Opening a small window tor PvP on PvE server > enticement

[Cetric de Cornusiac]

Situation: People are more likely to make their first steps on PvE server than PvP, for learning the basics in a less cruel environment. Or they move there after having realized their fate on PvP server is too much that of being a victim. If they don't leave entirely.

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Here is a suggestion for smoothing the differences between those servers. This idea is about offering a bit of PvP even on PvE server for accustoming players (back) into fighting human opponents. It has to be 100 % voluntary, though. Meaning, one human player can offer a PvP battle instance to another player on PvE server where they happen to come across each other, including their respective fleet ships, if any present. The human player who receives the offer in Open World can accept or decline, to his liking. If he accepts, they enter battle instance as you know it from PvP server. If he declines, they just proceed with doing whatever they were doing before and no battle is initiated. Maybe cooldown time after such request makes sense, five minutes. So nobody gets harassed by an obtrusive bully with constantly repeated demands.

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Pro:

- Players can try out fighting other human players without having to move over to PvP server (and getting frustrated there). PvE server wins some more attraction, by having more to offer

- Players learn PvP fighting in an environment which stays secure otherwise, equivalent to a "safe zone" often proposed for PvP server

- Idea is more likely keeping players in the game, if they find out duels are nothing suitable for them, they will simply not accept new invitations, and stay happy

- shifting from PvE to PvP server could be done after testing combat against humans and promises more success thereafter, less remorse having done so (unpreparedly)

- experienced players can teach unexperienced players on PvE server the basics in such instances

- Players who have already been on PvP server and retreated to PvE server may still have a little human-versus-human fun if they want to try again

- each step taken is voluntary and nobody to be blamed afterwards

- people on PvE have a use for fast ships (and related upgrades) again, not only tanky ones, which at present are the only ones which count on PvE

Con:

- PvE concept of 'no PvP on this server whatsoever' gets a workaround hole

- related questions; if others could join the fight, if reinforcement zone should work like on PvP server, if each side's strength should be visible or hidden, if his opponent being able to deny when he is in the weaker ship is so interesting to someone used to gank from a superior perspective...

- one could be satisfied completely with the polite duel asking option and never move over to PvP server, which I think is contrary to the plans of devs for all players on PvE server, at this time

[Hethwill]

Yes. Proposed long ago for "up to Commander rank to be in PvE" with the option to transfer to Caribbean after rank or select to stay on the PvE server.

[Anne Wildcat]

Maybe PVP flags (like POTBS) on the PVE server? You enable it like the smuggler flag and if flagged you can be attacked by any player. 

[Cetric de Cornusiac]

15 minutes ago, Anne Wildcat said:

Maybe PVP flags (like POTBS) on the PVE server? You enable it like the smuggler flag and if flagged you can be attacked by any player. 

That's a way. However, it renders you to a much stronger opponent if you sail around flagged "hit me" - and then you are trapped. I was thinking of something which requires a yes from both sides depending on the actual pairing.

[Aster]

Cough "Duel mechanic"