I just want to clear up the confusion about what a system like this is, as well as shed light on the benefits of implementing one.
Before I explain the details of such a system, I want to explain the reasoning for it. An intelligently designed Realm Rank system would give individual players a form of long-term end-game progression for open world/WvW game-play. This ranking system would be VERY LONG with ‘no end in sight’. It would be unrealistic for anyone to ‘grind’ through it like you can with leveling or gearing.
This system would reward you based on your individual skill and nothing else. This system would not reward players that simply ‘put more time’ into the game. It would reward players that perform better consistently, win more fights, kill more players per death ect.
This system would NOT give any character a significant STAT or GEAR advantage over other players. I would not want 5 high Realm Rank players to be able to fight 20 average players.
This system would give you SMALL 1% stat increases, or specific effects that are active while you are in WvW. As well as a new title per Realm Rank.
Here is an example of how a system like this could work:
There are 25 Realm Ranks. Everyone starts at Realm Rank 1 and points are accumulated per player kill in WvW. Points are ONLY given for killing players, (siege weapons do not count). The reason they are only given for killing other players is because points you get for taking keeps are already focused on matching up the weekly servers. This is a separate system, that is intended to express a players skill in actual combat.
The points you are given per kill will be based on these factors. How many friendly players assisted in the kill. What % of damage you did to the player. What Realm Rank the player is. (You would get more points for killing a high Realm Rank player than you would for being a high Realm Rank player killing a lower one.)
This system in my opinion allows average sized, but highly skilled groups to shine. As players fighting with a large ‘zerg’ will always be getting less points per kill. Smaller groups that kill a larger amount of players will be getting much more points per kill, allowing them to advance in Realm Rank faster.
Keep in mind that this system would be designed in such a way (using math) to keep the majority of players around the same Realm Rank. Seeing as there are no ‘overpowered’ Realm Rank rewards, a higher Realm Rank player is not going to have a very significant advantage over anyone else.
Here are some Ideas for Balanced Realm Rank rewards.
Realm Rank rewards could be a WvW specific Trait or Talent system.
1 point per Realm Rank Level. (or something like that)
Spend the points in the following:
(The higher % rewards would be after spending many points in that trait and obviously at a high Realm Rank you could not have all of these.)
Gain 1%, 3%, 5% 10% more total Power in WvW
Gain 1%, 3%, 5%, 10% more total Vitality in WvW
Gain 1%, 3%, 5%, 10% more total Toughness in WvW
Gain 1%, 3%, 5%, 10% more total Precision in WvW
Take 1%, 3%, 5,%,10% less total magic damage in WvW
Take 1%, 3%, 5%, 10% less total melee damage in WvW
Reduce ‘Insert Effect Here’ by 5%, 10%, 15% , 25% in WvW
(Also, Expensive but Unique Passive/automatic abilities could be added)
Whenever you fall below 25% hp all damage received is reduced by 50% for 5 seconds.
When you rally, you will take 50% less damage for 5 seconds.
When you kill an enemy player you gain X effect for 5 seconds.
When you revive a player you gain X effect for 5 seconds.
While wielding a Shield you gain a 15% increase to toughness.
While wielding a Greatsword you gain a 5% increase to movement speed.
And so on..
With only so many points to spend, but SO MANY different stat upgrades each player will have a variety of different options to choose from. An intelligently designed Realm Rank system would provide long term individual character progression. This system would be balanced, allowing for most players to be around the same Realm Rank and thus never having one player become ‘overpowered’ in the same way as having better gear could in other games.
This system would have no effect on SPvP or PvE because these effects are only active in WvW.
Discuss
ET