Quote:
Continued from the previous 2 threads (they still exist, but can no longer be posted to):
Here is the current PvP honor system:
Dishonorable kills
-You cannot get a dishonorable kill for killing another player.
-You can get a dishonorable kill for killing a lower level NPC.
Honorable kills
-You currently get an honorable kill for killing a similar level NPC.
-In the future, we hope to add to the honorable kill system to provide for PvP rewards. You will be rewarded in some fashion for killing a similar level PC. You will not be rewarded for killing a much lower level PC.
PvP zones-
World of Warcraft is separated into 3 different types of areas:
Alliance
Horde
Contested
Only if you are in a Contested or opposing faction area can you be attacked by a member of the opposing faction without your consent. In your own faction area, you must first attack a member of the opposing faction before they can retaliate.
Thus this is a built in safety measure to ensure that lower level players are not being attacked. Once you are into level 20 and up, you will need to head out to Contested territory.
We apologize for previous statements to the contrary. We had planned on a PvP dishonorable kill system, but after basic implementation and analysis, the system was deemed restrictive and took away from the PvP experience, rather than added to it.
In the future, we will provide more widespread announcements regarding any changes made to the PvP system, or any system that affects a large number of players.
Regarding PvP punishments-
From personal and professional experience working on games with PvP punishments, while such a system would seem to make it so that PvP occurs only between those players of similar level, historically, it opens up the possibility of exploition of the punishment system more than anything and does not ever prevent killing of lower level players.
[Update]
Taking a step back. The concept of a player dishonorable kill was taken off the table after analysis.
It was mentioned in interviews and in the game manual, but the plan was since changed.
We feel that the honor system that will eclipse the need for a PvP penalty system. If you can get rewards, and rank from killing a similar level character, why waste time killing lower level characters?
I ask that players wait and see what the new system implementation is like before declaring it over. I dare say it will be exciting.