Fixing the Ganking epidemic on WoW PVP servers

Goal: Make wpvp fun and engaging for all sides.

Computer's Commandments : 
- One player can have advantages over the other , but there should be at least SOME form of counterplay. Disregarding group based play
- social gameplay should be encouraged and rewarded whenever possible.   
- A player should not be punished for partaking in gameplay 
- should fit in the spirit of vanilla 
- no system shall enable exploitation of rewards through collusion
- no system shall deter or inhibit player vs player combat.  
- no system shall rely on a NPC to kill a player.  

Know thy enemy

What do we want to prevent ? 
- i.e player 20+ levels ganking low level players without any recourse for the gankee 
- imbalance of power between a lower level player and a higher level player 
 

Ideas

This section is an unorganized mess of ideas to hopefully cobble together into something cool

Mercenary mode

Ideas:

Synopsis: 
* players who gank players more than 10 levels below themselves 
    - Players manually report bounties ? 
    - Automated system to issue bounties ? 
* hire players as bounty hunters ? 
* regardless of level 
* bounty hunters loot a specific item off the killed player , AKA ( their head ) 
* reward for turning in the bounty will need careful consideration 
* 
* Once the bounty hunter is killed 
cons: 
    * widely open to exploitation , aka a friend accepting a bounty on the target ( which also happens to be their friend )
    * preventing exploitation should be prio alongside making the gameplay satisfying 
    * people being unable to afford bounties in the first place i.e the person who should benefit from it 

pros: 
    * lots of class flavor oppertunity i.e rogues , warlocks , hunters 
    * lots of fun to be had as a player with a bounty on them
     

The criminal challenge

Criminal Organizations:

• defias brotherhood
• bloodsail buccaneers
• burning blade
• Grimtotem
• Dark irons
• Blackrock orcs
• Syndicate
• Scarlet Crusade

Synopsis: 

* Leveling challenge started via a glyph or automatically through killing lower level players 

* Killing lower level players get you a bounty that increases per kill 
    - pay off your bounty if you wish to avoid becoming a criminal 

* Criminals who are going on the straight and narrow may complete bounties for reputation.
    - quests for players with high bounties may reward greater reputation. 

* players who are not criminals , but kill lower level players , may become criminals
    - Player becomes a prime target for Bounty hunters or criminals looking to redeem themselves 
      

* players once becoming a criminal , must complete quests in their new underworld homes ( i.e pvp quests that require the blood of innocents , that increase reputation ) 
    - higher level quests which result in rewards may involve killing faction leaders , town NPC's , high risk targets 

*  new factions/quests for player partaking in criminal challenges 
    - becoming a criminal and wanting to redeem should NOT be a trivial task 

Extra features: 

* New city hubs / inns for criminal players [ A ] 
    - Scarlet enclave ( Tirisfal / EPL ) [ A ] 
    - Bloodsail bucceneers [ A:H ]
    - Defias hideout ? ( Westfall / elwynn ) [ A:H ] 
    - Alterac ( Syndicate ) [ A:H ]
    - Venture Co. ( STV / Barrens ) [ A:H ] 
    - Grimtotem ( Thousand Needles ) [ H ] 
    - Blackrock ( Burning Steppes / Searing gorge ) [ H ]
    - Dark irons ( A ) 
    - Twilights hammer [ A:H ]
    - Dragonmaw clan [ H ] 
    - Mekkatorque lepers ? [ A ]
    - Hakkari / bloodscalp [ H ] 
    - Bilgewater Cartel [ H ] 


* players may kill you for a bonus reward. 
    - Reward , token for daily quest that rewards a chest with a random item ? possibly a mount for higher levels ? 
    - one player may claim a bounty for a unique player once , first serve  

* The more grey level players you kill may be more notorious. But will gain you reputation with the criminal underworld 

* rewards for bounties scale with level ? 
    - Reputation limitations , past friendly 
    - killing wanted criminals with a specific reputation can earn rep with major cities / reps 

* killing criminals can result in a bounty for other criminal criminal players  
    - Players cannot partake in both a regular bounty and criminal bounty at the same time 
    - Killing criminals can result in the player becoming a prime target for criminal organizations ( i.e bounties for criminals )

* only killing players more than 5 below your level results in a regular bounty 

* Upon becoming a criminal players of your own faction may be targeted  
    - criminals are flagged for pvp at all times ? 


 

* the higher your bounty , the greater your rewards

* upon reaching level 60 , you may have to undergo some intense punishment to regain your status in society
    - Killing criminals rewards reputation , Criminals can turn in bounties for other criminals.  

* you are easier to be detected. 

* posters of your face may be shown in capital cities 

* There is no honor among thieves, you criminal compatriots may use to get in better graces. ( i.e restore normal reputation through pvp quests )  

* The hunger of the criminal underworld cannot be satiated , your tasks may grow in difficulty.( quests to kill players may increase in level requirement )

Problems/Concerns/Questions:

* [1] How can a criminal player partake in leveling if they are hostile with their own reputation ? 
* [2] What are potential ways this system can be exploited ? 
* [3] If people can automatically become criminals through an automated system , What are ways people may try to flag someone as a criminal ? 
    - i.e low level players in a group fight getting killed by higher level players through AOE spells 
* [4] What should the reward be for a bounty ? 

* [5] Should players be able to pay for bounties on players ? 

* [6] At what rate can bounties be turned in by a player ? 
    - Daily ? Weekly ? 
    - limited 1 bounty for a unique player ? 

* [7]  should bounties have a timelimit ? 

* [8] How can a criminal player kill another criminal player ? 

* [9] Should criminal hubs be hostile to 

* [10] Does killing 

Potential Solutions:

[3]: 
- algorithm that checks how many other players in a given radius where also taking damage from other players 

[8]: 
- Temporary buff that makes you friendly to non-criminal players ? And hostile to criminals 

Dark powers

Abilities that fit class flavor which scale them up against a specific player for a limited time.

* warlocks: pact with kiljaeden 

* shaman: blessing of elemental overlord

* rogues: blood vendetta 

* paladins: oath of justice 

* priests: (night elves only) The night warrior , (dwarves), TBD 

* warriors: Drums of War 

* hunters: Dead or Alive 

* Mage: DOOOOOOOOM ( manastorm reference ) *teleport player to a zone of their choosing*