GuildWars PvE? is it like WoW? and PvP

hi, im gonna try GW here and im just wondering cos everyone is talking about PvP, "ladders" etc, what is all this? is there no instances like in WoW? you go in as a group ( i guess 5 in GW) and kill some mobs and a boss and some new gear parts drops ? (like T1,T2,T3)

and in PvP, how many different armor types is there? is everyone trying to take same stuff or can you get better stuff from harder PvP or whatever..

just need some help understanding what i have ahead of me

Here's a link to guildwiki.org http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Main_Page
where you can find information on the game.

All fighting is instanced. All drops are assigned. PvE & PvP is grouped, sizes from 4-8 members.

You have your choice for PvP of using your PvE characters who can use any of the armors and weapons for their profession or creating a PvP-only character who starts at max level with max armor and weapons.

The PvP-only character cannot get any of the vanity armor or weapon skins.

Group sizes in PvP are 4 or 8.

PvP doesn't get you any items, unless you get a drop from Hall of Heroes.

In pvp, everyone should be able to get the same gear. It's not your gear that counts, it's the 8 skills on your skillbar + your personal skill.

What you can get from loot :
Gold
Weapons/Shields/Focus
Runes/Inscriptions
Collector drops/Crafting materials/Quest items
Sometimes you will also get event items for example, golden eggs during easter.

In PVE there are some places where you go with a team of 12 ,those are factions elite areas.
There is also a few missions where you have 2 teams of 8.
Finally there is also AB which is 3 groups of 4 (Luxon alliance) vs another 3 groups of 4 (Kurzick alliance)