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Getting Started | Realm Types | Races | Classes | First Few Levels | Character Info | Death System | Rest System | NPCs | Glossary

What is a Realm?

With 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 the different "realms" were 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 on your realm but you cannot interact with players on 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 the 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. In PvE mode, you can do

quests, fight monsters, speak, trade, gain experience, learn skills, and advance levels as you would

in any other massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). In PvP mode, you are fighting

other players in the wilderness or in special places called Battlegrounds. Of course, sometimes those

two game-play modes can intersect, for example when a player is attacked by another player (PvP)

while fighting a monster (PvE). The important thing to remember is that the game is much the same on

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 basic realm types (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 vs. player game-play mode is activated.

Normal Realms
hese realms are labeled Normal in the realm selection screen when you enter the game. The main focus of the players on 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.

Features
You can create both Alliance and Horde characters (but they won't be able to communicate with the other faction).
There are no "contested" zones in the game; the zones that don't belong to a faction are called "neutral" zones.
PvP mode is activated differently than on PvP realms
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 be friendly with the other faction 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).
It's harder to have one vs. one fights that show your duel skills.
Sentence to remember: On 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

These realms are labeled PvP in the realm selection screen when you enter the game. You can play the same way you play on 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.

Features
You can create only Alliance or only Horde characters on a Player vs. Player realm.
Some game policies are specific to Player vs. Player realms. You should read them before playing on a PvP realm.
Each zone of the game has a PvP flag color that shows its PvP status. There are no "neutral" zones.
PvP mode is activated differently than on Normal realms.

Each time you enter a zone on a Player vs. Player realm, the name of the zone will appear with one of the following colors:
= Friendly (allied with your faction - Alliance or Horde)
= Enemy (hostile with your faction - Alliance or Horde)
= Contested (for both factions)

Pros
Your fighting skills against other players will be recognized both by your companions and your enemies.
You will have an easier time finding opportunities to fight other players.
Cons
It is harder to fight monsters and to complete some quests in contested territories. The game can be a little more difficult on 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: On 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)

If you enjoy role-playing (RP) 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 before you start playing on an RP realm. Players who choose to play on 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; all game mechanics are the same as on a Normal realm. When a Role-Playing realm is a Player vs. Player realm also it is called RP PvP, and again, all game mechanics are the same as on a Player vs. Player realm (for example, on an RP PvP realm you still can not attack members of you own faction even if it would sometimes make sense from a role-playing point of view).