06-27-2016, 03:32 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-09-2016, 07:33 AM by Etheron - Avatar of The Vision.)
In this guide I'm hoping to provide players with a single location to find helpful hints, tips and tricks to Player Versus Player combat in ArcheAge.
I'll be attempting to use common language to make it easier to understand for people who's first language is not English, but I can't promise that I will do a great job of that.
The Guide will assume that you are new to ArcheAge, have progressed to at least level 50 and working towards level 55 or have already reached level 55.
The Guide will also assume you are new to playing any kind of game competitively.
It will follow in a step by step guide that I hope will not take away from a players own decisionmaking process, but will make that process easier to handle, allowing you to enjoy the game as much as possible.
Throughout the guide, regardless of how into competitive play you are, remember that ArcheAge is a game and the point of games is to have fun. Sometimes you wont always make the most enjoyable decision if you want to win (unless like me, your enjoyment comes from trying to figure out how to win), so sometimes you will have to do the "boring and sensible" thing instead of the maybe fun and reckless thing if you want to progress in the game.
Do not make your decisions to satisfy another persons standards if you're not sure you agree with them. Don't let people tell you that you're bad because you chose to play something no one else plays. Do not be afraid to do your best, enjoy yourself and try make the seemingly impossible happen.
Step 1 - Choosing Your "Main Class" & "Metagaming"
ArcheAge is a game with a long-term committment that will challenge you to make decisions both inside and outside of combat that will ultimately affect your chances of winning or losing when engaged in PvP and to a lesser extent PvE. These decisions come in a veriety of forms; from choosing your class, your skills, your equipment and even your keybinds.
Before you start investing hours into these things you're going to want to try different things first-hand, or ask friends and long term players for advice to help you make a decision.
If you have played other games (MMO or otherwise) you most likely have a preferred way of "problem solving" in games that revolve around combat and it's probably best to choose something similar to what you have enjoyed in the past or are used to doing. If you find it's not the same in ArcheAge or you come across something you prefer you can always change direction!
The Guides contribution to helping you make this decision will also be a lesson in "Metagaming".
What is "Metagaming"?
Well... you're doing it right now!
Wikipedia describes the term as follows:
Made more simple, this means you are using information to help you make better decisions in the game, ultimately with the goal of winning.
A simple example of Metagaming taken from Urban Dictionary:
To some extent this may sound like cheating to some of you, and some metagaming is! (For Example: If you make a bet on the outcome of something that requires a player to work out a puzzle, but you already know what the answer and whati t leads to because you've done it before. This is using metagaming to cheat and play dishonestly. This guide will not advcoate this behaviour because it is poor sportsmanship, it's abusive and frankly unacceptable.)
In ArcheAge metagaming is more about knowing what people already play, what people already consider to be the "best classes" or the "best equipment" or what skills they usually choose for a class - knowing what others choose to do helps you choose counter-strategies. This is important not only because it allows you to take advantage of your opponents weak points but also because it makes you aware of what your weak points are, which allows you to play in a way that makes them harder for other players to make use of.
At more advanced levels this will help you predict how another player will play. Where they will move, what skill they will use, when they will use it - before they do it.
If you've ever been the victim of someone always "getting lucky", you might consider the possiblity that it is not they who are lucky but you who is predictable. How can you change that?
The Metagame in ArcheAge right now (Or at least the Sirothe server) consists of only a small portion of all available classes. I will list the majority of commonly played classes here which you can find using http://archeagedatabase.net/us/calc/ on the "Possible Classes" list. If you know what exists it might help you choose what you want to play.
The "top tier" (read: Most played) classes consist of:
Darkrunner, Abolisher, Blighter, Paladin, Cabalist, Defiler, Spellsinger, Daggerspell, Arcanist, Stone Arrow, Primeval, Templar, Caretaker, Cleric.
Lesser Played but still common (and very good):
Shadowblade, Executioner, Outrider, Blade Dancer, Argent, Inquisitor, Skullknight, Reverant, Swiftstone, Enigmatist, Demonologist, Gypsy, Bastion, Lamentor, Soothsayer
Fringe Classes you will probably encounter: (Note on fringe classes: Some players have dedecated a lot of time to playing things currently considered fringe. Some of these have been figured out to such a point that they should be top tier or lesser played but... just aren't. Some of them need more love or someone to spend more time gearing them to unlock their potential. Fringe classes are often the most expensive to gear because they are split between different kinds of damage or effects which makes them slightly more complicated to play, it is also possible that they require very specific additional equipment to support them.)
Poxbane, Hierophant, Hordebreaker, Bloodreaver, Reaper, Eidolon, Trickster, Athame, Doomlord, Druid, Thaumaturge
Early on it's advised you choose something in the top tier or the lesser played, simply because gear for them is more commonly made and sold by crafters, game dungeons have equipment drops that naturally support them or they're so well known that finding advice on how to play them is easier.
It should be noted that a class being more well known or more easily accessible in no way makes it easier to play at a competitive level in ArcheAge. The floor for some classes is closer to the ceiling, but that doesn't make the people on the roof any less skilled.
Now you know what metagaming is, what classes to expect and a little of what you've probably encountered already on your journey to level 50 and beyond, it's time to choose your own direction. Good luck!
I'll be attempting to use common language to make it easier to understand for people who's first language is not English, but I can't promise that I will do a great job of that.
