A few ideas of how to save D3

[kandrathe]

Arena or team style PvP in D3 could be quite fun but it could still impose a grinding burden where you win not because of being better at PvP but because you were better able to get gear.

To level the playing field, I would think they could build an optional leveled and class based gratis PVP kit that only applies in PVP map modes. I would make it very, very good comparable to some of the best possible gear (say 85 to 90% of optimal) -- then those that do want to do the grind or spend oodles on AH can continue to drive to 100% optimal if they want. Once you leave the PVP map or arena, that optional gratis gear is not available. But, I think you are right. We really do want the PVP outcomes to be based on skill choices and how they are used, rather than someone whose life is dominated by the quest for uber gear. Removing the PVP gear variable and providing combat venues would probably make PVP more desirable, and accessible to the most number of people.

I'm also thinking of Guild Wars, where the ultimate objective of the game is team PVP. The PVE component is a quest for skills, rather than gear.

Correct me where I'm wrong, (my opinion is as a 99% outsider (I don't PVP much in WOW), PVP for WOW has evolved into duel specifications and different sets of gear, containing special PVP stats (resilience and spell penetration) for damage reduction/enhancement. You improve your PVP gear by doing PVP, and eventually at max level everyone is kitted out pretty equally. Where WOW gets pathetic is when they build in expectations for the PVE geared player to occasionally jump into a PVP situation mostly naked and clueless.