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Player versus Player (PvP) has taken some very interesting turns in Turbine’s upcoming blockbuster, the Lord of the Rings Online(lotro): Shadows of Angmar. At first, the mechanic was deemed inappropriate for the project and so it was scrapped. Then time passed and to the surprise of many, PvP was revisited to what is known as Monster Play – a mechanic that allows players to temporarily control the forces of the Dark Lord Sauron to fight against other players in an instanced setting. Many felt this was a fair and lore appropriate compromise to appease those who desired the playstyle. Though last week another chapter in the PvP epic unfolded: dueling is presently available in the beta test.
The inclusion of this mechanic is very interesting when one compares current to past statements. The reason open or free for all PvP was excluded is because it would violate the lore of Tolkien’s world. For those who aren’t aware, Tolkien Enterprises works very closely with Turbine and as such the lore must not be violated in dramatic ways. Then came Monster Play, and, as I already stated, is a mechanic that adheres to the lore. But dueling? Does this PvP mechanic adhere to the lore? This is doubtable but a far more interesting question must be asked: does this signal a change in philosophy?
To start, some readers may be pondering the details of this often-talked about mechanic that was announced last week. In a nut shell, this is what dueling entails: players can initiate a duel with another player and they will fight each other until one is defeated. This is not to the death mind you – as that would be against the lore incredibly – but a player is just defeated. There is no reward or penalty for either combatant as it is for fun. On the same token, there is no restrictions on where players can duel.
Described above is the basic construct of dueling that is found in any number of MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games). In fact, it’s more or less copied from successful titles like EverQuest II and World of Warcraft. Taking the example of World of Warcraft for a moment, the only difference between the two mechanics is that dueling is not permitted inside major cities. Though besides that they are virtually identical. But the mention of locales where dueling is permitted is the primary objection I have to the mechanic, at least as far as lore appropriateness is concerned.
Currently you can duel anywhere you want in the beta test. Though the developers have stated that there will be restrictions but a relevant question must be asked: how stringent will they be? Will they be similar to those found in World of Warcraft where you can only duel outside of major cities? In Middle-earth context, does that mean players can duel outside of the Shire on the Great East Road? Is that lore-appropiate? I would say no. It is paramount, I think, that dueling is taken out of the visual equation to maintain the lore of the world. This is done through instanced training halls.
These training halls could be akin to military training facilities in a modern context - perhaps an arena for those familiar with the fantasy genre. In other words, a closed off locale where players can fight, find opponents and watch. It is completely out of the eyes of everyone else that doesn’t want to see them. More importantly, however, it eliminates the visual sight of the free peoples fighting each other on the major roads in the world - this is of quintessential importance to maintain the lore. In my opinion, this is what Turbine needs to institute in the beta test to make dueling lore appropiate – certainly the paramount consideration here. I don’t see any other way for this to be done either, but I’m certainly open to ideas. That said, however, there is another matter which concerns me deeply – a change in philosophy.
What do I mean by this term, however? Simply put, each MMORPG that is released has an over-bearing philosophy that dictates how the game is formed and operates. Let us take World of Warcraft for example: it encompasses an emphasis on PvP, casual solo & group play and offers a hardcore PvE (player versus environment) end game. So their philosophy is casual and hardcore PvP & PvE. Just to be safe, let us take the example of EverQuest II. That title offers, for the most part, forced group play and has a significant emphasis on PvE (especially in the end game). The philosophy of that game is hardcore PvE. For the sake of the present argument, let us define the Lord of the Rings Online’s over bearing philosophy: casual solo and group PvE play, strong social systems and slight PvP. Of course this is a rough sketch based on current information but it will suffice. The point I want to emphasize, however, is the slight PvP. Certainly it won’t be the focus of the title but it will be there. In fact it’s only there because players demand it but it will remain slight. Or is that too optimistic of a look?
If, in fact, Turbine does not take my suggestion and create instanced areas for dueling and, instead, keeps it the way it currently is - or only slight restrictions -, we may see a change in the very philosophy I just mentioned. That change, quite simply, is slight PvP to moderate or heavy. The reason why open or free for all PvP was initially excluded is because it is not lore appropiate. Certainly, then, dueling in locations such as the Great East Road (which is theoretically possible) is not either? Yet it’s permissible and open PvP is not? In other words, it sets a dangerous precedence. If we’re permitted to duel on the Great East Road the next step might be free for all instances – Dwarfs, Elves, Hobbits and Men fighting each other for bragging rights. It’s certainly lore breaking, but not more then Hobbits dueling on the Great East Road! It simply creates a bad example; when exceptions become common they turn into rules - for the integrity of Tolkien’s world, we do not want that.
Dueling, then, while it may be a worthwhile addition – advocates of PvP may certainly Basque in it – does present two problems that need to be addressed immediately. The first is the locales of dueling – it must be restricted! If it is not, then there will be blatant lore violations that spit on the work that Tolkien wrote so many years ago. Accordingly, if these restrictions are not in place then it may be the start of a chain of events that results in open PvP. That is something, I think, none of us wants.
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Author:Magi