I've always viewed a hardcore player as someone who tries to get the most out of every hour they are logged into the world.

They don't casually run around doing "fun" things. Everything they do is a means to an end (achieving the best and/or most unique rank/gear/level/ability possible).



That doesn't mean that a hardcore player can't ever help another player out... but, they are generally performing that help for their own benefit.

Example: Helping a FC member complete a dungeon so that person, in return, can run a higher level dungeon with them and contribute to their own personal success.


That's always the difference between hardcore and casual to me. Casual players will log in and just wander around the world without any real goals in mind. Hardcore players always have a goal/agenda upon logging in.

Doesn't make one better than the other, there are good aspects of hardcore players and there are bad aspects. Some people take some of these aspects to deeper extremes than others.