WoW Rookie: How to choose your realm type
by Michael Gray 
Oct 27th 2011 at 8:00PM
Picking a realm is the first choice you will make after installing World of Warcraft on your computer. Folks have plenty of different opinions about which realm type provides the best WoW experience. It's almost a personal religion for some players. The final decision about what you prefer will, of course, be up to you.
In World of Warcraft, there are four different kind of realms for you to choose from: PVE, PVP, RP and RP-PVP. Confused? Don't worry, that's why we're here to help. You can choose to play all four ream types, if you'd like, although each character can only belong to one realm at a time. Plenty of players have characters on multiple realms; these players go to a PVE realm when they're in that mood and flip over to a PVP realm when they want a tussle.
Player versus Environment (PVE)
On a PVE realm, you are never forced into a player-versus-player situation. If you choose, you can activate your PVP flag, which will allow the opposing faction to attack you. That is strictly optional.
If you are looking to enjoy a leisurely grind and don't want to deal with the war in Warcraft, then roll on this kind of realm. You may still PVP in Battlegrounds, so the PVP aspect of the game is not completely lost -- it is just controlled and tightly focused.
Player versus Player (PVP)
A PVP realm is exactly like a PVE realm in almost every way. Same dungeons, spells, mobs and areas. Even the same Battlegrounds. The only difference? Once you leave territories controlled by your faction, you are fair game for PVP.In the starting areas, you are protected and your PVP flag is off. Once you leave the starting areas, however, you can be attacked anywhere, at any time. To a lot of players, this adds to the excitement of the grind. However, there are some things you should consider.
You will get ganked. A level 35 can kill a level 24 on sight, and it is his right to do so. A level 60 will sneak to a newbie zone and destroy any level 10 who turned on his PVP flag. You will hear the philosophy "if it's red, it's dead" thrown about a bit. Players of the opposing faction have their names in red when flagged for PVP, so if someone sees another player with a red name, they will frequently be killed regardless of level or situation.
Don't ever expect a fair fight. If you are engaged on two mobs, don't expect the other players to show you mercy. If members of the opposing faction sees you in that vulnerable position, they could very well take advantage.
You will get camped. Someone 15 levels above you will sit on your body and kill you again and again. This doesn't happen all the time or even a majority of the time, but it does happen. Is that person being a bit of a jerk? Probably. Is it within the rules of a PVP server? Absolutely. Will you get anywhere by complaining about it in the chat channels or forums? No.
Camping and ganking are all part of the WoW PVP server experience. The guy who is ganking you was probably ganked a thousand times on his way to 60. Don't let that scare you off from a PVP server. Once you get in a guild, you can call some friends to help you when you are being camped.
Roleplay (RP)
These servers are exactly like PVE servers, except there is roleplaying. Actually, the majority of the people on RP servers are there to enhance escapism and avoid the majority of joke names and out-of-game references.These servers are the place to find like-minded roleplayers. If you want to portray a Dwarf during your interactions with others, these are the realms for you. This is where you can tell stories, act in character, and find other players to engage in RP.
Roleplay Player versus Player (RP-PVP)
Finally, we have the most rare choice, the RP-PVP realm. These servers are exactly like a PVP server in every way, except it is also a role playing server. You can both roleplay with other folks and engage in all the exciting action from a PVP realm.
How to choose your specific realm
Once you know what kind of realm you want, choose which specific realm you want. Some realms have been around since launch, have tons of guilds in the high-end raid dungeons and are bursting at the seams with players. Other realms are newer, have fewer raiding guilds and have rather sparse populations. Most realms are somewhere in between. How do you discover which realms are which?
One of the best ways to get started in the very beginning is to let the game itself recommend your first realm. Once there, start looking around the official forums and recruitment spots like The Classifieds. Find guilds and recruiters who are looking for newer players. These are likely your best places to really dig into the game.
As you progress in your expertise and levels, you'll get a more refined idea of what you're after. Don't be afraid to try out different realms and different guilds; eventually, you'll find the right niche for you.
As you progress in your expertise and levels, you'll get a more refined idea of what you're after. Don't be afraid to try out different realms and different guilds; eventually, you'll find the right niche for you.
It is a little footwork
Jumping around realms and guilds definitely involves a little footwork. But, if you do a little research, you will be much happier with your realm choice in the long run.
Good luck starting your WoW life!
Visit the WoW Rookie Guide for links to everything you need to get started as a new player, from how to control your character and camera angles when you're just starting out, to learning how to tank, getting up to speed for heroics and even how to win Tol Barad.
Visit the WoW Rookie Guide for links to everything you need to get started as a new player, from how to control your character and camera angles when you're just starting out, to learning how to tank, getting up to speed for heroics and even how to win Tol Barad.Filed under: WoW Rookie
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Saeadame Oct 27th 2011 8:07PM
Advice for PvP realms that are one-faction heavy: don't level as the other faction there unless you are patient and willing to get ganked, a lot. On my server, most of the Alliance go everywhere decked out in full PvP gear sets, but at low levels you will just die, all the time, because there are SO. MANY. HORDE. If you do decide to level as the minority faction, try to buddy up with a higher level character that will help you out if you're REALLY getting camped (I don't mean for an hour or two, I mean someone is camping you for days... in which case you should also check that people on RealID aren't the ones telling the camper where you are, lol).
