Not as avoidable as you'd think. For one, we're talking about griefers here, not normal people who like to pvp and like a challenge. They go out of their way to find areas where this is possible and have been doing so with increasing frequency. Someone getting ganked on a pvp server is expected because it's a pvp server. Ganker and Gankee both signed up for it. On a pve server, they can be stealthed and stand in mobs waiting for an aoe, or nearby then flag real quick and run in, or tag one mob in a bunch someone's fighting etc, or come upon a fight from a distance on a speeder & run in, etc. There are oh so many ways the game mechanics allow the griefers to get someone flagged against their wishes. And the frequency is really irrelevent. The point is that it forces a pve player on a pve server to alter their playstyle in order to avoid pvp. That's unacceptable. And it's not even really pvp. lol. It's little wienies who are desperate for attention and afraid of a real pvp fight. So they find people who don't want pvp, are lower level than themselves & arent' geared for a pvp fight, and who are also being pummeled at the same time by multiple mobs. Fun, fun, fun.

You think that someone who is "confused and upset" is funny? Wow, that's so sad. If you have nothing to contribute to the discussion other than trolling, your time would be better spent somewhere else. Or maybe you're hoping to get an argument going to get the thread closed? Whatever, thanks for the bump for our very important issue btw.

(edit: Looks like the post I quoted and was responding to got deleted) ROFL. Nope, nobody's asking anyone to feel sorry for us. In fact as far as I can see by that remark, you're only here to troll this thread. We're here to discuss an issue that's very important to some of us and to bring it to Bioware's attention, why are you here? What we ARE asking for is a few simple things really. First and foremost, we're asking for a response to a simple question from Bioware. The question is.....Is this working as intended and/or is there a chance this will be changed? If it's working as intended, then we'll know whether we want continue playing this game or not. The second question, if it's not working as intended, is....What is going to be done about it? If you're "simply unable to" feel sorry for us as you say, good. Nobody wants you to. But all I see is that you're "simply unable to" even understand what the issue really is."

Well, as has been said umpteen times in these threads ad nauseum, it costs us far more than "30 seconds of res/run time." It costs us our entire playstyle choice. As it is on the so-called "PvE" servers now, you can play "PvE" and avoid 'PvP" only if you watch your back constantly against other players, don't use AoEs nor allow your companion to use them anywhere that it's remotely possible there could be a stealthed enemy or that one could zoom up on a speeder after you've engaged. Oh wait, that sounds like a 'PvP" server. And 30 seconds? No, try 5 minutes in a cantina with your thumb in your nether region. Then time to "attempt" to resume what you were doing when you were interrupted for someone elses entertainment. Then having to play gimped to try to avoid a repeat. I see no reason I should have to watch out for other players on a "PvE" server. Silly me, I thought that's what "PvE" servers were for. After all, we've been getting told for years now, "So go play on a PvE server then."

(edit: Looks like the post I quoted and was responding to got deleted) No, a "normal" player who wants to pvp wouldn't have to resort to tricking people who aren't interested into paying attention to them. So tell me Mr Normal, can you see stealthed players and therefore can be more "careful?" Does being "more observant" reveal them to you? Whiney? It's a 'PvE" server!! What part of that is so difficult to understand? A complaint of "I didn't WANT to PvP and he FORCED ME TO!" is a perfectly valid complaint on a "PvE" server no matter how much it may interfere with your ganking of people who weren't expecting it and can't win because they're lower level and engaged with a bunch of mobs, and really wanted nothing to do with you in the first place. Do yourself a favor and go read the description of "PvE" server on the server select page. This is not working as per that description and either needs to be changed or the description need to be changed from "PvE" to "PvP unless you're careful & crafty enough to outsmart the game mechanics and the griefers." Then do yourself another favor and read all the posts. Maybe then you'll see that this goes beyond just being 'observant." Or, omg, maybe see that someone elses concerns might actually have some validity. Players these days....

I hope it's true too. I tend to doubt it though, I mean if that's the case, why wouldn't someone at Bioware let us know. They are completely ignoring us, and so presumably ignoring the issue. If they think if they ignore it it'll go away, they're wrong, the problem will remain and the only thing going away will be players. I know I sure will go away and will be doing so when this month's subscription expires if they don't at least acknowledge the problem or tell us that it's working as intended. Silence is not cutting it.

LOL. Oh so well put! Can I steal that for my new sig?

Same here. They promised us "PVE" servers, not "PVE if you're really really careful" servers.

After all the discussion in this thread, which you obviously didn't read, this is the best you could come up with? Try reading some and you'll see the counterpoints to "don't AE." Not going to repeat them all for you. /sigh

I see where you're coming from, but you have to understand that this impacts our gameplay overall. It's not just a minor inconvenience, it means we have to play as we would on a pvp server, trying to avoid the enemy, not using aoes, worrying about stealthed enemies, etc. That may all sound like fun to you, but it is not fun for everyone and that's "presumably" why we have our so-called "PVE" servers, which in fact are only "PVE" if you can manage to remain unflagged despite the game mechanics and other players.

