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LFG - Ability to RP as a Mercenary (Loot PvP)
Okay, this request will probably be a tough one. I'm looking for a game in which PvP is actually an option as a profession (whether literally a profession in-game or just possible); ala being able to RP as a mercenary. In other words, I'm looking for solo PvP as a sole option for making money for myself (loot system, etc.) without having to delve into crafting or gathering professions, and hopefully an economy that isn't borked so the goods I get in the process are actually worth something.
As an example, I used to play Runescape for a long, long while while the Wilderness was available. In that game, you could choose to play only as a PK in order to make money from the looted equips/items of the players you managed to kill within the wilderness. There were no limits on who you could kill (no "kill only certain race/alignment/citizen of such city") as long as they were far enough in the wilderness to meet the level difference between the attacker/victim. I'm looking for something like this, but it doesn't have to have the "wilderness level" concept.
Some of my preferences:
F2P or P2P. A free trial/area would be nice if it's P2P, but not necessary. However, absolutely no cash shop items that affect power/aren't cosmetic. I don't want to have to spend a pile of cash every month to compete with elitists and their latest "l337 Swurds O' Doom".
Gameplay - is absolutely everything. A complicated combat system or 'easy to learn, hard to master' for PvP (obviously lacking in RS) would be perfect. As for PvE, it's not very important, but a challenging variety of monsters/dungeons as well would be heaven.
Setting - I'd like fantasy, but this isn't very important; sci-fi or another with a good system would be great as well.
Grind - doesn't bother me as long as it isn't insane; AKA, I don't want to have to play 5 hours straight to level/skill something from 9 to 10, but an exponential curve or such for higher levels is acceptable. Also, I don't want to be forced to play for 3 months straight just to be able to PVP - so none of these "max level only" PvP MMOs, please.
Graphics / Music - mean absolutely nothing to me. As long as it doesn't look or sound worse than RS (if that's possible), I'm game.
Population - A large community would be incredible, but since this is a niche genre, I don't expect that. There would need to be at least a small dedicated PvP community; I don't want to walk around for hours trying to find a target to kill.
Well, that's about all. If you're still reading this, you've earned yourself a cookie. Find me a game and you'll get a lifetime supply free!
Thanks. 
Comments
Huhm..
I'd say Eve Online pretty much comes close. There are pirates, there was even something comparable to a mafia..and mercenaries, of course.
It's heavily teambased, so without joining an alliance/corporation, you won't see too much of it, but you can chose to live a peaceful life of producing things, being an evil pirate, or something of the shades in between.
It does, though, have a few flaws, being mainly a harsh learning curve, a harsh environment, a world of distrust, murder, corruption and theft, and open pvp, although with harsh restrictions.
In PvP it will take you a while to be effective solo, mainly because you need to get a feel and learn a lot, but if you are operating in a fleet (read the teamplay part), a one day character can play an important role in combat.
14 day trial available.
(oh, by the way..you should start the game on a friday evening with enough food and at least 10 liters of water. the tutorial could take a while. you have been warned..)