Ensure that scouting becomes an important part of the game again.
Current situation:
Currently, players are automatically provided with many informations. Here is a small selection:
- Which zones are open.
- What the status of the BOs and Keeps in the zone is.
- The number of players in each zone (approximate).
- Is there a ram?
- Where is the battle currently taking place?
I understand the developers' approach of ensuring that players can quickly find the “action” and engage in battles. Unfortunately, this means that many maneuvers and tactics are obvious and many tactical options are lost. (for example: Fast leveling the keep(without enemy knowing), sneaky ram, secret countersieges)
In my opinion, this situation contributes greatly to the stalemate we experience day after day.
Balance Thoughts:
Covert operations and reconnaissance are important aspects of warfare. Here are a couple of quotes from Sun Tzu on the subject:
- “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
- “What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge.”
- “Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men.”
- "Spies (or Scouts) are a most important element in war, because on them depends an army's ability to move."
I would like to ensure that, in addition to the strength of the faction, the tactical versatility and the ability to act and react quickly are also important components in ORVR. To achieve this, automatic scouting mechanisms would have to be limited, and “manual” reconnaissance would have to regain a more prominent role again.
Detailed Proposal:
- Change SOR-Addon:
the only Information provided by the SOR-Addon automatically is:- which Zones are Open
- Who has which Keep
- If the Keep-Doors are open or closed
- Health of the Keep Lord
- Number of Deaths in this Zone for each Side in the last 1/5/15 min. (like a load counter)
- Make Warcommander a builtin Addon
- Add "Ram" and "Fight" to the Warcommander Palette (so it would be shown on the map)
- Add the ability to manually (per Button) propose BO, Door and Keep Status in SOR-Channel. (When they are targeted and in line of sight of the user.)
- Deactivate the old RVR-Tracker
The withdrawal of automatic information will cause uncertainty among players, which will hopefully be offset by active scouting and communication.
It will become more important for both sides to have players in all active zones who collect information. Because a lack of information can lead to one side carrying out a siege without the other side noticing until the outer door is opened.
As it becomes more important for both sides to be present in all active zones, the fight will spread out. And hopefully, lone fighters, small groups, and warbands will all find their place in it.
Additional Thoughts:
- Since only two add-ons (and the part of the server which posts SOR_STATUS at /9) would need to be changed and the core mechanics would remain untouched, these changes could be tested for about three months and then put to a vote by the community.
- Spies within the factions would become an issue again in that case. However, they always are in warfare and, in my opinion, would only establish an additional tactical layer.
- What I like about this suggestion is that it doesn't necessarily favor the stronger faction again. Instead, it favors the faction that is better organized, coordinated, and able to act with surprise. This could help to make the game more dynamic without strengthening the blob.
I have tried to formulate this proposal neutral regarding both sides.
Feedback is welcome but pls keep it civil and dont derail the discussion.
Greetings
waerter
