So... I was taking a shower and suddenly I'm taken into wild and shifting thoughts, like Tzeentch himself came to whisper in my ears the very truth behind the foundation of this world :

"Doesn't matters how, a bullet is still a bullet. Take it in the head and you are dead."

This is actually true. Doesn't matters if you're a soldier from Iraqnian resistance or a USA marine. Both will die if they are shot. A Kalashnikov is as deadly as a M416.

Therefore, if say a Space Marine from certain chapter was to be shot in the head, no matter by who, this one should like instantly die if it pierce through his skull, right? I'm not very familiar with 40k's fluff, but I think the only ones capable of surviving such tragedy would be the orks, aye?

Well, if I forget anything about it please tell me.

Anyway... My point here is : Alot of people want challenging PvP. Challenging PvP needs constant danger from all the sides, with fair fights for both sides. Challenging PvP also needs skills to be the factor which determines the winner, not only gear and level.

Wich means the equipment and levels are opposing factors to the entertainment THQ will try to provide through DMO. Because, let's face it... We want, yet we highly avoid QUALITY PvP. Ask any player with RvR the last time he had a fair fight in the wilderness without getting ganked, mobed or outmachted by another player/players.

In the end, I'm pretty sure the "Everything is pretty damn dangerous and may kill you relatively easy" politics will be the best way for the quality PvP alot of gank- I mean, "PvPers" are wanting these days.

Please feel free to comment.



P.S : Never said levels or gear are to be TOTALLY disregarded. I just don't want to like a noob shoot me in the head with a starting weapon and I take like... 1 damage, regardless. Nor a very skilfull veteran player gets beaten to death just because I have better gear than him. It's unfair.

I agree with the sentiment that levels and gear shouldn't matter much, especially in a game with guns. A better gun of the same caliber doesn't do squat as far as damage dealt is concerned; that's all the bullets' job.

And yes, we do have psykers and physical damage dealers which can gain quite a bit of power as they "level," but it isn't necessary that power gains be exponential or even close.

If THQ is wise, they'll pick whichever is more conducive to great PvP.

Long time lurker who can't wait for this title...

While the "gun" its self possess a great amount of danger to enemy personnel, the hands in which it currently resides is of far more importance.

PvP is and should be heavily influenced by level because it represents that character's combat experience, moral, and general toughness. To say that the random/stray/aimed bullet should fell a more experienced character if the noob gets the shot off first puts the concept of MMO/PVP in mortal danger.

There would be no need to "level" or get better gear, just use you faster internet connection/twitch skills to slay whomever you wish.

The decked out PVPer represents in the world of games the grizzled vet who can take a licking and keep on ticking and he/she should as it is a time investment on the behalf of the player and should be rewarded.

Any MMO is going to reward time and repetition, we had better be ready for it.

Welcome!



I agree with this completely, though I'm going to have to change "hands" into the hands of the player, rather than the character which I assume is what you meant.



On the other hand, what if the lower level player is a thousand times better than the higher level player? Should that lower level player just roll over and die simply because he hasn't spent as much time in the game as the other?

I don't buy into the idea that levels should automatically equal a win.



You're right, there would be no need, unless you wanted to experience the higher level content, or max out your character (even if the difference is minor), or play the game to its fullest.

People don't have to get killed a bunch to find a reason to max out their character.



No, the decked out PvPer represents the player who spent more time playing. You've said as much in your post. His "character" may be amazing, but is the "player" amazing as well? The distinction is important, because without it, the game will turn into a pointless gear-grind and will cause a lot of PvPers to turn away.

All that extra time playing should be converted into player skill as well, correct? So with that in mind, there is no reason for levels as well as player skill to come into play.



Rewarding time and repetition doesn't necessary preclude skill-based gameplay. Hopefully the developers are smart enough to see that.

Gosh.

I agree with most of your points.

PVPers that are 1 to 5 levels apart should be fairly close and able to compete if the setting is equal. Skill should determine the outcome for the most part.

Gear - MMOers quest/pvp for gear. If it didn't matter, we would not grind as it were.

40k Fluff - This is really the issue here. This a squad based tactical game that is being morphed into a MMO. If the future, individual gear does not matter as much as a well lead squad. In the Dark Millennium version, I suspect the opposite.

PVP should allow 40k's squad based roots to shine. Alterac Valley like matches could be epic in the 40k setting.

Thanks for the reply!

Yeah, not grinding.. isn't that a scary thought.

At max level, someone with the best gear in the game should be around 5-10% more powerful than someone with the generic gear they have when they reach max level. Five to ten percent would give them a definite edge over those who didn't spend as much time as they did, but it wouldn't make a bad player instantly kill everyone else without the need for some sort of skill (which is what happens in WoW, where the best gear is something like 100% more powerful).

For levels, the difference should be somewhere in the realm of 30% more power between level one and max level. With the extra abilities/armor/weapons, that number would go up in practice, but it wouldn't make a lower level completely worthless in any situation with higher levels.

There is a pretty obvious need for balance: THQ/Vigil want the players who like to improve their characters (hardcore PvEers for example), but they don't want to alienate the player who just want to play with what they've got (hardcore PvEers enter and destroy them, causing them to quit). Gear can't be extremely easy to obtain, however, because this would make the efforts of the former seem pointless. The solution is to lower the gap between those that just want to play and those that want to improve their characters.

Not to get off topic, but it would be awesome if they put in stats that increase your weapon range. This whole 40yrds range is so last decade.