Trion Worlds is looking to level the PvP playing field in RIFT. Today the developer will be holding a testing event on RIFT’s PTS shard to normalize player stats in PvP Warfronts and Conquest. The test will normalize players, allowing them to compete with the same baseline stats and removing any bonus benefits from armor or weapons. Consumables, class buffs, Planar Attunement and other buffs/temporary effects will still be usable.

Ultimately we are seeking a better balance between “fair” and “fun” and seek to answer the question – “is more fair fun?” Your feedback is an important part of finding the answer, just make sure it stays constructive and that you actually try the changes for yourself before forming an opinion.

While this has the potential to make the fights more even, it’s likely to be less popular with some players, especially if they’ve manage to finally get all of their top tier PvP gear. In any case, the event will be held today at 4:00pm PT on RIFT PTS today. Join in and offer your feedback in the official PvP Normalization Test thread and help squash any potential bugs during today’s test. And don't worry, it's not an official change as of yet, more of a test to see if it's viable.

Now obviously, this is a big test, and we’re well aware that we’ve got our work cut out for us. We’re already hard at work finding and resolving any edge cases we can think of. Ultimately the success of this test comes down to you – helping us to explore whether this is a viable option and if so, assisting us prepare it for its debut.

Source: PTS PvP Normalization Test – Tuesday, 8/14 @ 4PM PDT