World of Warcraft opens PvE to PvP character transfers.

by Krystalle Voecks Sep 11th 2008 at 2:45PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Game mechanics, PvP, News items, PvE

In a move that has stunned many people in the World of Warcraft community, Blizzard has reversed their earlier stance on no PvE to PvP server transfers. Per Bornakk on the official World of Warcraft forums, Blizzard has decided to open up transfers from PvE servers to PvP servers because "World of Warcraft has matured significantly since the inception of Paid Character Transfers, [they] don't feel that PvE-to-PvP transfers will have the negative impact on the game that [they] initially wanted to avoid when [they] started the service in 2006. This change will provide more mobility and freedom for players to experience the game with friends or play in the type of environment they're looking for."

Considering the furor that is now starting up on the official forums regarding this major change in dynamics, we can only wonder why after so many years Blizzard has reversed their decision. Previously, Blizz maintained that they wouldn't allow transfers from PvE to PvP because it would be unfair to players who leveled characters up in a PvP environment. They wanted to avoid PvPers having to deal with people who transferred into the harsher climates that PvP servers provide after having leveled up on PvE servers. With the largely guaranteed bank roll that is Wrath of the Lich King, one wonders just precisely Blizzard seeks to gain by changing a long-standing mechanic such as this. Do they really need more money? Or is this just, as one forum poster suggested, a way to allow players who started on PvE realms to finally 'rescue' their characters? Perhaps it has something to do with the smaller populations traditionally on PvP servers? Only Blizzard knows for sure as to the reasoning.

We recommend packing marshmellows if you go anywhere near the WoW forums for the next while; the flames are coming.

Tags: blizzard, breaking, character-transfer, game-mechanics, pve, pvp, server-transfer, transfer, world-of-warcraft, wow

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

casey said on 2:56PM 9-11-2008

seems like a pretty clear way to tempt bored players away from trying Warhammer.

gml said on 7:58PM 9-11-2008

More like completely pathetic attempt to keep subscribers from migrating in huge droves for Warhammer which clearly has better game mechanics. Grind mobs, level, grind more mobs, then you hit 70 and then you have to kiss someone's ass to get into a raid guild so you can maybe do something interesting. Not to mention PvP before 70 is completely pointless as it net's you nothing, not even XP! Sad truly sad.

Jeremy T said on 3:22PM 9-11-2008

... one wonders just precisely Blizzard seeks to gain by changing a long-standing mechanic such as this. Do they really need more money?

Yes.

Tasogare said on 3:57PM 9-11-2008

Need? Absolutly not. Want? Hell yes.

Nadril said on 4:08PM 9-11-2008

As someone who always played on a PvP server when he used to play WoW, I can assure PvE players that they aren't all that great at the max level. World PvP is really only fun while leveling up.

fester said on 8:05PM 9-11-2008

Yes, this is totally true. I will be transferring my characters trapped on a PvE server to a PvP server when WotLK is released because leveling on a PvP server is 100x more fun. There's no way I could stomach the sheer boredom of doing on a PvE server.

ScytheNoire said on 7:30PM 9-11-2008

Seeing all these recent changes in WoW just shows how worried they are about Warhammer. They are really getting desperate and doing some crazy things.

Blizzard is worried, and it's showing.

But the competition is good for the consumers. About time we had two go head-to-head. Hopefully it means better products all around. Blizzard has been far too stagnant for far too long.

crsh said on 10:08PM 9-11-2008

I just find funny that Blizzard claimed that PvE to PvP transfers would never happen, listing valid reasons such as "Earn your right to gank by exposing yourself to the same risk" and ""it's unfair to those who level on PvP realms".. whatever happened to that?

I don't think it really about money though, they already make tons of it (sure more is nice, but still), they are trying to kick Warhammer in the shin.

They can't make patch 3.0 go live in time for Warhammer's launch, so they're resorting to these measures.

B said on 11:01PM 9-11-2008

I don't get how this has anything to do with WARs launch... No ones going to leave because of this and no ones going to join because of it.

crsh said on 10:11AM 9-12-2008

You apparently live under a rock.

Crunch said on 8:12AM 9-12-2008

For those who have played both the closed and open beta of warhammer you know that it is not without its faults. But to be honest, the idea of gaining xp through PVP is what sets it completely apart from WOW. I leveled three characters to 20 so far and 95% of that was done through PVP (RVR), not through questing. The public questing mechanic completely blows away anything we see in WOW now. The loot system, based on giving each class a chance to receive loot they can use, and the ability to get that loot is amazing as well. In the end, I think Blizzard is making this move in an attempt to revive what they can. I believe they see Warhammer as a serious threat. Not to their #1 spot, but definitely as a revenue stealer.

Personally, I never understood the issue with PVP vs PVE leveling. In my opinion it was done to keep the 24/7 I have nothing better to do but play WOW players happy vs. the actual consumers. We all know that Blizzard caters to that grup anyways.

See ya.

Grithan said on 4:19PM 9-12-2008

"The public questing mechanic completely blows away anything we see in WOW now. "

You mean if "blows away" you mean gives you a couple dozen mini-reputations to grind per pairing then sure, I'm blown away.

Tomas said on 11:42AM 9-12-2008

I don't care if it's because of WAR or not. Simply put - with the ability for players to stack purple arena style gear by simply doing battlegrounds makes the whole original argument moot.

Who gives a damn if some geared PvE players brings his toon over to a PvP server? So what? How's it any different than getting ganked by a 60 or a 70 when you're level 25 and trying to quest around Tarren Mill? I don't know about the rest of you, but it's never been my experience that gankers on PvP realms are like levels - there's usually a pretty significant level difference.

Back when being a raider meant you had access to the best gear in the game - I can almost see where this would be an issue. But now? Any slob can /afk their way to gladiator gear.

So for myself - I'm happy as hell. I have toons that have been sucking wind on PvE realms that I can bring back into their original PvP homes. I'm happy about the change.