Huge fan of open world pvp. Being on both sides. Hunting players for fun random battles or trade packs, and also being hunted while trying to move packs or questing. Adds suspense to the world and makes it feel alive, and different each run.
WoW originally had pvp servers, and it was a blast. No huge loss if you were killed after starting a fight, just run back from graveyard to your body. Starting random raids and fights in other factions cities are some of the most memorable fun moments.
Archeage had the best open world pvp and consequence system. 3 factions. All at eachothers throats. Killing too many innocent players and you became a pirate, banished by both factions. Banned from towns. The ability to hunt your own faction was hilarious as well. Leading to the JUSTICE SYSTEM. Full court house with blood evidence on the ground that players can report. Getting killed and forced into court to explain yourself and spending time in jail was so funny to interact with and read the court chat was a highlight. kept the immersion. It still kept griefers in check because being WANTED and facing sometimes HOURS in jail was an extra suspense. Seeing other players that want to send you to jail and role play as bounty hunters was peak endgame open world pvp loop. I loved being a bounty hunter and sometimes a bandit.
AOC. Please do not make it possible to lose equipped gear for starting a battle with players. Keep the corruption system. Keep greifers getting flagged and appearing on the map for bounty hunters to go after. Keep them temporarily barred from major cities. etc. Please do not take the FUN out of open world pvp. No stat penalties while corrupted that mess your build up.
Make it a true justice system. Gain corruption and if killed by bounty hunters or players you go face trial by your peers and can go to jail or get off scott free. Never know what could happen. Its more immersive. Its fun. And funny. And won't cost you months of grinding epic gear. Still keeps pkers at bay as they would be a large target to all players, npc town guards, and face jail time. Or have no court system and just have pkers go straight to jail when killed. No need to lose loot. Just a big timeout.
Bing a bandit or a bounty hunter is peak endgame loop. Do not penalize players losing their gear just for doing what the game naturally is made for us to do. Steal eachothers fish, treasures, trade packs, caravans, and getting rare weapon drops to make us stronger to defend ourselves against other players trying to steal from us.
The world needs light vs dark dynamics to be truly alive. We need the bandits. We need the bounty hunters. We need the innocent. Do not have ANYONE lose equipped gear and weapons just for engaging in PVP. Everyone has a role to play. Villains or Heroes.
