Player vs Player
There are three types of PvP in the "City Of" franchise: the Arena, PvP Zones, and base raids.
PVP Zone Combat
Combat in the four zones is probably the most popular form of PVP. It has a freewheeling style and all kinds of strange builds and teams show up there.
All four zones have a level requirement to enter; the lowest is level 15. All contain various badges, temp powers, missions and minigames designed to tempt PVE-oriented players into PVP land, or perhaps to give PVPers something to do while waiting for the enemy to show up. All also contain NPCs. Some are aligned to the hero or villain factions; others are neutral. Neutral and enemy NPCs will give you debt if they defeat you.
Three of the zones allow PVP combat only between heroes and villains. (At least until some joker throws a Confuse-type power into the mix.) In Warburg, you can fight players of your own faction, but still can only team with members of your own faction.
PVP Arena Combat
Arena battles are set up in advance by players for the format they choose in a controlled environment. There are many options: duels, two teams, multiple teams, large scale free for alls, various types of limits on levels, power use, classes and victory conditions. The Arena uses special maps which are chosen randomly for each match.
Two common formats for Arena battles are 1v1 duels and 8v8 battles between supergroups who focus on PVP. The latter mostly occur on the Test server, described by Positron some months ago as the official cross-server PVP area. (This would be funnier if he had been kidding.) Test is also a good place to find pickup PVP matches.
SG 8v8 battles usually feature a team of players with Level 50 builds specialized and drilled to complement each other. A typical SG match is best 2 out of 3 20-minute rounds. Formerly there were active Arena PVP VGs, but villain action has been scarce recently. This is usually attributed to stronger or advantageous hero powers which villains cannot match.
As of recently, the PvPEC has made a ladder for SG and VG battles on the Test Server. More details will come as the ladder develops.
Base Raids
This is a battle, or a set of two battles, between two supergroups, both of which have suitably equipped bases. The battles are set in the target SG's base, which may be fortified by special defenses used only in a raid.
At one point, the Devs planned to have raidable bases house one or more Items of Power, which could be stolen by a raiding group, but at this writing the Cathedral of Pain Trial where the IOPs are obtained is unavailable. Thus base raids are just done for fun and bragging rights at present.
PVP Builds
Players who enjoy PVP will typically play certain powersets and develop specialized builds with them to maximize their PVP advantage.
Characteristics of PVP builds
- Specialize in their role: damage, disruption, or support
- Single target attacks for damage dealers
- Perception advantage (buffs for you and teammates, debuffs for foes)
- Full movement slotting (the Leaping and Speed pools are very popular)
- High to-hit, damage and recharge
- Fitness pool (some builds can forego it)
- Escape powers such as Phase Shift or Hibernate
Characteristics of PVP powersets
A dedicated PVPer will often play a powerset they find advantageous. For example, the Scrapper Broadsword or Spines sets are usually thought stronger choices than Dark Melee or Katana, and Regeneration better than Super Reflexes or Dark Armor. However, a skilled player can overcome the limitiations of a "gimped" set that they play, especially if they don't face off against the most powerful players running the most powerful builds and teams. And in the zones, numbers and skill are both more important than build.
In any case, give careful thought to powersets and build before going PVPing, and especially before creating a character especially for PVP. Bear in mind also that dueling, team Arena, solo zone play, and team zone play all differ in what is most advantageous.
External references
- Official boards PVP FAQ and Guide to PVP Guides by NotPutzing
- Nicci's PVP 101 - very good for tactics
- PVP Zone Guide