I wish there where larger clans mob feeding players out the end game locations.  Working together to kick players like you out.  With 10 players grinding in your face or even gathering ever item near you.

Of course you can't imagine that.  Don't even try.  You can't.  You won't.  But we all know the result.  You would complain about it all day and we would tell you..................

You consented to that behavior.  Quit your crying.  It's a PVP game.

Olivia players consented to the same rules.  However, even Pearl Abyss had someone in the company with enough wits to remove the already constented to interactions there.

Look at that!!! You thought you where so smart.  Turns out that's not the case.

People consented to PVP at world bosses.  You know limited resources.  Guess what Pearl Abyss removed it.

People consented to 1% exp loss on PVP death.  Pearl Abyss removed it.

Turns out your consent doesn't mean anything.

I've had this happen to me the other day grinding Bloody Monastary.  I am doing my thing, not bothering a soul.  In the middle of a Crimson Bell, some janky Warrior pops up out of nowhere in a ghille suit and attacks me.  We fight it out for a little, but I end up getting CC'd by a mob.  This janky Warrior, whom I've never personally met, literally tried feeding me to mobs -- for what?  Prob for nerd flex.

You can tell when someone is trying to do this -- they'll try to whittle your HP as low as they can without making the killing blow, hoping a mob will.  Well, thankfully, I am just tanky enough that he resorted to killing me because I would've gotten up before the mobs could kill me.  Very obvious mob feed attempt, though -- out of nowhere, for no reason.  And that's the part I'm most salty about -- like, gank me, kill me, whatever, but a mob feed for literally no reason other than my existence, hopefully people can see how that's messed up.  But it is BDO.  Sometimes, you gotta just grit your teeth and get dirty.

Anyway, I came back for blood.  We fought a long duel with loads of mobs around us in main rotation.  I have a great, humungous set of "bait and tackle" so I had no ghille on, but he did, colored in that flourescent green color that makes animations look even more jank.  A clear sign of small and miniscule bait and tackle.  Was really fun.  Ended up landing a CC.  Tried to mob feed him for revenge, but same thing, he was going to get up so I released Grim Reaper's Judgement on 'em.  He died.  He ressed, chased me, I went invis and swapped while invis for the LUL's.  IDC.  I'm just glad I killed some self-promoting Snake jank warrior wearing sparkly green ghille suit.

Moral of the story -- Sometimes you just gotta deal with perceived hardship and move on.

What I think would help the game -- Mob feed can be used toxicly.  Fix mob feeding somehow?  IDK.  Because it can also be used to deter PVE griefers, so double-edged sword.  Eh.  Keep it as is, honestly don't care, but yeah, that was pretty messed up.  I didn't offend his mother or anything.

I consider everything on the global scale for the game and analyze individual situations with the proper context.  I also recently had someone trying to mob feed that ended up dying to mobs themselves.  However, in the bigger picture mob feeding is powerful enough to completely ruin the game experience for a lot of people.

I don't expect everyone to have 1,000's of hours in the game, backup gear, a setup to handle PVP including connection speed, a decent PC, hand coordination.  I also take into consideration players going into a lower zone just to mess with others.

And cases like you mention where people are simply doing these things just because they can.

While you accept that behavior is problematic you still refuse to accept in inevitable truth.  Those things are NOT just part of the game that can't be controlled.  Many of the problematic issues would dissapear immediately with a PVE server.  No one is going to grief on horses, pk life skillers, or mob feed.

It may lead to some other issues such as grinding over each other.  No one is saying it will get rid of all problems or that it's perfect.  They are simpy saying they prefer that set of game rules over the current.

I do not refuse to accept that these things cannot be controlled, which is why I've been suggesting for years a revamp of the Karma System that addresses this.  A PVE Only server changes the game too much, a server where players can freely progress with literally zero risk.  It is the "risk" involved with open world gameplay that makes the game fun, engaging, unpredictable and such, and this aspect of the game -- going out in the open world and having to deal with friendlies or foes -- has been integral to this game's success and longevity, being a core aspect of PvPvE that this game does quite well, IMO.

I do agree that there are certain acts of toxicity that could be handled better.  And it should be.  But I do not think a PVE server is the answer.

The forced open world danger doesn't really apply to BDO.  It's a feature from older games that doesn't apply the same way to BDO.  You can get rich from playing the market, life skilling on 49 alts, bartering, cooking, imperial, etc.  That's not a reason to force PVP on the open world though.

