I haven't played BDO for about 5 months, but I check the forums from time to time to see what's going on. Of course, the fact that I'm still reading along here obviously shows that I haven't completely gotten away from the game yet, but it's a start.

But it's always miserable to read the same sad posts about the same topics over and over again.

For almost two years i and we've been complaining about the state of BDO in terms of gear progression, motivation and (open world) PvP and every additional change and expansion only makes it worse. Also, with the last Heidel Ball, I don't see the future getting any better for us.

By “us” I mean that (unfortunately) smaller part of the player base that has made BDO their second (or even first) home. “Us” who see open world PvP as the true and original essence of BDO, the drive to get better, socialize and create memories. Those who loved the combination of a seamless and meaningful open game world where everything took place (whether PvP or PvE - both were one), open PvP with a karma system and guild structures, unleashed a dynamic and meaning of social interaction between players in the open world not found in any other MMORPG. This dynamic led to conflict and alliances. Players banded together to have a better chance in contested areas. Guilds were formed to protect each other. These guilds in turn fought each other, or guilds broke apart due to internal conflicts. The World felt alive. This principle of conflicts and alliances created all the stories that many players still tell today because they have not been forgotten.

This is all as good as gone and any progress is pointless in the face of all the capped content and changes. I had already said this two years befor, in which direction BDO will go and I'll say it again: “BDO will be an MMORPG like any other in 2 years. Fast, linear and meaningless leveling phase that is nothing more than a long tutorial that everyone just wants to pass in order to reach the “real endgame”. After that, the open game world is mostly just a nice backdrop for stumpy grind or to see before you head into Marnis Realm, AoS, a dungeon, [Boss Blitz] or RBF. You teleport from A to B with the Magnus and spend the time waiting in line for an arena or a dungeon with lifeskills or inventory management.”

There are some other important aspects of the game that have been suffering immensely for years. The standardization, randomness, simplification and linearity of items, story, music... simply everything that used to give BDO its roleplay immersion is less and less present.

There is no point anymore. There will be no going back. Therefore, if you are really serious and the meaning of open world PvP is and was the primary reason for you to play BDO, then don't be stupid and stop playing or stop spending money. Don't reward PA for what they do with the game. I ask you to simply stop playing BDO or at least stop spending money on it, neither real money in the shop nor ingame silver for shop items.

There are much better alternatives for “us” than the current state of BDO. There are great games that we haven't played yet, or simply the opportunity to improve something in RL instead of getting upset about a video game here in the forum for 2 years. Move along. I, for one, will.

I wish you all the best. Peace

It's like Arsha doesn't exist or something.  Why are all these hardcore PvP players so afraid of Arsha?

Arsha is not the same and u know that. You've probably read this “go Arsha for open world pvp” debate 100 times already. If you don't understand it, then just forget it. I´m and probably many others are tired of explaining it.

I think the original war decc system was abused.  Having said that, I think PA should reinstate one sided deccs with timers and cooldowns.  that way grind spots could be protected, but endless abusive war deccs wouldn't happen.

I get it what you mean, completely. 
One thing I noticed while playing many Korean made games, that they are always fluctuating. Most common elements I found are, 
1. Devs don't listen to the community (most of the time),

2. The change is too frequent and often contradicts with mass player interest,

3. Everything is kinda messy, disorganized. Nothing is perfect. 

For me in the case of BDO, I feel like I'm being punished for creating a Guild. The system of theirs is so messed up. 

I wanted to love the game but it feels like PA is trying to kick me out in every step of the game. 

Maybe I will move on too someday.  

Arsha is PvE server with no karma drop for flagging. Why? Because it's rewarding PvE - there's increased drop chance. It does not reward PvP in any way.

How do regular servers under one sided deccs reward pvp?

Stop fooling yourselves. PA is well aware of our feedback. Even in KR there are enough voices in favor of (open world) PvP, especially for Node Wars. But both in KR and here we are now a minority.

The Koreans are now also realizing that PvP MMORPGs are no longer as popular as they used to be in there region, like its here in the west. Lost Ark is a good example of this, which is primarily focused on PvE. Throne & Liberty, on the other hand, shows that open world PvP is no longer as popular. Many newly announced Korean MMORPG's will either have no or very limited (open world) PvP. For example, Archeage 2 will be a PvE story telling focused MMORPG. Archeage 1 was known and loved by many for its dynamic faction based open world PvP that BDO can only dream of.
PA simply decided in 2019 to change BDO in essential aspects. That was it.

Their new design “philosophy” (if you want to call it that) is simplification, accessibility, beginner friendliness, PvE, instances, storytelling, elimination of any signs and suspicions of harassment.... and for that open world pvp, like it was, had to go. For that the karma system had to become family wide, node wars had to be simplified, one sided war decs needs to go etc.. Most people in BDO love all these changes. Most of them are happy, so they have no reason to get upset here in the forums for 2 years like we do.

And before this argument about PA's last half year revenue report comes up: yes, PA has made less revenue in the last few years, but that's the case across the games industry at the moment as far as I know. So I see no correlation between the BDO changes and their revenue.

And precisely because it is currently a major Focus change in the Genre throughout Asia, do yourselves a favor and just leave it alone. Most MMORPG's go through this development as soon as they become more popular or if the player base has changed.