A Few Thoughts on PVP vs PVE

I would like to unload some thoughts that have been swirling in my mind for quite some time now, and I would like to hear the views of the community on them.

Before I start, I would appreciate if flaming is kept to a bare minimum; if it must be there in the first place. I also am not forcing my views as better or what not, I just want to hear the thoughts of the community.

So here it goes:

I have always seen PVE and PVP as two very different games. PVE deals with computer AI, and PVP deals with human intelligence. The two types of intelligence are fundamentally different, computer AI cannot adapt naturally and can only act in the manner in which they were programmed, whilst human intelligence can learn, adapt, and react. Hence, strategies and tactics used for their gameplay are also fundamentally different.

I also think that in there difference lies the crux of the balancing issue. It is inevitable that skill balances for one type of gameplay will have an effect on the other, whether it be positive or negative. Although it is not impossible, it well may be extremely difficult and time-consuming to effect changes on a skill that would be balanced for both gameplays. And without creating two versions of each skill, one for pve and one for pvp, attempting to create a harmonious balance for the skills between the two type of gameplay will be plagued with difficulties.

I read in another thread that creating two versions of each skills would be bloating the game and will seem like a shoddy work around. I would like to disagree with that opinion in light of what I stated in the previous two paragraphs. It could be a viable solution to the problem we are having now with skill balances; focus can now be maintained to make pve and pvp better without having to worry about adverse impacts on each other.

Well, those are my thoughts on the matter, I now have to go back to work =) I am very interested in the thoughts and opinions of the community and would appreciate feedback, lengthy or otherwise =)

Cheers.

There are enough PvP vs PvE threads out right now, it'd be better to reply in the one you disagree with.

There are people who agree with you, that balancing skills for one playstyle should not determine the balance for the other.

There are people that disagree, and say that the idea is garbage because it would be too much on the people who played both styles to get around conveniantly, among other bad, and some good reasons.

Personally, I'd like to see the two gameplays intertwine less with one another, which is why I liked the favor change update among other things. However, having two seperate planes of play was the polar opposite of what Guild Wars was originally meant to be. I'll refer you to a thread called "The Main Point", where I've quoted a small piece of text that explains it far better than I can. I'm far too lazy to link it for you though, sorry about that.

Starting a new thread on a topic that's been discussed in many other threads already is quite the clever way to get your post more attention.

I should start doing that more often.