Faster and more Dynamic RvR
A couple of other forumers seemed to have liked my idea regarding Sieges in the other topic, so I will just post it here to see what others think and also promote talking about it. It's also my feedback to the RoR Team to consider for their RvR rework.
Currently many players are annoyed with random rams, sieges and wanted to increase the price of spawning a Ram. I think that's going the wrong way about it. Failed Rams are not a problem but a symptom of a bigger issue in the lakes.
It is too bothersome and ill-advised to siege in the current state of RvR, where majority never want to do it either due to the heavy defense-biased mechanics, difficulty, lag or any other reason, but mainly the difficulty of it. It takes too long, kills content in the lake, whether it fails or succeeds the opposite side tends to log out and that's harmful to the game.
Even if we argue whether Sieges are truly defense-biased or not, my main feedback is that zone defenses shouldn't be as big of a deal as they are right now and I would rather have defenses very hard but keep the game rolling, than defenses being over-supported that keeps both factions hostage to inaction and lead to boredom.
I don't want to go too deep into it in this suggestion, but I believe the current Keep Defense design is not future proof anyway and the higher the population goes the more impossible it will become for sieges to happen or be fun whatsover. So I think it needs to be changed to something else, preferably sooner than later.
Major Proposed Changes
Instead I would make Sieges easier and smoother to happen, to keep RvR rolling and active, with any or all of the changes below:
- Lower Door HPs significantly.
- Remove Keep Upgrades?
- Increase Oil Coldown by a lot, or make it a limited time use.
- Revise Siege rewards completely.
Door phase is arguably the least exciting part of a siege and likely should be shortened. Keep Upgrades can be a fun interactive option for guilds, but I believe Oil Control is too powerful as it is. Oil as a mechanic needs to be reworked in some way. Making it have charges would introduce a strategic element but also a come-back mechanic for failed sieges if defenders run out of oil.
Finally PvDoor needs to not grant the extreme rewards as it does now, Sieges should remain an option for the factions to invite action back and rally their side!
I would change the whole RvR zone-mechanics:
- 1 Star Keep to allow Sieges
- 2 Star Keep disables Enemy Keep Oil
- 3 Star Keep already Locks the zone if you own all 4 Battle Objectives
While 4 and 5 Star zones happened even recently in the lakes, it is usually a result of extreme stalling on both sides and I also think is a sympton of Sieges being terrible. Compressing the Zone Progression will increase activity and the pacing of RvR and would also allow splitting into multiple zones due to easier sieges & lockdowns.
The new 3 Star lockdown would especially create a sense of urgency in the lakes and encourage control of Battle Objectives more - while at the same time warbands would have the choice if they want to do a Siege or battle for lake control.
Alternatively, even if we keep all Defensive options for Sieges, the 3 Star Lockdown would promote splitting forces between Siege and Battle Objectives and instead of the current "all-in" blob fights at sieges, forces can be spread on multiple areas in a zone as well as at a Siege.
I think Sieges should be a lot more common and a less terrifying gameplay experience. Keeps and Forts should constantly be happening as part of the game, and smoothly, not some extra content most are afraid/bored of or can't be bothered to do. Would attacking be potential easier? Yes, but it will be easier for both sides, and the point is to encourage content happening, not discourage.
If such change would dramatically decrease Sieges from happening, it could also be always revised and give bonus incentives to do them.
WAAAGH!
