Classic Guild Wars was a bit of an awakening for me. I’d grown up in MMORPGs where the PvP was often predetermined by your level and your loot rather than your physical skills, so when Guild Wars equalized the playing field in PvP, I was really intrigued. I didn’t do tons of PvP there myself as I wasn’t in one of the big PvP guilds, but I voluntarily sat through spectator matches watching PvP for fun, something I seldom (read: never) do nowadays. It felt like watching actual talent instead of running the numbers on who had ground for the best loot.
So it still baffles me that so many MMORPGs insist on making PvP about levels and gear. Why are we still doing this? I guess there’s a lot of pressure to allow people’s gear- and level-related efforts to have some effect on PvP outcomes, otherwise they may as well be playing some random shooter instead of an MMO. But… ug.
What do you folks think: Should MMO PvP be about skill or loot?
Every morning, the Massively Overpowered writers team up with mascot Mo to ask MMORPG players pointed questions about the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre. Grab a mug of your preferred beverage and take a stab at answering the question posed in today’s Daily Grind!
