I've read his work previously. It's a bit dated, but archetypes are still useful. Few players are well-described as purely in one "box", however.

With respect to Bartle's paper: note how you are managing to alienate Explorers, Achievers, and Killers.. maybe you are just in need of a BIG SOCIAL hug?

Of the groups you mention, Explorers and Achievers generally prefer a higher skill filter in ranking (player vs. environment, or PvE) scenarios precisely because it creates a skill filter-- Explorers because they like optimizing their way through webs of options, and Achievers because it stratifies players further, allowing a "best" ranking to be meaningful. If PvE is trivial, these groups feel like they've "beaten" the system and lose interest in the medium or long term.

Pure Killers prefer a lower barrier, because for them PvE is an obstacle to PvP. A pure Killer would prefer a system where all characters started at hero. (Pure Achievers would, of course, hate this more than anything.)

Socializers don't really care what the barrier is. They're only going to go ranking if other people they find interesting want them around, and don't really measure success in levels or other quantitative variables anyway.

All of the above is largely academic, anyway, since this change does not impact the baseline PvE barrier-- generic, low-XP NPCs are still by far the majority. If your group is poorly suited for fighting high-XP, weak-melee NPCs which cast spells, you still have the option to fight low-XP all-melee NPCs that don't cast spells.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com