I am perpetually confused about gear progression

[Kuldebar]

I have been returning and leaving RoR for a few years now. I do always keep an eye on patch notes and so forth. Population always appears about the same ~800 onliine and I do love the game. BUT I never stick with it because I can't simply choose RvR or PVE, I would need both to get gear. I surmise this is by design but I don't really like PvE in RoR - not enough to stop RvRing in order to do it.

So, gear still requires a mix of PvE and RvR?

And, is lag still pretty bad in T3 and T4 Sieges?

[kpihuss]

You can unlock all PvP guards and gear (SCs and RvR) without doing PvE.

However, you'll need more War Crests because you'll have to buy sets that aren't very useful depending on your current class.

To reduce the lag on sieges, try use this mod: viewtopic.php?t=13&start=670. I was pplaying on 20-30 FPS, but after install it, i play at 80-90FPS at maximum graphic quality with no lag

[pseudoman]

I’ve reached sovereign level and still need 5k crests to finish my build. I did this solely through rvr and scens.

There’s a reason people feel forced to pve in the game.

[Kaskarin]

You do not have to do PvE to gear, it helps to save crests, but it is not a big issue unless you play an offspec or build where the RvR sets do not have the stats you want which can be the case for some dps healers, and offensive tanks. Even with PvE, gunbad and crypts / bb are not to hard to knock out and are short compared to bastion stairs or lost vale. You can dip your toes in to save a bit of crests, grab a weapon or two, and focus on RvR or SC whichever, you prefer.

The key thing is are you enjoying RvR? When you get BiS will you stop playing? If you enjoy RvR it is not a big thing to have to stack up more crests. The power gap is not too crazy unless you are solo roaming in 1v1, or doing premade fights. Having vanquisher rather than dark promise while stacking up crests is not going to make it or break it in most RvR fights or keep sieges.