Why play a pvp server?

Im curious myself. I would like to play one but everything i hear about them makes it sound terrible. The fighting over harvesting nodes, devilsaurs, and guild vs guild battles over world bosses sound amazing and is something I want to participate in and experience.

However from what I hear the quality of pvp stinks. I hear 90% of world pvp is just ganking someone at low hp fighting a mob, killing low lvl players, or just ganking singular people in big groups. None of this appeals to me. Usually in WPvp if the enemy has no chance in winning i dont participate, I find no challenge or fun in it.

Let me clear up one thing though for those who havent played PvE servers. PvE servers are full of tons of world pvp. A lot of pvp server people think that no pvp happens on pve servers. Not only did I world pvp for hours every day in classic and TBC, but all the fights were almost always fair full hp vs full hp fights. Just ran around perma flagged or raided somewhere when i wanted to pvp and there was always tons of it.

I’m sure there are several reason to play a pvp server and unique experiences i am unaware of and I would like to hear it.

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Because you can’t transfer from PvE to PvP and will regret rolling on PvE or transferring to PvE even if you don’t like PvP because you will know that you can never play that character on a PvP server once you go PvE.

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I think it’s just something that appeals to some people, and not to others
 like, herbivores trying to understand carnivores.

You guys see red, and think “DANGER”
 the flight portion of your “fight or flight” response just lights up and you choose to avoid that by sitting on a PvE realm
 That’s not how PvP server players think. We see red, and it’s NOT “danger”
it’s “DINNER” and those deep seeded predatory instincts kick in, and the “fight” portion of the “fight or flight” response kicks in.

More to the point, PvP servers add a sense of wildness and danger to the world in general that you just don’t get on a carebear realm
 The world feels more alive and dangerous when there’s potentially real threats out there that can hunt you, just as effectively as you can hunt them.

Personally, I’ve always been a pretty aggressively competitive person, and the debate between PvP/PvE has never once been a debate for me on a vanilla era realm. I’m not trying to discourage you, OP, quite the opposite in fact, the more people on PvP realms the better imo
 but PvP realms aren’t for everyone and you gotta decide for yourself what you want.

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Oh, please. For the vast majority of “predators” on PvP realms it’s only dinner when they think they have a more or less overwhelming advantage. They’re quick enough to avoid/run if they don’t think they can win.

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The herbavore / carnavore analogy is a terribly ignorant answer. For the 2 and a half years i played on a pve server i was permanently flagged and chances are since there werent as many targets on pve servers I probably got more pvp than anyone on a pvp server.

The amount of pvp doesnt change much between the two types of servers. The type of stuff im looking for is what was in the rest of your post like the “add a sense of wildness and danger to the world in general” in a reply, that’s a great comment. However you can experience that too in PvE servers by just keeping your flag on. It isnt exclusive to PvP servers.

The Reply on “cant transferring from PvE to PvP servers and regreting it” is a great point though and something I will consider. Thanks for the great feeback.

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This will happen a lot. Anything/everything where better-powered players will do their best to make life hard for lower-powered players will happen. Think on that, and if you can handle the thought of that reality very well, then go ahead and roll a PvP server for the fun reasons you hope for. Otherwise I agree with your take on PvE servers having as fun PvP - though this is a different era and some PvE servers may be better than others for that kind of stuff.

Because PvP adds to the experience, it gives you that rush and sense of danger. I can’t imagine playing on a PvE realm you’re missing a large component of the game imo.

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You mean
 people *gasp don’t just run headlong into their deaths? Lions don’t run around trying to solo elephants either. I’m genuinely not sure what kind of point you where trying to make


Voluntarily flagging on a pve realm where most of the people don’t care or want to engage in wpvp isn’t the same as being on a realm where any and every opposing faction player can, and probably is ready to try and murder you on sight. There’s a safety and security to a pve realm that you’ll never get on a pvp realm
 Hell, one of my favorite past times on my rogue alt was murdering people in Ironforge, where they thought they where untouchable.

If you already know what it’s like being on a pvp server, why bother with the thread in the first place?

As I said before the carebear brigade got all uppity
 the different servers’ players just have different mentalities for wpvp
 If you don’t enjoy it, don’t roll a pvp server. I get ganked by a guy, and my first thought is that I’m going to rez, come back and bathe in his blood. Some of you PvE types seemingly act like it’s the end of the world or something. For me, some of my best memories of the game where from WPvP, and many of the memorable players
 I remember the 60 mage who tried to gank my low 40s warlock leaving Grom Gol, who I drowned in that lake in NE STV 
 I remember corpse camping every single member of the guild MeS I ever saw because one of their rogues ganked me in Ashenvale on my way to Felwood, and used the sword-ambush exploit to 1 shot me. I learned opposing player names, I learned their guilds and I paid attention when I saw those guild tags pop up in other places
 None of which I’d have given a single damn about if they where just random untouchable obstacles wandering around and not being able to communicate with.

./shrug to each their own, you ask for reasons why to be a on a pvp realm, I sit here wondering how any of you can stand to waste your time on the carebear servers. How boring. Different mindsets/mentalities.

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Dunno, my time on a PvP server, until Wotlk, it was very PvE’sh in expectation of finding some fun. Rng on finding that really good battle with another player(s). Its like D&D random encounters from skull npcs to grey minions. Though you do find that really fun moment(s).

As for the ‘sense of danger’, that only lasts so long before it becomes indifference, even boredom really. I think that state only lasts so long.

Its funny that the person camping me is more emotionally invested in that endeavor than I would be, being camped.

