PvP is probably better than you think!!!
DISCLAIMER:
On the test server I was only able to raise armies and conquer the tutorial island- but the game freezes prevented me from colonizing. STILL I have been reading the European content - and I have some educated experience as to how PvP will work.
I think it actually makes sense.
(1) ISLAND RESOURCES create new COLONIZING ARMY from hwl, iron bars, steel bars, coal etc. Off they go to conquer.
(2) They conquer and the survivors go home to form your NEXT COLONIZING ARMY.
(3) Apparently you then get Defensive Points to create your Defending army on the conquered island. You use these points to build the various new barracks to house different defensive troops based on your choices and the island's built-in caps. Once you have finished "building your deck"
(Magic the Gathering Fans) - CLAIM the colony - get some safe production for awhile ( your loot for colonizing) and wait to be attacked and see how you do.
(4) If you win or get unnoticed for a while- you keep getting production loot. If you lose…you go home and get your colonizing army ready to go again.
(5) IF I have pieced this together correctly from the Germans - basically the GAME is asking us to direct under utilized resources in the game - to a whole new set of PvP adventures. We are not MEANT to own these colonies forever - nor to use our Home Island resources to defend them
INSTEAD -
we are meant to attack one another over and over and over YAY YAY YAY
To be successful - Your HOME ISLAND simply needs to (1) ramp up production in these underutilized areas and (2) INCREASE YOUR POPULATION!
THAT is how we play TSO. If I am right - I think Im gonna like it.
Strength and Honor!