PvE regulated to being Inconsequential

So I'm a classic DAoC lover. Had a blast with Uthgard during beta/release and for months afterwards. Even after a bunch of QoL changes there, the population is dead and has seemingly moved here.

There seems to be a ton of QoL features being implemented here as well as a ton of custom changes. My main question, is PvE going to be a after thought? What I mean by this is, is leveling going to be made so damn quick and easy that no one ever does it? I worry that what happened at Uthgard will happen here. The first couple months will be busy with tons of groups for everything and then once the die hards have their couple chars, no one ever pve's or if they do they just PL. Everyone being full steam ahead to RvR.

As an ex-eq player and classic daoc player (stopped playing live at TOA release), I've always enjoyed the combination of activities in daoc. Sometimes all I wanna do is RvR and other times I just wanna be in a full group killing mobs. So far, my experience with the classic daoc community is they just want to RvR in old frontiers with old RA's. Not really a love for classic, just love for the RvR rules/abilities of classic. Is that the route this server is taking?

Thanks for any responses.

Thu 25 Oct 2018 3:08 PM by Kralin

The Phoenix team hopes that pve does not die once the first round or two of level 50s. That's part of the reason they implemented the feather system so that people have reasons to go do the dungeons in pve zones. However, those are mainly meant for people 45+ and not for lower levels.

I worry too that it may be harder to find groups for pve after a couple months. Yeah there are many people that will have multiple alts which means there will be some level groups in pve, but they will be fewer and far between as time goes on. I think that's just the nature of a game that thrives on level 50 RvR. Pve eventually takes a back seat once people are leveled up.

My hope is that this server thrives thus bringing in a new influx of players over time. Not everyone knows about this yet since it's in beta. So marketing the server and convincing the last hold outs from Uthgard to come over here will help the population.

Thu 25 Oct 2018 3:32 PM by Cramit845

At this point, as a Uthgard player, I find it hard to see if I would want to come here because of all the QoL. However the one reason I am considering it is because of the possible population. Just wondering if the activities I enjoy will be viable for awhile or not. Depends what the population does, I realize, but if the leveling is going to go so quick, then it may be worth just staying on uthgard.

Thu 25 Oct 2018 3:35 PM by romulus

Cramit845 wrote: ↑
Thu 25 Oct 2018 3:32 PM
At this point, as a Uthgard player, I find it hard to see if I would want to come here because of all the QoL. However the one reason I am considering it is because of the possible population. Just wondering if the activities I enjoy will be viable for awhile or not. Depends what the population does, I realize, but if the leveling is going to go so quick, then it may be worth just staying on uthgard.

Hi Cramit845!
What activities specifically do you enjoy?

Thu 25 Oct 2018 3:44 PM by Cramit845

romulus wrote: ↑
Thu 25 Oct 2018 3:35 PM
Cramit845 wrote: ↑
Thu 25 Oct 2018 3:32 PM
At this point, as a Uthgard player, I find it hard to see if I would want to come here because of all the QoL. However the one reason I am considering it is because of the possible population. Just wondering if the activities I enjoy will be viable for awhile or not. Depends what the population does, I realize, but if the leveling is going to go so quick, then it may be worth just staying on uthgard.
Hi Cramit845!
What activities specifically do you enjoy?

Basically as I said, Group RvR and Group PvE primarily.

Maybe I didn't ask my question well because a lot of this is based on the community and what the community does with their time, which we all know is primarily RvR focused. I guess what I really want to know is, the mechanics surrounding pve, are they going to have increased xp and be designed for a quick leveling or progression process? I love classic daoc but the more I read on this forum, the more this feels like custom daoc and not classic. Does that explain it better?

Thu 25 Oct 2018 3:56 PM by romulus

If you like group RvR, then you will probably like that aspect of Phoenix.
Group PvE will probably be a thing, but the leveling treadmill will be shorter than classic. I hope that it will translate into more epic dungeons and dragon raids, but that hasn't happened yet (at least not in Albion). I do hope that we get and retain a wide range of players, interests and activities, including RvR (solos, duos, small-man, 8v8, zergs), Realm War, RolePlaying (holiday events, in-game games), Crafting, and PvE. Time will tell, but I'd say join the server and help us make the world the way you want it to be!

Thu 25 Oct 2018 4:27 PM by defiasbandit

You raise a great point. A lot of the players if not most of the players on Uthgard cared mostly for PvE. There is little to do for such players on this server. This is one of the most overlooked aspects of this server. PvE was always the main focus of DAOC, and most of its players cared strictly for PvE.

I am hoping some addition PvE is available for level 50. My suggestion was to open up TOA dungeons and zones and dropping cosmetic rewards, but I know it is a challenge to add and script all of that content.

Thu 25 Oct 2018 4:44 PM by Scout123

defiasbandit wrote: ↑
Thu 25 Oct 2018 4:27 PM
You raise a great point. A lot of the players if not most of the players on Uthgard cared mostly for PvE. There is little to do for such players on this server. This is one of the most overlooked aspects of this server. PvE was always the main focus of DAOC, and most of its players cared strictly for PvE.

