Dedicated PvP/PvE servers

[Angus McGregor]

The more I think about it, the more I think it's a big mistake to segregate the servers.

 

First off - it automatically reduces player populations in both camps. Let's face it, the game thrives when players see each other in OW, it dies when the OW seems empty - especially for PvP. AI ships cannot fill that void.

 

Second -  I started out on the PvE server and it eventually got boring. For me personally - there was just NO challenge to it. If the enemy AI ships were aggressive, even if easily avoided, there'd be some excitement. If there were the occasional aggressive AI pirate spawned and leveled to your ship/fleet capabilities, there'd be some excitement. Method of capturing ports? Nope, it's a nerf environment with nothing but soft rounded edges. I honestly can't see any mostly PvE inclined player staying with NA for any length of time if the only alternative is the full on hostility of dedicated PvP servers.

 

So if the above attributes don't get added to the PvE server, I firmly believe concessions must be made to allow PvE and PvP activities in one combined server type.

 

To that end - I'd advise PvP'rs to stop railing against anything PvE inclined. Stop insulting what you call the 'carebear' crowd and trying make them feel like a lower form of life. Others have rightly pointed out that having PvE ships in the OW is a good thing for the PvP'rs. I have no idea how anyone could argue with that. So kindly stop shooting yourselves in the foot.

 

Disclaimer: The above is a general statement and is not intended to depict any particular person(s) or clan(s).

Edited November 7, 2016 by Angus McGregor

[Krists]

PvP server is already turned into PVE

[The Spud]

PvP server is already turned into PVE

 

The current mechanic is indeed, do PvE to raise hostility, wait for enemy to notice the sudden rise in hostility, wait for them to arrive to lower hostility, proceed to do one or two PvP battles. Whoever is in the minority will eventualy BS camp or run off, to leave one of both parties to continue PvE to raise/lower hostility. Not exactly THE mechanic we have been waiting for.

Edited November 7, 2016 by The Spud

[Jean Ribault]

LOL not true. 

 

I personally think the OP is correct.  And now that the PVE'ers have more to do on a PVP server that can affect the actual PVP of their nation it is a good thing.   This is why many people who have been hardcore PVPers have been railing against this system.   Because now the nations with large "carebear" populations actually can fight against the dedicated PVP gank zergs. 

 

Not to say there isn't PVP out there, hell if you go out of some of the hot ports you are almost guaranteed to find a fight.  On PVP2US La Tortue is a good point to look for a fight.  Almost always a Pirate running out of there to Mortimer, or La Navase.   

 

 

The problem with merging pvp/pve is that you will eliminate "true pve" unless you implement a mechanic something like invulnerability or invisibility of the pve players to the pvp players.  In the current configuration of the game, if you had pve-only players raising hostility via missions against AI, then pvp's can still enter and combat them.  This takes away the players' option of a true pve environment.  I agree that currently it is mostly pve in some locations, but not forced, it is chosen really.  But if you enacted invulnerability or invisibility then hostility would be raising without being able to directly counter it, and that doesn't work either.  So what's to be done?  Right now as configured it seems like they need to leave the pve server as separate in order to make it true pve.  Or else change how the players contribute to the nation.

[Angus McGregor]

PvP server is already turned into PVE

 

That attitude is part of the problem. Just sayin'

[Jean LaPointe]

As primarily a PvE player, there is still a lot to learn under the new patch. Prior the the patch I had been experimenting on the PvP servers and was doing well on both. With the new patch and seeing the new limitations combined with an explosion of trading goods I am still trying to get a handle on how I want to go forward as a trader.

For me and the limited time I am currently working under, I do not have the time to spend on either PvP server to try to reconfigure my actions in this game. Being on the PVE server does allow me to stop mid stream and pick up days later she without having to worry about my outposts being over ran and being a game changer.

If there is ever a good reason for keeping the PvE server separate is for reasons just like this. For the solo player this server is a must, it has the perfect atmosphere for trading and a leisurely battle now and then. I have been on for sessions less than 30 minutes and there are times I have been on for hours. The last thing I want is when I am done and ready to quit for the night is to be tagged and drug into a battle against my will or desire. There are many here that fill the same way.

