Don't expect PvE to PvP transfers anytime soon
by Adam Holisky 
Apr 12th 2008 at 9:00PM
One of the larger complaints about the ability to transfer servers is the lack of PvE to PvP transfers. You can transfer your character from a PvP server to a PvE server, but not the other way around. Some folks see this as discriminating against the PvP servers, while others see it as a good thing.Blizzard is firmly on the side of those that see it as good. In a recent blue post Bornakk has came out and said that while the option is there, they have no plans to allow it. Apparently this has "been on the table" for the past two years.
Personally, I'm glad they won't be allowing this. The ability to transfer from PvP to PvE makes sense since you won't be disrupting the gearing balance. But think about what would happen if you could transfer from a PvE to a PvP server. Everyone would level their characters on a PvE server, and then transfer them to a PvP server at 70. This would make it nearly impossible to get a group or have any pre-70 game play on the PvP server. I know some of you are going to say that it already is impossible, but it would just become more difficult. So I'm with Blizzard on this one.
What do you think? Is it a good policy, or should Blizzard change their ways?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
swatltlen Apr 12th 2008 9:04PM
How come we can't expect these types of transfers soon when Blizzard has already had performed this type of transfer for people in their "favor".
http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/08/21/blizzard-giving-pve-to-pvp-transfers-to-friends/
Augger Apr 12th 2008 9:16PM
I guess you didn't read the follow up, the one character that was allowed thr transfer was moved back because of the no transfer deal from PvE to PvP. Even though it was an insider they didn't get to keep the transfer , no favorites there at all.
Havitech Apr 12th 2008 9:08PM
"Everyone would level their characters on a PvE server, and then transfer them to a PvP server at 70."
Just like when name changes came out, *everyone* started ninjaing and changing their names. Amirite?
voggz Apr 12th 2008 9:19PM
i am against this it would be horrible becuase then people could lvl on a pve server "Safely" and then transfer... I think that if you want to pvp on a pvp server you have to level there like the rest of us.. also i heard the reason is that and that the honor points ect is distributed differently on server types
Krianna Apr 12th 2008 9:20PM
Thank goodness.
The spineless jerks on PVE servers can dang well STAY there, instead of skipping the gankage and coming over for the ganking! (Note: "spineless jerks" refers to the guys who would've been gankers on a PVP server, but didn't have the guts to do so-- not PVE folks in general.)
rufwork Apr 12th 2008 9:27PM
You're on the money. Absolutely unfair to let them transfer as it's lots easy to level in E and then whack away unearnedly in P.
At the same time, getting from one to the other in Ultima Online -- once they decided it was a good idea to have a land where it was safe for n00bs -- was as simple as walking through a moongate. There were more rewards to be had in the PvP world, however. Upping the rewards on PvP servers might be something for Blizzard to consider.
Taalii Apr 12th 2008 9:29PM
yeah, actually, i gotta agree..i mean, PVE server, within 4 months and a good guild you can haev t6 and Azzinoth....then xfer to PVP anbd save months of work....needs to stay as is, but an "undo" option would be nice..
Fraufrau Apr 13th 2008 12:33AM
I actually don't see any advantage one way or another... I have 3 70s on a PvP server and when I leveled my last one (druid) i shunned pvp in order to hit 70 ASAP.
I did so in less than 8 days played and could of been faster if I really pushed it (nothing groundbreaking) but I might as well have been on a PvE server... hit 70 with 0 HKs and very little time wasted being ganked.
Also, does anyone know what kinds of servers guilds like Nihilum and D&T are on? I wouldn't be surprised if some of the guilds at the forefront of PvE progression were from PvP servers.
R Apr 12th 2008 9:30PM
The main reason that PVE->PVP transfers is not fair is because the PVP realm player had to endure the extra pain of leveling a character on a PVP server due to the constant threat of being ganked. This does not occur on a PVE server.
Blizzard tried PVE->PVP xfers once and the (pre-BC) PVE lev 60 transfers spent their whole time ganking lowbies since they never got to do that during their time on the PVE server. There were an extraordinary number of griefing petitions filed.
Mark my words, Blizzard won't do it again.
Simple solution, if you want to play on a PVP realm. Level one up from level 1 like everyone else did on the PVP realm and enjoy being the ganker and gankee.
Stephan Mercatoris Apr 12th 2008 9:32PM
I personally would be very much for some kind of variation on this server transfer. I have a 70 warrior and a 70 shaman that i leveled and progressed on a PvP server, but transfered to a PvE server for a very very short period of time due to complications in guilds and other things. They're now stuck there and can't be moved back.
