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.

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.

 

Normal Realms ("Truce")

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 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)

f you enjoy role-playing (RP) and character development and would like to imagine that you are an inhabitant of a fantasy-based world, then a role-playing realm may be for you. Please read our Role-Playing Policy, first, however. Players who choose to play in an RP realm should abide by the Role-Playing realm policies and remain in-character at all times. Role-Playing realms give players the chance to develop characters with a backstory who do not go blindly from quest to quest, but instead assist or hamper the efforts of others for reasons of their own. As far as game mechanics are concerned, there is no difference between a Role-Playing realm and any other realm. You don't get special benefits or special hindrances other than the behavioral rules you agreed to when joining a Role-Playing realm.

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.

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.

ur realms are split into four different "preferred" languages: English, Deutsch (German), français (French), and español (Spanish). We strongly recommend that you choose your realm depending on the language you prefer to play in. If you are, for example, on a "Deutsch" preferred realm, that means that all General chats and discussions should be in German. All customer support will be in the preferred language, which means that if you want to page a GM, you will have to write your questions in German.

Example: I am a German player. I have the English version of the game on my computer. I can play on any realm (français, español, Deutsch or English). If I play on a French realm, I will see all the game in English (because it's the version I installed), but I should speak in French in any public chat and if any problems arise I will have to write in French when contacting a GM. And I will have to keep in mind that the majority of players on this Realm will see items names, monsters names, spells names, quest names and quests text in French because they will mainly use the French version of the game.

For people who bought the game in one language and want to play in another, there is a way to download an ELP (European Language Pack) that will allow you to play in another European language (French, German, Spanish or English). You can learn more in our ELP FAQ.

 

Sentence to remember: I should use the language of the realm I am playing in when speaking in public channels, not the language of the client I am using.

he realms 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.

Where am I safe in a Player vs. Player realm?
If you are in a friendly territory and you don't attack any enemy players who might be passing through, they won't be able to attack you. And of course, you are safe in instances as they are private places created only for your group of players.

Am I safe if I am in a Normal realm and I enter a enemy town (not a capital city)?
Enemy players won't be able to attack you but the city guards will. And if you fight back you will activate PvP mode, making you a target for enemy players at that time.

May I make friends of enemy faction players in a role-playing realm?
You can try to make friends with some enemy players, so they will not attack you. But that will not stop other opposing faction players from attacking, and the NPCs certainly will not become friendly. Even area effect spells from "friendly" enemies will still do damage to you if you happen to be in their range.

Is there any place that allows full PvP, meaning attacking even players from my own faction?
You can do that only in very special restricted areas. For the moment, only the Gurubashi Arena, in Stranglethorn Vale, allows you that. No realm type allows total PvP game-play.

 

 

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