---
# System prepended metadata

title: PVP Zone Design Document
tags: [Deprecated, Design]

---

# PVP Zone Design Document

###### tags: `Deprecated` `Design`

# Abstract
The PVP Zone, otherwise known as the Player-Versus-Player Zone or as the Lawless Sector in an in-game context, is a portion of the overmap wherein direct player-versus-player combat without escalation is authorized. This area will be marked out in red on the overmap screen. In exchange for this, the volume of high-loot ruins and planets will be larger.

# Goals
- **Facilitate non-peaceful ship-to-ship interaction.** Right now, because of the ongoing rules against piracy and a desire to maintain the mostly PVE setting of Shiptest, combat between ships is uncommon and often discouraged. By enabling it in select areas, this allows people to get their fightin' fix in while simultaniously allowing others to maintain their peaceful gameplay style if they so choose.
- **Create a higher-stakes/higher difficulty area of the map.** People like to be challenged! This area would allow veterans of Shiptest to up the ante and fight stronger foes (other players) while still having a rewarding gameplay experience. Helps to avoid burnout!

# Non-Goals
- **Eliminating conflict outside of the designated area.** This space is not designed to remove conflict between ships while outside of the Lawless Sector, nor is it designed to force players to move to the Lawless Sector to resolve disputes violently. The keywords are "direct player-versus player conflict *without escalation*".
- **Creating a risk-free high loot area.** The intent is to allow players to fight each other, not to just mutually loot without so much as a mean look. If you can get out without fighting, sure, but the area is designed to encourage combat, so use all those guns you're looting for something!

# Details
The Lawless Sector will be a central area of the map outlined and filled-in with obvious red indicators showing its status as a PVP area with mouseover text as well as an indication on the navigation screen that the ship is currently in a PVP area. In this area, weak energy signals have a higher density and planets that spawn have greater numbers of ruins on them. While in the Lawless Sector, members of other crews are considered "valid", to use a more general SS13 term. Pending the addition of interdiction pulses, takeoff times will be vastly increased while docked at a signal or planet, and can be cancelled by interacting with the navigation computer during takeoff. Also pending the addition of outposts, such areas will not spawn in the Lawless Sector.

# Alternatives
- **Outposts spawn, but are considered neutral/safe zones.** Basically all right there on the tin. No fighty in the trade areas. Feel free to yell insults and make rude gestures, though.

# Potential Changes
- **What happens in the LS stays in the LS.** If someone dunks on you in the Lawless Sector and leaves, you can't chase them into regular space and kill them while they're just trying to mine or whatever. You knew the risks when you entered.