Ideally:

Every player has their own choice.

Regular Server:

Just the way it is, want to compete for a spot, duel, karma bomb, pk, whatever.

PVE Server:

Tired of PVPing others, dealing with mob feeders, PK, grind away.

PVP Server:

Want to fight for everything?  You got it.

Tired of people walking into your rotation? Go to PVP, Regular Server

Tried to compete on Arsha, but a larger guild is beating you down? Go to Regular or PVE

Want to life skill or train your horse in peace? Go to a PVE server

Getting bored of grinding?  Want some action?  Go to PVP server or regular

No matter your play style or mood those 3 options have everything you need.

There is no such thing as having to battle your way through the game.  You need to accept that it's over, gone, the idea is dead.

* You can AFK level to the highest achieved levels in game (with no competiton)

* You can cash shop your way to end game gear (with no competition)

* You can life skill your way to end game gear (with no competition)

So stop trying to use that outdated and invalid reasoning.

I mean, it's not outdated if it still happens today, in real time.  Your claim is there is no such thing as having to battle your way through the game, since there are (inefficient/IRL costly) means available, yet, on a regular basis, I find myself in competition with others in the open world, said competition being part of that "risk" associated with the open world. 

Sure, you can whale or use dummies to level, but that holds no bearing over open world encounters.  To then say "well, because you can use training dummies where there's no competition, that means we don't need competition in the open world".  You're comparing apples to oranges here.  Unless you're equating AFK / whaling to active play, which, I'd say is a bad comparision given how vastly different these things are in both efficiency and what you're actually doing.  It's like saying, "well, because you own a car, that means you never have to walk again -- walking is outdated".  Misses a lot of factors there.

We all know you want a server where you can progress with literally zero risk.  That's literally the only reasoning people have that ask for one, "PA make me a server where I can progress without risk of dying to another player".

I think BDO need better confines in which PK takes place.  I think Karma needs to be reworked.  Bounty System.  PVE server will only serve as aband-aid to a bigger issue, and that is -- the choices players make given the confines of the game.  People will be toxic on a PVE server too.  Because this issue is not properly addressed, it's basically like, "OK we give up, here, PVE server".  Least how I see it.  You don't cure a severed vein by patting it with toilet paper.

That's not an accurate assessment of what it means to play in a competitive environment and the reasoning behind it.

A prime example would have been the first years of Lineage II

During this time it was not feasilbe to purchase ANY additional advantages.  It was not possible to progress in the game without venturing outside.  Everyone competing was required to be in combat zones.  Anyone that could circumvent this system could gain an advantage.

That is NOT the case with BDO.

We all want to recapture our most glorious memories from past MMO's.  I understand, like, I miss camping outside the villan base in DCUO, sparking huge faction vs faction fights for no other reward than pure, unadulterated fun.

But if you really think BDO is not a competitive environment, then IDK what to tell you.

You are still missing the most important point.  I used the Lineage II example because at that time there was no way to circumvent the system.  Thus everyone had to play in the same server, locations, and environement.

* You could NOT progress in town or AFK

* You could NOT life skill or advance through other means

* You could NOT legally purchase any advantages

So everyone was on the same playing field by the same rules.  Once you break these rules, the system no longer applies.  You're NOT competing against players in BDO on any type of equal ground.

The cash shop alone completely destroys any type of competitive environment.  You can't have people that spent half as much time with more resources.  You can't have people higher level that obtained it while AFK.

The competitive environement doesn't exist.  It's just a toxic wasteland that's left over.  You might still squabble over areas, but all the level playing field is GONE.

You might have been able to make that claim the first few months in the NA/EU versions, but that dream is DEAD.

This is where your entire PREMISE is destroyed:

Your premise is that it would be an unfair advantage to progress on a PVE server without competing in PVP against others.  By defintion buying advantages is an unfair advantage to progress without competition.  Thus the premise is completely destroyed.  Bartering on a 49 character, fishing on a 49, or gathering, cooking, alchemy, safe zone horse training, AFK leveling etc would also ruin your premise.

A player grinding all day with Kama Buff, VP, Loot Scrolls, Tent Villa buffs, ruins your entire premise.  It's no longer competitive under those conditions.  There is a clear and undeniable massive advantage.

To be truly competitive everyone must be on equal standing.