Division of pvp/pvm

[CosmicallyDrifting]

I know, i know. It's been done before, and I'm not just gonna come out and say COPY GUILDWARS@!!11!

But it isn't a bad idea, and it would work for diablo 3.

Generally speaking its simple, when you are given the option to create a game, you can either select "PvP" or "PvM" (or "Roleplaying", depends on how they would like to label it). So if a player feels like killing people, they create a pvp game. If they don't, they create a pvm game.

Also, when looking at games in the lobby (if there is one), you can see both PvP and PvM games. If you want to duel, you join a game that has been created for pvp. If not, join one that has been created for pvm.

In pvm games, you can't hostile other people.
In pvp games, you can hostile other people. Here's where it gets alittle difficult, however. You could either be able to quest like in a pvm game in pvp games for adrenaline rush or whatever, i don't know. Or, you could create a pvp "arena", where you can't quest and it is solely made of rpvping. The second option makes a tad more sense, but you can elaborate/colaberate as you wish.

[Jarath]

I think it's important to say that just because a game would have PVP enabled it would not automatically just be a dueling game or something like that. Ideally (for me anyway) it would create a situation where players can still work together if they choose, possibly with multiple bands of players working against each other to complete quests/prevent the other people completing them.

Personally I'd find that kind of scenario quite enjoyable because it creates an element of direct and indirect competition between the players and adds more purpose to killing people other than personal gratification. Nothing wrong with personal gratification in my opinion but it'd be nice if there was more to it than that, I think it's important that PVP has in-game consequences. It'd be stupid if I could go up to Cain and tell him "hey I just killed all the other players for the lulz but you're still going to trust me with the fate of the world, aight?"

[Neferim]

I like Jarath's interpretation of the idea. The notion of two teams competing as they go through the game is very interesting to me, even as a person who is not that interested in PvP. I think the greater goal beyond "kill them all" adds a lot of depth to the experience, not to mention the idea of having two -teams- actively working against each other.

Also though, I think you should be able to have a friendly duel in a game even if it's flagged for PvM. Just make sure the duel is consensual, with mutual hostility. I would also suggest a player setting to reject all duel invitations depending on how they are set up, since sending wave after wave of duel invites could be as annoying as uninvited PvP itself. I can see people who are working together also wanting to just randomly see who's build is "better" by fighting, even if it's just for fun. It would be easier to have mutual dueling in PvM games than it would be to have to leave your game and make a PvP game just for a quick duel.

[iraiam]

Yes, Jay Wilson @ Blizzard has said that the system will be changing, blizzard doesn't like the consequences of the current system.. Go to town , Go hostile, go whack someone in the back of the head when they are playing pvm.

The consequences of which for me were playing in a private game 75% of the time. although it doesn't seem to be as bad as I remember a long time ago.

a PVP enable button in game creation would take care of most of it (providing there is an indicator of some kind that I can see before joining)

consensual PVP is fine but it annoys me to no end when a former party member goes hostile and waxes you when your trying to kill diablo!!

[CosmicallyDrifting]

I now almost go against myself by saying agreement on both player's parts to activate a hostile is much more effective than any other method by far. If you think about it, in "real diablo life" it makes no sense for someone to want to kill you and you have NO SAY in it. It's like in a supermarket and someone suddenly comes at you with a bat and you can't do anything but run away because you're a lvl 10 shopper and he's a veteran lvl 89 shopper.

[Dimmu]

I like the idea of attaching filter keywords to games such as "questing", "pvp", "trading" etc. just to make it easier to find the public game you want. But having them actually linked to your in-game potential to do something seems unneccesary. You should be able to do everything you may want to do in one place, but just balance the hostility system accordingly.