What is PvP really like?

Lhex · May 2007

Hey,

I played CoH at release and was wanting to return to see how things have changed. But I am a big PvP junky and I was wondering what PvP was like in CoH. I read through the official forums but there wasn't a post of any substantial length that described PvP in great detail.

Are there bases to be captured? Are there any PvP rewards? Are there great class imbalances that make PvP a horrid experience or is it fairly balanced? Is it filled with alot of lone cowboys or is it mandatory to group? Overall, is PvP fun?

All I did when I played WoW and Daoc was PvP. What is PvP like in this game compared to others?

Thanks. This will help me decide if I want to return.

tsao284 · May 2007

If you really like pvp i would suggest lineage 2 then.That game is based on hardcore pvp.

Deadaye13 · May 2007

CoH has a lacking PvP system but it can be fun if you have enough players online.

There are "bases" to be captured and there are "rewards" to be earned, however these are not in the traditional sense (thus the quotation marks).

When you reach higher levels you can enter "Recluse's Victory" in which heroes or villains attempt to capture pillboxes, or quasi-bases. The team (heroes vs villains) that captures all or most of the pillboxes at the end of the time limit, wins the round.

The rewards are badges...they don't give you anything cool or anything, you just get them.

Play WoW or DAoC or Lineage II if you want PvP.

Lhex · May 2007

Yeah, I found Lineage too hardcore for me and Im bored of WoW.

Thanks tho!

green13 · May 2007

CoX's pvp always struck me as pretty weak. I've never actually seen an enemy player in the pvp zones. They're mostly empty.

vajuras · May 2007

Originally posted by Lhex

Hey,

Are there bases to be captured? Are there any PvP rewards? Are there great class imbalances that make PvP a horrid experience or is it fairly balanced? Is it filled with alot of lone cowboys or is it mandatory to group? Overall, is PvP fun?

All I did when I played WoW and Daoc was PvP. What is PvP like in this game compared to others?

Thanks. This will help me decide if I want to return.

1. Are bases captured? Nope, so when players get in trouble they safe zone it

2. Are there any PvP rewards? Nope, there is no real point to pvp here. which is a shame because the combat system is well done

3. Great class imbalances? Yes, bigtime. I cant tell if they balanced anything at all.

4. OVerall is the PvP fun? Hm, that depends on what u like. if you like the CoH game itself you'll ahve fun cause you're using a toon you're attached to. But due to pretty empty zones, etc pvp isnt all that. The combat system is good and the powers are fun. I'd not want to discourage any1 from trying the game but you've already tried it and you're a pvper there is no point in resubbing

Amarsir · May 2007

In a nutshell, I'd say it's fast-paced and completely to the side. You might want to check Youtube for some videos of PvP and see if that doesn't give you a feeling. It doesn't at all intervene in the PvE game.

It's not balanced but as you will recall CoH has a wide variety of characters and it's only gotten broader since you left. So it's not like there are 6 choices and only one or two have a shot. With all the different powersets I'd say it's more like 15 of 100 possibilities can stand up. So you definitely can't take just any character in and expect they're all equal. But there are choices.

Here's a copy from another post I made, it may be of interest:

The ways to PvP are:
1)Set up a specific match in an Arena. This can be anywhere from 1 on 1 to 75 vs 75 to four teams of 8.

2)Go into a PvP zone. There are 4 corresponding to different level ranges

15-25 Bloody Bay. Heroes vs Villains. Additionally you can run an outisde mission here collecting and analyzing meteor shards, at the end of which you receive a temporary power which lets you summon a rather powerful (if slow) pet.
20-30 Siren's Call. Heroes vs Villains. Additionally there are huge battles between NPCs on both sides for control of "Hotspots." If your side wins enough of these, an NPC shop shows up selling a few temporary powers.
30-38 Warburg. Free-for-all, the only place where heroes can openly fight each other same for Villains). Additionally you can run an outside mission rescuing scientists, at the end of which you receive a temporary power allowing you to call down a missle strike.
40-50 Recluse's Victory. Heroes vs Villains. There are 7 pillboxes throughout the zone. If your side controls 5 you "win" the zone - the graphics change, points are awarded, etc. However, when 4 are controlled powerful NPC Heroes (or Arch-Villains) will appear to assist the losing side. A limited number of Pets are available for control by players of each side on a first-come, first-serve basis.Scoring enough points by taking pillboxes or defeating players in Recluse's Victory gives you a temporary 'summon pet' power. Scoring points in Siren's Call allows you to receive minor rewards from an NPC on your side. Points by defeating players anywhere can lead to a "badge", which your character can select for display below his name (above the avatar) at all times.