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You know the funny part about this is I got more of an answer from that post than your last one Apoca. See, now i know what parts of a pvp server you enjoyed and had lasting memories of. Ignoring the insults I actually quite enjoyed the post and can relate to several things you said as I have had many person grudges against several people on the opposing faction that I would run into in many of my pvp exploits and still remember their names and many of our encounters to this day 12 years later. Great times


Funny enough I made several alliance friends through pvp too even though we never said a word to eachother. You fight a skilled player enough and eventually you both just enjoy running into eachother lol (blasphemy I know)

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I’ve leveled characters on both types of realms. I will tell you in no uncertain terms, that PvE realms
well, they’re kinda like being in a Cold War. You see the enemy, but you’re not allowed to harm them. The “war” part, is missing. There’s something inherently “safe” about being able to have encounters only and always on your terms. You determine what you attack, all - the - time. You go about your business - safely.
Been there. Done that.
On a PvP realm, it of course, isn’t like that. There’s always the “unknown”. The enemy you can’t see
or control. Going a step further, having also played on an RP-PvP, I can also tell you, the experience is further enhanced by the community and sense of faction pride. When the players around you are invested in the faction, the world, and, you.
As of this writing, the existence of RP-PvP realm(s) are a community hope. We’re hoping Blizzard decides to open at least 1 at launch. That’s my ideal realm. The people are just the best. The realm, so much more immersive. If not, then I’ll go for PvP
because there’s just something inherently wrong with seeing a Night Elf, and not being able to kill it.

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Firstly it’s an MMO about warring factions. An online roleplaying game where conflict of interest creates constant interaction between players and groups of players.

The very essence of world-pvp and contested zones is that interaction should not always be voluntary. In someone’s death or loss of objective is someone else’s accomplishment.

Something like a world boss goes from being a loot pinata to the guild lucky enough to tag it , to being the prize of often large scale and lengthy conflicts that add dynamic content to the game.

It gives competing guilds of opposite factions the real ability to sabotage and even sometimes prevent the other’s progress.

Everyone gets ganked. If you’re tired of the chomksy honk who keeps last-hitting you then you have the power to recruit people and camp him right back, or just do it yourself. Friendly 60s are often willing to dispense street justice.

All of this is just fun. It adds more adversity to a game known for it’s challenges and makes it that much more rewarding to overcome.

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I laughed, good one.

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Reason because you as the player chooses.

Think of of a lower level player as a civilian, gang of ppl as robbers, or whatever.

You get killed at lower level seek vengeance or protect the weak.

You will know their name and you will meet again friend or foe.

Hints the name world of Warcraft.

Get strong destroy your enemies and they will know your name.

I look at pvp server as the full game.

It’s the unknown. who I may run into or what I run into is what I like.

Do you think south shore was just a big war?
Do know what caused the out break of fighting?

It was ppl getting ganked at low level.

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Can’t speak for all, but I love the extra bit of danger and unpredictability it adds. Keeps my head on a swivel, helps prevent boredom from setting in.

Also encourage me to group up for questing. Strength in numbers.

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At the time, pvp in vanilla was considered good. Sadly outside the world bosses there wasn’t any wpvp content besides ganking. They attempted to create content with the epl towers and silithus sand thing, but failed. In TBC they tried again with halaa, but that was also mostly a bust

Archeage in my opinion has the right idea, most of their wpvp content is on a timer, so there is no 2AM world boss kill to avoid pvp (minus thunderwing, all world bosses spawn during prime time at a specific time). Rare resources like BL could have been done like water/logs in Auroria
you can see where it spawns and the timer on it. This way everyone knows when to come fight for it, instead of players picking it and keeping the respawn to themselves for an easier chance at getting the next spawn uncontested.

Just my .02. I like playing BGs casually, but I don’t gank, so the only thing a PvP server adds for me is grief. Greatest pve game out there, not so good wpvp game compared to current offerings. Nothing against those who enjoy PvP servers, play what makes you happy.

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I am not entirely sure I agree with this portion of the message. If the odds look overwhelmingly bad then the fight or flight response of any good pvper will be “flight - so I can live to fight another day.”
When we see red we tend to assess the situation in an instant and engage, stalk, or run as needed.

You see, a lot of PvPers find PvP more immersive in a sense. Sure, you do not get much mechanically out of PvP in vanilla, especially before honor systems are introduced. However, you slow the progress of your “mortal enemy.” We are at war with these other races. War costs lives. It is a war of attrition.

This point hits the nail on the head really well for me. Having to keep your head on a swivel or risk being ganked is part of the immersion. It is part of the hype - part of the thrill. Suddenly getting attacked when just coming out of combat and sitting at around half your hp by a stealth rogue immediately pops the adrenaline. Having to outplay/outskill or die is part of the fun!

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I played on Kil Jaeden from TBC to mop. It was a pvp server. I first started in vanilla on gilneas which was a pve server.

I hated kil jaeden because it was pvp. My friends were there and that was the only reason I stayed.

Pvp servers are filled with trolls, bullies and people that love to harass others. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of good people there but it’s mostly a toxic waste dump of sweaty armpits and testosterone. I just don’t have a good taste in my mouth when it comes to pvp servers.

When I’m out and about in the world, doing my own thing, the last thing I’m wanting is to get courpse camped for an hour by some knuckle dragger.

You say care bear. I say knuckle dragger.

I like pvp too. I play CS: source and BF5 when I’m bored.

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Being flag on PVE server is different than being on a PvP server.

Right when see contestant zone you know it’s on and at any moment anything can happen.

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Makes the game more fun. The fighting for nodes part is good, if you are on the winning side.