My first PvP experience.

So I originally posted this in the PWNZ forum, before I realized that very few people used it. I don't know why, it just seemed appropriate. This is more of a player interaction than a PvP thread anyway, and I feel like sharing.

It is a bit of a long read, though. You've been warned.

I'm logged on to my Bot/Traps mastermind, who is level 29. I was on a full pick up team for the Rikti Invasion Weekend, fighting off a wave and just trying to get the 2 more heavies I needed for the accolade. I noticed a bunch of people in local asking for a team, so when I got the heavies I needed, I said "I got what I came for, invite someone else who's interested."

As I'm flying away from the scene of the invasion, I get a tell from one of my teammates.

I'm not sure of this forum's rules, so I'm going to leave the character's name out.

[Tell] (Moron): I'm going to kick your selfish [censored]
[Tell] -->(Moron): Pardon?
[Tell] (Moron): you came to do what you had to do, then quit team
[Tell] -->(Moron): Plenty of other people needed a team.
[Tell] (Moron): where are you so I can pound you head in
[Tell] -->(Moron): I was handing off the opportunity.

At this point, I'm thinking it's some sort of RP (I'm playing on virtue), so I decide to play along. I mean, why else would someone ask where I was to "pound my head in"?

[Tell] -->(Moron): Find me by the market, [censored].
[Tell] (Moron): i'll do more than find you
[Tell] -->(Moron): Look, I don't see what the problem is. I helped the team as much as they helped me. I left to give room for someone else who needed the badges. You want to cause a problem? Let's.

A little window pops up telling me I've been challenged to an arena match. WTF is this? I've never done an arena match... what do I do? I guess I'm going to go to the arena.

[Tell] (Moron): I'm waiting for you in the arena.
[Tell] -->(Moron): (( Sorry, I have to find the nearest one. Not sure where it is. ))

Remember, I still think this is in character, so I'm trying to be polite about "getting my head pounded in." I'm already on my way to Port Oaks, because it's the only Arena I know of.

[Tell] (Moron): It's in PO, you punk.
[Tell] -->(Moron): Alright, how do I do this?
[Tell] (Moron): you come to the arena in PO
[Tell] -->(Moron): I'm here, i hit the kiosk, now what?
[Tell] (Moron): click the match i started

Yeah, I guess I'm an idiot, I can't figure out how to start the match. By now, though, I've figured out this guy is serious. I get that nervous feeling. I don't want to get my [censored] kicked, I've never done this before. This guy probably knows all the ins and outs of PvP. Sonofa... Well, I'm not backing out now. I'd rather lose than run.

I did notice that I could see my opponent's info. I'm up against a level 26 EM/INV brute. Crap, invincibility will be getting the buffs from all my pets...

Anyway, the match finally starts. It capped me at level 26, and it gives me time to summon my force field drone, robots and equip them. It's not letting me move... that must be normal. Then the "fight" message comes up. Ok, so now I can move.

I'm hitting tab as fast as I can so that I'll at least target the idiot before I get faceplanted.

Ok, I see him... He's not attacking. Woah, there he goes, damn superspeed. Still didn't attack me, just ran past. I start dropping my traps like mad and pray.

Alright, now he's swinging at my assbot. He can't damage it fast enough, the bots take him down to half health, and he runs away. We do this quite a few times, and I'm starting to realize that I should be able to win this. I'm either dealing with a nincompoop of epic proportions, or PvP is totally borked in favor of masterminds.

[Local] Dechs Kaison: HAHAHAHA
[Local] Dechs Kaison: MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA
[Local] Dechs Kaison: No wonder you didn't make it a RATED MATCH
[Local] Dechs Kaison: You gonna run away now?
[Local] Dechs Kaison: Alright. So I wait here all day
[Local] Dechs Kaison: Let me get this straight, you pick a fight, and now you're the coward?!

Damn, if only he wouldn't run away every time I'm about to ... Hey WAITAMINUTE... I have webnade! I put that on auto, and ten seconds later the match is over.

[Tell] (Moron): you're a pansy hiding behind your lil robots

I reply with "Excuse me, these are MY POWERS. Were you going to fight me using only brawl?"

I was already ignored before I got the chance to reply. Oh well, I got three badges out of it, so it wasn't a total loss.

---

Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.

Bam there it is, yet another reason NEVER to PvP.

I don't PvP. People like that have turned me off of PvP for quite some time now.

---

LOL

Yes PvP still favors one archetype over another and that is a good thing. In your case though the moron you were fighting seems to have had less intelligence than the AI.

LOL attack the masterminds pets oh yeah.

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[ QUOTE ]
LOL

Yes PvP still favors one archetype over another and that is a good thing. In your case though the moron you were fighting seems to have had less intelligence than the AI.

LOL attack the masterminds pets oh yeah.

