Idea for new PVP game mode - Arena Housing

furiouslog

Just throwing this out there to see what people think about it, while also acknowledging that the priority is to first fix the PVP issues in the game as it currently stands and if anything like this were to be implemented it would be well down the road.

So here's the elevator pitch: have special housing in the game purchasable from the Crown Store that basically acts as a game arena for PVP. They would be housing, so the owner could add decorations and all of that stuff, but you'd also be able to port in and group up, and activate an existing BG game mode like Team DM, or what have you - just redesigned for two groups sized 1-4 players each. This would allow for both customized PVP experiences as well as giving an entry point for groups of people who want to get better at PVP but are intimidated by BGs or Cyrodiil. These arenas could also be used as a means to host dueling tournaments and so forth.

I would think that there would need to be some limitations - such as a max of 8 simultaneous players, limitations to furnishing placement to preserve performance, spans of real estate that were comparable to notable homes so as not to overwhelm the servers.

Here's what I see as the benefits to ZOS:

1. Another revenue stream from the Crown Store.
2. Potential to engage more PVErs in PVP activities.
3. Provides another service attraction point for larger guilds = additional game engagement.
4. Potential to engage more hardcore PVP players with the housing/furnishing ecosystem.

Here's how the player would benefit:

1. Ability to form fair teams with friends and adjust as needed.
2. Play small group PVP game types at will without having to queue (provided that you have a group of friends you like to play with).
3. PVP guilds with members looking to improve their gameplay would have a private practice arena to horse around, host scrimmages, etc.
4. With the appropriate UI functionality, players could host more formal private single/multiplayer tournaments.
5. Enjoyment derived from customizing the arenas to have special features or challenges based on furnishing additions and design.

This is just an idea, I'm aware that there would be a lot of details to work out, and possible limitations or technical challenges that might completely undermine implementation, but setting that aside for now, and without getting into details or solution-crafting, what would you think of this broadly? Neat idea? Terrible idea? Ambivalence?

Necrotech_Master

is this ignoring the fact there is already an "arena" style house? lol (elinhir private arena)

they could definitely include more in that house, to go along with your suggestion though (such as just allowing group duels and BG mechanics such as a chaosball to practice with)

WabanakiWarrior

Good idea, would buy an arena

This is an idea I've seen suggested quite a few times and I always love it. This is a cool version of that. To address that guy above, the Elinhir arena house is kinda cool, but it acts like any other house. All you can do there is duel in a 1v1 like anywhere else.
Pvpers have been asking for the chance to set up new types of fights for a while now. Currently, the only way to have a group fight, a 2v2 for instance, is by meeting up in Cyrodiil or Imperial City. But in order to pull that off, you need to be on different alliances, plan a mutual spot and risk running into other players. It's possible, but it is a headache to arrange and not even possible if you want to fight your fellow alliance members.
Creating a house where PvP is enabled sounds like a lot of fun and maybe the simplest way to roll that idea out.

Casul

Good idea, might buy an arena dependent on cost/value/game design/etc

I just want a box that enables pvp in a specific region. I make my own arenas in my homes and would like if I could host free for alls in there.

spartaxoxo

Idea does not personally interest me, would not buy an arena

I wouldn't buy this but think it would be neat thing for them to give PVPers who need more content. I also appreciate the unbiased poll. It's nice to see one that doesn't presume a lack of personal interest mean that I think it shouldn't be implemented.

Sylvermynx

Idea does not personally interest me, would not buy an arena

spartaxoxo wrote: »

I wouldn't buy this but think it would be neat thing for them to give PVPers who need more content. I also appreciate the unbiased poll. It's nice to see one that doesn't presume a lack of personal interest mean that I think it shouldn't be implemented.

Like you, I wouldn't buy one for use as an arena (I might if it was so cool inside I couldn't resist!) - but it would be really nice for pvpers to get something nifty like this.

Casul

Good idea, might buy an arena dependent on cost/value/game design/etc

The only issue I could see is the price. It wouldn't sit well if they milked the pvp community for a $100 home just for the same content in a new place.

Inhuman003

Good idea, might buy an arena dependent on cost/value/game design/etc

As long there are leaderboards for solo and teams, also a weapon leaderboard and titles, and the leaderboard for weapon master and the title called Weapon Master too.

Vecro

Good idea, might buy an arena dependent on cost/value/game design/etc

I haven't got into housing yet myself, but this would be a great tool for one of my GM who is already working on a pvp house.

Kaelthorn_Nightbloom

Good idea, would buy an arena

I'm always in favor whenever players suggest this reoccurring idea.

kargen27

I prefer enabling PvP in existing homes. Some of my guild mates have really nice dueling arenas already created. We are limited to one on one fights so the full benefits of some of the creations go unrealized.

Last player standing format of in home PvP would be fun.

Homes are limited in the number of players allowed. So maybe going with the original idea at the top ZoS could add an arena or two to housing. They could be more restricted in the number of furnishings allowed so they could possibly handle more players being present.

kermickjagger

Good idea, might buy an arena dependent on cost/value/game design/etc

I really like the private aspect that this idea suggests. I'd say I'm a casual PvPer but I definitely want to hone my skills and I've mostly stuck to BGs now to practice in a small group setting (used to do some no-cp), though having the ability to practice w/friends with either an arena-styled house/similar feature removes the intimidation I feel sometimes when doing BGs...
I know there's dueling but I enjoy team-based PvP over duels.

furiouslog

Good idea, would buy an arena

Well, I feel bad that I somehow missed that this idea had been suggested before on the forum (I did search for it), so my apologies if I'm rehashing old ground. It was not something I came up with anyway, my buddy Zav did, and then we talked a whole lot about the specifics of how we'd implement it, and then I got inspired and came here to see if anyone had ever talked about it.

I'm in a ball group guild, and we have been 12v12 scrimmaging against other PVP guilds. These opportunities are complicated to cleanly set up and execute. Really, most of the ball groups I know are out there in Cyrodiil looking for other ball groups to fight against, with whatever other chaos and so forth might be happening at the same time. It's basically the vet HM version of PVP. It's fun, but it's also like fishing at times. You can be there for a couple of hours and not get a single bite.

I guess I posted this because I think that it would be cool to have more content that allowed for on-demand group combat opportunities that scratched the itch for two groups to be able to choose to compete when they want, and I figured that something like arena housing would not be overly difficult to implement as a major game feature relative to big stuff like a new zone or an entire PVP combat system while simultaneously being a money maker for ZOS.

BTW to the folks mentioning the Elinhir Private Arena, as you now know, it's built like an arena (similar to an actual BG map in the game) but you still just get to 1v1 in there. I own it, and actually made some changes to the arena bit, concealing the lava pit and adding structure to allow for some LOS combat, which I think provides more meaningful dueling practice sessions. (BTW if you ever want to check it out, it's listed as an open house, head on in, or even whisper @furiouslog on PC-NA to get a tour if you like.)

Tandor

Idea is bad because it would create problems or interfere with my ESO experience, should not ever be implemented

Either it would be unpopular in which case the development resources would have been wasted on it, or else it would prove popular in which case the performance implications would mean that furnishing limits would never be increased and might even need to be reduced.

furiouslog

Good idea, would buy an arena

Tandor wrote: »

Either it would be unpopular in which case the development resources would have been wasted on it, or else it would prove popular in which case the performance implications would mean that furnishing limits would never be increased and might even need to be reduced.

Aren't the existing furnishing limits based on client side limitations for rendering? I think for a gaming arena you'd need to limit that for people in that particular instance, but I don't see how it would affect other people's regular houses.