SWTOR Server Types

In SWTOR, the developers have been three announced server types: player-vs-player (PvP), player-vs-enemy (PvE), and role-playing (RP). Here is a little bit of detail:

  • PvP servers are ideal for players who want to battle the other faction.
  • PvE servers are ideal for players who want to play cooperative games with their own faction.
  • RP servers are for people who prefer to act in character. There are usually only a few RP servers all together in an MMORPG, so if you do not know what role-playing is, this is likely not for you. In an earlier interview, it was stated that all RP servers would be PvE, but this is subject to change.


PvP Servers vs PvE Servers

The developers have stated that PvP servers will allow players to engage each other in PvP combat in more zones than PvE servers will (pulled off official website). What does this mean for gameplay differences between the two types? Actually, not much.

We already know that “war zones” (much like the battlegrounds in WoW) will be available for play in SWTOR. In other words, instanced PvP-only mini-games will exist in the world that players can enter at any time to get their PvP fix. This will severely limit any real world PvP that takes place.

Another interesting comment is that the idea that PvE servers will have less areas available for PvP. This indicates to me that mentioned “PvP hotspot” like Hoth will be PvP zones, perhaps like Wintersgrasp (or perhaps unlike any zone we have seen in recent MMORPGs). Also, players on PvE servers may be liable to be attacked when in non-friendly, non-contested zones (i.e. the other faction’s starting areas).

The end result is this: PvP servers will consist of jumping questing players or other small groups (i.e. ganking) and being on the receiving end of a gank. Thanks to warzones and (most likely) PvP zones, players will not engage in much PvP combat in a world setting.


What Server Type to Pick

I feel most players would much prefer a PvE server but do not realize that this is the case. Even if you like PvP, the only thing PvP servers allow (at least in modern MMOs with instanced PvP) is ganking. No one likes to get ganked, and personally I find no enjoyment of jumping someone else that is questing or otherwise unprepared.

I think that most players are confused about what a PvE server is. Players on PvE servers still can participate in warfronts and PvP zones; the only thing that is off-limits is jumping other players that do not want to be jumped in the open world.

There is definitely a minority of players who enjoy ganking but I think those are far and few between. I think that most players actually much prefer a PvE server if they only realized they would still be able to participate in warzones and PvP zones without the worry of getting jumped when questing.

For the majority of the population, PvE servers will be the best choice. You can still participate in warzones and world PvP objectives, but you can save yourself from the annoyances of getting ganked. Typically, the most hardcore PvP players, particularly ones that play with a group of friends, will prefer the gameplay a PvP server offers.

There are a few players who love the idea of “world PvP” and non-scripted player-vs-player action, but in my experience with SWTOR this does not exist. When people can PvP in warzones or designated planets and get good rewards, they just do not have the drive to do much other than gank (and even then only when the numbers are in their favor).

However, if you are the type of person that loves taking down other players when questing, you can still do this on a PvP server – just do not expect much world PvP when there are so many other PvP mini-games out there (warzones, space combat, PvP planets, etc).

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