do nothing as these players do not have a hive mind and shaming people on the forums can get you banned just as quickly. The notion of open world PvP also flies in the face of what makes a game a Final Fantasy game. We are heroes, one and all, and heroes don't kill indiscriminately. Yet this is the point of PvP, indiscriminate killing. The PvP we have is the best you will get.

[AlphaFox]

snip

Dunno about you but the time I did play WoW whenever I was in contested territory I was ALWAYS on watch for potential player threats, more so when I was engaged in combat cus that is when they are most likely to strike. However if they were indeed overpowered they wouldn't have a need to stealth around to find you they would just spawn next to you, engage so you can't run away, laugh as you try to hit them then 1shot you. Regardless it has been said best, we are heros all working toward the same goal, killing each other for no reason would make zero sense.