by Karen Hertzberg on Mar 14, 2006
PVP vs PVE
Game-Play and Role-Play Styles in a Vanguard World
By AnomalousSilence
In MMORPGs, there are two types of game-play: Player versus Player (PvP) and Player versus Environment (PvE). In PvP, players are pitted against other players. In PvE, players fight against the various NPCs throughout the world. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, like most MMORPGs, will be “PvE-centric”.
However, Sigil developers plan on including special rule-set servers at launch, which will included PvP and hopefully PvP-RP (Role-Play) along with the standard PvE servers and special rule-set PvE servers.
Frankly, most MMORPGs should be developed around a PvE style of play. Sigil is, thankfully, not going to constantly try to perfectly balance classes in Vanguard, as far as PvE goes. With PvP, though, balancing is required, or else certain classes have certain large, unfair advantages, which can make battling other players no fun and aggravating for the significantly less powerful classes.
There is truly only one way to create a game where PvP and PvE can coincide. That way is for PvP to be on special servers, with certain PvP options being implemented into PvE servers. Since balance is needed in PvP, but not so much in PvE, each spell and skill must have two different stats. One set of stats that works with PvE and cannot be used against another player, and one that can work only on other players. This keeps PvP and PvE separate-yet-one, simultaneously.
This scheme of implementation would make actions such as tagging yourself PK (Player-Killer) and dueling friends allowable on PvE servers, while offering NPC killing on PvP servers. Through this, balancing can specifically be tweaked for the PvP side of spells and abilities without watering down, and constantly trying to find balance, with the PvE abilities. Although obtaining complete harmonizing balance with spells and skills is not possible, Sigil can try their best to allow all players on PvP servers to have a more-or-less equal opportunity.
Certain types of PvP include Free For All (FFA) PvP and Team PvP. In FFA PvP, any player can attack another player. In Team PvP, a player can only attack someone else of the opposing faction, or on an opposing side.
What is often overlooked, however, is the role-playing aspect of these two styles of game play. Role-playing (RP) offers a variety of ways to interact with other players and adds to the feeling that you are in an actual world. Having a PvP RP server only enhances this immersion. I will use the elves as an example, since the races of elven heritage tend to have bitter conflicts among one another, particularly High and Wood Elves against the Dark Elves.
Try to imagine yourself, not in Vanguard, but in Telon. You are a tall, lithe high elf strolling through the forests bordering Leth Nurae. To the left of you is a dark figure, obviously out of place within this peaceful habitat. Turning your head to more closely regard this newcomer, you are utterly repulsed to see a Dark Elf! Only adding to the sheer hatred is the monstrous undead creation closely following this creature of evil, whose hair is long and white with eyes like deep, black pits. This elf smiles at you and touches a tree. The tree quickly begins to rot and decay.
You’re a high elf, and on top of that, a druid! You shall not stand for this! Your first instinct? Kill this twisted representation of all that the good that elves stand for, this perversion of nature. Would killing your hated enemy be possible on a PvE RP server? No. It would be possible on a PvP RP server, however.
Still, there are a number of downsides to playing on a PvP RP server, and these should be explored. Terms often associated with PvP are “ganker” and “griefer”. While you could thoroughly role-play your high elf and pit yourself in a battle against this dark elf in the midst of the forests along Leth Nurae, even summoning natural allies to your aid, what would your feelings be if something in real life deterred you from the game? Focusing your attention on the real life issue, you type in “/afk” and step away from the computer. You return after about five minutes to see a large window on your screen: “YOU HAVE DIED. Please choose a re-spawn point.”
That isn’t very pleasing, is it? Aggravated, you revive and return to your corpse. That same dark elf is now sitting near your tombstone, waiting for your return. Looking at the stats of your secondary gear set, you sigh and run towards the elf, only hoping that you can win this battle. Such aspects of PvP can easily force oneself to reevaluate the decision to join a PvP RP server.
PvE RP has downsides, as well, though not from the game play atmosphere. On a PvE RP server, that dark elf corrupting the forests of your home can only be watched from afar. Sure, if the server offers duels, a duel might be an option. If the player behind the dark elf is in a particularly foul mood, though, he could simply decline and continue on his way. A lack of cooperative spirit can severely hinder the role-playing aspect of the game into which you are trying to immerse yourself.
In regard to the two styles of gaming within a MMORPG, PvP or PvE, I am torn as to which I shall participate in when Vanguard releases. Each has some high points and some flaws. Only adding to the list of good and bad aspects is when the server isn’t simply PvP or PvE, but RP as well. Sigil can be thanked for adding both types of servers at launch to accommodate each play style, pleasing both types of player.