Aside from that however, no rewards or penalties whatsoever from PvP. It's completely to the side of the real game. And as you might infer from that list, aside from custom-arranged Arena matches you can't PvP at all until level 15, and you'll be comparatively weak in that zone at least until the mid-20s. (For what it's worth, higher players can get into lower zones but they become "exemplared" - dropped in power down to an appropriate value for that level).

There is a third form of PvP - base raids. Two SuperGroups can, and often do, compete in the Arena. But if they like they can also set up a raid where one side attacks the base of the other side (which has a custom layout, base defenses, etc). Originally there were supposed to be "Items of Power" that could be stolen this way. However technical problems have pretty much guaranteed these IoPs will never come online. So base raids are just an exhibition thing and I don't know if anyone does them much at all. But it's possible.

If all you want to do is PvP, you'll want to sign up with a supergroup that does so ASAP. They copy their characters over to the test server and use that to run cross-server battles, and it's not a 24-7 thing but they do stay fairly busy. That's probably where your best PvP experience would come from, and you can likely find a little competition in one zone or another during downtime.

Lhex · May 2007

Originally posted by Amarsir

In a nutshell, I'd say it's fast-paced and completely to the side. You might want to check Youtube for some videos of PvP and see if that doesn't give you a feeling. It doesn't at all intervene in the PvE game.
It's not balanced but as you will recall CoH has a wide variety of characters and it's only gotten broader since you left. So it's not like there are 6 choices and only one or two have a shot. With all the different powersets I'd say it's more like 15 of 100 possibilities can stand up. So you definitely can't take just any character in and expect they're all equal. But there are choices.
Here's a copy from another post I made, it may be of interest:
The ways to PvP are:

1)Set up a specific match in an Arena. This can be anywhere from 1 on 1 to 75 vs 75 to four teams of 8.
2)Go into a PvP zone. There are 4 corresponding to different level ranges

15-25 Bloody Bay. Heroes vs Villains. Additionally you can run an outisde mission here collecting and analyzing meteor shards, at the end of which you receive a temporary power which lets you summon a rather powerful (if slow) pet.
20-30 Siren's Call. Heroes vs Villains. Additionally there are huge battles between NPCs on both sides for control of "Hotspots." If your side wins enough of these, an NPC shop shows up selling a few temporary powers.
30-38 Warburg. Free-for-all, the only place where heroes can openly fight each other same for Villains). Additionally you can run an outside mission rescuing scientists, at the end of which you receive a temporary power allowing you to call down a missle strike.
40-50 Recluse's Victory. Heroes vs Villains. There are 7 pillboxes throughout the zone. If your side controls 5 you "win" the zone - the graphics change, points are awarded, etc. However, when 4 are controlled powerful NPC Heroes (or Arch-Villains) will appear to assist the losing side. A limited number of Pets are available for control by players of each side on a first-come, first-serve basis.Scoring enough points by taking pillboxes or defeating players in Recluse's Victory gives you a temporary 'summon pet' power. Scoring points in Siren's Call allows you to receive minor rewards from an NPC on your side. Points by defeating players anywhere can lead to a "badge", which your character can select for display below his name (above the avatar) at all times.

