by David Piner on Aug 16, 2014
Landmark could very well be GOTY and one of the most celebrated games in the history of mankind. Well, let me draw that back in a little bit, it’s probably going to start getting some really hot attention and I want to just put my mark on the Internet and say told ya so before it does. If you have been following anything from SOE Live, you may know that PvP combat is on its way. Not just PvP for PvP-sake, but super insane crazy custom Roblox style PvP.
If you haven’t played Roblox, it’s basically a voxel, before voxels were cool, based kids game where you can build your own map and host it for others to play. You could do some basic scripting and put in a lot of really cool things into your world. In Landmark, they’re going to leverage the PvP tools to let players craft their own arenas with traps, teleporters, and oh so much more.
It’s like, hrm, so hard to explain what the draw is, but when you can make your own arena to duel in and invite people over to fight, then you have something that’s going to get a lot of attention because people love creating things and fighting within them.
The only issue Landmark has ever had is something I call skill shaming. It’s where there is this elite group of players who can build pretty much anything that they desire, while more mundane players can barely put a square into the world. The non-creative types are shamed and don’t really want to play the game if they can’t build a 1:1 scale replica of the Louvre including rumored secret passages.
That nonsense should stop with the addition of combat and later monsters, especially in the style they’re doing it. Players without a creative bone in their body now have something legit to do in the game that isn’t mining and building. That something to do is battle to the death in a custom death arena made by players.
In the following video, you can watch this battle to the death go on:
There are some issues that I think are gonna pop up. First, there should be a death arena style listing for players to teleport to. If you have your land flagged PvP then there should be some system to get players fighting in your arena or even more importantly, fighting and voting.
I don’t know, really, realistically, what will happen but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be good things whatever it is. Honestly, Landmark needs a shot in the arm, something to take it out of the realm of Second Life for art majors, and into the prime time and I really feel like PvP is going to be where it’s at. I’m so excited, honestly.
"You are what you equip." - @Manngelic discussing how items matter in #Landmark combat. pic.twitter.com/hC3uCPf9wt
— Landmark (@LandmarkGame) August 16, 2014
I wasn’t really big into the idea of Landmark, and having played a bit of it, I sort of wasn’t a huge fan, but now I don’t know. Seeing PvP in action, looking at the tools, etc. Really can convince ya otherwise.
Anyway I wanted to interrupt your Saturday with this quick blip on “my opinions” so that I have an easy to return reference point when SOE makes enough money off of Landmark to buy Canada’s entire supply of maple syrup to take over the world.
After all, you are what you equip.