Do you want to be a spawn camper? You dirty dog, of course you do, that’s probably why you’re here. In the wild, unpredictable playercentric MMORPG universe, spawn camping in PvP or on a PvP server is an inevitability you’ll learn to either embrace or endure. While the name is pretty self explanatory, let’s clarify for the uninitiated, and dive deeper into the realm of abominable MMO etiquette.
What Exactly is Spawn Camping?
If you’ve managed to avoid the dreaded term “spawn camping,” congratulations, you’re a fortunate, possibly sheltered, PvE-playing soul. In short, spawn camping (or being spawn camped, to be precise) occurs when a player resurrects at a spawn point or corpse locale, only to immediately meet their demise again at the hands of the same relentless opponent(s). There are cases of PvE spawn camps, where players essentially park themselves at certain mob spawns and take advantage of XP and rewards, but this is far less of a problem in modern day MMOs and it brings back fond memories of spin groups in Star Wars Galaxies. Competitive spawn camping can often be confused with griefing, which is a separate case of players being unruly knobs via actions or words after defeating you. While they often go hand in hand, they can exist independently, and for the sake of not adding insult to injury, one should never spawn camp and grief. Nobody would ever do that. Right?
Regardless of its relationship to griefing, spawn camping is still universally frowned upon. I frown upon it. And yes, dear reader, I hereby frown upon you, because your curiosity about spawn camping is, frankly, troubling. It’s dastardly, it’s horrible, and anyone participating in such villainy earns my firm and unequivocal disapproval.
So, I’m a spawn camper. I’m not going to hide the fact it’s distasteful, but allow me to explain why sometimes, just sometimes, it can be noble. Back when DC Universe Online first released, high-level predators would bounce into low level zones and mercilessly spawn camp new players so they couldn’t progress.
Why I’ve Spawn Camped (and Why It’s Not Always Evil but Always Awful)
With few safeguards to protect the innocent, It was infuriating and unfair. But when I finally reached a respectable leveling milestone, I turned the tables. I became the predator of predators, the avenging hero who kept those aspiring spawn campers at bay, allowing newbie heroes a chance to level up unmolested. It was some of the most fun I’ve had in an MMORPG, and really played into my undiagnosed hero complex.
You don’t need to thank me, DCUO players, I was merely fulfilling my roleplaying duty, protecting the weak until the villainous campers logged off in frustration.
Of course, I’ve also experienced the receiving end of spawn camping. I’ll never forget my naïve days as a fledgling gnome in Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, eagerly joining a PvP server for adventure. Sadly, my gnome’s lifespan was short-lived, repeatedly obliterated by powerful veterans intent on blocking any progress by simply standing outside the starter town. It was maddening, discouraging, and nearly drove me from the game entirely. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the game’s infamous server instability overshadowed the irritation of spawn camping, and when I eventually returned it seems the remainder of the population, spawn campers included, had departed.
Spawn Camping, Spawn Camping Never Changes
If you harbor hope that human nature might evolve and spawn camping would fall out of favor with the MMORPG population, leaving spawn camping as an ugly relic of the past, think again. Stepping outside my “noble” instances of spawn camping, there are, of course, alternative reasons why the use of such methods may be worthwhile, or even necessary in a competitive capacity.
For the most part, spawn camping continues unabated in modern MMOs. Look no further than Guild Wars 2’s competitive matches, where dominant teams routinely camp enemy respawn zones instead of guarding objectives—unsportsmanlike behavior at its finest, but perhaps a necessary evil if you truly want to increase that ranked score and leave nothing to chance. Even large-scale World vs. World battles aren’t immune, as some groups prefer hunting stragglers around fortresses rather than storming the stronghold itself. Yet isn’t this the purpose of this game mode? The primary objective is to traumatize the players behind their castle walls so that your server commands the battlegrounds. I figured everyone knew that.
It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature
Spawn camping may seem detestable, yet it plays an undeniable role in competitive gameplay. One could argue there’s no honorable justification to repeatedly slaughter players pursuing their simple, themepark storyline quests. However, in PvP realms, this risk is transparent and well understood.
Gone are the innocent days where we can feign ignorance of Free-for-All PvP rules. Today’s players fully grasp that joining PvP servers or competitive game modes inherently includes the risk of spawn camping. And let’s face it, some thrill-seekers love the rush of danger that ‘competitive’ spawn campers bring to an otherwise monotone leveling experience.
So, whether you’re a reformed spawn camper, a frustrated newbie, or an aspiring defender of the weak, chime in and let us know how spawn camping has enriched or spoiled your experience.