Aside from that however, no rewards or penalties whatsoever from PvP. It's completely to the side of the real game. And as you might infer from that list, aside from custom-arranged Arena matches you can't PvP at all until level 15, and you'll be comparatively weak in that zone at least until the mid-20s. (For what it's worth, higher players can get into lower zones but they become "exemplared" - dropped in power down to an appropriate value for that level).
There is a third form of PvP - base raids. Two SuperGroups can, and often do, compete in the Arena. But if they like they can also set up a raid where one side attacks the base of the other side (which has a custom layout, base defenses, etc). Originally there were supposed to be "Items of Power" that could be stolen this way. However technical problems have pretty much guaranteed these IoPs will never come online. So base raids are just an exhibition thing and I don't know if anyone does them much at all. But it's possible.
If all you want to do is PvP, you'll want to sign up with a supergroup that does so ASAP. They copy their characters over to the test server and use that to run cross-server battles, and it's not a 24-7 thing but they do stay fairly busy. That's probably where your best PvP experience would come from, and you can likely find a little competition in one zone or another during downtime.

Nice reply. Thanks!

I have resubscribed and I made a fire tank on Freedom server. I haven't thought about a PvP centered SG before, but maybe I should find one. It will take a week or so before I can even get into my mid 20s. From what I remember the leveling is kinda slow in CoH.

Thanks for the replies everyone

vajuras · May 2007

well you might be able get yourself powerleveled if you find the pace slow.

A fire tank um, prepare to be frustrated. they're not really desired by the pvp SGs they're only good for taunting. they lack range which is a big no-no in a fast paced game like this where ev1 runs around at the speed of light. I'd highly recommed getting on PvP questions forum and ask around. keep the fire tank for fun and maybe he'll be welcome for helping PL'ing your guildies and im sure they rock in PvE. but if you find a good SG they can help you PL a defender or something which is way more useful for SG vs SG Arena

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dn44ZVEHaA

Here's a sample of what im talking bout

Now for siren's call I'm thinking people gonna run away as soon as you whittle them down but maybe in warburg+ you'll be a lot more deadlier. In Siren's you'll be like my brute, more reliant on others to help ya get the kills. Hoiwever you'll probably always find some meleer thats gonna wanna duel it out with ya

Amarsir · May 2007

To the OP - you did pick up a copy of CoV, right? Even if you don't play villains you'll need that to get into the SG's base. Not the most urgent thing ever, but something you'll want to do. Just get a CoV box or combo addition and upgrade the original CoH account - and you'll get the month of bonus time too.

Now for siren's call I'm thinking people gonna run away as soon as you whittle them down but maybe in warburg+ you'll be a lot more deadlier. In Siren's you'll be like my brute, more reliant on others to help ya get the kills. Hoiwever you'll probably always find some meleer thats gonna wanna duel it out with ya

Speaking of fire tanks semi-interesting pvp story:

I realized I had no shivans on my fire tank, and though I wasn't in a bug hurry I figured I had some free time to go pick them up. So I headed off to Bloody Bay planning to ignore the PvPers. Well around the time I collect my last meteor fragment, I get spotted by a couple villains - a brute and a mastermind. Now I ditch them at first and head over to find a pillbox, but they follow me. I don't figure I have the offense to take them down, but I'm quite certain they're no threat to me either. And they're not, even without using Healing Flames I'm barely getting hurt - and that refills me and recharges so quick there's no chance. But, with them whacking away at me I'd get interrupted trying to refine the ore so I can't completely ignore them and take down the turrets either.

So I decide to afk for a few minutes - get a drink, etc. I put Healing Flames on autofire just to be safe, but figured they'd give up sooner or later. Nope, 10 minutes later those 2 are still beating on me (who hasn't hit back once yet remember) and they have a stalker friend trying as well. (He actually did hurt with his crits but they weren't fast enough to be really dangerous.) Seeing no end to this I decided on a different plan.

I left the pillbox I was at and found one with a boss turret. These shoot poison gas clouds at high enough mag to mez pretty reliably. Sure enough all 3 follow, and I move within range of the boss turret, then position near the mastermind (thinking he won't be fearful enough to move away but wouldn't come into melee on his own). Sure enough with a few seconds the turret cycles through attacks, sends a gas cloud, and mezzes us all. It would get me too, but I carry a Break Free or two for just such an occasion.

