Reading between the lines: are more PvE to PvP transfers possible?
by Adam Holisky 
Jun 14th 2008 at 8:00PM
The announcement earlier in the week that Blizzard was allowing free transfers from a couple Oceanic PvE realms to the Oceanic PvP realm Thaurissan lead to a storm of speculation that Blizzard could be considering opening up PvE to PvP transfers on a wide scale.Blizzard has recently said that they won't be allowing large scale transfers from PvE to PvP servers. This rule was supposedly in place for a number of reasons, the main one of which has always been the relative ease of leveling a character on a PvE server compared to that of a PvP server. Having done both, I can say that it wasn't too different – a few more tricks had to be used when leveling on the PvP server, but in no way was my leveling prolonged on the PvP server because of the PvP elements.
Drysc chimed in on this very topic yesterday.
He said that his recent leveling experience on a PvP server was the same as mine (well, actually, mine is the same as his, but that's just semantics). The original title of the thread was "Times are changing Blizzard." Drysc makes this interesting for us all in that he ends his post echoing the title of the thread: "Times have changed."
While Drysc and his ilk are notorious for playing word games with the community (and I hope that they're getting a chuckle out of this as they read it), you do have to take pause for a moment with his overall statement. If one of the main barriers for PvE to PvP transfers doesn't exist anymore, one has to wonder if soon they'll allow the transfers on a massive scale.
One can only hope, and it does look like that hope just got a bit brighter.
Filed under: Realm News, Analysis / Opinion, News items, PvP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
schroey Jun 14th 2008 8:09PM
They open up transfers like that, and they'll be making more money. It'll happen soon enough.
Preston Jun 15th 2008 12:38PM
This is never going to happen. I don't know why people can't accept that this was a special case scenario where a server had a 15-to-1 faction imbalance that free transfers hadn't fixed. To solve the problem, Blizzard has allowed transfers from select PvP servers for a limited time out of necessity.
Leveling on a PvP server, despite what the author of the post says, IS more difficult and takes longer. If people could powerlevel on a PvE server with no hindrance from the opposing faction, they'd do that all the way to 70 then transfer to a PvP server. PvP servers would become empty sub-70.
Again, NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.
Chris Anthony Jun 15th 2008 12:55PM
I've always wondered, Preston, does being loud *really* make you more right?
Preston Jun 15th 2008 2:07PM
Well, Chris, when you hear the same ridiculous arguments for four years from PvErs who want to transfer to my server without having gone through what I went through leveling up my characters, you tend to realize that volume is necessary to carry your message through thick skulls.
Swiss Jun 16th 2008 3:16PM
The issue, imo, is not getting ganked while leveling from 1-70. Rather, the issue is that a large chunk of the WoW population is working on end-game by raiding, farming, grinding, etc.
Say for example that you are on a PvE server and you want to craft your master tailor set, but you have to farm up tons of primal water. The only risk you have is from computer controlled elementals and possibly competition stealing your kills. On a PvP server, you have to put up with both of those issues- as well as getting ganked and making your grind take even longer.
Personally, I don't care if they open up transfers. The game really isn't all that different on either realm type. I'm on a PvP server and most people from the opposite faction mind their own business since it's a waste of time to attack each other.
Pavid Jun 14th 2008 8:48PM
I hope so. I'd love to transfer my warrior to a pvp server since I really love world pvp. The only reason my warrior is on a pve server is because that's what was recommended to me by the game itself when I first bought it. It recommended to me to roll on cenarius so I did. Why should I be held accountable for the decision they forced on me as a new player? And this would be a great way for them to make money. $25 a transfer multiplied tens of thousands of times is a butt load of cash. It's a no brainer from a business perspective. And I also share teh same experience as the board moderator. I leveled a warlock on mug'thol and got ganked twice it STV by a player 2 levels higher than me. That's it. It's not harder at all.
robotrock Jun 14th 2008 9:09PM
How about if you already have a 70 on a PVE server you can get an XP bonus on your new PVP toon? You'd still have to roll but it wouldn't take quite as long as normal.
Since all my characters are on an active PvP server I would be annoyed if these transfers were open. My levelling experience WAS dreadful for some of my characters...not so much for others.
Cosu Jun 14th 2008 9:14PM
^Yeah whatever. Open transfers already. :P
Matt Jun 14th 2008 9:25PM
If you leveled on a PvP server you were ganked... AT least once... but more then likley alot. If you went through this then you have the right to gank when you hit 70... now if you leveled on a PVE server and never faced hardship... imo you have no right to play on a PvP server and have no right to gank people. Just my opinion on the matter.
Havitech Jun 14th 2008 9:34PM
Whenever some level ?? ganks my alt, I really appreciate the fact that they leveled up on a PvP server. But if they opened up PvE to PvP, I would be really upset the next time I was hopelessly overpowered by someone significantly higher leveled than me. After all, how would I know if that level ?? earned his right to gank?
Cosu Jun 14th 2008 9:34PM
Like say on a pve server you buff up somebody with pvp on from a bg, or you exit a bg, you still get ganked, get over it. Someone on a PVE server got ganked at least once and those on a PVP server probably more. It doesn't matter. It's not justified to be arrogant because somebody took away a bit of your play time during leveling up. It's not like people who leveled up on a PVE realm are going to transfer on a PVP server just for the heck of it, NO. They transfer to play with friends, to go into another battlegroup, to I dunno... whatever. They transfer for a reason, which is infinitely bigger and more important than the fact that you got ganked.
