How Skaven Could Be Implemented As The Third Faction

I know.  I am beating a dead horse, but after reading an interview from Guild Wars 2 devs it gave me this great idea.  Guild Wars 2  plans on implementing server vs server vs server world pvp.  They say it is the next progressive step after DAOC.  Can you believe someone is actually making a three realm war, and making it better than DAOC?   It sounds great.

I want to take this three server pvp system to Warhammer Online.  How can it be implemented into the game, and not cause five million hours of making content?  How could you do server vs server wars in Warhammer Online?  Would it even be possible?

I brainstormed for a while, and I basically couldn't figure out a way where you could pit three servers against each other in the way Warhammer Online is currently set up.  Anyone have an idea that may work?

I did think of way it could work with Skaven.  They keep saying you are going to be able to play Skaven, but not like a normal class starting at level 1.

This whole three server pvp thing really put my brainstorming into full throttle mode.  I figured with the introduction of the rvr packs, and Skaven how could they make this fun?

I think it could work if players from other servers choose the personality RvR pack.  This pack would enable you to play Skaven on any server other than your own.  Your whole objective would be to be ported to a server to help the underdog faction. 

You would have no server affiliation, but you would be able to have fun in the game knowing you were stopping a faction from locking a zone, or going to the city.  I think it would break up the monotony of the renown grind.

Would players be excited about playing Skaven like this?  At any time you could choose to play a Skaven on another server to help the underdog faction. 

I think it could work, and I hope this is what is already in the plans for the RvR packs.  How about you?

Related articles about the RvR packs, and all the possibilities...

• Oh, Fuck You Mythic and those dirty Skaven too (heartlessgamer.com)
• RvR Pack Q&A Thread! (krosusssaysburn.wordpress.com)
• Bioware Mythic announces an RvR Pack (helltrek.wordpress.com)
• Guild Wars 2 trying to be like DAOC? (keenandgraev.com)

That Is So Skaven

Skaven this, Skaven that.  Skaven is definitely the hot topic these days for Warhammer Online.  Where will the tunnels lead us?  Are Skaven the missing piece for RvR?

I feel like a crime scene investigator these days.  I keep trying to put bits, and pieces together like a murder scene.  Does it feel that way to you?  I think instead of the killer (Mythic) coming forward, and giving exact details on how it happened investigators (Bloggers)  have to take whatever they can pick up to piece the whole story together.

I am still trying to figure out how both factions are going to be able to play.  Is there going to be confusion on the battlefield when it is rat on rat.  Of course enemies will be red, but it is still pretty unclear on how it is all going to work.

I read yesterday that the Skaven will sort of be like a third faction, but played by players of your own faction.  Will this cause faction griefing?  I know players thought that would be the case when I suggest AoE friendly fire so what if I decide to convert to Skaven, and kill my own faction?  Is that how it is going to work?

It is still up in the air exactly how, but we do know it is not a normal playable class.  We know it isn't going to be an npc third faction like Balaur in Aion.  It doesn't leave many more options.  I don't see the point of just playing a Skaven on both factions just because. 

Is this where the Power RvR pack comes into play.  It enables you to play a Skaven in RvR?  Will it change your spells, and stats?

Skaven sounds like it is always going to be part of the new RvR dungeon.  I am trying to think how that is going to work.  When I hear RvR dungeon the first thing that comes to mind is Darkness Falls in Dark Age of Camelot.  If they implement it like that instead of the lame way of LoTD it is going to be exciting.  Darkness Falls in Daoc was a blast.

As more and more details slowly come out we will be able to piece it together like a jigsaw puzzle.  I am going to PAX, and I am not sure if Warhammer Online is making any kind of appearance there or not.

Read More About Skaven from Other Warhammer Bloggers...

• Even More WAR News (weritsblog.com)
• Skaven Were Here ... (krosusssaysburn.wordpress.com)
• Bioware Mythic announces an RvR Pack (helltrek.wordpress.com)
• She Bleeped Skaven! (krosusssaysburn.wordpress.com)
• RvR Pack? Skaven? New Zone? - What Would You Ask? (gaarawarrgabs.wordpress.com)
• The Skaven Are Coming - Redux (ranknvile.wordpress.com)
• RvR Pack Breakdown (helltrek.wordpress.com)
• Power, Progression, and Personality (krosusssaysburn.wordpress.com)

Orvr Will Be Fun Finally

Sometimes baby steps are the answer. The most exciting thing at GamesCom 2010 for me was Mythic making the announcement that victory points, and timers are going away. I have been ranting about that on Wasdstomp forever it seems. It is nice to see that maybe they do read my blog, and take my ideas into consideration.

