PvP can be extremely important! Anarchy Online has a clearly defined conflict where two sides are pitted against each other. The PvP action is a natural outlet for this conflict. There is also almost no other area where players can truly match their skill against others. Granted, you can display your worth as an explorer or power gamer by your fancy equipment and heroic tales, but to truly best someone in PvP... it gives room for enormous honor. PvP is also an extremely thrilling experience. No other experience can even closely compare to having three Enforcers bearing down on you in PvP. No AI can ever match the skill of another player.

I've seen several objections to having a PvP system in the game. "It won't ever balance between professions or classes!", "It is impossible to create a game with two foci, cooperative and PvP.", "Lag and a truly global in-game community will never fit with a PvP focus.", etc., etc. I say to you "Bah!" No, it won't ever be fully balanced. Yes, it will still require totally different skills to PvP and cooperate against a monster. Yes, it requires some special rules, but it is worth it. Let me give you an example.

In Anarchy Online, we have a big castle with a really strong monster. This monster is used as a target for raids and other big outings. To gain access to his lair, you have to pass through an area with PvP. The fun comes as a result of this monster being an extremely rare spawn. This means that access to this monster is a valuable resource that players want to defend. So, when time comes to fight it, the raid group splits in two - one group killing the monster, and one actually holding off opposing players! It is extremely exciting for the players juggling these two threats, and it requires a lot of tactics.