[/ QUOTE ]

In his defense, he did eventually start attacking me. In fact, he died swinging at me. While standing on caltrops. With two acid mortars, a force field generator, and a triage beacon next to him.

---

Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.

Oh, boy... Where's the guy handing out Awakens for people's faith in humanity?

If it were me, I'd have e-mailed him the finger and sent him on his way as soon as he started losing his head, but I guess your way of handling it was better

Shame on you, using your Mastermind powers! You should have fought him with nothing more than your Pulse Rifle!

---

Heh, some players are just self-important dimwits. Brave for putting him in his place.

---

<QR>

You forgot the most important part of your PvP experience! You didn't tell him "l2p n00b".

But at least they were playing the right AT to be stupidly belligerent - it even works most of the time against mob AI!

---

[ QUOTE ]
Bam there it is, yet another reason NEVER to PvP.

I don't PvP. People like that have turned me off of PvP for quite some time now.

[/ QUOTE ]

And this time I get to agree with P_P.

---

Be well, people of CoH.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
LOL

Yes PvP still favors one archetype over another and that is a good thing. In your case though the moron you were fighting seems to have had less intelligence than the AI.

LOL attack the masterminds pets oh yeah.

[/ QUOTE ]

In his defense, he did eventually start attacking me. In fact, he died swinging at me. While standing on caltrops. With two acid mortars, a force field generator, and a triage beacon next to him.

[/ QUOTE ]
LMAO
i've had a few PvP encounters where someone initiated combat and proceeded to make the game AI seem brilliant in comparison.

Not all PvP is like that. i actually think that it's good to at least try it a few times to get the basics, even just as preparation for the occasional jog through a zone to get some good stuff. i suggest doing some arena matches with friends or going to a zone as a team.

i go to zones solo usually, but then i'm generally not looking to fight, just roam about and explore or do other things in the zone, so i generally only attack if attacked first when soloing.

Aside: i never consider tells to be in character chat unless the player mentions having telepathic abilities or otherwise justifies it in advance.

---

Dr. Todt's theme.
i make stuff...

Masterminds are kinda OPed against a Melee user anyway. It's kinda hard to hurt a mastermind all teh while you are getting bounded. Heck with bots/traps you are getting shot at range and if you get close you start springing traps.

Very ugly. I laughed when you finally mentioned what he was. You would almost have to try and lose that fight. He actually did a smart thing by attacking the robots first but... That just wasnt going to end well regardless.

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*laughing*

First, I think you handled it spot-on. You tried to give the guy his due chance, and you just ended up dealing with a yutz. Very well-played on your part.

Second, wait until you take a MM into Recluse's Victory and you're sitting in a pillbox that you control... and a scrapper comes charging up to you. Since you not only control YOUR minions but the turrets of the pillbox as well... things can get ugly.

(I play a lvl 50 bots/dark MM, and it's vastly entertaining to catch someone in Tar Patch within range of the turrets and then just go to town.)

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

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[ QUOTE ]
*laughing*

First, I think you handled it spot-on. You tried to give the guy his due chance, and you just ended up dealing with a yutz. Very well-played on your part.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why, thank you! I just tried not to lose my head, and I think I lucked out that I was dealing with someone incompetent. Regardless, I won't turn down the compliment!

[ QUOTE ]
Second, wait until you take a MM into Recluse's Victory and you're sitting in a pillbox that you control... and a scrapper comes charging up to you. Since you not only control YOUR minions but the turrets of the pillbox as well... things can get ugly.

(I play a lvl 50 bots/dark MM, and it's vastly entertaining to catch someone in Tar Patch within range of the turrets and then just go to town.)

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, that does sound like loads of fun. I never really gave PvP more than a second thought, but after realizing what's possible with easy mode bot/traps... I may have to do this regularly!

---

Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's easy mode. Especially in Zone PvP. but when you can guarantee equal numbers as with an Arena then It definitely tilts the odds in your favor. Especially against Melee.

---

I've had some VERY mixed experiences with PvP.

The first I had was just collecting shards in Bloody Bay because I read about Shivan summons and that sounded awesome. By the second meteor, two villains found me and stalked me to the Longbow base, and we've been throwing taunts at each other for a few minutes, but all in good fun. PvP seemed pretty nice, assuming you're not outnumbered.

Months later I got a villain up to the high levels and gave Recluse's Victory a try, my second time ever hitting a PvP zone. I found lots of villains there and almost no heroes. Perfect conditions to capture pillboxes and defeat heroes. It was pretty fun until one or two heroes showed up, and apparently they carried an infectuous strain of extreme idiocy. THE ENTIRE BLOODY VILLAIN TEAM stalked those heroes to the police bots. The entire bloody team waited for them to get into target range while the heroes were crying for 1-on-1's.