Now their toggles are down and these 3 are all held. Plus all of us are taking ambient damage from the turrets around. The stalker goes down first, pretty quickly. I turn to the mastermind - he'd had his pets on "Attack" mode, not bodyguard mode (since I wasn't attacking) and he can't switch them back while held - so he dies pretty easily too. And I just start on the Brute when the hold wears off and he gets the heck out of there. And I see the rest of the turrets blasting off at him as he runs away. Needless to say I was able to clear the rest of that pillbox and get my Shivans in peace.

So I guess the moral of that story is that as a tank you'll need help getting kills, but you should take a beating well. For what it's worth, in Siren's call hotspots that same character gets eaten up by NPC psi damage, so I can't ignore the environment quite so easily.

Lhex · May 2007

Checked out that video. Really fast paced fights.

I've been checking out the forums and will be making a pure PvP toon at some point. I also like a support class sometimes that could help out in PvP, not sure what I will be doing.

Thats the thing with CoH there is so many choices when designing a class. I honestly found the fire tank a little boring. Only got to lvl 4 or 5 though. I have an old Ice Blaster Ice Manipulation toon, lvl 19 but I know I gimped his skill choices, will have to respec.

Thanks for the tips guys. What servers you guys play on?

Amarsir · May 2007

As a tank, you'll probably find it much more exciting to team a lot. And you should be rather desireable to teams as well. Fire Shield, Plasma Shield, and Blazing Aura will cover you pretty well - they won't leave a lot of end left for attacking, but as a team tank your role would be to jump to whoever is aggro'd, hit them once to get their attention, then move on to the next aggro'd enemy.

Tanks are probably my least favorite AT, but that's because it doesn't feel risky most of the time. Being the sole tanker for a team of 8 though, and keeping all the aggro on you - I definitely wouldn't call that "boring."

If you want to check out the ice blaster again, I'm sure you will need a respec but the handy thing is you certainly have a free one saved up. Load up that character and type /respec. You'll want the forums for guidelines but at least you don't have to earn a respec for him.

I play on:

Pinnacle (9 heroes, 1 villain)
Liberty (8 heroes, 3 villains)
Protector (2 heroes, 5 villains)
Infinity (4 heroes)

historically in that order, so my 50s are on Pinnacle and Liberty, with none of my Infinity characters hitting 30 yet. These tend to be some of the least busy servers in the list, but they rarely feel empty to me. I'm tuned in to the badge channels in each place and that always helps me find TFs or other things to do.

However, lest you go looking for me in game, I should point out I just started a break from the game. Not City's fault, RL things getting in the way for a little while. I'll be back.

vajuras · May 2007

Originally posted by Lhex

Checked out that video. Really fast paced fights.

I've been checking out the forums and will be making a pure PvP toon at some point. I also like a support class sometimes that could help out in PvP, not sure what I will be doing.

Thats the thing with CoH there is so many choices when designing a class. I honestly found the fire tank a little boring. Only got to lvl 4 or 5 though. I have an old Ice Blaster Ice Manipulation toon, lvl 19 but I know I gimped his skill choices, will have to respec.

Thanks for the tips guys. What servers you guys play on?

eh, I had no idea you were this new to the game I "assumed" you were a vet pvper to be honest. yeah at least give siren's a try all I have left to say just make sure you team up when you get in there and try to stay on the move. watch out for assassin strike lol

oh btw, if you wanna try support and you seem offensive minded to me (like myself) well you might wanna try a rad/* defender. well mine is still low but he can debuff, buff, and lend a little damage. Its a support toon but he doesnt have to stand around and heal like an Empath. Amasir or someone would probably know more about their late game performance I'm going by what ive seen form high lvl teammates and my personal experience on my lowbie rad/psi defender. A solo rad/psi can melt even a Tank in a matter of seconds because rad provides -40% resist in addition to the other rad buffs + psionics is least resisted dmg out there

I used to play on Liberty. taking a break to get caught up on some of my other games but plan to come back at some point and play a squishy. might tryout Freedom and roll a /thermal corrupter cause i hear the villains there are getting beatdown and ev1 has a solo mentality from what I gather. sounds like they need a real villain to come in there and play some support

or jsut play my rad/psi defender since ive done most of all the villain stuff

Howdy, Stranger!

What is PvP really like?

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Quick Links

What is PvP really like?

Comments