Now I did what I should have done from the beginning. When in doubt, consult a book.
I still have the old Game Manual, that came with the Vanilla CD’s.
I looked under PvP on Normal realms (The word for PvE realms throughout this manual):
On the normal realm, PvP mode is disabled by default. … You can enable this flag by doing any of the following:
- Attacking an NPC of an opposing faction, such as the opposing faction’s aerial mount master, guards, quest giver, vendor, or similar NPC.
- Attacking an opposing player that attacked a friendly NPC. By counterattacking the first player, you enable PvP mode, and opposing players can begin attacking you.
- Aiding a player engaged in NPC combat.
- Entering an enemy capital city.
Besides these four ways you can also type /pvp at the chat prompt to enable PvP mode. In all cases, other players can only attack you if you enable the PvP flag through your own actions. You always have control over whether opposing players can attack you or not on a PvE realm. That means PvP is consensual-only on normal realms.
Ergo passing by guards, running through Camp Taurajo, visiting Tarren Mill, using the Great Lift and so on should NOT flag me for PvP. Not in Vanilla, not in Classic, and not in HC realms either.