Yeah, but see, in this scenario he's still accomplished a large part of what he wants which is to make you stop doing what you wanted to do and entertain him. He's got your attention which is probably the main thing he wanted. I've seen this all too much over the years and it always reminds me of my grandkids trying to get attention. They'll do whatever it takes to get attention, even if they have to resort to negative behavior. I see no reason to encourage this kind of thing.

Unfortunately, that only works if they're not stealthed, or if they're not on a speeder out of your perception range when you engage the mobs. No, the only way to completely avoid it is to completely alter your playstyle. Never use aoes, never use auto target, etc. Why should we have to play that way on a pve server? Why should other players have the ability to force these options on us, either pvp with them (or more accurately, be ganked by them since we're also fighting a bunch of mobs and they're usually way higher level), at their whim or alter our playstyle?

Still no response from Bioware.

Well, I wouldn't exactly call it open world "PVP." Open world "PVP" would be people wanting a challenge. lol. This is more like open world "guaranteed-win-gankage" being instigated by no-talent people who probably can't fight their way out of a wet paper bag and would never survive on a PVP server. If you're on a PVP server, I'd guess you're looking for the former rather than the latter.

LOL. So true, so true. One has to wonder just WHY are we on /ignore though. Doesn't bode well for what the answer might be. Let's go Bioware. Stephen Reid? Georg Zoeller? Someone? Anyone?

Yup, here's hoping. C'mon Bioware. A simple "It's working as intended" or "We're looking at it" would suffice for now. At least then I'll know how to act.

One incident? You're missing the point. This should never be possible. The fact that it is possible means that a "PVE" player on a "PVE" server must alter their playstyle in a continuous effort to remain unflagged for "PVP." This is not the way it should be. So it's not just one incident, it's the fact that it must take over your entire play experience in order to avoid it, or you must give in and allow the kiddies to demand and get your attention anytime, entirely at their whim. You must do what they want, when they want, not when you want. Do you get it now? If I want to have to play watching my back against other players all the time, I'll roll on a PVP server. I'll grant that that has it's appeal IN IT'S PROPER PLACE. I played on a PVP server in MxO because some friends were there. But it doesn't belong on a PVE server.

Agreed on both points. I'd add that those measures should only be temporary while they fix it. Or, as you said, let us know so I can be on my way. Well, as I said before, they've got til my subscription runs out to let us know something. I am very dismayed that we can't get so much as a squeek out of them on this subject. Not here, not on twitter. Nothing. A simple "It's working as intended" will do. Then I'll know what to do.

Well lets see, in SWTOR, The PVP servers are where you get skilled PVP players who want a challenge. The PVE servers have 3 general types of players.... 1) PVE types who spend most of their time attempting to keep themselves unflagged while they quest, 2) skilled PVP players who indulge in PVP at times of their choosing in the warzones and with other consenting people, and 3) no-talent people with no pvp skills or morals who spend their time tricking unsuspecting PVE people below their level who are currently fighting mobs into getting flagged so they can attack them and be guaranteed a win. <edited to make paragraphs>

If you read the entire thread, and the numerous other threads in various forums, you'll see why this IS an important issue. Not going to repeat them all here.

Didn't your mother ever teach you it's rude to interrupt people to spout gibberish when you have absolutely nothing to say? If you'd care to add something to this conversation whether you agree or disagree, no problem at all. Oh and thanks for the bump for our very serious issue btw. Failed troll attempt.

Exactly right. In fact I can honestly say that if I was currently considering trying this game, the minute I saw that this was possible and was happening, I'd immediately cross it off my list and not look any further into what the game may or may not have to offer. I've been game hunting before and done just that. And by the same token....if it goes on in a game I'm currently in, I leave. Simple as that. So come on Bioware, give us a sign. Is this working as intended? Should I stay or should I go? /stillwaitingforaresponsebw

Then you don't truly understand the issue at all and don't understand how it affects people or impacts their gameplay. You say you play on a pvp server. Tell me...what if there was a game mechanic that allowed griefers to make your character unable to pvp on your pvp server. And to restore it, you had to go through a 5 minute process of sitting somewhere doing absolutely nothing. And logging out didn't advance the timer. You had to literally wait out the 5 minutes in-game. Would you consider that a non-issue? And how much "crying" do you think you'd see on the boards then?

As a stop-gap until they fix it (if they ever fix it), ok I can see that. But as a permanent condition for the game? No thanks. I'll go play something else instead. Why should I pay to put myself through that? I have absolutely no masochistic tendencies what-so-ever. I was promised a pve server with pvp being strictly voluntary. That's what I expect to find. I see no reason why I should have to go through any extra measures to maintain a pve status on a pve server.

That would be the most logical fix and would probably be the easiest to implement. I guess time will tell if they're going to do anything at all. /stillwaitingforareplyfrombw