World Of Warcraft - Realm Types

ith millions of people playing World of Warcraft, it is simply impossible for everyone to play together in the same place. This is the reason why different “realms” are created. A realm is a game world that exists only for the few thousands of players within it. Each realm is an exact copy of the game world with one exception: the player characters there are tied to that particular realm. You can interact with all the players in your realm but you cannot interact with players in other realms. Characters also cannot normally move between realms.

Each realm is defined by its name (like Burning Legion) and its realm type (see below). Choosing your realm is the very first decision you will have to make before playing World of Warcraft. In any case, you can speak with, search for, and group only with other players that have created characters of the same faction (Horde or Alliance) and on same realm as you. If you encounter players of the opposite faction on your realm, you can battle against them or try to ignore them.

Game-play Mode vs. Realm Type

When playing on a realm, your character’s actions determine whether you are in a PvE (player vs. environment) game-play mode or in a PvP (player vs. player) game-play mode. The PvE mode occurs when you are doing quests, fighting monsters, speaking, trading, gaining experience, learning skills, and advancing levels as you would in any other massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG).

The PvP mode is when you are fighting other players in the wilderness or going into special places called Battlegrounds. Of course those modes can intersect at the same time (for example, a player who gets attacked by another player while fighting a monster). The important thing to remember is that the game is much the same in any realm for any player. However, there are different realm types that favor one type of game-play (PvE or PvP) over the other, with some differences that are detailed below.

Realm Types

There are two main kinds of realms (and a special distinction for role-playing realms): Normal realms and PvP realms. The main difference between the two types is in the way in which the player-versus-player game-play mode is activated on each of them.

Noraml Realms ("truth realms")

hese realms are labeled Normal in the realm selection screen when you enter the game. The main focus of the players in those realms is to fight against the monsters in the game rather than against other players. That is why you can think of the Normal realms as "truce" realms. On Normal realms, other enemy players can't attack you unless you allow them to.

Main Differences

• You can create both Alliance and Horde characters (but they won't be able to communicate with the other faction).


• PvP mode is activated differently than in PvP realms


• There are no “contested” zones in the game; the zones that don't belong to a faction are called "neutral" zones.


Pros
• You can concentrate on epic fights, quests, and battles against monsters or non-playing characters without worrying about being attacked by other players.


• You can try to develop some relations with the other faction (but without language) and need not fear being attacked.


Cons
• You gain PvP rewards less easily because it is harder to get other players to fight you (except when you are in Battlegrounds).


• You lack some thrills and excitement from never knowing what can jump out at you at any time.


• It's harder to have one vs. one fights that show your duel skills.

Sentence to remember: In a Normal realm, I will never be attacked by other players if I don't want to be, except if I enter an enemy capital or a Battleground.-----

Player vs. Player Realms ("War")

hese realms are labeled PvP in the realm selection screen when you enter the game. You can play the same way you play in a Normal realm, except that PvP mode will sometimes be switched on automatically without any action on your part, allowing the other player characters from the opposite faction to attack you without warning. That is why you can think of the Player vs. Player realms as "war" realms. On Player vs. Player realms, you are in a constant state of war against the other faction.

Main differences

• You can create only Alliance or only Horde characters in a Player vs. Player realm.


• PvP mode is activated differently than in Normal realms.


• Some game policies are specific to Player vs. Player realms and you should read them before playing in such a realm


• Each zone of the game has a PvP flag color that shows its PvP status. There are no “neutral” zones.

Each time you enter a zone in a Player vs. Player realm, the name of the zone will appear with one of the following colors:

• Green – Friendly (allied with your faction - Alliance or Horde)
• Red – Enemy (hostile with your faction - Alliance or Horde)
• Yellow – Contested (for both factions)

Pros

You will get the thrills and excitement of never knowing what can jump on you at any time. No game session will ever be boring. It's a constant adrenaline rush.

Your fighting skills against other players will be recognized both by your companions and your enemies.

You gain PvP rewards more easily.

Cons

It is harder to fight monsters and to complete some quests in contested territories. Basically the game is harder in a Player vs. Player realm because you need to worry about the other faction's players.

If you want some safety from other players you will have to do more private (instanced) dungeons.

Sentence to remember: In a Player vs. Player realm, I may be attacked by other players everywhere at any time, except in friendly (green) territories and in dungeons (instances).

