When I first heard the news that Trion was adding three faction PvP, my assumption was that they were adding a third faction to the game à la Dark Age of Camelot. The reality is quite a bit different. I’m disappointed, but it’s really my own fault. I think it’s because of the recent Elder Scrolls Online news combined with Trion’s reputation for putting out insanely large and rapid content updates. The silver lining though, is now I’m not as tempted to resubscribe to Rift.
Basically, they’re adding a new PvP map based on Stillmoor where you join up with one of three factions. Each faction comes from an alternate version of Telara, and each has a different philosophy of the purpose of Ascended. It’s a three-way battle over control points between the Ram (believing the Ascended should rule), the Lion (see the Ascended as protectors), and the Raven (think the Ascended should ascend further). It actually does sound interesting, but it’s not enough of a draw for me to go back to the game at the moment.
I think it could be great! But I also have alot of questions surrounding why the two pre-existing factions suddenly get along. Or am I so out of the loop with that game that I missed something?
Yeah, I’ve been thinking a bit more about this today and caught myself considering re-installing the game again. My initial disappointment was really just because I made a goofy assumption that there was going to be a full third faction added based on a headline I half read.
As far as the player factions getting along, I have no idea but I doubt it. This feels more like a temporary truce kind of deal. I’m guessing that Guardians and Defiants are only cooperating within this new PvP scenario (which I think is what it is) rather than within the regular world as well.
I am 100% with you on your feelings. My initial impression when reading about it was that we were getting the third faction (the “Estrian”). Further hints from a developer on the forum made it seem as if the new faction would be a mix between the skills of Defiant and Guardian, which a lot of us misinterpreted as thinking that it just meant they were a hybrid-like (lore-wise) faction.
Though, if everything goes well, this will at least help revive PvP. And it’s more than possible that this is the first step towards implementing the 3rd faction, or possibly even an evaluation to see if it’d be feasible to do so. We’ve still heard nothing about the fabled Estrian. For the record, pictures were released back in December of the new faction: http://www.rift.rpgparadise.com/rift-articles/news/116-new-rift-faction-estrian
But we’ve still heard nothing after 6 months…
Well, I’m glad to know I wasn’t the only one who got the wrong idea. That’s an interesting thought that this might be an experiment on Trion’s part that could lead to a full 3rd faction. I’m not sure that’ll happen though, it would require a huge amount of PvE content to be implemented, until they decided to make the faction semi-neutral and just reuse the existing Defiant/Guardian quests.
it functions more or less the way that GW2’s 3-faction PvP works: three essentially arbitrary factions (in GW2: servers; in Rift: chosen warfront-only faction) fighting for server-wide buffs. Story-wise, it’s an alternate reality where the Ascended have won (its a Sliver, although Omen/ Quantum Sight is not needed to enter) and then have fractured along what-to-do-next lines – so Defiants and Guardians can choose any one of the three factions that most corresponds with their preference for how to run the world after the Ascended have won (or, whichever faction their friends choose). It’s a 3-sided persistent warfront that resests after it’s victory condition is achieved – what’s not to like?
This is true but a question that comes to mind is what happens with lower populations? While the idea in general is awesome, population has to play a huge role in it. The map it’s in is huge, and if there’s only a few people per side (even if this is because a lot of people ragequit), the map could last forever.
I haven’t played in a while, but is population really an issue? Doesn’t Trion still allow free server transfers?
There’s nothing “not to like” it’s just not quite a cool as my initial assumption to what it was, which was admittedly based on too little information.
I’m silly amused that Trion is trying this experiment. At least they are a company that is willing to do so. Curious as to how well it turns out.
Yep, I think my impulses to go back and play Rift have more to do with respect for what Trion’s done and is planning than the game itself. Weird.
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