I do find the atmosphere on the two PvP servers to be very different. However you get together to fix the population issues you are experiencing on the PvP servers you need to approach it as if the PvE server does not exist. The type of fix you need would have to come from brainstorming an approach other than trying to eliminate a way a fair number of people are playing this game. So far it feels no matter what the perceived problem PvP is having the first thing that hits the forum is merging PvE into PvP. This move has a negative impact on players who do not like the PvP side of this game and does nothing to increase the numbers you think you may get. From my observation of the number of people playing this game, it is about (average) 20% of the player base occupies time in the PvE server. Generally these players are enjoying themselves in a world you have found to be boring, and I can never understand the reasoning for taking it away from them.

Not everyone wants Port Battles. I for one have no interest in Port Battles at all. An occasional duel with a live person is fun but that is not the end game for people like myself. I venture in to the PvP side from time to time as it is different but it isn't my primary game choice. Still, I prefer the PvE server over the PvP. If the PvE server were to disappear how much will you see me on the PvP server? About as much as you currently see me now, next to nothing. Will you can anything?

So please, when trying to encourage people to play on the PvP then find a viable way in doing so without thinking the people playing on the PvE are yours to decide to do with as you wish.

[Young]

with AI fleets and the need to fight AI for all these RVR reasons yes PVP1 has to an extent turned into PVE server with some rare player vs player events. But in all honesty you most likely will be doing a Player vs Player + AI in his fleet + random AI in the area, where is the pvp again? I find the game evolving further and further away from the core game mechanic that attracted me to it the combat between players not silly AI that you can have tag along with you. 

[Sir Texas Sir]

Should never be a push a safe button to get PvE only.  I really like the concept they had with the Pacific coast so folks can play and feel safe.  My biggest problem is when guys get board and they come over to one of the PvP servers and start to PvP they are in a big time learning curve cause all they have fought is AI.   I see a lot of mistakes and some of them don't even know how to manual sail.  As said it takes away from players that could be on one of the other servers and really it doesn't bring much to the game cause we are all ready testing the same stuff they are on the main serves.  All it does is take away resources from the game development that can be used better in other places.  Now I can see maybe having one after launch of the game but not really while it's in a Alpha testing stage.  So you might loose some players, but really for testing to you need players that aren't willing to test all aspect of the game to make it better?  We all ready have a large amount of our population threatening to leave if there is a merger or even if we have a wipe.  Those players aren't here to test this game.  They are only here to get there pretty little pixel collection.  I'm kinda ready for a merger of some of the servers and a wipe myself and think it would be good to do a little restructuring of the servers and allow folks to move around.  Bet if they did a wipe and allow folks to re-pick servers to play on the numbers will shift a bit around to something a bit better.  Remember the voices we hear on here is the minority not the majority of the players.  It's just the most out spoken minority that are posting and reading the forums.

[BoomBox]

i object to that . i like the pve servers and like playing there. I don't have the time to play on pvp and i don't care much bout port battles. i like playing solo and try out different builds against the ai . the pve servers really doesn't take away any resources from development , as stated before the dev team develope for the pvp server and the pve server was put up cause they know some ppl don't like pvp. We paid for the game same as you guys did. we  test too and f11 stuff we see going wrong. it is just against the ai.

Edited November 7, 2016 by BoomBox

[SheepDip]

Gank Zergs , Priceless !!

[Mrdoomed]

Are you suggesting to put pve players in with pvp players? I cant imagine pve players going for that considering the number one bitch in the forums from pvp servers is " waa waaa i dont like pvp its not fair" so i can guess pve players would feel the same.

To me i think it would be fine since excluding port battles 99% of players shun pvp and run from it all day and just grind quests.

[Anne Wildcat]

Keep the PVE server. There are some players that like naval combat but are just not interested in PVP. Do not try to make them have to play on a PVP server.

[Jean LaPointe]

Just the fact that some look at eliminating the PvE server as means to increase the population of a PvP server is just the type of attitude that keeps the PvE players away from wanting to participate in PvP.