I am hoping some addition PvE is available for level 50. My suggestion was to open up TOA dungeons and zones and dropping cosmetic rewards, but I know it is a challenge to add and script all of that content.

PvE was always the main focus of DAoC?... I don't think so. Every single pve content addition had a direct impact on RvR. Si Epic Dungeons, Artifacts, MLs, CLs... The only non-rvr expansaion I remember was Foundations. RvR was always the focus of the original development team - they just had good ideas on how to make it enjoyable getting to RvR-ready status.

Thu 25 Oct 2018 5:42 PM by depth

Without any doubt, pve will be dead on this server incredibly fast. My advice to you is to find a guild or group of likeminded players to pve with.

Thu 25 Oct 2018 6:39 PM by imissswg

People will still PvE for feathers and epic dungeon drops.

Thu 25 Oct 2018 6:52 PM by Kralin

I also hope there are active battlegrounds after people get bored with their first characters. If that's the case then there will definitely be people leveling for Thid, Cale, and the middle one we can never remember. Braemar?

Fri 26 Oct 2018 5:03 AM by Kaziera

I usualy never stop pve before i have 4 or 5 active chars ready. I also will probably lvl some chars in other realms, depending on realm switch timer. I guess that will keep me busy for at least a year, since i usualy dont have more than an hour a day per average.

Fri 26 Oct 2018 4:24 PM by Turtle006

I have pretty serious alt-itis so I will be levelling characters all the time, especially when the wives aren't on.

Fri 26 Oct 2018 4:39 PM by romulus

/level 34 is active now, so you could join Trin in Cale! I'm hopeful it will pick up in the coming days...

Fri 26 Oct 2018 8:14 PM by imissswg

romulus wrote: ↑
Fri 26 Oct 2018 4:39 PM
/level 34 is active now, so you could join Trin in Cale! I'm hopeful it will pick up in the coming days...

Can you get out in the BG? I did a /level 24 with two different characters in two different realms to see if anyone was in Thid, but I couldn't open the outer PK door...kept getting door is out of range. Not sure if bug or if intentional.

Fri 26 Oct 2018 8:19 PM by romulus

imissswg wrote: ↑
Fri 26 Oct 2018 8:14 PM
romulus wrote: ↑
Fri 26 Oct 2018 4:39 PM
/level 34 is active now, so you could join Trin in Cale! I'm hopeful it will pick up in the coming days...

Can you get out in the BG? I did a /level 24 with two different characters in two different realms to see if anyone was in Thid, but I couldn't open the outer PK door...kept getting door is out of range. Not sure if bug or if intentional.

I'll have to try it when I get home from work tonight and let you know what I experience.

Fri 26 Oct 2018 11:50 PM by Thinal

I thought they fixed the doors, but maybe not. We were able to open the door in Caledonia when i30 was active, but when I was playing Thid before that, we had to go upstairs and jump to get out. Which means die or recall stone to get back in.

Sat 27 Oct 2018 12:19 AM by romulus

I'm running around in Caledonia right now, so can confirm that the Alb doors, at least, are working.

Place is empty, though. :/

Sat 27 Oct 2018 5:02 AM by romulus

I and the guildies sacked all three BG keeps and claimed them tonight. Had a blast. Would have been better if some hibs or mids would have joined in, but it's a Friday night, pops are low, etc. etc. Hope it picks up in time because BGs with i50 gear is a hoot!

For Phoenix! For Arthur! For Albion!

Mon 29 Oct 2018 1:24 PM by Cramit845

Well I appreciate all the comments. I'm hoping PvE last a bit longer here but I suppose time will tell. I just don't always want to go rvr and enjoy having pve groups to join. Alting hasn't always taken care of this issue but I will hope that it will last a bit longer once release happens.

Mon 29 Oct 2018 1:29 PM by Koljar

I'd hope for some battleground-action for those not wanting to go to Emain constantly. Always liked that back on live...
That would mean that some ppl would be leveling BG-alts or so.

But we'll see only once Phoenix has been running live for a few months I guess.

Mon 29 Oct 2018 3:08 PM by Cramit845

One other question in regards to PvE, will mob spawns be increased in outdoor zones? In previous classic servers, the mob population has been extremely low. Some camps have good counts while others are very light. How is the team planning to handle quantity of mobs? So far it seems rather low from live at this patch level but I haven't run everywhere just yet.

Mon 29 Oct 2018 3:14 PM by Sei

defiasbandit wrote: ↑
Thu 25 Oct 2018 4:27 PM
PvE was always the main focus of DAOC, and most of its players cared strictly for PvE.

Would you dare Say it looking in the eye that daoc main focus is not rvr but pve ?