Apparently standing around and throwing barely legible insults at each other is more fun than taking down Signature Heroes and ignoring some hero toons we could take down in seconds.

There was also the time I went back to Bloody Bay on the same villain from the previous story to get some emergency Shivans for a LRSF, and actually saw another toon for once. I was so excited by the sight of another living being in a PvP zone in such a long time (been yet another months since the last time I saw people in a PvP zone), I just had to hunt it down and kill it. Only feels natural on a villain toon. So I hunt him for a while, and eventually I succeeded in my quest, at the price of my own virtual life at the hands of a Shivan. I bragged about my first kill ever in a PvP zone in my global channel of choice, only to be told "and then a Shivan got you". Turns out I hunted someone I've been talking to before. We had a good laugh afterwards.

Another fun time I had in PvP was when a friend of mine and I were trying to "farm" PvP IOs. Because just standing around and having someone beat you up, we decided to fight legitly. It's more fun that way, for us at least. We did so in the Pocket D arena at first, then relocated to Recluse's Victory. Once there, we met up a bunch of blue-side badgers out, and eventually we ended up having out own little RV tournament under Atlas. Everyone stuck to our own little rules (basically, don't interfere in an on-going duel), no strangers showed up out for a kill, and it was a whole lot of good fun.


Guess that's a lot of anecdotes, huh. In either case, PvP can be a very mixed bag, because it relies, by its very nature, entirely on other players. If you meet a bunch of cool people, even face-planting can be fun. If you meet a bunch of illiterate jerks, you'll want to leave them alone more than you want to beat them up.


But above all that, the worst problem of the PvP zones is that they're just so empty! Most of the time, I just go into a PvP zone, and if at all, I just find people going for Shivans, nukes or badges. PvP can be fun, but CoX is so PvE-heavy, you forget PvP is even an option. PvP will always remain an after-zone and the three lower-level PvP zones will remain the true ghost zones with Croatoa and Dark Astoria as close seconds.

---

Actually, good fights and such aside, one of the more interesting times I had in a PVP zone was during the winter event.

Presents, of course, spawn in Bloody Bay as well as the other zones. Few people seem to go after them, of course, since standing immobile for a few seconds is just *asking* to have a length of metal inserted into your vital organs, something important shot off or the like. But, since everyone knows this - few people go there.

Well, last winter event, I hopped in for the heck of it. Don't recall if I was going after presents, shivans, or just killing time, but as I passed the hill by the "ghoulish" badge (or thereabouts,) I saw... Winter Horde.

I'd just crossed there. They weren't there previously - someone else was in the zone. Friend or foe? /whoall - nobody (including me) on the list. And with the Horde there, recent.

Spent some time hunting them - yes, I *could* have asked through broadcast, but that's no fun at all. Never did find out who or what they were - they could well have hopped into a mission or left. But the *hunt,* trying to track them down and find out, was fun.

---

My personal favorite PvP moment was when I was filming in Siren's Call for the "Countdown to the Future" video, and I was trying to film a hot spot, but I kept getting ganked because there were fourteen villains in the zone... and one hero. Me. I kept saying, "Guys I'm here to film, I'm not here to PvP, I just wanna film the hot spot," and eventually it sank in (but not before they'd killed me six times).

When they realized who I was, there came the chorus of "oh you're that chick who makes videos", and they formed up around me, ESCORTED ME to the hot spot, stood around while I was filming it, and then volunteered to stage a battle royale PvP match for me to film.

Half of them switched to hero characters, came back into the zone, recruited their friends, and I then got to film a large scale PvP match, including them telling me all the neat spots I could film in. Every time someone new came into the zone, they'd yell out, "Hey, don't shoot the video chick!"

They also gave me a running lecture on how to PvP, which I thought was rather nice.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

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My favorite PvP story by FAR! Thanks for sharing.

---

First and foremost, my lack of interest in PVP is because I'm just not every good at it. Not sure why, but I don't seem to do that well as a general fact (though one is that I don't have builds tweaked for PVP or IO'd out). I've done it a few times, and it's also mixed. I was working on time badges for my badger. Had a great experience in Bloody Bay, a guy dueled with me, wiped the floor with me but it was a contest, I did nail him once. Then I moved on to Skyway City and ran into an idiot. Months later, I was in Warburg getting nukes for the fast hami attempt, and a blaster wanted to challenge my tanker just to see how it was. He waited for me to launch the rocket, and then we battled. I did win that one (among other things, loved how taunt reduced his range), but we both had fun and he thanked me for the test.

BTW, as for the original--yes, the guy was a MORON for how he reacted, but I do think that leaving the team once you got yours was a bit selfish, particularly if you were an effective killer. Yes, they could have gotten someone, no knowing how good that person would have been. If I join an invasion team, I usually stick out the whole invasion.

