2238 PvP used to be pretty much like WW2 warfare. You get spotted, you die, one dude could burst down a squad spending his full AP, people getting 1-shot owned by snipers etc. This meant that people didn't care about stuff like kiting and formations and focused on cover, flanking and keyholing instead.
Afterwards, a series of nerfs to damage across the board made killing a dude with a full set of AP questionable, if not downright impossible. Then, a stimpack key bind was introduced, making tanking even more viable, so people started using formations. With formations, stuff like kiting and shit you see in other MMOs started appearing in PvP, but at its heart right now it's still mostly Napoleonic warfare with two lines of people bashing at each other until one starts dying, breaks and runs. Basically, sniper rifles and rocket launchers are the rifles and burst weapons are the bayonets. Kiting - when it happens - is done in groups and is more about pulling people into kill zones than withering them down like in other games... so to be honest, skirmishing would be a better word here.
Personally, I don't really like the direction 2238 went with that because the older, extremely lethal model was more unique - but they both have their pros and cons. Still, you probably won't experience the new model in all its glory, because most of the PvP community left the server by now.