I wish that i could move them back, but it looks like luck with PvE to PvP transfers will not change.
I would like to say that i completely agree with the idea of no PvE to PvP transfers as it would definitely be easier to lvl on a PvE server than a PvP server. I just don't see myself as really fitting into that category.
:(
Jay Apr 12th 2008 9:38PM
Some people (like me) were eager to get in game and start playing on whichever realm was thrown at them. I was thrown on a recommended PVE realm and over time I found out a lot of my friends were on PVP realms.
O HAI ILL JUST TRANSFER :D, o wait
Josh Apr 12th 2008 9:55PM
I don't see that it really matters either way. PvP servers already have players in crazy enchanted epic gear. On Spinebreaker (where I am) there is a Horde [70%] to Alliance [30%] imbalance, with many of the Horde players in groups with T6 or S3 gear. The way I see it, many Alliance players could correct this imbalance by rolling PvE, then transfering. If you are on a PvP server, what does it matter if you get ganked by a PvP native or a PvE transfer? PvP was meant to be a chaotic cluster where you could die at anytime, wasn't it?
Savant Apr 12th 2008 10:14PM
First off, I want to say I agree with the principle of not allowing PvE to PvP transfers. I think PvE to PvP should not be allowed because it's not the same game. It's like asking to transfer your progress from one class to another.
However, if it was allowed, then you would have to be on crack to suggest that everyone and his brother would be levelling their toons on a PvE server and then transferring. Would there be a few that would do it? Sure. However, I don't think it would have any real impact at all. There would likely be a rush at the start of those who want to change to a PvP server because they rolled PvE and regret it, but I don't think the majority of people would roll on a PvE, level and then spend $25 bucks to transfer.
So I'm against this, but please folks, let's not be silly and suggest that people would actually spend $25 bucks every time they rolled a new character so they could level it on a PvE realm.
ajayen Apr 12th 2008 10:23PM
I honestly dont care if it happened or not, I have toons on both PvP and PvE. And all my friends on PvP take pride in their toons, because its a damn pain to lvl on a PvP server, So I think that people like that will still lvl on a PvP server no matter the case of transfers. I dont think PvE should really be priority on a PvP server, I play on a PvP server to PvP, and my toons on the PvE server are for PvE, simple as that.
Pzychotix Apr 12th 2008 10:29PM
I've leveled 2 70s, and a couple other to 60s. All on PVP servers.
The ONLY place I've ever had trouble with ganking is STV.
World PVP has been dead for a LONG time guys. You're only lying to yourself if you believe it's THAT much harder to level on a PVP server.
Minnow Apr 13th 2008 4:03AM
Exactly! The only place I was ganked was in Hillsbrad, not even STV. It's really only a small difference in levelling.
Grayson Apr 13th 2008 1:24AM
Leveling on PvE and PvP server doesn't matter in the long run... like a few other people have mentioned, world PvP is LONG DEAD. Sure you find a-holes wherever u go, but the trip to 70 isn't that bad (I've leveled 5 toons to 70 on PvP). World PvP is the only difference between P and E servers and it's not same game it was 2-3 years ago.
I don't buy the decision being based on it being unfair to those who 'endured' leveling to 70 on PvP. Hell, they changed the leveling requirements... they don't care about karma, they want us to keep playing!
The only difference is that PvP server populations will rise because all the E nubs who that they took the easy route will come over to get their asses handed to them. I bet Blizzard will fold on this one, because in the end, they want you to play with your friends and keep paying your monthly 15$ soul to them.
Matthew Rossi Apr 12th 2008 10:47PM
I'm fine with no PvE to PvP. I just want no PvP to PvE.
If you want out of the meat grinder, reroll.
Jagoex Apr 12th 2008 11:10PM
I agree 100%.
PvP players shouldn't get to choose to redirect their gaming emphasis. They chose a PvP realm and should have to reroll if they no longer want that to be the bulk of their gaming -- just as PvEers do.
That's the only way to make the issue a fair one, imho.
http://jagoex.blogspot.com
Chris Anthony Apr 12th 2008 11:19PM
A player with a character on a Normal realm who wants to PVP all the time can do so without transferring.
A player with a character on a PVP realm who wants to /not/ PVP all the time /cannot/ do so without transferring.
This is why Blizzard allows PVP-Normal transfers but not vice-versa.
(Yes, I'm using "Normal" deliberately. There's a reason Blizzard differentiates between "PVP" and "Normal" instead of "PVP" and "PVE" in the server lists.)