Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsReading 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 3 of 3)
jefeweiss Jun 15th 2008 3:09PM
I've leveled on both pvp and pve servers, and there isn't nearly as much difference as there used to be. Pre-BC it could be pretty tough depending on the time of day you were leveling. After BC I leveled to 60 on a pvp server and only got ganked a couple of times. From 60 to 70 is a bit different, there's a bit more concentration of players in Outlands still. It's still not too bad though. The demise of world pvp has slowed the amount of gankage to a fairly low level.
Mihn Jun 15th 2008 8:32PM
I really see no difference anymore.
Ive been on both and its the same.
Charlie Jun 15th 2008 10:05PM
Here's the question you gotta ask yourself:
Are you willing to spend 25 dollars (almost 2 months of gameplay) just so you can level up on a PvE server instead of a PvP one?
More than likely, the people who will (want to) do this will be those who have the disposable income (College students and above), which is not (normally) those who gank lowbies as high levels (younings, 13-16 year olds). So I don't really see it being much of a problem.
PB Jun 17th 2008 9:32PM
True, but you also have to consider that some of the kids who play WoW may be spoiled brats. "Mom! Give me $25 NOW!" "Okay sweetie!"
Vasius Jun 16th 2008 8:49AM
I have leveled all 5 of my 70s on pvp servers and I wouldn't really care if they let the transfers happen. Let people play with their friends or get a new start on a different server if they want. I really dont care if they had an easy leveling experience on a PVE server or not. Some people just dont have time to reroll and I understand that. I think people underestimate the cheapness of the average WoW player, its not like legions of players would level pve and then transfer to pvp if this change happened.
So let me ask something to all the "hardcore" folks that are so strongly against this change. If one of the pve transfers applied to your guild and had all the gear/skill necessary to jump right into your raid progression you would turn him down for being a "carebear"? Yea....didn't think so.
Nijle Jun 16th 2008 10:40AM
I have 2 70s on a PVE Server, and 3 on a PVP server, i'd love to have them all on the PVP server. I played PVE first, and rerolled for the open world PVP. I desperately miss my mage and palading and would love to part with 25$ each to move them to my current home on a PVP server.
Have had both leveling experiences, i feel it took less time to level on the pvp server since i had done it twice before. I also enjoyed the increased challenge of the PVP side.
Makros Jun 16th 2008 11:05AM
In my opinion, pve-pvp transfers are closer than you think. The first sign was the introduction of how they will implement death knights. If you have a 70 you can roll a death knight on ANY server you want?!? This means pve or pvp! If they were truly trying to stay on the same path they would have restricted death knights to only be created on pve servers if you only had a pve 70.
infection Jun 16th 2008 3:15PM
Well the one thing I think should definantly be allowed:
I leveled a warrior on a pvp server. All my friends left. I transferred to a Pve server because some other friends were there. Hated the pve server with a passion because of all the farmers and the fact that you could never world pvp without flagging.
I really think I should be able to move back to my original server which is pvp. Leveled to 70 on that server, so the whole idea of "you had it easy" didn't effect that character.
evankimori Jun 18th 2008 12:09PM
*sigh* QUITE a few people who've posted have had the point fly completely over their heads. Some got it, some didn't.
Now, for anyone who's rolled on a PVP server and gotten to 70 - congrats to you for surviving the possible-gankfests, being interrupted mid-quest by a '??' player with an axe/sword/staff to grind because he/she/it got ganked in the past by same circumstance. You haven't thrown your PC out the window in frustration yet and my respect is for you.
For all of you who think BECAUSE you levelled PVP that you deserve to be treated special or people owe you something/you have the biggest e-peen - go hang yourself. Seriously. People like you are the reason I will never, ever roll a PVP server because your attitude disgusts me. You think because you threw yourself into a circumstance where you were FULLY aware of the dangers that someone owes you something for surviving and boasting about it? No, we nor Blizzard don't owe you anything besides a clap and a pat on the back for being able to do it.
