I’d like to discuss the dynamic between the two servers. I understand PvP servers are “red is dead” motto in contested zones (not to mention a complete faceroll onto Alliance… ZERGFEST) and PvE is considered the “Care bear server” to the hardcore PvPers. What I’m trying to discuss is the nitty and gritty of these two servers.
I’d like to mention that I am fairly new to the WoW world. This Classic experience is very fun, although an infant still (level 19 currently), but I came from other MMO’s and like the journey to “maxing” out. I currently play on a PvP server and yet to experience this camp fest of a world, which I will not want to participate anyways. I will want to play BG’s, as it’s objective based, and is more of a fair fight. Why did I choose a PvP server? Well let me explain… Please, correct me or direct me if you feel I’m in the wrong…
I feel that PvE servers are “hardcore” with raiding end-game and don’t emphasize in ANY PvP…? Do the players in PvE servers oust you if you have no sense of end-game raids/dungeons? Do PvE players even enjoy PvPing? Besides random ganking, is there an up-side to play on a PvE server?
Even back in vanilla, there were people who loved BG PvP on both PvE and RP-PvE realms. The only times I ever played BGs was with friends who loved them, and this gal was killed often trying to be a pocket healer.
There is a definite attitude that PvP realms have the more hardcore players, with an implication it is both PvE and PvP they’re more hardcore about. My experience has been it is more about the server size, because people do guild hop, and if there’s not a large enough server community guilds end up sniping from each other rather than building multiple large successful groups.
A lot to unpack there.
PvE has PvP using flags, and trade honor just like the PvP players do. BGs come out in a week, where all players will be cross realmed into small team PvP environment.
The major difference?
PvP servers give you some thrilling open world moments at the expense of progressing safely through content.
Personally, because you aren’t 60, and Ill assume you can play 3-4 hrs…
Go PvE. Best of both worlds and you can focus on learning a new world.
Nothing stops you from rolling one on each, and you are not behind at all.
Welcome aboard
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Hi there,
Unfortunately, I can only play about 5-8 hours a week. It’s about an hour to two hours, tops, that I can play a night. I have a wife and three children that I tend to, not even including my job that I tend to 8-10 a day, Mon-Fri. Weekends are all family moments.
So, with that being said, it would be wise to just stop my character here, and play on a PvE server? Are there any good recommendations on where I should play? Alliance or Horde? Etc.
There’s literally zero difference between playing as the dominant faction on a PvP server vs playing on a PvE server.
Both provide a carebear experience from a PvP perspective whilst allowing one to travel between dungeons, raids and zones in peace.
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Was on both pvp and pve in vanilla and ranked 11 3 times.
Im on pve Now, mostly because im bored of wow, over it and just want to play hour long plus wsgs with no timer. Thats basically the whole reason im levelling through classic bored off my brain.
Poor life choices, yes, but wasting time on wow is the least of my issues atm 
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But, is it better to play as the dominant faction in a PvE server anyways? As you can’t “Die” getting to your end-game stuff, locations, etc… You’d want to have as many players online at any given moment, right? Playing as the least dominant faction would just seem a waste, no?
Also, I hear the talk of cross-realm BG’s… Only assuming it’s meaning that if I queue up for a BG on my realm and it can only find 8 others on my realm queuing at the same time, within the level range, it will find an additional “x” amount of players from other realms to fill in those spots, yes?
Also, I always hear that Horde players dominate the Alliance faction ALL THE TIME, not only in numbers but PvP situations… So is it true to just play as the Alliance to get instantly into BG’s?
The thing is WoW is a pve game at heart, it was designed based on the model of pve games and the vast majority of the content is focused on pve. PvP servers just seem like an after thought where blizzard said “oh yeah this is warcraft i guess we should have some world pvp” and made server where players from the opposing faction could hit each other.
The opposite is true, the reason people are on pve servers is because they don’t enjoy random ganking, which is all wpvp really offers. As far as pve goes there are people running all kinds of content it’s not just hardcore raiders. And BG’s are also usually pretty active on pve realms. Once again because people like pvp when it’s confined to the side game it always was meant to be just not when it’s primarily about ganking like on a pvp realm.
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I played exclusively pvp in vanilla.
I started on pvp in classic but have rerolled pve. The few times I had an open world fight with someone my own level range, I’d get camped by skulls five minutes later. Until I escaped or logged off.
Just roll pve.
By the way, I’ve seen just as much world pvp on the pve server. I can just watch large groups of 60s go at it, and then go on my own merry way.
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As far as I know there is only one difference between the servers:
PvE servers: you only PVP when you choose to.
PvP servers: you have to PVP whenever an opponent chooses to.
That’s it. That’s the only difference. A majority of PvE players do the end-game: raiding, or Mythic+, or Battlegrounds, etc. A minority of PvE players avoid the end-game, and do leveling, alts, professions.
Each guild is different. Each guild decides who to welcome and who to boot. It depends on the purpose of that guild.
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I play PvP server. Played it in Everquest, played it in vanilla. Personally I don’t understand nor enjoy games that are only PvE. If the danger is not there, why am I playing? To enjoy the scenery?
I feel that flagging oneself on a PvE server is akin to dueling. You’re saying, I’m up for a fight. Someone else says, okay.
I want a game where the horde can take over part of the world for a while. Alliance retaliate by taking over the other part. Right now on my server that’s what is going on. In the morning alliance owns BRD, in the evening they own winterspring. There’s brawls happening everywhere.
I’ve also had many instances where a horde helps with something, or waves and runs off. My wife and I on lvl 40s have killed lvl 60s (usually warriors because they’re kite-able). Almost always in defense.
I’ve had characters on PvE servers before when my wife and I decided to try one. What’s the point. Its like cheating. Why is the other faction sitting here watching me take this chest? They should be killing me for it. We enjoyed ourselves just killing mobs, sure. But at the end of it all, what happens? You’re on a PvE server, on a game that is meant to stay forever this way, and you’re gonna go enjoy the stars and hug it out with your mortal enemies? Pff. Your going to get bored getting to 60 so fast because there’s no stumbling blocks, and then you’ll be there like all the other 60s on PvE servers wondering what to do. It’ll take me years to get my characters where I want them on PvP servers. And I’ll enjoy every step.
Just my feelings.
There’s nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is too many people push this idea on casuals (frequently Alliance choosing ones) that PvP servers are the only way to play.
And these are casuals who don’t know that they are far better off on a pve server than a pvp one because their idea of pvp is your idea of ‘duelling’.
Appreciate all of the feedback, so far.
What do you think will happen in the future? Do you think this game will evolve into something more than just this expansion? Do you think it’ll be geared towards the PvP servers vs. PvE servers?
I’m betting in a couple years Blizzard will continue it on. Whether that’s with something new or with TBC, who knows. I don’t see any reason why they would prefer a type of server over the other.
All this said, classic wasn’t supposed to have anything beyond the original experience. So even though I think it will eventually, I’m fine with it either way.