PvE and PvP population stats? demographics?

I've seen a lot of people say that PvE makes up the majority of the player population in Guild Wars. I've also seen a lot of people say that PvE is a minority.

I get the feeling that because these statements are in direct conflict with each other, there is not actual data on the subject. Which leads me to believe that a person might be inclined to feel that their style of play is the majority, because most of the people they meet during the game happen to be doing what they are doing. This point of view would be somewhat myopic, just as thinking that because I wash windows, and all the guys I work with wash windows, that most of the people in the world wash windows.

And so I ask:
Is there any definitive information on what portion of the player base would call itself PvP, and what portion would call itself PvE? For any who might be confused by the terms:
Player vs Player would include things like Hall of Heroes, Guild vs Guild, Aspenwood, Random Arenas, Team Arenas etc.
Player vs Environment includes things like Quests, Missions, Farming (green hunting, mob slaying, solo or in groups), treasure hunting, skill capping, map exploring etc.

I'd start a bonified poll, but I don't seem to be able to do that. I'd suggest though:

*PvP and only PvP. oh, and more PvP.

*Mostly PvP and rarely PvE (to get pretty things for my PvP char).

*PvP and PvE: The best of both worlds. I love them both sooooo much I just can't choose.

*Mostly PvE and rarely PvP - just for a change of pace.

*PvE and only PvE. Are they gonna release more quests soon?


I recognize that this has the potential to turn into a "you suxorz, PvX is the best, and PvY is for losers," but if we could all make an effort to focus on what we like, and not what and who we don't like, I think we could keep this a positive thread.


Editted to include Talon's suggestion. In theory, nothing gained in PvE can give an advantage in PvP that couldn't already be acquired with spending Balth Faction (or so I'm told).

You need a category:

PvP, and PvE to make my characters better for PvP/Get pretty stuff/Get an advantage

I'll say PvP and PvE although I'm like somewhere in between this and PvP and Rarely PvE.

My own guess is that the majority is going to fall into the Mostly PvE sometimes PvP bracket.

"PvP, and PvE to make my characters better for PvP/Get pretty stuff/Get an advantage"

I'd say the above ^ falls into PvP and PvE. It takes a significant amount of time to PvE up a lot of the pretty loot. Are the reasons you PvE immaterial?

FYI, this thread will NOT give an indication of which is more popular... just which is more popular on this fansite. As such, I think this thread is a bad idea... anyway, I'll give ya my answer anyway:

*PvP and PvE: The best of both worlds. I love them both sooooo much I just can't choose.

It seems harmless so long as we remain clear on the limits of this survey. But that doesn't seem to be present in the first post. We aren't going to get any representative information here about the actual population of GW.

PVE and occassionally PVP

And as for Accuracy? One Must Start Somewhere, right?....Perhaps other Fansites will take notice & post same kinda polls?

Well the problem is, you have to remember that you are talking about FANSITES... who is more likely to register for a fansite, PvE or PvP? Who is more likely to register for a fansite, hardcore players or casual? Then of course, shove in some voluntary response bias... I'm not asking these questions to be answered, but simply posing reasons why asking in a fansite can not give accurate insight for serious purposes. Maybe Gaile has the answer *shrugs*

True enough. Though, I figure here is as good as anywhere. It has sub forums dedicated to both elements of the game, and as such might be equally attractive regardless of your affinity. And it is on the top of the list of GW fansites (doesn't mean it's the best - not saying other fansites are lesser, just the one on top via the Guildwars.com fansite links).

PvE. I have 56 fame and I'm ashamed I have that much. It's a little too high for me.

But she'll never tell. It's a secret.

what is pvp? of course it's pve all the way!

*Mostly PvE and rarely PvP - just to try but not a fan of PvP.

I have 25 Fame and I do not remember how I got it!!! :P

Yeah this poll will never work on fansites, posting it here or gwonline will get 90% PvE results while if you posted it on theguildhall you'd get 90% PvP. It's just the bias of the community and the way they congregate

This option.

TGH doesn't pull in the number of visitors as the other two fansites mentioned so their 90% is insignificant. As i write this, TGH has 95 visitors while Guru has 1838 and GWO has 867.

I do both. I haven't done a single PvE mission in 3 weeks...

Well it's a shame that anyone would exclude one aspect of the game. I'm still surprised that there arent more hybrid players (PVE and PVP roughly equally)

we'll where to begin.

Long ago in a galaxy far far far away. Oh Snap wrong story. anywho

As im sure this will suprise a few people on here. Now im about 95% PvE and rarely PvP, which i only do when i have enough alcohol or am in a mood to just Piss off PvPer's anymore. When i started though it was a whole new ballgame and was about 50-50 on PvE and PvP due to the fact being a guild leader of 5 different guilds and affiliated with 6 more. What can i say it was busy times. anyways i ran GvG tests for my other old guilds and Pre alliaince.

75% PvP
25% PvE
That puts me right between "PvP only" and "PvP and rarely PvE" camps.

On topic, I think that the majority of the playerbase is PvE based. This does not however, grant PvE'ers more right to demand changes. The main focus of the game has always been competitive play, ie. PvP. But from what I've read, GW2 is moving towards the PvE crowd of general MMO, sadly.
But for definitive proof, I think only Anet have it, andn probably won't be releasing it. Because if they did, it would be used in the ongoing "PvP vs. PvE" war, which they are trying to avoid or at least lower the damage it causes.

Probably 70% PvP / 30% PvE by time spent, but I'd put myself into "PvP only" category by attitude because I don't find PvE very interesting and get bored of it fairly fast. It's there just to kill time.

And I'll hazard a wild guess and say that the total for all players, by time spent would be something like 75-85% PvE / 25-15% PvP.

A while back it did. PvE characters could have more than 2 customized weapons, rune swaps, multiple armor sets, etc. Thats since been fixed though, as you can't armor swap in PvP and you can make infinite customizable weapons for your pvp char now.

The advantages are so minimal now though. Lets see... using a pve character allows you to get a more specific pet (dire/agressive/playful) that I guess could be useful in some beast master build (who the heck uses beast master in pvp anyways...). Oh, and I think PvP sins can only use piercing daggers? (correct me if I'm wrong), where as a PvE sin can swap between slashing and piercing daggers if needed (say... if enemy had shields up, swap to the slashing daggers). You can take slashing daggers out of storage and put em on pvp sin but then its not customized, so less damage. Other than that though, its only reason you'd use a pve char in pvp nowadays is for looks.

Anyways.... I pick:
*Mostly PvP and rarely PvE (to get pretty things for my PvP char).