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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 2 of 3)
Brad Apr 12th 2008 11:01PM
I just don't see it. While I will admit it's easier to level on a PvE server, what would drive this mass of people to transfer to a PvP server that would be so bad?
Would someone pay $25 just to have an easier time preparing to gank people? I doubt it.
Personally, one of my co-workers has a raiding guild on a PvP server in need of some new players. I'd be more than happy to give blizzard my money, however all my 70s are on PvE servers.
I just don't see how it's so bad that they've basically come out and said they'll never allow it.
Ecco Apr 12th 2008 11:06PM
I think you should be able to roll a toon on a PvP server from 1-70 and then UNLOCK the ability to then move a toon from PvE -> PvP. That way... if you've done that work, and been through the grind and gankfests... You should have the ablity to move other toons over.
I am against letting any old PvE nub who hasn't had to deal with STV on a PVP server move his char over. But... again, if you've rolled to 70 on a PvP server before, it should unlock the ability for your PvE toons to be eligible to transfer.
(3 PvE 70 toons) 2 PvP 70 toons.
Ecco
Dean Apr 12th 2008 11:06PM
Just let people transfer but don't allow them to tag themselves for PvP unless they're attacked first.
Martin Apr 12th 2008 11:08PM
As someone with 4 level 70 PVE toons and 2 level 70 PVP toons, I hate to break it to you all -- it isn't any harder on a pvp server than a pve server. In fact, some of the pvp servers are SO empty that it's actually EASIER to level.
I've been playing MMOs for many years, and people come and go. I have 2 characters wasting away on a PVE server that I don't play on anymore, because friends had started over on a PVP server. I've leveled up toons there on the new server, but I'm sorry to have to abandon toons cuz of this Blizzard rule.
Besides if gear is such an issue, transfer everyone PVE->PVP naked. I wouldn't care. I just want to play a game with friends.
Qix Apr 12th 2008 11:18PM
Blizzard just needs to start letting people start at a higher level (not just for Death Knights), it is already to a point where leveling on both the servers i play on are ghost towns, no one in Azeroth, EVERYBODY is in Outland. If you have a level 70 character on that server, you should be able to roll a new charachter at level 50. You would still have to supply him yourself with your main, but it takes out the pointless single player MMO at the beginnning of the game.
Wade Apr 13th 2008 12:18AM
This is stupid, you've just posting up a black and white strawman argument without going into this issue at all. There is a large community of players who have leveled to 70 on a pvp realm then xferred to pve, and want Blizzard to open transfers for those players where the stupid "lvling on pvp is harder" argument doesn't apply.
You wanna do a story least look into it, not quote what some 10 year old would say.
Krianna Apr 13th 2008 12:41AM
So... you want some kind of a "I will not gank" pledge from those who leveled without ganking?
What?
wevans Apr 13th 2008 12:44AM
I disagree. it should be allowed somewhat. When I started playing this game I knew nothing about it.
i joined the server the game suggested. Now that I know more about the game i would like to pvp. but since my high lvl toons can't support the lower ones i don't want to start a new one on a different server
Quakehoof Apr 13th 2008 1:35AM
I am somewhat for the PvE to PvP transfer because, from how I see it, no one really makes that much conflict in PvP servers at the lower lvls unless its a opposite faction of a far higher lvl picking on lower lvls. Also, on PvE servers, or the one I used to play on, there was a LOT of BG's going on so PvP isn't to far of a concept to them
A question I would like to pose, though, is if you were originally from a PvP server and moved to a PvE server, why can't we go back to that PvP server? We already had the development through the lvls in PvP, we geared up quite a bit in PvP, and then we go to another server as if it were a vacation. I have a lot of friends on the PvP server though and I want to see them again but can't because I can't transfer back. Couldn't they at least make a way that if you were originally from a PvP server, you could move back to it?
