Player Vs. Player Combat

Dark Age of Camelot features player vs. player combat -- your character can fight with other real players, as well as against computer-controlled NPC monsters. Some other online games have attempted PvP combat in the past, although to this date there has never been a wholly successful implementation. Camelot has a different PvP system than the others; one that focuses on Realm-based teamwork.

Different online games offer different PvP experiences: some RPGs do not allow player vs. player combat at all; instead characters fight with NPC monsters – this is the model that EverQuest follows, with the exception of a few EQ PvP servers. Others, like Ultima Online, allow everyone to fight everyone else, which can sometimes be chaotic. Camelot will be team-based PvP, where characters will be able to rise up to medium level without having to worry about being marauded by high-level enemies. As the players grow in stature, they will be expected to protect their realm from enemy incursions, as well as occasionally go on raiding parties against other Realms.

Camelot's PvP system strongly guides the player into conflict against members of opposing Realms. The PvP system is an integral part of the game itself, unlike the other large commercial online RPGs. Instead of having every player be able to fight any other player, as in Ultima Online, in Camelot, PvP is team based, where you can only fight characters in opposing Realms. This will encourage teamwork and cooperation among the members of a Realm as they must band together to fend off attacks, raids, etc. from the other Realms. Each character class has been designed with PvP in mind, and each will offer a different ability or perform a specific task, in PvP situations.

In order to allow new players some time to gain experience in the game, each Realm will have its own unique protected adventuring areas that are designed for new players. These areas will be consistent with the each Realm and allow the new player an opportunity to gain experience without worrying at all about an invasion from across the seas.

Player levels will be based on experience vs. monsters, not vs. other players. At higher levels, players will have to adventure out into regions between the realms, which could bring them into conflict with enemies, but not necessarily so. True PvP comes into play when players actively go out on raids, or protecting your Relics from enemy invasions.

Each player accumulates "Realm Points" while either defending their Realm against enemy invasions or going out on raiding parties. As the player gains Realm Points, they gain special titles as well as bonuses to their skill statistics. Because of this, a high-level player who has gained Realm points will be more powerful than a player of the same level who has not. The game will not force players into PvP, but if characters choose to do so, they will become more powerful.

Of course, PvP isn't for everyone. Some players will want to concentrate on playing against monsters and solving quests that don't involve going into enemy territory. There will be plenty to do for players that prefer this more traditional online RPG experience - Camelot offers all the quests, communication, character advancement and roleplaying of any other online RPG, and can be enjoyed at that level - so long as the player stays away from the far-flung frontier areas of their Realm.