I'd make pvp death more difficult, let players fight at will and K.O., then loot items and skills. Follow their hearth where they can go for a kill, if they reach the hearth fire. Siege may be needed.
This way there's no need of thousands of alt combats, you could stick to one and improve and fight a lot without boring character rebuild. If you're sieged then you go all in cause means death.
Also forget QL on items, make so a new char naked with a spear could trespass and KO an old char if they "hit it right". A dangerous new player with a spear could handle 2, 3 enemies if they're unlucky. This could add a bit of realism and danger to any player involved in a fight, independent of how old or rich you are.
I think this way there'd be more pvp and drama, people would risk more.