Ideas for Stendhal/PvP Challenges

Player vs. Player Combat - Current Situation

Currently players can attack each other except in situations where the players' strenght differs too much. In those situations the weaker player can attack the stronger one to start a battle. Some players use PvP combat to increase their ATK and DEF stats quite extensive.

In some situations the Status Quo causes trouble, e.g. player B tricks the weaker player A into attacking him and kills him in PvP combat.

Player vs. Player Combat - Possible Options

Although training/camping is not that important anymore players still want to train (and do so), thus simply deactivating PvP combat might cause a lot of complaints.

1. Opt-Out based system: Players can decide to not participate in PvP. By default they are open to PvP.
2. Opt-In based system: Players can decide to participate in PvP. By default they are not part of PvP.
3. Challenge based system: Players can challenge each other to fight a duel. Only if both sides agree they can fight. By default players are not part of PvP.

Implementing some kind of Opt-Out for PvP could be abused. TODO: Example

An Opt-In system could also be abused. TODO: Example

The third option is a bit more complex and still has some gaps for abuse. But due to the nature of the system abuse is quit as soon as one of the involved players died or logs out.

Therefore we should go for a challenge based system.

Challenge System for PvP

Handling PvP combat in a challenge based system within Stendhal brings up some necessary considerations. We want to address them in this section.

1. Lifecycle of challenges
2. GUI design
3. Server side infrastructure