The sandbox MMORPG Pax Dei is currently struggling to keep players engaged and facing several issues. Major changes are intended to remediate this, with a focus on adjusting PvP.
Why should PvP be changed? As the team behind Pax Dei recently announced, they wanted to significantly revamp the game to counter the continually decreasing player numbers and continuously integrate feedback into the game.
The criticism of PvP is also in focus, as it has not been well received by many players and has faced significant backlash. Especially since the combat system was perceived as imprecise and outdated, and the game was frustrating due to technical problems and the lack of incentives for fair fights between players.
Therefore, the team addressed the concerns and promised improvement via Discord. In a new blog post, the developers explain how they plan to tackle the issue and address the community’s concerns.
No obligation, but an inspiration and above all a driver for the economy
How will PvP be changed? In the blog post, it states that the developers are aware that many players do not like the current state of PvP. Accordingly, they intend to adjust this feature in the following phases:
- In Phase 1, the PvP zone Lyonesse will be expanded with new resources, more space, PvE services, and motivations for entering the risk of the zone
- In Phase 2, approximately six-month seasons with claimable clan land and conquests, as well as changes to death, corpse runs, and gear degradation will be introduced
- After that, feudal houses, oaths of loyalty, tax rights, market towns, and community alliances will be added
It remains the focus that PvP should not be obligatory for players. The developers believe that players should always have the choice of whether to engage in combat against their fellow players. As stated further in the blog, they still want PvP to play a major role:
In Pax Dei, PvP is intended as one of the central drivers of the economy and the vibrant world. Territory control, wars, and conflicts create demand for crafting, gathering, trading, and cooperation – they contribute to keeping the game meaningful and alive over time.
To be clear: PvP will not be mandatory, but it will impact other areas of the game and affect PvE players in different ways. Trading between Lyonesse and the Home Valleys will be crucial for all to succeed.Our vision is that the benefits of territory ownership, tax revenues, and other war objectives belong to the players and clans that rise to the challenge and fully accept the risks. Victories and rewards should feel like real achievements earned through courage and commitment.
These rewards are meant to inspire players to embrace the full weight of risk and conflict, making the fight for territory and power exciting and worthwhile. The promise of these rewards makes every battle fought and every defended objective a part of a meaningful story in the world of Pax Dei.
The system of feudal claims is indeed designed for organized clans, but the trade cities are expected to offer a suitable alternative for smaller clans and solo adventurers in the future. The community’s concern that this change could divide existing groups is on their radar, and they are working on a solution to minimize this issue.
So far, there is no official date when you can expect the change. However, it is supposed to be implemented later this year. So it’s worth keeping an eye out.
That Pax Dei is struggling with player numbers is also partly due to criticism of its subscription model. Although it has been adjusted, from the community’s perspective, it has rather worsened the situation. Whether and how this will be adjusted again is still up in the air: MMO with fantastic graphics plummets on Steam with “Mostly Negative” – Subscription model is to blame
