I prefer PvP in my MMO, but not if it's gear=win. 

Originally posted by InnateWrath

I'm neutral on this topic, I enjoy, but some games are not designed for it. Even if you allow for dueling, you have to take time and balance skills for both PvE and PvP. I only enjoy PvP if the game is designed with the idea from the beginning. If not, hyper focus on making a great PvE environment, we have enough games trying to do everything.

Of course, I could go the other way as well.  If you have a great sandbox style MMO with fun game play I could probably get by with out PvP

Also, I'm probably in the minority, because I don't think a game can have great PvP and PvE.  It just seems like a waste of time/money to me when devs try to even out the PvP and PvE content.  Sure, you'll probably bring in a bigger crowd, but the main focus of the game, whether it's PvP or PvE, is going to suffer and the PvP/PvE (which ever one is secondary) is still going to be half assed.

To pvp or not pvp isn't the question, that is too general.  WoW style pvp, sure.  Eve, sure.  Darkfall, no (too griefer friendly).  AoC, at one time yes but not now with the introduction of full corpse looting.  The type of pvp system that a game has plays far more importance in OP's question than just the question as stated.  Each pvp system has to be evaluated on it's own. 

I think that PvP is very important.  MOst people associate the themes around MMORPGs with huge batles and victory against overwheming odds( Example: LOTR and Star Wars). To not allow those kinds of scenarios would leave many players feeling that ...something was missing.

But whats even  important is that players feel that they have a chance to do something in PvP. I dont mind dying. But I do mind knowing I have absolutly NO chance. I dont mind having a slim chance, but if  you get the impression that one side/class/spec has an "I win"  button or "I cannot lose (Bubble hearthing in WoW) " button then your enjoyment of PvP drops dramatically. PvP is onnly as good as the balance within the system.

Torrential

Interesting and varied PvE is most important to me, but I don't mind some PvP... So, I'd say that, for me personally, it isn't terribly important, but it isn't a turn-off either.

(Heh... for that matter, the last FPS I played with other people (Doom 2 over serial or null modem cable), I strongly preferred co-op to deathmatch. I would rather work with other people than against them... I'm weird like that, I guess.)

I voted I must have it. I find pve in mmorpg very repetitive

I must have PVP (open pvp or FFA or at least good pvp areas). I will accept FFA pvp zones like what www.tcos.com will be doing. I will accept Guild vs Guild like what Guild Wars did well but I'd want more people in it (more then just 12 people)

I do not like being assigned to a faction by the game itself but rather I enjoy the freedom to do guild vs guild or player created faction vs faction

I voted that PvP is an important feature in a MMO as PvE alone can get boring and repetative after a whle. However PvP isant just a palyer fighting another in force of arms, For example in EvE PvP can be competing traders competing on the markets whose PvP tactics could include selling bulk items first to get max profit and to lower his oponents profits or if he is devious enough and he can afford it it can involve hiriing a pirate to blow up his shipments so he cant sell entirely.

I'm not real big on quests. I like grinding, and Pvp. It's nice to switch between those activities for some variety. I"m also not real big on crafting, but don't mind if there is crafting in the game, since some people like that.

MMORPG Maker

I got to have some pvp; and more particularly, WORLD-PVP. If all I'm doing is fighting programs, or little collections of textured polygons that appear and stand in this one little spot forever, (mobs), well, I might last 3 minutes with a game like that... but no more.

Originally posted by Woopin

I think PvP is important because it provides a good end game factor I mean what do you do once you are leveled up and there is only mobs left grind them for cash or reroll an alt and do it all over again. Or do you go and compete against others try out diffrent armor till you have the ones that works for you in PvP.

I know people will not agree but WoW got it right in a way but not totally I mean with the whole BGs and Areans provides a big endgame content if you ask me.

I couldn't agree more.  I started MMORPGs entirely for the PvE, and still really enjoy it.  But, taking WoW for example, once I exhausted all of the PvE content (that didn't require a "second-job-like" raiding schedule) I seriously got into PvP.  Now I see it as essential, and I plan to play on PvP servers in the future for AoC and other MMOs I get into.  Frankly, no matter how good an AI script is, humans are much smarter, less predictable, and more challenging to kill.  And especially for endgame, I need to be challenged or I'm just bored.  For a new raid boss, you can just go on the boards and read up on the tactics, the recreate them - you know exactly how the boss will act and when.  For PvP encounters, you can generally study tactics against certain classes, but you never know for sure what the other guy(s) will do this time, which for me is really fun.

