Wanted: Dead or Alive
by Elizabeth Wachowski 
Jun 12th 2007 at 1:05PM
Haven't you ever just hated someone so much in WOW you wanted to kill them over and over, even though you couldn't? Maybe it's the 70 who ganked you for hours when you're only 34. Maybe it's the guild leader you found out was modifying DKP to suit him and his friends. Maybe it's the guy spewing racial insults in Org general chat.
Well, Gamemaniak on the EU realms has a proposal for you. See, on his server, there's a guild that offers bounties on the heads of other players. Provide a screenshot of your kill of that player, and you collect gold from the guild. So, he wondered, why not implement this into the game? Set up a "WANTED" board in the major cities, so players could put bounties on other players of their own or the opposite faction. It would cost a nominal amount of money to put up a bounty, and you could offer whatever you wanted as the reward (of course, it would be automatically deducted from your inventory if someone with the bounty quest killed your mark.) Heck, you could even have the game send a letter to the mark informing them that they're being hunted.
Normally, I'm not a big fan of things that would increase gankings, but I sort of like this idea. It would add a refreshing new dimension to world PVP and help the WoW community become more self-policing on annoying behaviors like stealing mats, begging for gold, or generally being a jerk.
What do you think of this idea? If there was a bounty hunting system in the game, would you use it, or do you prefer to settle your scores the old-fashioned way?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Norin Jun 12th 2007 1:12PM
I fully support this. World PvP is dying and that's a real shame. Yeah, I know, it would add a new feature that Normal (non-pvp) servers wouldn't get... but they obviously don't want it anyway. That's why they play on PvE.
Tracking a Mark is fun in any game, and if Blizz woudl put some support in for it, a whole new bounty hunter element could be added to the game.
Quoi Jun 12th 2007 1:20PM
This would be awesome. Too bad I'm on a PvE server. Although, they could make it so that you're permaflagged if you have an outstanding bounty on you.
Tony Jun 12th 2007 1:12PM
Just because of the picture. "You are free to use any methods necessary, but I want them alive. No disintegrations."
I love this idea.
Mandaleen Jun 12th 2007 1:16PM
I think it's a funny idea. It'd be a good prank to pull on your friends, having people hunt them. And it'd be funny to give that level 60 thats always camping in Raven Hill, a little of his own medicine.
Although it IS more satisfying to wait a bit and get your own revenge.
SgtPepper Jun 12th 2007 1:15PM
I 3rd it.
johnnyamerika Jun 12th 2007 1:17PM
My guild Nox Eternae on Darkspear-H did something like this back during the green dragon days. We offered MC and BWL epics and gold to players that could assassinate the leaders of a rival ally guild. It worked out great too!
Nightmare Jun 12th 2007 1:20PM
Sounds like a good idea but huge clans would just do it for the sheer hell of it, Nihlium has got nothing to do anymore, do you want them to come after you?
superbeef Jun 12th 2007 1:21PM
I love this idea and it could so easily be put into the lore too. There could be certain zones that were "lawless" zones where by being in them, you were open not only to attack by players of the opposite faction, but your faction as well. In other worlds real and total pvp.
What would make this even better?
Having a faction reputation where you earned points by participating in bounty hunting.
Making it so you could have an NPC front pay the price on the target you posted.
The more bounties you've collected, the more you're worth as a target.
Bonuses if the player you kill is partied.
These things would be perfect for a Northrend zone, where your not under the watchful eye of the Horde or Alliance.
Scruffy Jun 12th 2007 1:23PM
I like this but I'm not sure it's something that should be built into the game.
Sure it'd add a little spice to PvPs and PvEs (hey, there jerkwad pally who ditched the Ramparts group on the last boss) but what's needed is something that brings the best of both PvP and PvE. Maybe Honor servers where you can flag yourself as you wish but if you're flagged (and it doesn't come on and go off as soon as you change it), you can attack other flagged players just like PvP. If you aren't, you have to challenge the flagged (or waiting to be flagged) player (no surprise RED=DED). You can challenge unflagged players but only to duels. All other PvE rules apply (auto-flag in enemies' major cities, unable to unflag in enemies' territory, instant flag for attacking PvP flagged enemy NPCs, etc.).
Scruffy Jun 12th 2007 1:24PM
@8
Yes. All of it.
Seper Jun 12th 2007 1:27PM
I think this is cool. BUT what about that person that everyone hates...
I can name 2 alliance all the alliance want to kill on my server. So they would constantly be getting ganked.
KLRMNKY Jun 12th 2007 1:44PM
This was something that I was thinking of a couple days ago while working merrily in Hellfire Peninsula. The idea is great however I could see it going downhill really fast.
1) People putting out bounties on players that they have never met or even battled/PvPed but are doing it just for the heck of it like they don't like the guildname or the player's name.
2) Entire guilds getting together to use it to go after anyone and everyone just for the gold for repair bills and such.
But if you put in some rules like you can only put bounties on people who have killed you in world PvP and a level limit like you can only go after bounties that are within 10 levels of your current character. If Blizzard keeps tracks of your kills surely they can keep track of who you killed you and vice versa.
Coherent Jun 12th 2007 1:28PM
They have a bounty system in EvE Online... do you know how it's used? As a prestige system for gankers. The higher the bounty on your head, the more people respect you. It's gotten to the point where bad guys will add to the bounty on their own heads just to get the bragging rights.
babller Jun 12th 2007 1:31PM
Anyone played Jumpgate? i like how there bounty system worked. i could see this getting out of hand if it was not done proper tho
James Jun 12th 2007 1:34PM
Holy crap. This so needs to be implemented. I would have Psykarlock killed repeatedly. In fact, I'd give up the gold saved for my epic mount just to have him hunted down like a dog and killed, repeatedly, until I ran out of money.
autura Jun 12th 2007 1:37PM
First done by the PvP guild (h) "zylos hand" on frostwhisper EU server... even made the wow-europe.com front page.
Johan Jun 12th 2007 1:37PM
This is something that SHOULD be implemented but will NEVER be implemented by Blizzard.
UO was a bottom-up, self-policing game where you got what you deserved.
WoW is a top-down, "this is what you're supposed to do because we designed it like this" type of game that would never implement this, sadly.
I wish Blizz would open a FFA, hardcore server, like Siege Perilous was like for carebear UO. Where there were no crazy restrictions on your character.
THEN these bounties would be awesome.
Cromweld Jun 12th 2007 1:38PM
Finally a reason to setup that All rogue assassins guild!
10pound Jun 12th 2007 1:38PM
I think it is the most exciting idea to come along in a long while! You are free to use any methods necessary, but I want them ganked.
Scruffy Jun 12th 2007 1:39PM
@11
Ganked is such a ugly word.... It's more like encouraging behaviour modification adaptation. :)
Basically, the price will have to be significant for that level range, and to limit the bounty to plus or minus five levels of the wanted. But this begs the question, would there be neutral bounties in goblin towns?