You must be right, especially that pve grinding are empowering your char for higher pve content, like Bodyguard or banelord

Mon 29 Oct 2018 3:38 PM by florin

Cramit845 wrote: ↑
Mon 29 Oct 2018 3:08 PM
One other question in regards to PvE, will mob spawns be increased in outdoor zones? In previous classic servers, the mob population has been extremely low. Some camps have good counts while others are very light. How is the team planning to handle quantity of mobs? So far it seems rather low from live at this patch level but I haven't run everywhere just yet.

Relegated

Mon 29 Oct 2018 4:13 PM by Cramit845

florin wrote: ↑
Mon 29 Oct 2018 3:38 PM
Cramit845 wrote: ↑
Mon 29 Oct 2018 3:08 PM
One other question in regards to PvE, will mob spawns be increased in outdoor zones? In previous classic servers, the mob population has been extremely low. Some camps have good counts while others are very light. How is the team planning to handle quantity of mobs? So far it seems rather low from live at this patch level but I haven't run everywhere just yet.

Relegated

Thanks

Fri 2 Nov 2018 11:33 PM by Sepplord

PvE was always the main focus of DAOC, and most of its players cared strictly for PvE

what the ???

Noone i have ever talked to played DAoC for the PvE...i read comments of people liking the pve and preferring it, but having someone actually claim that DAoC's main focus was/is PvE is a first.

Sat 3 Nov 2018 1:46 PM by jhaerik

Sei wrote: ↑
Mon 29 Oct 2018 3:14 PM
defiasbandit wrote: ↑
Thu 25 Oct 2018 4:27 PM
PvE was always the main focus of DAOC, and most of its players cared strictly for PvE.

Would you dare Say it looking in the eye that daoc main focus is not rvr but pve ?

You must be right, especially that pve grinding are empowering your char for higher pve content, like Bodyguard or banelord

Man Necros and focus pets sure did kill a lot of people in SI/ToA

You know the most played classes/specs?

Sat 3 Nov 2018 3:18 PM by Sepplord

jhaerik wrote: ↑
Sat 3 Nov 2018 1:46 PM
Sei wrote: ↑
Mon 29 Oct 2018 3:14 PM
defiasbandit wrote: ↑
Thu 25 Oct 2018 4:27 PM
PvE was always the main focus of DAOC, and most of its players cared strictly for PvE.

Would you dare Say it looking in the eye that daoc main focus is not rvr but pve ?

You must be right, especially that pve grinding are empowering your char for higher pve content, like Bodyguard or banelord

Man Necros and focus pets sure did kill a lot of people in SI/ToA

You know the most played classes/specs?

Everyone had such a char to farm FOR RVR

those classes are the most played because they let people solo/duo farm all they needed for RvR...not because the PvE with those classes was so much fun.
It was a means to the end to be able to get RvR ready and keep up with the consumables used

Sun 11 Nov 2018 3:35 AM by jhaerik

Actually there are a lot of people that enjoyed the PvE side of DAoC.

You won't see MOST of those people on private servers because they don't allow buff bots.

MOST of my friends RVR'd just to get some RR's so they could pve more effectively. This didn't change really until the original dragon campaign made farming for gear mostly pointless. This was when the revamped classic servers first started to lose population. This was also when a majority of the female player base began to leave which frankly turned the game into a sausage fest of basement dwellers.

Simply put PvE is only a thing when no one has to play a full buff spec character, and when gear is worth farming for. That won't even be a thing here due to the custom feathers changes, PvE quickly died out on Uthgard because of the unwillingness of anyone to play buff spec characters for long hours and the lack of content such as SI.

You won't believe the number of people I ran into on EQ priv servers that missed DAoC PvE. Most than the current pop of Uthgard for sure had tried that server and found it unfun for the simply reason PvE was a lonely thing.

Tue 13 Nov 2018 6:41 PM by Falken

Hey Bubbler,

Another aspect that I don't know if people have mentioned, but the shorter realm swap timer will allow people to go play on other realms and level or be active over there, but not low enough to allow spying or any kind of information to travel back and forth (no more so than it does over discord).

With the way templates are built (high utility ROGs come only from mob drops) and the feather system, and big boy raids (SI content yay) there will always be some kind of PvE going on, but leveling groups may very well die out in a few months. The time to 50 here is aiming to be around 48 hours, which is half (maybe more) as it was on Uthgard, so there just won't be as much of a need for a long PvE grind. As I mentioned above though the possibility of swapping realms every 12 hours might create more PvE as people realm swap.

The feather system implemented by the staff has created an alternative end game grind to generate PvE groups that are aimed towards end game. If you enjoy the PvE aspect more so for the community and social aspect than I recommend just finding a guild to be social with, because inevitably the leveling is guaranteed to slow down here as PvE isn't nearly as big of an investment was it was on Uthgard. They have also added phoenix eggs, and task xp items which allow people to solo pretty well. Before i40/i50 I saw a pretty consistent full group farming feathers each night, so even as RvR focused as this game is there are always people who enjoy hanging out in discord smashing monsters.