Michael C Apr 13th 2008 1:49AM
I think they should let it up to a certain point. for instance I have a 36 druid on a PVE server and i want to transfer it to a PVP server I think that should be allowed its not like im asking to transfer a 70
Eternalpayn Apr 13th 2008 1:48AM
So what exactly makes people get so many more epics on a PvE Realm? Are you all psychotic, or sarcastic? I don't see how the World PvP status stops you from raiding, whatsoever.
Bunky Apr 13th 2008 1:05PM
I don't think Everyone would level on Pve realms just to Transfers to a Pvp realm. I sure as heck wouldn't. I think a significant part of the fun of a Pvp realm is the accomplishment of actually getting from 1-70 on a Pvp realm.
Krianna Apr 13th 2008 7:48PM
Guessing you're not a ganker, then....
Right now, I know of two PVP guilds who leveled to 70 and transfered to an RP/PVP server because "RPers suck at PVP."
They like the easy targets of folks RPing, and know they can cause more grief that way.
Shabitz Apr 13th 2008 2:28AM
I think they should allow pve to pvp transfers as long as, and I know this is going to sound harsh. As long as the character is transfered over with no weapons or armor. ala EverQuest type transfers. All honor and arena points are wiped! Badges of Justice and marks of honor are deleted. You have to start over at 70. Thus creating more pve on the pvp server as they will want to gear that character up again.
Not all would be willing to go for this but I certainly would. Especially since I have 2 level 60 characters on a pve server who would be getting all new gear anyway.
Wade Apr 13th 2008 2:28AM
@Krianna
Did you read what I said?
"players who have leveled to 70 on a pvp realm then xferred to pve"
Means they have leveled from 1-70 on a PVP realm where it is considered harder, THEN transfered to a PVE realm at 70, and want blizzard to consider the option of PVE to PVP transfers for those people who leveled to 70 on a PVP realm originally
SaintStryfe Apr 13th 2008 3:26AM
How bout a balance -
You can't transfer your character, but if you have a character on a PVE server at 70, you can have higher accelerated leveling (maybe 50% less XP needed per level) for a PVP server.
CDS Apr 13th 2008 3:42AM
I think that the whole argument does not hold as much water anymore atleast in my opinion.
Back when pve gear was the best for pvp sure it might have made sense but not now with arena gear and as for leveling on a server thats a joke, with as many instances as there are you can level a character in relative safety in an instance and the only points of danger would be moving from one dungeon to the next and thats about it.
Sirg Apr 13th 2008 4:15AM
With the new leveling options and the ease of getting gold, the differences between PvP and PvE worlds blur, IMO...
I guess that some people that are against transfers reffer to the old days of their leveling on a pvp server, including leveling professions and reputation. But now everything is made easier by Blizzard, so leveling on a pvp server isn't that hard compard to pvp.
Again, pvp players have a feeling of superiour players, when they aren't, and they can't prove they are better. Just because you play on the X server doesn't make you better.
R Apr 13th 2008 4:48AM
World pvp is dead?? I don't know what servers you play on but on Jubei Thos, the horde is in Southshore 24 hours a day, in Darkshire/Sentinel Hill 12 hours a day, attacking Goldshire daily, and of course a band of 70's live in STV ganking anything in sight. If you are leveling a character then you are practically required to visit all of those places. Don't tell me that it is the same to level on a PVE server and a PVP server.
Peter Ellis Apr 13th 2008 5:15AM
I think there's room for a middle ground. The key complaint about the lack of PvE -> PvP transfers is that it restricts mobility and choice for level 70 raiders seeking to server transfer to a decent group.
More to the point, it also has the (I believe unintended) side-effect that PvP -> PvE transfers are also rare. Nobody wants to jump ship and get "trapped" in the PvE ghetto without the option to transfer back. This is why in both the US and EU, PvP servers tend to do better in raiding than PvE servers - an extremely counterintuitive situation!
If the problem is levelling, it strikes me that there's a sensible compromise solution to be made. That is, your toon does not become locked into the PvE side of the game until you gain a level while on a PvE server.
That would mean that as long as you level up on a PvP server, once you reach the level cap you would be able to transfer freely between both types of server.