Please take this talk of Spectrums back to Tumblr. Everything is not a spectrum.
Derision aside, Yarmatey is correct.
There is no "spectrum" of PVP. There may be a spectrum of games with PVP, but each of those games has it's own methods and mechanics. And right now, PVP in ARK is pretty straightforward. Players are kill on sight, their structures are destroyable, some easily even.
Maybe when you make your own game with a veritable spectrum of pvp options, you'll be a fan of that pvp. But we're talking about Ark and what PVP means in ARK and games like it.. And as PVP is defined in these game, you are clearly not a fan.
I'm only 2 days into this game. I've never played Rust, or Day Z, or even minecraft for that matter, so I'm truly a noob. I have had to start completely over every single time I log out. As far as I can count I've had 7 small home bases, each with 3 chests a sleeping bag and firepit. Chests filled with tools food waterskins and building materials. On ewas even made of wood.. And you know how much wood it takes to build walls floors ceilings and fencing from wood, right? Thousands. I was literally crafting for horus. I can carry maybe 1-200 pieces of wood on me at a time, that's not counting for the weight of everything BUT the wood.
Why would any madman want to do that you ask? Start over repeatedly only to have to repeat the same menial steps every time he logs back in, accomplishing very little in the short term?
Because I like PVP. Because I wouldn't want to play a game like this without the prospect of murdering another player, or smashing in someones door for the free resources. It is part of w hat drew me to it. The other aprt was Dinosaurs, otherwise I'd be on Rust with most of my friends.
And while I may not be getting very far right now, I'm gaining in levels. The things I can build are getting more complex and higher in durability. And I'm keeping a list. So yes, while I may very well be the easy target for free resources now, I'm biding my time and one of these days the Fire Tribe, Big Friend and Daemous will pay dearly.