IGN has a new diary by Richard Garriot regarding how the PVP system works in the Tabula Rasa MMORPG. One of the major questions with regard to Player vs. Player (PVP) challenges in Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa is why clans would be battling among themselves in the first place. After all, the troops have their hands full fighting off the constant onslaught from the Bane forces. It would seem that in order to survive the members of the Allied Free Sentients would have to unite and fight together. But even though the AFS have a common enemy in the Bane, and must fight together to survive, it does not mean that all of their past beliefs and prejudices will immediately be forgotten.

There are two basic types of PvP in Tabula Rasa. The first of these is called 'wargames'. Wargames can be conducted by individual players wishing to 'duel' each other, or as squad based challenges where two teams square off against each other. These are meant to be short, consensual affairs that only last until the battle is over, or one of the two sides surrenders. They are not persistent events like Clan Wars, which I will discuss in a moment.

read the full interview/diary entry here