Stress test battlegrounds and PvP rules

The November 2024 open stress test centers on battleground play. Players are invited to download the game for free, join the queue, and enter the Morning Pass battleground in order to test server load, matchmaking flow, and general client access.

The event is described as both a gameplay session and a technical test. Its purpose includes stressing the servers, observing queue behavior, and gathering feedback on installation and launcher flow.

Battleground access and queue flow

Players join the battleground through the in-game queue interface. Once enough players accept the prompt, a match begins. During the test, multiple battleground instances are reported as running at once, with over 100 players online.

The server remains open after the stream for participants to continue playing through the night.

Morning Pass format

The battleground shown is Morning Pass, a mode built around objectives and faction conflict between Sacred Order and Domination. The recording describes it as a variation on a traditional MMO battleground, but with an added loot-based layer.

Instead of relying only on a character's persistent progression gear, the mode uses a separate set of droppable battleground gear. This is compared to a battle-royale-style approach in which equipment found during the match matters to the immediate round rather than to long-term character progression.

The speakers distinguish this from the game's normal progression model. Regular gameplay is not described as full-loot PvP, and players do not generally lose their equipped progression gear on death.

Possible future PvP variants

A more hardcore battleground variant is discussed as a possibility, in which players would enter with their progression gear and risk losing it on death. This is presented as an idea rather than a confirmed feature.

Other battleground modes using the same loot-based rules are also mentioned as likely, though no detailed list is given.

Balance state during the test

The battleground build is described as an early test rather than a final balance pass. Class performance, spell behavior, and PvP tuning are explicitly said to be unfinished.

Examples of current balance issues mentioned in the recording include:

• ranger being especially strong in practiced hands;
• mage combinations involving freeze and beam effects being overtuned;
• slow effects currently stacking too strongly;
• knight feeling very powerful in the present test environment.

The developers state that proper balance will require more testing, especially once subclass systems and additional combat features are in place.

No bots yet

Players who struggle to find full PvP matches are told that bots cannot be added yet because the necessary AI systems are still under development. This limitation is presented as temporary and tied to the broader AI overhaul.

Regional server setup during the test

The stress test uses a Europe-based server. Players from Europe are expected to have the best experience, while players connecting from North America, Australia, and other distant regions may see significantly higher latency.

A previous public test had used a Latin America server for that region, and additional regional support is described as planned when player numbers justify it. For this event, however, concentrating players on one server is treated as part of the stress-testing goal.

Community feedback during the test

The battleground session is used to solicit direct feedback on PvP design. Players are asked what they think of the current mode, whether they enjoy the loot-based battleground structure, and what future battleground types they would like to see.

Source

• Recording: Free Open Stress Test Stream | Scars of Honor - November 2024
• YouTube: Watch on YouTube
• Published: Friday, November 15, 2024 at 4:03 PM UTC