# Combat

LLMS index: [llms.txt](/dvw/en/llms.txt)

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Combat is an important feature of most game-oriented virtual worlds. It embodies conflict, drama, risk, bravery, friendship, honor, glory—it has everything! Indeed, in some virtual worlds it is everything; there’s very little to do apart from move from one battle to the next. As explained in Chapter 3, by no means all virtual worlds are like this, of course: Merely having combat [^52] doesn’t inevitably mean that the virtual world will end up being “all about” it. Nevertheless, many virtual worlds are indeed “all about” combat; this causes an ideological conflict with worlds that are “all about” something else (for example, role-playing), and annoys the balanced worlds who are lumped in with them even though they may be anti-conflict [^53].

The subject of combat in virtual worlds brings out some of the most passionate arguments in the whole field. Let’s take a look at it in detail.


[^52]: Or some equivalent. I’ve worked on an adult-themed virtual world where sex was implemented using the same routines that other virtual worlds use for swordfights.
[^53]: It’s an established principle of MUD2 that attacking other players is a losing strategy; players discover that committing unjust acts of aggression simply won’t get them anywhere, until eventually only those with a constant need to reinforce their self-worth (or who have already “won”) undertake it.

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Section pages:

- [How Combat Works](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-33-how-combat-works/)
- [Enhanced Combat Systems](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-34-enhanced-combat-systems/)
- [Problems with Combat](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-35-problems-with-combat/)
- [Opposition](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-36-opposition/)
- [Consequences](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-37-consequences/)
- [Permanent Death](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-38-permanent-death/)
- [Approaches to Permanent Death](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-39-approaches-to-permanent-death/)
- [Alternatives to Permanent Death](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-40-alternatives-to-permanent-death/)
- [The Unfortunate Consequences of](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-41-the-unfortunate-consequences-of/)
- [Permanent Death](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-42-permanent-death/)
- [The Unfortunate Consequences of Non- Permanent Death](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-43-the-unfortunate-consequences-of-non-permanent-death/)
- [Why Permanent Death?](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-44-why-permanent-death/)
- [The Hero’s Journey](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-45-the-heros-journey/)
- [Departure](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-46-departure/)
- [Initiation](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-47-initiation/)
- [Return](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-48-return/)
- [Departure](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-49-departure/)
- [Initiation](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-50-initiation/)
- [Return](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-51-return/)
- [Analysis](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-52-analysis/)
- [Attitudes to Permanent Death](/dvw/en/book/05-life-in-the-virtual-world/05-32-combat/05-53-attitudes-to-permanent-death/)