Snuzzle Oct 28th 2011 12:06AM
Let me guess, Cho'Gall?
Jason Oct 28th 2011 2:29AM
Mug'thol?
Shadda Oct 28th 2011 12:59PM
Andorhal?
Nothing quite like going off on release day and seeing that your humanoid tracker has turned the minimap red. On a side note, anyone looking to dominate as Horde should check out these servers. :)
Moeru Oct 27th 2011 8:08PM
Just to add, not all RP servers are RP centric, nor are there any game-driven resources to aid in it. Most of the RP is governed by players, so the quality varies by server and faction.
furrama Oct 27th 2011 9:49PM
Indeed. Though there is roleplay on all the RP servers, there are also many many people there who think it is stupid, and are only there because their friends are there.
As they say in trade chat on Argent Dawn: RP stands for RAID PROGRESSION!
Don't be discouraged! Do some footwork and you will find a nice RP guild.
Chris Oct 27th 2011 8:09PM
I believe it should be "choose" not "chose".
jfofla Oct 27th 2011 8:11PM
Simple one question to determine Realm type.
Did you burn ants with a magnifying glass as a child?
If yes, choose a PVP Realm
Hob Oct 27th 2011 9:22PM
I think a better question would be, "Did you spend your childhood wondering where everyone was, and why people ever complained of bullies, because they simply didn't exist, only to get to high school and then discover yourself thrashed in class, outside of class, before class, and after class?"
That's how it rolls on most PvP servers I've been to. No one until end game, then "end" "game".
Corvana Oct 27th 2011 8:12PM
Please fix title--"choose", not "chose".
Rai Oct 27th 2011 8:27PM
This may sound obvious but if you have no respect for those that Roleplay, please PLEASE don't roll on an RP server.
A fair amount of Argent Dawn-EU do not seem to understand this. As an RPer who plays PvE content as much as the next person, I have no problem with non-RPers on the realm but those that seek to ruin it? Blech.
Caylynn Oct 27th 2011 9:44PM
Agreed! And Rai, when I was living in Germany, I played on Argent Dawn EU. :)
Now I'm on Argent Dawn US. Had to start over from scratch. Boo for Blizzcon not allowing EU to US server transfers. Especially for military personnel, who can't control where they get sent.
And yes, I tried playing on an EU server from North America. It did not work. Too much latency, not to mention the 8+ hour time difference.
furrama Oct 27th 2011 9:53PM
Argent Dawn is really really old as far as servers go. It might have started out as RP, but it didn't stay that way, especially after Wrath. People came and went, and rolled because their friends were raiding there.
You have to be careful on all the old servers like that, sometimes things just dynamically change on their own. But think of Argent Dawn more as a PVE server.
Rai Oct 27th 2011 10:02PM
@Caylynn We have an American in our guild who reports very little latency from Trenton, Michigan. Maybe the server stability has changed?
HappyTreeDance Oct 27th 2011 10:40PM
You know, I have to admit, the thought of transferring servers has occurred to me more than a few times.
It's not that I don't like my server. Argent Dawn US is my home, and all of my friends are there. But it is a little depressing when I roll up an alt on another RP server and see that there's actual RP taking place in the middle of the major cities. Without people running by and going "LOL RP LOSERS!" Makes me more than a little jealous. ;)
I don't really want to have to start all over again though, and I like my guild and wouldn't want to leave them. I'll probably just continue rolling up low level alts on these other RP servers just so I can occasionally see open RP taking place. :)
Deathknighty Oct 27th 2011 8:28PM
When I made my first character back in early wrath, I chose RP-PVP. Why? Because it was the longest, of course!
That said, I'm very glad I did, I've found RP-PvP servers to be much nicer environments than most.
Sintraedrien Oct 27th 2011 8:32PM
Why to choose PvE? Chase Christian. He will hunt you specifically and do everything possible to destroy your happiness, sanity, and faith in the existence of good. If you logoff, delete your toon, and uninstall WoW, he is made joyfull.
Save yourself the heartache, and choose PvE or RP-PvE server.
Sintra E'Drien of the Ebon Blade (on my stupid-phone )
Marius W. Oct 27th 2011 8:42PM
And if you do choose RP then do NOT choose Moon Guard as your realm.
Astoreth Oct 27th 2011 8:47PM
Moon Guard hosts thriving RP communities both Horde and Alliance-side.
Don't judge an entire server by the antics of some trolls at one little town in Elwynn.
Marius W. Oct 27th 2011 8:52PM
It's minimal. Wyrmcrest has a far better RP community.
Standing around the cathedral in SW doesn't make for a thriving RP community.
Moon Guard has a lot more trolls than it does people actually involved in RP.
RP is far more enjoyable on wyrmcrest accord than it ever was on Moon Guard.
There is rarely anything RP over on the Horde side.
Both sides do have RP guilds, for sure. But its minimal compared to Wyrmcrest and you avoid all the disgusting behaviour that makes its way into Stormwind from Elwynn.