(1) Already kind of a thing. You cannot swap gear while in combat, but you can as soon as you havent hit / been hit by something in a few seconds. Making it safe zone only however encourages griefing. Players can only take off gear to respond to karmabombers in a safezone, so they would still be on the losing side, while the karmabombers can simply run to safe zone quickly (or take the free death teleport lol) without losing anything. I'm not sure of the best system there, but whatever system is in place needs to consider a lot more factors than just the current gear of the involved players.

(2) Death count does not matter for horses at all any more. It also doesnt matter for horse trainers. The reason why horse trainers usually stay in cities is simply because the chance to get through a night of afk uninterrupted is far higher in a city where the amount of randomness is decreased (no mobs walking in randomly eg) and the colission with other players on horses is removed

1.] Can they extend the timer for a bit longer? Not being hit for a few seconds is kinda bad. Some of my guild friends has been karma-bombed just because the player quickly removed their gears.

2.] If the death count doesn't matter anymore, why not remove it? There are players that are triggered just by a single or a few death on their horses. Just asking...

1. Not sure that will really stop it but personally i dont see much of an issue with it.

2. I dont mind, just wanted to inform that it no longer has any impact.

I am still trying to figure out how Life Skillers can be at peace with the PVX players. I am still writing down things and it's like, I want to write again until there is a solution!

Hhhmm...

When I was sleeping, I came up with an idea that may help Life Skillers. It may not be a total fix. But its there to help ease the problem...

By allowing a secondary-middle item that can be activate/deactivate, let's say an 'armband'? The band's function will be visible to everyone and function only to warn other 'negative' karma players (on-map) that he/she is life skilling. If negative karma does attack, they will be given a big warning. This warning will not decrease karma. But another 2 strikes will land the 'red players' only to jail (which is currently already ingame). But here is the penalty for red players: only one valuable item (armor/weapons) will be confiscated from you. To get it back, you can pay a hefty fine at any time. (No Karma Lost)

What happens if red players keep going back to kill other life skillers? The answer is simple!
The more red players do it, the more it will take away your items and a bigger fine will be given. No karma lost again. The fine will just keep going up and one of your items will be confiscated again. However, this will only happen if you are already 'RED' not flagged! Flagging is for PVP only. But lashing out at innocent life skills will only warn you once. (x1). Do it 'twice' (x2)... again, jail time with an item confiscated again.

This idea / concept will save PA time and hassle to create another layer for players to equip combat gears. Life Skills will need to stay life skillers. So equipping a band is just one item. activate / deactivate.

Warning: if you grind (not life skills), it will deactivate automatically or grey out. Life Skill VS Life Skill - coin flip. No Yar. Its a waste to time to Yar!

Just put a toggle that works, if you have the PvP toggle On, you can stay like in the Arsha Server, hell put some extra Item Drop Rate Buff and some Gathering Bonus (extra) for having the PvP toggle On, that way you incetivate keeping the damn thing on all the time; on the other hand if have the PvP toogle Off, make it work as in the Seasonal Servers, you can't attack or be attacked by other players (Obviously there's not Item Drop and Gathering Buff). There, simple.

Edit: Put a CD on the Toggle so people can easily abuse it, one or two hours souds reasonable.

Edit 2: Another way to encourage people having the PvP toggle On is giving those players a 10 to 15 AP/DP Bonus so they can grind more easy than the Players that opt for having the Toggle Off.

Do you realize that PVX hates this idea and will push both sides further apart? My suggestion is to abolish the gear/weapon 'downgrade' and instead introduce a hefty fine with item confiscation (to a point). After that, Red Players can always gain money and get it back - anytime! Not only that, it will encourage red players to avoid life skills, not PVE. But seriously, Life Skills going to grinding (killing mobs, not hunting), as said, the 'band' will automatically deactivate or grey out.

Here is another idea. Instead of having all of that and the band system, why not have a 'debt' penalty system? The more red players kill innocent Life Skillers, just put a debt under the silver which we already have? Also here is the catch for red players: you can still enter the city. But to repair gears and weapons a +50% charge will be applied on top of your penalty.

For example, a good player (out of debt), they can freely pay for repair without 50% penalty charge rate. If the player does bad things, he / she will have to pay 400,000 silver + 50% penalty = 800,000 silver. Also they still have to pay a debt which they did. Lets say the red players have done a lot of negative things like karma-bombing, killing life skills and so on, he rakes up a hefty - 400,000,000 Mil penalty. To pay this off, he will need to speak with an NPC. If the player does a lot more, a warning will be given out and an item will be greyed out (which cannot be used and cannot be deleted until paid off).

Fair? The PVX is still there. Also, if a player accepts a challenge from another player in PVP. There will be no penalty.

Why not turn it into a set effect for life skill gear being applied?  So they cant just body throw with it? Or make it where it can not be activated at a PvE zone with mobs

Hhhm... good idea! The PVE Zone - of course, it should be disabled at all costs. Also what about 'body throw'... can you explain it further? Sorry for being a little confused.

For the 'band' to work, the player must have Life Skill gear equipped. They must at least equip Life Skill Clothes (Gathering, Horse Training, Hunting Clothes) Belt and a Necklace. Accessories, such as rings and earrings are optional... if that is okay?