I've rolled on a PVP server once since I've played this game for the past 2 years. Once. And the inflated egos, the e-peen flailing and the constant cries of people who just wanted to enjoy a quest over the general channels just annoyed me. So I clicked the delete button and went back to PVE. Sure, cry and call me a 'carebear' all you want. I like my PVE. I like being able to do my grinds and quests and dailies in peace. I like to go about my business uninterrupted. I like being able to DO something without being slaughtered by one of you asses who thinks because YOU GOT ganked in the past, that automatically entitles you to take advantage of someone. And don't even tell me that you've never taken advantage of someone in an unfair fight. You at 100% and the other at 50-10/5%. Don't even lie.
Couple it with the ease to get PVP epics and the changes in the system *cough*Resilience*cough* and you've got me: someone who doesn't like PVP clad in PVE gear being road stomped by who who thinks it's funny to stand over my dead body and send me back to the Spirit Healer repeatedly until I logoff/call for friends to come help while I'm standing in the center of the dead bodies screaming: "I JUST WANTED TO BE LEFT ALONE!" And PVE gear doesn't hold a candle to PVP gankers. All that resilience and you can't even put a dent in them.
My point is: not everyone likes PVP. Some of us hate it, some of us love it, some of us like having the choice to click a button an put ourselves into PVP mode and not have to /bow /wave to a passing Horde/Alliance who'll kill you "for not showing respect". Give. me. a. frigging. break. We're all players here and I don't need to beg for my toon's life and to spare me just because you'd think it'd be funny to pick on me or start a fight.
Now, sure I hate it when you get people stealing your kills, tagging your mobs or overfarming. Yes, it's annoying and I agree with OP's that it's a sense of satisfaction to just kill them and take over. I've wished I could do it on my PVE realm as well. It really is. But at the same time: everything comes with consequence. You kill X person, X person calls for help, Y and Z show up, kill you, you call for help, A and B come to help you - all out brawl. And guess what? That item you were farming to make whatever item? Yeah. No progress. And what did you get? X honor for killing the people in the fight that you started, none of the items you intended to farm and skeletons everywhere with a pissed off player somewhere who's probably planning a counterattack. But that's your choice. If you want that to happen or you enjoy that-you're entitled to. You pay your money and you enjoy whatever you want. If you like 'the rush' or the feeling on constant war - that's what you like and I can't give you wrong.
Me? I like my choices. I like being able to turn off/on PVP and kill/browse/die at my leisure. Call me carebear, call it EZMode, whatever. I don't care and couldn't be bothered because I'm enjoying the game. And I like my choices because I'd rather die from a mob by my own mistake than to some person who thinks it'd be funny to attack me in the middle of a fight with an angry mob and my attention is elsewhere. If I wanted the war feeling-I'd click a button and keep my eyes open while I quest etc.
Yes I know, not every PVP server is built the same, people will leave you alone, whoever strikes the first blow is the target etc etc and honestly: I understand that. Completely. Different servers, different attitudes and people. But for me: I'd rather avoid the inconvenience altogether. And I've seen firsthand that the AH's and general skill level of the players on PVP is top-notch over many PVE servers. I won't dispute that fact.
Again: for those of you who've done it and levelled PVP and got your hard earned gear - congrats to you. I /bow to you for doing something I wouldn't. To those of you who continue to think you're the superior beings over PVE characters and think that the world owes you something: please continue being pathetic and shallow and thus: send more people to the PVE realms to escape asses like you.
Me? I'll stay PVE until I'm bored or quit or decide to try my hand at PVP once again and reroll on a fresh server. Until then: I'm content with my one button choice.
jewbanks Jun 19th 2008 1:02AM
I leveled on a PvP server, and while i didnt get to quest for more than 15 minutes at a time in STV I think overall it wasnt that big a difference. All my charcters are on pvp servers but I wouldnt mind if they opened pve-> pvp server transfers
andrea Jul 24th 2008 8:52AM
It may have been hard for you back in the day to level, but that's not the case anymore. I've leveled 2 different guys on pvp servers, and once they both hit 40, I rarely encountered any pvp --or rather, ganking, since that's what it usually is when it happens -- at all. Now, when your doing your dailies, etc, that changes...but as for leveling, it's not as hard as you are all claiming it to be.