[Mrdoomed]

1 hour ago, Jean LaPointe said:

Just the fact that some look at eliminating the PvE server as means to increase the population of a PvP server is just the type of attitude that keeps the PvE players away from wanting to participate in PvP.

Whats even more ironic is the ones saying make pve players play on our servers are the same people who refuse to fight pvp lol.

Exept canned port battles that they think are tactics in action lol 

 

[Jean Ribault]

1 hour ago, Jean LaPointe said:

Just the fact that some look at eliminating the PvE server as means to increase the population of a PvP server is just the type of attitude that keeps the PvE players away from wanting to participate in PvP.

 

Agree.  Players should have options.  THEIR options, not anyone else's.

[Sir Cloudsley-Shovell]

If we lose the PVE server i for one will NOT move to the PVP server,i will just quit!So leave the PVP server alone!

[Guest]

I think I read somewhere that the new area with the Pacific would be a non-PvP area, but might be mistaken. If it is, it might be a good way to appeal to different playstyles with a single server.

[Sir Texas Sir]

On 11/9/2016 at 2:01 PM, Aegir said:

I think I read somewhere that the new area with the Pacific would be a non-PvP area, but might be mistaken. If it is, it might be a good way to appeal to different playstyles with a single server.

It was a concept, but seems the devs have been putting it on the back burner. I like the concept cause it allows them to have a safe zone.  Than if they want to come over and play in the big pond they can.   The only issue I see is resources share between coast lines.  Some one can safely grind up a lot of credits over on the safe zone and than come over and use that on the PvP zone.  Unless there is some way to keep it split.  This is why the only thing shared between servers is your Rank.

[Jean LaPointe]

On Wednesday, November 09, 2016 at 2:01 PM, Aegir said:

I think I read somewhere that the new area with the Pacific would be a non-PvP area, but might be mistaken. If it is, it might be a good way to appeal to different playstyles with a single server.

PvE already has a server and has nothing to do with the PvP servers. The only thing gained and used across all servers is the experience and rank due to that information is stored on Steam and not on the servers.

PvE players spent the same money as you to play in the Caribbean as well. I cannot understand why there are people who, 1. Do not want the PvE players to be on their own server and 2. Try to include their PvE style on the PvP server but they only get a small strip of Pacific Coast to play in.

The constant attack on the PvE player, the PvE server and holier-than-thou attitude that is emitted from a fair number of PvP elitist gets very annoying. 

[Jean Ribault]

1 hour ago, Jean LaPointe said:

...

I cannot understand why there are people who, 1. ... 2. Try to include their PvE style on the PvP server but they only get a small strip of Pacific Coast to play in.

...

This is a key point.  And there is not a single valid argument against it from anyone playing this game.  Simple: If you paid, you get to play, and you get to play the same game.  Doesn't say anywhere when you buy this game that you may only pvp or else keep your money, or else you get a different version of the game.  No, if you paid for age of sail in the Caribean then that's what you get.  You can't keep people from playing the whole map just because they choose a different playing style.  That suggestion is very shortsighted.

Having said that, there is still viability in the suggestion the devs made to add an additional / complementary area on the pvp2 server for those that want to play pve-only style within that area, but with access also to the rest of the map.  Somewhat similar in nature to the newbie area.

[Seaside]

I think both PVE and PVP  players should be able to play the entire map in the style of their choosing .

I don't want to be limited to the West Coast and I'm sure PVP don't like being limited to the East coast.

Don't really care whether its on one map with PVE players untouchable/reachable to PVP or on two separate servers.

Also I think an effort should be made to make the AI aggressive to the player in open world for PVE.

If they were the number of people playing would grow.

 

[edward kydd]

f we lose the PVE server i for one will NOT move to the PVP server,i will just quit!So leave the PVP server alone!

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my sentiments entirly  i bought this game for the pve.

and being forced  to play pvp to be cannon fodder as we where in EVE.

gets annoying and    you just  give up it took me 5 yrs because we where promised safe areas but that got exploited by the gankers

who chased unarmed frieghters which is how SOME on a pvp server will operate. They ca'nt handle good pvp'rs just the weak ones.

Edited November 12, 2016 by edward kydd
forgot to say