---

My arcs are constantly shifting, just search for GadgetDon for the latest.
The world beware! I've started a blog
GadgetMania Under Attack: The Digg Lockout

[ QUOTE ]
BTW, as for the original--yes, the guy was a MORON for how he reacted, but I do think that leaving the team once you got yours was a bit selfish, particularly if you were an effective killer. Yes, they could have gotten someone, no knowing how good that person would have been. If I join an invasion team, I usually stick out the whole invasion.

[/ QUOTE ]

I admit it was a little selfish, but I felt bad for the few people shouting in local "I need a team!" and everyone shouting back "Full up." I was on my corruptor the night before and couldn't get a team. Of course, he could do enough damage on his own to at least get some kill credit.

Perhaps to clarify, I should mention that I had already stayed for the majority of the invasion, and I didn't bolt as soon as I saw the "badge earned" message. The invasion was over very shortly after I had left the team anyway, not that this is any justification, because I had no way of knowing that.

[sarcasm]And we're villains. My character had things to do, who cares about anyone else? [/sarcasm]

---

Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.

[ QUOTE ]
Bam there it is, yet another reason NEVER to PvP.

I don't PvP. People like that have turned me off of PvP for quite some time now.

[/ QUOTE ]

To the contrary, that is exactly the reason to PvP.

There are few things in this game more satisfying than curbstomping some jerk hole that thinks he's a big dog.

---

I've never really liked PvP, because of the people. If they win, they insult you. If they lose, they insult you. Whatever you're doing is always lame, cheap, cheating, or something wrong. If you lose, you're the worst player ever and should be made fun of. If you win, you obviously did something to hack the game.

This observation has stuck with me and proved true ever since my first PvP experience in another game, where my character who could learn Heal as low as level 2 (of 100) was considered a cheater. When I'd ask the opponents not to use their defensive powers or wear armor, of course that was an outrageous request and I was stupid for asking.

So yes, how dare that Mastermind hide behind his robots! What a cheater! =p

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[ QUOTE ]
So yes, how dare that Mastermind hide behind his robots! What a cheater! =p

[/ QUOTE ]

PvP zones actually taught me how much of a difference Bodyguard mode made.

Normally I always have them in Bodyguard mode when I'm not sending some of them to attack people, but for the aforementioned mini-tournament, I usually had them in Passive mode to make sure they don't do anything while other people dueled and turned them to Defensive again when it was my turn.

When I was playing against my scrapper body, I usually was able to withstand quite a few hits thanks to all six bots being in bodyguard mode. Maybe not quite tanker level, but I still stood after getting hit. One time I accidentally left them in Passive, and he one-shotted me.

The lesson to be learned here is to never forget to hide behind your meatshields.

---

Threads like this perpetuate bad stereotypes.

I've PvP'd in this game actively for over two years now (didn't do it much for my first 3 years of play) and the majority of PvP'ers are just there to have a good time. Sure, you get the occassional talker, but most people are pretty good sports about things. This is a a case of the 'bad apple' spoiling the entire bunch. And of course, they're the ones who get attention.

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[ QUOTE ]
I've never really liked PvP, because of the people. If they win, they insult you. If they lose, they insult you. Whatever you're doing is always lame, cheap, cheating, or something wrong. If you lose, you're the worst player ever and should be made fun of. If you win, you obviously did something to hack the game.


[/ QUOTE ]

I don't PvP although I do run into PvP zones for missions and of course nukes and shivans. I have heard trash talk while the fighting is going on, but after the fight I've also heard serious constructive critiques of the fights by those involved. Very rarely have I heard any sore loser or 'a-hole' winner insults flying after a defeat.

Virtually every PvPer I've interacted with has been good natured about zone PvP, and although none of them take the "I'm only here for badges/shivans/nukes" excuse, I've found them to be a decent part of our community.

---

"I used to make diddly squat, but I've been with the company for 16 years and have had plenty of great raises. Now I just make squat" -- Me

Pediatric brain tumors are the #1 cause of cancer related deaths in children.

[ QUOTE ]
Threads like this perpetuate bad stereotypes.

I've PvP'd in this game actively for over two years now (didn't do it much for my first 3 years of play) and the majority of PvP'ers are just there to have a good time. Sure, you get the occassional talker, but most people are pretty good sports about things. This is a a case of the 'bad apple' spoiling the entire bunch. And of course, they're the ones who get attention.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm actually assuming this moron wasn't a PvPer at all.

I'm sorry if I seem to have perpetuated a stereotype; this was not my intent. I disavow any responsibility for this stereotype and affirm that I have never made a disdainful remark towards the PvP crowd. I maintain no belief that PvPers are anything like the moron I encountered. Further, I did not mean to associate the regular PvP crowd with said moron. I hold a respect for the PvP community and their choice of gameplay. [/legalese]

I just thought it was a funny story to share.

---

Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.