Bloodtrip Jun 15th 2008 9:48AM
Well, i leveled all the way to 70 on a pvp server, and i was ganked to no end, and i am on a pve server with all my friends. but i feel you should be able to transfer where you want to transfer... hell, you are the one paying 25 bucks for it. not only that, the n00bs that can transfer to a pvp server will just be easy prey for you veterans of the pvp servers.
I say blizz should go for it!
Justin Jun 15th 2008 3:19PM
I realized I needed to re-roll on a PVP server when I flagged myself for PVP all the time on the PVE server. Then only ??s would just 1-shot my low-level toon, I was upset when nobody else my level would PVP. :(
doyesac Jun 14th 2008 9:59PM
I'd say Blizz should treat PvE-to-PvP transfers the way they are treating the Death Knight: it's something you have to unlock, and becomes available once you qualify. For example, IF you have a 70 toon on a PvP server, you unlock the ability to transfer your toons on PvE servers to PvP servers (with the usual faction restrictions).
I like PvP servers. They just FEEL right, you know?This is WAR-craft after all. But my 70s on a PvE server are just languishing, where they could be doing some real work on my newly adopted PvP realm. No more: "Need a healer? Yeah, I have a healer... on the wrong kind of server!"
raedix Jul 24th 2008 11:08AM
"I like PvP servers. They just FEEL right, you know? This is WAR-craft after all."
Back in the pre-expansion days, I would agree with you... but ever since BC came out, it seems that there's just something that doesn't feel right about World PvP... Back then, it seemed that most of the storyline was about the war between the Horde and the Alliance... sure, you raided Molten Core, Blackwing Lair, etc... but it always felt like you were doing it for glory and power, not because of any grave threat... Nefarian was a great danger, but he seemed to just be minding his own business in his pimped-out BWL bachelor pad until an armed mob of 40 people came to take his Ashkandi... AQ sort of started the move away, with the cooperative war effort, it became more of a competition between guilds to open the gates, than between the Horde and Alliance.
BC changed it all. We weren't raiding some dungeon for loot and glory, at least after Karazhan... Kael'thas was a threat, Illidan was a threat, Kil'jaeden was a threat... to both the Horde and the Alliance... it just doesn't make *as much* sense, that one would be killing Illidan's demonic minions, and a member of the other faction comes and stabs you in the back instead of helping you. Wrath will be similar... neutral city, subfactions the split each faction in two (like Aldor and Scryers), and a storyline that involves a great threat to Azeroth in Malygos and Arthas... again, we're all fighting the Lich King... if Jaina and Thrall can work together, why not "Gnomesmasha" and "Luvstospooj"...
Well, either way, I've never rolled on a PvE server... but I normally don't kill indiscriminately either... except for Night Elves... I hate Night Elves...
Kaljin Jun 14th 2008 9:59PM
I would not seriously mind, as the rule sets have no real meaning anymore.
Memzer Jun 15th 2008 1:31AM
Don't kid yourself.
Getting your character to 70 on a PvP server is harder.
Going about your dailies or farming on a PvP server is harder.
PvE => PvE transfer would be a kick in the teeth to those of us who have put into the extra effort. Not to mention the people who have already re-rolled on a PvP server DESPITE having level 70 characters on PvE servers.
Upas Jun 14th 2008 10:12PM
Try farming primal waters in the pond near shattrath on a PvE server.
Now try again on a PvP server.
I'm pretty sure you'll find difference.
In terms of leveling, I could care less, but economy wise, a whole influx of PvE characters could make an impact.
Tugros Jun 14th 2008 10:14PM
They allowed this recent transfer because of extreme circumstances; what with Thaurissan's horrible population imbalance. And to some extent, I agreed with it.
However, as a long time PvP player, I do not think that they should allow these kind of transfers on a normal basis. It does not matter what your reasons are.
"I want to play with friends."
"I'm bored of my PvE server."
It does not matter. You had plenty of warning beforehand about what kind of server you were rolling on. If you're a transfer, you were repeatedly warned that you would not be allowed to return to PvP. You still have the option to reroll and go through the trials like we all did.
There is a certain dignity in this kind of seperation. Removing the restriction would reduce PvE servers to nothing more than "nurseries". People would level up on PvE, grind, quest, gear and rep up in safety, and then transfer to PvP when they're ready to "go out into the world". There would be no point in rolling a new character on a PvP server, because everyone would be leveling on PvE, thus making it near-impossible to start up groups.
As for people saying that the experience is hardly any different, you're completely wrong. I'm currently leveling up a dwarf paladin on Gurubashi (PvP). It's level 61 now, and just the other day I was ganked a total of 8 times in Hellfire. A couple of those were from level 70s driving by on their epic fliers. A couple of those were in contention for a Fel Iron Deposit. And the rest were various ganks by people that would take advantage of my 10% health/no mana after a particularly tough fight. To say that the server experience is the same on both PvE and PvP is very shortsighted.
I respect Blizzard for staying strong on this stance. It really shows that they care for the dignity and integrity of their game. I implore you guys to see the big picture on this; PvE --> PvP transfers would hurt the game far more than you might realize.
Kurgann Jun 15th 2008 11:07AM
I absolutely agree. A great deal of people are generally lazy. If there's a perceived "easier" way to to do things, then people will do it.
Though there are jerks on both PVP and PVE servers anyway. Some people simply really enjoy making others angry. These jerks will find a way to make others angry no matter what Blizzard does, no matter what realm.