Role-Playing Realms (RP and RP PvP)

hese realms are labeled PvP in the realm selection screen when you enter the game. You can play the same way you play in a Normal realm, except that PvP mode will sometimes be switched on automatically without any action on your part, allowing the other player characters from the opposite faction to attack you without warning. That is why you can think of the Player vs. Player realms as "war" realms. On Player vs. Player realms, you are in a constant state of war against the other faction.

Role-Playing realms can either be Normal realms or Player vs. Player realms. When a Role-Playing realm is Normal it is called RP realm and all game mechanics are the same as a Normal realm. When a Role-Playing realm is a Player vs. Player realm also it is called RP PvP realm and all game mechanics are the same as a Player vs. Player realm (for example in a RP PvP realm you still can't attack members of you own faction, it is a RP PvP realm, it is NOT a "full" PVP realm).

Pros
• If you want to create a "real life" for your character, a Role-Playing realm gives you the best opportunity to do that


• You can count on many other players to support you by role-playing their characters too.
  
  

Cons
• There are no automatic game rewards for role-playing, and no game mechanics are altered (if you give a rose to a felhound it will still try to eat you).
• Not everyone will act as you would like and the experience can sometimes be frustrating, especially on the days you don't feel like "speaking in character".

Sentence to remember: If I choose to play in a Role-Playing realm, I will act and speak as my character should, in the World of Warcraft setting.-----

Player vs. player (PvP) Mode Activation

he main difference between Normal ("truce") and Player vs. Player ("war") realms is the way the PvP game-play mode is activated. This section will tell you how the PvP mode is activated, either automatically or manually. No matter how PvP has been enabled for a character, the PvP mode will remain in effect for five minutes after any PvP action has been accomplished.

To see whether or not your character is in PvP mode, check your character’s portrait. If you see the shield next to it, then you are in PvP mode.

Horde PvE	Horde PvP	Alliance PvE	Alliance PvP

Name color coding

The shield allows you to see your own character's current game-play mode. You can see the mode that other characters are in by looking at the color of their character name (the one that appears over the character's head).

• Blue - PvP mode disabled; you cannot attack this character.


• Green - Friendly character, PvP mode enabled; healing or buffing this character will enable PvP mode for your character.


• Yellow - Enemy character, PvP mode enabled; this character cannot attack you unless you attack him first or activate PvP mode in another way (see below).


• Red - Enemy character, PvP mode enabled; this character can attack you, and you can attack this character.

PvP Mode Activation in Any Realms

Actions that will trigger PvP mode are:

• Typing the /pvp command at the chat console. This will trigger the pvp "flag". To remove that pvp flag, you need to type /pvp again or your character will remain flagged for PvP, even after logging out of the game.


• Enterring a Battleground.


• Attacking a non-player character (NPC) of the opposite faction (Horde/Alliance)


• Attacking a player character (PC) of the opposite faction who is already in PvP mode.


• Helping a player character (PC) of your own faction who is already in PvP mode.

PvP Mode Activation in Normal "truce" Realms

Actions that will trigger PvP mode are:

• Entering an enemy capital city.

PvP Mode Activation in Player vs. Player "war" realms

Actions that will trigger PvP mode are:

• Entering a contested zone.


• Entering an enemy zone.

Player vs. player (PvP) Mode Activation

ealms are separated by languages, game-play types and have different names. You can check all available realms in our Realm Status page.
You should choose a realm appropriate to the language you want to play in, and then choose the game-play type (Normal, PvP, RP, RP PvP). You should avoid realms with already too much people on them (shown with a icon) and you should prefer the realms with a recommended icon.

If you are familiar with the Warcraft universe you will also notice that the names of the realms usually reflect the philosophy of their realm type.

• Normal realms have names of heroes, neutral characters or known places.


• Player vs. Player (PvP) realms have names of demons, warmongers, and evil or contested areas.


• Roleplaying Normal (RP) realms have names of beneficial organizations.


• Roleplaying Player vs. Player (RP PvP) realms have names of evil organizations or cults

Reminder

Also remember that after choosing a realm and playing with a character, this character will not be able to move to another realm. Therefore, if you want to join friends who are playing on another realm, the only way to join them will be to start a brand new character on their specific realm. It is wiser to spend time choosing your realm, and share the info with your friends, than to be forced to start over later.