Dear Guild Wars 2 sPvP Community,
Hello all – I’m a long time casual-ish PvP-er and I think now is as good a time as any to offer my two cents as to the future of sPvP in GW2. Let me first start off by saying that I really enjoy GW2s PvP combat system, I find it to be engaging, exciting, and fun. The main problem I see with Guild Wars 2 PvP is its lack of PvP Infrastructure.
OK what do I mean by PvP Infrastructure? I would define it as the Arenanet generated systems that support the PvP experience as a whole. So generally: the Mists, the hot-join system, and the “tournament” system currently in place. By definition player-made tournaments are not included in PvP Infrastructure – though they are a fantastic and important addition to the sPvP milieu. I’ll get to that omission later. Personally, I think the Mists and hot-join PvP could be tinkered with (e.g. dueling area in the Mists), but are more or less fine. My real issue is with the current state of competitive play – the so-called “tournament” PvP system.
Ok why the scare quotes? Because the current system is not, at all, a tournament. I have the English language on my side for this one: Tournament (n.): “a series of games or contests that make up a single unit of competition…” The system as it is now is basically a one-off match between two opposing teams (I think based on PvP rank). The winner is declared and you get a chest full of items, and that’s the summation of GW2s Arenanet generated competitive PvP infrastructure.
It’s not that engaging, it’s a little boring, and it survives mostly on the strength of the PvP-Combat system Arenanet has developed. Which is saying a lot about the strength of the PvP-Combat system Anet has developed – it’s fantastic.
Some may argue that player-made tournaments are filling the PvP-Infrastructure gap here. I think player-made tournaments are a wonderful addition to the PvP community – but for a more casual player like myself – I don’t see them as a gap filler – more as a great supplement to the system.
What the GW2 sPvP infrastructure really needs is a more engaging, exciting, and rewarding competitive PvP tier. I think the obvious comparison is with the World of Warcraft arena system – which despite its many, and obvious flaws (I can hear your collective brains wanting to reflexively take a dump on WoW – please forgive the comparisons – I’m as disillusioned with WoW as the next diehard GW2 fan) was an engaging system. Which one of us cannot remember speaking with teammates past midnight: “Just one more game – let’s break XXXX rating for the night.” It was insanely addictive and fun. (Surely someone can save me with a League of Legends comparison? I’m really embarrassed to be leaning on WoW to make my point).
The system is really easy to break down and it’s obvious why it worked so well: 1) Real-Time ranking feedback via “MMR” ratings (the “just one more” phenomenon); 2) Real rewards (for GW2 it should be fancy looking gear NOT stat-based – the “look at me” factor); 3) Set teams with a flexible roster (leading to team pride without rigidity) and 4) A periodic reset of ratings (Seasons, for lack of a better term).
The good news is this type of system is totally compatible with GW2’s conquest based system of PvP. Which, for the record, I think is fine – it could be tinkered with, but the conquest system is engaging, and I don’t really see the need for more game modes, but I’m not opposed to them either. I’m not going to open that can of worms in this post.
One could easily envision a system where you have a season of one-off “tournament” matches and the team with the highest rating “wins” the season and gets some kind of special, aesthetics-only, reward. You could also provide special titles to top teams, etc. OR if you wanted to take this out of the WoW-sphere (and the crowd rejoices!) the top teams could face each other in an actual end-of-season tournament to decide the winner of the season. Players could access special aesthetic gear if they achieve above a certain MMR ranking. This type of system would complement well with the player-run/organization run tournaments. Arenanet, and I hate to say this, could even charge a small fee to participate in each season – say $5.
I think as long as some combination of the four hallmarks of a competitive PvP infrastucture are followed – 1) Real time rating feedback; 2) Rewards; 3) Set Teams; 4) Seasons – you can’t make a bad system.
TL;DR: Competitive PvP lacks the requisite infrastructure to be successful. It’s boring. Anet should take a look at adding Real time ratings feedback, better rewards, set teams, and periodic resets for the rating system (“Seasons”). This would go a long way in creating a more engaging, dynamic, PvP infrastructure.
So community – I’m as interested in the future of sPvP as the next GW2 fan, and I’m open to being persuaded I’m wrong – let’s have a chat.
Best,
John