The Guide will assume that you are new to ArcheAge, have progressed to at least level 50 and working towards level 55 or have already reached level 55.
The Guide will also assume you are new to playing any kind of game competitively.
It will follow in a step by step guide that I hope will not take away from a players own decisionmaking process, but will make that process easier to handle, allowing you to enjoy the game as much as possible.
Throughout the guide, regardless of how into competitive play you are, remember that ArcheAge is a game and the point of games is to have fun. Sometimes you wont always make the most enjoyable decision if you want to win (unless like me, your enjoyment comes from trying to figure out how to win), so sometimes you will have to do the "boring and sensible" thing instead of the maybe fun and reckless thing if you want to progress in the game.
Do not make your decisions to satisfy another persons standards if you're not sure you agree with them. Don't let people tell you that you're bad because you chose to play something no one else plays. Do not be afraid to do your best, enjoy yourself and try make the seemingly impossible happen.
Step 1 - Choosing Your "Main Class" & "Metagaming"
ArcheAge is a game with a long-term committment that will challenge you to make decisions both inside and outside of combat that will ultimately affect your chances of winning or losing when engaged in PvP and to a lesser extent PvE. These decisions come in a veriety of forms; from choosing your class, your skills, your equipment and even your keybinds.
Before you start investing hours into these things you're going to want to try different things first-hand, or ask friends and long term players for advice to help you make a decision.
If you have played other games (MMO or otherwise) you most likely have a preferred way of "problem solving" in games that revolve around combat and it's probably best to choose something similar to what you have enjoyed in the past or are used to doing. If you find it's not the same in ArcheAge or you come across something you prefer you can always change direction!
The Guides contribution to helping you make this decision will also be a lesson in "Metagaming".
What is "Metagaming"?
Well... you're doing it right now!
Wikipedia describes the term as follows:
Quote:"Metagaming is any strategy, action or method used in a game which transcends a prescribed ruleset, uses external factors to affect the game, or goes beyond the supposed limits or environment set by the game. Another definition refers to the game universe outside of the game itself.
In simple terms, it is the use of out-of-game information or resources to affect one's in-game decisions."
Made more simple, this means you are using information to help you make better decisions in the game, ultimately with the goal of winning.
A simple example of Metagaming taken from Urban Dictionary:
Quote:John was accused of metagaming when he immediately moved his player to the most protected area of the map to snipe the enemy team members, since he had played the map before and knew from experience.
To some extent this may sound like cheating to some of you, and some metagaming is! (For Example: If you make a bet on the outcome of something that requires a player to work out a puzzle, but you already know what the answer and whati t leads to because you've done it before. This is using metagaming to cheat and play dishonestly. This guide will not advcoate this behaviour because it is poor sportsmanship, it's abusive and frankly unacceptable.)
In ArcheAge metagaming is more about knowing what people already play, what people already consider to be the "best classes" or the "best equipment" or what skills they usually choose for a class - knowing what others choose to do helps you choose counter-strategies. This is important not only because it allows you to take advantage of your opponents weak points but also because it makes you aware of what your weak points are, which allows you to play in a way that makes them harder for other players to make use of.
At more advanced levels this will help you predict how another player will play. Where they will move, what skill they will use, when they will use it - before they do it.
If you've ever been the victim of someone always "getting lucky", you might consider the possiblity that it is not they who are lucky but you who is predictable. How can you change that?
The Metagame in ArcheAge right now (Or at least the Sirothe server) consists of only a small portion of all available classes. I will list the majority of commonly played classes here which you can find using http://archeagedatabase.net/us/calc/ on the "Possible Classes" list. If you know what exists it might help you choose what you want to play.
The "top tier" (read: Most played) classes consist of:
Darkrunner, Abolisher, Blighter, Paladin, Cabalist, Defiler, Spellsinger, Daggerspell, Arcanist, Stone Arrow, Primeval, Templar, Caretaker, Cleric.
Lesser Played but still common (and very good):
Shadowblade, Executioner, Outrider, Blade Dancer, Argent, Inquisitor, Skullknight, Reverant, Swiftstone, Enigmatist, Demonologist, Gypsy, Bastion, Lamentor, Soothsayer
Fringe Classes you will probably encounter: (Note on fringe classes: Some players have dedecated a lot of time to playing things currently considered fringe. Some of these have been figured out to such a point that they should be top tier or lesser played but... just aren't. Some of them need more love or someone to spend more time gearing them to unlock their potential. Fringe classes are often the most expensive to gear because they are split between different kinds of damage or effects which makes them slightly more complicated to play, it is also possible that they require very specific additional equipment to support them.)
Poxbane, Hierophant, Hordebreaker, Bloodreaver, Reaper, Eidolon, Trickster, Athame, Doomlord, Druid, Thaumaturge
Early on it's advised you choose something in the top tier or the lesser played, simply because gear for them is more commonly made and sold by crafters, game dungeons have equipment drops that naturally support them or they're so well known that finding advice on how to play them is easier.
It should be noted that a class being more well known or more easily accessible in no way makes it easier to play at a competitive level in ArcheAge. The floor for some classes is closer to the ceiling, but that doesn't make the people on the roof any less skilled.
Now you know what metagaming is, what classes to expect and a little of what you've probably encountered already on your journey to level 50 and beyond, it's time to choose your own direction. Good luck!
I dunno tbh