INTRO: I started this post as a reply to a generic "Why do devs listen to PvP whine?" post, but it turned out rather long and touching more issues than just the PvP aspect of the game, and I didn't want it to get lost in an ordinary troll/whine thread, so I decided to post it in a new thread. This is not a whine post. Well, actually, I guess it is, but it is not a *stupid* whine post. I realise full well that I could be wrong on some things, but I put a lot of thought in this post, so I hope you will read it with that in mind.

I agree with the overall sentiment behind the post, but disagree the whole 'feel like a superhero' part. I don't compare my character to Defender or Justiciar or Witchcraft; they're the 'A' listers, and I'm just an up-and-coming new hero on the block, a small fish in a big pond. Sure, eventually (ie level 40) I'll be considered up there with them, but until then I'm content with picking off the villains and henchmen, sending the occasional superhero to the Stronghold (which apparently they break out of pretty easily), and grouping with other up-and-comers to tackle the harder obstacles.

In other words, the story isn't only mine, I'm just a small part in a big, and already established, universe. I think this is what people tend to forget, that in an MMO, is isn't about them as an individual, but about their interaction with the world and people around them.

While I tend to despise PvP in any game, I still have to point out that superheroes do, in fact, fight each other from time to time.

But generally not (EG never) in bizarre televised cage fights in random groups with no rules... see where im going with that.

The ONLY pvp this game needed was the ability to duel with each other... that covers 99.9% of all comic book hero v hero fights right there.

@OP i 100% agree with the pvp rant, not so sure i agree with the rest so much. Solo MMOs tend to die a death rapidly, people on the web are inherently antisocial and selfish in MMOs if you dont semi force them to group they wont, then 90% of them will leave complaining the games boring cause theres no need to group up, even though they created the situation. Sadly as in most things in life the lowest common denominator is catered to first at everyone elses expense.
Same with the xp nerf that was cause some people rushed to 40 and started whining there was nothing to do... go figure

(NSFW) Provided as proof. (NSFW)

nothing wrong with adding pvp for those who like that kinda thing.

i pvp for fun now and again but the game should not revolve round it

If I had time I'd find youtube videos of that Justice League episode where Roulette is holding hero cage fights with audiences, or I'd try to find links to the information on that superhero wrestling federation that was in Marvel (I believe it involved Unus the Untouchable and D-Man, but my brain isn't wholly reliable when it comes to recollection).

MMO wins.

http://www.googlefight.com/index.php...hero&word2=mmo

Umm.......we have people fight in a cage every month, and they make BIG money doing it, and it is EXCITING to watch. Now do you realize how big the UFC would be if we could watch two superheros duke it out.....i mean who wants to see Fedor Fight Brock lesnar, if i could watch superman and wolverine tangle on T.V. So your point there isnt really all that pertinent.

Point two. PVP balance. There are two PVP camps. (Well three, those who dont want to play and want everyone else not to play either, but we wont touch on those).

Camp one is those who like pvp as a game of chess, i.e. a much more complicated version of pvp as we have it now. Camp two are those who want pvp as a game of checkers, i.e. the crowd who want to remove travel powers and take out most of the holds and just slug it out. You could even go back to the MMA reference. the checkers crowd just want to have boxing. Just stand up and slug it out. However the Chess crowd wants to have MMA. Lets see them beat the heck out of each other in so many more ways then just with their fist.

There are drawback to having both versions. The chess version does tend to be much more complicated with a much steeper learning curve. I mean, what do you think would happen if you were to sit down with your first chess game against Gary Kasparov. You would get your but handed to you. Without an clear understanding of the game, you might think that what he is doing is "bugged" or "overpowered." But the more you get to know the game the more you realize that he is really just ahead of the curve.

If you take it to the checkers version, the learning curve is much less steep, and more people have access to it, but you risk loosing all the chess player crowd who enjoy the back and forth and the strategy that goes into the game. And as COX showed us, when you loose the chess crowd, pvp goes in the toilet. People may play checkers from time to time, and it is a fun game, but chess is the game that has the following, and has players that tend to stick around much much longer then those who play checkers.

I realize this might be a TL;DR, but if you take your time to slug through it, i think it might be worth it......

In a world where there are a LOT of heroes some may desire to train in a more intensive format than just working out a the local gym or running through preset danger room exercises.

There is also justification for the televising of the hero game matches just think how much damage the average hero causes in the pursuit of the criminal. All those craters cracked pavements, ripped out lamp posts the peripheral damage must cost the city millions. Selling the rights to televise the hero training sessions the city can help reduce the overall tax cost of having this many super heroes.

However I always feel that the PvP specialists aren't the heroes who fight crime on the streets instead we have TWO factions we have the Superheroes and we have the Sport Heroes. The Superheros are the ones who fight on the streets and the Sport Heroes are the ones who face their opponents in the ring. Of course you also have a few who do both.

Lastly I disagree with the statement PvE has less to lose than PvP when dieing/defeat. In both cases the loss is equal the PvPer has neither more or less to lose than a PvE.

Just my 2 cents
gadareth