I just love it when people comment about games they've never played. I haven't played much of the Star Wars games. (ducks) My daughter has, though. So I won't comment on them. I have been a COH/COV player for the last 3 years. Nobody is clogging the servers with death matches. Its actually quite the opposite. Most COH/COV PVP zones are usually dead the majority of the time, no matter which server you are on. The Arenas are the only PVP areas where you can fight with unlocked Gladiators, which are normally members of enemy factions you've defeated. In battle, you still have to control them, like they are pets.
Aside from the Arenas that are in a few zones and Pocket D (Dance Club), there are 4 actual PVP Zones:
Bloody Bay (Heroes Vs. Villians; available at 15; automatically leveled to 25)
Sirens Call (Heroes Vs. Villians; available at 20; automatically leveled to 30)
Warburg (Heroes Vs Heroes and/or Villians Vs Villians; available at 30; you are leveled to 38)
Recluse's Victory (Heroes Vs. Villians; available at 40; you are leveled to 50)
I've pvp'd in all of these zones, but I spend the majority of my time in Recluse's Victory (RV).
Upon entering the zone, you acknowledge that other players are going to try and kill you. That said, there are areas in the zone or activities that players may be doing that most pvpers will leave you alone. Mostly.
Basically the PVP etiquette goes like this:
1) Under the statue of Atlas, there is a large platform. Its common knowledge that people standing there are looking to duel another player. Not to get ganked by several other pvpers. Newbies usually don't know this, but then again most newbies haven't built up their toon for real PVP and will usually die if they attack the wrong person.
2) Its bad etiquette to attack the winner of a duel... (Unless you really hate them, and you have numbers, then its OK, lol!)
3) If you are anywhere else other than under the statue, you are fair game.
4) Farming: RV is great for getting recipe drops for crafted Invented Origin or IO sets. You can either use these to enhance your build or you can sell at the auction house for profit in the game. The currency is called "influence". A farmer generally is either taking out loads of Arachnos, Long-Bow agents, and/or Pillbox Pop-up Cannons. And they'll usually have a "Heavy" with them, which is either basically a large 2 legged tank robot or a spider. Only real assholes mess with these people... but then again its PVP... just don't go crying when they actually kick your toon's ass.
5) PVP Rating: If you are solo and get a kill, you get 1 point added to your rating. That number ticks down by .2 for every real hour you haven't received a kill. You get badges for PVP ratings of 20, 100, and 400. Once you kill someone in the zone there is a 10 minute cool-off period before you get credit for killing them again. This was meant to curb kill farming... So if a particular person is killing you anyway, they are just being an ass.
6) You can form either Hero or Villains teams, this is the preferred mode of survival in the zone until you've really built a strong tune. It is generally considered lame to have a Heavy involved in the team.
7) Cursing is generally frowned upon, especially by the Heroes (hey we're the good guys). And you can usually spot the pimple-faced 13 yo who just got pwned.
In the game I've found that most people chatting usually are in the PVE zones, usually in Atlas Park under Atlas. As far as chatting too much in these zones... well people aren't always Heroes or Villians. Its encouraged in the game to develop both types of toons. So friendships are bound to happen between so-called Heroes and Villians. Others just like to compare build types, so they can make theirs better. Besides, its probably cheaper to chat in-game than paying for another unlimited texting plan.
Global: @phreakincool