Somewhere between important and extremely important for me.

I won't completly rule out a game just because it doesn't have PvP (or has minimal PvP) but it certainly will sway me one way or the other.

For me an mmo needs to have a pvp system. FFAPVP I dont like but the game has to have some pvp areas.

To the OP's comment; yes FPSers are more pvp based but its a completely different kind of battle. MMOs are more about thinking things through, being prepared, and tactical. FPSers are more twitch based with less tactics needed. I know they started to merge twich combat and mmos but I think its a fad and it wont work or last long.

Here's a link to Nick Yee's Daedalus project page on player server preference type.   It compares PvE and PvP preferences of players, and also takes a stab at discovering people's interest in roleplaying.

For those uninterested in following the link, the PvE to PvP preference is about 2:1.  Women are rather strongly averse to PvP.  Roleplaying preferences seems to lean in the direction of "I might try it, but it's nothing I'm concerned about."

Both this post and Nick's research involve self-selecting voters, so both will be skewed a bit.  I believe Nick canvassed active players, while this forum is populated by more enthusiastic players in general.  It only makes sense that we'd have a higher density of PvP players here.  It matches my experiences in other online forums.

My vote was strongly negative because we're talking about MMOs.  In FPS games, I don't have any accomplishments hanging in the balance, so I'm just looking for a good fight.

I highly recommend reading Nick Yee's Daedalus project site.  If you want to get your head on straight about the demographics and motivations of MMO players, Nick has provided a wealth of working material.

Looks like PvE'ers are gonna lose.  It's been 7 years.  They've had a good run. 

Viva la PvP!

Now if we could just get more people from mainstream society to try WoW so they could become dissapointed with it in 2 years and demand the personal confrontation they see on their TV and in their xbox live/PSN video games...

Lol.  PvE'ers ground through so many games and gave away so much of their money in the process they've litereally paid for MMORPG's success, it's popularity, and thus- it's secession to mainstream society and PvP.

Hahaha.  In your face.

PvP games all the way..

But PvP-oriented... no thanks... I'd rather play an FPS for that

Definitely helps to have a compelling PvP system :-) Battlegrounds are no fun for me... I like unstructured battles, ala SWG

I used to despise PvP. I always thought it was broken, boring, and un organized.

Then I saw how WAR is coming, and realized how that's only WoW's PvP, and all other games that just have PvP added on.

Now, I'm looking forward to WAR and I realize how Great PvP looks like it can be when done right.

It all depends on the game's universe and how PvP is implemented.

Originally posted by jimsmith08

Free for all pvp isnt a requirement of mine,its a very pointless mechanic to just run around ganking people with no consequence or purpose;pvp needs a point to it such as area control,base capturing,or some kind of ladder system. I also like to have consequence to your actions such as being marked as an outlaw and having friendly npcs become hostile to you

 I hope that we start to see non gear based games more often.

Ive played/play both free for all and consentual pvp games,so im not bothered if either system is in place as long as its balanced and has a point to it,be it guild warfare,faction or racial. 

100% agree, as I heard at DAOC you shoud have such a system - 3 different realms that could attack each other at the borders only (so you could stay away if you want). Never have played DAOC but have to say as a casual PvE player that PvP system might be even worth a look for me.

I think it should have it.. But it doesn't matter for me, I like PVE better. Though when I come back to EQ2 I will join a PVP server..

Most of all MMOs need PVP now or have mix.. WIth PVE and PVP.

Dont care much for PvP in MMO's, but what we PvE people often forget is that even for us it serves purpose.

It is great to get some hard figures on your setup, resists, damage, avoids, specials and so on and so forth.

For this purpose alone I want at least arena type PvP.

Then there are totally PvP oriented games, like EVE, that I still play and I do not see how that game could even work without PvP.

The entire economy is built around us 0.0 people needing new ships constantly, without PvP that game would just die.

Other then that, PvP in MMO's is for people that can not handle FPS combat and make up for it with extreme amounts of time investment.