PvP players in MMORPGs can be annoying. Yet there are a few special types that one simply keeps encountering and cannot get rid of …
The “player-versus-player” battles are always a special field in MMORPGs. Since signing up in games like World of Warcraft or SWTOR usually goes through a group finder, one has little influence over their teammates. There is thus a large potential for conflict if one’s expectations do not match those of their teammates.
Time for the 5 player types that everyone of us probably knows from battlegrounds.
The Flaming Fool
The first player type is probably the one that each of us has seen multiple times. No matter what happens in the battlefield, he must comment on it. He is the skill crown of creation, and it is absolutely incomprehensible why he is matched up with idiots like us every time. After all, he is such a talented player, why does he have to associate with lesser creatures like us?
Whenever he dies, it’s the healers’ fault, who, of course, “never heal,” and if he can’t kill the opposing healers, then it’s the fault of the own damage dealers, who have “never heard of focus damage.”
At the end of a battle, he always leaves the particularly clever comment that he actually plays for the other faction and now understands again why he actually does that. Because much better players play there and he doesn’t lose as often. Because on the other side, the grass is always greener.
The Guy with the Rubbish Equipment
Before a battleground starts, one usually quickly inspects their teammates. After all, one wants to know how many tanks and healers are present and what support in the form of abilities can be expected.
In (seemingly) every battleground, there is that one guy who makes you rub your eyes in disbelief and wonder if he wants to wear his proper gear. The weapon is usually a green quest reward and with a bit of luck, he has a few blue items from dungeons. Yet that does little to change the fact that his health points are so low that he could fit three times into another player.
Accordingly disappointing is his performance: The damage is poor, the healing is abysmal, or as a tank, he withstands less than any other player in the battle.
Often, it can already be seen before the battle which side will win. One just has to count how many players from each group have less than a certain amount of health points.
Captain Hindsight – You Always Get Smarter Afterwards
This scenario is probably known to everyone. In the “Capture the Flag” mode (like in Warsong Gulch), it didn’t go particularly well. The opposing team has already captured two out of three flags and the third is well on its way to being captured as well. The battleground is basically lost and the decision is no longer preventable.
But that is precisely the hour of “Captain Hindsight,” now he can shine. Because in hindsight, he can precisely point out why the battle didn’t go as it should have. He notes that it was “obvious that the opposing flag carrier came through the tunnel.” Also, we would have “certainly won if we had just gone straight from the cemetery to the tunnel.”
In principle, he is right with his comments. Presumably, we would have won if we had done X or Y. However, it is always easy to claim that in hindsight.
That’s about as useful as telling someone after a car accident: “Man, you should have taken the other road.”
Yes, wow. Giving clever advice in hindsight is really not an art. Be helpful beforehand.
The AFK Player
This situation is probably known by everyone as well. In a panic, one tries to defend a control point or take down the opposing flag carrier who is about to escape.
In theory, that would be quite easy, as one is 2:1 in numbers. In theory. In practice, the other player is just standing around and staring apathetically ahead. A useful attack doesn’t come, as he is obviously afk.
After finding oneself back at the cemetery and somewhat annoyed typing in the chat, “Can we please kick Glevenkevin? He’s afk in the base,” the same thing happens every time.
Hardly is the kick threatened, our expert wakes up from his coma and responds in a fraction of a second: “What do you want, Otto? I’ve been here the whole time.”
Yes. Yes, of course.
The Would-be Group Leader
A good group leader in PvP can make the decisive difference between victory and defeat. Good calls, clear communication, and a solid understanding of the game often make a big difference when the group is ready to accept a leader.
But usually, there are people who feel called to be group leaders, who do not have the necessary competence for it. They have seen someone else making calls once and now believe they can do it exactly the same way. Because in every battleground, there is exactly one strategy to achieve victory – and this is pursued desperately even if step 1 of a long chain of goals has already failed.
Mixed with a slightly aggressive tone, if just one player does not follow the calls, such players are often the reason why one prefers to avoid battlegrounds in the future…
Do you know of any more stereotypical “experts” that one can encounter repeatedly in the battleground?