Most players are disappointed right now, but when I saw that they were removing the vp system, and timers I see it as the big announcement. At least for me just hearing that news was the big announcement.

Did I want to hear more juicy details? Of course I did. Who wouldn't? I really think the game is turning around. Did they intentionally keep things vague on purpose? I think they did. Guess what it enables them to do? It gives them the opportunity to read blogs, forums, and social media to see ideas that players think it is going to be like.

It lets them see what changes players want to see, and they can adapt, and change as they go. If they would have just made a full blown announcement than possibly they are spending more time back pedaling than creating content.

I personally think with the removal of victory points, and timers it is going to make Orvr wide open. Mix that in with Against All Odds, and it is just going to be the best pvp game out there.

It sounds like flipping renown will be gone, and they are introducing renown spikes which is way better. If renown spikes are like defense ticks currently I applaud it. This way you have to be out in the field killing to earn the ticks. No more watching timers on State of the Realm, and zone hopping to get zone flip renown.
I really hope they spread the campaign out to all the zones. I know I have read several great ideas before that would make Orvr fun. I can remember vaguely in DAOC it was always random on the keeps being taken, and what zones. I want Warhammer Online to be the same way.

Currently it is way to easy to know where your enemy is going next, and now it sounds like it won't be that way. I hope they rethink the War Report too. Make players figure things out. It is too easy now to run solo. You don't need a group of friends, or a guild to know where the fight is.

I solo alot myself because it is easy to do. I just use State of the Realm, and the War Report to know exactly where the fight is. I think the new changes will change all that.

I read somewhere that they wanted to make it similar to the way they changed the city. How would that work for Orvr?  I hope they have figured it out to where it will be fun.

I hope with all these changes that the whole loot system changes in Orvr.  Like I have stated before I would like the system to work more like the insignia, and emblem system than how it works currently.  The insignia and emblem system would keep everyone on the battlefield because no matter what they are bettering themselves. I suggest getting rid of crests, and medallions.   It also solves the players constantly crying about others opting out so they can get there annihilator gear.  It will be simple.  Everyone earns whatever current insignia or emblem ranking they are.  It would be a win-win for everyone.

Wasdstomp's Better Than A Blogroll

• Where Is The Keep Pride? (wasdstomp.com)
• Warhammer Online: I will become what I hate (mrmeh.wordpress.com)
• Where Is My Motivation? (wasdstomp.com)
• Big post of rambling before going AFK (bootaesbloodyblog.blogspot.com)
• Best case Scenario (zewar.wordpress.com)
• The bombshell (iheartgorfang.blogspot.com)
• Why Orvr Sucks (wasdstomp.com)
• Open RvR in Warhammer (thepriceofwargh.blogspot.com)
• 1.3.6 Producers Letter Orvr change (waraura.blogspot.com)
• Getting Warmer... (war4scrubs.com)

The Big Announcement

By now every player has read the Producer's letter at least a hundred times, and dissected it like a frog in 8th grade science class.  I saw something in the letter that made me think I know what the big announcement is going to be.

The hint was a little subtle, and most players probably overlooked it.  Bloggers, and players everywhere have a few predications which is more playable classes, an expansion, or possibly a third faction.  I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but I don't think it is any of those three.

What did I read that has me thinking it is a big announcement that doesn't include any of the above?  How could anything else be a bigger announcement than those things being added to the game?

You want to know what I think it is?  I think the big announcement will have nothing to do with Warhammer Online.  You heard me right.  The big announcement will have nothing to do with Warhammer Online.

I predict the big announcement is going to be that  DAOC 2 is in development.  Did you read the first paragraph?  The big announcement is coming from the producer of DAOC.  At least that is how I am reading it.

How excited would you be if that was the big announcement?  I think Mythic thrived with their own title because they were not limited to following an IP.

Why do you think Warcraft has thrived?  Yes World of Warcraft is based off an IP, but it is their own.  They can change the lore any time they feel like to cater to the game.  The same can happen with Mythic with DAOC.

Once again I think the big announcement has something to do with DAOC, and not WAR.  I guess we will have to wait, and see.

Related articles

• Ramble - Change is Good (ranknvile.wordpress.com)
• Forts + relics = amazing (fightontheflag.com)
• DAoC Producer's Letter puts on training wheels, er, windows (massively.com)
• Warhammer Online: Island of Blood (mmmmmgud.blogspot.com)